Episode 12. The Pike

This episode touches lightly on the bathhouse and then transitions into more of the attractions that were available at The Pike.

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Hey folks, thank you for tuning in this is episode 12. I got to tell you, I got some feedback from some folks and some of y'all said that you wanted to learn a little bit more about the bath house. So I thank them because I can appreciate thoughtful feedback. And as a reasonable person, I can also tell when someone is correct in their opinion. So hats off to you, friends. Then we'll jump into some other attractions in the same episode, that were at the pike as well. By the way I hope you had a fantastic holiday season. It's a new year. Can you believe it? I can't I feel like 20, 24 arrived and departed very quickly. Cheers to a more prosperous. 2025 for you. And for me. I hope you're doing well. And that you're a resolution is off to a great start. It has always been a goal of mine to hear directly from listeners. So shout out to Chris Lee gas before reaching out to me on Instagram to share his story. Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram as well. The Instagram handle for the podcast is simple. It is Harbor area podcast. So you just type that into your search tool on Instagram. You'll know you are at the right page when you see the logo of a beautiful purple Vincent Thomas bridge. And the words, Harbor area podcast in orange writing. So drum roll, please, because I got news for you. The podcast now has a phone number for listeners to call in and share their thoughts and ideas. That's right now, listeners can call in and share an idea for an episode or a favorite memory, a place or thing that you love about the Harbor area. Grab a pencil pen or your phone and take this number down. It's four to four. Two to 6, 6, 7. One eight that's four to four. Two to 6, 6, 7. One eight, please note it's a Google voice number operators are not standing by and they will check messages as soon as I am able to. So moving back on overdue the bath house. Which was constructed at a cost of a hundred thousand dollars, a significant investment at the time, reflecting. It's important to the area's development. I believe today. That number that amount of money would translate to $1.6 million, which is still very affordable to create a development anywhere in Los Angeles. And while specific details about the amenities offered at the plunge, and costs are limited. Bathhouses typically in this, era provided,, swimming facilities. So the main attraction of course, was the large saltwater pool, allowing patrons to enjoy swimming in a controlled environment. The bathing services, which we talked about changing rooms. RefreshMints stands, which I didn't mention last time to purchase snacks and beverages, probably a Coca-Cola and some peanuts. And there was also in the house some live music or other forms of entertainment for patrons. As for the cost of admissions for facilities in the early 19 hundreds were very generally modest. You won't believe this 10 to 25 cents per person, depending on the services. Provided you can't get anything for 10 or 25 cents. Today, maybe a gumball. Let's see. Activities at the plunge. Folks showed up. At the bath house to enjoy the heated salt water, many use the facility as a way to relax and experience the health benefits. That were believed to become from a saltwater bathing. And bath houses were promoted as health retreats. So people. Came for exercise hydrotherapy and simply a way to unwind and rejuvenate and the plunge sometimes hosted swimming, exhibitions and competitions attracting spectators to. Marvel the athletic skills or synchronized swimming shows. And I was looking at one of the pictures, which illustrated that there was a balcony on the second level of the plunge and it was filled with cascading seating or bleachers and. I think this was an accommodation for spectators of the swimming competitions or those who simply didn't care to amuse themselves by bathing in the seawater. So there was a water slide in the bath house. It was about, looks like from the picture, like a story and a half. And it was tagged with this sign, that red warning. Not responsible for accidents resulting in the use of this slide. And then it had the acronym owl, B, B, H, and a company, which likely stands for. Long beach, bath house and amusement company. Go ahead and fact check me. Cause that was just what popped up when I typed it in. So that's what I got on the bath house. Also known as the plunge and we're going to kick it on over to the pike, which reinvented itself at least on four occasions by changing names, to keep up with its competition and modernizing itself. As time moved forward, it was originally called the pike. Then an amusement park was included with the carnival rides and a roller. Our coaster was added, and this is when it acquired the name, the silver spray here. Then a new pike and finally Queens park, when the queen Mary rolled on up. The pike was a mix of wholesome family, fun and slightly risque attractions that catered to a wide. Audience and it really set the stage for its later evolution into one of the most iconic amusement destinations in California. Other amusement in the entertainment zone. As it was called we're penny arcade. So these were early coin operated games, like pinball machines. And other mechanically engineered electronic games and even fortune. Telling machines where you pop in a coin and a piece of paper might pop out telling you. Not to take a walk at night by the beach that night. Cause you might not have the best luck or to make a move on the person you were attracted to because the stars were aligned or. Perhaps something like you are a great person who aspires to be something even greater. What a great way to start off your day. Fun houses were also attractions with mirror mazes and slides and quirky optical illusions that provided a great conversation pieces. I imagine you could stand in front of a, one of these optical illusion mirrors that would stretch you out from head to toe or side to side and talk about what the heck you thought you looked like? And life was so simple back then. The theaters for acts, which likely included popular classical musicians, singers, dancers, comedians, chained animals, magicians. Ventriloquists, we don't really see those today anymore. Strong men new go to the local gym now, and there's a bunch of strong men there. Female and male impersonators, and we still have those in a long beach checkout hamburger. Mary's there's a lot. Female impersonators there. Acrobats clowns, jugglers to name a few and theaters often hosted silent films. As cinema continued to gain. Popularity. Food stalls and vendors, which offered a variety of foods. I'm sure there was popcorn and hot dogs and salt water taffy. I don't know about you, but salt water taffy just sounds weird to me. I'm sure I've had it, but I, it's not something I chase. Give me all almond covered chocolate covered almonds. And you got me. The municipal pier extended over the ocean. This was 19, 19 0 5. It extended over the Pacific ocean providing beautiful views and a place for fishing and strolling. And it didn't Hanse the Pike's appeal as a destination for leisure and recreation. And then, you start to see other attractions, such as shooting galleries to test your aim with old-fashioned target games. Photograph studios where visitors could dress in costume for novelty portraits. The Luth carousel was added in 1911. It was a hand carved wooden carousel built by Charles loof. One of the most renowned carousel makers of the time. In 1911, the carousel became the centerpiece of the pike offering an elegant and whimsical ride. In 1915, the Jack rabbit racer was added This was the one of the earliest wooden roller coasters on the west coast. And coasters. Became a major draw for thrill seekers the Jack rabbit racer was eventually changed to something known as the psych clone. Imagine if you can, a neon red sign flickering on and off at night time, the sign reads new pike entrance, the entrance sign, which was permanently affixed to the Stillman building on the right and to the bus Depot building on the left. And. On the sign underneath the words, new pike entrance red fund zone. Plunge. And kiddie land. And I could hear the hustle and bustle of a thriving city. Plus the waves crashing in the background, folks screaming from the roller coaster. And music playing from the carousel and the smack of the billiards the hotel Stillman it hosted a barber shop and sold liquors to patrons who wanted a little drink. At the moment or later while walking on the beach, hopefully, while not on the roller coaster, but I imagined somebody was drinking alcohol on the rollercoaster. The bus Depot to the left was where visitors got on and off coach buses from further distances while the red, electronic electric trolleys dropped off folks from Los Angeles and orange counties. Imagine a warm sunny day in long beach, an ocean that had beautiful blue sparkling water. There was so much. For single people. Family friends, Navy men. And out of town visitors who would show up to see the most amazing attraction in. Southern California. I couldn't think of a better way to spend my day as an Angelina in the early 19 hundreds. But for a moment, I also want to take some time to talk about what was mustering up in the Americas at this time. So this is the early 19 hundreds and the United States was becoming an industrial powerhouse with rapid urbanization and advances in technology. Meanwhile, immigrants from Europe were also popping up providing labor for factories and contributing to the cultural. Diversity here in long beach. Theater Roosevelt was president at the time from 1901 to 1909. And this guy championed the progressive movement. Promoting reforms to curb corporate monopolies, improve labor conditions and protect natural resources and conservation efforts. At this time led to the establishment of national parks and forests. The Wright brothers took their first flight in 1903, marking the beginning of modern aviation. The pure food and drug act of 1906 was enacted to regulate food and drug safety. Segregation under Jim Crow, laws remained widespread and racial violence was prevalent. The NAACP. Was founded in 1909 to fight for African American rights. Moving onto the 1910s world war one occurred between 1914 and 1918. And although United States initially remained neutral, it joined the war in 1917, significantly influencing its outcome. The prohibition movement efforts to ban alcohol intensified leading to the passage of the 18th amendment in 1919. Then you got the Spanish flu folks. It was the pandemic at the time, a deadly influenza pandemic, which killed. Millions worldwide, including 675,000 Americans. This period. Laid the foundation for modern America at the time with this transformative changes in society, technology and governance. And finally in the 1920s, there was the push for women's voting rights, which gained momentum culminating the 19th amendment. There was a lot going on at this time in our country. And. What a great way to escape and distress and have a good time. In that was to go to the pike. Well folks, that's all I got for this episode. Thank you for listening. We are going to hang out in long beach a little bit longer. I want to spend some more time talking in the next episodes about specific attractions in the park there was a haunted house that is a. Sworn to have a. dead body in it. And we'll talk about the Navy and we'll see what else we get into. Ooh and mr. Luke, who brought the carousel? He's a very interesting. Character. Until next time folks. Happy new year.

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Hey, thank you for listening today. If you enjoyed today's episode, please make sure to click download. Let me know if you have any stories to tell about the Harbor area.

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The podcast now has a phone number for listeners to call in and share their thoughts and ideas. That's right now, listeners can call in and share an idea for an episode or a favorite memory, a place or thing that you love about the Harbor area. Grab a pencil pen or your phone and take this number down. It's four to four. Two to 6, 6, 7. One eight that's four to four. Two to 6, 6, 7. One eight

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Take care and remember to treat each other kindly.