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Pacific Ocean Park: The Rise and Fall of Los Angeles' Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier Hardcover – July 22, 2014
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By
Winston Smith
on July 8, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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Pre-ordered this back in December and just received today. Everything you would hope for in a book on the mythic Pacific Ocean Park is contained in this beautiful hardback... from the early pre-P-O-P days of the boardwalk, through the park's construction and operational heyday, to its ultimate destruction, gets coverage here. EVERY PAGE is loaded with photos: extensive concept sketches and paintings, behind-the-scenes and promotional photos of the park itself, brochures, ads, ticket books, signage, maps, screen-caps from TV shows and films that were shot at the park, wreckage and graffiti from after its demise, all presented in beautiful layouts. But its not MERELY a handsome coffee-table book for browsing pictures because the text is exhaustive and thorough, covering every aspect of the park in detail. This book could not be improved!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By
K. Martinez
on July 9, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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Very detailed account of the legendary Southern California amusement park. A place I never visited during my early trips to Disneyland, but wish I had. Fantastic photos and plenty of them as well as lots of historical information to enjoy reading. Between this book and "Knott's Preserved", I'm quickly becoming a fan of Christopher Merritt's work. Now if only someone would do a Freedomland book on this level.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By
Dave in Dallas
on July 18, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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I just got it last night and it was far superior than I had dreamed it would be. It's a beautiful book filled with concept art and many photograph I'd not seen anywhere else on the Internet. I've not read it yet, just skimmed it, but at first glance I can say it's not just a fanboy picture book. The text of the book begins with the original Ocean Park pier, progresses to the history of POP itself and then ends with its demise and decay. I have a collection of theme park history books, most of which focus on Disney theme parks but not exclusively Disney and this one is a true gem among the ones I’ve collected. I believe no other books on POP have been published so this is really a stand out piece of research. When I saw the very reasonable price of the book I expected it to be of mediocre quality printing with not that many photographs. Basically an upscale souvenir folio type book. I was wrong. It's a beautifully produced book rich in information. I really recommend it.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By
ric oliver
on July 9, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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The book is awesome, even if you dont know about the park or never have visited it in its hay days, the book, from its beginning, to its dimise, is a real page turner.Pure Americana. The pictures and illustrations are beautiful.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By
Douglas Keith McEwan
on August 11, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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This lovely book far exceeded my hopes and expectations for it. POP is such a long-gone, forgotten bit of my childhood that it's hard now to believe it ever was real except when one sees it in an old TV show or movie on METV or ANNTENNAE TV (The final confrontation between Richard Kimble and the one-armed man in THE FUGATIVE took place in POP), but as a kid I loved its "Flight to Mars," its Magic Flying Carpet dark ride, it silly Tub dark ride, its great mirror maze (Immortalized in a classic TWILIGHT ZONE episode), it's wacky banana train ride, and its super rollercoaster. I have vivid memories of riding in the sky ride bubbles out over the sea with my dad and my brother. Dad, my brother and POP are all long gone now, but this book has brought it and them back.
The story the book tells (Because the text is as wonderful as the hundreds of pictures) is a fascinating one of greed, stupidity, red-tape, government ineptitude, and more greed. I'd always wondered why POP only survived for 9 years while Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm go on and on, seemingly immortal. After reading this book (And I devoured every word in it), I now wonder how it stayed opened for as long as it managed. (Just reading the hilarious paragraph describing the hideous cost-saving practices in the food courts during its waning days will turn your stomache. "Don't eat the cold slaw, it was black this morning. He's colored it." Watered-down ketchum, rancid mayonaisse, the cheapest legal hot dogs fillings, an employee disciplined for throwing out pizza dough covered in mold.) The idiotic idea to fire all the designers and art directors two years after opening because it was "All designed now" was particularly hilariously stupid.Read more ›
The story the book tells (Because the text is as wonderful as the hundreds of pictures) is a fascinating one of greed, stupidity, red-tape, government ineptitude, and more greed. I'd always wondered why POP only survived for 9 years while Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm go on and on, seemingly immortal. After reading this book (And I devoured every word in it), I now wonder how it stayed opened for as long as it managed. (Just reading the hilarious paragraph describing the hideous cost-saving practices in the food courts during its waning days will turn your stomache. "Don't eat the cold slaw, it was black this morning. He's colored it." Watered-down ketchum, rancid mayonaisse, the cheapest legal hot dogs fillings, an employee disciplined for throwing out pizza dough covered in mold.) The idiotic idea to fire all the designers and art directors two years after opening because it was "All designed now" was particularly hilariously stupid.Read more ›
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By
LInda M. Hanna
on July 11, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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I visited POP as a young child (1964+65) so my recollections of it are kind of hazy. This book really is an eye opener offering a glimpse into the history of this remarkable place and provides a wealth of photos to showcase the unique qualities that this one-of-a-kind amusement park offered the public. Makes me all the more sad to know that it went away.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By
Ned
on July 16, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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Wonderful book. Here is finally the chance to take a trip back to the long gone Pacific Ocean Park from concept to ruins. A time machine back to the late 50's and early 60's in Los Angeles and amusement park design.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By
Marina Mary
on August 14, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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Wonderful book. Well written and brought back so many wonderful memories of times gone by. The replica photographs of the posters and signs of the times...beautifully researched and presented. Highly recommend for anyone who lived in the Los Angeles area during the 50's-60's and anyone else who wants to learn about POP. Fabulous coffee table book!
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