History Of The Canyon Page 5
Throughout the decades, the beach has been a cornerstone of Canyon life. The local Bath Houses hired lifeguards to watch the waters and keep their guests safe. In 1930, the lifeguard station at the mouth of the Canyon was built on a parcel of beach owned by Will Rogers. The county maintained the station for the next nineteen years. Activity around the station was constant. The 30's saw a steady stream of those looking for a days retreat from the city. Although things quieted down during WWII, the lifeguard station became the popular rendezvous point after the war. After the breakwater was built, the beach became a popular spot for serious sun-bathers and celebrities as opposed to surfers. Beach volleyball became the popular sport with the first tournament being held in 1947. The 1950s were again a romantic time in Canyon history with the beach a center attraction. Fredrick Kohner who sat and watched the scene at State Beach wrote Gidget in 1957. With the release of the movie in 1958, beaches up and down the coast were swarmed with a whole new crowd of young and energetic sun lovers. Surfing again became popular in the canyon and businesses at the mouth of the canyon were booming -

as they continue to do today. The Canyon itself grew rapidly after the war. New homes and new families moved into the neighborhood. Life under the sycamores and eucalyptus seemed idyllic after the traumatic years of war. The Canyon began to take on more community structure with the formation of the Santa Monica Canyon Association (SMCCA) in 1947. Their headquarters were in the Rustic Canyon Racquet Club, formerly the Uplifters Club. In the spirit of canyon tradition they had tried on numerous occasions to purchase communal land but were unsuccessful. With the help of an anonymous donor, later disclosed as Maybell Marchris, the SMCCA purchased the club and surrounding land in 1953. After remodeling the main building and replacing the swimming pool, the Rustic Canyon Recreation Center, as it is today, was officially opened in June 1961.