Danny`s Deli - Venice Paparazzi

Leave Dannys and wander to the Townhouse (4), one of
Venice’s oldest bars. The downstairs was a speakeasy
in the 20’s with underground tunnels running to the
coast for bootleggers to bring in the booze. Cross
Speedway (5), an early race track where Sir Charles
Chaplin’s “Little Tramp” character first appeared in the
1914 film “Kid Auto Races at Venice”. Running 6 minutes,
it features newsreel photographers trying to record a
soap box derby, while Charlie suffers any indignity to
get in the shot. This simple piece of goofing around
launched a phenomenon. Step onto Windward Plaza
(6). A map in the concrete shows the original layout of
the Canals. You may wish to rent a bike here and travel
on the Venice Bike Path (14), where outdoor skating
became an international phenomena. The path goes
along the Pacific Ocean for miles. On the Boardwalk
(12 ) you’ll see street entertainers on the weekends and
the Summer. The Venice “V” (10) by sculptor Mark
DiSuvero stands before you. To your right, going north,
are Boardwalk Vendors (7) and more murals. Explore
at your leisure. The Skateboard & Skating Park (8)
is the place to watch dancing skaters and daredevil
skateboarders. It was here that Jay Adams the
youngest of the Dogtown Z-Boys made his name as one
of the world’s greatest skateboard freestylers. Stacy
Peralta and Craig Stecyk recounted the story in the
film “Lords of Dogtown”. A surfer/skater for life, Adams
named his son “Venice”. Nearby is the Graffiti Wall (9),
showcasing ever changing street art from around the
world. In front of you, once stood the Venice Pier (11).
Near this spot George Freeth from Hawaii, was seen
surfing in June 1907, the first demonstration of surfing
in Southern California. His exploit was recorded in the
papers as a man “walking on water” and the sport of
surfing in the U.S. was born. Freeth, who was hired by
Kinney to start a Life Saving Squad in Venice, received
the Congressional Medal of Honor for diving off the Pier
and saving 11 Japanese fishermen, the beginning of
modern lifesaving. If you travel up 17th street back
to Speedway you’ll see Rip Cronk’s Jim Morrison
mural (M3). Walking along the beach in Venice,
musician Ray Manzarek and poet Jim Morrison created
the band The Doors. Morrison once lived on the canals
and flowers are often left by the mural, especially
on Morrison’s birthday. Back on the Boardwalk you
pass ball courts and Muscle Beach (13), the location
credited as the birth place for the Body Building
movement. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, along
with Gold’s Gym creator Joe Gold and Joe Weider all
were here. Gold’s main Mecca gym is still in Venice.
Travel to North Venice and make a left going away from
the beach until you reach L.A Louver (15), one of L.A’s
most famous galleries where you can see the work of
famous local artists like Ken Price and Tony Berlant.
Next door along the East wall of 55 N. Venice is the
5-story Abbot Kinney Mural (M4) by Rip Cronk. A
tribute by art patrons Werner and Simone Scharff, he
looks out forever towards the Canals. Across the street
is James’ Beach (16), one of Venice’s most enduring
Neighborhood restaurants. Have a drink on the patio
and see Jimmy Ganzer’s famous swim short lanterns
hung overhead. Across the street, Venice’s best sushi
is at the Canal Club (17). The interior was originally
created by world famous architect Frank Gehry. The
Sushi Happy Hour from 5–7pm daily is a Venice
tradition. Walk down to South Venice Blvd where author
Ray Bradbury lived. He has written three mysteries set
in Venice (“Death Is a Lonely Business”, “A Graveyard
for Lunatics”, “Let’s All Kill Constance”). For a little tranquility, cross Pacific and make a left onto South Venice
Blvd until you see the entrance on the right to the
Canals (18). Wander through the last remaining canals
of what was once 26 miles of Canals, until the city
paved over most in favor of the automobile over the
gondola. The straight Grand Canal South will take you to
Washington Blvd and Marina del Rey, but you may wish
to simply do a lap across bridges and return the way
you came to Venice Blvd. There are many more murals,
buildings, art and sights to see in lovely Venice.
Please enjoy them and take the spirit of Love, Peace and
Creativity that Venice embodies with you always.
Thanks to Todd von Hoffmann, Elayne Alexander and the Venice Community Trust for contributions to this information.
© Dannys Venice Deli, 2008
VENICE
A Wa l k i n g To u r o f
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California
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Venice Walking Tour
Start at the Venice sign (1) at the
corner of Windward & Pacific Ave.
The sign was at the entrance of
Abbot Kinney’s “Venice of America”
in 1905. An example of early civic
electric illumination. The sign disappeared around 1950 and a replica
was created and hung in its original
location in 2007. Windward Ave. (2)
featured ornate colonnades and
architecture. It was the setting for
Orson Wells “Touch of Evil”, standing
in as a Mexican border town. Dannys
(3), once Abbot Kinney’s private dining
room, is a center for historic Venice.
On its outside East wall is the faded
St. Charles Mural by Terry Schoonhoven (M1) depicting a mirror image
of Venice in 1969. The outside West
wall features Rip Cronk’s Venice
Reconstituted from 1980 (M2).
Enter Dannys and directly above you
see the last remaining Gondola of 12
that Abbot Kinney brought to Venice,
CA in 1906. The rest have been lost
to time and fire. A statue of Duke
Ellington by local artist Robert Graham
(husband of Anjelica Huston) stands at
the entry, a reminder of the Jazz Club
that once existed here. To the right,
the tin mural by local artist Tony
Berlant depicts the Windward Ave
colonnade and St. Mark’s wings. Photographs and memorabilia of old
Venice are everywhere. The main
room displays Rip Cronk’s 2007
mural, Hobnobbing in Venice. A
1900 woman’s bathing suit, 20’s
men’s suit, 30’s wood surf board and
papier-mâché Mardi Gras mask from
a Venice Carnival are Dannys highlights. Don’t forget to try the great
food and drinks. Danny’s received
L.A. Magazines’ BEST of LA award
when it opened in 2007.
© Dannys Venice Deli, 2008
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