Hollywood's Beach with Peter Gowland

Have you ever seen a plane land on the wet sand in the low surf? I have. It happened at Will Rogers State Beach, California, in the 70’s. Naturally, I had to photograph it.

The section I’m referring to is only one block long, from Santa Monica Canyon to the Beach Club. From 1947 through the 1980’s we spent most of our free time, weekends and holidays there. I think we were motivated as much by the camaraderie as with our common love of the sea and surf. The people we met here had a friendly attitude rather than the cliquish Beach Club; and the only cost was a reasonable parking fee. I thought of it as "Hollywood’s Beach" because so many worked in the movie business. But, there were Lifeguards, surfers, lawyers, men from the "think tank", artists, designers, writers, and just "plain folk." We became close with many from this rich mixture of talent, all whom remained friends throughout our life.

From Here to Eternity

"What's your name?"

"I love you."

"I hate you."

king of the mountain

What goes up must come down.

Venetia Stevenson

riding high

cooling the hot dogs

Ricky Grigg, a State Beach boy, who became a great surfer, moved to Hawaii for better waves, becoming a University Professor of Oceanography, specialzing in underwater crimes. The above was taken with a 500mm lens on my Pentax at Waimea Bay, Hawaii

famous surfer Miki Dora's Dorsi
(Latissimus Dorsi, that is)

free showers

Now what do I do?

The Lifeguard Station was close to the parking lot. It contained public restrooms, an outdoor shower, and first aid. A public telephone booth stood next to it. It was a must for the movie crowd who always needed to be on call. Would-be starlets, sauntered among the movie crowd, hoping to be discovered by an agent. Our friend Joe Gray, (double for Dean Martin) introduced us to Venetia Stevenson there. He referred to this section as "The Gaza Strip." He’d say, "everyone’s selling but no one’s buying." The playful flirting and energy of the players made perfect subject matter for my camera.

Oh to be twenty again!

You were thrown into life.

What'd you say you weighed?

California dreaming

surf warriors

heat wave means free clam lunch


heat wave brings out the "entertainer" in all ages

The homosexual crowd gathered South, next to the Beach Club. They were referred to as "Queers," which to us, was demeaning. Surprisingly, a friend said, "Well, that’s what we are." Many were associated with the movie business; writers, set decorators, costume designers, artists, dancers and singers. However, there were just as many other occupations represented as well.

"The Lookout"
Construction to keep
channel water from
blocking up.
It didn't work.
"Polio Pond" prevailed.

Polio Pond

The "Polio Pond" as it was referred to, was formed from springs and run-off street water, flowing to the ocean through a cement channel and blocking up when it met the sand. It contained dog droppings, wet cigars, old condoms, and God knows what else. But, this did not deter families from letting their children play in it. Perhaps they felt it safer than the ocean’s unpredictable waves and currents.

sand crabs

Okay, who left their shoe in my spot?

taken with Hasselblad in 1966

taken with $12 Kodak vest-pocket camera 1937

Winter, spring, summer and fall, the Gowlands found time for the beach.

Alice, not allowed to leave typewriter week days. She must write Peter's 25 books.

On Sunday Alice is allowed to swim and walk at the beach

On weekdays, Peter is happy at beach, because he knows Alice is at her typewriter.

Alice, with our young daughters, preferred the area where chess and volleyball players, writers, artists and swimmers chose to park their bodies. As an aspiring writer, she soaked up the dialogue from published authors like Christopher Isherwood and Ben Masselink. When I tired of "talking it up" or using my camera, at the "The Gaza Strip," I joined her. It was my base too. Five or six of us, would grab our fins and swim parallel to the beach for a quarter mile. Afterwards we’d collapse on the hot sand, to dream. Once, I swam to the Santa Monica Pier. The two-mile walk back was exhausting!

Ann taking charge

Ann with daughter Tracy & friends

Ann in an early pose

Mary Lee age 2

... "but I like sucking seaweed"

Mary Lee the dancer

Daughter, Mary Lee. is married to John Busch in new home on 17 acres in Coarsegold, in the mountains near Yosemite, California

Gowland "river" one mile upstream from Polio Pond

The stream which runs in front of our studio/home, (shown at right) becomes a raging river during heavy winter rains.

Our river ends up dumping debris on our favorite beach

sun shy

chilly at the beach

Alice did not know how to swim when she married Peter. It was a pair of swim-fins that gave her confidence and she became a strong swimmer both under and above water.

Peter could hold his breath for one minute and a half. Here he is shown with his Rollei-Marine underwater camera.

Friends enjoy sand and sun.