An original 4.5x2.5" antique photo from a collection of photos from a family that lived in Nebraska and Southern California during the 1920s-1930s. They also took vacations throughout the U.S. This is likely a one of a kind photo. Professionally packaged in a rigid mailer for safe delivery.

Photo Overview

A sun-soaked group of friends in matching star-emblem swim suits lounge and chat on the sand in front of the concrete seawall at Long Beach, California, summer 1925. The twin-globe boardwalk lamp, looming resort hotels, and a black parasol frame the lively beach scene, while early 1920s architecture of The Pike amusement area peeks above the wall, giving this small gelatin-silver snapshot a classic Southern California resort ambience.

In the Roaring Twenties Long Beach rivaled Atlantic City as a premier seaside playground; The Pike’s roller coasters, arcades, and bathhouses drew more than a million visitors a year by 1925, and scenes like this helped popularize modern recreational swimwear. Genuine period beach images from Long Beach’s pre-earthquake era are scarce—add this one to your collection before another West Coast nostalgia lover does!

Text Present

Back, upper left pencil stamp: 89
Back, handwritten ink: At Long Beach.
Back, blue pencil: 1925

Print analysis: Small matte-finish gelatin silver snapshot on period fiber paper with album-mount corner impressions and period handwriting indicate Type 1, developed within months of exposure in 1925.

Condition: In fair to good vintage condition. Rear side contains remnants from being glued in an album. Please see scans of the image we have provided for the most accurate and complete state of the photo.