Santa Monica California Ocean Park Fire Coca Cola Sign 1912 Real Photo Postcard
Look's Hippodrome was a prominent entertainment venue on the Ocean City, New Jersey boardwalk, typical of the grand amusement structures popular in American seaside resorts during the early 20th century. This postcard captures the dramatic destruction of the Hippodrome by fire, likely referencing the catastrophic blaze of October 25, 1927, which consumed a significant portion of the city's iconic wooden boardwalk and its various attractions, including concessions like the "German Delicatessen" and "Ye Sweet Shop" visible here.
Such fires were unfortunately common for the highly flammable, timber-built boardwalks and piers of the era, posing constant challenges to coastal resort towns. The loss of structures like Look's Hippodrome often led to periods of extensive reconstruction, shaping the evolving landscape of these popular vacation destinations and reflecting the boom of mass tourism and leisure culture between the World Wars.
Such fires were unfortunately common for the highly flammable, timber-built boardwalks and piers of the era, posing constant challenges to coastal resort towns. The loss of structures like Look's Hippodrome often led to periods of extensive reconstruction, shaping the evolving landscape of these popular vacation destinations and reflecting the boom of mass tourism and leisure culture between the World Wars.
