tryoutuziheavy

The idea for the pier originated with Earl Taylor, a Pacific Beach Realtor of the mid-1920s who was trying to sell property in the then sparsely populated (700 residents) area. Although fairly inexpensive (private lots at $400 and commercial lots at $800-$1,000), Taylor felt he needed a gimmick, something like the amusement piers which had attracted land buyers to Venice and Ocean Park near Los Angeles. He approached Earnest Pickering, owner of the Pickering Pier in Ocean Park, and soon had a partner, both financially and with insights regarding a pier.

In September of 1925, the local Pacific Beach Banner reported that Pickering and an associate, Neil Nettleship, were in town discussing the construction of the pier. The Pickering Pleasure Pier appeared to be on its way, construction started, and additional headlines soon proclaimed, “Pacific Beach: Home of the Million Dollar Pier.” The headlines were a little premature because Pickering soon experienced money troubles of his own and had to back out of the project. Construction stopped!

At this point Nettleship stepped in and, together with the Tye Construction Company, gained ownership of the pier. The pier now became the “Crystal Pier” and Nettleship began to issue stock in the Crystal Pier Amusement Company. A dedication took place a few months later, on April 18, 1926. Festivities included airplane stunt flying, a surfboard riding exhibition, and nail-driving competitions for men and women. The crushing of a huge bottle by one of the pier’s pile drivers marked the official christening.

Although dedicated, the pier and its amusements would not be finished until the following summer. On the July 4 weekend of 1927, the 950-foot-long pier opened as the “Crystal Pleasure Pier Ballroom and Joy Zone,” an opening heralded in both the San Diego and Los Angeles areas. The main attraction was the towered ballroom that sat out at the end of the pier. The ballroom was built in a sort of 1920s Aztec architecture and featured a cork-cushioned dance floor and a crystal ball, high up above the dance floor, which gave the pier its name. Other attractions included an amusement midway with the ever present arcade.

The attractions were short lived. From day one the pier rocked in an unsettling manner and visitors to the ballroom complained of queasiness from the rocking and the swaying lights (which prompted Nettleship to run piano wire through lights and wall fixtures). The initial problem was insufficient bracing that caused the pier to sway in all but the mildest surf. Of greater importance was the condition of the piles. The non-creosote pilings were rapidly being destroyed by marine borers. The pier and ballroom were soon condemned.

After extensive suits between the different parties, the U.S. National Bank foreclosed on the pier and Nettleship was out of the picture. Eventually the bank spent $10,000 replacing pilings, built a 500-foot extension and remodeled the pier. On April 19, 1936, almost exactly ten years after the initial dedication, a new and remodeled pier, complete with ten motel cottages and a soda fountain, opened for vacationers. Souvenir postcards from the day mentioned free pier fishing and tackle for rent—for the princely sum of 25 cents. The cards also mentioned a daily and monthly prize for the big fish. The new pier and motel quickly became a favorite for those coming to the beach to escape the heat of the inland areas.

The pier was sold in 1948 and then again in 1949. For much of the fifties the pier seemed to be in a slow decline. Then, in 1961, the pier was refurbished and given its now familiar blue and white colors. Cottages were also restored and redecorated.

OK, so.

I just spent my entire food budget for this whole trip on one meal. (The emergency cheeseburger I bought at the convention center yesterday - which was also the single worst cheeseburger I have ever eaten in my life - did not count because I hadn't eaten in about 18 hours and was on almost no sleep from the travel craziness.)

The meal itself wasn't expensive. It was the cab ride, in the pouring rain, that cost me all my little pennies. Good thing the continental breakfast at this h/motel has a waffle maker you get to operate yourself.

No matter what it was absolutely worth it. Do you see those fried pork chops? (They only have ribs on Fridays, sob.) And those collard greens? And those mashed potatoes? (Two sides because the woman misheard me and gave me mashed potatoes instead of the mac & cheese I originally asked for.) And oh Lord yes, that mac & cheese. The best mac & cheese I've ever purchased in a restaurant. I'm awfully particular about my mac & cheese, because I make it from scratch, and it's serious business people, and this is good.

So if you ever find yourselves in Nashville, please go to this fine establishment. The food is fantastic, unbelievably inexpensive (entire meal above was $13, including tip and a sweetened iced tea), and the people are so nice you can't even know.

At The Table
907 12 Ave. S.

By the way - Eartha, to answer your question, I am in fact at that crazy Opryland for the convention. So what did i see when my cab brought me back here? WAFFLE HOUSE. Right across the way. Sigh. Live and learn.

ETA: So important poll: Do y'all (I'm never stopping) want me to scan all the Polaroids when I get back and replace all these images using the replace feature down there? Or just upload all of them as new images? Speak up, yo.