Join us as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Venice – Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library!
Enjoy a fun-filled day featuring crafts, live music, a taco truck, and more. The event will also include the unveiling of a commemorative poster highlighting 30 influential residents of Venice. View list below!
Bring your family and friends to celebrate with us on Saturday, August 16, 2025, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- 11:00 a.m. 30th Anniversary and Poster Ceremony
- 11:30 a.m. Children’s Craft & Volunteer Bee Colman Dedication
- 12:00 p.m. Collaborative Zine Making
- 1:00 p.m. Line Dance Showcase and Lesson
- 2:00 p.m. Swing Dance with Dave Stuckey
Venice Paparazzi made the list of 30 Influential Residents of Venice! Neat!
1 Charlie Chaplin (Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin) Actor, writer, director produced, edited, starred in, and composed the music for most of his films. Successful Businessman, cofounded United Artists
2 Sonya Reese Greenland Community activist community historian, activist and retired educator.
Arthur Reese- Original official Venice decorator, successful businessman and head of first African-American family to live in Venice, CA People called Mr. Reese “The Wizard” https://breeganjane.com/the-wizard-of-venice/
3 Irving Tabor– Abbot Kinney chauffeur/janitor (cousin of Arthur Reese) and Venice decorator.
Jataun Valentine– Community activist Honored with LA Pearls Senior Citizen of the Year Award.
4 Ray Bradbury, Author One of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers
5 Carolyn Elayne Alexander walking tours Venice Historian “Venice’s Premier Historian”, and created Venice
6 Jim Morrison Lead vocalist of the Doors Together with keyboardist Ray Manzarek, Morrison founded the Doors in 1965 in Venice, California.
7 Carol Tantau Small business woman, Community leader, served on the Venice Chamber of Commerce board of directors, including several years as president, recipient of Abbot Kinney Festival Spirit of Venice Awards, 2013.
8-9 James Evans and Daniel Samakow. Co-Founders Venice Art Crawl, Restaurateurs of James’ Beach (and JB LAX), Canal Club and Danny’s Deli. Co-founded Venice Pride and the annual Venice Pride festival and Rainbow Sign lighting. Part of the team behind the Venice Pride Rainbow Lifeguard Tower and Bill Rosendahl Beach. LGBTQ LA Pride certificate of appreciation for CD 11.
10 Abbot Kinney- Venice founder Kinney is best known for his “Venice of America” development in Los Angeles.
11 Robin Murez– Artist, public artist and instructor. Her sculptural installations throughout the US have won numerous awards, critical acclaim and are loved by their communities.
12 Arnold Schwarzenegger– Athlete, actor, Governor, Actor, businessman, politician, and former professional bodybuilder who trained at Gold’s Gym, and became former Mr. Olympia. He served as the 38th governor of California from 2003 to 2011.
13 Joe Gold- Founder of Gold’s Gym was an American bodybuilder and businessman. He was the founder of Gold’s Gym and World Gym. He has been credited with being the father of the bodybuilding and the fitness craze.
14 Dr. Judy Baca– Venice Muralist artist, activist, and professor of Chicano studies, world arts, and cultures based at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is the co-founder and artistic director of the Social and Public Art Resource Center in Venice, California.
15/16 Joan Del Monte and Pat Johnson– Friends of Venice Library founders. Founded in 2001, FoVL has grown to over 100 members.
17 Norman Foote Marsh Architect – He specialized in the design of schools and churches18 Jules Muck- Muralist Jules Muck is a graffiti and mural artist based in Venice, California.
19,20, 21 Tony Alva, Jay Adams, Stacy Peralta Skateboarding founders members of the legendary Z-Boys skateboarding team from Dogtown, Venice, California. They are credited with revolutionizing skateboarding in the 1970s. The movie Lords of Dogtown is based on their lives.
22 Madame Joelle Dumas- Founder and Director of Ecole Clair Fontaine School awarded Spirit of Venice and Women Artists of Venice awards. Founder and Chair of the Venice Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, Member of the Venice Neighborhood Council’s “Focus on Children Committee,” Founder of the Venice WAVE awards.
23 Ruth Galanter– Los Angeles City Councilmember 6th district. Instrumental in the 1991 Venice canal improvements
24 Hal Frederick– Actor and Restauranteur, owner of Hal’s Bar and Grill
25 Paul Tanck– “Venice Firsts“ Columnist, graphic artist, Venice photographer. Founding member, Venice Heritage Foundation.
26&27 Edizen and Alex Stowell – Venice Paparazzi and Co-founders of Venice Art Crawl
28 & 29 Walter Schneider (not pictured) and B M Alexander- Original owners of Roosterfish Restaurant,opening in 1979, a pioneering gay venue at the beach.
30 & 31 Alley Bean and Orson Bean Actors and community activists Orson Bean recipient of 2016 Venice Spirit Award at the 32nd Abbot Kinney Festival.
32- George Drury Smith Beyond Baroque Founder Founder of Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, founding publisher of Beyond Baroque magazine, and former associate publisher, copy editor, and CFO of The Argonaut,
33 Jeffrey Stanton – Historian Leading Venice Beach Historian Who Authored “Coney Island of the Pacific”, 2024 recipient of the Inaugural “Venice Preservationist Award”
34 Harry Perry– Musician Legendary Street Musician known for playing the electric guitar on roller skates at the Venice Board Walk since 1973. Activist- in the mid 1990’s Harry Perry helped save the artisans, skateboarders, and surfers who built his beloved Venice Beach by engaging in a long federal fight against City Hal (he won!)l. He was the guest of honor at the ribbon cutting for the Venice Heritage Museum,
35 Lucille Cappas Senior Librarian of the Venice Library for 28 years and oversaw the move to the current larger location in 1995. Instrumental in starting the Friends of the Venice Library in 2001.
36 Maribel Garcia Messenger clerk at the Venice Library for over 30 years, since the new building was established in 1995.
37 Lynn Warshafsky– Founder and Executive Director of the Venice Arts
