A message from Venice Stories’ Jason Hill

For more than ten years, Venice Stories has captured Venice through the lens of its inhabitants—artists, skaters, activists and historical figures alike. The pages have been my attempt to provide a clear and compassionate glimpse into the soul of a community that defies easy categorization. Every story in this new anthology has been previously published in Los Angeles newspapers, initially by the Venice Beachhead and primarily by The Argonaut. From its inception in 2014, interest and support steadily grew as I collaborated with the local community and worked to meet my goal of 100 stories. Now, after many hours of work, I’m proud to offer the complete volume of work > HERE < for the first time.

Over the past decade, the feature has presented a mosaic of narratives, from the eclectic boardwalk scene to the dynamic arts and cultural landscape, capturing Venice history not only for posterity but also for the entertainment of Westside residents and visitors alike. The series is a testament to community collaboration and cultural preservation, with spoken history from a wide variety of local personalities, along with stories about the history of Venice from it’s earliest days to modern times.

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Read first-person accounts in their own words by local icons, including boardwalk performer Harry Perry, master muralist Rip Cronk, photographer Josh ‘Bagel’ Klassman, artist Ric Clayton, surfboard shaper Guy Okazaki, skateboard legend Ray Flores and many more. The series has covered historical figures in Venice like founder Abbot Kinney, actor Charlie Chaplin, director Orson Welles and author Ray Bradbury. Enjoy 100 stories in total, plus a written introduction along with a 12-page photo scrapbook.