Demographics & Geography: Venice has about 40,000 residents Venice is the biggest tourist attraction in Los Angeles and second in So.Cal only to Disneyland. Venice had about 16 million visitors last year, and 7 million of them were under 35 years old. Venice is bordered by Santa Monica to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, Marina del Rey to the south and Culver City and Mar Vista to the east. Pop Culture: The Doors formed in Venice in 1965 Venice resident Robert Trujillo was a bass player for Suicidal Tendencies, and currently plays for Metallica. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and Franco Columbo trained for years at Muscle Beach in Venice. Arnold and Lou still frequent the area Venice is credited by most as the birthplace of modern skateboarding The Red Hot Chili Peppers filmed their video for The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie in Venice on the roof of the Venice Paparazzi HQ. That is us who created this book! World famous, pioneering Zephyr skate team, known as the Z boys, came from the Venice/Santa Monica area, and original members included: Movie producer Stacy Peralta, Dog Town skateboard owner Jim Muir, the legendary Jay Adams, Alva brand skateboard owner Tony Alva, pro surfer Allen Sarlo, Peggy Oki, and several others. Rydell High, from the movie Grease, is actually Venice High School. Filmed in Venice: American History X, Lords of Dogtown, White Men Can’t Jump, Californication, Speed, Bay Watch, Jackie Brown, Three’s Company, L.A. Story, I Love You Man, Get Shorty, V, Colors, Xanadu, Pumping Iron, Grease, and many more. Interesting Facts: Venice founder Abbot Kinney acquired the land that is Venice in a coin toss. Venice was built as a replica of Venice, Italy, complete with canals and gondola rides. Ocean lifeguarding was started in Venice by Hawaiian George Freeth in 1905. He was hired by Abbot Kinney. The first documented surfing demonstration on the mainland U.S.A took place in Venice in 1907.
