Torrance Beach
In the 1960's if you were cool, you were from California and could ride a surfboard. The "Beach " movies of Frankie and Annette, music of The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, let's face it anything to do with the beach or surfing was "HOT".
Batman also had their version of a mini surf movie when in episode 104 - Surfs Up Jokers Under" They had a surfing competition between The Joker and Batman. This all took place at "Gotham Point" and the shack on the beach was called the "Hang Five".
In reality this was shot on location at Torrance Beach. This beach is about 1.5 miles long and close to 20 miles from either the Fox or Culver studios Batman was using. The Hollywood Riviera Beach Club was here from 1931 to 1958 when it burned down mysteriously giving the beach the nickname - Burn Out Beach. In 1959 an access path, restrooms and a snack shack were built where the beach club once stood. Im not exactly sure who made the decision to use Torrance Beach, perhaps someone in the Bat crew lived close or it was a bit off the beaten path and less folks to interfere with filming, maybe they flipped a coin :)
Batman used the snack stand as the exterior for the show. The prop department added rails where surfboards could be set and other set dressings not normally at the beach.
The Beach has a long access road coming down from the parking lot where Joker in the Jokermobile made his escape.
Torrance Beach is still a popular location - in 2001 the beach underwent a great deal of construction and the "Hang Five" used in Batman was only an empty shell before being torn down for a new more modern snack area. Here are some beach shots from 1979 then 2001
Here are a few more pixs :)
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