Explore the Era

Delve into the postwar Los Angeles art world in this online archive, which provides additional material related to the exhibitions on view at the Getty Center. Learn about hipsters and happenings, and the venues across the city where all the action took place through images from the archives and first-hand accounts with the artists.

Gas House

The Lite Show

The Lite Show at the Gas House in Venice, California, 1959. Photo by William Claxton. Courtesy Demont Photo Management, LLC.

The Gas House opened in 1959 as a space for artists to congregate and share their work. Though it was only open for three years, it quickly became a favorite hangout of the Beat generation, attracting writers such as Stuart Perkoff, Philomene Long, and Jack Kerouac, and artists like John Altoon.

Historic Map Locations

Explore the Archive

  • The Lite Show

    The Lite Show at the Gas House in Venice, California, 1959. Photo by William Claxton. Courtesy Demont Photo Management, LLC.