Sebastiani Revisits the Playful Past of Ocean Beach

Before Ocean Beach was an vast empty space for kids with hacky sacks and families with picnics, San Francisco's most western beach was a bustling area of grand activity. Between the Sutro baths and 'Playland,' the boardwalk and amusement park, the beach was awash with activity.

Alas, the golden days ended: Playland was torn down in 1972 to make way for a condominium and the Sutro complex burned down in 1966. But the is showing two documentary films that relive the beach's best eara.

The theater will show two films by local filmmaker Tom Wyrsch: "Sutro's: The Palace at Lands End," a feature length documentary on the privately owned swimming and ice skating complex and "Remembering Playland at the Beach."

Journey back to Laffing Sal, the Fun House, Fun-tier Town, through archival footage and interviews. (Or, you could always visit the remnants in at , where the left-over arcade games and promotional posters are housed in a warehouse.)

Though the double-bill aired May 27, the Sebastiani's added a second chance this Sunday, June 3 at 1 p.m. This  event includes a q&a session with the filmmaker Tom Wyrsch.

The films are presented by the Sebastiani Theatre Foundation, the Sonoma Valley Historical Society and the Depot Park Museum as a double bill for one admission price of $10.