Capturing Santa Monica: George Tate, Jr.

George Tate, Jr.’s (1920-1992) images express the exuberant energy of Muscle Beach in the 1950s and 1960s.

Acrobats practicing at Santa Monica's Muscle Beach.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Tate served as a United States Air Force photographer during World War II.

He taught at the Fort Worth School of Photography for several years before earning a degree at the prestigious ArtCenter School of Photography in Pasadena in 1953.

Tate’s excellent eye for detail and composition led to a long and successful career as a freelance photojournalist from the 1950s until his retirement in 1980.

Children playing on the beach, c.1953.

Tate’s 1950s work highlights the health and fitness community of Muscle Beach in Santa Monica.

Tate's unique ability to capture fleeting moments — from impish children and weekend beachgoers to preening bodybuilders and nervous pageant contestants — resulted in a stunning collection documenting Santa Monica’s beach culture.

A beachgoer basks in the sun at Muscle Beach.

Three acrobats practice at Muscle Beach.

A toddler in a stroller.

Tate’s candid street photography of the late 1950s documents a bustling city filled with coffee shops and storefronts.

During the 1970s, Tate began shooting the many gas stations and car washes that popped up to serve new suburban developments throughout Southern California.

The photographer’s son, Greg Tate, notes that one of his father’s favorite quotes was, “People look, but they don’t see.”

Tate captured actress Jayne Mansfield at Muscle Beach with a leashed monkey on her lap.

The Tate Family generously donated this collection to the Santa Monica History Museum, which serves as the official repository of George Tate’s work.