1974 Main Beach Development - Window-to-the-Sea 

This video is about Laguna Beach's Main Beach Development completed in 1974. Clips are shown of the area before and during construction.
As the film opens, judging by the diameter of the large metal headlamp to the left of the image, it appears that they were cruising down South Coast Boulevard in a fire engine (chrome, not the brass headlamps on the City’s old historic fire engine). Note some of the stores still in place on the right downslope of the art museum. When they get to Broadway, Jack Hornbeck’s Chevron Station is still standing, but closed down. Notice that the gas pumps have been removed. The next building on the right awaiting demolition on Main Beach may be Benton’s. The initial filming vehicle turns right onto El Paseo (now blocked off from Coast Blvd.) where there once stood the Shell Station with car rentals that were frequently used by President Nixon’s entourage when they were in the area.
Once the film team starts cruising north on Main Beach sand, it’s obvious they’re riding in a jeep. Notice the progression of trees just inland of the boardwalk. Closest to the northwest wall of Hotel Laguna is the Lagunaria pattersonii (Primrose tree, aka Cow Itch tree) that was in the rear patio of Los Ondas Café/Breakers/Dante’s is visible (it’s still there…one of the oldest trees in Laguna), as is the tall Monterey Cypress that stood sentinel in the parking lot just west of the Dante’s. (commentary by Eric Jessen)