By Lookout Staff

February 6, 2012 -- Hitler was being lauded in Rome, two pounds of bananas were going for 5 cents, and Deanna Durbin was starring in the latest movie at the Majestic Theater.

World War II was still around the corner, and you could read all about the local bargains and movies and vaudeville shows in the Santa Monica Topics newspaper.

That seemingly lost window on the past is once again open for viewing at the Santa Monica History Museum, which received a gift from the Friends of the Santa Monica Library of 13 bound volumes of the long defunct paper dating from 1935 to 1939.

The collection also includes a single volume with issues dated July 4 to December 30, 1910.

World news headlines include, “Famed Dogs Banished from the Alps” and “Hitler Lauded in Rome.” There are announcements for Major Bowes' Second Anniversary Special Vaudeville show at the Ocean Park Municipal Auditorium and weekend dips at the Venice Plunge.

"Each volume houses remarkable items from the pre-war era, with information about earthquakes, opera, business and social news," Friends of the Santa Monica Library wrote in a statement.

The collection marks the first material from the Santa Monica Topics newspaper in the museum’s archive, Friends officials said. The volumes, which are in excellent condition, are available in the Museum’s Morley Builders reference library.

The history museum is seeking to learn more about the Santa Monica Topics newspaper. Those who wrote or shot photos for the paper should contact Mary Pat at info@santamonicahistory.org or 310-395-2290.