2020 Virtual Lecture Series
Thursday September 24th at 6:30pm
with Domenic Priore

Friday Announcement (for Tuesday): Becky Ebenkamp and I have been working really hard on what is definitely a first for us, a one-off documentary radio show sponsored by L.A.’s Metro rail for Dublab.com. The subject, based on my book “Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Last Stand in Hollywood” will focus on four clubs: It’s Boss, The Hullabaloo, Bido Lito’s and Pandora’s Box. Our special guests are Johnny Echols of the band Love, and Miss Pamela DeBarres, author of several books including “I’m With The Band: Confessions of a Groupie.” The social impact brought on by the Sunset Strip “riots,” both the immediate repercussions during the ’60s (Monterey Pop) and in the future (from the ’90s to now) will also be examined. Tune in, this coming Tuesday, and share with your friends.

– Domenic Priore

Domenic Priore — ’66 Sunset Strip (11.25.19)

Keep On Pushin’

Hank Marvin

CO2 emissions on the web

Jan and Dean Sidewalk Surfin’

Scientists find evidence of ‘ghost population’ of ancient humans

Musicians Can and Should Organize to Improve Their Pay and Working Conditions

Europe’s marine sanctuaries are no more than ‘paper parks’

Apologies for bringing scary news, but here’s the latest on Greenland’s melting ice

Rising sea levels pose threat to homes of 300m people – study

Meet California’s Nerds of Neon

Just Being Outside Can Improve Your Psychological Health, and Maybe Your Physical Health Too

You Can’t Save the Planet by Yourself

‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’: The Ongoing Saga of Pop’s Most Contentious Song

Shred Sista, one wave with the works

A podcast about Bobby “Boris” Pickett of Monster Mash fame
Late One Night

On Sunday, November 13, there will be connected events for the 50th Anniversary. At 1 p.m. (yours truly) Domenic Priore will do a ’50s/’60s Beat Generation-to-Psychedelic Sunset Strip slide show at Small World Books in Venice (1407 Ocean Front Walk, next to The Sidewalk Cafe). Copies of my book “Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Last Stand in Hollywood” will be on sale. At 4 p.m., The Shag Rats will do a free In-Store at at the record shop Sounds of Music (4956 E. Whittier Boulevard, East Los Angeles)… a whole set, this time… and then at 7 p.m., an informal “’66 Sunset Strip Candlelight Vigil/Crowd Singalong” will take place at the site of Pandora’s Box, 8118 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles… the traffic island at the corner of Sunset & Crescent Heights. Bring your acoustic instruments only and a head full of songs from L.A. ’64-’67, and everybody sing along and join the fun without machines! This last event is with the approval of City of Los Angeles, Senior Lead Officer for that district, so play it cool…

Saturday, November 12, 2016, 6 p.m. @ Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Boulevard and The Echo, 1822 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

Source: Domenic Priore guest hosting – Celsius Drop (11.03.16) | dublab

Rock ‘n Rollers Rioted on the Sunset Strip 50 years ago

Tickets

Also, just added to the show, Don Preston and Bunk Gardner, who were members of The Mothers of Invention from 1966-1969 (“Absolutely Free,” “We’re Only In it For the Money,” “Cruisin’ With Ruben & the Jets,” “Uncle Meat,” “Burnt Weenie Sandwich,” “Weasels Ripped My Flesh”). They will perform upstairs at The Echo with The Creation Factory, all part of the same ticket price.

I would like to encourage everyone to get to this show by 8 p.m., because the opening set will be starting promptly with The Shag Rats, who then help to back The Premiers (East L.A. Nuggets legends of “Farmer John” fame) and Brenda Holloway (who grew up in Watts, and was the only L.A. artist signed to Motown, hitting with “Every Little Bit Hurts” and her original “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”)

The Loons will come on at 9:30, and after their set, they’ll bring on Randy Holden, from 1965 Gazzarri’s house band The Sons of Adam, who also were known to open for Love often at Bido Lito’s. Randy moved over to a band called The Other Half, so you’ll hear songs from both The Sons of Adam, and The Other Half.

At 11:05, The Pandoras, will take the stage, and Love Revisited will be the pinnacle, at Midnight.

Upstairs at The Echo, it will be Bomboms at 6:30, The Schizophonics at 7:15, Franki & the Witch Fingers at 8 p.m. and The Creaton Factory at 8:45. After Brenda Holloway finishes downstairs, Don Preston and Bunk Gardner from the Mothers of Invention will join The Creation Factoy on stage to play some of the material from the albums Don and Bunk were on the recordings of circa 1966-1969.

Pacific Longboarder News / Reviews / Events

Coral reefs threatened by a deadly combination of changing ocean conditions

Drive-by identification of energy-leaking homes

From Otto von Stroheim’s Tikievents list:

Book event for ‘Pop Surf Culture: Music, Design, Film and Fashion from the Bohemian Surf Boom’ in Echo Park, L.A., Saturday, February 2st, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Stories book store.

Domenic Priore, Brian Chidester, and The Boardwalkers will appear at Stories books, cafe, goods (1716 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles – near the corner of Echo Park Boulevard) on Saturday, February 21st from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is to celebrate the release of the Chidester/Priore book ‘Pop Surf Culture: Music, Design, Film and Fashion from the Bohemian Surf Boom’ (Santa Monica Press). The book traces surfing and Hawaiian music’s potent combo during early 20th Century Waikiki, directly to its landing on California shores, and their development into a true bohemian subculture by the late 1950s/early 1960s. Focus on Tiki, Surf instrumentals, Surf movies, Surf duds in the pre-1970 environment of Southern California is also offset by a look into Waikiki’s Lounge scene of the ’60s, and later revivals of Surf music during the punk/alt rock days as it mixed with Burlesque, Tiki culture and other things you are most likely a part of. So come down and have a ball, its FREE with live Surf instrumental music by The Boardwalkers and pre-1970 surfing movies projected throughout Stories’ book store. Again, the address is 1716 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. Phone: (213) 413-3733.

Here’s more info on the book Surf Pop Culture by Domenic Priore and Brian Chidester.

Otto von Stroheim writes:

There is a HUGE Surf weekend event happening this weekend
All the details are listed below but if you don’t want to read all that boring text you can just check out the poster here:
https://surfguitar101.com/hosted/SG101convention2.jpg

If you have questions please contact Jeff at:
bigtikidude (at) yahoo (dot) com

Surf Guitar 101 Convention
Suzy’s Bar and Grill
1141 Aviation Blvd. (at Prospect)
Hermosa Beach, California
Noon to 5 or 7 pm, separate night show is 8 pm to midnight

a Swap Meet of surf music (cds, lp’s 45s -new used), and instrument/gear
shirts, posters, hats etc. if you have surf swag/merch to sell bring it, grab a free table and sell away.
Major Vendors will be.
Double Crown Records,
Dionysus Records,
Golly Gee Records
Gomez Amplification
Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum
John Blair with his re-issue of The 80’s album Stampede on CDw bonus trx
Machturtle Productions, and many surf bands cds.
plus many other bands members will be there selling their cds.
and there will be 1 table with Tiki magazine and other tiki related stuff
if you get tired of the Surf stuff.

**but Please save enough Money for the Night show, and their Merch. they need money too, as some of them are coming from The Mid West and
Nor. Cal.

and multi media presentations,
Dominic Priore’s Assistant Brian from the Dumb Angel Gazette and Surf Pop Culture Books, will have some of their books and mags.showing surf music clips from the 60’s and a slide show of historic pictures.
and Possibly have the Original Surfaris Sufari LP for sale.(Lmited qtys)

There will be a short trailer of the ‘Sound of Surf’ music documentary that is in production now, and they may be doing interviews at this event for the film.

Paul Johnson will be having the premier of the Pounding Surf! DVD
plus historic stories and footage from the 60’s surf scene.
plus all of the different cds he has for sale.

and Surf Show
4 Bands
The Boardwalkers, (LA)
Outterwave, (LA)
The Aquasonics, (Colorado)
Secret Samurai, (San Diego)

ALSO just added a short 4 song Eliminators set,
4 songs of Eddie Bertrand with the Eliminators,
and a 30 min Slacktone set.

Surf Jam/ (sign up list to join will be posted soon)many songs,
you play a Standard along with a Live backing band
here is the Link to the Tread with the list of songs to choose to play with Outterwave.
this list will be close soon, so join in now.
https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/6038/?page=1#81631

and get together/meet and greet

I am still talking to people about coming to it, and being involved.
But I wanted to Officially announce when it will be.

Later that night.
The Madeira from Mid west, Pollo Del Mar from Nor. Cal., Insect Surfers and Detonators are playing 8 pm till Midnight.

also
On Sun. Aug 3rd at the Huntington Beach Pier, 11 am to 5 pm will be.
The Fabulous Nomads, The Relix, Aquasonics from Colorado, Pollo Del Mar,
The Madeira , and The Surftones, Feat. Matt Q from Reventlos, and Kerry Chester ex of DD’s 80s band.

I Figured it would be best to announce it asap, as I know the sooner the better, for arranging for airfare and sleeping and car accommodations.

There is also a San Diego show with Pollo Del Mar,Madeira,Secret Samurai, and Zombie Surf Camp, on the Fri. nite. Aug 1st. If anybody would like to go down there to get an early st

Friday, July 6 – 7:30 PM
Hawaii, 1966, MGM Repertory, 161 min.
Director George Roy Hill’s (Throughly Modern Millie) adaptation of James Michener’s sprawling South Seas epic was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography (Russell Harlan) and Best Music Score (Elmer Bernstein). Max Von Sydow is the puritanical missionary who marries disappointed-in-love Julie Andrews just before they set sail to do the Lord’s work in the early 19th century island paradise. But they get more than they bargained for, squeezed between an onslaught of natural disasters and strange native customs. Their Calvinist devotion to a fire-and-brimstone worldview clashes head-on with the uninhibited, Dionysian headiness of the tropical lifestyle. With Richard Harris as Andrews’ former flame, Gene Hackman, Carroll O’Conner, Jocelyne LaGarde (who received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress).

Saturday, July 7 – 4:00 PM
Rare Tiki Island-Themed TV
Approx. 60 min. Artist Kevin Kidney hosts an entertaining hour of vintage tiki-themed television from the early 1960s – including some special surprises! *Tickets available to this program at the door only UNLESS purchased with the Luau Dinner ($20).

Saturday, July 7 – 5:00 PM
Luau Dinner
Following the 4 PM program, join us in the Egyptian Courtyard at 5 PM for a Royal Southern California-style Luau with live music from King Kukelele and his Friki Tikis, the Polynesian Paradise Dancers, vendors and a bountiful island-themed dinner.

On Saturday, July 7th, you have three special ticket price options:
Movies Only (valid for all movies on Saturday only):
General: $12; Senior/Student: $10; Cinematheque Member: $9

Luau Dinner Only: $20 (includes film admission for 4 PM show and dinner.)

All Movies (4 PM and 7:30 PM Movies), plus the Luau Dinner:
General: $27; Senior/Student: $25; Cinematheque Member: $24

*A limited number of dinners will be sold at the door. To guarantee a dinner ticket please purchase in advance.

Vendors in the Courtyard may include: Tiki Tony, Adrift Clothing, Crazy Al’s Bone Productions, “Dumb Angel” Magazine authors Dominic Priore and Brian Chidister, Tiki Diablo, Falling Cocos, Coconut Kids Clothing, Tiki Farm, the American Cinematheque selling poster and others…

Saturday, July 7 – 7:30 PM
Double Feature:
The Sophisticated Misfit, 2007, Smee Entertainment, 65 min.
Mark Chervinsky directed this four-year exploration of the world of Shag, the unlikeliest of Los Angeles artistic icons. Shag’s work doesn’t reflect the multicultural urban milieu of contemporary Los Angeles but rather an entirely different era. Think post-WWII boom years, suburban tracts sprawling across the landscape, Disneyland opening its doors and designers embracing the space-age motifs of Sputnik and the mission to the moon. Shag’s world is one of early 1960’s furniture, cocktail hours, sprawling ranch houses, built-in wet bars, and jet-set style. He embraces a simpler time. But his artwork is filled with subtle, humorous winks of the eye acknowledging that this period wasn’t quite so simple. The smiling women in their mod dresses hold secrets. The festive party scene in the go-go ’60’s home isn’t really what it seems. With Whoopi Goldberg, Patton Oswalt, Paul Frank and Shag. Winner of the Maverick Filmmaker Award at the 2007 Newport Beach Film Festival.

His Majesty O’Keefe, 1954, Warner Bros., 91 min.
Director Byron Haskin (THE NAKED JUNGLE; the original WAR OF THE WORLDS) brings a bracing exuberance to this tall tale of stranded-in-Micronesia sea captain Burt Lancaster’s quest to manipulate his native hosts into helping him build a trading empire. Joan Rice is the enchanting island girl who ends up being queen to his king. The spectacular Fiji Islands locations were stunningly photographed by the great cinematographer Otto Heller (THE CRIMSON PIRATE). Co-starring Andre Morell, Abraham Sofaer, Benson Fong. “…This swashbuckling South Seas adventure feature is ideally suited to Burt Lancaster’s muscular heroics. The Fiji Islands location lensing is a plus…” — Variety Discussion in between films with Shag and director Mark Chervinsky.

Sunday, July 8 – 7:30 PM
Miss Sadie Thompson, 1953, Sony Repertory, 91 min. Dir. Curtis Bernhardt (Possessed).
After having to leave Hawaii when her Honolulu singing job goes kaput, hard-luck dame Sadie Thompson (Rita Hayworth) is stranded on the isle of Samoa which is home to a U.S. Army base. She’s befriended by well-meaning, lovable GI hunk Aldo Ray as well as his soldier pals (including a young Charles Bronson). But dirty-minded lay minister and self-righteous gadabout Jose Ferrer, laying over with his wife on a trip, believes she is nothing more than a common prostitute and is offended by her presence. He takes it upon himself to make Sadie’s life a living hell until he can get her deported back to the States. Although Rita’s singing voice was dubbed by Jo Ann Greer, you would never know it during the musical numbers – she is positively dynamite performing “Hear No Evil,” “The Heat Is On,” and “Blue Pacific Blues.” Originally shot in 3-D, this is a terrific color remake of W. Somerset Maugham’s classic tale Miss Thompson, first filmed in 1932 as RAIN by director Lewis Milestone with Joan Crawford.

Domenic Priore from Dumb Angel writes:

(It’s all about the ocean, mannnnnnn…… — Dom)

It’s been a while since I contacted everyone about a blog or somethin’ cool, but this time, it’s for real….

Dig, The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theater is letting us do our “Beatnik Beach Film Night” this Friday night. We did one last summer at Sponto Gallery in Venice, then in December we brought it to the Roxie Theater in San Francisco. Now, everybody’s been asking us for months to “do this in town” (Venice is a long haul for most of you), so we’re doin’ it up right then, and including a truly great piece of Beat cinema from 1961, “Night Tide” (starring Dennis Hopper and Linda Lawson), plus our slide show of Greater L.A. area Beat coffeehouses and jazz joints of the late ’50s and early ’60s, along with two primordial shorts from the Venice West Cafe back in the day.

If you’ve never been to the Egyptian Theater, it was the immediate predecessor to Grauman’s Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. When Sid Grauman opened it in 1922, it had the same elaborate Hollywood flair (it’s gone through a nice rennovation in its current incarnation as the American Cinematheque). This is gonna be a fun night, in the right place, with all the right people, yeh… We are working on some special guests; all three filmakers may very well be there for Q&A, at least. The American Cinematheque’s description below says it better than I can (o.k., I helped write some of it). Thanks for plannin’, and makin’ an evening of it this Friday. We’re gonna have a ball… — Domenic Priore

Friday, March 30, 2007: Egyptian Theatre

The Friday, March 30th program is a 7:30 PM screening of NIGHT TIDE, (1961, 84 min.). Director Curtis Harrington’s debut indie feature is a masterpiece, a haunted, poetic hymn to the dark world of the fly-by-night carnival, lonely midways at dawn and the siren call of eon’s-old passion spawned by the devils of the deep blue sea. In a fond nod to Val Lewton and Jacques Tourneur’s CAT PEOPLE, at-loose-ends sailor Johnny Drake (Dennis Hopper) falls in love with sideshow mermaid, Mora (Linda Lawson) who may just somehow be related to the real thing. Shot in and around Santa Monica and Venice Beach in the beat culture’s heyday, the film continues to exert a strong spell, and is brimming with the heady atmosphere of bygone coffee houses, poet hipsters, languid jazz and bongos on the shore. With Luana Anders, Gavin Muir. “…captures an intangible quality of what Santa Monica was like in the early 60s. Quite apart from Los Angeles, it was a quiet residential community. The funfair pier has just the right air of seedy despair about it. Everyone seems to be living ‘just off’ the mainstream.” – Glenn Erickson, DVD Savant Preceded by the shorts: “Venice In The Sixties” (15 min.) directed by Leland Auslender. Originally shot for a television show and never used, this is essentially a full-color look inside the atmosphere of the Venice West coffeehouse, its various sections, activities and people; “The Beat From Within: Reflections of a Beatnik” (10 min.) Produced by Ralph Morin and directed by Tom Koester, this short covers a day in the life of a Venice beatnik in glorious black ‘n’ white.

Plus, following the screening, Authors Domenic Priore and Brian Chidester (Beatsville, Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Last Stand in Hollywood, Dumb Angel #4: All Summer Long) will present a unique one-hour slide show documenting the Beat Generation’s long stretch over the Greater Los Angeles area between 1956 and 1966, via visuals of coffeehouses and jazz joints from the Sunset Strip to Malibu, Venice and Newport Beach. Legendary locations only heard about in books or in liner notes, from the Gas House and nearby Venice West Cafe, to the Unicorn and Shelly’s Manne-Hole in Hollywood, the Lighthouse and Insomniac in Hermosa Beach, then all the way down to Cafe Frankenstein (owned, operated and painted by Burt Shonberg). Arists from John Altoon to Eric “Big Daddy” Nord gave these places a colourful splash, as did the wide variety of Folk singers and poets who performed on their stages.

P.S. Also, a new Dumb Angel blog is at: http://dumbangelmag.blogspot.com/