@down-the-road and @jimmy six Thanks for the cool post in Huntington Beach, along the busiest part of PCH then, and certainly, now. That parking spot was “coveted” as it gave anyone a clear sight of the Huntington Beach pier waves all year around. It was one popular spot for those of us that stopped to “check out” the waves to see if we would surf there or head south to Laguna Beach, Dana Point, or San Clemente beaches. Hello, Here is a full color shot of the original photo. The ID would probably be 1963 or 1964. We were regulars there, even though we were approximately 20 miles one way from home in the Westside of Long Beach. These guys were regulars at the pier and those boards are/were custom made with different rails and stringers. Is that you Herbie T? But, the hard thing was driving home after an all day event of surfing in the morning from 5 am to noon, taking a long lunch and allowing the winds to die down and hoping for a late afternoon or early evening “glass off.” Which did not happen often, but one could hope. In between, there was always the requisite nap or two on the beach or back in the Flathead 40 Ford Sedan Delivery. When the afternoon glass off was happening, then most people had already gone home and the pickings were always great. If, and when the Santana Winds were howling, it kept up the waves a little longer for a better ride, too. Jnaki That Golden Bear across the Coast Highway location was the closest place to a nice dinner spot for us. Spaghetti at $.99 was a deal. Tons of buttered French Bread + the gobs of spaghetti was made just for hungry teenagers. The drive home would be satisfying and good after a “full” (pun intended) day/night activities. Now, if there was any extra money we would buy the low cost tickets to see the rock and roll artists that came in to entertain everyone only a few feet away at the dinner tables. Note: One year after my wife and I were regulars at the Golden Bear, we had a great simple dinner and had one of the best tables right in front of the small wooden stage. The main artists were the Big Brother and The Holding Company. We made sure our dinner evening was going to be right where we sat an hour or so later during the concert. While we were eating, the crew started to move “stuff” in and by the time the dinner tables were cleared, the rockers were coming out of the back room. The name Big Brother and The Holding Company was the band with Janis Joplin as the lead singer. She definitely, did not disappoint, singing and swaying a few feet away from our table. Oh, did I tell you it was extremely loud? Janis Joplin came right up to our table and had this “gleam” in her eye as she looked at us, while not missing a beat in the lyrics to the song she was singing. What song? It was all we could do to keep staring and wonder… The Golden Bear was home to many rock stars and their early foray into So Cal music. And… it allowed us to be right there for lunch and dinner, and if we wanted or come back later for a rousing rock music concert. Note 2: Hot rods and surfing in real life? Clay Smith Cams and a possible 409 1961 Impala in the next parking spot. Plus, a funky two toned, 1958 Impala on Main Street across the street. The great surf, the local entertainment spots, delicious diners around this intersection was always a draw for all of us. But, today, it is a gob of whatever and has lost its character from along time ago. In the past 20 years, the view from the ocean towards the beach and pier, as my wife and I sailed up or down the coast in our various versions of our sailboats, are the best memory of this particular pier location. YRMV NOTE 3: “The Golden Bear” in Huntington Beach on Pacific Coast Highway at Main Street is probably holding on to its one-time fame longer than some of our others, but as people age, the glory that was [The Bear ] may soon be lost.” “Baby-boomers may recall that – in the 1960s and 1970s – it was Orange County’s premier venue for pop and rock music, including acts on the way up … and those on the way down. The Bear began as the “Golden Lion” in 1923 as a Greek cafe, with the name being changed to avoid competition to a similarly named eatery. It started on Main and moved a short distance to PCH in 1929.” “In 1963, the Golden Bear – which had been closed since 1957 – was reborn as a folk music club. It caught the wave of the times and booked Lovin’ Spoonful, Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young, Seals and Crofts, The Doors, Jackson Browne and later Patti Smith, Cheap Trick, The Ramones, Peter Gabriel and Garden Grove’s Steve Martin.” (If you don’t recognize many of those acts, you’re too young ….) “But the building didn’t meet earthquake safety standards and was closed in 1986. However, as the downtown was redeveloped, it was reborn in a new building on the same location. [Pepper’s Golden Bear] had a short, embarrassing, six-month life.” “The new [Bear] was directly adjacent to a new movie complex and the noise from each made them both unviable. All that remains is a plaque on a wall in the Pierside Pavilion recalling a time, and a “wonder” gone by.” Great memories associated with surfing days and nights at a rock venue, for all of that ear blasting music that remained in our heads for many days afterwards… What? Who?? YRMV
Never misssed Hoyt Axton when came to OrangeCounty with his bus parked right in front of the Bear. Linda Rhonstat always had a great show and after the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band played my ears rang for a week. How about a menu? Spaghetti $1.50
We had a couple cut-down old cars we roamed the fields with when we were kids. Back then we called them "woopies" more fun than a box of comic books
The Jalopy Journal
