If we go by this YouTube clip then these are definitely Harmony Park.

BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS!
www.facebook.com/BossFink
www.doublecrownrecords.com

If my memory serves me well the drum risor at the Rendezvous was 3 to 4 feet higher than the level of the stage where the other members played. The stage we played at Harmony Park had slightly higher level for the drums and I don't remember any curtains covering back of stage. Dennis Merritt our sax player would know for sure more details.
Bob- Dave Myers and The Surftones

JakeDobner wrote:

I really like his drumming there! The guitar part, while he is drumming... REALLY bad, until the solo and then it is an example of why Dick Dale/Deltones were such an influence. The tone and how that was played... ahead of its time.

We've all seen that look of intensity many times whether sticks or guitar in hand. Rockin' the house, great clip.

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Those pics of Dick were shot at Harmony Park. The earlier shot with the curtains was Harmony as well as the curtains went away later.
You can always tell Harmony by the checkerboard tile on the stage floor.
Also there were two doorways to the stage from the back dressing rooms...one on the left side the other on the right. Crappy greenish curtains covered the doorways.
The second level on the stage is only about a foot higher then the stage and it went the entire length of the stage.
There was also a wooden railing at the front and sides of the stage.
The only way onto the stage from the dance floor was a door and stairs to the left of the stage that led up to the three dressing rooms in the rear of the stage.
Hope this helps.

Just came across this cool pic I've never seen before of DD at Harmony Park...

BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS!
www.facebook.com/BossFink
www.doublecrownrecords.com

I don't ever remember anybody taking a camera to a dance. There were some promotional shots of the bands taken and that's about it. It cost enough money to develop film that picture taking would have been a luxury for a lot of teens.

The question really isn't about kids with cameras, IMO. I don't remember anybody my age at the time who had a camera, much less brought it to a band practice, a gig, or a dance. I think it's about PROUD parents with cameras who wanted to capture their son playing in his first band. Or, better yet, filming them with an 8mm Brownie or Bell & Howell movie camera. At least, that's the theory. Some 8mm films of surf bands do exist (silent, of course), but it truly surprises me that more of this hasn't turned up in the last 40-50 years. Kathy Marshall's parents, for example, filmed her many times at backyard parties and at gigs with both still and 8mm movie cameras. There has to be more out there that remains to be found.

BTW, that Dick Dale footage at Harmony Park (as those who have a copy of my surf music discography will know) was filmed in 16mm (with sound) by Capitol Records. They wanted to create a short promo film of the new recording artist they had recently signed that could be shared with disc jockeys across the country to show at record hops. I'm not sure it was ever distributed as planned. All that remains today is a portion of the film with an editing time code in the lower third of the frame.

www.johnblair.us
www.soundofthesurf.com

Another rare picture of Dick Dale & his Del-Tones:

I found this in yet another article about the story behing Misirlou:
http://the-guitar.com/dick-dale-misirlou/

The background looks very similar to the picture of the Pickwick Park Teenage Fair mentioned previously, but it's obviously late in the evening.

Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin)
"Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms!
"Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records!

Last edited: Mar 11, 2016 03:39:59

Just stumbled about this cool shot of the Belairs yesterday (I had seen a smaller version in a CD booklet before, but only in b/w):

Taken from an article about surf bands from the South Bay.

Note the reverb in front of Eddie's amp! So this must have been shortly before he left to form Eddie & the Showmen.

Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin)
"Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms!
"Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records!

This thread should be stickied. Thanks for bumping it!

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea