A surfing event of historical significance is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. tonight, June 15, at the La Paloma Theatre, 471 1st St. in Encinitas. The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Moores Cancer Center and Luau & Longboard Committee is presenting the 40th anniversary of the theatrical release of “The Endless Summer,” the all-time classic surfing film documentary that introduced the mass market moviegoer to an authentic surfing experience, with tremendous success.
The UCSD Cancer Center benefit fund-raiser will honor Bruce Brown, the iconic film’s producer, and will include appearances by the two main surfing stars, Mike Hynson of San Diego and Robert August. Also on hand will be artist Jon Van Hamersveld, who produced the famed neon-color “Endless Summer” film poster, along with many other legendary rock and roll star concert posters and album covers, members of the Sandals band who provided the timeless soundtrack music for the film, and other dignitaries.
The invitation-only event will also feature plenty of legendary surfing-world guests, including Tom Morey, inventor of the boogie board; the original “Gidget,” Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman; Mickey Munoz, one of the first big-wave riders of Waimea Bay; former Women’s World Surfing Champion Debbie Beacham of La Jolla, and many others.
“The Endless Summer,” filmed in Africa, Australia, Tahiti, Hawaii and California, told the tale of two adventurous surfers traveling the world in search of the perfect wave. It originally debuted in 1964 and played very well on the coastal city surf film circuit, leading Brown to gamble that it would appeal to the general public as well and he booked it in Wichita, Kansas, as a test, where it broke house records for two solid weeks. He then screened it in Manhattan, New York, and it ran for one year straight at the Kuyups Bay Theatre. It was picked up for national and worldwide distribution in 1966 and ultimately made Brown millions on what was originally a $50,000 investment.
The 40th anniversary of the big theatrical release is “a celebration of a culture and what the film brought to the world,” according to event promoter Sam Armstrong, who also co-founded the UCSD Moores Cancer Center Luau & Longboard Invitational, which runs annually in August near Scripps Pier in La Jolla and has raised more than $1.5 million to date for cancer cure research.
“This evening will be like a ‘field of dreams’ for surfers,” Armstrong said.
For information on “The Endless Summer” 40th anniversary film event, contact the UCSD Moores Cancer Center, (858) 822-0023, or La Paloma Theatre, (760) 436-7469.
In more surfing news, Windansea surfer Fernando Aguerre will talk about and sign his new book, “Surfing’s Greatest Misadventures,” next Monday, June 19, at Warwick’s, 7812 Girard Ave. Aguerre is president of the International Surfing Association. The free event begins at 7:30 p.m. For information, call (858) 454-0347.
