Welcome to Surf Style: 1960-1966.

An immersive journey back to a time when the sun-drenched beaches of Southern California served as the birthplace of a cultural phenomenon that would forever alter the fabric of American lifestyle, this exhibit celebrates the early 1960s, a moment in time when surf culture experienced a transformative period marked by innovation, rebellion, and an unmistakable sense of freedom.

Surfboard companies such as Hobie, Hansen and Velzy played pivotal roles in shaping this era, while surfers like Phil Edwards and Joyce Hoffman stood at the apex of the burgeoning sport. SURFER Magazine was still brand new, Bruce Brown wouldn’t release The Endless Summer nationally until 1964, while brands like Hang Ten gave the culture its first sense of style. Considered the classic era of the longboard, spots like Malibu and Rincon were focal points, where style, performance and technology all collided.

As surfing's popularity grew in the early '60s, so too did "sidewalk surfing," with Makaha Skateboards and Hobie Skateboards emerging as industry leaders by '64, and 50 million skateboards total sold in American by mid-decade. The '65 International Skateboard Championships, were featured on ABC's Wide World of Sports. Skateboarder magazine was founded in '65, the same year Skater Dater was nominated for a "best live action short" Academy Award. A '65 Life magazine cover story called the skateboard "the most exhilarating and dangerous joy-ride device this side of the hot rod."

The soundtrack of the golden era of Surf Style was as vibrant as the waves that inspired it. While most surfers were more attuned to Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” or The Challengers early surf music, on the charts the Beach Boys, with their harmonious melodies and sun-soaked lyrics, became synonymous with surf culture. Their album "Surfin' U.S.A." (1963) not only topped the charts but also served as an anthem for the mainstream to fall in love with the idea of riding the waves of freedom.

As the United States experienced a cultural revolution, surf music provided the soundtrack to a changing nation. Dick Dale's pioneering surf guitar sound, with hits like "Miserlou," echoed the pulse of a society breaking free from traditional norms. The emergence of surf music also coincided with the rise of artists such as Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, who brought a certain aesthetic to the scene. Eventually all of this would contribute to the rise of the counterculture movement and the Shortboard Revolution, which wouldn’t kick off until the winter of ’66.

Creating a unique synergy that defined the era, Surf Style is more than an exhibit; it's a time capsule that encapsulates the spirit, innovation, and rebellion that characterized the golden era of Surf Style. From the sun-soaked beaches to the iconic surfboards and the music that echoed through the waves, this exhibit invites you to immerse yourself in a transformative period that continues to shape the cultural landscape today. Join us on this journey through time and surf the nostalgia of an era that remains eternally golden.

A very huge thank you to Robert Hendrickson for inspiring the exhibit you see here. An East Coast collector holding a raft of classic decals, patches, team jackets and a Hansen “gun” surfboard, this exhibit wouldn’t have come together without him.

Additional inspiration came from a surfboard featured in a recent issue of The Surfer’s Journal. The article details the contributions of shaper Fred Wardy. That surfboard is displayed here and is on loan from collector Jim Cocores.

And some of what you see simply emerged from my own childhood memories from the “Golden Age” of surfing, from 1960 through 1966, just prior to the emergence of the Shortboard Revolution, which would dominate the scene for the next few decades. Growing up in Southern California, the surfing lifestyle was part of our everyday culture whether you surfed or not. Sunny, warm weather, an accessible coastline, the music, films and TV shows, a burgeoning teen population with lots of recreation time and their parent’s disposable income all provided the necessary ingredients for what would translate into a worldwide phenomenon – surfing!

Additional loaned or donated items are courtesy of Bert Schaar, Birdwell Beach Britches, the Duke Boyd family & friends, Erwin Spitz, Gordon & Smith, Greg MacGillivray, Hobie Surf Shop, John Mazza, Marty Halter, and Mike Salisbury. Special thanks to Jake Howard for his wordsmithing magic.

Barry K. Haun
SHACC Curator & Creative Director