by Chris Epting
Soon, Rickenbackers created the sound and image of bands on both sides of the Atlantic. Jim (later Roger) McGuinn—who bought a Rickenbacker 360/12 after seeing the movie “A Hard Day’s Night”—literally made the bell-like quality of its tone the foundation of the Byrds’ early style. His later 3-pickup 370/12 featured custom wiring, but was still for the most part an off-the-rack instrument. The Who’s Peter Townshend, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s John Fogerty, Steppenwolf’s John Kay, and many other well-known 1960s guitarists became faithful Rickenbacker users. What had been a six-week waiting period from the factory for some models became a six-month (or longer) waiting period in the mid 1960s.
This rapid growth in demand led to changes in the company. Before 1964 all Rickenbacker guitars had been made at the original Electro String factory in Los Angeles. That year Hall moved it over a six-month period to Santa Ana, in nearby Orange County. Despite the disruption in production during the transition, the new factory had increased production capacity. During this same period, the distributor Radio-Tele changed names to Rickenbacker, Inc., thus adopting a moniker people had used all along anyway.
Rickenbacker. Fender. “Louie, Louie.” Righteous Brothers. Tim Buckley. Jackson Browne. All were homegrown in Orange County. The county was exporting a lot of talent around the world in many forms. Now it was time to import some.
Chapter 2
THE LATE 1960s–MID-1970s
Of all the music venues in Orange County, arguably the most beloved, historic and significant was the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach. The Golden Bear opened at 306 Pacific Coast Highway (just across from the pier) as a restaurant in the 1920s. Designed by renowned Southern California architect Ernest Ridenour, movie stars back then would motor down from Hollywood for dinner after a day at the beach. The original owner, Harry Bakre, retired in 1951. The business was home to various restaurants and then sat vacant for several years after Bakre’s death in 1957.
Then, in 1963, Delbert Kauffman took over the club and established it as a folk venue. In the mid-’60s, Kauffman brought in a variety of diverse acts that represented the modern folk movement that was taking place. The very first act they hosted was a group called Les Baxter’s Balladeers, which featured a young David Crosby. The Lovin’ Spoonful, Hoyt Axton, Buffalo Springfield and many other bands would appear at the Golden Bear in the three years that Kaufman ran the place. (While it was rumored that Bob Dylan had played there, this is untrue. In fact what happened was that the Golden Bear promoted a concert where Dylan performed in nearby Long Beach at Wilson High School in December 1964.) But running a club proved too much of a financial challenge for Kaufman, and by 1966, he was bankrupt.
The Golden Bear closed again, but not for long. This is when the aforementioned George Nikas reopened the club in 1966 while also opening venues in nearby Seal Beach. With his guidance, the club continued to grow and was soon booking more national acts, including the Flying Burrito Brothers, Richie Havens and Janis Joplin, who appeared many times at the club. Nikas would operate the club until 1974, further establishing it as one of the most popular and acclaimed venues in Southern California.
A vintage ad from the Golden Bear. Author’s collection.
Chris Hillman, formally of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, remembers the Golden Bear well:
What an amazing ambiance that place had. Warm and intimate. I had surfed at Huntington Beach once as a kid, being from San Diego and all, so that’s all I knew about the city before I played there. But to appear at the Bear was always a treat. We’d get down there early, maybe four in the afternoon or so, to sound check. Then we’d all head out on the pier to that place at the end, it was like a coffee shop, and we’d have some of the best hamburgers I’ve ever eaten. That whole set up, the club, the pier, the ocean, it was magical.
The exterior of the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach. Author’s collection.
It was also a different vibe than playing in L.A. When the Beatles said we [the Byrds] were their favorite American band, it made us feel special, and we were treated like stars around town. But down at the Bear, it was more laid-back and cool, a great environment to play in—and the food there was great, too. Why does it always come back to the food, for me? It’s harder and harder to find places that like. I remember being there with McGuinn, Clark and Hillman and Tom Petty came down to meet us and hang out. It was that kind of place. A great hangout—and you never knew who might show up.
Musician Marc Volman of the legendary Turtles played the Golden Bear many times and says it was a special place for the band. “We had great fan support there and the place was very professional. They paid market value for bands and filled an important void. For us it was always a good gig.”
Just a couple doors away from the Golden Bear, two other venues opened around 1967. There was the basement club called the Salty Cellar (which also attracted name acts and featured a house band called the Blues Syndicate) and then a smaller club called Syndicate 3000. As burgeoning as the music scene was in the laid-back little surf town, there were other venues around the county that were beginning to attract attention by luring in both big-name an up-and-coming stars of Huntington Beach.
A 1982 advertisement for the Golden Bear. Author’s collection.
Disneyland of all places had actually become a remarkably diverse musical venue by the mid-1960s. During the summer, there was a wildly active musical schedule that brought many popular acts to Orange County. The last year that the park featured primarily big-band music in its concert series that would kick off over Memorial Day weekend was 1965.
By 1966, folk, country and pop music all but ruled the performances at the Magic Kingdom during summer. On Monday evenings, Disneyland would feature the folk Hootenanny. Tuesday it was called a Humdinger and targeted a younger audience. Wednesdays were held for the Country Music Jubilee, and on Thursdays it was guest band night.
Reviewing the entire summer schedule, it is amazingly impressive the caliber of acts that Disneyland brought in during 1966. And it’s impossible to gauge how much they helped grow the music industry by providing such easy access to so much talent.
June 20 (Monday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Hootenanny: the Womenfolk; David Troy; Dapper Dans; Bud and Len; Clara Ward Singers.
June 21 (Tuesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Humdinger: Vic Dana; the Blossoms; H.B. Barnum; Tina Mason; the Mustangs; Humdinger Dancers; the Association.
June 22 (Wednesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Country Music Jubilee: Roy Acuff; the Dillards; Kathy Taylor; Dorsey Burnett Band; the Association.
June 23 (Thursday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Guest Band Nite: the Association.
June 24 (Friday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Association.
June 25 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Association.
June 27 (Monday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Hootenanny: Greenwood County Singers; Kathy Taylor; Tim Morgan; Ward Singers.
June 28 (Tuesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Humdinger: Jackie DeShannon; Olympics; Bantams; Humdinger Dancers; Jim Doval and the Gauchos.
June 29 (Wednesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. County Music Jubilee: Roy Clark; Ramblers; Billy Armstrong; Jim Doval and the Gauchos.
June 30 (Thursday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Guest Band Nite: Jim Doval and the Gauchos.
July 1 (Friday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: Jim Doval and the Gauchos.
July 2 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: Jim Doval and the Gauchos.
July 4 (Monday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Hootenanny: the Dillards; Steve Gillette; Darleen Carr; Candy Company; Dapper Dans; Bud and Len; Clara Ward Singers.
July 5 (Tuesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Humdinger: Joey Paige; Ketty Lester; New Classic Singers; the Mustangs; Humdinger Dancers; the Spats.
July 6 (Wednesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Country Music Jubilee: George Hamilton IV; Sue Thompson; the Spats.
July 7 (Thursday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Guest Band Nite: the Spats.
July 8 (Friday) 9 a.m.-1 a.m.: the Spats.
July 9 (Saturday)
9 a.m.-1 a.m.: the Spats.
July 11 (Monday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Hootenanny: the Pair Extraordinaire; the Aquamen; David Troy; Jim and Jean; Dapper Dans; Bud and Len; Clara Ward Singers.
July 12 (Tuesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Humdinger: Leslie Gore; the Rivingtons; the Mustangs; Humdinger Dancers; Dobie Gray; the Sunrays.
July 13 (Wednesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Country Music Jubilee: Minnie Pearl; the Sunrays.
July 14 (Thursday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Guest Band Nite: the Sunrays.
July 15 (Friday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Sunrays.
July 16 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Sunrays.
July 18 (Monday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Hootenanny: Joe and Eddie; Irish Rovers; Mickey Elley; Disneyland Regulars; Clara Ward Singers.
July 19 (Tuesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Humdinger: April and Nino; Jackie Lee; Gloria Jones; the Mustangs; Humdinger Dancers; the Regents.
July 20 (Wednesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Country Music Jubilee: Hank Thompson; Wanda Jackson; the Regents.
July 21 (Thursday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Guest Band Nite: the Regents.
July 22 (Friday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Regents.
July 23 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Regents.
July 25 (Monday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Hootenanny: Hoyt Axton; Goose Creek Symphonic Band & Stage Door Company; Disneyland Regulars.
July 26 (Tuesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Humdinger: Brenda Holloway; Ray Peterson; the Steiner Bros.; the Mustangs; Humdinger Dancers; Dobie Gray; the Sounds of Soul.
July 27 (Wednesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Country Music Jubilee: Canadian Sweethearts; Glen Campbell; the Sounds of Soul.
July 28 (Thursday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Guest Band Nite: the Sounds of Soul.
July 29 (Friday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.: the Sounds of Soul.
July 30 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.: the Sounds of Soul.
August 1 (Monday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Hootenanny: the New Society; Walt Conley; the Uncalled Four.
August 2 (Tuesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Humdinger: Mel Carter; the Standells; Carolyn Daye.
August 3 (Wednesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Country Music Jubilee: Freddie Hart and His Band; Mary Taylor; Jerry Naylor.
August 4 (Thursday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Guest Band Nite: the Magnificent VII.
August 5 (Friday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Magnificent VII.
August 6 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Magnificent VII.
August 8 (Monday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Hootenanny: Irish Rovers; David Troy; Darleen Carr; Dixson Bowles and the Dan Blocker Singers.
August 9 (Tuesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Humdinger: the Hondells; Tina Mason.
August 10 (Wednesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Country Music Jubilee: Tex Williams; Le Garde Twins; Cathie Taylor
August 11 (Thursday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Guest Band Nite: Knickerbockers.
August 12 (Friday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: Knickerbockers.
August 13 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: Knickerbockers.
August 15 (Monday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Hootenanny: the Dillards; the New Folk Trio; Tim Morgon; Steve Gillette; Disneyland Regulars.
August 16 (Tuesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Humdinger: Joey Paige; Gloria Jones; the Rivingtons; the Regents.
August 17 (Wednesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Country Music Jubilee: Jimmy Wakely; Joe & Rose Lee Maphis; the Regents.
August 18 (Thursday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Guest Band Nite: the Regents.
August 19 (Friday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Regents.
August 20 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Regents.
August 22 (Monday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Hootenanny: the Back Porch Majority; Aquamen; Fred Thompson; Disneyland Regulars.
August 23 (Tuesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Humdinger: Bobby Sherman; the Two People; the Bantams; the Premiers.
August 24 (Wednesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Country Music Jubilee: the Geezinslaw Brothers; Bob Morris; Faye Hardin; the Premiers.
August 25 (Thursday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Guest Band Nite: the Premiers.
August 26 (Friday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Premiers.
August 27 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Premiers.
August 29 (Monday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Hootenanny: the Greenwood Singers; Casey Anderson; Goose Creek Symphonic Band & Stage Door Company; Disneyland Regulars.
August 30 (Tuesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Humdinger: Martha and the Vandellas; the Mustangs; Humdinger Dancers; the Spats.
August 31 (Wednesday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Country Music Jubilee: Rex Allen Show; Jimmy Wallis; the Spats.
September 1 (Thursday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Guest Band Nite: the Spats.
September 2 (Friday) 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.: the Spats.
September 3 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Spats.
September 4 (Sunday) 9:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.: the Spats; Nellie Lutcher.
September 5 (Monday) 10:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Hootenanny: Disneyland Regulars.
September 7 (Wednesday) 10:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Country Music Jubilee: Merle Haggard; the Dillards; Bonnie Owens; Jimmy Wallis.
In the early 1970s, Disneyland would be the site of a monumental moment in rock history. But more will come on that later.
The music landscape in Orange County changed from August 3 to August 4, 1968. This is when the Newport Pop Festival came to the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. Not only was it the first concert ever to have more than 100,000 paid attendees, but it was also one of the first major music festivals ever to be held in Southern California.
Organized by twenty-six-year-old Gary Schmidt and his father, Al, the festival was originally set to be held inside the actual fairgrounds in an outdoor pavilion. But once everyone got a sense of how many people would be attending in the days leading up to the show, the decision was made to move the festival to the large adjoining parking lots. This meant that there would be no shade for attendees, and there was a mad scramble to move all the fencing, staging, sanitation and food concessions to the new area. As a result, things did not go as smoothly as originally planned.
But the lineup was incredibly impressive, and many fans today have fond memories of the festival.
On Saturday, August 3, performers included Alice Cooper, Canned Heat, the Chambers Brothers, Charles Lloyd Quartet, Country Joe and the Fish, the James Cotton Blues Band, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Sonny and Cher, Steppenwolf and Tiny Tim.
The Sunday, August 4 lineup included Blue Cheer, Eric Burdon and the Animals, the Grateful Dead, Illinois Speed Press, Iron Butterfly, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Byrds and Things to Come.
Today, Gary Schmidt makes his home in Nevada. When asked what a few of his favorite memories were from that weekend, he offered, “Taking Marty Balin and Grace Slick in a ride over the event in the helicopter, gate control, Chamber Brothers and Eric Burdon. There is film available online now. My photos burned up in an album in a house fire, but I still have the negatives somewhere but have not found them yet.”
This was how the event was covered by Rolling Stone magazine under the headline “Newport Pop Festival Drags on in Dust and Heat: Dead, Country Joe, Crosby, Pie Fight Weekend’s Highlights”:
Vintage advertisements for the Newport Pop Festival held in 1968. Author’s collection.
An estimated 140,000 attended the first and probably the last Newport Pop Festival in California’s Orange County Aug. 3–4, viewing, among others, Tiny Tim, Jefferson Airplane, Country Joe and the Fish, Grateful Dead, Chambers Brothers, Charles Lloyd, James Cotton Blues Band, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and the Byrds.
The festival was regarded musically successful but on other fronts rather less than pleasing. The performers appeared on a raised stage under a striped canopy, but the young crowds were left sitting or standing in a huge, flat, dusty-dry open field under a broiling sun. Refreshment and rest room facilities were less than adequate and the sound system was not powerful enough to ca
rry the sound to everyone present.
The highlight of the pop fest on the first day (Saturday) seemed to come when Country Joe closed the bill. The hour was late and Orange County officials were threatening to shut off the electricity when the band went on, finally relenting to give the band time for two songs. As they began their first, “1, 2, 3, 4, What Are We Fighting For,” the approximately 40,000 young people still on hand rose as if one, cheering, hands held aloft in the “peace sign.” During the second number, a long blues, even the cops on stage were grinning and adlibbing a moderate version of the boogaloo.
The second day’s climax came when David Crosby started a planned pie fight with Jefferson Airplane. In all, 250 cream pies flew back and forth…and the thousands of people present stormed the stage to join in.
The musical line-up was an impressive one. Besides those already mentioned, bands appearing were Alice Cooper, Steppenwolf, Sonny and Cher, Canned Heat, Electric Flag, Butterfield Blues Band, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Blue Cheer, Iron Butterfly, Illinois Speed Press and Things to Come.
But admission to the festival was $5.50 per day—to sit in heat and dust. Most considered it another in the series of pop music shucks.
Three days after the event, the Costa Mesa City Council decided that there would not be a Newport Pop Festival encore. “To say that we would not like it back here would be the understatement of the year,” Costa Mesa mayor Alvin Pinkley was quoted as saying.
In 1968, there was another interesting little musical moment that occurred in Orange County. At a small club called the Cave located near the corner of Beach Boulevard and Adams Avenue in Huntington Beach, just a few blocks from the ocean, the band Them, featuring Van Morrison, performed for one night. Opening the show was ? and the Mysterians, who had just had a hit with the song “96 Tears.” And the first band to take the stage was a group called Meatloaf Soul, whose lead singer, Marvin Lee Aday, also went by the name “Meatloaf.”