• Da Cat from Malibu: T.J. Barrack grew up in the valley, and his new surf film, “Chasing Dora,” made with Wes Brown, screens after a Digital Days VIP reception Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Arlington. It’s a travelogue and tribute to Malibu legend Mickey “Da Cat” Dora, who died Jan. 3, 2002 at age 67, in Montecito. Dora was first the star of, then rebelled against, an increasingly crowded and commercial surf scene at the fabled break.
According to the online resource Surfline, “At the 1967 Malibu Invitational Surf Classic, competing for the last time, Da Cat took off on a wave, trimmed beautifully across its blue-green face and, passing in front of the judges, bent over, dropped his black shorts and exposed his naked (bottom) to the gathered dignitaries and spectators.”
Robert “Wingnut” Weaver, star of Endless Summer II, surfing legend Mickie “Mongoose” Munoz, and Santa Barbara Junior High School alumnus and ace shaper Marc Andreini star, following Dora’s post revolt concept of surfing eight-foot waves at Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa with no wetsuits, natural boards, and no judges.
The event will benefit the Surfrider Foundation and local youth media educational programs. Tickets are available at the Arlington box office and at Ticketmaster.
I’d love to see that one…I could drag the gals(My daughters 6 and 11) with me?..Yikes!!! I can hear my wife yelling at me now…YOU DID WHAT ON A SCHOOL NIGHT !!!LOL
You better drag 'em Herb. Sure, they’ll be a little cranky the next day…and you might catch hell on the homefront. But they’ll remember it the rest of their lives
I heard the band is Mr. Tom Curran, Skip Im gonna try and make it , Marc and I were on the RV. ride for 4 days , today was the the first day I felt semi normal.
currens music was good, real jammy, like surf rock with a jam style. so it was good live. i mean i wouldnt want a cd of it, i feel like one or two surf rock cds are enough to last a lifetime, but he would just jam for a few minuets, then sing, then jam some more, the keyboard player was really bustin out.
sam george was there, i think. that guy’s hair is so funny. it cracks me up!
the film was pretty good, actually i was really happy to see it. great movie. i just wished they talked a little more about who dora was, just a little more. munoz was great.
and santa barbara was weird. its so weird up there, too rich. people up there dress like their shit doesnt smell. other then that, a great time.
"sam george was there, i think. that guy’s hair is so funny. it cracks me up! "
“and santa barbara was weird. its so weird up there, too rich. people up there dress like their shit doesnt smell. other then that, a great time.”
It is weird and beautiful at the same time. That’s what makes it so special. You’re right about the money. There is alot of money up there. Montecito is home to some of the wealthiest people in the nation. My wife does insurance inspections up there and showed me pictures of a 10,000 sq ft. mansion with two guest houses, pools, horses, recording studios, and full size movie theatre…all on one property. Of course that’s not the norm but it does give you an idea of the level of money that’s floating around up there. I worked at the Biltmore for a few years during college and could tell you stories you wouldn’t believe!
Really wish I could have seen that movie. Does anyone know when it’ll be released on DVD?
sam george was there, i think. that guy’s hair is so funny. it cracks me up!
the film was pretty good, actually i was really happy to see it. great movie. i just wished they talked a little more about who dora was, just a little more. munoz was great.
and santa barbara was weird. its so weird up there, too rich. people up there dress like their shit doesnt smell. other then that, a great time.
So true, it’s almost as weird as the 80’s when snorting coke was a recreational sport. I went late, knowing the music would drag on, even had time to go across the street for a G&T. Thankfully, I got to see Tom Curran’s son come out and play drums on one tune. That was the best part.
The movie was great, in the big tradition of surf film making in the Brown family. Seeing Andreini layout, and mill his wood was worth the price ($20.00 whoa) for me. Marc’s craftsmanship is beautiful. Mickey Munoz adds his wisdom and continues to show us the way. These guys are my hero’s. Munoz, under the parameters of Dora’s idea, kills J-bay. I’d bet there were many back stories etc. There was some unseen footage of Dora, and Mickey that I really liked. There was one of Dora riding behind Yater at Malibu on a good day. Dora didn’t fuck w/ Yater, he laid back some and shared.
Hey Skip, sorry I didnt see you, Toms sons Frankie and Pat were very cool. SB has REALLY changed in the late 60s and early 70s you could roll a bowling ball down State st. and it could go all the way to Sterns Wharf and roll off the end .
where are all the surfers and who the hell are these people watching this surf movie?
i felt that there were hardly ANY surfers there. just girls dressed to go clubbin and santa barbara yuppies who dont even know how close santa barb is to the ocean.
