Hey, I wanna be famous! I did stand next to Paul Bragg AND Patrician Bragg in Honolulu in 1971(?). Paul gave a big lecture. Filled the hall. Crushed loaf of white bread in his fists and threw it at the audience. Maybe since standing next to him didn’t really help if I crush some white bread…
He wore an all white suit. Like that Kentucy Colonel I never did stand next to.
and…and… I worked in a health food store in Santa Barbara and actually shook hands w/ Gypsy Boots and discussed Arnold Schvantz’s fertility issues w/ an older woman who had rented him a room when he first came to US. (Arnold…lady…me). Also Johnny Carson’s son came in there. He had on very small shorts!
Gypsy Boots, Used to see him at all the Love Ins around California during the late '60s. He was a true “happy go lucky” character. He always had a bevy of young women with him; his “dancers.” Sold his “health bars” up and down the coast. Adele Davis was the first person I heard of balling up white bread to make a dramatic point during her nutritional lectures. The Braggs are classic. Anyone see the Dr Bronner documentary yet?
I’ve got it on the TiVo for viewing this week.
Ambrose, once again you got me thinking about a lot of hazy memories!
BTW, the guy in the canoe at Killer Dana was Ron Drummond. Ron was truly one of the first activists advocating surfer’s rights in California (John Kelly in Hawaii about the same time) Ron tried to stop the harbor going in at Dana Point but he pretty much was just a lone voice in the wilderness at the time. No way it would go through today. Thanks Ron.
back in the pre leash days , which were also the pre wetsuit days. I use to surf the Lane you were only good for one wipe out and then you had to come in and warm up, Don Golden had a rope that trailed behind his kayak when it was big and you lost your board Don would come by and say grab the rope and I will take you to your board, man the less time you spent in that cold ass water the better.
A mere mention of alcohol in regard to his life engaged me in an editorial communication exchange with his sister…I had lambasted the surf media of the day for not actually saying what brought his life to an early end…perpetuating the mysto mythology of surfing’s youth. Dead at 39? Sometimes it just happens…and maybe if you buy enough crap you can put it off for yourself. Physical fitness and health can be two different things. Sadly I had to stand my ground with his sister. I’m not much for judging people on what takes their life. Who they were and how they lived is what’s important. The article wasn’t about Butch, but that sentence by Ambrose would have looked good there, and meant a lot.
A mere mention of alcohol in regard to his life engaged me in an editorial communication exchange with his sister…I had lambasted the surf media of the day for not actually saying what brought his life to an early end…perpetuating the mysto mythology of surfing’s youth. Dead at 39? Sometimes it just happens…and maybe if you buy enough crap you can put it off for yourself. Physical fitness and health can be two different things. Sadly I had to stand my ground with his sister. I’m not much for judging people on what takes their life. Who they were and how they lived is what’s important. The article wasn’t about Butch, but that sentence by Ambrose would have looked good there, and meant a lot.
Nels
I can think of a half dozen top tier surfers who drank themselves to death. Just like Butch. Tragic figures. There’s usually a lot of “don’t ask, don’t tell” and looking the other way denial by the surf press.
I couldnt post the photos/article… so here is a link to my surf blog. the article was written by Butch himself. featured in SURFGUIDE magazine VOL.1 #5 1963 double click the photos and you should be able to read the article . some very interesting observations and concerns of the day.
Ambrose, let me remind you that, somewhere in your archives, lies a historical photo of yourself standing next to the famous “Balsa” in front of Biarritz’ railway station…
