THOSE OLD BEACH TOWNS ON PCH 101

THOSE OLD BEACH TOWNS ON PCH 101
Originally uploaded by roberthuffstutter

A PICTORIAL ESSAY OF THE OLD SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEACHTOWNS BY BUD FRYE AS RELATED TO R.L.HUFFSTUTTER

SKETCHED HERE IS A PASSING GLANCE OF A MEMORY OF TIMES PAST: A TYPICAL SEASIDE TOWN IN 1960S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. IT COULD BE SANTA MONICA, HERMOSA BEACH, REDONDO BEACH, MANHATTAN BEACH OR ANY OTHER SMALL BEACH COMMUNITY BETWEEN LA JOLLA AND SANTA BARBARA. "You could close your eyes when entering the town, open them once downtown and never really know which one you were in," stated Bud Frye, a retired desk clerk who has worked every hotel desk up and down the west coast. "It's not a bad thing," Bud continued, "what I am trying to say is that they all looked just about the same. There was the surf shop, the suds shop, the laundry mat, several small bars like the old Passport Inn in Manhattan Beach," he continued, his voice trailing into a low whisper as though he was lost in another time and place, a place like the west coast in the 60s. Snapping back to the present, Bud chuckled and shook his head. "Yes, that old Passport Inn--that was the place that rocked, a cool bar where the gals just kept coming in from the hot sandy beach and turning on the charm like crazy. Man, those were the days. We played darts, drank pitcher after pitcher, all the while bare-footed with the floor so covered with sand we sometimes thought we could feel the surf on our feet. Oh, for sure. It turned out to be a spilled pitcher of beer. And the smell of suntan lotion and beer? It was like heaven. Blondes, brunettes, firery redheaded chicks with so much tan they glowed. I mean, man, like there were blondes in bikinis, brunettes, hot women, for sure, with glowing tans. Yes, those were the days, for sure. Now, they all look the same again. But this time they are all a bunch of concrete instead of the old wooded shingle and planks, you know that old-style beach type buildings."

THOSE OLD SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEACHTOWNS ON PCH

A PICTORIAL ESSAY OF THE OLD SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEACHTOWNS BY R.L.HUFFSTUTTER

Based on dialogue of Bud Frye

PAINTED ABOVE IN THIN OILS (BACK IN THE 60S)

IS A PASSING GLANCE OF A MEMORY OF TIMES PAST:

A TYPICAL SEASIDE TOWN IN 1960S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. IT COULD BE SANTA MONICA, HERMOSA BEACH, REDONDO BEACH, MANHATTAN BEACH OR ANY OTHER SMALL BEACH COMMUNITY BETWEEN LA JOLLA AND SANTA MONICA

"You could close your eyes when entering the town, open them once downtown and never really know which one you were in," stated Bud Frye, a retired desk clerk who has worked every hotel and motel desk up and down the west coast.

"It's not a bad thing," Bud continued, "what I am trying to say is that they all looked just about the same. There was the surf shop, the suds shop, the laundry mat, several small bars like the old Passport Inn in Manhattan Beach," he continued, his voice trailing into a low whisper as though he was lost in another time and place, a place like the west coast in the 60s. Snapping back to the present, Bud chuckled and shook his head. "Yes, that old Passport Inn--that was the place that rocked, a cool bar where the gals just kept coming in from the hot sandy beach and turning on the charm like crazy. Man, those were the days. We played darts, drank pitcher after pitcher, all the while bare-footed with the floor so covered with sand we sometimes thought we could feel the surf on our feet. Oh, for sure. It turned out to be a spilled pitcher of beer. And the smell of suntan lotion and beer? It was like heaven. Blondes, brunettes, firery redheaded chicks with so much tan they glowed. I mean, man, like there were blondes in bikinis, brunettes, hot women, for sure, with glowing tans. Yes, those were the days, for sure. Now, they all look the same again--not the women, but the buildings, just a bunch of concrete condos you have to spend a fortune on. The women are okay now, but now as hot as they were. If you like a bunch of damned tattoos looking at you when you're making love, fine. Or if you want to take a chance of getting tangled up in some kind of metal rivets, screws and bolts, fine. Personally, I went for the chick with the unaltered body, no plastic boobs, nothing like that. Yes, things have changed. Just like the smoking laws. What a joke. But nobody really pays any attention. We smoke when we damned please and if somebody gives us some crap about it, we just go outside for a few puffs. When they outlaw smoking on the streets, that's when the crap will hit the fan.

YOUNG LADY IN RED BIKINI

YOUNG LADY IN RED BIKINI
Originally uploaded by roberthuffstutter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3geoXOdnJQ

CALIFORNIA DREAMING BY R.L.HUFFSTUTTER

FROM THE TIME I TOOK A DEEP BREATH OF THE AIR CIRCULATING AROUND A LIVE ORANGE TREE IN THE MACY'S DEPARTMENT STORE IN DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY IN THE LATE 50s, I KNEW THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I BOARDED THAT LEGENDARY "ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL" AND HEADED WEST. WHEN THE SANTA FE PASSED THROUGH SAN BERNADINO ORANGE GROVES, I SENSED A PHYSICAL AND LIFELONG BOND HAD BEEN BORN BETWEEN MY SPIRIT AND THE GOLDEN STATE. WHEN I SAW THE PACIFIC OCEAN FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT...BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR ME TO REALIZE THAT LIFE IN THE GOLDEN STATE WAS NOT ALL IT SEEMED. THERE WERE SOME BIZARRE AND ODD SIGHTS FOR A YOUNG MAN TO COMPREHEND. THERE WERE THE GUYS AND GALS ON THEIR SOAPBOXES SHOUTING ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD; THERE WERE SOME TALKING ABOUT BEING IN A FIFTH DIMENSION. SHOCKED? NO, JUST NAIVE AND THEN AMUSED. MY AMUSEMENT WITH THE BEACH PEOPLE WHO WERE A BIT ODD BEGAN WITH A TOLERANT SMILE AND ENDED WITH A KIND OF UNDERSTANDING I NEVER KNEW IN THE MIDWEST. IT WAS A PLACE WHERE FREEDOM REIGNED SUPREME, FOR SURE. THE OLDER I GROW, THE MORE I CAN REMEMER ABOUT THOSE CRAZY DAYS AT VENICE BEACH. OH, THERE ARE LOTS OF TALES YET TO BE TOLD. THERE WAS THE MERRY GO ROUND ON THE PIER. AND THERE WAS THE CAROUSEL BAR ON THE STRAND OR PROMENADE. THE SMELL OF THE BEER DRIFTED OUT THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR AND MIXED WITH THE SALTY AND BRINISH SANTA MONICA AIR AND ALL OF ITS AROMAS. WHEN NIGHT FELL, THE PLACE GOT EVEN WILDER AND MORE ZANY.

SOUTH OF LAGUNA BEACH...

SOUTH OF LAGUNA BEACH...
Originally uploaded by roberthuffstutter

STOP BY AND SAY HELLO TO EARL R. STONEBRIDGE, LAGUNA'S MOST FAMOUS FICTIONAL WRITER AND SAND ARTIST. IF YOU DON'T SEE EARL'S DESIGNS IN THE SAND, KEEP WALKING SOUTH...(paintprogram artist's concept by R.L.Huffstutter)

LATEST JUNE PHOTOGRAPHS 309

LATEST JUNE PHOTOGRAPHS 309
Originally uploaded by HUFFSTUTTERR

THERE ARE ALWAYS ODD-NAMED SHORE BIRDS ALONG EVERY BEACH IN THE WORLD. SOME ARE NATIVE TO THE EAST, SOME TO THE WEST, AND OF COURSE, THE NORTH AND SOUTH SEA BIRDS, ALL WITH LOCAL NAMES. SO IT HAS BEEN AND SO IT WILL ALWAYS BE. ADAM NAMED THEM ALL LONG AGO AND EACH GENERATION SINCE HAS ADDED A NAME OR TWO, AD INFINTUM BIRDS...

LATEST JUNE PHOTOGRAPHS 308

LATEST JUNE PHOTOGRAPHS 308
Originally uploaded by HUFFSTUTTERR

Sunset From Marina Del Rey

Sunset From Marina Del Rey
Originally uploaded by ChocXTC

LIFE IS A BEACH AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

DAVID KYLE CRAIG PHOTO

Pisang Rebus/ Saba (Sap Ciao)

Pisang Rebus/ Saba (Sap Ciao)
Originally uploaded by thienzieyung

IF YOU WERE WONDERING WHERE THE BANANAS GROW, HERE IS ONE OF THE AREAS...CHECK OUT THESE GREAT PHOTOS...

Venice Beach Reflections

Venice Beach Reflections
Originally uploaded by J.H.C.

"MOST LIKELY THE BEST PHOTO OF A VENICE, CALIFORNIA SUNSET EVER TAKEN IN THE LAST CENTURY," STATED EARL R. STONEBRIDGE FROM HIS ESTATE SOUTH OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA. "I HAVE YET TO SEE SUCH A SUNSET FROM MY LOCATION HERE," HE CONCLUDED.

Models: Jessica Lauren and Ava Addams

Models: Jessica Lauren and Ava Addams
Originally uploaded by Cameron Photography

PHOTOS

PHOTOS
Originally uploaded by roberthuffstutter

house by the sea

house by the sea
Originally uploaded by herselfsurprised

THIS IS THE HOUSE WE ALL WANT, THE HOUSE BY THE SEA. NOW I BELIEVE I SHALL CRANK UP MY PC AND BUILD ONE. THANKS TO HERSELFSURPRISED.

WHO, WHERE, WHEN AND WHY?

SOMEHOW, DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, THIS PHOTO ENDED UP IN MY PC FILES...IT'S A GREAT SHOW. MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPHER, COME FORWARD AND GET YOUR CREDIT DUE...

INTRODUCING new artists and photographers

INTRODUCING NEW PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ARTISTS
VIEWERS WILL NOTICE A VARIETY OF NEW PHOTOS AND ART ARE BEING FEATURED ON THE PAGES OF THIS ONLINE PHOTO AND ART JOURNAL... Where did these outstanding photos and terrific works of art originate? It's a long story, really. But without going into a lot of long and drawn out details, let me say that I found a new site where there are thousand of fantastic photos and works of art. Here the name and address:
http://www.flickr.com/
I needed a new location to post my work. I had heard abut the above site from some of my friends. They encouraged me to pack up my portfolios and head on over. "It's one fantastic gallery, a great site for exposure," stated Dave, a long-time friend whom I met on another gallery site. "You won't be sorry," he told me."You will meet some great people, photographers, artists, people who are really into the arts, people who are into autos, people with interests in all aspects of life." So, it was due to Dave's advice that I joined with the group. Here's my new address:
http://www.flicker.com/photos/huffstutterrobertl/
Please stop by and check out my photostream; it's full of some of my best work, my better photos and art. I am anxious for you to take a look.
ABOUT THE NEW PHOTOS AND ART IN MY BLOG? BEGINNING BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, I BEGAN BROWSING THROUGH THE FLICKER PHOTOSTREAMS AND FOUND WORK THAT WAS TOTALLY AMAZING. I NOTED THEY OFFERED A BLOGGING OPTION FOR THOSE WHO PERMITTED THEIR WORK TO BE REVIEWED.
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE MARVELOUS PHOTOS AND ARTWORK I HAVE CHOSE TO FEATURE HERE IN HUFFSTUTTER'S PHOTO ESSAYS. IT ALL BEGAN WITH A WATERCOLOR. NOT MINE, BUT FROM AN ARTIST LIVING IN INDIA, A VERY GIFTED ARTIST.
FLICKER is copyrighted and is an official trademark

LIFE IS A BEACH

photograph and text by R.L. Huffstutter

LIFE IS A BEACH is another bumper sticker type of philosophy that's positive and upbeat. There has been some confusion over who first made that bright and cheerful statement. According to a small sampling of the American public in both the beach areas of the West Coast and the farm belt of the Heart of America, there was a definite and authoritive consensus that the phrase originated in the late early 1960 after readers became aware of Earl R. Stonebridge's short novel, Is Life a Beach or What?

THE JOYS OF BEING FREE AND WINGED

THREE SEA BIRDS IN THE EVENING
FISH FOR TINY MORSELS OR
ARE THEY SIMPLY HAVING FUN
AT THE BEACH? THEY WILL FIND
A SPECIAL PLACE TO
SLEEP AND WAIT
FOR THE MORNING SUN
TO BEGIN THEIR FUN
AGAIN. LIKE THE SUNLOVERS AND
FUNLOVERS, THEIR HUMAN
COUNTERPARTS ON A PIER CAFE
WATCHING AND POINTING, SECRETLY
WISHING THEY COULD BE LIKE

THE BIRDS ALONG THE BEACH, ALWAYS DANCING, SNACKING, ALWAYS WAITING FOR
A SPECIAL PLACE TO SPEND THE NIGHT AND WAIT FOR THE MORNING SUN...
BY R.L. HUFFSTUTTER

ANNA MARIE ISLAND FLORIDA BEACHES BY R.L.HUFFSTUTTER

The island has a number of beaches. There's Anna Maria beach, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Coquina Beach, all on the Gulf (or west side); on the Tampa Bay side of the island, there's one long beach that boasts calmer and gentler waters; it's called "Three Piers" and features views of the Skyway bridge and Tampa's high rise building.

One of a number of watercolor paintings of

Anna Maria Island by Robert L. Huffstutter

THE BEACHES OF ANNA MARIE ISLAND

watercolor paintings by Robert L. Huffstutter

Until 2005, I had never been to Florida; I had always assumed the beaches of California were the only ones that mattered. Afterall, having studied elementary geography, I knew that Florida was flat, almost at sea-level, so there would be no dramatic cliffs or hairpin curves around the Gulf or Atlantic like the ones between Santa Barbara and San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway. Florida was flat; it still is flat. But I can't deny that many of its beaches are more beautiful than a few of the lesser beaches in California. One thing about the flatland around the beaches that's positive is that there are very few steep ravines where a high-speed vehicle could careen into if out of control. What I like best about Florida beaches is the water temperature. It is so much warmer than the Pacific waters around Santa Monica and Laguna. Oh, the palm trees are more diverse--and taller. Well, the palms around the Beverly Hills Hotel are taller, probably the tallest in the world, but there's a reason and that reason is the celebrities who out hang out around there would not settle for less. I have wondered if the palms there are super-injected with a tall growth hormone of some type. Hey, this makes no sense and has nothing to do with Florida. Yes, I love the Florida beaches because the waters are warmer. At least the Gulf in July is so warm that I do not have to take test runs and get my courage up. It's simple: go to one of the beaches on Anna Marie, plop down the towels and hydration kits, the shades, a chair or two, and head into the the water. From the first time I felt the warmth of the Gulf, I knew I would be spending time floating about, relaxing.

The only problem I have with the island is remembering the correct spelling. ANNA MARIA ISLAND

A BEACH BACK BENEATH A PIER

THERE ARE THOSE BEACHES

BACK BENEATH THE PIER

OW MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE WE MET AT THAT OLD PIER BY CHANCE? IT WAS A SUMMER KIND OF ROMANCE, ONE WE KNEW WOULD NOT LAST. YOU WERE FROM SOME LITTLE LAKE TOWN DOWN IN UPSTATE NEW YORK AND YOU ASKED ME WHY I DECIDED TO SPEND TIME IN BAR HARBOR, MAINE. YOU LAUGHED WHEN I TOLD YOU I HAD NEVER HAD LOBSTER WITH A MAINE BAKED POTATO OR WRITTEN A BEST SELLER. YOUR EYES SPARKLED LIKE THE STARS WE SAW AS WE LINGERED AND STAYED ON THAT RICKETY OLD PIER. WHEN THE ATLANTIC'S NIGHT WIND BEGAN BLOWING IT MADE YOU SHIVER. WE EMBRACED AND SPENT THE REST OF THE SUMMER TOGETHER IN THE CABINS WE HAD RENTED IN ADVANCE UNTIL SEPTEMBER TO GET AWAY FROM LIFE LONG ENOUGH TO FALL IN LOVE. IT'S A WONDER WE NEVER WROTE EACH OTHER EVEN ONCE, BUT I THINK WE BOTH KNEW IT WOULD BE BETTER BECAUSE WE SENSED OUR LOVE WAS TOO PERFECT TO LAST ANYWAY. WE WERE SO ROMANTIC, YET SO FATAL AND SO SELFISH TOO. WE WERE TOO YOUNG TO UNDERSTAND THAT PASSION COULD BE DIVIDED. WE WERE UNWISE. ARE YOU STILL THE DEAN OF THAT ALL GIRLS SCHOOL? YOU DIDN'T KNOW I KNEW, OR DID YOU? MAYBE WE WILL MEET AGAIN SOME SUMMER, BUT THE OLD PIER, AS YOU MUST KNOW, FINALLY FELL IN THE WINTER OF EIGHTY-NINE. IT WAS ON THE COVER OF MY LAST BEST SELLER.

ELECTRIC BEACH PEOPLE HAVING FUN BENEATH A BLUE ELECTRIC SKY

THE SKY SUDDENLY CHANGED

AND BECAME A COOL BLUE

paintprogram image/sketch/painting by Robert L. Huffstutter

Venice beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach in the late 50s and early 60s are memories of what beaches were and should be before the concrete was poured...watercolor by Robert L. Huffstutter

BEACHFRONTS ARE AS PERSONAL AND UNIQUE AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIFETIME RESIDENTS OR TEMPORARY TRANSIENTS...THEY HAVE ONE BOND TO SHARE, THE BEACHFRONT

Laguna Beach in 1960 by R.L.Huffstutter using the Paintprogram

WELCOME TO THE BEACH...A GREAT PLACE TO GO TO GETAWAY

a photo/art journal by Robert L. Huffstutter