Friday, September 24, 2010

Did the Beach Boys Play in Garden Grove?

Anonymous believes he saw The Beach Boys perform at the grand opening of a building supply store during the 1960s, and wonders if anyone else remembers that...

Back in 1960 when I moved to Garden Grove, there was a building supply store on the southwest corner of Westminster and Brookhurst, the name which I cannot remember. Anyway, for some reason, I distinctly remember for the grand opening, a band performing in the parking lot. The name of the band was the Beach Boys. I remember the band passing out albums and I believe the picture had the band on a jeep-like vehicle with palm fronds on the roof. Surfin' Safari? According to amazon.com, this album was originally released in 1962.

Am I hallucinating? Is this a false memory that over time has become real?

18 comments:

  1. I do remember the Beach Boys playing in front of Denno's Record Shop at The Orange County Plaza. That may be what you remember.

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  2. I don't know about the Beach Boys playing there, but my father worked at that hardware store when I was a very little girl.

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  3. Your probably right.. I grew up in Huntington Beach and remember The Beach Boys auditioning at the Pavalon southside of the pier 1960. All the bands were playing there.

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  4. That was the old Builders Emporium and I think my older brothers went to that opening promotion! I know my brother Howard started a surf band soon after the concert...

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  5. Before it was Builder's Emporium it was called Ole's

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  6. And befor that, It was called Build 'n Save

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  7. The Beach Boys played in front of Dennos Records. I saw it. But I think it was more towards 1962. They all pulled up in Corvettes for that gig.

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  8. The Beach Boys did Play at The Orange County Plaza. I remember a Corvette and a Jaguar and maybe another car or two parked in the mall. Quite a big deal for us kids back then. I think probably George Denno had something to do with the promotion.

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  9. The beach Boys did play at Orange county Plaze at a recrd sore. My friend and I skateboarded to see them

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  10. I never remember it being Buider's Emporium, but I worked there and before it became Ole's it was Build N' Save. I worked at under both ownerships.
    Kitty Woodford-Miller

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  11. Before it was Ole's it was Build N' Save as I worked at both of them. Kitty Woodford-Miller

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  12. I remember the Beach Boys at Denno's in Orange County Plaza. They signed autographs on "Surfin' USA." I got my 45 autographed that day and still have it. I was a Beatles fan then and not a big Beach Boys fan, but knew it was a big deal to see them.

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    1. Hello Barb, I would like to interview you for a book about the Beach Boys that will be published later this year. Please email me at bfinkmurphy@yahoo.com. Thanks! All the best, Jim

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  13. The stage was just a raised platform in the parking lot at the Orange County Plaza. I bought my first guitar in Dennos. They sold records but he had this hanging up on his wall. I still have it, a Vega. The only one I've ever seen. Vega is known for their banjos. I remember a Corvette too, parked by the stage it was a new 1963. They wore Pendletons which was their band's name before the Beach Boys. They sounded pretty good for playing in a parking lot and I remember thinking how loud it was. I had just moved to OC from the South Central area of LA.. went to Rancho.

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    1. I went to Rancho (class of 59) and remember Denno's and Kandy Kane. I am really sorry I missed this concert. Rats.

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  14. I was there at the Orange County Plaza and saw The Beach Boys. I was very young and for many years thought it was just some other group. I'm glad to see I didn't just imagine it.

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  15. I was there & the stage was over by J.C. Penney's. I thought it was for the remodeling celebration for the JCP? I was in or just finished 8th grade @ Meadow View Elementary School in H.B. & just moved down from the So. Bay area. My sister took us because a girl she went to El Segundo High School with was dating one of the band members. Wow such a long time ago!

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  16. I was there, they did play at Denno's. Went to school with his daughter.

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