October 2, 2004 "H e sure did!"

Back from a State Park Seminar Wednesday, Hal Dairywimple
made a bee-line to NofreNation. The first thing he sees is Ranger
Craig Ephriam distributing deviled egg finger sandwiches, chicken
noodle soup, soft tofu, and creamy mashed potatoes for easy chewing
to the old timers gathered beneath colorful beach umbrellas, tucked
in with nice shawl's, wearing Ugg Boots for warmth, it was 5:00 PM day before
yesterday, the Fall evening was becoming cold. Ranger Hal motioned
over Ranger Ephriam. "We have nothing but bad news for your
musicians," said Dairywimple. "We have to shut them down and now?"
he said. "But Hal, the ukelele concerts are these old folk's life, where
will they go?" said Ranger Craig. "Do they have a permit to play live
music on the beach?" "No they don't, sir, but most of these folk
are fifth generation Nofre," said Ranger Ephriam. Hal Dairywimple
illustrated a point where he met the oldest ranger alive, Papa Larson
age 84, who told him a story about the Manhattan Beach State Park Pier
around the mid fifties. A pier just like the one way up in Manhattan
Beach, at the end of Center Street down the road from the old Velzy shop,
headquarters for classic characters of the fifties. LuLu's White Stop Cafe
was the last stop before entering the massive concrete pier. Its roundhouse
at the end, home to Greg Noll, where he managed the fresh bait shop
overcharging for murky, foul tasting java, ten cents a cup, no tabs accepted.
Kid surfers were abundant, Bing Copeland, Dennis Brennan,
Bobby Fulbright, Bill McAlpine, older ones, Bev Morgan, George Kapu,
Tommy Trash, Barney Google, Bob Hogan, and Willy Barr. There were
no "woodies" just old Fords, ripped out back seat, rear windows smashed-out
to place the nine six balsas for trips to the cove. To the left side of the pier's
entrance, on the beach was nestled the "Manhattan Beach Surf Club".
The only problem is, Buccaneer Restaurant, The Hibachi Grill, Center St.
Deli, The Knothole Bar and Grill, but you can't have everything. Manhattan
Beach Pier was, and is, the Granddaddy of all piers. Unfortunately, the
old timers can't have their sponge cake and eat it too.

Written by Mike Hunt.
BRUCE SAVAGE INTERNATIONAL