When Bruce Brown filmed the first "The Endless Summer" film, he used only one camera and this is it. This Bolex camera with its plexiglass watertight case are on display at The International Surfing Museum.

This is one of the original film posters from "The Endless Summer." The copy on the poster reads (in part), "On any day of the year it's summer somewhere in the world. Bruce Brown's latest color film hilights the adventures of two young American surfers, Robert August and Mike Hynson who follow this everlasting summer around the world."

One day, as Bruce Brown was shooting film at the beach, a then little-known artist, who also happened to be at the beach, drew this illustration on the top of Brown's camera box. That artist was Leroy Nieman.

This photograph was taken of Robert August (left) and Bruce Brown at Los Angeles Airport as they were leaving to film "The Endless Summer" in 1962.

The Surf Theatre

Surf Theatre was the pioneer in showing surfing, skateboarding and even ski films! Surf Theatre broke barriers for the other independent theaters like; The Bay in Seal Beach, The Port in Corona Del Mar, The Mesa in Costa Mesa and The Lido in Newport Beach.

This is my father's legacy...My name is Tracy, his eldest of 3 daughters.

My father provided a screening house for film makers such as; Alan Rich of Salt Water Wine, Scott Dietrich of Fluid Drive, Alan Maine of Summer Breeze and others. In the beginning, the film was just shot on super 8mm and was set up on the theater chairs with the audience! My father helped the fledgling film makers with his experience and knowledge of the movie business and in short order, the films were now being viewed on 16mm from the projection room.

My father's name is Hugh Larry Thomas, known as Larry. He died suddenly and unexpectly on August 4, 2007. His funeral service took place in 3 counties on August 10th:

1. Riverside County: Military service at Arlington Cemetery. He was a submariner in the Navy, served during The Bay of Pigs Florida/Cuba

2. Orange County: Small gathering behind Rubys on the pier as his ashes were scattered by an airplane (near the end of the pier).

3. L A County: A family & friend reception at his sister's home in Torrance.

Thanks for listening.