MARTHA ANDREANI – President, Manhattan Beach Historical Society
I'm not trying to be difficult, but my concerns about this grow the more I learn. I don't think it should be a best practice to put the "onus on anyone interested in disputing it to find evidence to the contrary". The onus should be on those making the claim. Especially if it's getting carved into stone.
I have not been able to devote nearly as much time to the actual history as Jackie and others have, but I can tell you this: On the California Surf Museum's website, there's a timeline of "The Business of Surfing" (https://surfmuseum.org/surfing-timeline/the-business-of-surfing/). You'll find a couple important dates on there, in this order:
1930
Pacific System Homes, in Los Angeles, is first to mass-produce surfboards. 1949
A Simmons’ board weighs 25 pounds. He sells 100 that summer and opens a shop in Santa Monica, CA
1949
Dale Velzy opens the first dedicated commercial surfboard-building shop in Manhattan Beach, California. Dale Velzy opens a surf shop close to the Manhattan Beach Pier in California and gets a business license Velzy’s rent is $45 a month and he is selling as many as 10 boards a week for $55
While the Pacific System Homes is vague, it would imply that they were selling boards somewhere. Simmons opened a shop in Santa Monica the same year -- was it before or after Velzy? (I've emailed the Ca. Surf Museum for clarification, but have not yet heard back.) Finally, I've looked through the Manhattan Beach Business Licenses book that we have at the cottage and have not yet found anything for Velzy or surfboards.
I want to be clear: it is awesome and long overdue that Velzy get recognition for his work and his legacy especially as it pertains to Manhattan Beach. Professional surfers have gone on the record to say revolutionized surfing and laid the groundwork for what it is today. But the potential inaccuracy in the plaque undermines that. It also looks foolish if it's not backed up by evidence.
Why doesn't it say: On this site, surfing pioneer and legendary board shaper Dale Velzy opened his first store? No question about that and it's accurate.
KRISTIN LONG DREW – Vice President, Manhattan Beach Historical Society
On Apr 30, 2023, at 8:04 PM, Kristin Long <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi.
Can you tell me who opened the world's first surf shop, if known, and in what year? I understand that some folks feel that Velzy opened the first surf shop in Manhattan Beach in 1950. But according to your timeline, it was in 1949, which was also when Simmons opened a shop in Santa Monica.
Any information you can provide would be very helpful.
Thanks.
Kristin
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: California Surf Museum <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, May 3, 2023 at 10:58 AM
Subject: Re: World's First Surf Shop
To: Kristin Long <[email protected]>
Hello Kristin!
I got feedback from two of our sources:
This one from Rick Wilson, one of our docents who is knowledgeable in surf history:
The “Legendary Surfers” profile on Bob Simmons by Malcolm Gault-Williams [NOTE:
he is a well-respected surf historian] does indicate that Simmons had a shop in Santa Monica in 1949 where he built boards with Matt Kivlin and Joe Quigg. I think this was before Velzy’s shop in Manhattan Beach, because Velzy was reportedly riding Simmons’ boards at the time. However, Simmons’ shop in SM evidently didn’t last long before he had a falling out with Quigg and Kivlin and he moved elsewhere. Also, it may have been less of a true accessible commercial surf shop than Velzy’s 1950 shop.
And this from Guy Motil, himself a surf historian:
The discussion regarding who had the first surf shop has some interesting facets to it.
Rick’s comments seem to sum up the situation nicely- what is a “surf shop”? For more research, I would also recommend looking into Paul Holmes absolutely great book on Dale Velzy and the story of Dale’s first “surf shop."
From my perspective, the 21st century surf shops we now enjoy are a result of a seventy year evolution that has seen the “surf shop” go from a one man (or three?) custom wood- working establishment to today’s surf apparel boutiques that include surfboards and wetsuits.
The question of who was first probably rests on the definition of the "surf shop" by the person asking the question. While certainly interesting, the stories around these early retail efforts are all fascinating and a fun part of our rich surfing heritage.
Ultimately, I’m not really sure how to answer the question except to say that back when I started surfing, the typical surf shop was quite different than the ones I see today.
Hope these replies help! We have lost and continue to lose so many of our early surfers/old- timers we do our best to get their stories down while there are still folks around who remember them — and of course not all remember things the same way so it is challenging. We should maybe clarify that Velzy opened the first commercial surf shop in 1950.
Thank you for asking!
Tara
TARA LEE TORBURN
California Surf Museum
760-721-6876
surfmuseum.org
Hi, Eilen.
This is a link to all my Velzy research documents. Information below. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FGbCLOmfpaNS9wkA_YTUPmOSE- 746ZBy/view?usp=share_link
Just to back-up and provide some additional information to Gary's:
By all accounts, Dale Velzy was a pivotal figure in the evolution of surfboards and surfing in general. His work should be celebrated and honored, and as the City, it should be OUR honor to do that considering he shaped boards here whether it was in a garage, under the pier or at 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd. That there seems to be no argument that he operated some shop (whether work or sales) at 117 MBB, would seem to me like a great place to celebrate his legacy.
The plaque as it is, however, has ambiguities that we might never be able to prove.
Particularly, the "world's first" claim whether it's known or unknown. I was wondering if you or anyone has called the State Board of Equalization and inquired about the "first" business license in the category of surfboards. I did not have time to phone them myself, but I did email them and have not yet heard back. I feel like, as a civilian, I might not have as much luck as a city employee might. Being that this is a key component of the "first" campaign, I asked Jackie if she had called them and she told me she did not.
A more specific claim like "the world's first commercial, custom-built surfboard shop" as stated in the Surfing Heritage instagram post...
@surfingheritage 31w https://www.instagram.com/p/CfUsJw1PoV5/?hl=en This 1952 photo of Dale Velzy's first Manhattan Breach (sic) surf shop is the only known photo of what's considered to be the world's first commercial, custom-built surfboard shop. After he got booted off the beach for littering the sand with balsa shavings, Velzy converted the building (formerly a shoe repair shop) into a surf shop.
According to Velzy, it was there that he was issued California's first State Board of Equalization resale (sales tax) number in the category of surfboards.
Before you go lighting up the comments, it was Hobie Alter that was the first to construct a building specifically for the manufacturing and sale of surfboards, while Pacific System Homes, LA Ladder, Rogers, etc. all manufactured boards as supplemental income and Bob Simmons, Joe Quigg and Matt Kivlin worked out of an existing building in the Santa Monica/Venice area.
... or, as Paul Holes said in his comments to City Council, "Dale Velzy's Manhattan Beach workshop can be legitimately recognized as the world's first stand- alone facility that was exclusively devoted to surfboard manufacturing and retailing."
But that's very wordy.
WHAT IS A "SURF SHOP" // "SURFBOARD SHOP" ETC.
This came from the California Surf Museum, who said the following in an email (see 1 in the google folder):
"From Guy Motil, himself a surf historian:
The discussion regarding who had the first surf shop has some interesting facets to it.
Rick’s comments seem to sum up the situation nicely- what is a “surf shop”? For more research, I would also recommend looking into Paul Holmes absolutely great book on Dale Velzy and the story of Dale’s first “surf shop."
From my perspective, the 21st century surf shops we now enjoy are a result of a seventy year evolution that has seen the “surf shop” go from a one man (or three?) custom wood-working establishment to today’s surf apparel boutiques that include surfboards and wetsuits.
The question of who was first probably rests on the definition of the "surf shop" by the person asking the question. While certainly interesting, the stories around these early retail efforts are all fascinating and a fun part of our rich surfing heritage.
Ultimately, I’m not really sure how to answer the question except to say that back when I started surfing, the typical surf shop was quite different than the ones I see today.
It appears that in the 1920s and 1930s, surf shop was the common term for stores that sold ladies beachwear. (see #2)
And as for the first place the sell surf boards, in the short research I did, I found that Abercrombie and Fitch sold boards as early as 1929. (#3)
"1950"
It's unclear when exactly Velzy opened/used the shop at 117.
The building was built, I think, around 1946.
It was vacant in 1947 (#4 in Google folder), then it was home to Jimmie's Shoeatorium in 1949-1950 (#5).
The california surf museum website lists the following:https://surfmuseum.org/surfing- timeline/the-business-of-surfing
1930
Pacific System Homes, in Los Angeles, is first to mass-produce surfboards. 1949
A Simmons’ board weighs 25 pounds. He sells 100 that summer and opens a shop in Santa Monica, CA
1949
Dale Velzy opens the first dedicated commercial surfboard-building shop in Manhattan Beach, California
1949
Dale Velzy opens a surf shop close to the Manhattan Beach Pier in California and gets a business license Velzy’s rent is $45 a month and he is selling as many as 10 boards a week for $55
Because that's ambiguous, I emailed them, and this was their response: (see #1)
“This one from Rick Wilson, one of our docents who is knowledgeable in surf history:
The “Legendary Surfers” profile on Bob Simmons by Malcolm Gault-Williams [NOTE: he is a well-respected surf historian] does indicate that Simmons had a shop in Santa Monica in 1949 where he built boards with Matt Kivlin and Joe Quigg. I think this was before Velzy’s shop in Manhattan Beach, because Velzy was reportedly riding Simmons’ boards at the time. However, Simmons’ shop in SM evidently didn’t last long before he had a falling out with Quigg and Kivlin and he moved elsewhere. Also, it may have been less of a true accessible commercial surf shop than Velzy’s 1950 shop.
If we go by the photo that accompanies the plaque, it is reported to be from 1952, but according to Joe Quigg: "...I’m pretty sure it was ’52 when Hap Jacobs and Velzy started their shop in Hermosa.” Joel Quigg interview with Surfer’s Journal, https://www.surfersjournal.com/editorial/the-archivist-turning-points/
Also, the 1952 directory shows the storefront vacant again and Jimmie's had moved to 222 MBB. (#6)
There might be more information in the City's property files for 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd/ 117 Center/ APN: 4179022004
I didn't have time to go to the City to research them.
I have looked through the business license book at the historical society and found no mention of Velzy or a surfshop. That does not mean it's no there, but I didn't see it. It wouldn't surprise me, however, if there wasn't one, given his later troubles with the IRS.
I've also included a few articles that cloud the date issue and show how inconsistent a lot of the stories have been. The one thing that seems undeniable, however, is that Velzy revolutionized surfing and the surfboard, laying the groundwork for the sport today.
Let me know if there are issues with the link or questions.
Thanks.
Kristin