1 00:00:15,036 --> 00:00:22,036 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Hey, Lost Hills listeners, it's Dana. I wanted to 2 00:00:22,076 --> 00:00:24,196 Speaker 1: let you know that you can hear the entire new 3 00:00:24,236 --> 00:00:27,556 Speaker 1: season of Lost Hills ad free, along with other great 4 00:00:27,596 --> 00:00:31,836 Speaker 1: binge listens by becoming a Pushkin Plus subscriber. Find Pushkin 5 00:00:31,916 --> 00:00:35,156 Speaker 1: Plus on the Lost Hills show page in Apple Podcasts, 6 00:00:35,316 --> 00:00:51,916 Speaker 1: or at pushkin dot fm slash Plus. I'm at Duke's 7 00:00:51,916 --> 00:00:55,916 Speaker 1: Restaurant in Malibu. It's perched on the rocks right above 8 00:00:55,916 --> 00:01:00,036 Speaker 1: the ocean. Out front is a giant statue of legendary 9 00:01:00,076 --> 00:01:04,876 Speaker 1: Hawaiian surfer and swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, who helped introduce surfing 10 00:01:04,916 --> 00:01:07,636 Speaker 1: to California in the early part of the twentieth century. 11 00:01:09,196 --> 00:01:12,556 Speaker 1: Where Gidget, the real Gidget works. 12 00:01:13,836 --> 00:01:18,236 Speaker 2: Hey, we're here to interview Kathy Kathy khonor. 13 00:01:21,036 --> 00:01:21,956 Speaker 3: She's a hostess. 14 00:01:22,436 --> 00:01:23,476 Speaker 1: Yeah, Gidget. 15 00:01:26,716 --> 00:01:26,956 Speaker 3: Cool. 16 00:01:27,316 --> 00:01:34,636 Speaker 1: Thanks. Gidget's real name is Kathy Kohener Zuckerman. The summer 17 00:01:34,636 --> 00:01:37,556 Speaker 1: of nineteen fifty six, when she was fifteen, she hung 18 00:01:37,636 --> 00:01:40,796 Speaker 1: out at the beach in Malibu. She befriended Mickey, Dora 19 00:01:40,996 --> 00:01:43,436 Speaker 1: and Tube Steak, who was later given the name The 20 00:01:43,476 --> 00:01:47,396 Speaker 1: Big Kahuna. She fell in love, but most of all, 21 00:01:47,516 --> 00:01:50,756 Speaker 1: she learned to surf, and her stories became the basis 22 00:01:50,756 --> 00:01:54,316 Speaker 1: for the original Gidget, a novel written by Frederick Khoner 23 00:01:54,756 --> 00:01:59,396 Speaker 1: her Dad. It's hard to overstate the cultural impact of Gidget. 24 00:01:59,956 --> 00:02:02,276 Speaker 1: When the book was released in nineteen fifty seven, it 25 00:02:02,356 --> 00:02:06,116 Speaker 1: hit the La Times bestseller list, ahead of Jack Kerouax 26 00:02:06,236 --> 00:02:09,316 Speaker 1: on the Road. It went on to sell how a 27 00:02:09,356 --> 00:02:13,516 Speaker 1: million copies, but the book was only the beginning. In 28 00:02:13,596 --> 00:02:16,916 Speaker 1: nineteen fifty nine, Gidget was adapted for film with Sondra 29 00:02:16,996 --> 00:02:18,036 Speaker 1: d as Gidget. 30 00:02:18,596 --> 00:02:22,116 Speaker 4: What in the world is a Gidget? It's a girl, 31 00:02:22,556 --> 00:02:25,836 Speaker 4: a cuddling, befuddling teen who set out to find her 32 00:02:25,876 --> 00:02:29,436 Speaker 4: a man of her own and found seven seven young 33 00:02:29,516 --> 00:02:33,156 Speaker 4: beach combers with a single thought to enjoy life and 34 00:02:33,316 --> 00:02:36,996 Speaker 4: love without working. Meet Kahuna Leaves. 35 00:02:37,116 --> 00:02:40,916 Speaker 1: Sequels follow Gidget goes to Hawaiian, Gidget goes to Rome, 36 00:02:41,276 --> 00:02:46,356 Speaker 1: Gidget grows up, Gidget gets married, Gidgets Summer Reunion. It 37 00:02:46,436 --> 00:02:49,756 Speaker 1: was also a TV show starring a then unknown Sally 38 00:02:49,876 --> 00:02:55,516 Speaker 1: Field as Gidget. Today, Kathy works as a kind of 39 00:02:55,636 --> 00:03:00,476 Speaker 1: informal celebrity host at Duke's. She seats Steiner's, chats with them, 40 00:03:00,676 --> 00:03:04,996 Speaker 1: and signs copies of the Gidget novel. Around the corner 41 00:03:04,996 --> 00:03:07,876 Speaker 1: from reception, there's a wall with some old photos of Kathy, 42 00:03:08,516 --> 00:03:10,956 Speaker 1: including one of her with Mickey Dora. 43 00:03:12,116 --> 00:03:13,236 Speaker 3: Oh wow, look at this. 44 00:03:14,756 --> 00:03:15,956 Speaker 1: That's Kathy and Mickey. 45 00:03:17,516 --> 00:03:19,676 Speaker 2: There's sort of a pack of dudes in the background. 46 00:03:19,836 --> 00:03:23,356 Speaker 2: And blurt out, Oh, here she comes. She's got a 47 00:03:23,396 --> 00:03:27,316 Speaker 2: cute little flower in her hair. The person coming toward 48 00:03:27,396 --> 00:03:29,756 Speaker 2: me is tiny, with a big, warm smile and a 49 00:03:29,756 --> 00:03:33,756 Speaker 2: bunch of chunky necklaces around her neck. This is the person, 50 00:03:33,876 --> 00:03:39,076 Speaker 2: Mickey Dora says ruined Malibu. She's eighty two and vibrant, 51 00:03:39,236 --> 00:03:41,756 Speaker 2: and I'll just say she doesn't feel much like a 52 00:03:41,836 --> 00:03:42,396 Speaker 2: villain to me. 53 00:03:43,556 --> 00:03:46,556 Speaker 3: I just do high finance here because somebody made me 54 00:03:46,676 --> 00:03:49,156 Speaker 3: a couple of really great photos of me, went at 55 00:03:49,156 --> 00:03:51,516 Speaker 3: the shack and went so I love. 56 00:03:53,916 --> 00:03:56,596 Speaker 1: Kathy, says she sometimes sells photos of herself as a 57 00:03:56,596 --> 00:03:59,196 Speaker 1: teenager on the beach in Malibu to Duke's customers. 58 00:04:00,196 --> 00:04:04,996 Speaker 3: It just always hustling. No, I love mine. Yes, you know. 59 00:04:05,796 --> 00:04:09,636 Speaker 3: So that's the shack. That's amazing. That's the original shock. 60 00:04:10,676 --> 00:04:12,716 Speaker 3: You know, the board the big Mahuna lived. I mean 61 00:04:12,756 --> 00:04:17,396 Speaker 3: that's he was called Khuna, by the way, but he 62 00:04:17,436 --> 00:04:19,356 Speaker 3: lived in that shack. So that's me in front. 63 00:04:19,156 --> 00:04:23,156 Speaker 1: Of the check Kathy. Shift is over and the plan 64 00:04:23,276 --> 00:04:24,676 Speaker 1: is for me to give her a ride back to 65 00:04:24,716 --> 00:04:27,676 Speaker 1: her house in the Palisades. Okay, okay, let's you. 66 00:04:27,676 --> 00:04:27,996 Speaker 2: Want to go. 67 00:04:28,156 --> 00:04:31,436 Speaker 3: Yeah, so we'll let you home. Thank you. I have 68 00:04:31,476 --> 00:04:37,356 Speaker 3: to clock off. Okay, bye, everybody, see you tomorrow. Bye, 69 00:04:37,956 --> 00:04:44,116 Speaker 3: thank you, thank you. Why didn't you come around to 70 00:04:44,156 --> 00:04:45,676 Speaker 3: the passenger side in the front. 71 00:04:48,876 --> 00:04:51,356 Speaker 1: As we head out of Malibu on Pacific Coast Highway, 72 00:04:51,556 --> 00:04:53,836 Speaker 1: we start talking about what it was like for her 73 00:04:54,036 --> 00:04:56,676 Speaker 1: when the Gidget movie came out in nineteen fifty nine. 74 00:04:57,516 --> 00:04:58,036 Speaker 3: When you're in. 75 00:04:57,996 --> 00:05:00,556 Speaker 2: College and the movie comes out, did people start to 76 00:05:00,796 --> 00:05:01,556 Speaker 2: recognize you? 77 00:05:02,196 --> 00:05:05,716 Speaker 3: And I know you weren't and nobody recognizes me, But 78 00:05:05,796 --> 00:05:10,356 Speaker 3: did they make the connection between you and this famous movie? Well, 79 00:05:10,356 --> 00:05:12,876 Speaker 3: it wasn't famous when it came out. And I saw 80 00:05:12,876 --> 00:05:16,516 Speaker 3: it at the White Side Theater in Corvallis, Oregon, and 81 00:05:16,676 --> 00:05:21,316 Speaker 3: I wish you'd slow down a bit on and I 82 00:05:21,396 --> 00:05:24,516 Speaker 3: thought it was you know, it was like, oh my god, 83 00:05:24,556 --> 00:05:26,876 Speaker 3: this is a movie about my life at Malibu. You know, 84 00:05:26,916 --> 00:05:29,316 Speaker 3: obviously based on the book that my dead wrote. 85 00:05:29,956 --> 00:05:33,556 Speaker 1: Surfing, Kathy says, is completely different now from when she 86 00:05:33,676 --> 00:05:34,916 Speaker 1: was a kid. 87 00:05:35,316 --> 00:05:40,116 Speaker 3: When I was surfing, there were no contests, no surf music, 88 00:05:40,636 --> 00:05:44,676 Speaker 3: no surf clothing. It was all That's what I loved 89 00:05:44,676 --> 00:05:47,596 Speaker 3: so much about it was. It was way off dead center. 90 00:05:47,836 --> 00:05:51,396 Speaker 3: I was the tomboy, you know, I was. You know, 91 00:05:51,476 --> 00:05:53,916 Speaker 3: the kids would write in my annual when I graduated, 92 00:05:54,476 --> 00:05:57,356 Speaker 3: good luck with your water skiing. You know, they didn't 93 00:05:57,436 --> 00:05:59,116 Speaker 3: know what surfing was. You know. 94 00:06:01,316 --> 00:06:04,636 Speaker 1: With the phenomenal success at Gidget, the weird little boho 95 00:06:04,756 --> 00:06:07,556 Speaker 1: scene that was happening on the beach in Malibu became 96 00:06:07,956 --> 00:06:15,356 Speaker 1: instantly pop culture. Malibu got overrun. Mickey was furious and 97 00:06:15,396 --> 00:06:17,956 Speaker 1: in his mind, in the minds of all those dudes 98 00:06:17,956 --> 00:06:21,316 Speaker 1: who worshiped the ground, Mickey walked on. Gidget became the 99 00:06:21,316 --> 00:06:30,036 Speaker 1: one who ruined everything. I'm Dana Goodyear and this is 100 00:06:30,156 --> 00:07:01,636 Speaker 1: Lost Hills Episode three, Gidget Goes to Hollywood, Part one. 101 00:07:05,236 --> 00:07:07,676 Speaker 3: I believe Gidget was the trailblazer. 102 00:07:07,756 --> 00:07:13,196 Speaker 1: Yes, Gidget ushered in the era of surfing as a 103 00:07:13,236 --> 00:07:14,676 Speaker 1: pop culture phenomenon. 104 00:07:15,756 --> 00:07:16,516 Speaker 3: Well, the thing is. 105 00:07:16,476 --> 00:07:17,676 Speaker 5: Thrill is surfboarding. 106 00:07:18,116 --> 00:07:20,916 Speaker 3: The art of surfboarding is part of a Hawaiian culture, 107 00:07:21,236 --> 00:07:28,396 Speaker 3: surf movies, and then you got beach blanket bingo, Ride 108 00:07:28,436 --> 00:07:38,556 Speaker 3: the Wild surf. You know Elvis Presley movieses b a 109 00:07:38,636 --> 00:07:41,796 Speaker 3: net Funicello because people say, oh, you're a net Funicello, Like, no. 110 00:07:42,756 --> 00:07:44,356 Speaker 6: Take a look at those waves out there. 111 00:07:45,596 --> 00:07:48,956 Speaker 3: Well, you know there's nothing out there, but you see 112 00:07:49,156 --> 00:07:53,876 Speaker 3: the sky, you make it sound good. And I actually 113 00:07:54,076 --> 00:07:57,916 Speaker 3: never watched any of those beach movies. I didn't ever 114 00:07:57,996 --> 00:08:01,276 Speaker 3: watch a Frankly Avalon muscle Beach Party. I don't even 115 00:08:01,316 --> 00:08:02,116 Speaker 3: know the names of them. 116 00:08:03,036 --> 00:08:03,916 Speaker 4: Ah, this is the life. 117 00:08:03,916 --> 00:08:05,876 Speaker 6: How did he son the serf? 118 00:08:05,956 --> 00:08:15,876 Speaker 1: This is it surf music. It's the beach boys. 119 00:08:16,436 --> 00:08:17,676 Speaker 7: Let's surfing now. 120 00:08:17,916 --> 00:08:22,236 Speaker 3: Everybody's learning now surf competitions and a good cutback that 121 00:08:22,316 --> 00:08:28,716 Speaker 3: time by Donald Takeyama surf brands. There was no leashes, 122 00:08:28,836 --> 00:08:33,716 Speaker 3: there was no wetsuits. There was no merchandising. I mean, 123 00:08:33,756 --> 00:08:39,596 Speaker 3: who'd heard of surf clothing or Roxy or Quicksilver, rip Curler, hurlier, 124 00:08:40,236 --> 00:08:43,116 Speaker 3: any of these things you know we're seeing today some 125 00:08:43,276 --> 00:08:48,756 Speaker 3: of the world's finess. Serv Serving became a business. 126 00:08:48,276 --> 00:09:03,156 Speaker 5: Looking for a seven Conday. 127 00:09:03,916 --> 00:09:07,756 Speaker 1: Before Gidget, there was just the waves and the beach 128 00:09:08,116 --> 00:09:11,396 Speaker 1: and the birds and a few stray humans doing something 129 00:09:11,636 --> 00:09:16,316 Speaker 1: very few people would credit as worthwhile. The early California 130 00:09:16,356 --> 00:09:20,676 Speaker 1: surfers were iconoclasts. Some of them were teenagers ditching school. 131 00:09:21,156 --> 00:09:24,156 Speaker 1: Some of them were disillusioned veterans of the Second World War. 132 00:09:25,236 --> 00:09:29,076 Speaker 1: All of them were rejecting the clean cut, dutiful stereotypes 133 00:09:29,116 --> 00:09:29,556 Speaker 1: of the era. 134 00:09:30,396 --> 00:09:32,556 Speaker 8: I mean, even if you were a surfer, your parents 135 00:09:32,636 --> 00:09:34,916 Speaker 8: wanted to go to school, but we would rather go surfing. 136 00:09:35,076 --> 00:09:38,996 Speaker 8: So we were kind of outcast, would be the best 137 00:09:38,996 --> 00:09:42,756 Speaker 8: way of putting it looked at differently. 138 00:09:43,956 --> 00:09:47,276 Speaker 1: This is Henry Ford, another early surfer who became a 139 00:09:47,316 --> 00:09:48,316 Speaker 1: lifeguard at Malibu. 140 00:09:49,236 --> 00:09:52,836 Speaker 8: You probably weren't working as much as other people because 141 00:09:52,876 --> 00:09:56,116 Speaker 8: you were bitten by the werewolf, as we call surfing 142 00:09:56,236 --> 00:09:57,036 Speaker 8: surfing bidtis. 143 00:09:57,516 --> 00:10:00,436 Speaker 9: And it's like you, once you're bitten, you're stuck with it. 144 00:10:00,516 --> 00:10:00,756 Speaker 9: You know. 145 00:10:02,516 --> 00:10:05,436 Speaker 1: Malibu has a number of surf spots, but when people 146 00:10:05,476 --> 00:10:08,756 Speaker 1: say Malibu, they're usually talking about surf right or beach. 147 00:10:09,596 --> 00:10:12,756 Speaker 1: It's a beautiful wave that peals slowly to the right 148 00:10:12,956 --> 00:10:16,996 Speaker 1: instead of breaking all at once. Malibu is so consistent. 149 00:10:17,116 --> 00:10:21,756 Speaker 1: Surfers call it the machine or the conveyor belt. That 150 00:10:21,876 --> 00:10:25,556 Speaker 1: green unbroken water that was Mickey's canvas. 151 00:10:26,676 --> 00:10:30,916 Speaker 8: Malibu had a perfect right point. It's kind of like 152 00:10:31,756 --> 00:10:34,996 Speaker 8: manufactured wave. If you looked at it, there were perfect 153 00:10:35,436 --> 00:10:38,116 Speaker 8: and it was the right hand point break and it 154 00:10:38,276 --> 00:10:41,596 Speaker 8: was put in the right place where the wind would 155 00:10:41,596 --> 00:10:45,476 Speaker 8: blow down the coast, and so it just it offered everything, 156 00:10:46,476 --> 00:10:52,076 Speaker 8: good waves, good conditions, and unknown at that time because 157 00:10:52,076 --> 00:10:53,156 Speaker 8: there were nobody else surfing. 158 00:10:53,436 --> 00:10:55,716 Speaker 9: You'd drive by there, you'd see six people out. That 159 00:10:55,756 --> 00:10:58,156 Speaker 9: would be it. That would be a big day. In 160 00:10:58,196 --> 00:10:58,916 Speaker 9: those early. 161 00:10:58,756 --> 00:11:04,236 Speaker 1: Years, Malibu was secluded, a private paradise. There were movie 162 00:11:04,236 --> 00:11:06,996 Speaker 1: stars living in the Malibu Movie Colony, a group of 163 00:11:07,036 --> 00:11:09,396 Speaker 1: houses clustered at one end of Surf Beach. 164 00:11:10,436 --> 00:11:13,356 Speaker 9: There wasn't like a crowd that hung there every day. 165 00:11:13,836 --> 00:11:14,316 Speaker 7: Uh. 166 00:11:14,636 --> 00:11:17,676 Speaker 8: You know, there were a few movie stars that would 167 00:11:17,716 --> 00:11:21,476 Speaker 8: come down there in those early days, guys like Peter Lawford, 168 00:11:22,076 --> 00:11:22,916 Speaker 8: Richard Jacob. 169 00:11:23,956 --> 00:11:26,196 Speaker 1: Other than that, there were a bunch of misfits. 170 00:11:26,836 --> 00:11:29,996 Speaker 10: It was you know these characters, you know, they're they 171 00:11:29,996 --> 00:11:32,316 Speaker 10: were different because they were they were like the Old 172 00:11:32,356 --> 00:11:35,396 Speaker 10: West or something. There were you know, there's a freedom 173 00:11:35,596 --> 00:11:39,076 Speaker 10: because they were away from any kind of society. 174 00:11:39,156 --> 00:11:39,316 Speaker 3: You know. 175 00:11:39,396 --> 00:11:42,756 Speaker 10: They once they entered the Malibu Beach, it was their domain. 176 00:11:43,796 --> 00:11:46,796 Speaker 1: Here's Denny Auburg again, the surfer who started going to 177 00:11:46,836 --> 00:11:50,116 Speaker 1: Malibu in the fifties, tagging along with his older brother Kemp. 178 00:11:51,436 --> 00:11:53,436 Speaker 10: So you got down there and you saw all these 179 00:11:53,436 --> 00:11:55,876 Speaker 10: different kinds of characters. They dressed like one guy just 180 00:11:55,956 --> 00:11:59,836 Speaker 10: found it an old uh beaver coat that that washed 181 00:11:59,916 --> 00:12:02,556 Speaker 10: up on the beach and that became his surfing coat. 182 00:12:02,676 --> 00:12:07,116 Speaker 10: Full of holes. Monthy just people wore army jackets. It 183 00:12:07,196 --> 00:12:11,156 Speaker 10: was kind of like improvisation. There's no technology for surfing. 184 00:12:11,996 --> 00:12:14,556 Speaker 10: People roping their board on their car was rope, you know, 185 00:12:14,596 --> 00:12:19,556 Speaker 10: there's no special wetsues, no wetsues. And he cut off jeans. 186 00:12:19,636 --> 00:12:21,836 Speaker 10: You know, a lot of people just cut off jeans 187 00:12:21,876 --> 00:12:25,356 Speaker 10: for their trucks. So it was like the beginning infancy 188 00:12:26,396 --> 00:12:27,356 Speaker 10: of the surf thing. 189 00:12:28,436 --> 00:12:33,156 Speaker 1: The characters at Malibu were basically beatnicks and dropouts. Some 190 00:12:33,236 --> 00:12:36,156 Speaker 1: of them were what we would now think of as homeless. 191 00:12:37,316 --> 00:12:39,436 Speaker 1: At the start of the summer of nineteen fifty six, 192 00:12:39,716 --> 00:12:43,996 Speaker 1: one of them, Terry Tracy aka Tube Steak aka the 193 00:12:44,036 --> 00:12:47,316 Speaker 1: Big Kahuna, decided he was just going to live on 194 00:12:47,356 --> 00:12:50,516 Speaker 1: the beach and party NonStop with his friends. So we 195 00:12:50,556 --> 00:12:55,276 Speaker 1: built himself a shack out of palm fronds, and that's 196 00:12:55,316 --> 00:12:58,396 Speaker 1: where Kathy Kohner, a fifteen year old whose parents had 197 00:12:58,396 --> 00:13:01,636 Speaker 1: brought her to the beach, found him, and that's where 198 00:13:01,676 --> 00:13:05,836 Speaker 1: she met Mickey, Dora, the surfing God, the Dark Prince 199 00:13:06,116 --> 00:13:19,116 Speaker 1: of Malibu. After sitting in traffic on Pacific Coast Highway 200 00:13:19,316 --> 00:13:21,876 Speaker 1: and then climbing up into the palisades, we get to 201 00:13:21,956 --> 00:13:26,516 Speaker 1: Kathy's house. It's a wooden ranch house red with white 202 00:13:26,596 --> 00:13:30,116 Speaker 1: trim that she shares with her husband Marv. A table 203 00:13:30,276 --> 00:13:33,236 Speaker 1: just outside the front door is piled with avaloni shells 204 00:13:33,276 --> 00:13:36,676 Speaker 1: and sandbellars, and a wooden sign that says a beach 205 00:13:36,716 --> 00:13:38,676 Speaker 1: girl lives here with her big kahuna. 206 00:13:39,956 --> 00:13:40,956 Speaker 3: I love your house. 207 00:13:41,036 --> 00:13:42,676 Speaker 2: What year is it? 208 00:13:42,756 --> 00:13:43,116 Speaker 7: Belt? 209 00:13:43,956 --> 00:13:47,196 Speaker 3: I love my house too. It's a fifteenth. It's so great. 210 00:13:48,716 --> 00:13:52,076 Speaker 2: You don't see too many houses that our original watch 211 00:13:52,156 --> 00:13:53,996 Speaker 2: us anymore in this neighborhood. 212 00:13:55,196 --> 00:13:56,196 Speaker 3: It's got a very. 213 00:13:56,116 --> 00:13:56,836 Speaker 7: Kind of like. 214 00:14:00,556 --> 00:14:03,756 Speaker 3: This is so sure, Oh my gosh. 215 00:14:04,756 --> 00:14:07,276 Speaker 1: Kathy leads me into a back bedroom, which looks like 216 00:14:07,316 --> 00:14:10,796 Speaker 1: a museum of nineteen fifties girl hood. She opens a 217 00:14:10,876 --> 00:14:13,836 Speaker 1: drawer and a bedside table and pulls out two old books, 218 00:14:14,076 --> 00:14:15,716 Speaker 1: which she clutches to her chest. 219 00:14:17,156 --> 00:14:21,196 Speaker 3: So these are the truths, Dana, These are my diary pages. 220 00:14:21,356 --> 00:14:25,836 Speaker 3: Oh okay, Oh my God. Now she's like, oh, look 221 00:14:25,916 --> 00:14:29,036 Speaker 3: at those look at your sweet Oh. I had to 222 00:14:29,156 --> 00:14:31,996 Speaker 3: wroke up where I wrote about Mickey Dora. Of course 223 00:14:31,996 --> 00:14:34,516 Speaker 3: I wrote it down. I can't find the oh here. 224 00:14:34,636 --> 00:14:42,796 Speaker 2: Just oh my god, that's so great, amazing, amazing, amazing. 225 00:14:42,876 --> 00:14:45,956 Speaker 1: I just love the way they look. To My Wonderful 226 00:14:46,036 --> 00:14:52,996 Speaker 1: Year Gidgets diaries. The covers are faded pastel, pink and green, 227 00:14:53,316 --> 00:14:56,516 Speaker 1: and the spines are splitting apart with age. One of 228 00:14:56,556 --> 00:14:59,436 Speaker 1: them shows a boy and a girl holding hands. My 229 00:14:59,556 --> 00:15:04,676 Speaker 1: Wonderful Year is written in bubbly lowercase script. These are 230 00:15:04,716 --> 00:15:08,836 Speaker 1: basically the golden tablets of the surf religion. This is 231 00:15:08,836 --> 00:15:11,796 Speaker 1: where Kathy recorded everything that happened in the summer of 232 00:15:11,876 --> 00:15:14,996 Speaker 1: nineteen fifty six when she learned to surf in Malibu. 233 00:15:16,356 --> 00:15:20,236 Speaker 3: I have written down in the diary the first day 234 00:15:20,276 --> 00:15:22,756 Speaker 3: I went surfing, and I'm happy to read it to you. 235 00:15:23,476 --> 00:15:32,036 Speaker 3: Of that June twenty fourth, nineteen fifty six, Sunday, Dear Diary, 236 00:15:32,396 --> 00:15:35,036 Speaker 3: I didn't do too much but go to the beach. 237 00:15:35,596 --> 00:15:38,236 Speaker 3: I didn't think i'd have fun, but I met Matt 238 00:15:38,596 --> 00:15:41,676 Speaker 3: and he took me out on his surfboard. He let 239 00:15:41,716 --> 00:15:44,716 Speaker 3: me catch the waves by myself and once I flew 240 00:15:44,796 --> 00:15:48,076 Speaker 3: off and the board went flying in the air, I 241 00:15:48,116 --> 00:15:51,676 Speaker 3: didn't get hurt at all. He also rode the waves 242 00:15:51,796 --> 00:15:55,796 Speaker 3: with me. Then I rode the board in alone. The 243 00:15:55,876 --> 00:15:58,756 Speaker 3: surf wasn't high at all. I hope Matt will take 244 00:15:58,796 --> 00:16:05,196 Speaker 3: me surfing again. So that's the first entry about going 245 00:16:05,236 --> 00:16:06,156 Speaker 3: surfing at Malibou. 246 00:16:09,236 --> 00:16:12,556 Speaker 1: Kathy lived about fifteen miles away in Brentwood, but her 247 00:16:12,596 --> 00:16:15,436 Speaker 1: parents were out doorsy and they loved the beach, so 248 00:16:15,476 --> 00:16:17,636 Speaker 1: she'd been going to Malibu since she was a baby. 249 00:16:18,156 --> 00:16:19,396 Speaker 1: She was aware of surfing. 250 00:16:20,556 --> 00:16:22,636 Speaker 3: So there was a group of guys, you know, from 251 00:16:23,756 --> 00:16:27,356 Speaker 3: nineteen forty eight or so that my mom used to 252 00:16:27,436 --> 00:16:29,196 Speaker 3: take a couple of those guys to the beach to 253 00:16:29,236 --> 00:16:31,316 Speaker 3: Malibu and took the boards in the Rumble Sea. So 254 00:16:31,396 --> 00:16:34,636 Speaker 3: my earliest recollection of those boards were when you know, 255 00:16:34,716 --> 00:16:36,476 Speaker 3: it was eight or nine years old. But we always 256 00:16:36,476 --> 00:16:39,396 Speaker 3: went to Malibu, so I didn't stumble upon them. I 257 00:16:39,436 --> 00:16:41,356 Speaker 3: saw them. I knew where they were. Usually they were 258 00:16:41,356 --> 00:16:44,916 Speaker 3: in the pit. I remember them in the pit. That's 259 00:16:44,956 --> 00:16:46,356 Speaker 3: when that was called the pit. 260 00:16:48,916 --> 00:16:50,956 Speaker 1: The pit was a spot in the sand along the 261 00:16:50,996 --> 00:16:53,636 Speaker 1: wall by the entrance to the beach. It was where 262 00:16:53,636 --> 00:16:56,396 Speaker 1: the cool kids hung out. 263 00:16:56,156 --> 00:17:02,516 Speaker 3: The pit seemed to be more hardcore surfers men's club, 264 00:17:02,676 --> 00:17:06,276 Speaker 3: you know, all about testosterone. I mean a lot of 265 00:17:06,316 --> 00:17:11,156 Speaker 3: them had nicknames. So there was some he called the Fencer, uh, 266 00:17:11,316 --> 00:17:17,636 Speaker 3: the Kahuna, quick Higgye. Frank Higginson was called quick Kigge. Well, 267 00:17:17,676 --> 00:17:19,196 Speaker 3: see Mickey was called to quet. 268 00:17:21,756 --> 00:17:26,076 Speaker 1: The scene at the pit could be intimidating. Here's Danny 269 00:17:26,156 --> 00:17:28,396 Speaker 1: Auburg again. He surfed with Mickey. 270 00:17:29,316 --> 00:17:31,356 Speaker 10: Everybody would laugh and they everybody sit in the pit. 271 00:17:31,436 --> 00:17:34,196 Speaker 10: You know, was this area where kind of the bigger names, 272 00:17:34,236 --> 00:17:37,876 Speaker 10: you know, the n crowd would sit and surfers had 273 00:17:37,916 --> 00:17:40,316 Speaker 10: to walk through that pit and be scrutinized, you know, 274 00:17:40,436 --> 00:17:43,316 Speaker 10: like little beginners, and they throw pebbles at the board 275 00:17:43,436 --> 00:17:46,556 Speaker 10: or yell something just to kind of asslem a little bit, 276 00:17:46,636 --> 00:17:48,316 Speaker 10: you know, a. 277 00:17:48,236 --> 00:17:51,116 Speaker 1: Little farther up the beach was the shack where Terry 278 00:17:51,156 --> 00:17:52,596 Speaker 1: tube Steak Tracy lived. 279 00:17:53,396 --> 00:17:55,876 Speaker 10: Tube Steak Tracy, who was the leader of the pack. 280 00:17:56,636 --> 00:17:59,196 Speaker 10: But people would hang around his shack and old beat 281 00:17:59,276 --> 00:17:59,956 Speaker 10: up couches. 282 00:17:59,996 --> 00:18:00,156 Speaker 3: You know. 283 00:18:00,276 --> 00:18:02,916 Speaker 10: They just dragged down an old car seat and lay 284 00:18:02,916 --> 00:18:05,596 Speaker 10: it on the beach or an old chair, and it 285 00:18:05,676 --> 00:18:07,836 Speaker 10: was very primitive. You know, and he had this. He 286 00:18:07,836 --> 00:18:10,636 Speaker 10: would come out of his grass shack and you're spending 287 00:18:10,636 --> 00:18:13,036 Speaker 10: the night, and I am the kahuna. You know. 288 00:18:14,116 --> 00:18:17,836 Speaker 1: It was funny, the big Kahuna ruled the beach. 289 00:18:18,636 --> 00:18:21,596 Speaker 10: In fact, he would say in Malibu on the beach, 290 00:18:21,876 --> 00:18:25,156 Speaker 10: it's me in the water, it's Mickey Dora. 291 00:18:26,516 --> 00:18:30,156 Speaker 1: This was way before contests and rankings, but no one 292 00:18:30,196 --> 00:18:33,636 Speaker 1: had to measure Mickey's dominance. It was self evident. 293 00:18:34,756 --> 00:18:37,916 Speaker 10: You know, he was king of the water, you know. 294 00:18:37,956 --> 00:18:41,276 Speaker 10: And that's and surfing. It wasn't because you won something. 295 00:18:41,356 --> 00:18:43,396 Speaker 10: It was nothing to win. It's a funny sport. It 296 00:18:44,276 --> 00:18:47,436 Speaker 10: was just it was all by reputation. 297 00:18:47,636 --> 00:18:47,876 Speaker 1: You know. 298 00:18:48,036 --> 00:18:49,796 Speaker 10: It had a lot to do with the way your 299 00:18:49,836 --> 00:18:54,156 Speaker 10: style on the water. Now you just you did something magnificent, 300 00:18:54,196 --> 00:18:57,196 Speaker 10: but you didn't really win a contest, but the reputation 301 00:18:57,316 --> 00:19:01,476 Speaker 10: would grow because you just looked beautiful on a wave. 302 00:19:01,956 --> 00:19:05,596 Speaker 10: People would notice that you just rode that wave so well. 303 00:19:05,676 --> 00:19:07,916 Speaker 10: I mean, the wave's over, is nothing left to show 304 00:19:07,956 --> 00:19:12,156 Speaker 10: for it unless it's on. But people would remember. They'd 305 00:19:12,156 --> 00:19:14,476 Speaker 10: be their hero, you know, like they'd idolize these people 306 00:19:14,516 --> 00:19:16,916 Speaker 10: that were so good. It's a funny sport like that. 307 00:19:18,956 --> 00:19:24,196 Speaker 1: Of course, Kathy noticed Mickey. Everyone did you know? 308 00:19:24,276 --> 00:19:30,716 Speaker 3: He was dark and dark skin, dark hair, white trunks. 309 00:19:30,756 --> 00:19:35,676 Speaker 3: I think I remember white trunks. He was a great surfer. 310 00:19:37,076 --> 00:19:39,036 Speaker 3: He was a great surfer. I mean you could pick 311 00:19:39,116 --> 00:19:41,676 Speaker 3: him if you looked outside. You could pick him up 312 00:19:41,676 --> 00:19:45,756 Speaker 3: in a lineup. He was fantastic. He had hand gestures. 313 00:19:45,796 --> 00:19:48,876 Speaker 3: I don't know if anybody's God, my name is Micky Tora. 314 00:19:49,356 --> 00:19:50,196 Speaker 3: He'd go like that. 315 00:19:51,356 --> 00:19:54,556 Speaker 1: Mickey makes frequent cameos in Kathy's diaries. 316 00:19:56,116 --> 00:20:00,236 Speaker 3: Jazzed on Mickey. He didn't kiss me though. We drove 317 00:20:00,396 --> 00:20:03,916 Speaker 3: into Palmdale, where Mickey went to meet these people who 318 00:20:03,956 --> 00:20:07,276 Speaker 3: were going to take him to Mammoth God. I wanted 319 00:20:07,276 --> 00:20:10,356 Speaker 3: to go so badly. I came home, I found a 320 00:20:10,436 --> 00:20:13,076 Speaker 3: letter waiting for me from Dick. I called up Bill 321 00:20:13,196 --> 00:20:16,036 Speaker 3: and he told me that he Lester and Jesse and 322 00:20:16,156 --> 00:20:19,116 Speaker 3: Tube Tubs Sake, we're all going to Mammoth that night. 323 00:20:19,356 --> 00:20:24,116 Speaker 3: I called up Jesse, but he had already left. Skiing 324 00:20:24,156 --> 00:20:27,796 Speaker 3: was a big deal. I am completely jazzed, and I 325 00:20:27,796 --> 00:20:31,236 Speaker 3: don't know on whom. So there were these series of 326 00:20:32,156 --> 00:20:33,196 Speaker 3: male interests. 327 00:20:34,436 --> 00:20:38,436 Speaker 1: Kathy was, in her own description, completely boy crazy and 328 00:20:38,676 --> 00:20:41,836 Speaker 1: very sporty. She didn't want to spend all day at 329 00:20:41,836 --> 00:20:45,076 Speaker 1: the movies like the other girl. She knew she wanted 330 00:20:45,116 --> 00:20:48,516 Speaker 1: to have adventures. 331 00:20:47,796 --> 00:20:49,676 Speaker 3: So Mickey would come over to the house and play 332 00:20:49,676 --> 00:20:52,996 Speaker 3: ping pong. He would take me to the ski slips 333 00:20:52,996 --> 00:20:54,636 Speaker 3: and I found it where he'd have me climb up 334 00:20:54,676 --> 00:20:56,436 Speaker 3: the rope toe, so he didn't want to pay for 335 00:20:57,196 --> 00:20:58,276 Speaker 3: a ski whip ticket. 336 00:20:59,356 --> 00:21:02,276 Speaker 1: Mammoth Mountain was only a few hundred miles north in 337 00:21:02,356 --> 00:21:03,116 Speaker 1: Mono County. 338 00:21:04,156 --> 00:21:06,996 Speaker 3: Mickey was a good skier, so Mickey would take me, 339 00:21:07,036 --> 00:21:08,876 Speaker 3: and I wrote it, let's see, well, I didn't go 340 00:21:08,916 --> 00:21:12,436 Speaker 3: to school today, but instead I went skiing. Mickey's friends 341 00:21:12,476 --> 00:21:14,836 Speaker 3: picked me up at seven to ten on the corner 342 00:21:14,836 --> 00:21:19,276 Speaker 3: of Bundy and Coin. Fantastic weather, only no snow. God. 343 00:21:19,356 --> 00:21:22,876 Speaker 3: We drove to Moonridge, where we spent the day on 344 00:21:22,996 --> 00:21:29,516 Speaker 3: a dripping rope toe. What a fiasco. Mickey came with us. 345 00:21:29,596 --> 00:21:32,196 Speaker 3: All he did was ski up and down the rope toe. 346 00:21:32,756 --> 00:21:36,036 Speaker 3: He left around four, and Mickey had some beer and 347 00:21:36,116 --> 00:21:39,916 Speaker 3: we got feeling good. I snuggled close up to Mickey 348 00:21:39,996 --> 00:21:43,156 Speaker 3: and it felt terrific. I think I'm sort of really. 349 00:21:44,196 --> 00:21:48,556 Speaker 1: Kathy lived a safe, comfortable, conventional life, but she hadn't 350 00:21:48,556 --> 00:21:51,956 Speaker 1: really found her people. Strange as it sounds, she felt 351 00:21:51,996 --> 00:21:53,196 Speaker 1: more at home at the beach. 352 00:21:54,476 --> 00:21:57,276 Speaker 3: I did not like going to school, so I didn't 353 00:21:57,316 --> 00:22:03,116 Speaker 3: really enjoy high school. Girly girly things. Had a couple 354 00:22:03,116 --> 00:22:08,516 Speaker 3: of great English teachers that I remembered liking, but I 355 00:22:08,556 --> 00:22:11,556 Speaker 3: didn't have a boyfriend in high school. I just always 356 00:22:11,796 --> 00:22:16,156 Speaker 3: liked boys. Most of them were from the beach. I 357 00:22:16,316 --> 00:22:18,836 Speaker 3: found the place that I always wanted to go to 358 00:22:18,956 --> 00:22:22,956 Speaker 3: was Malibu because I felt that I had a little 359 00:22:23,036 --> 00:22:26,556 Speaker 3: community there, like cheers. You know, everybody knows my name. Well, 360 00:22:26,636 --> 00:22:29,276 Speaker 3: I got a nickname. They all called me Gidget. And 361 00:22:29,356 --> 00:22:31,516 Speaker 3: so any chance I could get, I would go to 362 00:22:31,596 --> 00:22:36,156 Speaker 3: the beach and the language and the whole millieure of 363 00:22:36,596 --> 00:22:39,796 Speaker 3: you know, coming down there carrying your board, getting to 364 00:22:39,836 --> 00:22:44,876 Speaker 3: know who these what their names were, and wanting to 365 00:22:44,916 --> 00:22:48,596 Speaker 3: be part of the crew, a place to belong. I mean, 366 00:22:48,676 --> 00:22:52,916 Speaker 3: you're a teenage kid. We had school, and we had home, 367 00:22:52,916 --> 00:22:55,596 Speaker 3: and then the third place, as a sociologist would say, 368 00:22:55,956 --> 00:22:56,996 Speaker 3: for me, it was the beach. 369 00:23:01,436 --> 00:23:04,636 Speaker 1: Kathy was inspired by what she saw going on around her, 370 00:23:05,396 --> 00:23:08,396 Speaker 1: inspired to serve but also to document it. 371 00:23:09,356 --> 00:23:12,676 Speaker 3: I think that the pinnacle was the guy that lived 372 00:23:12,716 --> 00:23:14,716 Speaker 3: in a shack at the beach. I thought, whoa, this 373 00:23:14,796 --> 00:23:18,956 Speaker 3: is kind of interesting, so I thought, yeah, I thought, wow, 374 00:23:18,996 --> 00:23:20,516 Speaker 3: I'd like to write a story about this guy who 375 00:23:20,476 --> 00:23:23,316 Speaker 3: lives in a shack all summer. You know, doesn't he 376 00:23:23,356 --> 00:23:26,316 Speaker 3: have a mummy and daddy? You know, doesn't he have 377 00:23:26,356 --> 00:23:26,836 Speaker 3: a car. 378 00:23:28,156 --> 00:23:30,836 Speaker 1: Kathy's father, Frederick Kohner, was a screenwriter. 379 00:23:32,076 --> 00:23:33,916 Speaker 3: So I remember my dad would pick me up in 380 00:23:33,956 --> 00:23:35,876 Speaker 3: the dino ful buick and I sat next to him 381 00:23:35,876 --> 00:23:37,196 Speaker 3: in the car, and I said, I'd like to write 382 00:23:37,236 --> 00:23:40,676 Speaker 3: a story about what's going on in Malibu. You tell me, 383 00:23:40,716 --> 00:23:43,716 Speaker 3: I'll write the story for you. And he did. He 384 00:23:43,876 --> 00:23:44,556 Speaker 3: wrote Kitchen. 385 00:23:45,996 --> 00:23:48,916 Speaker 1: Kathy's memories of those days in Malibu are now part 386 00:23:48,956 --> 00:23:53,876 Speaker 1: of the collective unconscious. But there's another story one she 387 00:23:53,956 --> 00:23:57,356 Speaker 1: does not like to tell about a side of Mickey, 388 00:23:57,396 --> 00:24:01,116 Speaker 1: Dora and her surf friends. She'd probably rather she did 389 00:24:01,156 --> 00:24:01,556 Speaker 1: not know. 390 00:24:11,556 --> 00:24:14,716 Speaker 8: Please, no tourist, Kahuna, Hey Francis, no tour She's got 391 00:24:14,716 --> 00:24:16,476 Speaker 8: a real yend to pick up on servant. 392 00:24:18,556 --> 00:24:19,876 Speaker 9: That gidget. 393 00:24:21,796 --> 00:24:24,876 Speaker 3: Gidget. Oh wait, wait a minute, fellas, look look me 394 00:24:24,996 --> 00:24:25,796 Speaker 3: on the gag too. 395 00:24:25,996 --> 00:24:29,076 Speaker 5: Huh, Well, you see it's right there through osmos. 396 00:24:29,516 --> 00:24:32,236 Speaker 4: Yeah, girl, and midget a Gidget. 397 00:24:33,876 --> 00:24:36,876 Speaker 1: That's a scene from the original nineteen fifty nine Gidget movie. 398 00:24:37,636 --> 00:24:41,316 Speaker 1: It captures the teasing Kathy endured, the playful side of 399 00:24:41,316 --> 00:24:47,196 Speaker 1: it anyway. Kathy Kohner's diaries are like Kathy, full of 400 00:24:47,236 --> 00:24:52,716 Speaker 1: sunshine and optimism. She loves that she was she is Gidget. 401 00:24:53,796 --> 00:24:56,476 Speaker 1: Through Gidget, she gets to relive the thrills of her 402 00:24:56,516 --> 00:24:58,356 Speaker 1: adolescence every single day. 403 00:25:01,636 --> 00:25:05,316 Speaker 3: One entry captures the language and the world of Malibu. 404 00:25:06,956 --> 00:25:11,556 Speaker 3: This is from Gidget's diary the Boo Malibu gets good 405 00:25:11,596 --> 00:25:15,636 Speaker 3: once a summer, and it got good. It got bitchin. Brother, 406 00:25:15,876 --> 00:25:18,916 Speaker 3: Was I ever jazzed? I was riding four footers and 407 00:25:19,036 --> 00:25:22,396 Speaker 3: lining all the way across into the bay. Brother, was 408 00:25:22,436 --> 00:25:25,836 Speaker 3: I ever stoked? It was so bitchin I couldn't believe it. 409 00:25:25,916 --> 00:25:28,036 Speaker 3: No kooks were out in the water, and it was 410 00:25:28,116 --> 00:25:31,436 Speaker 3: practically open door all the way. I took gas a 411 00:25:31,436 --> 00:25:34,836 Speaker 3: couple of times, but otherwise, I really look good. Sets 412 00:25:34,876 --> 00:25:37,636 Speaker 3: are coming in off the point so consistent, I couldn't 413 00:25:37,636 --> 00:25:41,276 Speaker 3: believe it. The sets were actually better formed than last year's. 414 00:25:41,796 --> 00:25:44,156 Speaker 3: All the kooks stayed out of the water while the 415 00:25:44,196 --> 00:25:47,316 Speaker 3: men really turned on. There must have been fifty boards 416 00:25:47,316 --> 00:25:50,356 Speaker 3: in the water at seven in the evening. Everyone from 417 00:25:50,356 --> 00:25:53,396 Speaker 3: the whole coast was there. Actually, it was pretty exciting. 418 00:25:53,956 --> 00:25:57,236 Speaker 3: Those bigger waves are so easy to ride. It's unbelievable. 419 00:25:57,716 --> 00:26:00,876 Speaker 3: I really had a ball and looked better. I still 420 00:26:00,876 --> 00:26:03,716 Speaker 3: miss having a boyfriend, but everything happens for the best, 421 00:26:03,996 --> 00:26:06,116 Speaker 3: and I'll die being an old maid. But it's a 422 00:26:06,156 --> 00:26:14,276 Speaker 3: grand life. That's a really good, a really good piece 423 00:26:14,356 --> 00:26:15,676 Speaker 3: of writing from my diary. 424 00:26:16,916 --> 00:26:20,516 Speaker 1: The Gidget story is one of triumph. A bubbly tomboy 425 00:26:20,636 --> 00:26:23,756 Speaker 1: stumbles on a scene full of quirky surfer guys, falls 426 00:26:23,756 --> 00:26:27,716 Speaker 1: in love, gets her heartbroken, and learns to surf. It's 427 00:26:27,796 --> 00:26:31,276 Speaker 1: a classic teen coming of age story with a refreshingly 428 00:26:31,316 --> 00:26:36,076 Speaker 1: feminist take. It's a winning narrative so powerful that it's 429 00:26:36,116 --> 00:26:39,236 Speaker 1: taken Kathy most of her lifetime to awaken to some 430 00:26:39,276 --> 00:26:42,036 Speaker 1: of the other dynamics that were at play in Malibu. 431 00:26:43,156 --> 00:26:46,316 Speaker 3: Well, it wasn't welcoming for me all the time. It 432 00:26:46,476 --> 00:26:50,356 Speaker 3: wasn't right away. Oh she's so cute, you know, she 433 00:26:50,396 --> 00:26:54,356 Speaker 3: can serve. No, I had to surf. I had to prove. 434 00:26:54,676 --> 00:26:57,556 Speaker 3: And I and one of those photo that I think 435 00:26:57,556 --> 00:26:59,236 Speaker 3: you saw me surfing, a really good one where I'm 436 00:26:59,236 --> 00:27:04,236 Speaker 3: wearing trunks. Now those trunks, I'm aware that I wanted 437 00:27:04,276 --> 00:27:08,476 Speaker 3: to look like a boy. I wanted surf trunks. You 438 00:27:08,476 --> 00:27:13,556 Speaker 3: couldn't find surf trunks at Henshe's department store, Pennies Departments, 439 00:27:13,676 --> 00:27:16,836 Speaker 3: or Miss California or whoever made bathing suits at the time. 440 00:27:17,996 --> 00:27:20,436 Speaker 1: The guys did not accept her right away. 441 00:27:21,476 --> 00:27:23,756 Speaker 3: Well, they did haze me a bit. You know, they 442 00:27:23,796 --> 00:27:27,036 Speaker 3: gave me a rough time. You know. Sometimes they disconnected 443 00:27:27,036 --> 00:27:29,316 Speaker 3: the distributor to my car so I couldn't go home. 444 00:27:29,716 --> 00:27:32,276 Speaker 3: You know, they threw a pineapple in my face. Said, 445 00:27:32,316 --> 00:27:34,036 Speaker 3: you know, you're bothering me. You're still breathing. 446 00:27:35,076 --> 00:27:38,956 Speaker 1: As she revisits the diaries, she's confronted with the harshness 447 00:27:38,956 --> 00:27:42,956 Speaker 1: of this treatment. Her collaborator, Ken, who's helping her transcribe 448 00:27:42,956 --> 00:27:46,036 Speaker 1: the pages, is sometimes shocked by what he reads. 449 00:27:47,036 --> 00:27:48,756 Speaker 3: Ken would look at the diary pages and said, oh 450 00:27:48,756 --> 00:27:50,956 Speaker 3: my god, they threw a pineapple in your face and 451 00:27:50,996 --> 00:27:52,596 Speaker 3: you just like, h you know whatever. 452 00:27:54,836 --> 00:28:00,196 Speaker 1: Mickey Dora deeply resented Gidget, Gidget the book, Gidget, the 453 00:28:00,196 --> 00:28:04,996 Speaker 1: movie franchise, Gidget, the TV show, Gidget, the cultural juggernaut. 454 00:28:05,916 --> 00:28:08,436 Speaker 1: He referred to the period around when the first movie 455 00:28:08,476 --> 00:28:12,556 Speaker 1: came out in nineteen fifty nine as the dry Rot Era. 456 00:28:14,316 --> 00:28:17,316 Speaker 1: He was not too charitable about Gidget the person either, 457 00:28:18,236 --> 00:28:20,236 Speaker 1: never mind that he took her to Mammoth or played 458 00:28:20,276 --> 00:28:22,836 Speaker 1: ping pong at her house. This is what he wrote 459 00:28:22,836 --> 00:28:26,596 Speaker 1: to a journalist who was working on a story about Kathy. Quote. 460 00:28:27,076 --> 00:28:30,116 Speaker 1: I only mumbled a few unpleasantries to her a couple 461 00:28:30,196 --> 00:28:33,836 Speaker 1: of times. She was a hairy little thing for her age. 462 00:28:34,156 --> 00:28:37,396 Speaker 1: She asked me some asinine question. I told her to 463 00:28:37,476 --> 00:28:45,076 Speaker 1: fuck off. Unquote. Mickey's campaign against the Gidget takeover of 464 00:28:45,116 --> 00:28:49,596 Speaker 1: Malibu is pretty absurd because he was in the movie. 465 00:28:50,916 --> 00:28:54,236 Speaker 1: When Hollywood producers showed up in Malibu looking to cast 466 00:28:54,316 --> 00:28:57,876 Speaker 1: real surfers for the first Gidget movie. Mickey was hired 467 00:28:57,916 --> 00:29:00,716 Speaker 1: to be the stunt double for James Darren, who played 468 00:29:00,716 --> 00:29:05,436 Speaker 1: Gidget's love interest Moondoggie. But you really wouldn't know that 469 00:29:05,556 --> 00:29:09,276 Speaker 1: from the way he talked. A few months ago, I 470 00:29:09,316 --> 00:29:12,556 Speaker 1: got a tape of Mickey Dora, recorded two years before 471 00:29:12,596 --> 00:29:16,156 Speaker 1: his death. It's never been heard before, and I'll play 472 00:29:16,156 --> 00:29:19,636 Speaker 1: more of it later, but for now, notice how worked 473 00:29:19,716 --> 00:29:23,836 Speaker 1: up Mickey still is about Gidget forty years after the fact. 474 00:29:25,036 --> 00:29:27,876 Speaker 1: He's the second voice. 475 00:29:27,196 --> 00:29:28,716 Speaker 7: I've never even saw that saw. 476 00:29:28,876 --> 00:29:29,196 Speaker 5: Did it? 477 00:29:29,876 --> 00:29:30,876 Speaker 7: Yeah? 478 00:29:31,036 --> 00:29:31,916 Speaker 4: Is it bad shit? 479 00:29:32,316 --> 00:29:34,956 Speaker 7: Is it disaster? It's a new erything. 480 00:29:35,636 --> 00:29:40,316 Speaker 6: And everyone holds me responsible when people will connect me somehow, 481 00:29:41,756 --> 00:29:43,516 Speaker 6: So all lies. I had nothing to do with these people. 482 00:29:45,876 --> 00:29:49,036 Speaker 6: They all hated me. Unbelievable. I only rode waves. And 483 00:29:49,076 --> 00:29:53,636 Speaker 6: now that's the longing you did. It's hard hard to believe. 484 00:29:53,716 --> 00:29:57,116 Speaker 6: So I get all this propaganda, bad press. 485 00:29:55,516 --> 00:29:57,676 Speaker 7: And Jesus Christ. 486 00:30:00,836 --> 00:30:04,436 Speaker 1: Do you remember some of your friends, including Mickey and 487 00:30:04,476 --> 00:30:07,116 Speaker 1: some others, being there and working as extras. 488 00:30:07,436 --> 00:30:10,676 Speaker 3: Mickey was the extra. He served for James darn He 489 00:30:10,756 --> 00:30:14,436 Speaker 3: had great hand gestures. People mimicked him. People mimicked him 490 00:30:14,476 --> 00:30:17,716 Speaker 3: a lot. And I didn't know much about what happened 491 00:30:17,756 --> 00:30:20,396 Speaker 3: to Mickey after I left Malibu, because you know, we 492 00:30:20,436 --> 00:30:21,556 Speaker 3: got it. He's a bad boy. 493 00:30:22,636 --> 00:30:25,116 Speaker 1: Kathy remembers one thing Mickey used to say to her 494 00:30:25,316 --> 00:30:28,876 Speaker 1: all the time, the classic warning from a local to 495 00:30:28,956 --> 00:30:31,396 Speaker 1: a kook to stay off his wave. 496 00:30:32,396 --> 00:30:34,756 Speaker 3: Don't drop in on me, Gidget. 497 00:30:35,276 --> 00:30:36,356 Speaker 1: Don't drop in on me. 498 00:30:37,756 --> 00:30:39,436 Speaker 3: I won't make it. I won't, I promise. 499 00:30:41,396 --> 00:30:44,036 Speaker 1: Kathy went to college in Oregon, and when she came 500 00:30:44,076 --> 00:30:46,836 Speaker 1: back to Malibu a year after the movie came out, 501 00:30:47,436 --> 00:30:50,556 Speaker 1: it was a different place when you. 502 00:30:50,556 --> 00:30:56,276 Speaker 3: Came back here. Had Malibu already changed? Yes, when I 503 00:30:56,436 --> 00:31:01,316 Speaker 3: came back, Malibu had changed. Malibu was crowded. 504 00:31:02,516 --> 00:31:07,036 Speaker 1: At Malibu, the Gidget effect was palpable. All of a sudden, 505 00:31:07,156 --> 00:31:10,236 Speaker 1: there were hundreds of non surfers in the water trying 506 00:31:10,276 --> 00:31:16,116 Speaker 1: to surf, oblivious of what they were jumping into. Gidget 507 00:31:16,156 --> 00:31:20,836 Speaker 1: had definitely dropped in on Mickey metaphorically, and an army 508 00:31:20,956 --> 00:31:26,076 Speaker 1: of wannabe gidgets were doing it literally. To Malibu locals, 509 00:31:26,356 --> 00:31:29,516 Speaker 1: surfing was a rite of passage, not a fad you 510 00:31:29,516 --> 00:31:33,876 Speaker 1: picked up from watching a movie. Henry Ford, the early 511 00:31:33,916 --> 00:31:34,836 Speaker 1: Malibu lifeguard. 512 00:31:35,876 --> 00:31:40,556 Speaker 8: You had to kind of fit into that waterman mentality. 513 00:31:40,596 --> 00:31:43,596 Speaker 8: You had to be able to swim, dive, how to 514 00:31:43,636 --> 00:31:47,676 Speaker 8: read the water, read the ocean. Watermen were very important, 515 00:31:47,676 --> 00:31:51,156 Speaker 8: and that's I think the early surfers would be termed watermen. 516 00:31:52,356 --> 00:31:55,076 Speaker 1: There was a culture clash, Henry says, between those he 517 00:31:55,156 --> 00:31:58,836 Speaker 1: calls the pure surfers and the cum latelies who had 518 00:31:58,996 --> 00:32:00,876 Speaker 1: essentially been inspired by Gidget. 519 00:32:02,036 --> 00:32:03,516 Speaker 3: What's the pure surfer? 520 00:32:04,836 --> 00:32:08,116 Speaker 8: The guy who's committed to it. Whether he works or not, 521 00:32:08,276 --> 00:32:10,996 Speaker 8: is not that important. It's just the fact the commitment 522 00:32:11,076 --> 00:32:14,836 Speaker 8: to it, commitment to it being a discipline, something that 523 00:32:14,876 --> 00:32:19,076 Speaker 8: you believe in, something that you love, and you've got 524 00:32:19,116 --> 00:32:22,476 Speaker 8: to figure that on some days, you're paddling out the 525 00:32:22,556 --> 00:32:26,436 Speaker 8: water's fifty five degrees, maybe fifty eight degrees. You don't 526 00:32:26,476 --> 00:32:28,876 Speaker 8: have a wet suit, you don't have a leash, you 527 00:32:28,916 --> 00:32:31,836 Speaker 8: have one hundred and twenty pound board, and you love 528 00:32:31,836 --> 00:32:34,476 Speaker 8: it and you cannot get enough of it. 529 00:32:35,516 --> 00:32:38,716 Speaker 1: Malibu was being invaded by outsiders. 530 00:32:38,916 --> 00:32:41,476 Speaker 8: When these other kids came over that just showed up 531 00:32:41,516 --> 00:32:44,076 Speaker 8: in were in everybody's way. That made it difficult. 532 00:32:45,076 --> 00:32:47,436 Speaker 1: Henry was hired to work at Malibu right when the 533 00:32:47,436 --> 00:32:51,156 Speaker 1: crowds were getting out of control. Because the crowds were 534 00:32:51,156 --> 00:32:52,476 Speaker 1: getting out of control. 535 00:32:53,036 --> 00:32:55,156 Speaker 9: You had to have somebody there to help control it. 536 00:32:55,196 --> 00:32:58,476 Speaker 8: Because now what was happening where people who were trying 537 00:32:58,516 --> 00:33:01,636 Speaker 8: to learn how to surf join into these people who 538 00:33:01,716 --> 00:33:02,436 Speaker 8: have made this. 539 00:33:02,356 --> 00:33:05,316 Speaker 9: Their lifestyle or developed their own culture. 540 00:33:06,076 --> 00:33:09,276 Speaker 8: So these people that were coming in after seeing each 541 00:33:09,356 --> 00:33:11,516 Speaker 8: Bingo party, Gidget the. 542 00:33:11,396 --> 00:33:16,836 Speaker 1: Movie, these people are what surfers call kooks. We've talked 543 00:33:16,836 --> 00:33:20,116 Speaker 1: about this word. I asked Henry to give me his definition. 544 00:33:21,036 --> 00:33:24,076 Speaker 9: It would be someone who just learning how to surf. 545 00:33:24,676 --> 00:33:28,676 Speaker 8: And they called them cowboys from the other side over 546 00:33:28,716 --> 00:33:34,836 Speaker 8: there on the inland side. The valley group Malibu belonged 547 00:33:34,836 --> 00:33:35,756 Speaker 8: to those locals. 548 00:33:36,636 --> 00:33:39,116 Speaker 9: That's pretty much the name of the game. 549 00:33:39,396 --> 00:33:41,236 Speaker 8: So you can imagine what it'd be like if you 550 00:33:41,276 --> 00:33:43,996 Speaker 8: were down there, and you were at that beach every day, 551 00:33:44,276 --> 00:33:46,396 Speaker 8: then all of a sudden, there's fifty to one hundred 552 00:33:46,436 --> 00:33:49,836 Speaker 8: guys there with new boards. 553 00:33:49,356 --> 00:33:51,796 Speaker 9: And really kind of rubbing. 554 00:33:52,236 --> 00:33:55,956 Speaker 8: The nose of the guy who's been there for years. 555 00:33:57,116 --> 00:34:01,916 Speaker 1: So were there actual physical fights? Was it name calling? 556 00:34:01,996 --> 00:34:04,636 Speaker 8: Was there just Oh, there was everything you could imagine. 557 00:34:04,676 --> 00:34:07,756 Speaker 8: Flattened tires. If you went to the surf break and 558 00:34:07,796 --> 00:34:10,196 Speaker 8: nobody knew who you were, they flat in your tires. 559 00:34:10,716 --> 00:34:13,156 Speaker 8: I mean, there was all kinds of crazy stuff that 560 00:34:13,196 --> 00:34:16,196 Speaker 8: went on in the water. Was dangerous because the guys 561 00:34:16,476 --> 00:34:19,196 Speaker 8: that were learning how to surf had no concept, they 562 00:34:19,236 --> 00:34:22,956 Speaker 8: had no I guess manners. They had not been taught 563 00:34:23,636 --> 00:34:27,676 Speaker 8: the culture, they had not been taught what's acceptable and 564 00:34:27,716 --> 00:34:31,516 Speaker 8: what's not acceptable. And there were a lot of injuries. 565 00:34:31,516 --> 00:34:34,956 Speaker 8: There were a lot of people that were angry about it. 566 00:34:35,076 --> 00:34:38,516 Speaker 8: And I mean, I've seen guys fight on the beach. 567 00:34:38,556 --> 00:34:42,116 Speaker 8: I've seen guys throw rocks at their boards, other people's boards. 568 00:34:42,116 --> 00:34:43,836 Speaker 8: I've seen all kinds of crazy stuff. 569 00:34:44,876 --> 00:34:48,156 Speaker 1: No one was more pissed off by all these kooks 570 00:34:48,596 --> 00:34:49,596 Speaker 1: than Mickey Dora. 571 00:34:50,476 --> 00:34:53,916 Speaker 8: His area was invaded, that was his spot. I mean 572 00:34:54,396 --> 00:34:58,956 Speaker 8: it became a little bit more contentious. Its separated the 573 00:34:59,396 --> 00:35:01,836 Speaker 8: guys that could serve, who have spent their lives surfing, 574 00:35:01,836 --> 00:35:06,076 Speaker 8: who invested their soul into surfing, and all of a 575 00:35:06,116 --> 00:35:08,756 Speaker 8: sudden you got people coming over there and driving around 576 00:35:08,796 --> 00:35:11,156 Speaker 8: with boards on their car, saying their surfers when they're 577 00:35:11,156 --> 00:35:14,236 Speaker 8: really not. So it was hard for all of us, 578 00:35:14,436 --> 00:35:16,076 Speaker 8: not just for Mickey. It was for all of us, 579 00:35:16,156 --> 00:35:18,476 Speaker 8: but Mickey was probably the most outspoken. 580 00:35:19,156 --> 00:35:21,876 Speaker 1: Do you think Mickey successfully scared some of them off? 581 00:35:22,796 --> 00:35:26,636 Speaker 9: Oh yeah, I guarantee you. I guarantee you. 582 00:35:31,036 --> 00:35:33,956 Speaker 1: Once upon a time, Mickey and Gidget had been friendly, 583 00:35:35,196 --> 00:35:38,236 Speaker 1: but he turned her into a scapegoat for everything he 584 00:35:38,316 --> 00:35:40,516 Speaker 1: hated about what Malibu became. 585 00:35:41,556 --> 00:35:44,516 Speaker 7: He would have been, gosh, ten or fifteen years older 586 00:35:44,556 --> 00:35:46,756 Speaker 7: than her. She was really young when she was down there. 587 00:35:47,436 --> 00:35:49,356 Speaker 1: Matt Warshaw, surf historian. 588 00:35:50,156 --> 00:35:52,276 Speaker 7: You see photos of them when Kathy was still on 589 00:35:52,316 --> 00:35:55,716 Speaker 7: the beach at Malibu, and they're standing sort of next 590 00:35:55,716 --> 00:35:57,876 Speaker 7: to each other, sort of like a brother sister thing almost, 591 00:35:57,956 --> 00:36:00,236 Speaker 7: So there are pictures of the two of them, and 592 00:36:00,276 --> 00:36:03,276 Speaker 7: there's no beef at that point. I think the beef 593 00:36:03,356 --> 00:36:09,076 Speaker 7: comes later after everybody has decided collectively that Gidget room 594 00:36:09,196 --> 00:36:12,676 Speaker 7: and surfing. And when I say Gidget, I mean the 595 00:36:12,756 --> 00:36:15,236 Speaker 7: movie in the book, and then you follow the trail 596 00:36:15,316 --> 00:36:19,156 Speaker 7: back to the person. I guess, but you're going, well, 597 00:36:19,196 --> 00:36:21,156 Speaker 7: if she hadn't shown up, none of this would have happened, 598 00:36:21,236 --> 00:36:23,396 Speaker 7: which is nonsense. Surfing was going to be just as 599 00:36:23,436 --> 00:36:26,876 Speaker 7: crowded as it was. Gidget or no Gidget, right, But 600 00:36:26,956 --> 00:36:29,356 Speaker 7: Gidget is the easiest thing to look at and say, well, 601 00:36:29,596 --> 00:36:31,516 Speaker 7: there you go. That was what ruined it. And I 602 00:36:31,516 --> 00:36:36,316 Speaker 7: think that's everything you need to know about why Mickey 603 00:36:36,756 --> 00:36:37,796 Speaker 7: was angry at Kathy. 604 00:36:39,156 --> 00:36:42,516 Speaker 1: But because Kathy was Kathy and her family was who 605 00:36:42,556 --> 00:36:51,556 Speaker 1: they were, that anger took a particularly vile form. Next 606 00:36:51,596 --> 00:36:53,276 Speaker 1: time on Lost Hills. 607 00:36:55,236 --> 00:36:59,316 Speaker 3: And had there been a swastik on the driveway or 608 00:36:59,476 --> 00:37:01,756 Speaker 3: no swastik on the driver, we just kind of like 609 00:37:02,236 --> 00:37:04,556 Speaker 3: it was not a big We kind of didn't want 610 00:37:04,596 --> 00:37:06,716 Speaker 3: to deal with something like that, so we just kind 611 00:37:06,756 --> 00:37:10,316 Speaker 3: of like, who cares, you know, you want to throw 612 00:37:10,396 --> 00:37:16,476 Speaker 3: my board over the fence. So I had a drive, 613 00:37:16,716 --> 00:37:19,356 Speaker 3: I mean I had a drive to want to learn 614 00:37:19,356 --> 00:37:22,316 Speaker 3: how to surf, to prove it to you know, maybe 615 00:37:22,476 --> 00:37:25,436 Speaker 3: to myself, but to the guys that I could be 616 00:37:25,556 --> 00:37:28,836 Speaker 3: just one. I could surf too. I'm gonna surf. 617 00:37:31,236 --> 00:37:35,556 Speaker 1: That's next in episode four, Gidget Goes to Hollywood, Part two. 618 00:37:41,756 --> 00:37:44,516 Speaker 1: Lost Hills is written and reported by Me Dana Goodyear. 619 00:37:44,756 --> 00:37:47,716 Speaker 1: It's created by me and Ben Adair and produced by 620 00:37:47,716 --> 00:37:51,876 Speaker 1: Western Sound and Pushkin Industries. Subscribe to Pushkin Plus and 621 00:37:51,916 --> 00:37:55,276 Speaker 1: you can hear the whole season ad free. Find Pushkin 622 00:37:55,316 --> 00:37:58,316 Speaker 1: Plus on the Lost Hills show page in Apple Podcasts, 623 00:37:58,476 --> 00:38:01,596 Speaker 1: or at pushkin dot fm, slash plus