The Surf Ballroom In Clear Lake: A Hall of Memories

On January 27, 2009, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame dedicated the Surf Ballroom as a historic rock and roll landmark as part of their ongoing Landmark Series, identifying locations significant to the origins of rock and roll. The Original Surf Ballroom opened on April 17, 1933. When the Surf burned to the ground in 1946 a new Surf Ballroom was quickly rebuilt across the street to replace it by the following year. Yesterday, 18 April 2022, I finally had an opportunity to go inside and see the place where Buddy Holly performed his last concert.

Selfie with my Buddy Holly tour guide, Mike Tefft

In some ways, the venue reminded me of the Historic Duluth Armory, where Bob Dylan and other Northlanders say the Winter Dance Party a few days earlier. No, the two venues bear little visual resemblance to one another. Rather, their connection is more historical. Each became a showcase for countless familiar names, singers and performers. 

The Surf has plenty of memorabilia for fans of music history. In the thirties and forties, it was a major "go to" for big bands. Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and a ton of others performed here. With the birth of rock and roll, a whole new generation of performers made this part of their stomping grounds.

Inside the Green Room. Many a famous personality prepped
in this place. They not only left an indelible mark on their fans,
they also left initials, doodles and other memorials.

Duke Ellington's piano... Signed by the Duke himself.

For what it's worth, I was moved more than I anticipated that I would be. Now I wish I hadn't been in such a hurry, which means I suspect that I will be going back. There's a lot to see... 

RELATED BUDDY HOLLY LINKS

A Visit to the Buddy Holly Crash Site

In Memoriam: Buddy Holly Stood Here

More Buddy Holly Fingerprints: Not Fade Away

Sunday Night's Blood Moon and More

The Day the Music Died

Remembering Buddy Holly and the Dance Party Tour (w/Jim Heffernan)

Official Surf Ballroom Website: https://www.surfballroom.com/

If links don't launch, here are the URLs

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-visit-to-buddy-holly-crash-site-in.html

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2019/02/in-memoriam-buddy-holly-stood-on-these.html

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2019/01/more-buddy-holly-fingerprints-not-fade.html

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2019/01/sunday-nights-blood-moon-plus-more.html

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2010/08/day-music-died.html

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2018/01/remembering-buddy-holly-dance-party-jim.html

A Visit to the Buddy Holly Crash Site in Clear Lake, Iowa

Clear Lake resident Mike Tefft with your faithful scribe.

Last Monday, near the tail end of a 17-day road trip, I visited a friend in Clear Lake, Iowa. Mike grew up in Clear Lake, which 60 years ago February proved to be the last stop for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson) on their Winter Dance Party Tour.

We drove out to the horn-rimmed glasses that mark the spot where you leave your car to trek the quarter-mile to the crash site. (Crash documents state it to be a half mile walk, but it didn't feel quite that.) As you can see from the photo (right) our mood was upbeat as we disembarked.

Once there, however, the crash site makes an impression on you, especially when you let your imagination run with it. Mike pointed to a spot 50 feet from the crash where Richardson's body was found in the cornfield beyond the fence. Many have wondered whether he was thrown from the wreck or managed to stagger to that place where he lost his powers to go on. Upon reading the coroner's report, walking away from the crash seems impossible. Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens were also thrown from the plane, each found approximately 17 feet from the wreck. The 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza slammed into the ground nose first and cartwheeled more than 500 feet to the fence-line where it tumbled to a stop.

According to a report made after the crash, the stated motivation for taking the plane was to arrive early ahead of the bus so the stars would have time to do laundry. It may have in part been motivated by the breakdown that occurred in the middle of the night after their Winter Dance Party performance at the Duluth Armory.

The photos on this page show how the location of the tragedy has been memorialized. It was a very sad day in music history, and especially for the friends and loved ones who knew these four young men who died.

The four blue dots represent the four lives that had been taken that night.

A sobering Civil Aeronautics Board photo. (Public domain.)

Related Links
Chronological Presentation of Final Hours
Photos of the crash site and subsequent investigation along with official crash documents  
The Day the Music Died