Hi Guys,
Not sure WHO is running this great website but what a joy to see all the great history!
I am Jim Linahon - Bob and Darlene Linahon's oldest son. Graduated in '69 - lived and
played music in the Surf from the time I was a HS freshman with a rock band
(The Library) through the big band I directed - the North Iowa Jazz Ens. - until I
moved to LA in 1975.
I am doing a film documentary on Rich Matteson - Jazz Artist - who played in the surf with NIJE and at the Motor Lodge out east of the cemetary in the nite club there. Rich has passed away but his legacy has grown - he was the tuba player with the Dukes of Dixieland and Louis Armstrong and became an international superstar in Europe.
This documentary on his life covers a part of the swing era and I thought perhaps the
Surf and some people in the area might have some photos of big bands and
large swing dance crowds that we could use in this documentary. We would be
happy to credit the local Chamber of Commerce and of course the Surf and any
affiliates.
The film has interviews and footage from Doc Severinsen/The Tonight Show, Clarke
Terry, Pat Metheny, Louis Bellson, and a veritable host of jazz luminaries. It is being
cosponsored by the Louis Armstrong House (Museum) in New York and the Ford
Foundation. Dan Carrey (actor Jim Carrey's 1st cousin) is the director and I am
the Producer.
I just wanted to offer this - the film should show on PBS all over the country and will
probably get good airplay in Europe. It would be a no-brainer promotion for the city
of Clear Lake - the Surf Ballroom and of course Iowa.
So - if you guys could pass the word around and if the Surf has any photographs
of big dance crowds with big bands (Ellington/Basie/Woody Herman/Glenn Miller/
Tommy Dorsey etc...) or even local big bands - if you could have someone scan
them and send them to us as 8 x 10 Jpeg files/72DPI I would be delighted to use them.
Timeline calls for this film to be done in about 6-8 weeks so we would need
any input by March 20th.
Thanks for any help - would love to see Clear Lake represented on the film.
Stay warm!
Cheers,
Jim Linahon
909-625-2522
561 West Ninth Street
Claremont, CA 91711
