Patron Packet
(641) 357-6151 // 460 N. Shore Dr., Clear Lake, IA 50428
[email protected]
Surf ballroom history project
A Written and Oral History Project by Musicologist Jonas Westover, PhD
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project aims to create as complete a history of the Surf
Ballroom as possible through written materials like advertisements and scrapbooks, a visual
history through photographs, posters, and memorabilia, and an oral history through the stories of
people who attended events of all types at the Surf. The result of the project will be a book on
the subject.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP: I am hoping to include a wide range of stories from people
of all ages who have enjoyed the Surf at some point in their lives. I am looking for stories of any
kind from people who have been at the Surf from its creation in 1933 up to the present day. If
you tell me your story using the questionnaire contained in this packet and fill out the consent
form, your story—attributed to YOU and published with YOUR NAME—will be included in my
book on the ballroom (unless you wish to be anonymous). Your tales of how the Surf has been a
part of your life will be PUBLISHED and your story will help to build a wonderful tale of a very
influential musical venue! This packet includes:
---An information page about you, with your contact information for further questions
---A consent form, so that I can publish your story with your name
---A list of questions to help jog your memory about your experiences
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT, ABOUT THE SURF, OR
ABOUT ME, FEEL FREE TO WRITE ME A LETTER AT THE SURF (ADDRESS ABOVE)
OR AT THE FOLLOWING EMAIL: Write to JONAS WESTOVER at:
[email protected]
I LOOK FORWARD TO READING YOUR STORIES!!
Contact information, PERMISSIONS, AND DIRECTIONS
(PLEASE SEND IN THIS PAGE ALONG WITH YOUR STORY)
_____________________________________
Name
________________________________________
_____________________________________
Address
_____________________________________
Email Address
Your Decades At
the Surf
(Check all that
apply)
1930s
1940s
________________________________________
1950s
Telephone Number (if you choose)
1960s
PERMISSION
1970s
I, ___________________________________, hereby give permission
to Jonas Westover to use my story of the Surf Ballroom in his
projects, which may include articles, books, and any other media.
Credit for my story will ALWAYS be given to me, the storyteller.
Please print my name as above or as __________________________.
All rights are hereby reserved by Jonas Westover. Please check here
to be listed as “anonymous” __. If you have questions about this,
please email me.
1980s
1990s
2000s
DIRECTIONS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION:
1) Read through the questions on the following pages and think about what you want to
write. You DO NOT have to answer each question—these are merely suggestions. You
CAN answer the questions one by one if you wish, or create a complete story of your
own.
2) If you have any pictures, scan them or copy them. Label the picture as best you can,
indicating who is in the picture, when it was taken, and where. If you have any posters or
memorabilia, please take a picture of it or just let me know about it. I would love to see
any videos or hear any radio shows you may have kept.
3) SEND THIS PAGE AS AN ATTACHMENT OR PRINT OUT THIS PAGE AND:
Once you get your story down on paper or in the computer, send it in an email to:
[email protected]
You can send stories and pictures as attachments or in the email itself.
OR: Send it in to:
Jonas Westover
c/o Surf Ballroom
460 N. Shore Dr.
Clear Lake, IA 50428
4) If you know anyone else who might want to contribute, make a copy of this packet
and send it to them. I am hoping to get stories from all decades, including the 1930s!
SURF HISTORY QUESTIONS
DIRECTIONS: FEEL FREE TO ANSWER AS MANY OF THESE QUESTIONS AS YOU
LIKE, USING THEM ONLY AS A GUIDE TO HELP TELL YOUR STORY. YOU CAN
ANSWER USING BULLET POINTS OR IN A LONGER, STORY-LIKE NARRATIVE.
HAVE FUN AND TELL AS MUCH AS YOU’D LIKE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT
THE SURF!
---BUDDY HOLLY/WINTER DANCE PARTY: How long have you been coming to the
festival? What are your favorite bands to have played? Why do you come to the Surf for the
party? How long have you known about the Surf?
---Each night had its own flavor. Do you remember a difference between crowds (on Fridays,
when the farmers would come into town, or other nights)?
---Do you remember different local bands? Where were they from and what did you think of
them? Here are some names to jog your memory:
Jules Herman and his Orch.
Eddie Allen and his Orch.
Kenny Hofer and his Orch.
Malek’s Accordion Band (or
Fisherman’s Band)
The Country Clubbers
Bob and his Pioneers
Hal’s Ramblers
Iowa Cornhuskers
Henry Charles and his Orch
Dude Ranchers
Orville Von Seggern Orchestra
Scandinavians
Litterer Band
Golden Country
The Whitesidewalls
Andy Doll and the Ridge Riders
Eddie Skeets and his Orch.
---Some events happened that were out of the ordinary and were not normally scheduled. I’ve
included a few below. Do you remember anything from these?
Clown Dance
Hard Times Dance
Birthday Ball
Policemen’s Ball
Firemen’s Ball
Boat Shows
Governor’s Ball with the Crowning
of Miss Iowa
Crowning of Miss Cerro Gordo
Viewing the newest Studebaker
Tourism Events
Dance Lessons
---Did you ever enter a contest at the Surf? Did you know anyone who did? Here are a few
contests that happened and a few prizes:
Costume Contests
Waltz Contests
Corn Shelling Contests
Weight or Age Guessing Contests
Pie Eating Contest
Treasure Hunts for Bonds or Prizes
Trophies for prizes
Money for prizes
Food for prizes (300 lb. Heifer, for
example)
---The mid-1950s were a change for the Surf, when they began to host “teenage” dances. Did
you ever attend? Parents were free and were there as chaperones. What were these dances like?
Do you remember the change from dance bands playing at these to rock?
---There were lots of types of genres (or types of music) that played at the Surf. What do you
remember about some of these? What did you like or not like? Do you have some favorite
bands that played this kind of music?
Old-Time (Old Tyme)
Rock or Metal
50’s and 60’s specialties
Big Band and Swing
“Mixers” or “Partials”
Country and Western
Christian
---Did you or anyone you know work at the Surf or in the lounge? What was the job and what
was it like? Does anyone remember anything from their time there? When did you or they
work? Do you remember anything about the managers you worked for?
---There were many famous bands in Clear Lake at the Surf. Do you remember any of these?
Did you or anyone you know have a fun or interesting encounter with someone from a band?
Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington
Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey
Woody Herman
Sammy Kaye
Wayne King
Bill Haley and the Comets
Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons
Stan Kenton
Slash
Warrant
Paul Revere and the Raiders
Paul and Paula
Lawrence Welk
---The Surf wasn’t for everyone. What age were you first allowed to go? Do you know
someone who wasn’t allowed to go at all? Why not? Did anyone just not like the place? Why?
---What did you wear to the Surf? Did your clothing change when you went from being young
to being older? Do you remember anyone else’s outfits in particular?
---Do you remember any rivalries between people at the Surf? Did Clear Lake kids and Mason
City kids get along there? What about the relationship between farm kids and town kids? Do
you remember any different responses to music between these different groups?
---What kind of dances did you do at the Surf? Did you do the twist, the jitterbug, the waltz, the
mashed potato, polkas, or others?