AMERICA’S IMPRESSION OF THE BEACH CAME LARGELY CAME FROM THE WHOLESOME YET SOMEWHAT SILLY BEACH PARTY FILMS MADE POPULAR BY ANNETTE FUNICELLO AND FRANKIE AVALON.

BUT FOR THOSE WHO LIVED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IT WAS A UNIQUE TYPE OF LIFE THAT WAS UNCONSCIOUSLY CAST AS STYLE AND WHOSE ALLEGED PRIVILEGED AMBIENCE HARKENED BACK TO TIME WHEN PRESIDENTS LIKE JOHN F. KENNEDY AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE JACKIE WERE THE PRIDE AND JOY OF A NATION WHO STUBBORNLY STAYED DRUNK ON AN AMERICAN DREAM THAT IN REALITY, WAS DEMANDING PEOPLE WAKE UP.

(Photos courtesy of Kevin Goff - www.kevincgoff.com)