Mac Meda Destruction Company

Doug Moranville and Jon Sarrett Say “Hi” to Eber From Blacks Beach

Doug Moranville and Jon Sarrett say, "Hi" to Eber who was taking a little vacation for a for a couple of years - photo provided by Eber and taken by Doug Moranville

Grant you there were many of the beach crowd that escape death at young age, and more than many who should have  gone to jail that did not. However, there were a few that always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Eber was no exception. Beside the minor incidents like  skeleton drinking buddy incident and shooting an spud (potato) gun at the Rough Drink, he did manage to spend some time at the infamous Soledad.  Read more... (333 words, 1 image, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)

Chuck Hasley – WindanSea Surf Club – La Jolla

Chuck Hasley - founder of WindanSea Surf Club

A former high school basketball coach, Chuck Hasley was known for his organizational skills, sense of humor and for having what his son, Chris, called “a little bit of the devil in him.”

Back in the early 1960’s Hasley suggested starting a surfing club of their own called the Windansea Surf Club. He knew there once had been a surf and ski club in the area and wrote, “I figured the people up the coast would remember there was a club at Windansea and think it was the same club.”  A club logo was quickly created, and Hasley was named president and t-shirts were printed.  Read more... (629 words, 4 images, estimated 2:31 mins reading time)

Donnie Tomlinson – Legendary San Diego/La Jolla Lobster Fishermen

Donnie pulls a trap off La Jolla before they made the area a fishing reserve - Photo by Doug Moranville

To a lobster connoisseur, you think only of California’s Spiny Lobsters because of its excellent sweet taste. When thinking of those that fish lobsters, there is only one;  San Diego’s  La Jolla legendary fisherman, Donnie Tomlinson.

Donnie grew up in La Jolla, his dad owned La Jolla Cab, whose office was right next to Kramers Gas Station. They lived by the then,  La Jolla High/Middle School. One of the early stories is how his twin sisters had to flip coins of who was going to drop and pick Donnie and Jack MacPherson off in a limo (his dad rented out) when they would go spear fishing at La Jolla Shores. They were only 10 years old.  Read more... (1214 words, 3 images, estimated 4:51 mins reading time)

WindanSea Shack – La Jolla Historical Landmark

Heavy waves pound WindanSea shack - photo by Brian Munoz

WindanSea Beach encompasses a historic stretch of scenic coastline located in La Jolla, a community in San Diego, California. It is named after an oceanfront hotel that burned down in the late 1940s. Geographically, it is defined by the beachfront extending north of Palomar Avenue (Big Rock) and south of Westbourne Street (Simmons). Historically, it is defined by some of the most progressive and colorful characters in California surf  and beach crowd history.

The focal point and cultural icon at Windansea is a simple palm-covered shack, located beneath the narrow parking lot, just in front of the main peak. According to some historical stuff , it was originally constructed in 1946 by original locals Woody Ekstrom, Fred Kenyon (RIP) and Don Okey.  And was designated as an historical landmark by the San Diego Historical Resources Board on May 27, 1998.  Read more... (600 words, 2 images, estimated 2:24 mins reading time)

La Jolla’s Blacks Beach Key – Surfers, UCSD & Scripps

Ron Stoner captures Dickie Moon streaking across a see-through wall at Black's, circa 1967

Way back when, the Black Family moved to La Jolla and bought a bunch of acres on Torrey Pines cliffs alongside a canyon that lead to the beach.  A dirt road for horse and buggies followed the cliffs to what is known now as Torry Pine State Park.  With Del Mar Fairgrounds getting the A-OK for horse racing, the Blacks started a premier thoroughbred horse farm on about 10 acres. The horse farm was never that successful so they sold the land and it was subdivided into lots, where the area got its name, La Jolla Farms.  Read more... (734 words, 3 images, estimated 2:56 mins reading time)

La Jolla High Alumni – Mac Meda Style Reunion

At any given day many La Jolla High Alumni stopped to have a few cold ones with Jack at the West End - Photo by Percy Turner

When Jack took the early morning shift at the West End in Pacific Beach/La Jolla on just about any given day there would have been a bunch of La Jolla High Alumni there. Makes sense, since Jack was a La Jolla High Alumni.

Many of his closest friends would stop by and shoot the shit over a few beers and cocktails. One day, Jack glazed down the bar and noticed that the bar has become a mini-reunion and someone had a camera.

So they rounded up the gang and took this photo in 1996.  Read more... (190 words, 1 image, estimated 46 secs reading time)