Mac Meda Destruction Company

Police Raid WindanSea, La Jolla – Mac Meda July, 1968, Convention

.

Brian Munoz probably summarized it best; after getting a few “to-go orders”  for a beer run, he went to the Liquor Box, filled his truck with cases, and when he started pulling out of the parking lot  heading down Nautilus St -  that’s when he slammed on his brakes. He suddenly had become the caboose of a freight train of police cars heading to WindanSea Beach.

It was known fact in La Jolla, any whisper or rumor of a Mac Meda party the cops, press, and school authorities took it seriously, or in this day of age, “A Terrorist Attack,” and  became anal about the carnage of  drinking, destruction, and sex that a Mac  Meda Convention would generate.  In this particular case, WindanSea Beach was going to be the targeted area and this time, the departments heads of police were determine to break up the outlaw group once and for all.  Read more... (566 words, 0 images, estimated 2:16 mins reading time)

Cop Rolls Car Busting La Jolla, WindanSea Convention

Over excited cop rolls his car trying to bust a Mac Meda Convention at WindanSea- Photo taken by I believe Jon Sarrett and provided by Doug M.

Here is how the story goes. Huge Mac Meda Convention at WindanSea. Cops like always were waiting out of sight, usually lined up like a fright train somewhere in Bird Rock or at the top of Nautilus St; glued to their radios, tapping fingers on the dashboard, just waiting to  bust underage drinkers.

And the wishful wish of finally put the end to the La Jolla outlaw drinking group that had been terrorizing the so-called respected citizens of La Jolla for the last 5-6 years. Oh my … such bad boys and girls of the beach life.  Read more... (302 words, 1 image, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)

WindanSea Sunsets – Social Network of Beach Life

This is what the WindanSea's sunset was all about - photo by Dave Osborn

In the Florida Keys, each night around two hours before sunset masses of people flock to the water’s edge to experience a soul-soothing, gorgeous, spiritual happening to play homage to the sun as it sank into the Gulf of Mexico. Vendors set up little trinkets shops and  performing artists like jugglers, animal acts, high-wire artists, acrobats, and fire-eaters all began working for tips.  The worshiping finally ends  with the mesmerizing ohs and aws of the circus event when the Green Flash concluded.

Okay … thank God, this did not filter to WindanSea.  Read more... (437 words, 3 images, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

La Jolla Pumphouse Crowd – Beach Life

In this typical Meda prank and with an diverse crowd at the Pumphouse, Bill Decker has an embarrassing moment, his trunks are pulled down just as the picture is taken: Front (L-R) Robert Merril, unknown, Thomas Hendicks, Donnie Tompson, Bill Wilhelm, Kip "Pinky" Ives, Mark Edwards, Michael "Otter" Woods. Back: (L-R) Tom Jones, Lindi Person, Kathy Sanchez, Richard Krug (in back of Krug, Rupert Fellows RIP), Bill "Smack" Decker (in back of Decker the prankster) Jeff Junkins (RIP). Photo provided by Bill Decker and taken by Dean Burriston in mid 1970.

Just for starters, Tom Wolfe’s book, The Pumphouse Gang,” which he claimed immortalized the Mac Meda Destruction Co, ” … was a bunch of Bullshit,” MacPherson said during a winter 2006 conversation he had with a San Diego Magazine writer in 2006.

La Jolla’s WindanSea Wall – Social Status

We all know famous addresses,  the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and Sherlock Homes, 221b Baker St,  but for the La Jolla beach-goers crowd, 4811 Neptune, otherwise known as WindanSea’s “The Wall,” was thee spot to  hangout at. Not all could share its space. Only the coolest of the cool hung out there …

Unlike WindanSea Shack (where it was the spot for surfers) The Wall was the local status symbol and was perceived the prime location to hang and extremely visible to those driving by. It was common to have traffic jams as friends driving pass would stop and shoot the shit for 10,15 or even 30 minutes, or until a cop was spotted.  Those tourists driving the beach and caught in a Wall Jam, usually found themselves yelled and cursed at if they even touched the horn.  Read more... (356 words, 0 images, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

Plane Crashes at WindanSea, La Jolla Killing Actor Phillip G. Bent and Folksinger Peter Sachse

This AT-6 Military plane was the type that was converted for civilian use, crashed at WindanSea on July 12, 1966, killing Actor Phillip G. Bent and folksinger Peter Sachse. Both wives of the men were sunbathing at WindanSea when it happened.

I never will forget it, it was one of those cloudless, perfect La Jolla  July summer days and all I could think about was doing a little bit of body whomping at WindanSea with a friend of mind. As we were walking to the pumphouse from Big Rock,  a plane flew by a bit low, not uncommon for those days. Then it banked, rounded again and did some stunts, catching the attention of the beach-goers until suddenly it did a loop and crashed into the sea between Big Rock and WindanSea.  Read more... (441 words, 1 image, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)