The Black Ball

In the early 1960's LA county lifeguards decided to institute the "No Surfing Policy", better known as the "Black Ball Flag".   The Black Ball would be hoisted at 10 am everyday from June 1st  until Labor Day, no matter WHAT!  State Beach was the, surf check, gathering place, and general dissemination point for surfers.  The older generation, lead by Dora, told us that we had better stand up for ourselves or we would be trampled by the masses.   At first there was some grousing, but we all knew that eventually the day would come.   About a week later a nice little wind swell showed up and all the elements did too!  Mikki, Marty, Darryl, Spider, Terry and all the Chicken's of the Sea membership.  The publics beach attendance was nil.  The surf was really fun and then .... "the black ball" was hoisted.  Probably about half of the thirty surfers out at the time complied like little lambs.  I was sitting with the pack and was drawn into the vortex.  After  about  minutes Don Rohrer sensed that something was up.  He got out the bull horn and and ask for compliance and when he got none he started to threaten.  Soon he announced that the police would be called. Marty now began issuing orders to hold fast.  And hold we did.  I was mostly a witness to shannanigans that had transpired over the last few years between elements which surrounded Dora and directed little thing towards the lifeguards in general and Rohrer more specifically.  I am sure that Don was hoping to get Mikki arrested, fuck, for what? Surfing.  But Marty was ruining his day as Don liked all of us and probably caught him off balance.  The Police huddled up on the beach figuring on what to do.  They certainly were not entering the water.  They looked out of place and were also hamstrung by what would happen.  Would they have to arrest ten or twelve no compliers?  It was an empowering moment for Marty and his band of misfits. You'll have to ask Marty what the outcome was?

Robbie Dick