Rick Babiracki dies at 56

Dave Brooks

Surf City lost one of its greatest rock stars this week.

Although he never fronted a live jam band or staged dived into the

audience, Rick Babiracki epitomized the wild days of Huntington

Beach’s rock ‘n’ roll past with his legendary Golden Bear nightclub.

On Saturday, Babiracki died of respiratory failure after a long

battle with illness. He was 56.

Babiracki owned the Golden Bear nightclub during it’s most

prolific period from 1974 to 1986. He managed the club through the

end of California’s fascination with psychedelic rock bringing acts

like the Doors, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin to his 300-seat

auditorium near the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Main

Street. He also helped Huntington Beach usher in the new age sounds

of Peter Gabriel and Oingo Boingo, while occasionally blasting the

city with the likes of heavy metal groups like Poison.

The closing of his nightclub in 1986 would serve as the unofficial

symbol of Surf City’s sometimes painful transformation from blue

collar beach town to glitzy tourist destination.

“When the Golden Bear closed, it was the end of a rock ‘n’ roll

era in Huntington Beach,” said his former booking agent Bella

Lagmay-Funk.

First built in 1929, the Golden Bear operated as a Greek

restaurant, and later a concert facility featuring comedians like

Lenny Bruce and folk legends Bob Dylan and Arlo Guthrie.

Babiracki took over ownership in 1974, booking dozens of national

acts as well as offbeat appearances by LSD pioneer Timothy Leary and

lurid poet Charles Bukowski. The “Bear” as it was affectionately

known was also the launching pad for Orange County local acts like

Dick Dale, Jackson Browne and comedian Steve Martin.

In 1986, Babiracki lost his lease to operate the nightclub, and

the venue was demolished to make way for a vigorous redevelopment

plan to change the face of Downtown Huntington Beach. The Golden Bear

reopened in 1990 at its original location as part of the Pierside

Plaza, only to close a year later following a series of noise

complaints from the nearby Mann Theaters.

To honor Babiracki’s memory, Lagmay-Funk is organizing a

paddle-out memorial on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier at

noon on Sunday. Several local dignitaries will be on hand to honor

Babiracki’s memory, she said.

She is also working on a book about the history of the Golden

Bear. Anyone interested in contacting her with memories or

photographs of the venue should write her at lagmay@adelpia.net.