Glory days on display

The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum is starting off its Surfin’ Sundays concert series this Sunday by paying tribute to the band that gave Surf City USA its name.

Surf band The Nocturnes will play a tribute to the Beach Boys. Appetizers and beverages will be served and admission is free.

The event celebrates the opening of “Surf Sounds, Part 1,” an exhibit of Beach Boys memorabilia from throughout the band’s career.

For kids, the exhibit includes a karaoke machine donated by Singer’s Choice Karaoke, which gives them a chance to sing along to a book full of popular songs.

The bulk of the records, posters and tapes on display come from late Beach Boys fan Michael Szlarski, whose widow Pam loaned his entire collection to the museum, said director at large Natalie Kotsch.

“He had a major collection,” Kotsch said. “We’re really grateful.”

Another source of mementos was at the museum Tuesday. Dean Torrence of surf group and frequent Beach Boys collaborators Jan and Dean brought a copy of the original lyrics of the song “Surf City,” written by Brian Wilson, but with a few red-ink corrections by Torrence.

The image of the song, written on a label for a box of recording tape, brought back memories.

Wilson had a little room for improvement in the first draft, Torrence said.

“He wrote that the woodie ‘doesn’t have a heater or a radio,’” he said. “But teenagers were listening to music in their cars. We’d master records for small speakers because that’s where they listened. I knew it had to have a radio, so it became ‘a rear window.’”

Seeing a wall display of dozens of records from the group he so often collaborated with, Torrence said he was constantly surprised by their longevity.

“You know, we thought this stuff had a shelf life of 90 days,” he said. “But kids learn these songs in school now. It’s funny to look back on.”

Torrence will get his chance at an exhibition, too; Part 2 of Surf Sounds features Jan and Dean.

The bands live on, as well as the music, said Chris Farmer, a member of the current incarnation of the Beach Boys.

Farmer, who lent the exhibit a platinum record of the “Sounds of Summer” greatest hits collection, said he still sees teenagers singing along at the group’s shows.

How do karaoke and gold records fit in the museum, alongside vintage boards and surfing pictures? Great, Kotsch said.

“This museum celebrates all the aspects of surf culture,” she said.

“We are proud to bring this part of it to Huntington Beach.”

The Beach Boys exhibit will be at the museum for a year.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Surfin’ Sundays and Beach Boys exhibit opening

WHERE: Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, 411 Olive Ave.

WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday

PHONE: (714) 960-3483