I wish more buildings from that era had been cared for like that. I remember when I was little (born in 68) going into older buildings and loving the architecture and the furnishings. My Dad has been a fan of Buddy Holly since he was just a little boy in the 50s and he introduced me to that great music. It brings me so much comfort and happiness. Buddy lives on through his music.
Yes tell that to my former home city which has torn down almost every landmark around. Now they're going after older homes that sit on a sizable piece of land. It's nothing but greed. They are being torn down so they cam be replaced by two or even three houses on the same lot. Since most of my relatives have died I don;t go back there anymore. Since then I've been many smaller towns and cities that preserve and not destroy their history.
I love that they kept the same look of the ballroom. It’s still a 50’s vibe I love the ballroom. My dad remembers hearing on the radio when they announced the plane crash. I’m in my 40’s and listen to 50’s music. Love the video
As a teenager who loves 50s aesthetics and music, it makes me so happy that there's still places like this that keep the memories alive. I was here at the beginning of September and it was a great experience.
Even though I'm more into 70s/80s music, I feel the same way. I hate how gentrification destroys cool old buildings that really had charm and character
It’s crazy to think about Buddy using that payphone, thinking nothing of it as it was but a mundane thing to do, and never even remotely having the absurd thought that it would be lovingly preserved for decades- all because he, himself, used it.
Buddy is the biggest mystery to me of all the musicians that got their life cut short. He is the one I wonder about the most as to how he would’ve evolved. Like, would he go more hard rocking like the stones did? He was such a pioneer so I can see him doing something groundbreaking.
Conspiracy theorist William Cooper had copies of Buddy Holly's tapes, that he played guitar on, mainly I think for experimental purposes. Cooper played them on his satellite channel sometime back in the 90's, and from the sounds of them, he was dabbling into the heavy distortion of the psychedelic rock that was 10 years down the road. He would have been still relevant into the 70's , had he not taken that fateful flight, and I think Richie Valens would have been too. I can't recall how Cooper came into possession of those tapes, but he had been a rock & roll DJ for armed forces radio network when he was a teenager living in Japan, while his father was stationed there, sometime back in the 50's.
i believe that buddy wouldve continued making music, but wouldve spent most of his time producing others it was really what he was moving into i could see him ending up doing something with brian wilson
He was so young, he easily would have just gotten more popular into the 60’s. Listening to his music, it’s aged pretty well considering it’s from over half a century ago, especially considered to many of his peers. I can’t help to imagine about the work he may have done with the beach boys, the Beatles the stones and all of those people
I also wonder about what would Eddie Cochran do, he was too talented to fade into obscurity like some other teen idols of that era, the guy was just 21 and could give Les Paul a run for his money.
I can’t explain the feeling of standing on the surf ballroom stage alone, it’s an amazing experience, many great musicians have performed there, even my favorite Brian Wilson
Unreal. What an amazing homage to Rock n' Roll--a living museum of sorts. The place could have easily been razed decades ago to make way for a highway, shopping mall or apartment complex--and yet there it is, not only still standing but in virtually pristine, original condition--and still operating in its original capacity as a concert venue. Thanks for posting this..!
At 13:48 on the wall is the name "Dickey Betts', an original member of the Allman Brothers and a fierce guitar player. Paying respect. How fun would it be to go to a concert at that venue. Mid-century modern vibes all over.
Dickey is the man. I had the privilege of seeing him perform live with Great Southern 1/2 dozen times from 2006-2014 in small venues in NY, NJ & PA. Also got to see him a few times with The Bros. in the early to mid 90’s. He is an amazing guitarist, songwriter & musician!
That was awesome to see, the good times when there was not a lot of fear to live, I could hardly keep from crying, I am from that generation, so many memories 😉👍
Not much to fear back then. Except being instantly vaporized in a Nuclear Holocaust, but hey besides that nothing but Good Times. Back when you could dump a milkshake on a Black person's head for sitting at the wrong counter. Before Political Correctness went and ruined everything.
I'll never get to know what life was life before the internet and video games. I love video games but I always wonder what life would have been during your generation. I also love reading and music and talking to people so I wonder what things would be like without people attached to their technology
@@enochia "Technology" has been around since the 1830's with the first steam engines.. Video games suck, just get away form that garbage and you will know what life is like. Go hiking, go swimming etc..
I think of poodle skirts, saddle shoes and argyle sweaters 🥰 Thank you Chris! You can almost see the booths full and girls at the stage...and yes I love that entryway too. Comforting
Although it's literally been said countless upon countless times over, still and yet, what a breathtakingly, stunningly marvelous, marvelous, magical, legendary, iconic piece of rock n roll history here. Absolutely unbelievable that so much tireless love and dedication has been put forth throughout the many, many decades to maintain it's historical provenance and values. Certainly by all means one of those "If only the walls could talk, what rich stories they would have to tell" places. Thanks a million for sharing this cool walk down memory lane.
Oh my if only those rooms and walls could talk 👄!! So glad this piece of history has been preserved !! Thank-you Chris for showing us this awesome place of history 😀
Iowa native here: it’s surprisingly common in my state for places with historical significance-no matter how minor to be well cared for like this. Lots of small Iowan towns still have architecture stuck in the 50’s and earlier it’s pretty neat!
My Uncle Bronson back in Lubbock Texas was good friends with Buddy Holley as they were class mates back in High School. They both would die in plane crash as my Uncle crashed twice but only survive once. I was at my Grandmother's home in Lubbock when we got the call over the phone and it was a very terrible night with that news of my Uncle's Fatal crash. He was a really smart Texan a photographer a chemist a Army Texas Air Patrol Army Veteran. Even though I was young at that time I still recall that night of the crash. Peggy Sue was also a Classmate to my Parents back in High School one of Buddy's famous songs of many.
My grandparents went to this concert, they would always tell me stories about it and show me the pictures they took. It’s crazy to think that all three of these wonderful musicians lost their lives on the same day
This video touch my heart. I love numerous genres of music. This place is where Rock N Roll changed for everyone. Rest in paradise Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens.
I’ve been to Clear Lake many times growing up and I never went to the Surf Ballroom. It’s cool to see you visit this place Chris. Keep up the great work!
The Surf is worth the trip! The restorations over the years have been slight but the upkeep is the number one priority. I was there about 10 years ago 2011 I think it was and they were replacing the ceiling light fixtures in the main dance floor area. I would have given anything to have one because they were fans as well now they're just balls of light. The pay phone was actually originally back in the room closer to the stage. They had to preserve it, so they protected it in its own little area so people could see it. The Winter Dance Party memorial is held every early February. Every year there's different performers and it's well worth going to. Throughout the year there's any number of events and activities and concerts. It's worth checking out!
That's where I performed my final show too. Thankfully, by choice. Nothing like standing on that stage playing for a sold out crowd especially knowing the history. My name is on that wall, twice, somewhere!
i live in MN and was visiting a friend in Iowa about 10 years ago and on my way home i stopped by there to look around and checked out the crash scene outside of town. it was surreal
A day or so before their last show at the surf ballroom, they played the prom in saint Paul. It was a superfine place. A shame it was torn down. The story of that show is on the boppers collected cd.
I could only picture Buddy calling Maria Helena at that phone booth, saying that he adored her, in probably the last phone call of his life. So sad, thanks for sharing the visit with us.
That was neat, thanks for taking us on a tour we'd never get to enjoy otherwise. The place is huge! One can just imagine it full of people, teens, the din of the crowd... wow. To have been there on that night. What a loss. Thanks again!
In 1986 I flew into Clear Lake to visit the Terratorn ultralite factory. We were a distributor in Idaho so I wanted to see where the parts were made. I arrived their Feb 1st and stayed a couple of days. I knew a little about the 3 rock stars but never made the connection until the night I was ready to leave from the airport to fly to the Minneappolis StPaul airport. Someone "said enjoy your flight because this was the anniversary of the famous crash". So I boarded a smaller commuter twin engine Beech by the way which is what they died in, a Beech Bonanza. The pilot said it would be a bumpy ride because snow storms were passing thru the area to the north all the way to my destination. I was concerned about the date coincidence but really got alarmed when the copilot right after take off north of the town took his flashlight out to check the ice build up on the leading edges of the wings. They hit the deicer boots which you could see the ice chucks flowing past the wings. I was a commercial pilot myself in aerial application and flew for 52 years and that was the most frightening experience I ever had in any airplane. Never was glad to get on the ground ever. Flying in IFR conditions in icing in the middle of winter was not my cup of tea. Sorry for the rant but had to share.
Wow. This is one of the best videos I have ever seen, and I have seen a LOT of them in my time. This is like being there in 1959. I can almost see and hear them. Thank you for doing this. Really, thank you.
Hi Chris this was fantastic to see, many thanks for sharing. I was 7 years old when the accident happened and I remember the headlines in the paper about their deaths and my mom and dad discussing it. RIP to them all 🙏🙏🙏. Again thanks so much for sharing 👊👍🇬🇧🇺🇸
I got chills looking up on that stage. I’m 44 years old and I grew up with my Dad teaching me about Buddy Holly and the Beatles and the origins of rock and roll. When I decided to really learn to play guitar a couple of years ago, Well Alright was one of the first songs I had to learn. The first time I played it through I damn near cried.
Another great piece of American history. I was an apprentice mining electrician in the early 60's and the music produced by these artists was fabulous at the Mecca Locarno dance hall here in Wakefield. Thanks a lot, Colin ( UK )
Mobile Instinct, wonderful job capturing the ambience, essence and significance of the Surf Ballroom. I was a high school freshman in 1959 , the day the music died. Forty-one years later I had the pleasure of attending the Winter Dance Party 2000 at the Surf. I felt as though I had passed through a time warp. The ballroom was packed with young and old, many wearing period clothes including poodle skirts, saddle shoes and letter jackets. The Saturday evening dance party was a terrific time, everyone in good party spirits, dancing and singing along with the "oldies." I had the opportunity to dance with two gracious young ladies. Even the then-governor of Iowa was at the party, dancing with his wife. I didn't want the evening to end -- a truly memorable visit to Clear Lake and the Surf Ballroom.
I have bee here a few times and also visited the crash site. You are spot on with your comment about your visit to the Surf Ballroom. If only today's days were like those...back in the good ole 50's...Surf Ballroom a jewel that will never be replicated.Thanks to Mobile Instinct for the marvelous video and taking us along for the grand tour...
Nice tour! For its age I found it shockingly big, that place was rocking that night, filled with lots of people... So glad this was saved and not demolished like so many older venues like this and even better it is still used today! Love the various tributes throughout the place for the 3 men, I find it odd that it seems to be in a residential area, as it looks like houses across the street.... Thanks for sharing!
Clear Lake is a very small town; it’s next to Mason City, which is somewhat more urban. Clear Lake’s downtown is only a block away and the town is on the edge of a big lake. It seems like a seaside town, so it has a cool vibe to it that’s atypical of midwestern towns and cities. It’s worth a visit.
Buddy Holly’s music is like all great music…timeless. I was not yet alive when these three famous musicians met an untimely end. Being born myself in 1962 and having grown up as a teenager in late 1970s-early 1980s I still managed to find and hear Buddy’s music and it remains on my personal music playlist to this day along with my other favorite bands of my childhood. I measure my personal affection for and attachment to music by how often I go back to listen to it over and over and never get tired of it. For me, Buddy Holly is one of those artists I never grow tired of listening to. It is such a shame that his life and his amazing creative gift for music were ended way to early for such a vibrant young man. One can only imagine what additional amazing tunes and arrangements he would have created had he lived out his life another 40-50yrs. It is good to see that this classic Americana 1950s venue where he and Richie Valens and the Big Bopper gave their final performances, has been so lovingly preserved and cared for.
I was there in 2015 for concert. Once in life time see all this. Truly amazing to remember those loss there life’s in plane crash. Nice look back. Few schools been , in Iowa glad got see for my self. Yes did graduate in Iowa few miles away. Nice remember those Classic hits songs on radio stations charts . My late mother probably know about plane crash on radio station. And my late grandma and grandpa back then. And my aunts and uncle in Iowa know since was younger days .Thank you for sharing this video clip.
When I was out working on the wind farm near Northwood Iowa.....I stumbled upon the crash site, Saw the Big Black glasses from a distance. Didn't realize what it was until I saw the plaque....Had to shed a tear, because its just in a corn field now. Really touching because most people would just pass by and not even know the tragic story about their last tour and how hard it was....Great video. I'm going to take a trip to see just the Surf Ballroom now.
Thank you for this video. I have never seen other videos regarding the Surf Ballroom. You did an excellent job. It is amazing how they have kept the original look.
Reminds me of the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo, Iowa. Teen dances every week in the 80's. A local photographer sold pictures of Buddy Holley warming up back stage from the year before he passed. Electric Park looks much like the surf. So glad I got to experience dances/bands in a ballroom full of teens, as I did.
So I just put on the Buddy Holly Movie and fast forwarded to the last scene at This last concert. I got tears in my eyes .. seeing the actual place today… thanks to you…I felt a part of it. The stage looks correct in the movie ti what you’ve shown us. Just imagine all those years being there and not having a clue it would be the last.. “the day…the music died””… thank you thank you … thank you!!
In 2012 I visited the Buddy Holly museum in Lubbock TX. On display was the glasses he wore in the plane crash. Now that was eerie. I also visited the grave site of Ritchie Valens at San Fernando Mission cemetery. He is buried next to his mother. May they all rest in peace.
You can hear songs “Woman, Woman”, “Young girl”, “Lady Willpower” and “This Girl is a Woman Now” by Gary Puckett in the background. Another legendary performer from later era, the 60s... and Buddy Holly had huuge impact on the 60s.
Dawn of Mantis podcast does an 8 part series on the life and death of Buddy Holly. The most in depth series on him to date... and they cover the show at the Surf and the plane crash in depth as well.
Venues back then were so cool. Being able to sit at a table or booth with family and friends and enjoy food and drinks while listening to top quality musicians. Wish I could've experienced it
Thank you for sharing this. Never saw this before. Really appreciate seeing it. I just turned a year old when the music died. Listen to there music growing up. Missed so much 💔💔💔🥹🥹🤤
I went to a wedding here as a kid and remembered the building immediately when I looked at the thumb nail. Such a cool place and a very cool event as well!
Man! I remember the first time I watched La Bamba in 1989. I was a freshman. I got really interested in the story and buddy Holly. At the time it was the 40 year anniversary and CBS FM 101.1 here in the NY area played their music all day . I bought a bunch of Buddy Holly posters and cassettes.
Honored and thrilled to have added my name to one of the walls at the Surf. There is a hallway from the stage area leading to an exit used for load-in/load-out. One could easily spend hours trying to read them all. Cool place. The Surf had two "sister" ballrooms in the area as well.
I used to drive through Iowa fairly often driving MN-TX. Really wish I had found this and stopped by. Thanks for sharing and thanks to those that preserved this absolute treasure. Waylon Jennings played that night also but did not board that plane.
A remarkable time capsule! Yours is the only one I've seen so far of the SURF tour. Great video and I'm glad they decided to keep the place fairly original and with many displays of memorabilia😊
I absolutely love these old places, especially when everything is original. They really get the imagination going imagining what things were like in, in some ways, a much simpler time.
This is cool. It’s a shrine to all three. It shroud be. The fact that it has been preserved just like it was that night is unbelievable. All three legends of the original rock and roll era last show was right there. I know our love will Not fade away 🙏🏻❤️🇺🇸🎸
That's just a great ballroom. I can't speak to the acoustics but I love the size and layout. That's the kind of place you'd want to see your favorite band.
I remember being a kid in a small midwest town in the 90s a bunch of buildings either kept this aesthetic intentionally or hadn't bothered remodeling but, I could smell this video, feel each of those surfaces. I thought about ol' Waylon, imagined him in that bathroom, or leaning just out side the photobooth, had the slow sad realization that they probably keep shelter there as long as possible before taking that freezing bus to the airport none of them knew the importance of it, what was coming. I couldn't imagine pain, but somehow seeing this place the connection to my own past made it all too real. I hope I remember these feelings.
Nice video of a beautiful historic building, obviously lovingly taken care of by a small community. I appreciate your slow camera work to allow a good look at each part of the building (many videos like this are frenetic). Good job.
Thank you so very much, after 45 years as a Buddy Holly fan, I always wondered what the Surf ballroom looks like... I have seen old pictures and parts of the interior, mainly the stage, but this is the first time I really felt as if I were there!
That's really awesome that whoever owns it kept it up in amazing shape! Loved and cared for! Those booths are amazing, the whole set up is. A great place for a concert for sure, including all the memories! Thanks for thinking of sharing this historic monument with us!👍👏✨
I wish more buildings from that era had been cared for like that. I remember when I was little (born in 68) going into older buildings and loving the architecture and the furnishings. My Dad has been a fan of Buddy Holly since he was just a little boy in the 50s and he introduced me to that great music. It brings me so much comfort and happiness. Buddy lives on through his music.
I agree, some of the post war architecture was very beautiful, especially googie.
Check out the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo, Iowa.
Rave on! 👍
Think they had to come down cause of asbestos no?
Yes tell that to my former home city which has torn down almost every landmark around. Now they're going after older homes that sit on a sizable piece of land. It's nothing but greed. They are being torn down so they cam be replaced by two or even three houses on the same lot. Since most of my relatives have died I don;t go back there anymore. Since then I've been many smaller towns and cities that preserve and not destroy their history.
You DON'T see venues like this anymore! I hope they keep it just as it is!
I believe it’s in the state’s national register so I think they’re legally obligated to
ValAir Ballroom in West Des Moines still exists
Very haunting how pristine this place still is.
Seems like a place the ghosts of the 50s gen would host their parties, kinda like a shining type vibe but a good one lol
@@m-cra1370 lol right?? very creepy and silent
Well it’s been kept up the whole time
I can picture Ritchie, Buddy & Big Bopper there on the stage. Little did they know what was to come in the hours ahead😢😢. The day the music died💜
The sky belongs to the stars ⭐️
You’re trippin’. Their music will never die.
Like Sonny Curtis said, the music didn’t die, and like I say, the music will be in my life for ever.
Bye, Bye miss american pie
I listen to almost all 50s music I’m currently 19 years old
I love that they kept the same look of the ballroom. It’s still a 50’s vibe I love the ballroom. My dad remembers hearing on the radio when they announced the plane crash. I’m in my 40’s and listen to 50’s music. Love the video
I was there many moons ago,it looked a bit different , but still neat.
@@barnabyjones7823 What was different about it?
You can really feel what 1959 must have been like.
As a teenager who loves 50s aesthetics and music, it makes me so happy that there's still places like this that keep the memories alive. I was here at the beginning of September and it was a great experience.
Even though I'm more into 70s/80s music, I feel the same way. I hate how gentrification destroys cool old buildings that really had charm and character
That's why architectural preservation is so important! They used to say "it's progress!". But its not and I hope we know better now.
Me too, makes me happy that the remnants of the 1950s are still preserved
It’s crazy to think about Buddy using that payphone, thinking nothing of it as it was but a mundane thing to do, and never even remotely having the absurd thought that it would be lovingly preserved for decades- all because he, himself, used it.
@ConwayTwitternah it’s just apart of being a celebrity
Buddy is the biggest mystery to me of all the musicians that got their life cut short. He is the one I wonder about the most as to how he would’ve evolved. Like, would he go more hard rocking like the stones did? He was such a pioneer so I can see him doing something groundbreaking.
Conspiracy theorist William Cooper had copies of Buddy Holly's tapes, that he played guitar on, mainly I think for experimental purposes.
Cooper played them on his satellite channel sometime back in the 90's, and from the sounds of them, he was dabbling into the heavy distortion of the psychedelic rock that was 10 years down the road.
He would have been still relevant into the 70's , had he not taken that fateful flight, and I think Richie Valens would have been too.
I can't recall how Cooper came into possession of those tapes, but he had been a rock & roll DJ for armed forces radio network when he was a teenager living in Japan, while his father was stationed there, sometime back in the 50's.
i believe that buddy wouldve continued making music, but wouldve spent most of his time producing others
it was really what he was moving into
i could see him ending up doing something with brian wilson
@@melbournekeely5 i see that your mama didnt beat you enough when you were a child
He was so young, he easily would have just gotten more popular into the 60’s. Listening to his music, it’s aged pretty well considering it’s from over half a century ago, especially considered to many of his peers. I can’t help to imagine about the work he may have done with the beach boys, the Beatles the stones and all of those people
I also wonder about what would Eddie Cochran do, he was too talented to fade into obscurity like some other teen idols of that era, the guy was just 21 and could give Les Paul a run for his money.
This is the ultimate cool. Just to think that their voices bounced off those walls for that night, never to be heard live again. Thanks so much.
lol i bet this venue couldnt even handle a hardcore show... me and my boys would TEAR THIS BITCH UP!!!! try growing up... .lol
Wow
I can’t explain the feeling of standing on the surf ballroom stage alone, it’s an amazing experience, many great musicians have performed there, even my favorite Brian Wilson
Unreal. What an amazing homage to Rock n' Roll--a living museum of sorts. The place could have easily been razed decades ago to make way for a highway, shopping mall or apartment complex--and yet there it is, not only still standing but in virtually pristine, original condition--and still operating in its original capacity as a concert venue. Thanks for posting this..!
I have never seen this amazing venue. Thanks for taking us with you.
At 13:48 on the wall is the name "Dickey Betts', an original member of the Allman Brothers and a fierce guitar player. Paying respect. How fun would it be to go to a concert at that venue. Mid-century modern vibes all over.
Lead vocals on Ramblin Man
I noticed that also..6:11..
And his band name. Great Southern'
Pretty cool too..
Dickey is the man. I had the privilege of seeing him perform live with Great Southern 1/2 dozen times from 2006-2014 in small venues in NY, NJ & PA. Also got to see him a few times with The Bros. in the early to mid 90’s. He is an amazing guitarist, songwriter & musician!
I had a friend Iska Jacobs who carried Dickey Betts to the Hospital back in the day to save his life from an Overdose on Drugs
RIP Iska Jacobs
I went to the Surf Ballroom this summer while on a road trip.... what a historical place. Loved every second of it!
That was awesome to see, the good times when there was not a lot of fear to live, I could hardly keep from crying, I am from that generation, so many memories 😉👍
I was born four years after they died, and wished that I could have been part of your generation.
Not much to fear back then. Except being instantly vaporized in a Nuclear Holocaust, but hey besides that nothing but Good Times.
Back when you could dump a milkshake on a Black person's head for sitting at the wrong counter. Before Political Correctness went and ruined everything.
I'll never get to know what life was life before the internet and video games. I love video games but I always wonder what life would have been during your generation. I also love reading and music and talking to people so I wonder what things would be like without people attached to their technology
@@enochia It was definitely a different world then.
@@enochia "Technology" has been around since the 1830's with the first steam engines.. Video games suck, just get away form that garbage and you will know what life is like. Go hiking, go swimming etc..
I think of poodle skirts, saddle shoes and argyle sweaters 🥰
Thank you Chris! You can almost see the booths full and girls at the stage...and yes I love that entryway too. Comforting
The good old days.
Although it's literally been said countless upon countless times over, still and yet, what a breathtakingly, stunningly marvelous, marvelous, magical, legendary, iconic piece of rock n roll history here. Absolutely unbelievable that so much tireless love and dedication has been put forth throughout the many, many decades to maintain it's historical provenance and values. Certainly by all means one of those "If only the walls could talk, what rich stories they would have to tell" places. Thanks a million for sharing this cool walk down memory lane.
Oh my if only those rooms and walls could talk 👄!! So glad this piece of history has been preserved !! Thank-you Chris for showing us this awesome place of history 😀
Iowa native here: it’s surprisingly common in my state for places with historical significance-no matter how minor to be well cared for like this. Lots of small Iowan towns still have architecture stuck in the 50’s and earlier it’s pretty neat!
It's awesome. So many places don't preserve history the way they should imo.
Fellow Iowan, can confirm.
My Uncle Bronson back in Lubbock Texas was good friends with Buddy Holley as they were class mates back in High School. They both would die in plane crash as my Uncle crashed twice but only survive once. I was at my Grandmother's home in Lubbock when we got the call over the phone and it was a very terrible night with that news of my Uncle's Fatal crash. He was a really smart Texan a photographer a chemist a Army Texas Air Patrol Army Veteran. Even though I was young at that time I still recall that night of the crash. Peggy Sue was also a Classmate to my Parents back in High School one of Buddy's famous songs of many.
A lot of famous people from Lubbock.
Roy Orbison, Janice Joplin and Bobby Fuller just to name a few.
It's very haunting to think about that place and it's like you stepped into a time machine and went there.
It makes me uncomfortable. I feel like I’ve been there.
I know it's *just* a building, but that was really cool to see. Basically a museum!
So wonderful to see this place has not been allowed to fall into ruin and be vandalized. Very rare. Thank you for sharing.
My grandparents went to this concert, they would always tell me stories about it and show me the pictures they took. It’s crazy to think that all three of these wonderful musicians lost their lives on the same day
Publish the Pictures...
Entirety different Time..
Thanks...
That would be amazing if you still had those pictures to show ..
Post them can we see them
This video touch my heart. I love numerous genres of music. This place is where Rock N Roll changed for everyone. Rest in paradise Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens.
I’ve been to Clear Lake many times growing up and I never went to the Surf Ballroom. It’s cool to see you visit this place Chris. Keep up the great work!
The Surf is worth the trip! The restorations over the years have been slight but the upkeep is the number one priority. I was there about 10 years ago 2011 I think it was and they were replacing the ceiling light fixtures in the main dance floor area. I would have given anything to have one because they were fans as well now they're just balls of light. The pay phone was actually originally back in the room closer to the stage. They had to preserve it, so they protected it in its own little area so people could see it. The Winter Dance Party memorial is held every early February. Every year there's different performers and it's well worth going to. Throughout the year there's any number of events and activities and concerts. It's worth checking out!
That's where I performed my final show too. Thankfully, by choice. Nothing like standing on that stage playing for a sold out crowd especially knowing the history. My name is on that wall, twice, somewhere!
i live in MN and was visiting a friend in Iowa about 10 years ago and on my way home i stopped by there to look around and checked out the crash scene outside of town. it was surreal
A day or so before their last show at the surf ballroom, they played the prom in saint Paul. It was a superfine place. A shame it was torn down. The story of that show is on the boppers collected cd.
wow...just wow. the history of the place and the spirits that still reside there make it a must see for rock and roll afficionados like me
I could only picture Buddy calling Maria Helena at that phone booth, saying that he adored her, in probably the last phone call of his life. So sad, thanks for sharing the visit with us.
This was really neat to see, thanks for the tour! It's amazing to see how well preserved it is, really a nice step back in time.
That was neat, thanks for taking us on a tour we'd never get to enjoy otherwise. The place is huge! One can just imagine it full of people, teens, the din of the crowd... wow. To have been there on that night. What a loss.
Thanks again!
In 1986 I flew into Clear Lake to visit the Terratorn ultralite factory. We were a distributor in Idaho so I wanted to see where the parts were made. I arrived their Feb 1st and stayed a couple of days. I knew a little about the 3 rock stars but never made the connection until the night I was ready to leave from the airport to fly to the Minneappolis StPaul airport. Someone "said enjoy your flight because this was the anniversary of the famous crash". So I boarded a smaller commuter twin engine Beech by the way which is what they died in, a Beech Bonanza. The pilot said it would be a bumpy ride because snow storms were passing thru the area to the north all the way to my destination. I was concerned about the date coincidence but really got alarmed when the copilot right after take off north of the town took his flashlight out to check the ice build up on the leading edges of the wings. They hit the deicer boots which you could see the ice chucks flowing past the wings. I was a commercial pilot myself in aerial application and flew for 52 years and that was the most frightening experience I ever had in any airplane. Never was glad to get on the ground ever. Flying in IFR conditions in icing in the middle of winter was not my cup of tea. Sorry for the rant but had to share.
Glad you commented could only imagine what went through their heads at that time!
Wow. This is one of the best videos I have ever seen, and I have seen a LOT of them in my time. This is like being there in 1959. I can almost see and hear them. Thank you for doing this. Really, thank you.
Hi Chris this was fantastic to see, many thanks for sharing. I was 7 years old when the accident happened and I remember the headlines in the paper about their deaths and my mom and dad discussing it. RIP to them all 🙏🙏🙏. Again thanks so much for sharing 👊👍🇬🇧🇺🇸
I got chills looking up on that stage. I’m 44 years old and I grew up with my Dad teaching me about Buddy Holly and the Beatles and the origins of rock and roll. When I decided to really learn to play guitar a couple of years ago, Well Alright was one of the first songs I had to learn. The first time I played it through I damn near cried.
Wimp!
Another great piece of American history. I was an apprentice mining electrician in the early 60's and the music produced by these artists was fabulous at the Mecca Locarno dance hall here in Wakefield. Thanks a lot, Colin ( UK )
Mobile Instinct, wonderful job capturing the ambience, essence and significance of the Surf Ballroom. I was a high school freshman in 1959 , the day the music died. Forty-one years later I had the pleasure of attending the Winter Dance Party 2000 at the Surf. I felt as though I had passed through a time warp. The ballroom was packed with young and old, many wearing period clothes including poodle skirts, saddle shoes and letter jackets. The Saturday evening dance party was a terrific time, everyone in good party spirits, dancing and singing along with the "oldies." I had the opportunity to dance with two gracious young ladies. Even the then-governor of Iowa was at the party, dancing with his wife. I didn't want the evening to end -- a truly memorable visit to Clear Lake and the Surf Ballroom.
greg, i think you need to try growing up? lol? have you ever thought about that? lol?
@@surf5224 At age 77, I'm still trying to grow up!
Great for you mr. Greg! I can only imagine the experience
@@thejunktownsheriffkilliand4800 Thanks, Sheriff. Each of us has experiences that become important memories of our life.
I have bee here a few times and also visited the crash site. You are spot on with your comment about your visit to the Surf Ballroom. If only today's days were like those...back in the good ole 50's...Surf Ballroom a jewel that will never be replicated.Thanks to Mobile Instinct for the marvelous video and taking us along for the grand tour...
Nice tour!
For its age I found it shockingly big, that place was rocking that night, filled with lots of people...
So glad this was saved and not demolished like so many older venues like this and even better it is still used today!
Love the various tributes throughout the place for the 3 men, I find it odd that it seems to be in a residential area, as it looks like houses across the street....
Thanks for sharing!
Clear Lake is a very small town; it’s next to Mason City, which is somewhat more urban. Clear Lake’s downtown is only a block away and the town is on the edge of a big lake. It seems like a seaside town, so it has a cool vibe to it that’s atypical of midwestern towns and cities. It’s worth a visit.
Buddy Holly’s music is like all great music…timeless. I was not yet alive when these three famous musicians met an untimely end. Being born myself in 1962 and having grown up as a teenager in late 1970s-early 1980s I still managed to find and hear Buddy’s music and it remains on my personal music playlist to this day along with my other favorite bands of my childhood. I measure my personal affection for and attachment to music by how often I go back to listen to it over and over and never get tired of it. For me, Buddy Holly is one of those artists I never grow tired of listening to. It is such a shame that his life and his amazing creative gift for music were ended way to early for such a vibrant young man. One can only imagine what additional amazing tunes and arrangements he would have created had he lived out his life another 40-50yrs. It is good to see that this classic Americana 1950s venue where he and Richie Valens and the Big Bopper gave their final performances, has been so lovingly preserved and cared for.
i thought buddy holly was actually SHIT ... lol... try growing up? lol?
Well done, Chris.
Thanks for taking us there
RIP to these rock and roll legends💔
I was there in 2015 for concert. Once in life time see all this. Truly amazing to remember those loss there life’s in plane crash. Nice look back. Few schools been , in Iowa glad got see for my self. Yes did graduate in Iowa few miles away. Nice remember those Classic hits songs on radio stations charts . My late mother probably know about plane crash on radio station. And my late grandma and grandpa back then. And my aunts and uncle in Iowa know since was younger days .Thank you for sharing this video clip.
That place is amazing, thank you for the tour.
To see such a historically significant building cared for so lovingly… it makes my heart sing!
You never cease to entertain us with nostalgia! Keep it coming. Appreciate you!
When I was out working on the wind farm near Northwood Iowa.....I stumbled upon the crash site, Saw the Big Black glasses from a distance. Didn't realize what it was until I saw the plaque....Had to shed a tear, because its just in a corn field now. Really touching because most people would just pass by and not even know the tragic story about their last tour and how hard it was....Great video. I'm going to take a trip to see just the Surf Ballroom now.
I play in a 50's and 60's band from Evansville In. We played a gig in that place. Sure was a great experience!
That place is absolutely incredible.
Thank you for this video. I have never seen other videos regarding the Surf Ballroom. You did an excellent job. It is amazing how they have kept the original look.
Reminds me of the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo, Iowa. Teen dances every week in the 80's. A local photographer sold pictures of Buddy Holley warming up back stage from the year before he passed. Electric Park looks much like the surf. So glad I got to experience dances/bands in a ballroom full of teens, as I did.
Thank you this was awesome! It’s amazing how well preserved this place looks after 63 years. Those booths looks cool as well.
So I just put on the Buddy Holly Movie and fast forwarded to the last scene at This last concert. I got tears in my eyes .. seeing the actual place today… thanks to you…I felt a part of it. The stage looks correct in the movie ti what you’ve shown us. Just imagine all those years being there and not having a clue it would be the last.. “the day…the music died””… thank you thank you … thank you!!
we have never seen such good footage of the Surf Ballroom ,great stuff thanx Chris
In 2012 I visited the Buddy Holly museum in Lubbock TX. On display was the glasses he wore in the plane crash. Now that was eerie. I also visited the grave site of Ritchie Valens at San Fernando Mission cemetery. He is buried next to his mother. May they all rest in peace.
Ghostly but also fascinating. As it was, as they were.. long live their brilliant music that they gave to us.
You can hear songs “Woman, Woman”, “Young girl”, “Lady Willpower” and “This Girl is a Woman Now” by Gary Puckett in the background. Another legendary performer from later era, the 60s... and Buddy Holly had huuge impact on the 60s.
Fun fact: Gary Puckett and Bob Dylan were both born in Hibbing Minnesota...
@@thegreenbird795 what a great place, thankful for giving a birth of these legendary stars.
this is absolutely an incredible piece of history thank you for posting
Great video! I appreciate the pace at which you narrate this and give the viewer enough time to take everything in. It makes me feel like I am there.
Dawn of Mantis podcast does an 8 part series on the life and death of Buddy Holly. The most in depth series on him to date... and they cover the show at the Surf and the plane crash in depth as well.
This is incredible. It's like a monument in itself. All the memories made there. Great walk through!
Very emotional moment seeing the photographer's display. 😢✌️
I've seen the crash site many times in videos but never this place. Thank you for showing us. Very interesting.
This is great, thanks for sharing a place i never would have considered still existing. This was really cool to see.
An amazing place for sure! 🎶🎵🎸🎼🎸A great venue for just about everything, especially music 🎶
Thanks Chris💙
Venues back then were so cool. Being able to sit at a table or booth with family and friends and enjoy food and drinks while listening to top quality musicians. Wish I could've experienced it
And Buddy played a Stratocaster…can you imagine what his Strat is worth today?
Thank you for sharing this. Never saw this before. Really appreciate seeing it. I just turned a year old when the music died. Listen to there music growing up. Missed so much 💔💔💔🥹🥹🤤
I went to a wedding here as a kid and remembered the building immediately when I looked at the thumb nail. Such a cool place and a very cool event as well!
Man! I remember the first time I watched La Bamba in 1989. I was a freshman. I got really interested in the story and buddy Holly. At the time it was the 40 year anniversary and CBS FM 101.1 here in the NY area played their music all day . I bought a bunch of Buddy Holly posters and cassettes.
What a beautiful building! Props to the family for keeping it in such lovely historic condition. A little seen rock-n-roll iconic venue!
Honored and thrilled to have added my name to one of the walls at the Surf. There is a hallway from the stage area leading to an exit used for load-in/load-out. One could easily spend hours trying to read them all. Cool place. The Surf had two "sister" ballrooms in the area as well.
Possibly the coolest venue I’ve ever seen!
I thoroughly enjoyed it’s a pleasure to see buildings like this and the history of it Kept in TAC
Thumbs up from Australia 🇦🇺👍🏼
I used to drive through Iowa fairly often driving MN-TX.
Really wish I had found this and stopped by. Thanks for sharing and thanks to those that preserved this absolute treasure.
Waylon Jennings played that night also but did not board that plane.
A remarkable time capsule! Yours is the only one I've seen so far of the SURF tour. Great video and I'm glad they decided to keep the place fairly original and with many displays of memorabilia😊
My home, crazy to think a small town of less than 10k residents is home to a tragic scene. Thank you for sharing this.
I need to find a show here next November. Always told my parents I'd take them out here for my mom's 70th bday.
Wonderful retrospective. Thank you for sharing.
There are still operational bowling alleys, roller skating car hops & Drive - In Movies preserved like this. Mid - Twen rules.
I played there back in the mid seventies. It had a very stuck in time feel to it. In a cool way, not a bad way.
I absolutely love these old places, especially when everything is original. They really get the imagination going imagining what things were like in, in some ways, a much simpler time.
That's an incredible venue for a place as small as Clear Lake.
“ Hello baby come on let’s go &. Rave on! ‘ still can hear the music play!👍 ❤️ Ty for that memory ? ( rip)
Super video thanks. A big buddy holly fan here in Australia and loved seeing this bit of history
This is cool. It’s a shrine to all three. It shroud be. The fact that it has been preserved just like it was that night is unbelievable. All three legends of the original rock and roll era last show was right there. I know our love will Not fade away 🙏🏻❤️🇺🇸🎸
That's just a great ballroom. I can't speak to the acoustics but I love the size and layout. That's the kind of place you'd want to see your favorite band.
If it's possible to enter a venue into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, this one would be the one. So glad this was preserved
Absolutely beautiful venue. Someone deeply cares for this building.
Did not know this place was still standing much less so well preserved. Thanks for posting!
Wow, this is incredible. What an amazing time capsule/museum. I have to put this on my list of places to visit sometime.
I remember being a kid in a small midwest town in the 90s a bunch of buildings either kept this aesthetic intentionally or hadn't bothered remodeling but, I could smell this video, feel each of those surfaces. I thought about ol' Waylon, imagined him in that bathroom, or leaning just out side the photobooth, had the slow sad realization that they probably keep shelter there as long as possible before taking that freezing bus to the airport none of them knew the importance of it, what was coming. I couldn't imagine pain, but somehow seeing this place the connection to my own past made it all too real. I hope I remember these feelings.
Nice video of a beautiful historic building, obviously lovingly taken care of by a small community. I appreciate your slow camera work to allow a good look at each part of the building (many videos like this are frenetic). Good job.
I love when things like this with such historic value are preserved like this. Respect to the ones who have kept it so authentic looking.
Thank you so very much, after 45 years as a Buddy Holly fan, I always wondered what the Surf ballroom looks like... I have seen old pictures and parts of the interior, mainly the stage, but this is the first time I really felt as if I were there!
Thank you, Chris! ❤
That's really awesome that whoever owns it kept it up in amazing shape! Loved and cared for! Those booths are amazing, the whole set up is. A great place for a concert for sure, including all the memories! Thanks for thinking of sharing this historic monument with us!👍👏✨
Yes i alwats love seeing that ballroom and the sad story! Thanks for sharing!