Surf Guitarist Dale Wins Court Round to Bar Sale of His Home

Surf guitarist Dick Dale obtained a temporary restraining order Tuesday from an Orange County Superior Court commissioner to prevent a thrift and loan company from selling his three-story Balboa Peninsula home.

Dale filed a lawsuit last week against Orange Coast Thrift & Loan Inc. of Los Alamitos seeking an injunction to block the sale of his home at 2296 Channel Road in Newport Beach. Last August, Orange Coast declared Dale in default on a loan.

Commissioner Greer H. Stoud’s order postpones a foreclosure sale of the house until at least March 4, when a hearing is scheduled.

The house, built in 1926 by razor magnate King Gillette, has 17 rooms and six baths, and overlooks “The Wedge” surfing area at the end of the peninsula.

Dale’s attorney, James D. Webster of Long Beach, sought the temporary restraining order “on the ground that great and irreparable injury will result” to Dale, according to papers filed with the court.

Dale helped launch the surf-music craze of the early 1960s. As founder and leader of Dick Dale and the Deltones, Dale’s hits include “Let’s Go Trippin’,” “Surf Beat,” “Miserlou” and “Death of a Gremmie.”

Since that time, Dale’s past has been clouded by a wave of publicity, including a bitter divorce and child molestation charges. Dale was acquitted on 10 of 12 molestation charges and two others were dismissed.

Webster could not be reached for comment Tuesday. However, an assistant to Webster said that the restraining order was sought in response to the thrift and loan’s notice of default.

“The way it looks now, there were some improprieties with the loan,” the legal assistant, who asked not to be identified, said.

Attorneys for Orange Coast thrift & loan could not be reached for comment.

In court documents supporting the restraining order, Webster stated that “. . . I have discovered certain matters that lead me to believe that the current foreclosure by OCTL is invalid for several reasons, one of which is the fact that OCTL’s notice of default and election to sell was prematurely filed.”

Also named in the suit was Viking Savings and Loan Assn. in Santa Monica and loan officers with the two companies. The lawsuit states that Dale borrowed $890,000 from Orange Coast at an 18% annual interest rate to avoid bankruptcy and to pay off debts, which included $315,000 owed to his former wife.

Dale began receiving funds from Orange Coast between August and September, 1984, the lawsuit said. His petition for bankruptcy was filed earlier that year, according to the lawsuit.

Webster’s assistant said that Dale’s loan called for monthly interest payments of $14,753. In the notice of default, the thrift and loan contended that Dale was given a year to repay the loan, which came due June 1, 1985.