Marginal Pieces of History at Non-Marginal Prices

One of the sillier events on the San Diego pop scene’s 1988 calendar took place last Friday night at the Retrospective Gallery in La Jolla.

To kick off its eight-week “Rock Back with Retro” exhibit and sale of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, the gallery threw an invitation-only preview party that topped the charts in pretentiousness.

The crowd was equal parts Hollywood camp and Beverly Hills chic: black-leather jackets and black-leather miniskirts, tailored suits and mink stoles, big rhinestone brooches and even bigger diamond rings.

In a side room, an acoustic duo was playing jazz; out on the main floor, visitors were served complimentary glasses of red and white wine and fruit-flavored Perrier. There was also a spread of imported cheeses and crackers, neatly arranged on a tablecloth of white linen.

But the environment of the exhibition, the way people were dressed and the things they ate, were a reflection more on the prices they were paying than on the objects they were getting.

Hanging on the walls and displayed on shelves--often behind glass and under lock and key--were nearly 100 framed photographs and posters, sculptures and books, and assorted other rock ‘n’ roll trinkets from the private collection of Paul Caruso. Caruso is a rock music archivist from Maine. He’s been collecting the stuff for more than a decade and has provided props for dozens of movies, television specials, videos and books.

From time to time, at gallery showings such as this one, Caruso graciously consents to give the public a chance to buy some of his most prized items--at outrageous prices. Here’s a sampling of some of the “bargains” that await San Diegans at the Retrospective Gallery between now and Jan. 31:

- The “Buddy Holly Collection” of one pencil sketch and nine photos--three of them snapped in a booth at the Clear Lake, Iowa, airport on Feb. 3, 1959, moments before Holly’s fatal plane ride--for a mere $15,500;

- Original concert posters for the Monterey Pop Festival ($750), Woodstock ($1,500) and the Beatles’ last American show at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park (signed by the Fab Four, $2,500; unsigned, $750);

- A metal sculpture someone once “presented” to the blind Stevie Wonder for $1,500;

- A worn, faded copy of Dick Clark’s “Caravan of Stars” program book for $900.

Also available: a color photo print of the recent Live-Aid concert “sent to customers of Kodak” ($600); a set of four Beatles dolls in “Sergeant Pepper” attire ($1,000); 39 black-and-white photos of the Beatles, taken in England during the 1960s by Dezo Hoffmann.

A grainy head shot of Paul McCartney, who’s still alive, costs $1,200; an even grainier profile of John Lennon, who died in 1980, is $1,500.

Both are autographed--by the photographer. The negatives, by the way, are not for sale.

The public might have given up on him, but Dave Mason--appearing Saturday night at the Bacchanal in Kearny Mesa--has yet to give up on himself.

Though other rock ‘n’ roll dinosaurs are content with resting on their laurels and periodically cashing in their royalty checks, Mason continues to record and tour in a vain attempt to recapture his past glory.

The glory began in 1967, when singer-guitarist Mason and three fellow Brits--vocalist Steve Winwood, drummer Jim Capaldi and saxophonist-flutist Chris Woods--formed Traffic. The quartet’s eclectic blend of rock, blues, jazz and folk was as musically daring as it was commercially successful.

The glory continued when Mason left Traffic in 1968 to begin a solo career. His first album, “Alone Together,” featured such stellar sidemen as Leon Russell, Rita Coolidge, and Delaney and Bonnie; the LP remained on the national charts for more than six months.

For much of the 1970s, virtually everything Mason touched turned to gold. His albums sold well. His concerts sold out. He even scored a pair of Top 40 hits at the height of the disco era: “We Just Disagree” in 1977 and, a year later, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”

By the end of the decade, however, Mason’s glory days were over. No more chart-topping records, no more sold-out concert tours. In 1981, Mason was singing radio commercials for Miller Beer and playing in tiny nightclubs rather than large arenas.

Since then, nothing much has changed. Mason has repeatedly attempted a comeback, but to no avail. Unlike so many has-beens who have accepted their fate, however, he’s still yearning for what once was.

LINER NOTES: Rick Tupper Productions’ concert series at Park Place in El Cajon, which began in September, continues with a Saturday night appearance by veteran Southern rockers Molly Hatchett. The next confirmed show: heavy-metal bands Anvil and Liegelord, Jan. 2.

Nationally acclaimed folk singer Sam Hinton, a longtime resident of San Diego, will be making two local concert appearances this weekend. Friday night, he’ll be at the Words and Music Book Gallery in Hillcrest; on Saturday afternoon, Hinton will perform in a special “children’s concert” at University City High School.