Elvises Sighted at Beach Party

Even though Ventura’s California Beach Party has been around for 10 years, Barbara Monteith had no clue of its existence until word trickled in through her Elvis connection.

Wearing black canvas tennies with Elvis painted in silver glitter on each foot and heart-shaped earrings bearing the King’s name, the 60-year-old Newbury Park resident said a friend in an Elvis club told her of the Elvis-themed beach party.

“I actually met Elvis and got his autograph,” Monteith said Saturday as she watched the swimsuit modeling and waited for Elvis impersonator Raymond Michael.

“Of course, there’s nothing like the real thing, but Raymond Michael is one of the best I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen about 50.”

Michael was joined by a younger wannabe, Dean Zeligman, 11, of Lancaster, who gyrated and sneered just like the swivel-hipped Great One himself. And the two-day beach celebration also offered bodybuilding and longboard surfing competitions and a classic car show.

About 17,000 people sauntered on the mile-long Beachfront Promenade from the Ventura Pier to Surfers Point throughout the day, happily sipping beer or rum and Coke while merchants at booths lining the walk hawked everything from home satellite systems to sticky strips that anchor appliances during an earthquake.

But there was more to do than shop.

“I’m running into a lot of good people,” said John Hauser, 35, of Camarillo, who placed fifth in a longboard surfing competition. “They’re all in good spirits, they’re having a good time, and nobody’s frowning.”

There were plenty of spirits for sale, too. Booths selling beer and rum and Coke abounded, and the long lines were testament to their popularity.

Ventura police said that, given the crowds and the alcohol, things were quiet.

“There’s been a couple of disturbances, but it was no big deal,” said Desk Officer Rick French. “I think it’s pretty normal for this size of crowd, considering there’s alcohol involved.”

There were no arrests, he said.

Those who arrived before 1 p.m. had the best weather, which was decidedly dreary last year, too. By 2 p.m., the end of the Ventura Pier was shrouded in fog and the crowd was donning sweat shirts.

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service said party-goers can expect more of the same today: mostly cloudy skies, temperatures in the mid-60s along the coast and afternoon winds to about 15 m.p.h.

“I’d wear some shorts, a T-shirt, but I’d bring along maybe a light coat,” Robert Baruffaldi said. There won’t be much sun, he said.

The cloudy skies didn’t dampen spirits for the swimsuit modeling, which elicited the usual shouts of approval from many men in the audience.

But for some, it seemed an ideal couples event.

“She’s here seeing the suits, and I’m here to see the girls that I know,” said Ventura resident Jon Cameron, 39, who said a friend was modeling in the show.

“Hey, how many do you know?” Cameron’s girlfriend, Andree Tessier, 27, asked with a laugh.

At the end of the festivities, just past Surfers Point, the classic car show evoked sentimentality and reminiscences as folks strolled by the shiny old autos.

And although wisps of fog blew across the promenade by early afternoon, Hauser said the meager waves and gray skies didn’t matter.

The conditions for surfing “were, to say the least, a little poor,” he said. “But as far as the party goes, it’s a really good time.”

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California Beach Party The California Beach Party concludes today along a mile-long stretch of Ventura from Surfers Point to the reopened Ventura Pier. Admission is $5.50 for adults and $3.50 for seniors. Children under 12 are admitted free. Here is a schedule of today’s events:

6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Long Board Surfing Championships.

9 a.m.: Volleyball tournament; 10K and 1-mile run/walk.

10 a.m.: Memories of Elvis; Ron Stein; Capt. Morgan Stage.

10 a.m.: Pink Cadillac, 1960s rock ‘n’ roll; Hot Rod Lincoln, rock-a-billy; Bud Surfers Point Stage.

11 a.m.: Swimwear Fashion Show, Bud Pier Stage.

11 a.m.: Little & Western S.A.D.D.L.S., children dancers, Sandbox Stage.

11:30 a.m.: Heartthrob the Clown, Sandbox Stage.

11:30 a.m.: Pink Cadillac, Bud Pier Stage.

Noon: Cecile Rogers’ Dancers, Sandbox Stage.

Noon: Little & Western S.A.D.D.L.S., Classic Car Show Stage.

12:30 p.m.: Country Lovers, dance exhibition, Classic Car Show Stage.

12:45 p.m.: Young Elvis, Sandbox Stage.

1 p.m.: Stunt Flying Elvis.

1 p.m.: Alley Cats, Capt. Morgan Stage.

1 p.m.: Roadhouse Rockers, Classic Car Show Stage.

1 p.m.: A Celebration of Elvis’ Music, KHAY Country Band, KHAY Sand Stage.

1 p.m.: Heartthrob the Clown, Sandbox Stage.

1:15 p.m.: Young Elvis, Sandbox Stage.

1:30 p.m.: Ventura County Swing Dancers, Bud Pier Stage.

1:30 p.m.: Total Woman, Bud Surfers Point Stage.

1:30 p.m.: Heartthrob the Clown, Sandbox Stage.

1:45 p.m.: Minikin Puppets, Sandbox Stage.

1:45 p.m.: Dance lessons, Rick Henderson, Classic Car Show Stage.

2 p.m.: Capt. Cardiac & The Coronaries, rock ‘n’ roll, Capt. Morgan Stage.

2p.m.: King Cotton, soul review, Bud Pier Stage.

2 p.m.: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, jump-and-swing music, Bud Surfers Point Stage.

2:15 p.m.: Alley Cats, Sandbox Stage.

2:15 p.m.: Roadhouse Rockers, Classic Car Show Stage.

2:45 p.m.: Young Elvis, Sandbox Stage.

3 p.m.: Elvis Look-alike Contest, Bud Pier Stage.

3 p.m.: Longest Line Dance, Classic Car Show Stage.

3:30 p.m.: Alley Cats, Capt. Morgan Stage.

3:30 p.m.: King Cotton, Bud Pier Stage.

3:30 p.m.: Young Elvis, Sandbox Stage.

3:30 p.m.: Car Show awards, Classic Car Show Stage.

3:45 p.m.: Seaview Cloggers.

4 p.m.: Capt. Cardiac & The Coronaries.