1950-1960 Mace 2006

Lawrence Mace Journal Entry (Deforest "Moe" Most) September 2006  

   "Greatly missed Moe and Muscle Beach '50-'53: two years Hawaii as Navy antenna rigger, one year Korea aboard ship. Tried to export Moe's teaching and Muscle Beach spirit to Waikiki. Oahu provided opportunity for part-time vaudeville-type show business: circus, military service clubs, night clubs, two or three person acrobatic acts with hand-balancing, adagio, all first learned through Moe.

     "'53 left Navy, began college in Santa Monica. Great to be with Moe again living at Muscle Beach, '53 -'59 were glory days for Muscle Beach life, as always friend Moe integral. For me semi-professional show business supplemented GI Bill, sometimes with Moe. Muscle Beach helped me get four college letters in gymnastics at SMC/UCLA.   

   "Muscle Beach was closed in '59, Moe fired as director returned to studios working as set carpenter. Shack/platform area next to pier became new life-guard headquarters, acrobatics activity was allowed on beachfront grass area without platform.  Years later metal rings, bars were installed again one block south along beach front. Evidently Santa Monica city officials looked forward to lavish profitable beach hotels with large parking lots, decided to spread out beach activities thinking clustered exhibitionistic Muscle Beach participants would not contribute. Wrong! Name identity was stolen by phony Venice Muscle Beach."

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 Kelyn Roberts 2017