Papa’s World – POLAR PLUNGE – 94.9 The Surf!

On a very cold – January day –

on the beach at North Myrtle Beach –

at what is called THE ARCH-

Radio station 94.9 THE SURF –

sponsored a POLAR PLUNGE!

On NMB –

flag waving and the crowd watches two DJs

and a couple dozen souls

about to run into the Surf!

We moved down to NMB –

during the Pandemic in 2020!

We just happened to come across a condo on a lake

1/2 mile from the main street and the radio station!

I had never heard of this station

but it has been here for decades and decades!

So I decided to listen

and what I found was

“CLASSICS” from the 50s through the present –

AND Beach Music!

Carolina Beach Music started right here in the 40s.

Alabama had a hit song “DANCING ON THE BLVD” which is right here.

I was hooked on listening to Motown –

Classic Rock

and present-day music from all the Carolina Bands

up and down the two coasts.

Two of the DJs –

with back to the picture in yellow and white shorts –

Jim Quick

the 11 to 3 timeslot –

and of his Coast Liners Band

and the tall man to the right –

DJ-HEAVY –

afternoon show 3 to 7.

These two men organized the POLAR PLUNGE

for donations to the HUMANE SOCIETY.

It might have reached 50 degrees in the full sun –

But the wind chill took it way below that!

There they go –

maybe two dozen – walking

and running into the cold surf.

Search and rescues were on hand –

Jet ski and men with life-throwing lines –

they also were in the water with wet suits on.

This whole thing was broadcast live from the radio station

which is right beside the beach entrance

and maybe a hundred yards from where they ran into the water.

Large speakers were set on the beach

and a couple hundred people showed up to watch and cheer them on.

Now they went in and all of them went under the water

and then they came back out!

We watched thinking glad it is them and not us!

It was fun to watch –

but glad it was not me!

After we walked a block down the beach

to “BOUYS on the WATER”-

A local hangout we visited often

while we lived but a half mile away-

Here we split a cheeseburger and fries.

I had the BOUYS brewed by CROOKED HAMMOCK draft beer –

It was warm in there

and I was glad

I had not done anything as crazy as the “POLAR PLUNGE”!

Thanks for reading and it was fun being back in the old hood!

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Papa’s World – Italian – Irish Festival – NMB!

In our senior years – we still love to explore – music and vendor crafts – so with that in mind –

We journeyed to North Myrtle Beach to take in the ITALIANIRISH Festival!

With two stages and a grill with outdoor music – a hundred craft – vendors and food –

it was a delight – plus tons of people!

The Irish Bag Pipe – Drum and Fife marching band – put on a display on the main street in front of the Irish Stage.

This was right across from “FLYNNS” an Irish bar and grill with food and beer tents.

North Myrtle Beach is where we stayed for nine months while our home was being built in Cameron Woods in OIB in N.C.

In 30 minutes time – we can once again walk the streets and beach of NMB!

We ended up with lunch at HODA’S TIKI BAR on the beach by the horseshoe entrance to the beach and right behind 94.9 THE SURF RADIO STATION.

On Fridays during the Summer and late Fall – the station broadcasts live from this site while people eat and drink and participate in the broadcast.

The beach entrance into HODA’S BAR AND GRILL – we visited often while we lived a short distance away.

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THE ITALIAN – IRISH – FESTIVAL IN NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA – PAPA’S WORLD!

Papa’s World – Revisited our old neighborhood – NMB!

Main Street and Beach Blvd intersection of North Myrtle Beach – during our nine-month condo stay here – we walked this almost every day – heading for the beach – you can see the stage at the entrance to the beach.

The radio station 94.9 THE SURF is on the left along with HODO’S Beach Club and the Old Arcade on the right.

The parking lot on Friday nights is full of beach chairs and the streets are closed off for concerts on the stage.

Turning around from the intersection is Main Street and you can see Sherry walking up the street.

We were here at the beginning of the Pandemic and this was a ghost town – although the stores were open.

Our favorite nightclub to go to where we finally learned what THE SHAG was!

A dance that came from the Rythem and Blues of the 40s and became a cross-over called Carolina Beach music.

And has become the state dance!

This scene has been ongoing for 80 years!!!!

“ENTER THROUGH THE JUKEBOX DOORS” so goes the advertisement heard on the radio.

This club is full of history – pictures and items from the past 80 years!

The dance is like the STROLL-JITTER BUG – SWING where you never lose contact with your dance partner.

Yearly competitions are held here and every four months SHAG comes to town –

Bands – music- dancing in the streets!

Like the Hollywood Walk of Fame – the sidewalks are full of plaques from all through the years of people and dancers and dates!

The big water tower that overlooks the town has a picture of a couple dancing THE SHAG!

On the beach from the beach entrance – we walked this every day while we lived here!

Sherry walking North Myrtle Beach – one of the widest beaches at low tide I have ever been on!

Exiting the sixth street beach entrance and looking up the street to where we stayed at the back entrance to Ocean Keyes.

Over 700 condos and a huge lake with six water fountains.

Six pools – tennis courts and a workout room.

Loved living there but no garage and no storage space – or else we might have stayed there.

Looking back from sixth street beach parking to the main town of North Myrtle Beach – our old neighborhood.

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PAPA’S WORLD – REVISITED OUR OLD NEIGHBORHOOD – NORTH MYRTLE BEACH! livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – once more – a trip back to the hood – NMB – pick up mail – visit HOTO’S!

We decided to just sit for a while – share some fries and her ice tea and me a cold IPA!

Every Friday – in season – 94.9 THE SURF radio station – broadcasts live from the outside TIKI bar!

If you listen to BEACH MUSIC of the last 60 some years – it comes from here – as the station is right next door.

It was a beautiful morning – and we were notified by the next occupants of the condo – we had mail there!

The mail system – well – no matter how hard you try to change address’s – some seems to always slip through.

Sitting in the open air HOTO’S TIKI BAR AND GRILL right on the NMB main street entrance.

In the far left corner is where the radio station broadcasts from. Their main station is in this building –

We did not know about BEACH MUSIC until we moved down here.

After all it is only from starting in the ’40’s and right straight through to today – still producing tunes we like.

A lot of the music was what I called MOTOWN but to my surprise was produced for the Carolina beach crowds!

Our little drive back here is only thirty minutes in nice easy traffic. And for $2.00 a hour you can pay –

or park and walk – either way it is a deal!

This is where OCEAN DRIVE and MAIN STREET North Myrtle Beach join – at what I call the ARCHWAY

to the main entrance to the beach!

Full of bars and grills – stores – ice cream – hot dogs and fish places everywhere to eat!

– music and free concerts all through the seasons.

We like this area and it is safe to walk around in – I do not care for the main Mrytle Beach –

and I would not walk around there after dark!

Sherry – certified health coach – http://www.sf.juiceplus.com – ssherrylynn49@fitztdf
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Going back to the “HOOD” where we lived for nine months!

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH – 94.9 THE SURF – HOTO’S bar and grill on the beach.

ON THE BEACH main street entrance just outside HOTO’S bar and grill!

Papa’s World – a last view for now from the condo – full moon and Fat Harolds.

Full moon from the lanai – you can hear the pounding of the surf 1/2 mile away.
Of all the places we could of stayed – I think we did pretty good in selecting this one!
Dimming sunlight before the full moon barely visible.

We have gone to Fat Harolds numerous times – we like the beach music – not knowing it was called this!

Back home in the early years of my life – this was just music played on the radio

and on TV when you watched those dance shows!

Had no idea about the SHAG or the way Southern Rock was danced down here.

Here we are at Fat Harolds – listening to the band SMOKIN HOT – eight members playing the beach sound in music!

Funny how you grow up listening to Alabama – Eagles and all the other music of our youth –

and since the ’40’s this was happening right here!

The history of the surf music for almost 80 years

pictures on the wall – the music groups that came through here – famous – only we did not know the why!

Our generation on the beaches of South Carolina – dancing to the beach music.

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The southern hippie generation – at Fat Harolds on the beach for over 60 years.

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Papa’s World – sometimes – it is relaxing after a nice day – to just sit on the beach!

After dinner – we decided to drive to the beach – get out our chairs and just take it all in for a hour!

Sherry is always drawn to the surf – walking in the water – still too cold for me! LOL

The only downside to this was the wind – it was strong – and would get into your eyes!

Hardly anyone down here even though it was the mid ’70’s out!

We only brought with us our water – and a lot of people walked past us – but only a few sitting on the sand.

The relaxing nature – the quiet – only birds – sounds of the waves.

Here you can see what the wind does when it is strong and blowing – it makes the sand look like waves – no footprints remain even though people are walking by!

It was a good hour to visit regardless of the wind!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

PAPA’S WORLD BLOG SITE: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog EMAIL: fitztdf@aol.com

SHERRY: CERTIFIED HEALTH COACH CONTACT: ssherrylynn49@aol.com WEB SITE: http://www.sf.juiceplus.com

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Papa’s World – lunch at Bouy’s and a street music festival on Main street!

I have wanted to stop in here and have lunch ever since we got here on 10-1-20!

It is a local place right on the beach in North Myrtle Beach!

These places always catch my eye – I just get a feeling about them!

They generally have good food and live music –

and this day – the food was great – a salad with grilled fish – and the music?

Well – right across the street is a block long and a block wide vacant lot –

And it was packed with tents – you could rent – and thousand of people!

A huge stage and three bands playing for six hours!

WE WERE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE OPENING OF NORTH MYRTLE BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL!

Our view from our table while eating lunch!

It is the first major event sanctioned by the town government since the start of the pandemic 14 months ago!

And people were out and about in golf carts – cars – trucks and just walking!

This was roped off and a charge to enter – you could rent out a canopy – and carry in drinks and food!

We did not go inside the ropes – instead after we ate – we walked around and around the whole roped off area as did many other people – they had chairs set up outside the ropes and golf carts – the police were there and ticketing anyone not parked legal.

I would say – inside – a thousand people – or more – I guess this is the fourth one they have had like this over the years – and the radio station was there and it also was broadcasting from the beach which was just as crowded!

Sherry entering the beach on main street!

We tried to walk the beach – but it was really crowed and full of young people – all right next to each other!

A look back toward sixth street where we usually go – and the other direction had even more people!

This area is pretty much not locked down – and you could tell the tourist season has begun!

I am happy for the the store owners who have suffered so much – many shut the doors and will not return.

But – we decided this was way too crowed for us – so we returned to the music and walked toward our condo.

Pausing once again outside the ropes to listen to a band – really good singing all the classics of summer of the 60’s and 70’s!

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NORTH MYRTLE BEACH!

SHERRY: CERTIFIED HEALTH COACH

SITE: http://www.sf.juiceplus.com

EMAIL: ssherrylynn49@aol,com

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Papa’s World – beach day – warm sun – but cool breeze off the Ocean – three hours – relaxing!

She said to me after about a hour – you can not lean back in this chair and take a nap!

And she was right – while we had different chairs – you couldn’t in mine either!

Papa – checking my phone for Pandora – seeing how much battery life was left!

Music to the left and music to the right – I just turned it off!

Depending on the wind – I could hear one or the other and with no wind – Both!

But – what a beautiful day – almost 80 degrees – hot sun but cool breeze off the ocean.
And then they have to put it on the right way! LOL!

We decided to stay for two hours and then we added another hour,

Since we had eaten almost everything we had brought with us –

We decided that was enough and went back to the car –

Yes – instead of walking down – we drove only because we had our chairs-

speaker – drinks – little table and the food and towels!

Those three hours involved some walking – some reading and some listening to the music and watching a kite and people watching!
Soon – it would be back to the condo and this view – either way we win!

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WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY

FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!

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SHERRY: CERTIFIED HEALTH COACH

SHERRY’S SITE: http://www.sf.juiceplus.com

SHERRY’S EMAIL: ssherrylynn49@aol.com

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Papa’s World – The SHAG- Fat Harolds – dancing the night away – North Myrtle Beach

It was here or close to here that THE SHAG started!

It was a beach dance created in the ’40’s along this beach.

The first I believe was in Cherry Grove – but that club was wiped out

by a hurricane in the ’50’s!

Other clubs had formed over the years and along main street

in North Myrtle Beach was the hot spot for SHAGGING!

It grew so popular it spread all across the country and became the state dance!

Clubs were formed and it went worldwide.

Competitions were held and champions crowned!

It reminds me of the Jitter bug – Strolling – Swing – Dirty dancing – all rolled into one –

where you have contact almost 100 % of the time with your dance partner!

And – from what I could see – the age group was 40 to 80 years plus old!

CUTTING THE RUG!

It did not matter how old you were – they still danced and they were good!
Sherry and I have walked by this building dozens of times – it was closed up – deserted looking!

Wondering what it was and if it was empty?

Then – listening to the radio station – 94.9 THE SURF – we found out!

On TV we found out!

FAT HAROLDS was reopening after being closed of over a year –

because of Covid19 and the Pandemic.

Which I found out hit this establishment really hard.

I was told that early on – a half dozen people passed away – having caught the virus here.

And – I could see why as it was the older generations who were dancing.

It caught them by surprise and they -the owners – shut it down.

But now it was back after the state reopened – and it was I learned a national landmark.

This is the third location – and has been here for twenty plus years – since the ’40’s!

World competitions – nationwide competitions – local – all held here or across main street

on the beach in a big stage and dance floor.

A view of one of two dance floors – four bars – one at the entrance – one on the main dance floor and two on the second dance floor in the rear.
There are hundreds of these signs of dance shag clubs all over the nation. And a tribute to the man who brought it to the forefront – FAT HAROLD! Who sadly passed away in 2015.
The main bar on the dance floor number one – Fat Harold – was known all over the country and many pictures of him and famous performers hang from the walls. This was the spot where you came to dance for all these years!
On this single wall – dozens of pictures dedicated over the many – many years to DJ’s – radio – who spun the records to the SHAG! And radio hosts still do to this day.
It is a true living museum to the past 80 plus years!

Pictures – a Hollywood walk of fame throughout the sidewalks of main street honoring dancers from the past 60 years! With there names and year of dancing!

Fat Harold – known to the music world – and now the tradition continues with the reopening!

PAPA’S WORLD: livinglifedoingitmyway fitztdf@aol.com A day to remember – a visit to the reopening

OF FAT HAROLDS on Main Street – North Myrtle beach!

SHERRY: CERTIFIED HEALTH COACH http://www.sf.juiceplus.com ssherrylynn49@aol.com

Yes – we walked by this place of business dozens of times – just wondering what it was –

and found out it was a historical club – for a historical dance some 80 plus years old!

FAT HAROLDS IS BACK!
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THE SHAG FAT HAROLDS DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY once again – North Myrtle Beach , S.C.