Wednesday January 9, 1963
Unknown venue, CA
David Marks family began keeping a diary of the concerts he played with the Beach Boys and the diary lists a show on this date but no other info
Late January 1963
Zeta Beta Tau Frat Party, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
The Beach Boys made their first trip outside of California at the end of January 1963. Murry Wilson apparently did not make the trip, giving the young group the opportunity to let loose away from home. David Marks recalled that “it was just really awesome to be able to do that at that young age and we were just very excited and having lots of fun.” Although the group was hired to play this fraternity dance party, they ended up partying with the guests. As Mike Love recalled, “We went there for one show and we stayed there for three days.”
Wednesday January 30, 1963
Window Rock HS, Window Rock, AZ
Before returning home for a recording session, the group played one last show in Arizona. This show is listed in Jo Ann’s journal, though without a venue. However, the show was discussed in the yearbook, where this photo appeared.
Saturday February 2, 1963
March of Dimes Show, Swing Auditorium, National Orange Show Grounds, San Bernardino, CA-with Jan and Dean, Eddie Hodges, April Stevens, Nino Tempo, Dick Dale and the Deltones, the Rivingtons, the Chantays, the Rumblers, the Hollywood Tornadoes, Dick and Dee Dee (8:00 PM Show)
Saturday February 9 and Sunday February 10, 1963
Rod & Custom Car Show, Great Western Exhibit Center, Los Angeles-with the Royal Monarchs (One show each day at 2:00 PM)
The group played for fans at the Winter Nationals of the American Hot Rod Association. A program exists for this appearance.
Monday February 11, 1963
“First Annual Embassy Dance,” Carpenter’s Hall, Los Angeles, CA (8 to 12 PM Show)
This show, which I discovered after my book was published, was presented by the Jeff Chandler AZA at a theater in the Van Nuys neighborhood.
Friday February 15, 1963
Hawthorne High School, Hawthorne, CA (8:00 PM to 12:00 AM Show)
The Beach Boys provided the entertainment for a Valentine’s Day Dance at the Wilson’s alma mater. Carl was the only Beach Boy still attending classes there, though he would soon depart. David Marks recalled, “Carl and I eventually had to go to a private school. We’d stay up all night recording and miss the next day of school.” They left Hawthorne High and began attending Hollywood Professional School with other young stars. Carl’s buddy Ron Swallow recalled, “It was geared for kids in a profession. You paid a bunch of money to get a diploma-and not go to school as much.” Prior to this show, Dennis drove his car into a cement wall and damaged his legs. As a result, David Marks' friend Mark Groseclose was recruited to fill in as drummer for four concerts, probably starting with this one (he is seen in the photo).
Saturday February 16, 1963
KFWB Charity Show, Los Angeles Sport Arena, Los Angeles, CA-with Bobby Vinton, Ann Margaret, Chris Montez, Dick Dale, The Rivingtons, The Cascades, Molly Bee, Bobby Crawford, The Penguins, Annette Funicello, Henry Mancini, April Stevens and Nino Tempo, Paul Peterson, Chris Montez, Billy Vaughan, Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, The Olympics, The Routers, Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay
Mark Groseclose again filled in for Dennis on drums. This was a huge event in Los Angeles, featuring many huge movie stars, such as Ann Margaret, Annette Funicello and Jayne Mansfield, as well as musical acts.
Friday March 1, 1963
Spanish Castle, Des Moines, WA
According to a January 30, 1965 concert program the Beach Boys played at the Spanish Castle in Seattle, Washington in the summer of 1962. When contacted, promoter Pat O’Day confirmed that the group did indeed play there but stated it was actually on a Friday in “early 1963” not 1962. O’Day recalled that they played at his nightclub, the Pat O’Day Party Line Club the next day (Saturday) as well. O’Day knew Murry and agreed to fly the band, including Brian, to Seattle and give them some exposure to Pacific Northwest audiences. The shows lost money because, according to O’Day, the Seattle audiences were not ready for surf music yet. The Spanish Castle held 2,000, but less than 300 people showed up.
Saturday March 2, 1963
Party Line Club, Seattle, WA
David Marks recalled the Party Line engagement, “It was a nightclub and they had phones at all the tables. I remember that well. You could call other tables on their phones. The phones only reached other tables. It was cute idea. Dennis was calling all the chicks of course at all the other tables!”
Sunday March 10, 1963
KMEN Party, San Bernardino, CA
According to a KMEN radio survey the Beach Boys entertained KMEN listeners as part of the radio stations first anniversary celebration.
Saturday March 16, 1963
Hemet Armory, Hemet, CA
Saturday March 30, 1963
Denno's Record Store Opening, Garden Grove, CA
The Beach Boys played in the parking lot and later autographed copies of their new album Surfin’ U.S.A. which was released on March 25.
Friday April 5, 1963
Los Angeles Teenage Fair, Pickwick Recreation Center, Burbank, CA
The group performed at the opening of the Fair and signed autographs by the pool at 5:30 PM. By this point in time, the band had abandoned the Pendleton shirts in favor of a uniform of green sweaters, skinny ties and hush puppies, which is how they are dressed in the photos. David Marks recalled, “That was Carl’s idea. All of a sudden when we got successful he got all fashion conscious. He would take us shopping for clothes and get us to have our hair done by (Jay) Sebring and all that crap…I loved it for a second and then I hated it. Dennis really hated it-all that hairspray and stuff.”
Saturday April 6, 1963
Grand Opening of Build 'N' Save, Garden Grove, CA
I was not aware of this performance when I wrote my book.
Friday April 12, 1963
Rendezvous Ballroom, Balboa-Newport Beach, CA
According to Dennis Rose, of the surf band The Centurions, hardly anyone showed up for the Beach Boys’ appearance, since it was the first night of Easter.
Saturday April 13, 1963
Civic Auditorium, Bakersfield, CA-with the Olympics, the Righteous Brothers and Bob Vaught & the Renegades (8 PM-Show)
With “Surfin’ USA” in the charts, the group was in great demand and they were able to charge more money for personal appearances. David Marks recalls receiving $300 for this “Gigantic Pre-Easter Twisterama.” It is possible that Al Jardine played this show in place of Brian. When I wrote my book, I relied on a diary entry that misdated this show to April 15 and I did not know the venue. Fortunately, a flyer for the show came up for auction in 2022.
Friday April 19, 1963
Aragon Ballroom, Pacific Ocean Park, Santa Monica, CA-with Dick Delvy and the Challengers
Saturday April 20, 1963
Felton Intermediate School Dance, Lennox, CA (7:00 PM Show)
A ticket stub exists for this show, which was sponsored by the P.T.A. This was a momentous weekend for the group, since on the day after this concert; Sunday April 21, 1963 the Beach Boys taped their first national television appearance on the long running CBS variety program, The Red Skelton Show. The appearance was kept in the vaults till the fall when it aired as the 1963-1964 season-premiere on Sept 24, 1963. Shirley Temple Black was the other guest on the program. The shooting schedule for the day reveals that Brian, Dennis and Mike came to the studio two hours earlier than David Marks and Carl. This was so they could pre-record their vocals for their a-cappella version of the Four Freshmen song, “Things We Did Last Summer.” Later, the whole group pre-recorded a new version of “Surfin’ USA” to mime to as well. The Beach Boys, dressed in matching horizontal striped sailor shirts, performed the two songs on a soundstage with numerous extras, including one female who danced briefly with Mike. This footage survives and can be seen in its entirety as a bonus feature on the Endless Harmony DVD.
Thursday April 25, 1963
Val-Air Ballroom, Des Moines, Iowa
This was the first date of the Beach Boys’ first real tour outside California. Brian did not make the trip and it was Al who accompanied the group in his place. David Marks recalled that the group was nervous about going without their leader. Especially since Brian’s high falsetto was absolutely crucial to their sound. “To be honest, we were freaked! We thought we were finished because Brian didn’t want to go on the road with us. So Brian gave Al a call. And we were so happy because he sounded exactly like Brian, sang exactly like Brian and played the bass beautifully. We were real happy that Al came in and saved the day.”
David Marks’ father Elmer, who acted as road manager on this tour, recorded in his tour journal that the group attracted 1,870 fans to the Val Air Ballroom, a 1930s jazz dance hall that was a Mecca for kids in the Des Moines area. The band received a $450 guarantee and half the gate, for a total of $1, 385
Friday April 26, 1963
Y.W.C.A Teen Canteen, Rockford, Illinois (8:00 to 12:00 PM)
According to Elmer Marks tour diary, the group was paid $650 for the night’s work.
Touring in 1963, however, was far from glamorous. As Mike later recalled, “The first tour we went out with like a station wagon…There were five of us and a driver and we all lugged our own instruments you know and we’d drive sometimes 500 miles to the next date because the routing wasn’t that great. We’d be in Fargo, North Dakota and then we’d go somewhere in Minneapolis, Minnesota.” The Beach Boys were all quite young and driving around together in one station wagon for hours and hours was tedious. To relieve the boredom, the group engaged in a lot of silly behavior. Mike recalled one incident amongst many in 1974: “We said ‘Ok you guys let’s all jump in the back and freak this gas station attendant out.’ So we all jumped in the back of the station wagon and all five or six of us were piled up together writhing and squirming around with legs and arms hanging everywhere and the guy comes up with the hose in the gas place…and he just blew his mind. Here were five guys just crawling over each other in the back of a station wagon, but that’s how crazy we got on that first tour.”
Saturday April 27, 1963
Danceland Ballroom, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Elmer Marks recorded that the band took home $1,403 for the night.
Sunday April 28, 1963
Terp Ballroom, Austin, MN (8:00 PM to 12:00 AM Show)
Tuesday April 30, 1963
Arkota Ballroom, Sioux Falls, SD
Wednesday May 1, 1963
Kiddieland Roller Rink, Wichita, KS (8:00 to 12:00 PM)
The Beach Boys played at this tiny roller rink for four hours. Admission was one dollar. The newspapers ignored the show. A letter from Elmer Marks to Audree Wilson that survives shows that the BBs got up to some mischief on their first tour without Murry. He noted that they all had to get penicillin shots in Kansas.
Friday May 3, 1963
Excelsior Amusement Park and Big Reggie’s Danceland, Excelsior Park, MN
Radio station WDGY sponsored a “Twin City High Night” in which the Beach Boys played one free show at the Amusement Park and a paid concert at Big Reggie’s. Big Reggie’s, across the street from the Excelsior Amusement Park on Lake Minnetonka, was one of the largest dancehalls in the Midwest, with space for over 1,700 dancers. Ray Colihan, known as Big Reggie, booked the group in February, when they were fairly unknown, and was not expecting the huge crowd that turned out to see the group, on the strength of their hit record “Surfin’ USA.” The club was filled to capacity and over 1,000 people had to be turned away.
Saturday May 4, 1963
Duluth Armory, Duluth, MN-with Chet Orr and the Rumbles
There is some debate as to whether this show was actually May 2, as remembered by Chet Orr, whose band opened the show. David Marks recalled that the teenage fans at this show rushed the stage, knocking Dennis off of his drums. The photo is a still from the Beach Boys first appearance on the Red Skelton TV show, taped on April 21.
Sunday May 5, 1963
Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa (8:00 PM to 12:00 AM)
The group finished their first Midwest tour with a show at this famous dance club, where Buddy Holly played his last show before his tragic death in 1959.
Friday May 17, 1963
Santa Fe High School Boy's Gymnasium, Santa Fe Springs, CA-with Shelly Manne and His Men (8:00 PM Show)
This show was sponsored by the Santa Fe High School Associated Student Body and Promotional Productions, and headlined by Shelly Mann and His Men. It was a benefit to raise money to purchase new uniforms for the Santa Fe High School band.
Sunday May 19, 1963
Long Beach, CA
Thursday May 23, 1963
International car and boat show, Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
A newspaper article stated that the Beach Boys would appear on Friday, May 24, 1963. However, their appearance that evening in Sacramento makes that impossible. So, it seems likely they appeared at the International Car and Boat Show on either Thursday, May 23, 1963, at 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., along with country legend Ernest Tubb or on Sunday, May 26, 1963, at noon and midnight, along with Jan & Dean.
Friday May 24, 1963
Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, CA
This show marked the group’s first encounter with a nineteen-year old promoter named Fred Vail, who would form a long-lasting relationship with the group. The Beach Boys concert came about because in the spring of 1963, the senior class at El Camino asked Vail to help obtain entertainment for their grad party. Vail suggested, “Why don’t we take the $750 that you’ve raised and buy an act and put on a public show to raise the money that you’ll need to put on the grad party…It was 1963 and it was during the surf craze. I was aware of all the surf groups…but there was this group called the Beach Boys that not only did surf music but also wrote a lot of their own songs and they had these great harmonies. I said, ‘we ought to get the Beach Boys.’”
Sunday May 26, 1963
Inglewood High School, Inglewood, CA
Wednesday May 29, 1963
Buc’s Gym, Bellflower High School, Bellflower, CA and Pacific High School, San Bernardino, CA-with Jan and Dean
The morning show at Bellflower High School was written up in the student newspaper and Mike was photographed on the sax. According to David Marks, the band then embarked on a short tour with Jan and Dean.
Thursday May 30, 1963
San Francisco, CA-with Jan & Dean
Jo Ann Mark's journal mentions shows in San Francisco on this day and the next. According to Dave Marks, Jan and Dean also took part. The venue is unknown. Jan and Dean biographer Mark Moore had access to Jan Berry's papers but found no information. The picture is from 1963 but the date is unknown.
Friday May 31, 1963
San Francisco, CA and Oxnard, CA
Jo Ann Mark’s journal mentions both shows.
Saturday June 1, 1963
The Russian River, Rio Nido, CA
A California fan named Mark Westbury recalls a Beach Boy appearance at the town of Rio Nido, on the Russian River, being advertised on radio. Singer Sharon Marie Esperanza (pictured with the Beach Boys in a October publicity photo) recalled on radio that she first met the Beach Boys at this appearance, which she recalled as August 1963 in one interview and Memorial Day weekend in another. Since they were outside California the entire month of August, Memorial Day weekend is a better guess. Brian Wilson ended up producing two singles for Sharon Marie, though neither charted.
Friday June 7, 1963
Hawthorne HS Senior Breakfast, Hawthorne, CA
Veterans Hall, Bakersfield, CA-with Jan and Dean
“Grad Night Dinner Dance,” Bakersfield College, Bakersfield, CA
“Grad Night Dinner Dance,” Albert S. Goode Auditorium, Bakersfield, CA-with the Cherry Creek Singers, the Illusions and the Ivy Clansmen
The group played at three separate Bakersfield venues. This was grad night at a number of Bakersfield high schools and they agreed to share the talent. David Marks recalled that the Beach Boys performed with Sam Cooke and Lou Rawls on this night but his memory has proven to be inaccurate on this occasion. If the Beach Boys did back up Sam Cooke in a concert, no evidence has yet appeared.
Saturday June 8, 1963
Unknown Venue, Palmdale, CA-with Jan and Dean
This show is mentioned in Jo Ann Marks’ diary. DJ Chris Charles of KUTY recalled that the Beach Boys were paid $500 to appear at the four-hour concert event
Sunday June 9, 1963
Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield, CA-with the Illusions
This gig is not mentioned in the newspapers and is based on the recollections of the Illusions
Wednesday June 12, 1963
Cinnamon Cinder, Houston, Texas-with Jan and Dean and Jimmy Reed
The group made their first Texas appearance with this show in Houston. If the date, as recorded by Jo Ann Marks, is correct, than the group must have flown there after their recording session that day. According to David Marks, the group backed blues legend Jimmy Reed, before playing their own set. Unfortunately, Houston papers hardly acknowledged that rock concerts existed in the early 1960s and I could find no mention of the Beach Boys’ appearance.
Friday June 14 to Sunday June 16, 1963
“Show of Stars,” Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii-with Dee Dee Sharp, the Treniers and Jackie De Shannon (One show at 8:00 PM on Friday, three shows at 2:30, 7:00 and 8:45 PM on Saturday and one show at 2:30 PM on Sunday)
On June 13 the group embarked on their first tour of Hawaii, where they played sixteen shows in nine days. Brian opted to stay home and Al Jardine again took his place. The Beach Boys shared a bill with Dee Dee Sharp, the Treniers and Jackie De Shannon that was advertised as the “Show of Stars.” David Marks recalled that since the Beach Boys were a self- contained unit “we played back up musicians for Dee Dee Sharp and Jackie De Shannon. The Treniers were kind of a Vegas act and we became good friends with them as well. They were great guys.” Elmer Marks and Audree Wilson came along as chaperones and filmed some home movies of the group onstage and at the beach, portions of which were used in the 1985 Malcolm Leo documentary, The Beach Boys: An American Band. The group obviously had a lot of fun on the tour. It was yet another chance to get away from Murry and his strict rules. As David Marks recalled, “we drove around the island in convertibles, we rented surfboards, sailboats and motorbikes, and we annoyed all the women on the beach.”
Sunday June 16, 1963
“Show of Stars,” Schoefield Barracks, Honolulu, Hawaii-with Dee Dee Sharp, the Treniers and Jackie De Shannon
For the next seven days, the group played to mainly military servicemen stationed in Hawaii.
Monday June 17, 1963
“Show of Stars,” Hickam Theater, Honolulu, Hawaii -with Dee Dee Sharp, the Treniers and Jackie De Shannon (Two shows at 7:00 and 9:00 PM)
The group played two shows at this theater on Hickam Air Force Base.
Tuesday June 18, 1963
“Show of Stars,” Barber’s Point, Oahu, Hawaii-with Dee Dee Sharp, the Treniers and Jackie De Shannon (7:30 PM Show)
A show played for the Coast Guard stationed at Barber’s Point.
Wednesday June 19, 1963
“Show of Stars,” Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station, Oahu, Hawaii-with Dee Dee Sharp, the Treniers and Jackie De Shannon (Two shows at 6:30 and 8:30 PM)
Thursday June 20, 1963
“Show of Stars,” Baldwin High School Auditorium, Wailuku, Hawaii-with Dee Dee Sharp, the Treniers and Jackie De Shannon (Two shows at 7:00 and 8:45 PM)
Friday June 21, 1963
“Show of Stars,” Hilo Civic Auditorium, Hilo, Hawaii-with Dee Dee Sharp, the Treniers and Jackie De Shannon (Two shows at 2:30 and 7:30 PM)
David Marks recalled, “The tour was set up mainly for us to play to servicemen. They were some of the best audiences we ever had. Those guys and girls really received us well. The military really appreciated the entertainment.”
Saturday June 22, 1963
“Show of Stars,” Bloch Arena, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii-with Dee Dee Sharp, the Treniers and Jackie De Shannon (7:30 PM Show)
Saturday June 29, 1963
Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV-with the Teen Beats (8:00 PM Show)
Friday July 5 and Saturday July 6, 1963
VIP Club, Phoenix, AZ
According to Jo Ann Mark’s journal, the Beach Boys played in Arizona for the second time on these days. An article in the Arizona Republic in 2023 included an interview with a fan named Stephen Cameron, who commented, “I saw them in 1963 at a teen club with a $5 admission. As I recall, the club was on Seventh Street. They had a hit that had a lot of play time on the Phoenix radio stations. We heard the drummer had a new Jaguar XK-E but was too young to drive.” If this is accurate then the BBs probably appeared at The VIP Club on 7th Street and Indian School, a venue where other rockers are known to have performed.
Thursday July 11, 1963
Retail Clerks Auditorium, Buena Park, CA-with the Astronauts
Friday July 12, 1963
Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa, CA-with Adrian and the Sunsets
Saturday July 13, 1963
Veteran’s Memorial Stadium, Santa Maria, CA-with the Honeys and the Four Speeds
Gary Usher led the Four Speeds, who opened the show. Usher recalled the show as one of the highlights of his life and bragged, “On that particular night we blew The Beach Boys off the stage.” Apparently, the Four Speeds learned that the audience would be predominantly Mexican and prepared a set of songs geared to them. The Beach Boys “dressed in their surfer shirts and sporting short hair, died! They didn’t go over well at all.”
Friday July 19, 1963
Indiana Beach, Shafer Lake, Monticello, Indiana (8:45 to 12:45 PM)
This was the opening gig of the Beach Boys first summer tour. They flew to Chicago and then drove to Monticello. Brian accompanied the group on this tour, at least initially. The only other people on the road with the group were a friend of Dennis’s named Bob Chambers and manager John Hamilton. Unlike the first tour, the group now traveled in two separate cars. After the craziness of the first tour, Mike said “Never again. So I bought a Jaguar-my first real nifty car and I took out the right hand seat and made a bed in it. So if there were three of us in the car, one guy would be able to sleep, one guy would be resting, sitting in back, and one guy would be driving and it worked out really well.” David Marks recalled that “Mike was the oldest and I don’t think he really enjoyed some of the things that Dennis and I were up to… One of our buddies Bob drove Mike’s car around. It was just he and Mike and the rest of us had a station wagon that we had to cram into. And then we had a u-haul trailer with our equipment in it. We would have to pack up right after the gigs and then drive 400 or 500 miles to the next town.” The Beach Boys played this venue again in the summer of 1964.
Saturday July 20, 1963
Danceland Ballroom, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The Beach Boys returned to this venue that they played on their spring tour
Sunday July 21, 1963
Cobblestone Ballroom, Storm Lake, Iowa
This venue closed in 1986 but the building still stands.
Tuesday July 23, 1963
Roof Garden Ballroom, Arnold’s Park, Iowa (8:00 to 11:00 PM Show)
Wednesday July 24, 1963
Shore Acres Ballroom, Sioux City, Iowa (8:00 to 11:00 PM Show)
According to an AFM sheet, Brian was in California on this day, producing a Honeys’ session. If the sheet is correct, than he left the tour. It is not known how long he was absent. It is clear that Al Jardine eventually replaced him for many of the remaining dates. It is possible that Brian did not play any further shows on this tour until August 30.
Thursday July 25, 1963
Des Moines, IA
Most likely, the group once again played at the Val-Air Ballroom, but no ad for the show has been found. However, Jo Ann Marks’ journal records that they played there.
Saturday July 27, 1963
Hollyhock Ballroom, Hatfield, MN
When writing my book I quoted from an interview that Mike gave to writer Marilyn Beck in 1976 in which he stated, “the gig was sold out…but what we didn’t know till later was that cars were jamming up the roads to the ballroom for miles around. It got so heavy that the mob outside started throwing rocks at the windows to try and get in. And during intermission we went out and played four sets for the crowds in the parking lots.”I associated his comments with the band’s appearance at Excelsior Amusement Park on Lake Minnetonka on May 3, 1963. However in another interview, clearly speaking about the same show, he named the location as Hatfield, MN and added, “It was literally a barn converted into a Dancehall and there was a stage that was so narrow…a drunk sat down on my foot.” Hence I now believe he was referring to this previously undocumented appearance.
Sunday July 28, 1963
Peony Park Ballroom, Omaha, NE (8:00 to 12:00 PM show)
Peony Park was an amusement park founded in 1919 that hosted occasional dance concerts.
Tuesday July 30, 1963
Coliseum Ballroom, Davenport, IA (8:00 to 11:00 PM show)
This was the Beach Boys only appearance at this legendary Midwest landmark, built in 1914, which has hosted almost every famous musician that played in the area.
Wednesday July 31, 1963
Indian Crossing Casino, Waupaca, WI
The promoter of this show allegedly called Murry Wilson to complain about the band’s unprofessional behavior and alcohol consumption. It was reports like this that eventually caused Murry to fly to Chicago in late August and fire road manager John Hamilton
Thursday August 1, 1963
Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, IA
The Beach Boys played at this legendary venue for the second and last time
Friday August 2, 1963
Prom Ballroom, St. Paul, MN
This ballroom, built in the 1940s, was located on University Avenue. It was torn down in 1987.
Saturday August 3, 1963
Terp Ballroom, Austin, MN (8-12 PM Show)
The Beach Boys returned to this venue they'd played on their first Midwest tour in the spring
Sunday August 4, 1963
Kato Ballroom, Mankato, MN
I have yet to find advertisement for this show. This was a venue that Buddy Holly played on his last tour in 1959. It still stands to this day.
Tuesday August 6, 1963
Electric Park Ballroom, Waterloo, IA (8:00 to 11:30 PM)
Wednesday August 7, 1963
Ithica, MI
According to the Marks' diary, the Beach Boys played in Ithaca on this night but nothing more is currently known.
Thursday August 8, 1963
Club Ponytail, Harbor Springs, MI-with the Kingtones (2 Shows)
This is one of the earliest concert reviews of a Beach Boys show found. The article in the Petoskey News Review by Bob Shephard states, “At first the Beach Boys seemed to be the biggest disappointment of the season. Without their echo chambers the sound they produced was far below par. They were lacking in organization and harmony all during their first performance. However they did seem to improve with time and by the end of the evening were sounding more like everyone expected them to…they really packed the house, in my estimation there were probably 1,500 people at the Tail, give or take a few hundred." A blurry photograph accompanies the review and clearly shows Al in place of Brian. As the eldest Wilson is attested back in California by an AFM sheet on August 5, it is clear that he had left the tour by this time and did not return till August 29.
Friday August 9, 1963
Cold Springs Resort, Hamilton, IN
The Beach Boys played for about 3,000 teenagers at this famous midwestern resort that opened in 1870 and hosted many rock and roll acts, including Jerry Lee Lewis.
Sunday August 11, 1963
Auditorium Theater, Chicago, IL
The Beach Boys first Chicago appearance took place at this legendary venue, in operation since 1889 and located on the corner of East Congress and Michigan Avenue. I have not found any advertisements for this show but it did take place.
Monday August 12, 1963
Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, VT-with the North Stars
I discovered this show after the publication of my book
Tuesday August 13, 1963
"Gilchrist's Fifth Annual Back to School Fashion Hop," Music Hall, Boston, MA-with Jan and Dean, Tony & the Del Fi’s, Myles Connor & the Ravens and Mary Ann Mobley (9:30 AM Show)
Surf Ballroom at Nantasket Beach, Hull, MA- with Jan and Dean (3 PM to Midnight)
The Beach Boys made their first Boston appearance at the Music Hall with Jan and Dean. The Boston Traveler reported, "The girls in the audience shrieked their approval of the jumping sounds of Jan and Dean, The Beach Boys, Tony and the Del-Fi's, and Miles Conner and the Ravens." Following the morning show at the Music Hall, the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean headed to Hull, where they performed at last three shows. In between performances at the Surf Ballroom there were fashion shows at 5 and 8 PM. I was not aware of this appearance when I wrote my book, nor does this info appear in Jim Murphy’s book.
Wednesday August 14, 1963
Palace Ballroom, Old Orchard, ME
Thursday August 15, 1963
Surf Auditorium, Hill, NH
This gig was listed in the Marks' tour diary but I have yet to find an advertisement. If anyone knows more, let me know. It's possible that the venue mentioned in the journal was actually the Surf in Nantasket, which they played on August 13
Friday August 16, 1963
Mountain Top Ballroom, Holyoke, MA-with Marcy Jo and Eddie Rambeau (7:30 PM Show)
This amusement park was a very popular tourist attraction in the 1960s but it had declined by the 1980s and was eventually dismantled
Saturday August 17, 1963
Wayne County Fair, Homedale, PA (2 Shows)
The set list for this show was saved by David Marks and gives us an idea of the songs played by the group on this tour. Songs played were “Surfin’ Safari,” “409,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Runaway,” “Blue City,” “Farmer’s Daughter,” “Monster Mash,” “Movin n’ Groovin” (a 1962 song by the Three Suns), “Silly Boy” (a 1962 song by the Lettermen), “Papa Ooh Mow Mow,” “Honky Tonk,” “Shut Down,” “Louie, Louie,” “Surfer Girl,” “Let’s Go Trippin,” “Surfin’ USA,” “Johnny B Goode,” and “What’d I Say.” As no Beach Boys shows on this tour, except one, were reviewed, this is the only set list from the tour that exists.
Sunday August 18, 1963
Lakewood Ballroom, Lakeside Park, Barnesville, PA- with the Magics and Bobby Mar Or. (8 PM-12 show)
This was the first of two Beach Boys appearances at this venue in Pennsylvania. The newspapers reported that 20,000 people attended the annual Lithuanian Day celebrations on this day but it is not known how many of the crowd attended the concert
Tuesday August 20, 1963
Reimold Brothers Auction Hall, Transfer, PA
Wednesday August 21, 1963
West View Park Danceland, Pittsburgh, PA (9:00 PM to 1:00 AM)
This venue was located at the West View Amusement Park, just north of Pittsburgh. A number of famous bands passed through it. The Rolling Stones appeared here on their 1964 tour.
Thursday August 22, 1963
Wheeling Downs Roller Rink, Wheeling, WV
This gig occurred on David Marks fifteenth birthday and the band allegedly engaged in some bad behavior after the show, which led Murry Wilson to make plans to fly to Chicago with Brian on August 28 to deal with his wayward charges personally.
Friday August 23, 1963
Stardust Gardens, Le Sourdsville Lake Amusement Park, Middletown, OH-with the Rick Z Combo
Le Sourdsville Lake Amusement Park, located 30 miles north of Cincinnati, was a huge tourist attraction and played host to many concerts from the 1930s to the 1970s, when it was eclipsed by the opening of King’s Island nearby.
Saturday August 24, 1963
Midway Ballroom, Cedar Lake, IN-with the Exports
The Beach Boys played three sets at this picturesque dancehall located on a pier overlooking the water at the edge of town
Sunday August 25, 1963
Melody Mill, Sageville, IA (7:30 to 11:30 PM)
This was a popular dancehall near Dubuque that was torn down in 1964. The attached photo was apparently taken on this night and shows that Brian was absent and Al was there in his place. Dave Marks tour diary records shows on August 26 and 27 but with no other info. I have since discovered that they appeared at the Teenage Fair in Detroit. It's also possible that they played at Das Spielhaus Roller Rink in River Falls, Wisconsin as well. If anyone has further info-let me know in the contact section.
Tuesday August 27 or Wednesday August 28, 1963
Teenage Fair, Michigan State Fairgrounds, Detroit, MI
The August 21, 1963, Detroit News discussed the upcoming Teenage Fair (which ran Aug 23 to Sept 2) to take place inside the Michigan State Fairgrounds. The article stated that in addition to headliners like Sammi Davis Jr and Bobby Vinton, "between 18 and 36 additional stars are expected to appear in conjunction with record company exhibits and at daily autograph parties. Expected are the Beach Boys, The Tokens, Johnny Crawford, Gene (spelled Jean in article) Pitney, the Contours and Freddy Cannon." Unfortunately-that is the only mention of the BBs in the newspaper. But....most likely this is where they were on either Aug 26, 27 or 28.
Thursday August 29, 1963
Avalon Ballroom, Lacrosse, WI
Brian is attested at a recording session on the 27th for The Survivors. As both he and David Marks recall him being present when David had his altercation with Murry, Brian must have flown to Chicago with his father on August 29. Murry probably insisted that Brian take part in their first show in New York on August 30. They met the band after this show. The BBs drove to New York and during the long car ride Murry and Dave Marks got into an argument. Dave Marks quit the band. However, Murry made him fulfill his contractual obligations, so he played with the BBs till October 5.
Friday August 30, 1963
Fox Theater, Brooklyn, NY-with Little Stevie Wonder, Ben E. King, Gene Pitney, the Miracles, the Shirelles, the Drifters, the Dovells, Jay and the Americans, the Tymes, the Chiffons, the Angels and Randy and the Rainbows
A Murry “The K” package show, with the Beach Boys listed on the program as special guests for that day only, this marked the group’s first New York appearance. The star-studded bill included Stevie Wonder, then at the start of his career. He had a number one hit with "Fingertips." Ben E. King was also very well known at that time. He had been in the Drifters, who were also on the bill, and had sung the lead on "This Magic Moment" and "Save the Last Dance For Me." He also had a massive solo hit with "Stand By Me." Gene Pitney was then a big star with hits like "Every Little Breath I Take," and "Town Without Pity." The Miracles, featuring Smoky Robinson, were Motown's first stars and had scored big that year with "Mickey's Monkey." The Shirelles were huge stars and had hits like "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Soldier Boy." The Chiffons were famous for "He's So Fine" and "One Fine Day". The Dovells had a hit with "You Can't Sit Down" and had previously scored with "Bristol Stomp." The Tymes were a soul vocal group that had a number one record in 1963 with "So Much In Love." Jay and the Americans were a native New York group that had hits with "She Cried" and "Only In America." Lastly Randy and the Rainbows were a door-wop group who had a hit with "Denise."
Saturday August 31, 1963
“Show of Stars Spectacular,” Los Angeles Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA-with the Orlons, Jan and Dean, Andrea Carroll, Steve Alaimo, Soupy Sales, Johnny Fortune, Ray Sharpe, Marvin Gaye, the Righteous Brothers, the Olympics, Darlene Love, Wayne Newton, Little Eva, the Cookies, Mel Carter, Paul Peterson, Dee Dee Sharp, the Challengers, the Cornells, Tracy Dey, Dick & Dee Dee, Donna Loren, Jackie De Shannon and Rene Hall & Orchestra (8:00 PM Show)
The Beach Boys returned to Los Angeles just in time to take part in this massive star-studded event. The lineup included Motown star Marvin Gaye, who'd had hits that year with "Pride and Joy" and "Hitch Hike," the Beach Boys' buddies Jan and Dean, riding high with "Surf City" and Jackie De Shannon, who'd performed with the BB's in Hawaii earlier that summer. Also on the bill were the Righteous Brothers, who had yet to hook up with Phil Spector but had a hit with "Little Latin Lupe-Lu", the Orlons, a Philadelphia group that had scored with "South Street" and "Not Me," Darlene Love, famous for her work with the Crystals on "He's a Rebel" and "He's Sure the Boy I Love," and the Olympics, whose 1959 hit "(Baby) Hully Gully" was later recorded by the BBs.
Wednesday September 4, 1963
Moonlight Ballroom, Denver, CO
This show was a benefit for the Jefferson County Association for Retarded Children. Following the show, the group judged a “Miss Denver Surfer” contest.
Friday September 6, 1963
Back To School Dance, Elitch Gardens, Trocadero Ballroom, Denver, Co-with the Castells, the Astronauts and Bobby Vinton (Beach Boys did not ultimately appear)
I discovered this show after the publication of my book. However, the Beach Boys did not appear. Radio station KIMN stated that the Beach Boys were expected to appear at this show but that they reneged. KIMN then sued the group. However, radio station KDAB, which had sponsored the September 4 show, argued that the Beach Boys had made no promise to appear at the KIMN dance. Ron Curtis, general manager of KDAB argued that the rival station had tried to coerce the group into playing the additional date. KIMN claimed that their rival threatened not to play the Beach Boys records if the group played their dance and also sued KDAB.
Saturday September 7, 1963
Lagoon, Farmington, UT
The Beach Boys made their first appearances at this famous venue just outside Salt Lake City. The group was extremely popular in Utah and over 4,500 fans turned out for this show. The audience response was so strong that the group was hastily booked for more Salt Lake shows that December. The Beach Boys proved so popular in the Salt Lake City area that they ended up playing there for multiple nights almost every year from 1963 to 1970. None of these shows were reviewed by newspapers, nor has a single photo of the BB's onstage at the Lagoon ever surfaced. If anyone in Utah has any let me know!
Monday September 9, 1963
Helix High School, San Diego, CA
There were numerous bands on the bill but none of them were listed in ads except the Beach Boys.
Wednesday September 11, 1963
Station Theatre in China Lake CA with the Cherry Creek Singers (8 PM show)
This show took place at a Navy base but was open to people in the Indian Wells Valley. It was advertised in a Navy newspaper.
Saturday September 14, 1963
Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, CA (2 shows at 2:15 and 8:00 PM)
The Beach Boys traveled to Sacramento on Friday September 13 and signed autographs at Jack's House of Music at 4 PM that day. Brian was not present at the shows the next day and was replaced by Al. Murry later complained to the police that two of the band's guitars were stolen.
Friday September 20, 1963
Long Beach, CA
David Mark's parents kept a diary in 1963 of all the gigs that David played, apparently because they no longer trusted Murry to accurately pay David. The diary lists a show on this date, which is otherwise unknown.
Saturday September 21, 1963
Memorial Auditorium, Portland, OR-with Jan and Dean (8:00 PM Show)
KISN radio sponsored the Beach Boys first concert in Portland at the Coliseum. Al played the show in place of Brian, who stayed home. Fourteen-year-old surf music fan David Higginbotham attended the show and recalled, “What I remember most about it was that it was very, very loud…low-tech loud, with Fender amps turned up full blast. This was the surfing era. This was surf music. It wasn’t like, hey this is Brian Wilson’s band and we’re going to do some incredible vocals, harmony and stuff. It was just the Beach Boys blasting out rock ‘n’ roll. All my friends and I were waiting for them to play our favorite songs, which were ‘Surf Jam’ and the other instrumentals (on their early albums). I recall not even liking ‘Surfer Girl’ because to me it was just a ballad. We were there to here surf music! My memory of the show is a little vague, but I do recall that they played ‘Surf Jam,’ which was my favorite song. Of course they played ‘Surfin’ USA’ and it was really loud and really strong. Dennis Wilson was pounding the drums! The stage was just shaking! Dennis also came up front to sing a song at one point and David Marks played drums. The lineup that night was David Marks, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine. I recall that Mike played a lot of saxophone.”
Saturday September 28, 1963
Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA-with Jan and Dean, the Ronettes, Little Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, the Righteous Brothers, April Stevens and Nino Tempo, Trini Lopez, Dee Dee Sharp, Freddie Cannon, the Coasters, Betty Harris, Roberta Day, Donna Loren, Ray Stevens, the Original Drifters, Bobby Freeman, the Pyramids, Jose Jimenez, George & Teddy and the Jaynettes
The Beach Boys first appearance at the Cow Palace was a massive star-studded concert event sponsored by KYA and Tempo Productions that was billed as the “Surf Party.” Brian did not accompany the group and was replaced by Al. The bill included a young Dionne Warwick, who'd scored hits with "Don't Make Me Over" and "Wishin' and Hopin'", the Ronettes, who'd already recorded Brian's all-time favorite song "Be My Baby", Freddie Cannon, who'd recorded "Tallahassee Lassie" and "Palisades Park," the Coasters, who were now on the decline but had scored numerous hits like "Yackety Yak," and "Charlie Brown," and Bobby Freeman, an African-American singer from San Francisco who had a huge hit in 1959 with "Do You Want To Dance," which the BBs covered in 1965. Disc Jockey Jim Satcher recalled one hair-raising moment backstage that illustrates how popular Dennis had become. “At the end of the show Dennis came out of the dressing room door and was seen by fans exiting the building. The crowd surged toward Dennis pushing him against the door and then down on the floor. The people closest to Dennis fell on top of him. I was guarding the pay room door and I told people inside to call the police and to secure the door. I then went into the crowd pulling people off Dennis. I remember covering his head with my jacket as we made our way outside. I remember we ran toward the cars and that we jumped on top of one car. I told the crowd that Dennis was hurt and to back off so we could go back inside the building. At the cast party afterwards, Dennis introduced me as the person who saved his life. Dennis was overly grateful to me.”
Sunday September 29, 1963
Fresno, CA (early afternoon)
Seattle Opera House, Seattle WA-with Freddie Cannon, Ray Stevens, the Fabulous Wailers, the Viceroys, the Lancers, April Stevens, Nino Tempo, Gail Harris, Billy Saint, Little Stevie Wonder, Dee Dee Sharp (Two shows at 3:00 and 7:00 PM)
David Mark’s mother lists the Fresno appearance in her diary. The Beach Boys must have been making some sort of morning promotional appearance. They then flew to Seattle for two big concerts. Brian was replaced by Al at these shows
Saturday October 5, 1963
“Surfin' at the Bowl”, Balboa Park Bowl, San Diego CA-with the Honeys and Eddie & the Showmen
This was David Marks’ last performance as a Beach Boy, until his return to the band in the 1990s. With his contractual obligations fulfilled, he left the group to form his own band, the Marksmen with his friend Mark Groseclose.
Saturday October 19, 1963
“Y Day Concert,” Hollywood Bowl-with the Routers, Mike Clifford, the Cornells, the Mixtures, Keith Colley, Eddie and the Showmen, the Fleetwoods, the Honeys, Vic Dana, the Challengers, the Surfaris, Jan and Dean, Duane Eddy, Dodie Stevens, the Rivingtons, Paul Peterson, and Bobby Rydell
This is the first known show with Al in place of David Marks. The Beach Boys short appearance aired on KFWB radio on November 1 and a tape of it makes the rounds. They performed “Little Deuce Coupe”, “Be True to Your School” and “Surfer Girl”, as well as the KFWB theme. Because of the date of the radio broadcast, past writers thought this show was November 1.
Wednesday October 23, 1963
Santa Maria HS Gym, Santa Maria, CA-with Jan and Dean and the Honeys
Thursday October 31, 1963
“Loyola Carnival”, Loyola University, Loyola, CA [2 shows]
The audience at these shows was particularly rowdy and Al was beaned in the head by an egg. The Beach Boys swore never to play another concert on Halloween night.
Saturday November 2 1963
Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara, CA (2 Shows at 7 and 8:30 PM)
I was unaware of this show when I wrote my book and it does not appear in Jim Murphy’s book either.
Friday November 15, 1963
Wallich's Music City, South Bay Center, Los Angeles, CA-with host Bob Crane, Jan and Dean, Dodie Stevens, the Lennon Sisters, Johnny Prophet, Dick Dale, Wayne Newton, Rose Marie, Jack Jones, Bud and Travis, Tony Jerome, Tim Morgan, Trini Lopez, Vic Dana, Gene McDaniels, the Righteous Brothers, the Surfaris, the Ventures and Kay Starr (7:00 PM Show)
The group appeared at the grand opening of this branch of the famous store. The Torrance Herald announced, “Dancing in the parking lot of the South Bay Shopping Center will highlight the grand opening of the new Music City store.” The paper also stated that the opening was being treated like a Hollywood premiere party and that DJ, and future Hogan’s Heroes star, Bob Crane would emcee the event.
Saturday November 16 1963
Monte Mart, Salinas, CA
Friday November 22, 1963
Memorial Auditorium, Marysville, CA-with Freddie & the Statics (8:30 PM Show)
The group did indeed play a concert on the day President Kennedy was killed. Fred Vail promoted the show and made the decision to go on despite the tragedy.
Saturday November 23, 1963
Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, CA (postponed)
This concert was canceled in the wake of President Kennedy’s death and re-scheduled for December 21.
Friday November 29, 1963
National Guard Armory, Indio CA
I saw a poster for this show in the collection of a well-known aficionado "Mr Poster." It advertises the concert as “the one and only Central Valley appearance.”
Saturday November 30, 1963
Municipal Auditorium, San Bernardino, CA-with the Torquays, the Astronauts and the Dave Pell Octet (8:30 PM to 12 AM)
From 9:30 to 10:30 PM channel 18 TV aired a telecast live from the auditorium. This was the first of many Saturday Night Bandstand Dances that aired locally. Considering their popularity, the TV cameras undoubtedly captured the Beach Boys’ performance.
Friday December 20, 1963
Civic Auditorium, Stockton, CA
Saturday December 21, 1963
Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, CA (8:00 PM Show)
This show marked Brian’s first appearance with the group in Sacramento. It was also Carl’s 17th birthday and the band sang happy birthday to him at the gig. Capitol Records recorded the show for a proposed live album. Brian took the tapes back to Los Angeles, but decided against releasing the album right away. Vail recalled, “He wanted to try to get better quality recordings and he wanted to record another show so he could choose between the two and also at the time of the Sacramento concert (in 63) they had yet to record ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ and they wanted to include that on the album because it would becoming out in 1964 after the single.”
The Concert LP that was eventually released in 1964 featured a combination of material from this show, as well as additional material from a concert in Sacramento on August 1, 1964. The recordings of "Johnny B. Goode", "Monster Mash", "Little Deuce Coupe", "In My Room" and "Long Tall Texan" on the LP are all from this December 1963 show, though many of the vocals and instrumentation were “sweetened” in the studio. It is hard to say exactly what was done to the 1963 tapes as, according to Alan Boyd the original tapes of this concert are not in the Beach Boys vaults. All that exists is the final “sweetened” three track masters used on the actual LP.
Friday December 27 and Saturday December 28, 1963
Terrace Ballroom, Salt Lake City, UT
The Davis County Clipper noted, “the crowds were enormous” at these shows and that a new dance fad “surfing” was all the rage in Utah. This is as much of a review as any Beach Boys concert in Utah got in the 1960s. Newspapers did not send reporters to review pop concerts much at this time in Salt Lake City.
Tuesday December 31, 1963
Cinnamon Cinder, San Bernardino, CA
This gig is based on the memory of Fred Vail, who during this period was occasionally promoting shows for the group. He told me that, “There were other acts on the bill and we were done before Midnight and Carl had a new Grand Prix. He and I got in the Grand Prix to go back home. He was still living with Murry at the time. KEWB was counting down the hits of 1963 and they played the number one hit of 1963 at Midnight and it was ‘Surfin’ USA’ and Carl and I just screamed. It doesn’t get much better than that!” No advertisements for this show have been found but many such shows occurred that were only publicized on radio or flyers.