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RIP: BUD BROWNE
Surfing's legendary filmmaker passes away in San Luis Obispo
By:
Jon Coen
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July 28, 2008
10022 views | 38 comments
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No matter what period you live in, you can always look back to the past when things were less crowded, simpler, cleaner, and so on.
There are few still alive who lived those earliest days of surfing. The surfing world lost another founding father on Sunday in filmmaker Bud Browne. He was 96. Lucky for us, Browne had the ambition and skill to capture those less crowded, simpler, cleaner times on film, and surfing will remember him forever for it. |
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Lifeguarding through his college days was a natural crossover for the captain of the swim team, and Browne soon discovered surfing on the LA County beaches. After a stint as a Navy chief specialist during World War II, he became a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He eventually started filming surfing. Among his first and most coveted reels was of Duke Kahanamoku in Hawaii in the late 30s. Browne began with an 8mm camera in 1940 and, by 1943, was the first to show a surf film to a public audience. That year, he upgraded to a 16mm and started to document what has become some of surfing history's priceless treasures. He wasn't the first to film from the water, but following the early work of Tom Blake and Doc Ball, he was able to bring a surfer's point of view to the world. When he discovered editing, he essentially became the father of surf film. Browne had the ambition and skill to capture those less crowded, simpler, cleaner times on film, and surfing will remember him forever for it.
Browne eventually left teaching and took to traveling, chronicling the 1950s surfing scene, putting out one film a year for the next twelve years. Thanks to his former swim career, he was the first to capture big surf from the line-up. Later, he hooked up with MacGillivray/Freeman to bring the world Waves of Change and Five Summer Stories. "He was just always quietly observing people and surfing," recalls Surfer's Path Associate Editor Drew Kampion, who got to know him well in his time as editor of Surfer Magazine and Surfing Magazine from the 1960s to the 80s. "He combined a waterman's savvy with a gentelman's demeanor, while maintaining the eye of a professional witness." Last March, Browne was honored at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, for his lifetime achievements to the genre of surf films. From Hawaiian Surfing Movie in 1953 to Going Surfin' in 1973, and his contributions to Big Wednesday, Browne's work has become legendary, continuing to inspire generations of filmmakers after him. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. MORE SURF NEWS SURFLINE HOME PAGE |
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Comments: (38)
BRUCE BROWN 08/03/2008 12:30 PM
Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.
Bud Browne did not make Endless Summer! 08/03/2008 12:24 PM
Bud Browne did not make Endless Summer, Bruce Brown did. Don't confuse Bruce Brown with son Danna Brown or Grandson Wes Brown. Don Brown also made a couple of surf movies back in the day. Recently David Brown made a documentary surf movie about Woody Brown.
Kahuna 07/31/2008 06:46 AM
Bud Browne to me captured the essence of surfing with a panoramic flair that none have equaled. His narratives allowed us all to feel as if we were part of the film. Generations of individuals that have experienced the spiritual elements of the ocean have him to thank. God bless to the Browne family.
Eric Sanico 07/30/2008 03:32 PM
A man of all seasons and historic visionary. His surfing image of "Endless Summer" will forever be on my mind until I die. May his Spirit forever live in the Sea Of Joy in all of us.
Gill I. Kaufman 07/30/2008 09:23 AM
Good thoughts and action can never produce bad results, He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart will one day realize it. Dreams are the seedling of reality. Bud Browne helped foster the dream for countless others, he was the grandfather of surf films. My condolences go out to the Browne Family. Shaloha.(meaning= aloha & shalom
SLC KID 07/30/2008 09:19 AM
Bud, you inspired my love for the ocean life with your films and it saddens me to hear of you passing. May you be gliding through heaven's ocean waters with the other waterman that have passed. Aloha for now.
humble world surfer 07/30/2008 08:44 AM
Say Hi to Eddie and friends.... thanks Bud. May your new path be filled with perfect surf
Koep 07/29/2008 11:11 PM
What isn't kept historically, reminiscent on film, is captured in the heart. Surfing is soul, and Bud Browne’s work will remain the photographic soul of what we hold dear. Surfing is life. Share it because you love it.
jwwhitley 07/29/2008 10:42 PM
endless summer thanks for all the waves you gave us
Peter "LaHabz" Prietto 07/29/2008 10:03 PM
In the early 70's Warren Bolster did a photo essay called, "Shorebreak Jam". Bud saw the essay and shot some footage of the old Vic Crew.He put that sequence of skiming in "Going Surfing". The next spring he was kind enough to loan us a copy of the sequence to show the recreation department at the city of Laguna Beach. That helped us to convince the city to sponsor the first Victoria Skim Contest at Aliso. Bud was a talented film maker,a great waterman and a first rate gentleman.God Bless him.
Pete Wyndham 07/29/2008 09:58 PM
I literally just got done watching the Bucket List before I saw this posting on Surfline. We can find solace in knowing that Bud found tons of joy in his life and gave tons of joy to others.
Jim Dunfrund "Surfwave" KXLU-FM 07/29/2008 08:18 PM
It is an amazing miracle that technology caught up with Bud's free spirit and talent, allowing us to share in his amazing life and adventures. A life lived well, and I feel enriched to have seen Bud's movies. I later met Bud and was stoked to be able to assist him with surf music selections on a few of his initial video re-releases. Thank you for everything Bud! Can you imagine what a wild reunion his memorial cermony at Pipeline will be. I'll be there in spirit. Bless Ya Bud...
Bob Abooey 07/29/2008 07:17 PM
'Going Surfing', mid '70's, an absolute classic surf film and memorable time when surf flicks played in theaters. Mahalo Bud!
curtis Mastalka 07/29/2008 06:31 PM
Aloha Bud,
All surf filming has been built on your beginnings.
Mahalo
Lonnie Argabright (aka Murphy) 07/29/2008 06:18 PM
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When I was growing up his movies greatly influenced my surfing. I remember going to Pier ave. school and watching one of his movies, then the next morning try do emulate what the guys in the movie were doing.
Aloha Bud
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