Dawn Patrol:

When Rick Chatillon viewed the vintage 16-millimeter motion picture film a customer had brought into his photo lab, he knew he was seeing something very special.

The film, shot circa 1961 near the Newport Beach pier, was classic surfing footage of David Nuuhiwa, Ilima Kalama, Ron Sizemore and other legends he had watched from the beach as a pre-teen beginner.

Rick was inspired to use the film to make a surfing movie about Newport Beach and approached Ralph Meyers, the film’s owner and photographer, about the idea.

Ralph was initially disinterested, but Rick persisted and some months later he was able to refine and explain his concept — a documentary about local surfers during the 1960s — not a commercial exploit, and Ralph was on board, supplying more of his vintage footage.

Now, five years later, Rick’s “labor of love” is nearing completion.

“22nd St — In The Day” is about a time before cell phones, personal computers and the internet; before surf leashes and wetsuits.

When a surfer had “his board, his bike, and the beach”. A time of Gargoyles and Nobles where social standing was measured in fire rings.

The film shot by Ralph and his friend Tom Jewell is the oldest known footage of surfing in Newport, and serves as the centerpiece for the documentary.

Interwoven with the surfing are recent interviews with many of the characters, famous and infamous, who made up the 60s Newport surf scene, supplemented with still shots and movie clips from other contributors including Greg McGillivray.

JOHN BURTON’S surf column appears Fridays.