Surf Museum celebration

Institution marks its 20th birthday with the premiere of ukulele documentary, ‘The Jumping Flea.’The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum is preparing to celebrate two decades of service with the premiere screening of “The Jumping Flea,” a documentary about the ukulele directed by Paul Kraus.

Kraus said he is thrilled to be included in the celebration and hopes to reconnect with old friends from his days in Huntington Beach in the late 1960s.

Museum founder Natalie Kotsch expects a strong turnout, with visitors from as far away as Hawaii and a local crop of ukulele players who will perform before the screening.

“I had no idea the ukulele had such a following,” Kotsch said.

Hawaiians gave the ukulele the name jumping flea after being introduced to the fast-strumming instrument by the Portuguese.

Kraus’s film looks at the four-stringed, guitar-like instrument from a historical perspective that spans decades and cultures.

“I had a lot fun discovering things when I made this,” said Kraus, who earned his reputation as a filmmaker with the 2003 release of “The Shapemakers,” which also will be shown at the event.

According to Kraus, the ukulele reached the height of its popularity in the 1920s and had a brief upsurge in the 1950s that was squashed by rock ‘n’ roll.

“The surf culture has really kept it alive,” said Krause, who hopes to see a revival of ukulele music.

While considered obscure by many, the ukulele has found fans in celebrities such as Les Paul, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Eddie Vedder.

The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum will also be honoring two decades of past directors, board members and volunteers.

“When it first started, people laughed and said it wouldn’t last,” said Kotsch.

“Some people have their black-tie event. This will be our Hawaiian-shirt-and-pants night,” Krause said.

The showing will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Mann’s Pierside Pavilion 6 Theater, 300 Pacific Coast Highway, directly across from the Huntington Beach Pier.

Tickets are $20 in advance at the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, 411 Olive Ave., or $25 at the door the night of the reception and premier.

Also Saturday, a poster and DVD signing with the director is scheduled at 4 p.m., followed by hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine from 6 to 7 p.m. and a question and answer session with the director at 7:15 p.m. A showing of “The Shapemakers” -- Kraus’ documentary about surfboard shapers featuring personal interviews with renowned shapers in California, Hawaii and Australia -- begins at 9 p.m., after “The Jumping Flea” screening.