In The Pipeline:

If I could have visited any place in Huntington Beach, it would have been the Golden Bear. Mention the legendary music venue to many locals and you’ll hear loving tales of late nights and unforgettable music.

Many of you know the basics: The Golden Bear opened at 306 Pacific Coast Hwy. as a restaurant in the 1920s. By the early 1960s, it morphed into a music club that saw the likes of the Byrds, the Doors, Janis Joplin and many others. Everyone misses the Bear, but the spirit of the club will be reignited Sept. 25 and 26 in a series of tribute shows at the Waterfront Beach Resort. The Golden Bear floor plan will be recreated to its exact specs, special memorabilia will be on display, and of course, the music, brought to life by legends who played the club, will be center stage.

One of the people who spearheaded the event is John Erskine, a land use attorney and former councilman. What inspired his brainchild?

“Music has always been a big part of my life,” John told me, “and several of us who have been active in the city have been talking off and on for years about bringing back the Golden Bear or a club like it to the downtown. We haven’t pulled that off, but it occurred to me that as part of this year’s Centennial celebration, we could at least bring back, for a couple of nights, some of the great musicians that played the Bear in the ’60s and ’70s and are still touring.”

I asked John what his favorite acts at the Bear were.

“Probably the Paul Butterfield Blues Band [a short time after their performance at Woodstock], although the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Steve Martin [doing very funny and off-the-wall comedy and banjo] were equally good. I also saw Canned Heat, Spirit, BB King, James Cotton Blues Band, Big Brother and the Holding Co., Honk and a few other groups at the Bear in the late ’60s and ’70s.”

As far as what John has helped line up for this reunion extravaganza: “Great performances by some of the biggest names in American music from the ’60s, ’70s and through today — Ray Manzarek of the Doors; Chris Hillman of the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers, and with Herb Pedersen, the Desert Rose Band; the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band; David Lindley, Jackson Browne’s longtime guitarist; and Orange County’s own Honk (former house band at the Bear). We’ll also have the original sign that hung out in front of the club, original bricks, posters, autographed photos and recreated interior decor with food and adult beverages that — along with the music — will take attendees back to an evening at the original Golden Bear.”

Well-known music writer Jim Washburn — who, among other things, was the Orange County Register’s pop music critic from 1983-88, wrote for The Los Angeles Times from about 1988 to 1995 and was the founding executive editor and music editor of the OC Weekly — is also involved in coordinating the reunion.

“I first went to the Bear when I was 15 in 1970, I think, to see the band Spirit, and I fell in love with the place. I saw scores of shows there, first as just a fan, and then as a music critic from 1983 on. I helped crew for a couple of bands there — Dick Dale, James Harman — but never played the club myself. Most of the acts I saw there I saw at other venues as well, but the Bear always seemed to bring out the best in them. When the club was being shut down, I covered that in the Register and tried making the case of what a unique and important cultural institution it was, as if that makes a difference with the powers that be.”

As far as the club’s place in Orange County music history, Washburn added, “The Bear pretty much stands alone in its place in county music history. There are some very fondly remembered clubs, like the folk-music-based Paradox, or Anaheim’s Harmony Park where lots of country bands and early rockers played, but none with the long-running impact of the Bear. There was also Linda’s Doll Hut in Anaheim. While far smaller and more limited in its bookings than the Bear, Linda’s crammed years of good music into the place, and it was a nurturing ground for folks like the Offspring. The closest thing was probably the short-lived Safari Sam’s, which was a couple of blocks from the Bear, and which the city shut down the same year the Bear closed.”

And Washburn has heard from some of the artists themselves about the upcoming shows.

“A Hilton ballroom is a far cry from the funky bricks of the Bear, but I’ve since talked with several of the performers and they’re genuinely jazzed about the shows,” he said. “For most artists with thousands of gigs under their belts, no matter what the occasion, a gig is just another gig. It’s surprising and moving how much affection and respect they still hold for the Bear. I think that’s going to translate into some pretty magical performances.”

I interviewed Chris Hillman recently about the Golden Bear, and I have plans to speak to a few of the other artists for next week’s column (where the Hillman conversation will appear). In the meantime, seats are booking fast, so visit goldenbearreunion.com for details on how to purchase tickets, or call (714) 960-7904. Personally, I can’t wait for these shows. Hope to see you there.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 14 books, including the new “Huntington Beach Then & Now.” You can write him at [email protected] .