Lecture at the Lighthouse: THE LEGACY OF TOM BLAKE: Surfer, Inventor, Photographer

 

Lecture at the Lighthouse: THE LEGACY OF TOM BLAKE: Surfer, Inventor, Photographer

Wednesday, March 11th – 7:00-8:30 pm

North Point Lighthouse Museum – 2650 N Wahl Ave – Milwaukee  northpointlighthouse.org 414-332-6754

Sponsored by Landmark Credit Union

SURF’S UP AT THE NORTH POINT LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM!

About the Lecture THE LEGACY OF TOM BLAKE: Surfer, Inventor, Photographer

Thomas Edward “Tom” Blake 1902-1994 was an American athlete, inventor, and writer, widely considered to be one of the most influential surfers in history, and a key figure in transforming surfing from a regional Hawaiian specialty to a nationally popular sport. He’s considered the founder of California surf culture.  Tom Blake was born in Milwaukee in 1902 but raised on the shores of Lake Superior in and around Ashland, Wisconsin.  In his late teens and early 20’s, Blake left Wisconsin, traveling to California and eventually Hawaii, where he initiated revolutions in surfboard design, lifeguard protocol, and a surf-centric lifestyle.  Blake went on to become a leading figure in the international surfing world. He invented water safety equipment and photography equipment for underwater pictures, and, his personal style defined what we still admire as the “surfer type”.  Blake is Wisconsin’s original surfer and “Chairman of the Board.”

About the Lecturers – Eric Gietzen & Eric Berg

Eric Gietzen is the English Department Chair at Shorewood High School, where he has been teaching English since 1992.  Eric’s awards include the University of Wisconsin Jarvis E. Bush Award for Excellence in Teaching Writing, Milwaukee Riverkeeper’s Outdoor Educator and Stewardship Award, and The Shorewood SEED Foundation’s Award for Excellence in Collaborative Teaching.  Eric is an avid traveler, reader, and outdoor enthusiast.  In 2017 Eric founded Coastline Services, LLC with the sole purpose of bringing lifeguards and lifeguard services back to Atwater Beach, where he spent most of his summers as a boy.  His work has been published in The Surfer’s Journal, Trail Runner Magazine, and The Inertia.

Eric Berg is a fifth generation Wisconsin resident. He is passionate about the State and its history. Eric’s interest in surfing and water sports began in his youth, when his father forced him to join the swim team. He is the founder of Remember Tom Blake, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness of Tom Blake, which collects donations to fund a memorial marker for the legendary surfer.

About the 2020 Lectures at the Lighthouse Series sponsored by Landmark Credit Union

The Lectures at the Lighthouse series runs from January through November and features prominent historians, authors and scholars who discuss various topics and fascinating stories related to Milwaukee and Great Lakes maritime history. Lectures are open to the public and held at the lighthouse museum located at 2650 N. Wahl Avenue in Milwaukee’s historic Lake Park. General admission is $10; admission for seniors and students with ID is $5 and North Point Lighthouse members are free. There is no pre-registration for lectures.