DogTown & Z-Boys 20 years Later on the Big Screen w/ Wentzle and Glen in Brooklyn

On Wendnesday the 3rd of November 2021 The Nitehawk Cinema in Prospect Park Brooklyn, NY will be screening the original DogTown and Z-Boys as well as GEF's new short film A Look Back: DogTown and Z-Boys. This is the only planned big screen showing of the new film in the U.S. after it's premiere in Paris last month, at the Paris Surf and Skateboard Film Fesitval. Come join us for a short Q&A with original Z-Boy Wentzle Ruml IV and Glen E. Friedman. They will also be signing copies of the recently re-published book "DogTown - The Legend of the Z-Boys"

A Look Back : DogTown and Z-Boys

This is the first film (albeit a short one) I have officially been the director on.

my short film "A Look Back: DogTown & Z-Boys" will be released next month!

A date has not been set yet, but it will be forthcoming. The in person premeire will be held at the opening of the Paris Surf and Skate Film Festival on September 23rd where I will attend. Here's the teaser:

Quarantine Q&A: Glen E. Friedman w/ Johnny Temple of Akashic Books

from Akashic Books Official: Photographer Glen E. Friedman talks to Johnny Temple about keeping his eyes fresh, and the new editions of his Fugazi and DogTown books.
Keep Your Eyes Open - The FUGAZI photographs of glen E. friedman
DOGTOWN - The Legend of the Z-Boys go here to pick up these titles - SIGNED or 25% off direct from Akashic

http://www.akashicbooks.com/author/glen-e-friedman/

The Tony Alva Story Years in the making, finally released!

Skateboarding can still be the best.

in case you missed this…

Beyond The Board the first doctoral study of SKATEBOARDING

You can download the actual study HERE

or watch this summary from this skate blogger:



Very cool stuff, particularly for those who don't already know, but for those that do, it's great to have this scientific study to share with those who don't.

Black History Month Skateboarding Lesson

Chuck Askerneese and Marty Grimes in this photograph i made circa 1976, riding the banked walls of the Kenter Canyon school yard is a great example of skateboardings early roots and it’s cross cultural experience on several levels. These guys were RADICAL and skated with a style unlike anyone else on the Westside of Los Angeles, obviously surf inspired like all skateboarding was back then, but there was something different... i am posting this in particular as we close out BLACK HISTORY MONTH, as you should all know African American Skaters since the 70s have always contributed to the progression of skateboarding, and Marty in a way that the original Zephyr team “Z-Boys” recognized the first time they saw him.

Marty and I both attended Paul Revere Junior High at the same time. The school still sits at the point where the boarders between Brentwood, Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades all meet. I lived nearby and Marty was bussed in from South Central Los Angeles. Paul Revere was without a doubt one of skateboarding cultures GROUND ZERO spots for moving the activity off the flat ground on to banked walls. Moving film exists of people riding the walls there from the 1960’s, and most of those hallowed, once again rough, walls call still be ridden to this day.

As a child of the 60s and 70s civil rights were something that i knew were extremely important, integration for the betterment of society now may seem obvious to most, but it wasn’t a given for many, and sadly in the current environment may still have its detractors. As a lovely holiday card read, that i got a few years ago from a friend in Pittsburgh, and still sits on my window sill, says in huge letters “All people are created equal” and then in small type below “EXCEPT those people that think people weren’t created equal, those people are assholes.” I love this card for calling people out. I believe this sentiment so much my whole life, and am stoked i was able to help Marty get the first “WHO’s HOT” profile, for a Black skater in the original SkateBoarder Magazine in 1977, Jay Adams mom actually wrote it! Some years later I made a photo of Chuck Treece at Tom Groholski's ramp in New Jersey, and pushed for it to be on the cover of THRASHER magazine, the 1st photo of a Black skater ever on the cover of a major skateboarding publication.

The rest is history and black skaters are now helping to write it more than ever!

This photo appears huge in the MY RULES book... #Film #SurfSkateStyle #Style #Embankment #Asphalt #SchoolYard #KenterCanyonSchool #WLA #DogTown #OG #BlackSkaters #OldSchool #innovator #ZBoy #Zephyr #ZFlex #BankSkating #SurfSkating #Skateboarding #AfricanamericanSkateboarders #Ride #Fun #speed #Culture

WALLY INOUYE - congratulations

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WALLY INOUYE - congratulations, long over due inductee. I first sow Wally skating barefoot at Kenter Canyon school yard banks, doing “Gorilla Grip” 180s on the banks, it was insane. Wally was on the cover of SkateBoarder magazine several times and some of the most iconic images ever in the pages created by Warren Bolster the grandfather of skateboarding photography. Wally, one of the all time stylish rippers... STOKED. #wally #skateboarding #skateboardinghalloffame #style #poolriding #inspiration #integrity #OG #HallofFamer #IPS #InouyesPoolService #skateparkMontebello #SkateBoarder

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Mar 28, 2019 at 7:24pm PDT

Skateboarding Hall of Fame 2019 Inductees Announced!

Kent Senatore on the Turning Point Ramp

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KENT SENATORE on the Turning Point ramp somewhere in Florida where it was first built. This plexiglass and steel capsule with one end missing, and a hydraulic lift on the open end made it so the round end of the capsule could be carved upside down. Kent ruled this thing with “The Jerr”... Pretty amazing then and now. This was in early 1979. Kent Senatore was one of the early radical skaters from the San Fernando Valley, along with Jerry “the Jerr” Valdez and David “La Machine” Ferry. Kent lives in Hawaii now, great skater, thoughtful smart dude. . . #skateboarding #Valley #ValSurf #TurningPointRamp #SkateboardMadness #1979 #SkateBoarderMagazine #Traknology #ArrowSkateboards #GullWingTrucks #UpsideDown #TurningPoint #Radical #Gnarly . . . This photograph first appeared in my book FUCK YOU HEROES and now also appears in the MY RULES book.

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Mar 6, 2019 at 9:01am PST

NEIL BLENDER circa 1982 at the original combi-Pool at the Pipeline Skatepark in Upland California is a prime example

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This photograph of NEIL BLENDER circa 1982 at the original combi-Pool at the Pipeline Skatepark in Upland California is a prime example of the beauty we can find in the architecture, athleticism and ART in skateboarding and its culture. The image appeared for the first time in my book THE IDEALIST “In My Eyes 25 Years” you can read in my previous seven posts to find out what this book is all about, or on line search the title of the book. . . The link in my bio will take you directly to amazon page where it’s on sale, although it may be temporarily out of stock, take advantage of the low sale price while you can, because more books are being shipped to them as we speak (or search and find it anywhere you can for as little as you can). . . Although there are several skateboarding images and PUNK and Hip Hop photos, this book is an ART book with a political bend as well, with several essays scattered throughout, as i tend to do, from Ian MacKaye to Ralph Nader. From Cornel West to Ian F. Svenonius. And more. . . . This is one of my all time favorites. For the real art and photography buffs out there. 👊🏽✌🏽✊🏽 #FILM #Inspiration #Integrity #35mm #ART #Photography #International #TheIdealist #PUNK #Landscapes #skateboarding #LoudFastRules #sadlands #upland #pipeline #combipool #Beauty #HipHop #Composition #character #book 1976 -2001

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Feb 22, 2019 at 7:48am PST

Baby Paul Cullen from THE IDEALIST

one option to get "the idealist" book is HERE.

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This classic photograph of “BABY PAUL” CULLEN appears only in my book THE IDEALIST “In My Eyes - 25 Years” you can read in my previous post what this book is all about or on line search the title of the book. The link in my bio will take you directly to amazon page where it’s still available (and with a discount as of this posting). this photo made in 1976 of Baby Paul is at Kenter Canyon Elementary school in the Brentwood section of West Los Angeles. One of the most fabled embanked schoolyard playgrounds where all the Original West Side skaters made the sport what it is today, from Danny Bearer in the 1960’s to the Zephyr Team in the 70’s. This was my local hang. I was 14 years old when i made this photo and a few others in the Idealist including from my very first roll of color slide film that my first published photo came from, of Jay Adams. And although there are several skateboarding images and PUNK and Hip Hop photos, this book is an ART book with a political bend as well, with several essays scattered throughout, as i tend to do, from Ian MacKaye to Ralph Nader. This is one of my all time favorites. For the real art and photography buffs out there. 👊🏽✌🏽✊🏽 #FILM #Inspiration #Integrity #35mm #ART #Photography #International #TheIdealist #PUNK #Landscapes #Skateboarding #BabyPaul #Zephyr #ZBoys #STYLE #Beauty #HipHop #Composition #character #book 1976 -2001

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Jan 29, 2019 at 5:53pm PST

My First Published Photograph from the fall of 1976 as it Appeared in SkateBoarder magazine

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JAY ADAMS ... My 1st published photo. Taken in the fall of 1976, at the Tear Drop, a tiny pool with almost no shallow end shaped like a tear drop... Up in Brentwood, not far from Kenter Canyon School ... i was 14 years old. Used by the BIBLE the original SKATEBOARDER Magazine for a full page subscription ad. Zoom in and look at the details of what was going on back then... i was beyond stoked, even though at the same time i was bummed they didn’t use the photo in its original full color, cropped it crazy and that’s not to mention he’s not pulling this off! But it was the first time someone was coming out of the pool like that, it inspired legions! I had so many better photographs in color and B&W, WTF? The ace editor and photo editor/chief photographer Warren Bolster knew better than I at the time that the attitude and style in this image was all he needed with that little bit of never before seen air. It was a big deal. And my photo credit blew me away... so began the journey... today i put on the finishing touches to the EXTENDED NEW EDITION of “DOGTOWN - The Legend of the Z-BOYS” lots of extra pages and a little bigger in size too, redesigned cover, and a bunch of re found dug up photos from the era never seen before... official release is July 2nd but Amazon is taking pre-orders now. Even if you have the original one, this has improved so much you’re gonna want it too. And if you never got the original edition you will be loving this book. . #Skateboarding #inspiration #jayAdams #zboys #zephyr #inspiration #integrity #DogTown #OG #original #WLA #1976 #gnarly #air #archetype @jboy #goodtimes #BiMonthly

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Jan 4, 2019 at 6:12pm PST

Rodney Mullen skating with Minor Threat from my IG

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RODNEY MULLEN freestyle perfectionist doing his thing as MINOR THREAT look on. Kenter Canyon School yard circa 1982. This photograph along with an incredible essay written by Rodney about this unique day in his life appear in the MY RULES book. A tour de force, the longest of 22 essays written by subjects in the massive 324 page art book. #integrity #inspiration #skateboarding #punk #photography #Kenter #knowYourRoots #BonesBrigade #MinorThreat @dischordrecords @rodneymullen

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Dec 28, 2018 at 7:52am PST

Black Flag era Henry Rollins Skating circa 1982 on my IG

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HENRY ROLLINS still in his first year as BLACK FLAG’s 4th lead vocalist taking a break from thier rigorous practicing schedule - harDCore S.O. A. transplant and still a skateboarder. I believe i got Henry hooked up with this free equipment from Powell Peralta and Independent (we even ended up making a few images that became an Indy ad in Thrasher on this same roll of film) remember folks H was a skater before he was a punk rocker (becuase when Henry became a skater there really wasn’t anything people called PUNK yet!), and once that’s in your veins that shit ain’t really ever coming out if you’re not a poseur. This is probably early 1982 or late ‘81 just down the block from the grungy SST office (one small room) where most of the band lived and worked. Henry is as real as they come. One can even make the argument that the term HARD CORE in PUNK has a LOT to do with this man. So here he is coming off a wall, and if you flip to the left he’s doing his take on a classic flat land curbed layback, and just for the hell of it i threw in the popular sticker of the day that the band would hand out during the time when ADAM AND THE ANTS were all the pop rage. I uncovered all these gems while out west for the holiday in my attic archive at my moms ...#PunkRock #BlackFlag #Skateboarding #integrity #inspiration #HaNK #HenryRollins #BonesBrigade #SeriousAsAHeartAttack #AWDFA #GIVINGZEROFUCKS #ArchiveDiscovery #Holiday so yeah, happy fucking holidays to you all and for you assholes who need it specific just to your belief merry fucking XMas.. dig this.

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Dec 25, 2018 at 1:45am PST

Chris Miller at the Original Combo-PoolUpland Pipeline Skatepark, Wall to Wall Killing!

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CHRIS MILLER at the original Combi-Pool at the Upland Pipeline Skatepark. This kid shredded back then with a smooth style like few of his contemporaries. And what a great guy. This wall to wall corner air was insane and i know still haunts many people who rode there. I saw Chris ride in the last few years and he STILL KILLS it into his 50’s and his kids are great skaters as well. This photograph appears in the MY RULES book on the same spread as the photograph that appeared on the cover of the first printing of my book FUCK YOU TOO. #skateboarding #style #inspiration #integrity #Upland #BadLands #PipelineSkatepark #G&S #film #kodachrome64 #therealdeal #blasting #frontsideair

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Dec 13, 2018 at 2:42pm PST

1977 Slalom in the streets with the infamous B.P. and 60's Skate Legend Tommy Ryan

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BOBBY PIERCY and TOMMY RYAN (Hall of fame inductee 2018) Slalom racing in the streets of Point Loma (San Diego) California circa 1977... PURE 70’s Skateboarding... this was a legitimate form of the day and virtually unheard of now. Tony Alva, Stacy Peralta, Torger Johnson, Jay Adams, Steve Olson, even myself on the first skate team i was ever asked to join. We all rode slalom and DOWNHILL. Because at the time , that was all that was universal and could be rode anywhere in the world equally. Almost nowhere had the banked schoolyards of WEST LOS ANGELES, and very few places on the planet had the perfectly transitioned kidney shaped pools of California, there were a few, but they were rare, even then!!! So this was the main way people competed when they wanted to be competitive. Freestyle honestly took a back seat to slalom back then. Barrel jumping was even considered! Imagine growing up in this era and watching the activity so fundamentally change. If you did not live it, you are not capable. It’s kind of like if you’re under 40, you have no idea in the world what the world was like before Punk Rock or Hip Hop. Imagine being around when these cultures were just being invented or brought slightly of of the neighborhoods where they were created for outsiders to see... YOU CAN’T! And i ain’t mad at you for that, I’m just sayin’ some of us elders have seen some shit! And those before us as well. You don’t need to respect your roots, but if you don’t want to be an ignorant fool you should at least know about them.... ✌🏽👊🏽 . . #SkateBoarding #Inspiration #Integrity #PunkRock #Slalom #Racing #OG #OldSchool #BobbyPiercy #BP #TommyRyan #speed #NeedForSpeed @SkateboardingHallofFame #pointLoma #TurnerSummerSki #LoganEarthSki #kryptonics #GullWingTrucks #LighteningBolt #Bahne #TrackerTrucks #SkateBoarderMagazine

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Dec 3, 2018 at 6:24pm PST

Stacy Peralta talks frankly about Tony Alva on his instagram

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Tony Alva circa 1978. Tony is one of the few individuals whose skating talent literally took my breath away. On numerous occasions I saw him do things that stopped my heart dead. He was stunning and spellbinding to watch. He skated with a form of aggression that was backed by pure emotion and furious desire and that was coupled with a physical style that was magnificent in its perfection of the human form. — And yet for so much of the time we spent together I hated Tony. I hated him for his arrogance and his ego and his need to be the center of attention at all times. But I probably hated him most for making me a better skater. He made me better. He made all of us better. He was so deadly serious about what skateboarding meant to him, that if you weren’t living up to how he saw it, then he was going to make you pay by humiliating you with his talent. I saw this happen time and again. — Over the years I’ve come to appreciate Tony for the person he is now and the person he was then. He was chosen to play a very large role in skateboarding and it was a role destined for him. No one else could have done it. His abrasive and intense personality was as important as his skating talent because the young sport needed a compelling rebel figure like Tony to help define it. More than anyone from our generation, Tony had the innate ability to set on fire the hearts and minds of skaters the world over and he did it through his living example. He was the ideal skateboarder in its purest form. And more than anything, and this is where my appreciation reaches its highest level; Tony was able to recognize, develop, contain and focus the extraordinarily powerful gift that was given to him at such a young age. Responsibility comes with gifts; the first is to figure out how to develop that powerful and precious gift, the next is how to share it with the world. Tony did just that, he infused the gift he was given with love and fury and he shared it with all of us, and I believe we are all better for it.

A post shared by Stacy Peralta (@peraltastacy) on Nov 28, 2018 at 2:22pm PST

Incredible JAY SMITH carve 1979 from my IG

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JAY SMITH at Marina Del Rey skatepark circa 1979, backside two wheel carve... A rubber man with style for miles, slickest laybacks in the business (which you can see several times in the MY RULES book). All around crazy motherfucker and good guy. #Val #layback #skateboarding #gnarly #JaySmith #originalBonesBrigade #powellperalta #JaySmithModel #beforepunk #previouslyUnpublished #Radness

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Feb 7, 2016 at 12:55pm PST