Smile Session Photos

[Mooger Fooger]

A few years back there was a never-eventuated Smile portfolio by Brad Elliot which seemed to have morphed into a hot potatoe amongst hard core BB fans. The photos of Jasper Dailey were scheduled to appear in a nice bound folder. Did anything ever eventuate to resolve the situation, or did it just sort of peter off and become conveniently forgotten about? Does anyone recall the website of the "offer" for the portfolio?

In a slightly related query, is there are repository of sorts of the pictures, or are these the holy grail of BB collecting; whereby your ranking within the BB fandom world is determined by how many colour prints you own of the set, and where advancement to a new contact in this quest is only acquired via answers to complex riddles?
 

[harveyw]

I believe the URL was www.surfsupcollectibles.com (though Brad did host at least one other website). Not much there now, of course; certainly no mention of the Smile photo set. Or the First Wave CDs. Or the book detailing the complete recording history of the band, the title of which eludes me right now (in spite of forwarding an advance payment. What a mug.).

I'd also be interested to know if anyone received the Smile photos. I think this was the one project of Brad's closest to completion. Weren't there even images on the website of the finished product on the website? And why did this one grind to a halt?

[Andrew G. Doe]

I believe the URL was www.surfsupcollectibles.com (though Brad did host at least one other website). Not much there now, of course; certainly no mention of the Smile photo set. Or the First Wave CDs. Or the book detailing the complete recording history of the band, the title of which eludes me right now (in spite of forwarding an advance payment. What a mug.).

I'd also be interested to know if anyone received the Smile photos. I think this was the one project of Brad's closest to completion. Weren't there even images on the website of the finished product on the website? And why did this one grind to a halt?

No-one ever got any photos. Nor did they get any refunds, to my knowledge. I could theorise as to why nothing ever came to pass (there is NO SUCH WORD as 'eventuated' - it is a vile Australianism), but that would be skirting close to potential libel and defamation of character... or would if it wasn't entirely true.

As for his site -

http://www.surfsuprecords.com/

http://www.surfsupbooks.us/

http://www.surfsuponline.com/

[Andrew G. Doe]

In a slightly related query, is there are repository of sorts of the pictures, or are these the holy grail of BB collecting; whereby your ranking within the BB fandom world is determined by how many colour prints you own of the set, and where advancement to a new contact in this quest is only acquired via answers to complex riddles?
 

You forgot the secret handshake.

[Mooger Fooger]

The interent archive site the wayback machine certainly lists www.surfsupcollectibles.com, and you can see the numerous promised-but-rarely-delivered endeavours advertised in addition to a 10 year long "Currently, we are in the process of revamping our web site." message. However the portfolio site is not on there. There were photos on the website in full colour but with an annoying "SAMPLE" plastered across them. You'd think that those that forwarded big bucks over for this lame duck would have at least had a whopping great 640x480 pixel picture to lament over without big red writing over it. One of the bigger names associated with the project, who curiously never said a peep prior to the venture going sour, seemed quick to distance himself once the going got non-existant.

The last update to this was that the backing plate paper was water-damaged, and therefore was delayed, but due to a new supplier would begin shipping within a month. (Call me strange, but I didn't pay 100 bucks to look at the backing paper, and I honestly dont give a stuff if it had coffee stains on it). That was in 2003 or thereabouts.

[Mooger Fooger]

In a slightly related query, is there are repository of sorts of the pictures, or are these the holy grail of BB collecting; whereby your ranking within the BB fandom world is determined by how many colour prints you own of the set, and where advancement to a new contact in this quest is only acquired via answers to complex riddles?
 

You forgot the secret handshake.

I thought that it was done away with after it was deemed to be overly-eventuated.

[Andrew G. Doe]

One of the bigger names associated with the project, who curiously never said a peep prior to the venture going sour, seemed quick to distance himself once the going got non-existant.

That would be David Leaf - in fact, the small print was amended within days of the offer going on line, and he was never directly involved in the whole farrago. The rights to the Dailey Collection remained with Debbie Reum, and Brad had a sort of license via David to market them under those rights. As far as I'm aware, this license did not bestow the right to rip people off left , right & center.

[Mooger Fooger]

Ahh. That makes sense. That would be very embarrassing then for Mr Leaf, as it would appear he got roped into something without even realising he was invloved in it. Very uncool on surfsupcollectibles part. My apologies to a very innocent David Leaf. It goes to show, the whole manner in which this was dealt with, ie say nothing, provided ripe ground for allegations and speculation. I agree with AGD in that "rip off" is an appropriate description. Funny thing is I was looking at a photo I recall being part of the thing, and wondered what happened.

[XY]

However the portfolio site is not on there. There were photos on the website in full colour but with an annoying "SAMPLE" plastered across them.

This was www.smileproductions.com

http://web.archive.org/web/20021013165244/http://www.smileproductions.com/

[Andrew G. Doe]

"*The fine print: The copyrights and original negatives for these photographs were purchased from Jasper Dailey in 1979 by noted Beach Boys collector Peter Reum. Ownership and rights later were conveyed to Reum's ex-wife in a divorce settlement. She transferred the rights to writer/producer David Leaf in 1997 and, at the same time, received from him an exclusive license to reproduce and market the photographs in in a variety of formats, including limited-edition high quality prints. These portfolios are being produced pursuant to that license."

OK, I got it slightly ass-about-face, but the basic premise hold true.

[harveyw]

So has anyone heard from Brad lately? What reasons are he currently giving for his website's inactivity?

I must admit, I had quite a bit of business dealing with Brad back in the 90s and didn't have any problems at all with him back then. I'm inclined to think that -as his occasional posts on BB forums have stated- he may well have had a bad run of luck the past few years (and I'm one of the mugs who stumped up the $100 advance for the books!). On the other hand, if anyone has any concrete evidence of underhand shinanegans, I'd be only too pleased to hear it (off-board, if necessary...)

[warnakey]

I do know some people who have copies of all of these photos.