The Smiley Smile Message Board

Wondering why Carl chose to appeal the court order for community service following his Conscientious Objector plea? Is there any detail on this? I thought a guy like Carl was down to earth enough to do at least a little bit? Missing a few dates of touring doesn't seem like a hugely valid excuse.... just curious not throwing out judgement  :smokin

As far as I know he never completed any service did he?

Reportedly, the 4/13/69 gig at the State Penitentiary, McAlester OK was one such show.

In the In Concert book, it mentions that there were a few undocumented prison concerts as part of a legal ruling. Is it known if these were solo shows, or shows done by The Beach Boys?

Just me guessing, probably the band.

I'm a Kiwi so I can't understand the US concept of why prisoners get free concerts from a premier band, it really confuses the hell outta me  :lol I understand the Cash shows but really they got to see Carl Wilson for free.....

The BBs also hosted voter registration signups at their concerts as part of Carl's alternative service, iirc.

Oh that's pretty good then, something productive at least

The show at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary included the entire band. There's lots of photos available to document that.  Can't say about the "undocumented" shows you alluded to, but I'd bet The Beach Boys were there.

I too was draft age in the 60s. Most guys just dreaded being drafted and being sent to Vietnam. Yes, there were exceptions, and I applaud threir commitment, but most of us guys were really worried about this. It's one of those things you would have had to live through to understand. Every night , on the news, scenes from the war. "Body counts "listed on the TV, like baseball scores. Of course, as we suspected, years later we learned that most of the numbers were fabricated. Almost everyone was scrambling to obtain a deferment. Those that weren't successful usually ended up seeing Southeast Asia, compliments of Uncle Sam.

I had assumed that the hospital and medical center shows (1969) were part of Carl's (and the band's) fulfillment of his public service commitments.

Yeah, and I forgot to mention The Beach Boys played – and interacted with patients/staff – at OU Medical Center in OKC following their appearance at the Oklahoma State Prison.