Vintage image of German sunbathers.

A nude beach is a beach where users are legally at liberty to be nude. Sometimes the terms clothing-optional beach or free beach are used. Nude bathing is one of the most common forms of nudity in public. As beaches are usually on public lands, any member of the public is entitled to use the facilities without membership of any movement or subscription to any philosophy. The use of the beach facilities is normally anonymous. Unlike a naturist resort or facility, there is normally no membership or vetting requirement for the use of a nude beach. The use of nude beach facilities is usually casual, not requiring pre-booking. Nude beaches may be official (legally sanctioned), unofficial (tolerated by residents and law enforcement), or illegal. However, nude beaches are relatively few and some distance from cities, and access is at times more difficult than at a regular beach and the facilities at these beaches tend to be very basic.

A nude beach should not be confused with a topless beach (or top-free beach), where upper body clothing is not required for women or men, although a swimming costume covering the genital area is required for both men and women. Nude beaches first became popular in the 1950s along the French coast^[1] and have since spread around the world, though they are still few and far between. Some nude beaches are part of a larger nude area, such as the Cap d'Agde area. Most beaches in Denmark^[2] and some beaches in Norway^[3] are clothing-optional.

Nude beaches tend to be segregated or isolated physically from the non-nude areas. In other instances people maintain a comfortable space between beach users. Signage is often used to warn beach users about what to encounter and/or to segregate different areas on the beach. This accommodates people who are not comfortable with nudity (see gymnophobia). This also accommodates beach users who do not like to be watched too much, especially by clothed individuals (see voyeurism).

On an officially sanctioned nude beach beach goers of both sexes have an option to remove their clothing without fearing legal prosecution or official harassment.

Clothes free organizations and free beach associations, such as the Naturist Action Committee, lobby for the removal of laws which prohibit nude swimming and sunbathing.

Motivation[link]

People visit a nude beach for any of a number of reasons. These range from people who see no reason to wear clothing when taking part in water activities or sunning, or who enjoy being nude or partially nude (see naturism and nudism). Some people visit a nude beach because they enjoy looking at people who are nude, or because of curiosity. Some people sunbathe on a nude beach to get a more even suntan, and to eliminate tan lines. Some people sunbathe at a nude beach to get an all-over tan, but do not have access to a private place where they can sunbathe, such as a back yard not visible by neighbors.

Types of nude beaches[link]

Naturists on a nude beach

The beautiful secluded Whale Beach (Nevada), the nude beach of Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Family in Praia do Abricó, Brazil

Bilingual sign in Welsh and English at Morfa Dyffryn, an officially sanctioned nude beach in Wales

Most nude beaches had become accepted after many years of use as nude beaches. Many are "unmanaged" beach areas that have been adopted by the local users in an effort to maintain the beach's "quality". Others' right to existence has been recognized as such by the appropriate local authority, and are termed "official" (although not necessarily legitimate).

There are several categories of nude beaches:

• Beaches where nudity may be compulsory, subject to weather conditions. This is common in dedicated nudist resorts.
• Beaches where nudity is encouraged, but not mandatory. This is more common when the beach is part of a private resort or other private property. On such beaches, most people go nude, but not all.
• Clothing is optional (i.e., nudity is permitted but not required). Most beaches in Denmark and all in Norway are clothing-optional. The most popular U.S. clothing-optional beach may be Haulover Beach in Miami, Florida, which has a clothing-optional section officially designated by Miami-Dade County, with lifeguards and concessions. On such beaches, there may be a mixture of nude, clothed and everything in between. For some clothed people, the clothing-optional status only makes them less reluctant to expose themselves briefly when changing clothes.
• Unofficially sanctioned public nude beaches - places where nudity is tolerated by the "authorities", mostly by turning a blind eye, or not enforcing the local laws.
• Illegal nude beaches - Beaches where people may attempt to maintain a low profile which may result in requests to cover up, uncomfortable glares, a fine or arrest.
• Textile beaches - Beaches that are specifically not nude or clothing optional. The term is used to distinguish an area near a clothing optional beach.^[4]

Legal status[link]

Most beaches around the world, including nude beaches, are on public lands. That means that though private resorts and hotels that adjoin a beach may enclose their property behind fences with controlled access, most countries do not allow private ownership of the actual beach area. Thus, while a resort can control access and set clothing standards on its property, these standards would not necessarily apply to the beach itself, which remains subject to local laws or customs, and public access to the beach itself usually remains unrestricted. This applies, for example, to the islands in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Florida. On the Seven Mile Beach in Negril, Jamaica, for example, though the beach is lined with private resorts with fences down to the sand/waterline, the beach itself is open to the public. Though actual clothing standards vary from resort to resort, the beach area is officially designated as "topfree", and public access is unrestricted.

The International Naturist Federation has developed a code of conduct, or etiquette, for use by member organizations. The INF nude beach etiquette requires the avoidance of all forms of sexual harassment and sexual activity, such as masturbation or sexual intercourse. Predatory behavior is not permitted, nor is unauthorized photography.^[5] In general, the standards call for the respecting of the privacy of other visitors. Staring is frowned upon by rule and social pressure.^[6]

However, unlike nudist resorts and hotels, which can enforce standards of conduct on their properties promptly and effectively, most nude beaches are on public lands, making the enforcement of standards of nude beach etiquette a more personal matter, subject to the deterrence of local laws. The standards of conduct take different forms in different countries. Other than the fact that people using a nude beach expect to find naked people on the beach, most other local laws and customs continue to apply. One should note especially that nude beaches are usually family beaches with children being present.

Nude beaches around the world[link]

There are numerous nude beaches around the world, some of which are legally recognized as such and others which are unofficially tolerated. There are also numerous other venues, such as swimming pools, where nude bathing is accepted.

The first nude beach of the United States was established in San Gregorio in Northern California in 1967,^[7] as a private "free beach".^[8] The number of official nude beaches in the United States has recently increased because of the stewardship of national and local nudist organizations and the establishment of working relationships with—or lobbying of—local municipalities and law enforcement agencies. The tourist potential of clothing-free and topless events and facilities is increasingly being recognized.^[9]

See also[link]

• Clothing-optional bike ride
• Naturism
• Nude swimming
• List of social nudity places in North America

References[link]

Nudity portal

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Beach nudity

• Naturist camping guide - Naturist camping guide worldwide.
• VivreNu - French Naturism Portal.
• The Complete Guide To Nudism And Naturism (2006) ISBN 1-84685-258-7 ISBN 978-1846852589
• Nudist beaches in the Netherlands - Nudist beaches in the Netherlands with routes and photos.
• Black's Beach - Largest nude beach in United States.
• Iyns.org - The Israeli Young Nudists Society.
• Sydney Nudist Information - Nudist information for Australia.
• Nudist World Map - Nudist information and locations

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2010)

Wally George, born George Walter Pearch (December 4, 1931 – October 5, 2003), was an American conservative radio and television commentator. Calling himself the "Father of Combat TV" he gained national fame hosting the television talk show Hot Seat, which began in 1983 as a local show produced for KDOC, a UHF TV station in Anaheim, Orange County, California.^[1]

Early life[link]

Born George Walter Pearch in Oakland, California, his father Walter Pearch worked in the marine shipping industry. His mother Eugenia Clinchard had been a vaudeville performer and child movie actress in Essanay Studios westerns starring Broncho Billy Anderson. George grew up in San Mateo and was in high school when his parents divorced, after which his mother moved to the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles.

Career[link]

At age 14 George was a disk-jockey at AM radio station KIEV in Glendale, California, followed by work at other radio stations in the state. In 1965 he was credited with writing an episode of the long-running television series Bonanza.^[2] In 1969 he launched The Wally George Show on FM radio station KTYM in Inglewood, California. Three years later he became producer and co-host of The Sam Yorty Show on Los Angeles television station KCOP with his political mentor Sam Yorty, who had been mayor of Los Angeles. By 1979 George had his own talk show at KCOP. This show later moved to KDOC in Anaheim where he launched Hot Seat in 1983.^[3] At this time KDOC had been on the air for a year and one of its early investors was singer Pat Boone.

Wally George was famous for his combative, almost farcical interview style and shocking antics on Hot Seat. He played to an eager studio audience and often ejected guests from the set, using uniformed private security guards. Hanging behind him were pictures of John Wayne and the US space shuttle, both with strong links to Orange County, California where the episodes were taped. He staunchly supported then-US president Ronald Reagan on the show, which became a popular hit in Southern California and was mostly sponsored by many local Orange County businesses for whom George often made personal appearances. George's gray slacks, navy blue blazer, white dress shirt and US flag tie along with his straight platinum blond, ear-length, side-parted hair became a kind of trademark in the Los Angeles area.

A 1983 appearance by Blase Bonpane ended when Bonpane overturned the host's desk onto George and walked out of the studio. Clips of this were shown on national news broadcasts. When such incidents happened on later talk shows (as with those hosted by Geraldo Rivera and Jerry Springer) George called these "copycat combat". However there were many claims of staged stunts on Hot Seat and that some guests were actors hired to play controversial and disruptive roles. George released a four track 12" (30 cm) EP entitled Wal-ly! Wal-ly! (drawn from the rallying cry of his Hot Seat studio audience) on Rhino Records in 1984.

By 1993 George's health woes brought an end to the production of Hot Seat episodes. He carried on hosting rerun segments for another ten years, until June 2003.

Wally George appeared in five motion pictures, playing himself in Grunt! The Wrestling Movie (1985), A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989), Repossessed (1990) and Club Fed (1990). He played a Porsche salesman in the movie Squanderers (1996).

He gave halftime "studio analysis" and sometimes "endgame news" on the roller derby television program RollerGames which aired in the 1989-1990 season and later on the Nintendo Entertainment System game of the same name. George appeared on The People's Court program after being sued by an attorney who had been on Hot Seat. E! True Hollywood Story ran a feature on Wally George in 2000.

Personal life[link]

George was married at least six times. His first marriage was to Lillian Kamminga in 1954. They had a daughter and son, Debtralynne Salas and Walter George Pearch Jr. His 1959 marriage to Jane Eager brought forth their daughter Rebecca De Mornay who became an actress. In 1962 he married Mary Jo Teipl and they had a son, Kerry Walter George. He married Linda Yvonne Lowell in 1969 and they had a daughter, Kimberley Jennifer. In 1988 George married Janise Hedges and they had a daughter, Holly Janise George, his sixth child.

He was a longtime Garden Grove, California resident and was often seen about town running errands. In later life George lived in Sherman Oaks, California.

Death[link]

Following years of worsening health George died of pneumonia at Fountain Valley Hospital on October 5, 2003. His memorial service was held at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, given by evangelist Robert H. Schuller with over 100 mourners. He was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills, California.

References[link]

External links[link]

Biography portal

• Wally George at the Internet Movie Database
• Wally George at Find a Grave
• Official website