The Way Back: Mid-80s Memories from the Beach to the Boathouse

Hey there, I am Bart Folta from Virginia Beach.

I hung out with the punks, skaters, and surfers in VB. I spent a lot of time at the Oceanfront in the '80s (high school and college). My circle consisted of kids from all different schools; if you hung out behind the Sand Castle hotel on 15th or The Sundial on 17th I met you at least once.

I loved the DIY era in VB, backyard shows with Hoit, Death Row, Legion of Doom. Hanging at Paul's Ramp off Potters Road was always a special time. I remember a band playing in the flats of the ramp one night, skaters dropping in behind them, a bonfire raging and all those big doberman dogs they bred trolling the chain link fence. It was PUNK! We would sneak out to Norfolk for shows too. King's Head but mostly the Corner, then the Boathouse. I left VB in 1984. Well, I went away to Radford University right after high school and was asked to leave there after a year and a half. In 1986 I was back in Virginia Beach, then moved to Norfolk and ODU 1988-1991.

The pictures from 1986 sat undeveloped for 30 years, I finally had them developed in 2017! Spring and Summer of '86 we hung out at Cafe Loco on 17th St. Fall and Winter of '86/'87 we had the house on 24th St. and hung out at Chicho's and TCC's. We would go give plasma in Norfolk near the bus station twice a week for money, then go to dollar drink nights. I've been back in VB ever since I graduated ODU. I live near the Oceanfront with my family now, working real estate and I work for the school system as well. Hope you enjoy the photos! Cheers!

Note: click the thumbnails and the little white dot at the bottom of the photos to view larger photos and full captions.

Graduation night 1984, seeing Locals Only at a party in Bay Colony. Pic by Danna Cullen

1984 right before I left for Radford University.

Above: Skating 1/2 pipe off Ewell Road in Bayside area 1984. One shot is me, another was this radical guy Troy, and I think the other was Bobby Maxwell.