ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- The Beach Boys, banned in Washington because Interior Secretary James Watt thought they attracted 'the wrong element,' entertained more than 200,000 people at a Fourth of July concert on a sun-drenched, Atlantic City beach.
Police officials said the crowd was remarkably well behaved. Two arrests were reported -- one man who tried to climb on stage and another for operating a boat while drunk.
The huge throng, one of the largest in the resort's history, roared with delight as the veteran California band bounced onto a 45-foot-long temporary stage erected on the beach outside Caesars Boardwalk Hotel-Casino.
'It's good to see that not everyone went to the Wayne Newton show,' quipped lead singer Mike Love, referring to Watt's decision to replace the six-man rock band with the Las Vegas singer and the U.S. Army Blues Band at the annual Independence Day celebration in the nation's capital.
Waving American flags and wielding suntan lotion and Frisbees, the crowd clapped and danced on the sand, set off firecrackers and sang along as the Beach Boys ran through their 22-year-old repertoire of songs about the joys of riding the surf in California.
Thousands of people in the back of the 7-block-long crowd watched the concert on a giant television screen and listened to the music on a live local radio broadcast.
A flotilla of more than 250 pleasure boats bobbed in the ocean about 40 yards off shore and dozens of spectators swam lazily in the water as the band played on.
And as the concert ended a spectacular fireworks display was set off.
'They're a great bunch,' said police Inspector Neil Kane. 'I've had more trouble with people on the beach on your average Wednesday.'
Three hundred people were treated at two medical trailers. Most were suffering from sunburn and minor cuts, but there was one near drowning, two drug overdoses, one cardiac arrest caused by drugs, and one miscarriage.
The huge crowd was predicted because of the national attention focused on the Beach Boys after criticism by Watt, who contended they attracted young people who drink and use drugs. The Interior secretary instead chose Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton and the Army Blues Band for the Washington show.
The Reagans, after hauling Watt on the carpet, also invited the California band to perform at the White House.
At a pre-concert news conference, the Beach Boys said the Watt controversy had been a major boost to their career.
'How good was it for us? Well, it stimulted business, yeah,' said Brian Wilson.
'I think he did us a great service,' added Mike Love, who noted, 'It's nice to see everybody didn't go to a Wayne Newton show.'
Many spectators said they disagreed with Watt's assessment of the Beach Boys' fans. 'Look around you,' said Susan Gerswich, 28, of Baltimore as she lolled in the sun. 'Does this look like 'the wrong element?' It's a whole lot of people having a good time.'
