Original 1978 Big Wednesday Bear Surfboards Poster

This original Big Wednesday Bear Surfboards poster celebrates one of surfing’s most legendary Hollywood moments. Directed by surfer-filmmaker John Milius (Apocalypse Now, Red Dawn), Big Wednesday captured the spirit of Malibu surf culture in the 1960s and ’70s with both Hollywood actors and real surf legends sharing the screen. The Bear Surfboards logo—created for the film as a homage to California’s golden surf era—has since become a timeless emblem of surf history.

A must-have for surf collectors, film buffs, and California dreamers alike, this poster embodies the crosscurrent of cinema, surf, and style that defined an era.

Specifications
Era: 1978 (film release)
Subject: Big Wednesday / Bear Surfboards logo
Medium: Printed poster
Condition: Vintage (please review photos for details)

Big Wednesday was a cultural touchstone. Starring William Katt, Gary Busey, and Jan-Michael Vincent, the film also featured cameos by icons like Gerry Lopez, Billy Hamilton, Peter Townend, and Ian Cairns. Shapers including Mike Perry, Lance Carson, Tom Parrish, and Terry Martin handcrafted the boards used on set, ensuring authenticity both in and out of the water.

The Bear Surfboards logo itself is steeped in meaning: the California flag’s bear at its center, a design nod to Hap Jacobs’ classic logo, and a veiled tribute to shaper Dale Velzy—all woven together into a symbol that still resonates today.