Page 35 - 4650 50th Anniversary Book Final

Ocean Drive Pavilion

Roberts Pavilion was destroyed
by Hurricane Hazel on October
15, 1954. Ocean Drive Pavilion
was built here 1955-1957 with
salvaged timbers and the same
foundation. This area is still
called Ocean Drive or “O.D.”
called Ocean Drive or “O.D.”
although it was consolidated
into North Myrtle Beach in
1968. O.D. is home to the
Fat Harold Shaggers’ Hall of Fame, and
the Pavilion hosts shag events
from April to November.
Harold M. Bessent
Harold joined Pappy and Buddy at The Spanish Galleon. Fat Harold was
co-owner of Harold's Across the Street with his new wife Ann Lewis Bessent
(now deceased), The Pad, Harold and Anne's Swinging 50's Lounge, The 19th
Hole, Harold's at Little River and more recently Fat Harold's Beach Club and
Harold's on the Ocean (HOTO's) where he became known as The King of
Shag. He always told everyone he had the best employees in the whole world.
F Fat Harold was instrumental in keeping The Shag alive by helping it to get rec- H. Lee
ognized as South Carolina's State Dance. He attended shag clubs and events Beach Music
near and far to promote the Shag and was one of the first to say "Bring it on" Club of the Year
when SOS was born. He had shag contests for the adults and with the sugges- Award
tion of friends was instrumental in the birth of The Junior Shaggers. With the
Shag being his first love besides his family he decided way back then that The May 13, 1948 - November 24, 2016
Shag would never die. He would see to that and that he did.
Harold was a good man and would give you the shirt off of his back. He was a
Shriner, a Mason, a member of many local clubs, a boat captain and loved his
family very much. Grief struck when his grandson Little David developed
Cancer. It was at this time that Harold became involved with Camp Kemo.
Harold Bessent has gotten many stars in his crown for his work with "His
Kids". He was on the board at The Palmetto Foundation and has been award-
ed The Order of the Palmetto, The Aflac Palmetto Foundation Award for his
g generosity for years of service and monetary donations to Camp Kemo. He re-
ceived the key to the City of NMB and June 13th has been proclaimed Fat
Harold Day by Mayor Marilyn Hatley of NMB. He was instrumental in start-
ing the first OD Shag Club which is the largest in the ACSC. He was on the
Hall of Fame Foundation Board, Owner of The Living Legends and DJ Hall of
Fame. He received the SOS "ICON" award several years ago. He was inducted
to The Shaggers Hall of Fame. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award
from the Carolina Beach Music Awards in November of 2014 and all of the
awards given in the future will be The Fat Harold Bessent Lifetime Achieve-
ment Award. He was awarded Best Beach Music Club for 13 years before he
graciously declined nominations. He also received numerous awards at
HOTO's for Best Show Club and Best Summer Concert Series for many years.
He has done so much and asked for so little for so long. His accomplishments
far beyond measure.
June 13, 1933 - May 22, 2015

“If you haven’t been to Fat Harold’s, you haven’t been to the beach” ... Fat Harold 35