Documentary Chronicles the Rise and Fall of Pro Beach Volleyball
Coolfire Studios releases a film on the player-run Association of Volleyball Professionals, its financial structure, and its eventual inclusion in the 1996 Olympic Games.
By Layla Edwards ·
St. Louis production company Coolfire Studios released Kings of the Beach on November 3, making the documentary available for purchase or rental on major streaming platforms. The film examines the history of professional beach volleyball, a sport that gained massive popularity in the United States during the 1980s.
Director Johnson stated the goal was to make the history accessible to a wide audience by focusing on the business aspects of the sport. He said, “We could go and tell the entire history of beach volleyball, but I wanted to make it accessible to fans of the business of sport, greed, big egos, and personalities, because that’s what this story had.” Johnson added that this approach would allow the film to reach viewers beyond the specific fan base of the sport.
The narrative covers the period from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. It follows athletes such as Sinjin Smith, Randy Stoklos, Tim Hovland, and Mike Dodd. These players transitioned from a lifestyle sport where they played for beer and pride to a professional circuit where they earned hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. Johnson described the situation as a story of “the dog who caught the car,” noting that the athletes were suddenly paid to do what they previously enjoyed for free.
A central theme of the documentary is the financial management of the Association of Volleyball Professionals. Unlike many other professional sports leagues, this organization was operated by its players. Johnson believes this unique structure appeals to anyone interested in the commercial side of athletics. The film details how the players handled the organization's finances during its peak years.
The documentary also addresses the international expansion of the tour and the sport's addition to the Olympic Games in 1996. Johnson described the growth of the sport as organic and authentic, suggesting that the specific cultural conditions of that era may not be replicated. He said, “It grew in such an organic and authentic way that I don’t think it could ever happen again.”
Johnson credited the sport's success to its ability to package a specific California beach lifestyle into a desirable product for consumers. Kings of the Beach is currently available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango, Google Play, and YouTube Movies.
