Below is the list of tables from the database along with their columns and datatype. Need to generate an accurate SQL query for the question.
Only use the columns present in the respective table. Only use the columns which are required to generate the SQL query. Only use table joins if required and not otherwise.

### Tables ###
TABLE: CREATE TABLE table_name_45 (surface VARCHAR, date VARCHAR, opponent_in_the_final VARCHAR)

### Question ###
What is Surface, when Date is less than 1979, and when Opponent in the Final is "Bill Scanlon"?

### Accurate SQL ###

SELECT surface FROM table_name_45 WHERE date < 1979 AND opponent_in_the_final = "bill scanlon"