Beach Movies—The 60s

Continuing my exploration of beach movies through the ages, we get to the 60s when the iconic Beach Party movies begin. The first was just called Beach Party, the next Bikini Beach, then there was Muscle Beach Party, Beach Blanket Bingo, and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini.

All these films starred Frankie Avalon, a teen heartthrob who had recorded hits like Venus, Earth Angel and Blue Moon. The female lead was Annette Funicello. Annette was famous—or slightly infamous—for her stint on the original Mickey Mouse Club produced by Walt Disney. She had a lovely voice and she… how was it said back then? She was an early developer. That’s right, she had breasts.

When she decided to do Beach Party she went to Walt Disney, who had produced not just the Mickey Mouse Club but another film Annette had been in, Babes in Toyland. Ever since Disney had discovered her at a ballet recital in Burbank, he had been something of a father-figure to her. She asked Disney if he approved of her going into this more adult-type role of a college girl who had a boyfriend. Disney just advised her to not wear a bikini. So through all the Beach Party movies, she was just about the only woman who always wore a tasteful one-piece.

Unlike Gidget which was about landing a boy, in the Beach Party the heroine already had a boyfriend.

All the Beach Party movies have the same plot—Annette tries to stop Frankie from looking at other girls who are often trying to seduce him and when she thinks he has succumbed to their charms, she dates other guys to make him jealous… but [spoiler alert] we know they’re made for each other and they come together in the end.

The entire movie takes place on the beach and is populated with extras who dance the latest dances and wear the latest swimwear. And that’s where my personal connection comes in.

I was at the movie theatre in Perry, Iowa—population about 6,000—it was one of the towns we lived in when I was growing up. Every Saturday I went to the movies, no matter what was playing. I’d save my babysitting money to be sure I had enough. One Saturday it was Beach Party. But we didn’t just see the film—one of the women in the film was THERE. IN PERSON.

I couldn't believe it. I couldn’t believe all the make-up she had on! It was like she was a piece of sculpture, her face was so heavy with it. She hadn’t even had a speaking part in the film, she was just one of the blondes in a bikini. But here she was, in Perry, Iowa, where I lived. She was on the screen — and then she was there in the flesh.

Why is this important? Because it was my first glimmer of understanding of the fact that movies aren’t just magic that special people get to be in and invent—that blonde, who didn’t seem very bright when she spoke, was up there on that screen. And though I certainly wasn’t thinking of writing at that young age, I think the seed was planted that a real person could somehow be in the movies.

We’ll hit another beach next week!

Copyright © Diane Lake

13Aug17

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