Connie Francis still gets a kick out of recalling the chaos that unfolded in Florida when Where the Boys Are, one of the first beach party movies, hit theaters in 1960. "Fort Lauderdale wasn’t ready for what happened," Connie, now 80, exclusively shares with Closer Weekly. "Seventy-five thousand teenagers descended on the town, pitching tents and sleeping on the beach. It was utter madness." She laughs as she adds, "They had to call in the National Guard, the Coast Guard, and the Florida Highway Patrol to restore order. Some locals were so mad, they wanted to either honor me or run me out of town!"
Surf's Up: A Cultural Phenomenon
The wave of beach party films that swept across the nation during the '60s left an indelible mark on youth culture. These movies were more than just entertainment; they were a form of escapism for teenagers eager to escape the monotony of daily life. Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies author Tom Lisanti tells Closer how it all began with a real-life girl named Kathy Kohner, affectionately known as Gidget. She traded food with Malibu teens to learn how to surf, and her dad's novel about her adventures was adapted into a hit 1959 movie starring Sandra Dee. Later, Sally Field took over the role in a TV series. "This was the public's first real exposure to surfing," Tom explains, "and they loved it. It was fresh, exciting, and completely different from anything they'd seen before."
The 1960 spring break comedy Where the Boys Are kept the momentum going. "My dad thought it was a terrible movie and didn’t want me to be a part of it," Connie confides to Closer. "But I did it to prove him wrong." Interestingly, the film’s impact extended beyond the box office. Her co-star Dolores Hart eventually left Hollywood to become a nun, adding a curious footnote to the film's legacy.
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The Golden Age of Beach Movies
By 1963, the beach movie genre had truly taken off. American International Pictures decided to revive the '50s juvenile delinquent films, but with a twist. William Asher, a frequent director on I Love Lucy and a huge fan of beaches, suggested combining beach settings with musical numbers and cameos from Old Hollywood stars. The result? Hits like Beach Party, Muscle Beach Party, Bikini Beach, Beach Blanket Bingo, and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini. "These films weren’t just about surfing or partying," William once said. "They were about capturing the spirit of youth."
Behind the Scenes: The Real-Life Drama
The stars of these films often became as famous as the movies themselves. Teen idols Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, who had dated in real life, were the perfect pairing. "Annette would laugh so hard during scenes that we had to cut and start over," Frankie, now 78, recalls. "I guess I just had that effect on her." Interestingly, Annette covered her belly button in the first film out of respect for her boss, Walt Disney, as she revealed in a 1994 memoir.
Meanwhile, practical challenges arose. Actress Bobbie Shaw Chance tells Closer that they filmed in full-body makeup during winter to avoid sunburns. And while Annette avoided wearing a bikini due to her pregnancy at the time, male actors like Aron Kincaid were often required to shave their chests to comply with the era's body standards.
Love, Laughter, and Legacy
Romance blossomed on set, though it was often more innocent than the tabloids suggested. Donna Loren, who appeared in several beach party films, remembers catching Annette and her soon-to-be husband Jack Gilardi trying to steal some quiet moments together. "It was sweet," Donna says. As for Connie, she dismisses rumors of a romance with George Hamilton from Where the Boys Are, saying, "I barely saw him outside of filming!"
The real partying, it seems, was left to the seasoned veterans brought in for comic relief. "Don Rickles and the other comedians would gather in their own little club," Donna recalls. "You didn’t want to cross them—they were a force to be reckoned with!" Despite the behind-the-scenes antics, the charm of these films lay in their ability to transport audiences to a world of carefree fun. "When people left the theaters," Connie says, "they felt upbeat and happy. That's what made these films classics."
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