Aug. 7, 1963 - Opening today is “Beach Party,” an American International Pictures (AIP) production aimed at a teen audience. The film stars Robert Cummings, Dorothy Malone, Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Morey Amsterdam, and Harvey Lembeck. Miss Funicello performs three songs in the film, one with Mr. Avalon. AIP tried to get Fabian to play opposite Miss Funicello, but he was under contract to 20th Century-Fox, so Mr. Avalon was cast instead. Mr. Avalon made the science-fiction film “Panic in Year Zero” for AIP last year. The story of “Beach Party” deals with a bearded anthropologist who studies the habits of swinging American teens while they enjoy the summer surfing, loving, and partying at the beach. The film was short over three weeks starting in March of this year. Locations included Newport, Balboa, Laguna, and Malibu Beach.
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