eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

  • Bookmark and Share

Beach Party

    Beach Party Editor's Picks

    • Beach Party-Themed Decorations

      Whether you live in California, Florida or elsewhere, beach themes are popular for parties. A beach party, commonly called a luau, has beach-inspired party decorations that can be customized for an adult party or a kiddie event. It all starts with the invitation, so make sure the invites you send out reflect the theme. more »

    • How to Plan a Beach Party

      Make a party extra special by having it on the beach and work on your tan while working as host. Beach parties are fun and supply a good resource for activities--the sun and ocean. The kids can build sandcastles while the adults enjoy a warm breeze or sip a cool drink. more »

    • How to Create Your Own Sweet 16 Invitations

      Before little girls dream about their weddings, they plan their Sweet 16 parties. Planning begins with designing invitations that convey the party's theme and style. Using creative wording gives your Sweet 16 invitations a personal touch. Designing and making your own invitations takes time, but it saves money and is a great... more »

    • How to Have a Costume Contest

      This kind of contest works for any occasion where your guests arrive in costume. Feel free to change the rules to fit your peronal style. more »

    • Favor Bags Ideas

      Fun, creative favor bags make a thoughtful gift for holiday guests or party attendees. A few simple ideas create favor bags that recipients are eager to open and thrilled to take home. more »

    Beach Party Quick Guides

    • Plan a Party

      Do you love to attend parties but are never sure how to throw one? No need to be intimidated....

    • All About Parties

      The classic oldie goes, 'It's my party and I'll cry if I want to.' And if you never want it to...

    • Memorial Day: Honoring Those Lost

      More than just a day off, memorial day is a time to celebrate patriotism and remember those who...

    • Rest and Enjoy Labor Day

      Celebrate Labor Day your own way -- whether you choose to honor the working class or simply...

    Beach Party Articles

    Wikipedia

    Beach Party

    Beach Party (1963) was the first of seven beach party films from American International Pictures (AIP) aimed at a teen audience. It was directed by William Asher and written by Lou Rusoff. The main actors included Robert Cummings, Dorothy Malone, Frankie Avalon, and Annette Funicello. This film is often credited with creating the beach party film genre.

    One of the unique aspects of the AIP beach films is the absence of parents or any other authority figures. This gang of independent, fun-loving teenagers (portrayed by actors in their 20s) are free to do whatever they want and live on their own terms in summer houses along the beach. This first film includes a romantic sub-plot about two adult characters (Cummings and Malone) that was only repeated once in subsequent films, in 1964s Bikini Beach.

    Plot
    The movie starts off with an anthropologist, Professor Robert Orwell Sutwell (Robert Cummings) secretly studying the "wild mating habits" of Southern California teenagers that hang out at the beach and use strange surfing jargon. After he temporarily paralyzes Eric Von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck), the leader of the local outlaw motorcycle gang, who was making unwanted advances on Dolores (Annette Funicello), Dolores develops a crush on the Professor. Her surfing boyfriend Frankie (Frankie Avalon), the local Big Kahuna, becomes jealous and begins flirting with Ava, a foreign waitress. Meanwhile Marianne (Dorothy Malone) develops a crush on the Professor. Ava also develops a crush for Eric Von Zipper.

    Production notes
    Although a stunt surfer was used for long-shots, Robert Cummings was already a competent surfer himself by the time he starred in Beach Party as the ungainly Professor. Films of him surfing in Hawaii on the Ken Murrays Hollywood television show feature a muscular young Bob cruising along comfortably on an old style long board.

    Contrary to the popular opinion that Annette Funicello was not allowed to be seen in a bikini bath read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach+Party

    Related Ads

    Beach Party People & Community

    Connect with people who share your interest by joining one of our Groups:

    Topic Contributors
    Get Free Parties & Entertaining Newsletters

    Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

    Demand Media