1963: It was on this day that Beach Party, the first in a series we know call “the Beach Party films” opened in theaters. The movie gave brand new life to the career of two teen stars of the 1950’s – Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon, forever teaming them in our memories.
The movie features music written by a young Brian Wilson and also introduces us to that immortal screen character Eric von Zipper, played by Harvey Lembeck.
Twenty-four years later, to the day, Frankie and Annette are reunited in Back to the Beach, only this time they play the parents, not the teenagers.