The 29 Jun 1962 DV announced the scheduled start of principal photography in Sep 1962. According to the 7 Sep 1962 DV, the film was the first of three to star actor-singer Frankie Avalon under his contract with American International Pictures (AIP). He appeared earlier that year in the AIP production, Panic in Year Zero! (1962, see entry). More than seven months later, the 26 Apr 1963 LAT reported that singer-actress Annette Funicello was joining the cast, on loan from the Walt Disney Company. The 15 Apr 1963 LAT noted that lead actor and licensed pilot Bob Cummings would fly his own airplane on camera. A news item in the 5 Mar 1963 DV included singer Patti Page among the cast, but she did not appear in the completed film.
       Principal photography began 25 Apr 1963 in Malibu, CA, as noted that day in DV. Interior scenes were to be shot at Republic Studios in Studio City, CA. The 5 Sep 1963 LAT included CA beaches Newport, Laguna, and Balboa among the locations. Beach Party was reportedly the first comedy produced by AIP, known primarily for horror and science fiction films. On 29 May 1963, DV stated that a sequel was being planned for Funicello and Avalon.
       The 1 Jul 1963 DV announced that AIP was gathering statistics from state chapters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “to determine the best American city for teenagers.” The winning city would be declared “Teentown U.S.A.” and host the Aug 1963 premiere, to be attended by cast members Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, Bob Cummings, Dorothy Malone, Harvey Lembeck, Morey Amsterdam, Jody McCrea, John Ashley, Eva Six, and Dick Dale. That same issue also featured an obituary for writer-producer Lou Rusoff, who died of cancer two days earlier. Although Rusoff was given sole credit for the screenplay, author Mark McGee stated in his 1996 book, Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures, that the final script, loosely based on Rusoff’s original story, was written by director William Asher and associate producer Robert Dillon. At the request of AIP executive Samuel Z. Arkoff, Asher and Dillon relinquished writing credit in deference to the terminally ill Rusoff. According to Dillon’s daughter, Alexandra Dillon, her mother suggested naming Harvey Lembeck’s character “Eric Von Zipper.”
       On 12 Jul 1963, LAT announced that AIP extended Avalon’s contract to four years, offered Funicello a seven-year contract, and guaranteed two pictures each to Lembeck and Ashley. Three days later, the 15 Jul 1963 DV noted that the film would open at 500 theaters across the U.S. Reviews were tepid, although the 26 Sep 1963 NYT complimented Funicello and Avalon on their “modest acting ability.” A news item in the 19 Jul 1963 DV revealed that AIP allocated $500,000 for radio and television advertising, the largest promotional budget in the company’s history. According to the 12 Aug 1963 DV, seven publicists were assigned to the project. Radio personality Ken Niles provided voice-over for broadcast advertising, as stated in the 30 Aug 1963 DV.
       Beach Party opened 11 Sep 1963 in Los Angeles, CA. The 13 Sep 1963 DV declared opening day receipts of $48,226 a new record for AIP, and the 17 Sep 1963 DV reported earnings of $292,800 from thirty locations during the first week. As noted in the 4 Sep 1963 DV, the film, along with other recent AIP releases, earned company executives James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff the Allied States Association “Producers of the Year” award, to be presented the following month in New York City.
       Beach Party was followed by several sequels, including Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965, see entries), all featuring Avalon, Funicello, McCrea, Ashley, and Lembeck.
The 29 Jun 1962 DV announced the scheduled start of principal photography in Sep 1962. According to the 7 Sep 1962 DV, the film was the first of three to star actor-singer Frankie Avalon under his contract with American International Pictures (AIP). He appeared earlier that year in the AIP production, Panic in Year Zero! (1962, see entry). More than seven months later, the 26 Apr 1963 LAT reported that singer-actress Annette Funicello was joining the cast, on loan from the Walt Disney Company. The 15 Apr 1963 LAT noted that lead actor and licensed pilot Bob Cummings would fly his own airplane on camera. A news item in the 5 Mar 1963 DV included singer Patti Page among the cast, but she did not appear in the completed film.
       Principal photography began 25 Apr 1963 in Malibu, CA, as noted that day in DV. Interior scenes were to be shot at Republic Studios in Studio City, CA. The 5 Sep 1963 LAT included CA beaches Newport, Laguna, and Balboa among the locations. Beach Party was reportedly the first comedy produced by AIP, known primarily for horror and science fiction films. On 29 May 1963, DV stated that a sequel was being planned for Funicello and Avalon.
       The 1 Jul 1963 DV announced that AIP was gathering statistics from state chapters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “to determine the best American city for teenagers.” The winning city would be declared “Teentown U.S.A.” and host the Aug 1963 premiere, to be attended by cast members Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, Bob Cummings, Dorothy Malone, Harvey Lembeck, Morey Amsterdam, Jody McCrea, John Ashley, Eva Six, and Dick Dale. That same issue also featured an obituary for writer-producer Lou Rusoff, who died of cancer two days earlier. Although Rusoff was given sole credit for the screenplay, author Mark McGee stated in his 1996 book, Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures, that the final script, loosely based on Rusoff’s original story, was written by director William Asher and associate producer Robert Dillon. At the request of AIP executive Samuel Z. Arkoff, Asher and Dillon relinquished writing credit in deference to the terminally ill Rusoff. According to Dillon’s daughter, Alexandra Dillon, her mother suggested naming Harvey Lembeck’s character “Eric Von Zipper.”
       On 12 Jul 1963, LAT announced that AIP extended Avalon’s contract to four years, offered Funicello a seven-year contract, and guaranteed two pictures each to Lembeck and Ashley. Three days later, the 15 Jul 1963 DV noted that the film would open at 500 theaters across the U.S. Reviews were tepid, although the 26 Sep 1963 NYT complimented Funicello and Avalon on their “modest acting ability.” A news item in the 19 Jul 1963 DV revealed that AIP allocated $500,000 for radio and television advertising, the largest promotional budget in the company’s history. According to the 12 Aug 1963 DV, seven publicists were assigned to the project. Radio personality Ken Niles provided voice-over for broadcast advertising, as stated in the 30 Aug 1963 DV.
       Beach Party opened 11 Sep 1963 in Los Angeles, CA. The 13 Sep 1963 DV declared opening day receipts of $48,226 a new record for AIP, and the 17 Sep 1963 DV reported earnings of $292,800 from thirty locations during the first week. As noted in the 4 Sep 1963 DV, the film, along with other recent AIP releases, earned company executives James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff the Allied States Association “Producers of the Year” award, to be presented the following month in New York City.
       Beach Party was followed by several sequels, including Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965, see entries), all featuring Avalon, Funicello, McCrea, Ashley, and Lembeck.
The 29 Jun 1962 DV announced the scheduled start of principal photography in Sep 1962. According to the 7 Sep 1962 DV, the film was the first of three to star actor-singer Frankie Avalon under his contract with American International Pictures (AIP). He appeared earlier that year in the AIP production, Panic in Year Zero! (1962, see entry). More than seven months later, the 26 Apr 1963 LAT reported that singer-actress Annette Funicello was joining the cast, on loan from the Walt Disney Company. The 15 Apr 1963 LAT noted that lead actor and licensed pilot Bob Cummings would fly his own airplane on camera. A news item in the 5 Mar 1963 DV included singer Patti Page among the cast, but she did not appear in the completed film.
       Principal photography began 25 Apr 1963 in Malibu, CA, as noted that day in DV. Interior scenes were to be shot at Republic Studios in Studio City, CA. The 5 Sep 1963 LAT included CA beaches Newport, Laguna, and Balboa among the locations. Beach Party was reportedly the first comedy produced by AIP, known primarily for horror and science fiction films. On 29 May 1963, DV stated that a sequel was being planned for Funicello and Avalon.
       The 1 Jul 1963 DV announced that AIP was gathering statistics from state chapters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “to determine the best American city for teenagers.” The winning city would be declared “Teentown U.S.A.” and host the Aug 1963 premiere, to be attended by cast members Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, Bob Cummings, Dorothy Malone, Harvey Lembeck, Morey Amsterdam, Jody McCrea, John Ashley, Eva Six, and Dick Dale. That same issue also featured an obituary for writer-producer Lou Rusoff, who died of cancer two days earlier. Although Rusoff was given sole credit for the screenplay, author Mark McGee stated in his 1996 book, Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures, that the final script, loosely based on Rusoff’s original story, was written by director William Asher and associate producer Robert Dillon. At the request of AIP executive Samuel Z. Arkoff, Asher and Dillon relinquished writing credit in deference to the terminally ill Rusoff. According to Dillon’s daughter, Alexandra Dillon, her mother suggested naming Harvey Lembeck’s character “Eric Von Zipper.”
       On 12 Jul 1963, LAT announced that AIP extended Avalon’s contract to four years, offered Funicello a seven-year contract, and guaranteed two pictures each to Lembeck and Ashley. Three days later, the 15 Jul 1963 DV noted that the film would open at 500 theaters across the U.S. Reviews were tepid, although the 26 Sep 1963 NYT complimented Funicello and Avalon on their “modest acting ability.” A news item in the 19 Jul 1963 DV revealed that AIP allocated $500,000 for radio and television advertising, the largest promotional budget in the company’s history. According to the 12 Aug 1963 DV, seven publicists were assigned to the project. Radio personality Ken Niles provided voice-over for broadcast advertising, as stated in the 30 Aug 1963 DV.
       Beach Party opened 11 Sep 1963 in Los Angeles, CA. The 13 Sep 1963 DV declared opening day receipts of $48,226 a new record for AIP, and the 17 Sep 1963 DV reported earnings of $292,800 from thirty locations during the first week. As noted in the 4 Sep 1963 DV, the film, along with other recent AIP releases, earned company executives James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff the Allied States Association “Producers of the Year” award, to be presented the following month in New York City.
       Beach Party was followed by several sequels, including Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965, see entries), all featuring Avalon, Funicello, McCrea, Ashley, and Lembeck.
The 29 Jun 1962 DV announced the scheduled start of principal photography in Sep 1962. According to the 7 Sep 1962 DV, the film was the first of three to star actor-singer Frankie Avalon under his contract with American International Pictures (AIP). He appeared earlier that year in the AIP production, Panic in Year Zero! (1962, see entry). More than seven months later, the 26 Apr 1963 LAT reported that singer-actress Annette Funicello was joining the cast, on loan from the Walt Disney Company. The 15 Apr 1963 LAT noted that lead actor and licensed pilot Bob Cummings would fly his own airplane on camera. A news item in the 5 Mar 1963 DV included singer Patti Page among the cast, but she did not appear in the completed film.
       Principal photography began 25 Apr 1963 in Malibu, CA, as noted that day in DV. Interior scenes were to be shot at Republic Studios in Studio City, CA. The 5 Sep 1963 LAT included CA beaches Newport, Laguna, and Balboa among the locations. Beach Party was reportedly the first comedy produced by AIP, known primarily for horror and science fiction films. On 29 May 1963, DV stated that a sequel was being planned for Funicello and Avalon.
       The 1 Jul 1963 DV announced that AIP was gathering statistics from state chapters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “to determine the best American city for teenagers.” The winning city would be declared “Teentown U.S.A.” and host the Aug 1963 premiere, to be attended by cast members Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, Bob Cummings, Dorothy Malone, Harvey Lembeck, Morey Amsterdam, Jody McCrea, John Ashley, Eva Six, and Dick Dale. That same issue also featured an obituary for writer-producer Lou Rusoff, who died of cancer two days earlier. Although Rusoff was given sole credit for the screenplay, author Mark McGee stated in his 1996 book, Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures, that the final script, loosely based on Rusoff’s original story, was written by director William Asher and associate producer Robert Dillon. At the request of AIP executive Samuel Z. Arkoff, Asher and Dillon relinquished writing credit in deference to the terminally ill Rusoff. According to Dillon’s daughter, Alexandra Dillon, her mother suggested naming Harvey Lembeck’s character “Eric Von Zipper.”
       On 12 Jul 1963, LAT announced that AIP extended Avalon’s contract to four years, offered Funicello a seven-year contract, and guaranteed two pictures each to Lembeck and Ashley. Three days later, the 15 Jul 1963 DV noted that the film would open at 500 theaters across the U.S. Reviews were tepid, although the 26 Sep 1963 NYT complimented Funicello and Avalon on their “modest acting ability.” A news item in the 19 Jul 1963 DV revealed that AIP allocated $500,000 for radio and television advertising, the largest promotional budget in the company’s history. According to the 12 Aug 1963 DV, seven publicists were assigned to the project. Radio personality Ken Niles provided voice-over for broadcast advertising, as stated in the 30 Aug 1963 DV.
       Beach Party opened 11 Sep 1963 in Los Angeles, CA. The 13 Sep 1963 DV declared opening day receipts of $48,226 a new record for AIP, and the 17 Sep 1963 DV reported earnings of $292,800 from thirty locations during the first week. As noted in the 4 Sep 1963 DV, the film, along with other recent AIP releases, earned company executives James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff the Allied States Association “Producers of the Year” award, to be presented the following month in New York City.
       Beach Party was followed by several sequels, including Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965, see entries), all featuring Avalon, Funicello, McCrea, Ashley, and Lembeck.
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