Before Miniskirts

The warm weather is here, and you know that means!

First released on a small record label in 1957, ‘Short Shorts’ is a perfect example of what I think of as White Kids Rock. It was the first hit song for Bob Gaudio, who later joined the Four Seasons and wrote or co-wrote virtually all of their hits.

Radio Freed America

Back when I was working in radio, we’d get free movie passes at the station. Most were given away in contests, but there were plenty of extras for the staff.

I saw American Hot Wax for free more than once, contributing to the movie’s financial failure. There are factual errors, no mention of DJ payola, and Tim McIntire is more like the Big Bopper than Alan Freed, but American Hot Wax deserves a proper video release.

Amish Ernie

Violent Saturday is an excellent crime drama, with soap opera elements for the ladies, as directed by Max Fleischer’s son Richard. Stephen McNally and Richard Egan look enough alike to confuse viewers at first, but there’s no mistaking Lee Marvin as a thug, or Ernest Borgnine as an Amish farmer. A favorite character actor, J. Carroll Naish, is also present.