FRANKIE'S BACK! AVALON DIPS INTO 'GREASE' AGAIN.Byline: Barbara De Witt De Witt, uninc. town (1990 pop. 8,244), Onondaga co., central N.Y., a residential suburb of Syracuse. Staff Writer 'Grease'' is still the word. Just ask Frankie Avalon Frankie Avalon (born Francis Thomas Avallone, September 18 1939, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American actor, singer, and former teen idol. Career By the time he was 12, Avalon began making appearances on U.S. , who headlines the fab '50s musical ``Grease,'' opening tonight at the Kodak Theatre The Kodak Theatre is a live theatre in the Hollywood and Highland retail, dining, and entertainment complex on Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland Avenue in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. in Hollywood. The recording star and actor from the '50s and '60s is now 63, and he's still using greasy pomade pomade (pō·mādˑ), n a substance that comprises the fat that contains fragrant materials produced by enfleurage. to keep his pompadour in place. ``It's like the Chia pet Chia Pets are a brand of collectible animal figurines manufactured and originated by the San Francisco, California based company Joseph Enterprises, Inc. Chia Pets achieved widespread popularity in the 1980s following the 1982 release of a ram, the first Chia Pet. - it just keeps growing. Instead of receding, my hair is advancing, but it's got some gray in it now,'' he quips during a recent interview at the Daily News. He's also amused a·muse tr.v. a·mused, a·mus·ing, a·mus·es 1. To occupy in an agreeable, pleasing, or entertaining fashion. 2. that the pomade he used in his youth is back in style, like so many other things from the '50s. ``But now the hair is spiked. Back in my day we smo-o-othed ... sort of greased it down,'' he comments, running his fingers through his thick hair. Avalon, who saw his song ``Venus'' hit the top of the charts in 1959, has been a teen angel for more than 40 years, so it wasn't a stretch for him to play Teen Angel in the hit 1978 film ``Grease'' or the new stage production touring the country. ``He's the perfect symbol for the show, and it's amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. how good he looks - he loses 20 years the minute the lights go on and he starts singing,'' says Ray DeMattis, director of the new Phoenix Productions revival of ``Grease'' and a former cast member of the original 1971 Broadway production. ``He's still got it, and it's wonderful to see him in front of the audience.'' Actually, Avalon is 15 feet above the audience, walking out of the clouds (created with dry ice) on a fantasy set designed by James Youmans that gives him the height he's always dreamed of while he sings the now- famous ``Beauty School Dropout'' number from the film. And he sings from the heart. ``I hope the production will send a message - the song isn't necessarily about beauty school. I see it as a message about not quitting high school, and it's still the truth,'' says Avalon, who admits he is a high school dropout (1) On magnetic media, a bit that has lost its strength due to a surface defect or recording malfunction. If the bit is in an audio or video file, it might be detected by the error correction circuitry and either corrected or not, but if not, it is often not noticed by the human . ``I've regretted it my whole life. I'm self-taught, but I'd never have let my kids drop out of school,'' says Avalon of his eight children. After all these years and so many teen films under his belt, Avalon is the unofficial historic accuracy expert in the ``Grease'' ensemble. Well, sort of, he says with a laugh. ``Most of the cast is 21 to 24, and they don't ask me about the '50s - but their parents do. However, I think I have credibility with them because I do represent the era - and I'm like your grandfather. You still like him, even though he's older,'' Avalon says. ``I'm really enjoying it, even though it's been years since I did the same part in the film. It's fun, and I get to travel to cities I love with my wife,'' he says, adding, ``I'm looking forward to playing in L.A. because I live here (Westlake Village) and have so many friends that are coming with their kids. ``We're doing eight cities, and I'll keep doing it until they stop asking me,'' he quips, commenting that happy, upbeat songs, drag racing drag racing Form of motor racing in which two contestants race side by side from a standing start over a straight quarter-mile strip of pavement. Winners go on to compete against others in their class until only one is left undefeated. and poodle skirts are all part of the reason ``Grease'' has remained so popular with all ages. In this new version of ``Grease,'' DeMattis says there's more splash and dancing, with songs plucked pluck v. plucked, pluck·ing, plucks v.tr. 1. To remove or detach by grasping and pulling abruptly with the fingers; pick: pluck a flower; pluck feathers from a chicken. from the film and the original musical, but it has the same honesty about teen angst that encourages the audience to root for young lovers Danny and Sandy. ``It really was a fun decade - and one of innocence,'' recalls Avalon. ``When I was a teenager, if I thought a girl was cute I'd ask her for a dance, then maybe I'd get a date and I'd go to her house and meet her folks and we'd go to the movies. And I'd put my arm around her for the whole movie, even though my arm would have a major cramp in it,'' he recalls. Since Avalon is an icon of baby boomers' childhoods, we asked him to talk about his life and times. Q: First of all, for those fans who grew up with the beach party movies of the early '60s, were you and Annette Funicello an off-screen item? A: No. We dated a couple of times back in 1958 long before the movies, but that was all. Actually, when we made those films, I was married to my wife, Kay, whom I've been married to for 40 years, so if people thought that, then I guess I'm a better actor than I got credit for. Q: About those beach movies. Did you really surf? A: I'm great with the screen behind me, but no, I can't surf. Q: Don't tell me you didn't do the drag race drag race n. A race between two cars to determine which can accelerate faster from a standstill. [From drag, an automobile (slang). scenes or dancing either? A: I really did do the drag race scenes, and I got to drive a race car designed by the famous George Barris. And I really dance. I love hoofing and tap dancing, and I studied with one of the best hoofers, a man named Nick Castle. Q: You had so many hits. Why is ``Venus'' your favorite song? A: Great lyrics, melody and message. I've been singing it since 1959, and I've noticed it always mesmerizes the audience and probably brings back memories for them. Q: I heard you sing some of your oldies Oldies is a generic term commonly used to describe a radio format that usually concentrates on Top 40 music from the '50s, '60s and '70s. Oldies are typically from R&B, pop and rock music genres. at the end of the musical. A: Yes, I do a sort of stroll down memory lane and sing several of my old hits, including ``Why.'' You know, (he sings) ``Why? Because I love you.'' Q: Has your voice changed any over the years? A: I still sing in the same key, and I've never overextended overextended, adj 1. the situation occurring when a prosthetic appliance is inadvertently constructed in such a way that part of the oral mucosa is injured by the appliance. adj 2. my vocal abilities, a la Perry Como Pierino Ronald Como (May 18 1912 – May 12 2001) was an American crooner. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with it in 1943. . Q: Do you have any plans to record new songs? A: Not really. Well, I just did one that's not out yet. It's a dance record, and I did some medleys with a new teen idol ? Who are "teen idols?" Teen idols are usually actors or pop singers, but some sports figures have had an appeal to teenagers. The term encapsulates both some of the greatest performers of all time and some of the most inconsequential. named James Foley who is 6-foot-1 and a really nice kid. Q: Who did you idolize i·dol·ize tr.v. i·dol·ized, i·dol·iz·ing, i·dol·iz·es 1. To regard with blind admiration or devotion. See Synonyms at revere1. 2. To worship as an idol. as a singer? A: That's easy. Frank Sinatra. He was magnificent and knew how to croon croon v. crooned, croon·ing, croons v.intr. 1. To hum or sing softly. 2. To sing popular songs in a soft, sentimental manner. 3. Scots To roar or bellow. and swing, and I always wanted to be like him, but there's only one Frank Sinatra. Q: You still look good in a sweater, you haven't lost your hair, and you seem to be ageless. What's your secret? A: Young? Not in my mirror. But I'm an herbal guy, and I used to take herbs in little bags before they came in capsules, and I think people thought I was taking drugs. And since I'm Italian, I love my pasta and wine - but in moderation these days. GREASE Where: Kodak Theatre, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. When: Performances 8 p.m. today through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Also features a pre-show dance contest and post-show mini-concert by Frankie Avalon. Tickets: $20 to $75. Call (323) 308-6363 or www.kodaktheatre.com. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) FRANKIE is the WORD Avalon speaks on touring with `Grease' and why dropouts - beauty-school and otherwise - should stay in the classroom David Sprague/Staff Photographer (2) no caption (Frankie Avalon) |
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