Elvis Presley‘s “Rock-a-Hula Baby” was released alongside one of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll‘s most famous songs. “Rock-a-Hula Baby” suffers by comparison, but it also fails on its own. It’s a strange fusion that never quite comes together. Here’s a look at why it a B-movie actor wrote the track.
Elvis Presley’s ‘Rock-a-Hula Baby’ was part of a forgotten trend
Elvis’ Blue Hawaii typified a specific point in American history. Hawaii became a state in 1959. Around that time, the rest of the United States showed a strong interest in Hawaii. The late 1950s and 1960s gave us Gidget Goes Hawaiian, the Christmas song “Mele Kalikimaka,” and a lot of tacky tiki bars. Elvis jumped on the bandwagon with a trio of movies: Blue Hawaii, Girls! Girls! Girls!, and Paradise, Hawaiian Style.
According to Elvis Australia, songwriter Ben Weisman revealed the origin of “Rock-a-Hula Baby.
Elvis Presley’s ‘Rock-a-Hula Baby’ was part of a forgotten trend
Elvis’ Blue Hawaii typified a specific point in American history. Hawaii became a state in 1959. Around that time, the rest of the United States showed a strong interest in Hawaii. The late 1950s and 1960s gave us Gidget Goes Hawaiian, the Christmas song “Mele Kalikimaka,” and a lot of tacky tiki bars. Elvis jumped on the bandwagon with a trio of movies: Blue Hawaii, Girls! Girls! Girls!, and Paradise, Hawaiian Style.
According to Elvis Australia, songwriter Ben Weisman revealed the origin of “Rock-a-Hula Baby.
- 2/26/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Screen Actors Guild presented legendary comic actor Eddie Cantor with the first annual Life Achievement Award back in 1962. Over the past six decades, the award for ‘outstanding achievement in fostering ideals of the acting profession” has been given to such Hollywood icons as Stan Laurel, Bob Hope, Barbara Stanwyck, Gregory Peck, Jimmy Stewart, Frank Sinatra, James Cagney, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. More recently, Mary Tyler Moore, Charles Durning, Debbie Reynolds, Rita Moreno, Carol Burnett, Helen Mirren and Robert De Niro have received the honor.
Two-time Oscar and three-time Emmy Award winning Sally Field is the latest recipient of the Life Achievement Award. The 76-year-old actress, who came to fame as the ultimate teenager “Gidget” in the 1965-66 ABC sitcom, is currently starring with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Rita Moreno in the hit feature comedy “80 for Brady.” She appeared with Jim Parsons last year in the drama...
Two-time Oscar and three-time Emmy Award winning Sally Field is the latest recipient of the Life Achievement Award. The 76-year-old actress, who came to fame as the ultimate teenager “Gidget” in the 1965-66 ABC sitcom, is currently starring with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Rita Moreno in the hit feature comedy “80 for Brady.” She appeared with Jim Parsons last year in the drama...
- 2/22/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
The word rang out this morning in the world of laughter. A member of comedy royalty had taken his last well-deserved bow.
Here’s how the AP news service spread the word:
New York (AP) — Carl Reiner, the ingenious and versatile writer, actor and director who broke through as a “second banana” to Sid Caesar and rose to comedy’s front ranks as creator of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and straight man to Mel Brooks’ “2000 Year Old Man,” has died. He was 98.
Reiner’s assistant Judy Nagy said he died Monday night of natural causes at his home in Beverly Hills, California.
While he made significant contributions to the worlds of live theatre, television, recordings, and literature, we at Wamg would like to applaud his body of work in motion pictures: acting, writing and directing. But in order to begin, lets’ double back to TV. Carl first achieved worldwide...
Here’s how the AP news service spread the word:
New York (AP) — Carl Reiner, the ingenious and versatile writer, actor and director who broke through as a “second banana” to Sid Caesar and rose to comedy’s front ranks as creator of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and straight man to Mel Brooks’ “2000 Year Old Man,” has died. He was 98.
Reiner’s assistant Judy Nagy said he died Monday night of natural causes at his home in Beverly Hills, California.
While he made significant contributions to the worlds of live theatre, television, recordings, and literature, we at Wamg would like to applaud his body of work in motion pictures: acting, writing and directing. But in order to begin, lets’ double back to TV. Carl first achieved worldwide...
- 7/1/2020
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Of all the accomplishments Carl Reiner had over his 70-year career in the entertainment industry, the most impressive thing I ever saw him do had nothing to do with writing “Your Show of Shows” or recording the “2000 Year Old Man” records with Mel Brooks or creating “The Dick Van Dyke Show” or directing “All of Me” or even acting in “Gidget Goes Hawaiian.” All of those things were consequential, of course, and so was much, much more in Reiner’s titanic comedy career. But the one that got me came about a decade ago, when Reiner took the stage of a Century City hotel ballroom to host the Directors Guild Awards. He did this for the DGA almost every year for three decades, controlling the show with offhand charm that made everything sound as if it were coming off the top of his head. Those shows were never short or succinct,...
- 6/30/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Christian movies: Starring Nicolas Cage, the widely panned 2014 apocalyptic thriller 'Left Behind' was a box office bomb – unlike (relatively) recent popular 'faith movies' such as 'Heaven Is for Real,' 'Son of God' and 'War Room.' A thought on the New Christian American Cinema: Tired of the blatant propaganda found in 'mainstream' Christian movies Two films that might be called “Christian movies” opened last week, and I decided that I wouldn't watch them, write about them, or review them – at least directly. I'm not even going to mention their titles here because I don't promote propaganda films, and that's what this recent advent of Christian movies has become: propaganda. After all, since nearly all American cinema is Christian cinema, the New Christian American Cinema is in fact pure propaganda – not cinema. Worse yet, it bores me. So, here's the thing about what we've come to call...
- 4/14/2017
- by Tim Cogshell
- Alt Film Guide
Tom Lisanti (Cinema Retro contributor and award-winning author of 7 books on Sixties cinema including Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959-1969) will be co-hosting, with Ben Mankieicz, Turner Classic Movies' Spring Break Film Festival beginning Monday April 16 at 8pm through Friday April 20. Ben and Tom will introduce 19 surf and summer movies from the Sixties including Where the Boys Are; Gidget Goes Hawaiian; Beach Blanket Bingo; Blue Hawaii; The Girls on the Beach; Ride the Wild Surf; and a few in the snow such as Winter a-Go-Go. Click below for more information: http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/474205%7C0/Spring-Break-April-16-20.html Tom will be participating in the Cinema Retro panel about The Poseidon Adventure at the Landmark Loews Jersey Theatre on April 28 and has contributed the article "A Nod to Nonnie" for Cinema Retro's fall issue (#24) celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Poseidon Adventure. Visit his web site www.
- 4/14/2012
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Producer Mark Canton ("300") has teamed with Pterodactyl Productions to reboot the teen surfer character 'Gidget' for both TV and feature films.
The name 'Gidget' is a combination of 'girl and midget'.
The character was created by author Frederick Kohner in his 1957 novel "Gidget, The Little Girl With Big Ideas", written in the first person, based on the accounts of his daughter Kathy and the surf culture of Malibu Point.
Kohner, a prolific screenwriter with one Academy Award nomination, published seven sequels to his first "Gidget" novel, including "Cher Papa" (1959), "The Affairs of Gidget" (1963), "Gidget in Love" (1965), "Gidget Goes Parisienne" (1966) and "Gidget Goes New York" (1968), plus two novelizations based on films including "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" (1961) and "Gidget Goes to Rome" (1963), based on original stories by Ruth Brooks Flippin.
Barney Cohen is in charge of the new projects, working with "Gidget" rights holder Gidget Worldwide.
Click the images...
The name 'Gidget' is a combination of 'girl and midget'.
The character was created by author Frederick Kohner in his 1957 novel "Gidget, The Little Girl With Big Ideas", written in the first person, based on the accounts of his daughter Kathy and the surf culture of Malibu Point.
Kohner, a prolific screenwriter with one Academy Award nomination, published seven sequels to his first "Gidget" novel, including "Cher Papa" (1959), "The Affairs of Gidget" (1963), "Gidget in Love" (1965), "Gidget Goes Parisienne" (1966) and "Gidget Goes New York" (1968), plus two novelizations based on films including "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" (1961) and "Gidget Goes to Rome" (1963), based on original stories by Ruth Brooks Flippin.
Barney Cohen is in charge of the new projects, working with "Gidget" rights holder Gidget Worldwide.
Click the images...
- 5/18/2010
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
The Alamo Guide
for January 21st, 2010
I would just like to inform the general public that after the Alamo Iron Chef show last night, our own John Bullington came out the victor! However, Parkside still remains delicious. They have some wicked seared foie gras that I can’t seem to stop ordering everytime I go there.
We’ve got a whole buncha goodies coming up this week! First of all, A Town Called Panic finally opens this Friday, and we’ve been waiting for the day every since we saw it at Fantastic Fest. It’s a great time so def check it out if you can. Also, if you’ve been following this whole Leno vs. Conan debacle, you may be interested to know that we’re showing the Final Episode Of The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien. We’re definitely Team Coco. Our Valentine’S Day Feasts are selling strong,...
for January 21st, 2010
I would just like to inform the general public that after the Alamo Iron Chef show last night, our own John Bullington came out the victor! However, Parkside still remains delicious. They have some wicked seared foie gras that I can’t seem to stop ordering everytime I go there.
We’ve got a whole buncha goodies coming up this week! First of all, A Town Called Panic finally opens this Friday, and we’ve been waiting for the day every since we saw it at Fantastic Fest. It’s a great time so def check it out if you can. Also, if you’ve been following this whole Leno vs. Conan debacle, you may be interested to know that we’re showing the Final Episode Of The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien. We’re definitely Team Coco. Our Valentine’S Day Feasts are selling strong,...
- 1/21/2010
- by henri
- OriginalAlamo.com
The Alamo Guide
for January 14th, 2010
Hello again, friends. I hope your days are well. I am here, once again, to tell you how your days could be better: with the Alamo! We are packed full of new release films from the past week or two, and still we find time for specialty programming! How Do We Do It?! Lots and lots of work hours, that’s how…If you haven’t gone out to see Crazy Heart yet, tomorrow is the perfect opportunity to do so. Local country honky-tonkers The Derailers are playing an after show at The Highball and you can get tickets for both events! If you’re one of those over-planner people, you might want to make some Valentine’s Day plans Now because our Valentine’S Day Feasts go On Sale Friday At Noon! Those sell out super fast and are pretty damn romantic and delicious.
for January 14th, 2010
Hello again, friends. I hope your days are well. I am here, once again, to tell you how your days could be better: with the Alamo! We are packed full of new release films from the past week or two, and still we find time for specialty programming! How Do We Do It?! Lots and lots of work hours, that’s how…If you haven’t gone out to see Crazy Heart yet, tomorrow is the perfect opportunity to do so. Local country honky-tonkers The Derailers are playing an after show at The Highball and you can get tickets for both events! If you’re one of those over-planner people, you might want to make some Valentine’s Day plans Now because our Valentine’S Day Feasts go On Sale Friday At Noon! Those sell out super fast and are pretty damn romantic and delicious.
- 1/14/2010
- by caitlin
- OriginalAlamo.com
The Alamo Guide
for January 8th, 2010
Apologies for the late email this week. I was celebrating 2010 out of town, and then when I got home I was distracted by the intensity of the Texas vs. Alabama game. Bummerrrr. Oh well. We can all drown our sorrows in some Alamo fun this weekend! First of all, The Monster Squad screening was so popular that we added a second one later that night so there’s still a chance to see the Cast And Creators In Attendance! Youth In Revolt, The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus, and Crazy Heart all open up this weekend. Girlie Night presents Romy & Michele’S High School Reunion on Tuesday, so get your business women outfits ready (but please have your fake job description ready)! If you’re a foodie and love our Alamo feasts, The Alamo Iron Chef competition returns with a battle between Alamo kitchen and...
for January 8th, 2010
Apologies for the late email this week. I was celebrating 2010 out of town, and then when I got home I was distracted by the intensity of the Texas vs. Alabama game. Bummerrrr. Oh well. We can all drown our sorrows in some Alamo fun this weekend! First of all, The Monster Squad screening was so popular that we added a second one later that night so there’s still a chance to see the Cast And Creators In Attendance! Youth In Revolt, The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus, and Crazy Heart all open up this weekend. Girlie Night presents Romy & Michele’S High School Reunion on Tuesday, so get your business women outfits ready (but please have your fake job description ready)! If you’re a foodie and love our Alamo feasts, The Alamo Iron Chef competition returns with a battle between Alamo kitchen and...
- 1/8/2010
- by caitlin
- OriginalAlamo.com
Film and TV director made famous by his 'Gidget' surf movies
Despite a long and varied career, in which he made several excellent films noirs, westerns, thrillers and war dramas, and a fair number of superior television movies, it was the wry fate of the film and television director Paul Wendkos, who has died of a lung infection aged 87, that his death was announced widely with the words "Gidget director dies".
The popular teen surf movies – Gidget (1959), Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) and Gidget Goes to Rome (1963) – directed by Wendkos, are interesting documents of pre-hippy conservative California youth culture. Gidget, a contraction of girl and midget, is the nickname of a 16-year-old adolescent (played in succession by Sandra Dee, Deborah Walley and Cindy Carol) trying to cope with the problems of growing up, mainly defined by her relationship with her boyfriend, Moondoggie (James Darren).
According to the Variety review of...
Despite a long and varied career, in which he made several excellent films noirs, westerns, thrillers and war dramas, and a fair number of superior television movies, it was the wry fate of the film and television director Paul Wendkos, who has died of a lung infection aged 87, that his death was announced widely with the words "Gidget director dies".
The popular teen surf movies – Gidget (1959), Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) and Gidget Goes to Rome (1963) – directed by Wendkos, are interesting documents of pre-hippy conservative California youth culture. Gidget, a contraction of girl and midget, is the nickname of a 16-year-old adolescent (played in succession by Sandra Dee, Deborah Walley and Cindy Carol) trying to cope with the problems of growing up, mainly defined by her relationship with her boyfriend, Moondoggie (James Darren).
According to the Variety review of...
- 12/1/2009
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
By Frank Swertlow
Paul Wendkos, who directed the 1959 surfing classic "Gidget" and two sequels, died early Thursday at his home in Malibu.
Wendkos, who was 87 (although some reports put his age at 84), had been ill for several years following a stroke.
"Gidget," which starred Sandra Dee and James Darren, was followed by "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" in 1961and "Gidget Goes to Rome" in 1963.
Wendkos' films helped popularize surfing in the U.S. and a...
Paul Wendkos, who directed the 1959 surfing classic "Gidget" and two sequels, died early Thursday at his home in Malibu.
Wendkos, who was 87 (although some reports put his age at 84), had been ill for several years following a stroke.
"Gidget," which starred Sandra Dee and James Darren, was followed by "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" in 1961and "Gidget Goes to Rome" in 1963.
Wendkos' films helped popularize surfing in the U.S. and a...
- 11/12/2009
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
It was with great sadness that this Fango contributor learned of the passing of Don Edmonds. You see, ever since I had the pleasure of meeting Don in 2003 (through another Fango writer, Paul Gaita), I have been humbled and honored to call him a friend. Having encountered Ilsa, She Wolf Of The S.S. as a 19-year-old at university in Stirling, Scotland (it was banned in the UK at that time and remains in limbo to this day), I remember being shocked silly by the movie—and eager to find out who on Earth would have made such a thing! Luckily for me, the gentleman behind Ilsa was a gentle, humble and very, very funny soul who was filled with great stories.
Don Edmonds’ legacy includes acting turns (he starred in the drive-in favorite Gidget Goes Hawaiian and the television series Flubber), but it is for the 1975 bad-taste classic Ilsa...
Don Edmonds’ legacy includes acting turns (he starred in the drive-in favorite Gidget Goes Hawaiian and the television series Flubber), but it is for the 1975 bad-taste classic Ilsa...
- 6/1/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Calum Waddell)
- Fangoria
By Tom Lisanti
To get in a warm weather mood with summer not approaching fast enough, here is a look at Hollywood surf movies from a different and albeit biased perspective. Gay men are always looking for gay subtext in movies and TV, and I am no exception. Am I reading more into these films? Probably—but it was sure a lot of fun doing the research.
The Sixties beach movie craze began with Gidget (1959) starring Sandra Dee and James Darren, a fictionalized look at teenager Kathy Kohner’s surfing escapades in Malibu during the mid-Fifties. It was groundbreaking as the movie contributed to the mass dissention of surfers on the beaches of Malibu and started a series of surf-theme films such as Gidget Goes Hawaiian and Ride the Wild Surf. The surf movie soon morphed into the beach-party film, whose heyday was from 1963 through 1965, where surfing was only used...
To get in a warm weather mood with summer not approaching fast enough, here is a look at Hollywood surf movies from a different and albeit biased perspective. Gay men are always looking for gay subtext in movies and TV, and I am no exception. Am I reading more into these films? Probably—but it was sure a lot of fun doing the research.
The Sixties beach movie craze began with Gidget (1959) starring Sandra Dee and James Darren, a fictionalized look at teenager Kathy Kohner’s surfing escapades in Malibu during the mid-Fifties. It was groundbreaking as the movie contributed to the mass dissention of surfers on the beaches of Malibu and started a series of surf-theme films such as Gidget Goes Hawaiian and Ride the Wild Surf. The surf movie soon morphed into the beach-party film, whose heyday was from 1963 through 1965, where surfing was only used...
- 4/13/2009
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
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