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A rare, vintage Muscle Beach Party trade ad, likely from Boxoffice or a similar magazine geared towards theater owners and film professionals!

Thank you, to all who participated and contributed to the success of the "Personal Property of Annette Funicello" auction held by Saturday's Toys in February! The month-long event raised well over $10,000 for The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases! Although the event is over, be sure to check our Auctions page regularly for new and exciting items that continue to be offered by Annette's family and Research Fund supporters! In 1992 Annette launched her own line of collectable teddy bears, which she personally promoted and sold for many years on the QVC home shopping channel. Fans and bear collectors alike looked forward to these live, unscripted broadcasts with Annette; where she candidly discussed her life, career and the stories that inspired the bears in her collection. Currently up for bid is a QVC contract from one of the earliest of these appearances - signed and filled out in Annette's own hand. The document is da...

So, here we are back in 1964. Unfortunately, you weren't the lucky girl to win a white fishnet bikini like Annette's from the Hollywood Fun Teen Album contest.  Now what's a girl to do who has her heart set on hitting the beach this summer in pure Annette Funicello fashion!?  Well, find a way to buy your own!  That's right, Annette and others in  Muscle Beach Party wore Rose Marie Reid swimwear, which might be available at your local department store or in the pages of your favorite mail order catalog! The above image comes from inside the Muscle Beach Party campaign book - which offers film information, promotional materials and tie-in ideas to help generate interest in the new movie release. From original press book: Rose Marie Reid Swimsuits Annette Funicello, the star of "Muscle Beach Party" appears in Rose Marie Swimsuits and department store cooperation can be set up locally in your town.  Arrange to stage a Rose Marie Reid Fashio...

This video shows the first six minutes of Muscle Beach Party (minus the opening credits) featuring Frankie and Annette opening the film with "Surfers Holiday".  Enjoy!  

Annette appeared on the cover of this 1964 issue of Hollywood Fun Teen Album promoting a special contest tied-in with the release of Muscle Beach Party. Readers could enter to win a bikini just like the one Annette wears in Muscle Beach Party. If you saw this issue on the magazine rack at your local drug store fifty years ago and wanted to enter the contest, you would have to spend thirty-five cents to purchase the magazine in order to fill out and mail in the entry coupon inside.   From the original ad: What a prize for summer!  You can be a sensation on the beach wearing the bikini designed exclusively for Annette! How alluring can you get?  One lucky gal will have the answer, by winning Annette's sexational white bikini from A.I.P.'s Muscle Beach Party.  (If you haven't seen Annette in this swinging movie, what are you waiting for?)  Our contest is so simple.  Just write, in 50 words or less, why you woul...

Today we are sharing two examples of of the lobby cards issued to theaters across the US in conjunction with the promotion and release of Muscle Beach Party . The first card pictures a singing Annette and Frankie leading a caravan of their friends to the beach, as seen in the opening "Surfers Holiday" number of the film. This card features a promotional photo of Annette and Frankie from the film.  Notice that Annette's bathing suit is yellow in the lobby card, but white in the film.  This "fishnet" bathing suit is arguably the most memorable piece of swimwear Annette wears in any of the beach pictures. Check back later this week to see an original contest ad where participants could win Annette's fishnet bikini!