Press Book Reveals Fun Facts on the Filming of Muscle Beach Party

Among the promotional ideas, ad's and product tie-in's; press books can reveal some really great bits of information on the creation of a film.  

Let's take another peek inside the Muscle Beach Party press book and see what we can find!

"Muscle Beach Party" Filmed at Famed Surfing Spots of California

You can almost smell the salt air, hear the roar of the waves and feel the warm white sands of California's beautiful Pacific Ocean shores in American International's "Muscle Beach Party".

It's as close as it is to reality - thanks to being filmed on location at the famous beaches in exciting color, widescreen Panavision - all for the new swingin', song-filled, fun-filled surfers tale.

Starring in the musical comedy, opening........... at the................ theatre, are Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Luciana Paluzzi, John Ashley, Don Rickles, Peter Turgeon, and Jody McCrea.  "Muscle Beach Party" also stars Dick Dale, Candy Johnson and Morey Amsterdam; introduces "Little Stevie" Wonder and stars Buddy Hackett as "the rich business manager."

The exciting beach scenes of the film, featuring daring surfing and tune-filled numbers by the cast of over 60 young people, were filmed at famed Malibu Beach and at another favorite surfing spot, Topanga Beach.

The yacht and helicopter seen in many of the beach scenes are the real thing, the 46-foot vessel belonging to a wealthy industrialist and the helicopter being used for both scenes and air photography.

Also used in the production, for scenes on the beach road involving Don Rickles, Buddy Hackett, and Luciana Paluzzi, was an unusual Rolls Royce that is one of only three ever made.  It dates from 1924 and is called the Silver Ghost and was originally made for the personal physician of King George V.

A group of less expensive automotive collector's items also were used in scenes near the beaches on California's famed Pacific Coast Highway.  These were one of the most unusual groups of surfer's cars ever assembled, led by a 1924 bright orange-colored Model-T convertible driven by Frankie Avalon with Annette Funicello as passenger.

Next in the odd surfers auto procession came an old bright red fire engine dating back to the late 1920's.  This was ridden by Dick Dale and his Del-Tones while they played their wild surfing music.

Also in the surfers' caravan was a box-like Model-T pickup truck, with John Ashley driving and accompanied by Candy Johnson, plus an eye-catching bright powder-blue, stripped down, chrome-engined drag roadster driven by Jody McCrea.

Outstanding interior set, as in AIP's earlier "Beach Party," is the new Cappy's joint, teen-age hangout and night spot.  Once again, the place is garishly decorated with bizarre and colorful modern art and with wood and metal sculpture.  Three new features never seen before are featured in Cappy's for "Muscle Beach Party;" a golden elevator cage accompanied by Morey Amsterdam; full-color surfer's caricature paintings by Michael Dormer and Lee Teacher, and about a half-dozen real surfboards just leaning against the walls.

Fill the above setting with lively dancing and singing surfers, eight big musclemen and the stars of "Muscle Beach Party" and the result is the liveliest musical comedy entertainment of the year.