Treasures from the Arnold Dover Family Collection

We were honored to recently hear from the family of Annette's good friend , Arnold Dover. Their friendship was formed in 1959 when Arnold was selected to serve as the official Master of Ceremonies for the "Caravan of Stars" rock n' roll tour.

After the spectacular success of the Dick Clark tribute at the Hollywood Bowl in August, 1959, Clark personally selected Arnold Dover to serve as M.C. during the tour as Clark's daily appearances on "American Bandstand" limited his own availability to host six weeks of concerts in a new city every day (sometimes for two shows).

In the decades before leading the "Caravan", Arnold Dover had become a popular comic in nightclubs throughout the country. As such, he was already familiar with many of the rising stars in the music world, making him the perfect choice to introduce the acts that would appear on stage with the "Caravan of Stars."

Paul Anka, Duane Eddy, Bobby Rydell, Lloyd Price, Jimmy Clanton, The Drifters, The Coasters, La Vern Baker, and our own Annette Funicello... they all were made to feel right at home under the masterful guidance from their M.C. for the tour...Arnold Dover (1928 - 2000).

This is a picture of Arnold with Annette, taken in June 1960, backstage in Annette's dressing room at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Annette had a weeks-long engagement to perform prior to each showing of Walt Disney's "Pollyanna". It was following one of these performances that Annette received her high school diploma right on the theaters historic stage...surrounded by friends, family and the legendary Rockettes!

This photo was taken in 1959 at one of the many venues that hosted Dick Clark's "Caravan of Stars". Arnold served as M.C. and Annette was the youngest performer on the tour.

This is an Arnold Dover Fan Club card. Note of interest: Annette is listed as "Sub-President"!

Sincere thanks to the Arnold Dover Family for sharing these special treasures from their personal collection with us!

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