On a day as beautiful and sunny as any you might want, a smiling face looked into the
office of Teen World's Editor, Elaine Moss. Yep! It was Bobby Rydell!
It only took a minute to sit him down. But it took more than an hour to find out all we
wanted to know.
"Well, Bobby," Elaine said, "now that you're 'over' twenty-one and free
to do the things you've always wanted, just what do you want to do?"
Bobby looked a little stunned. He's been so busy (as usual) that this was the fist
chance he'd had to think of himself.
"To tell you the truth, Elaine," Bobby said and smiled that terrific smile of
his, "there are so many things I'd like to do, I don't know where to start, but I'll
try..."
As you'll soon see, Bobby did quite well and came up with not one, not five, but 51
wishes and hopes. So here goes --"I wish 'n hope to..."
1. Fly my own plane so I can go all over this great, big, wonderful world!
2. Own a small island to go off to where I want to get away from it all.
3. Marry a girl who wants to make a home for me.
4. Have 3 children.
5. Play the drums with Gene Krupa. I think he's one of the greatest drummers ever!
6. Make this ALSAC's best year yet (I'm proud to say I'm National Chairman of the
Teenagers' Mach Against Leukemia).
7. Live near my family after I'm married so that I'll have a real home.
8. Pick flowers in the wintertime and make it spring all year 'round.
9. Be a decent human being.
10. Provide a comfortable life for my family.
11. Be a well-rounded entertainer and grow as an entertainer.
12. Always be able to make my living in show business.
13. Fulfill my manager (Frankie Day's) faith in me. Frankie gave up his career to
direct mine.
14. Keep my teenager fans after I am thought of as an adult entertainer. I owe it all
to them.
15. Spend more time with my family. My career keeps me very busy now.
16. Make more movies like Bye, Bye Birdie-- they're fun!
17. Become an excellent photographer. It's my newest and favorite hobby.
18. Do a play on Broadway That's something I've always dreamed about.
19. Be the first man to reach the moon. Or maybe the second.
20. Return to Copenhagen, Denmark -- my favorite European city.
21. For my TV comedy pilot, Rockabye the Infantry, to be a success. I had such
fun shooting it with William Bendix and Fred Clark that I'd love to work with them again.
22. Cut a big band album with Ted Heath. Singers nowadays aren't paying enough
attention to the great big bands.
23. To marry and affectionate girl who'll understand the demands show business makes on
an entertainer.
24. To be able to help disabled children all over the world somehow. There's nothing so
heartbreaking as a lonely, sick child.
25. To date dozens and dozens of girls before I settle down.
26. To settle on a ranch when I retire.
27. To own a T-Bird. I love to drive 'cause it relaxes me.
28. To own a dog, when I have time to take care of him. I've always wanted a dog.
29. To have every Sinatra record ever made. He's one of my idols.
30. To see every performance Frank Sinatra does.
31. Become an expert golfer.
32. Not to be lonely in every new town. That's one of the hazards of a career in
showbiz.
33. To marry a girl of my own religions (but if "The One" is of a different
religion, we'll work it out).
34. I'd like to become an expert golfer (I know I said it once before, but maybe if I
wish twice as hard, it'll come true).
35. Not to be nervous before every opening night. That's something I just can't seem to
conquer.
36. To know that I've pleased everyone everywhere, professionally and personally.
37. Never stop learning -- to know that I'll still have a lot to learn -- even when I'm
90!
38. To gain some weight!
39. To be able to live in California three months out of every year.
40. To be able to fill my scrapbook with pleasant memories.
41. To have the world's greatest sweater collection. I'm more than halfway there
already!
42. To own a suit in a favorite style in a variety of colors.
43. To cut my hair the length I want without losing my fans.
44. To have a sound-proof room in my home so I can play my drums without disturbing
people.
45. To have time to read more.
46. To have time to play golf.
47. To have time to see movies. I love them!
48. To have time!
49. To be able to eat Chinese food and not be hungry an hour later!
50. To find a girl who doesn't smear lipstick on my shirt collars.
51. To have my own personal subscription to Teen World.
We don't know if we can help Bobby out with his first fifty wishes 'n desires, but
we sure promise to take care of his fifty-first!
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