A Phone Call from BOBBY RYDELL!

Imagine YOU on the long-distance line with one of your favorite stars -- and a conversation like this!

(16 Magazine April, 1964, pp. 50-51)

Your phone is ringing -- and you'd better hurry and pick it up, 'case something fabulous is about to happen to you! None other than adorable, delightful Bobby Rydell is on the other end of the line -- and he's dying to let you in on all the latest news!

YOU: Hello.

BOBBY: Hi, this is Bobby Rydell. How are you?"

YOU: It is! I mean, is it -- really?

BOBBY: Sure is! I was sitting here in my brand-new house just dying to call up and say hello -- and tell you about my new home.

YOU: Where is it?

BOBBY: It's in a lovely suburb of Philadelphia called Penn Valley. Want me to tell you what it would be like if you came to visit me?

YOU: Of course!

BOBBY: Well, as you drive onto the property, you ride over -- like a little hill and cross the bridge over the creek. I have my own creek in the front yard! After that, there is another little rolling hill with lots of trees, and the house is sitting there. It's really secluded!

YOU: But what does the house look like?

BOBBY: It's sort of modern something-or-other. It's split-level and has about 11 rooms. It has a two-car garage (for our one '63 Caddy convertible) and two outdoor patios made of flagstone.

YOU: Take me on an imaginary tour of the house, Bobby!

BOBBY: Oh, I'd be delighted. First, you walk into a large foyer with Italian marble floor with gold and black striping. That is L-shaped. The first thing you see is a beautiful statue we got in New York. It's surrounded by green leaves, flowers, and has little lights flickering in it. There are gold wrought-iron railings above the sunken living room. The living room and the dining room have "lipstick red" wall-to-wall carpeting. The wallpaper looks and feels like it is made of velvet. It's red and gold. Funny thing about this room (and the rest of the house, I admit), there is practically no furniture in it yet! All we have in the living room is a huge, beautiful, cut-glass crystal chandelier.

YOU: It sounds gorgeous!

BOBBY: Believe me, it is! And is my mother thrilled to finally have a lovely home of her own! She is ordering all the furniture custom-made. That's why it's taking so long to get it! Anyway, you step up into the dining room, where we will soon have a table that can sit ten for dinner. As you pass into the big kitchen through swinging louvered doors. The floor is mainly turquoise and olive. There are lots of cabinets, and everything, including the refrigerator and sink, is in turquoise!

YOU: Bet your Granny is happy with her new kitchen!

BOBBY: Is she ever! From the kitchen, you can walk directly into the den. The room has dark wood paneling and rust draperies. It will have big black leather chairs and the TV will be in here. The den is right beside one of the outdoor patios.

YOU: Wow, that's going to be a popular room!

BOBBY: You're not kidding! Now, to get to the recreation or "wreck" room, you go back to the foyer, where there is a little white iron gate. You swing this open and you are in a room with a fireplace that has white frosted stone for a hearth. It has coral paneling and its own private soda bar! This room will also contain the hi-fi set, which has speakers all over the house.

YOU: What's it' like upstairs?

BOBBY: Upstairs, the first room on the left is my bedroom. It has a red and black rug and two huge Chinese chests in it -- and my bed, which has no coverlet yet! Down the hall is my parents' bedroom. It will have antiqued white chests and beds. Granny's room is being done in Italian provincial.

YOU: Don't you have a guest room?

BOBBY: Natch, and it's right on the same floor. But we haven't decided what to furnish it with yet, so I've put my bedroom set from the old house in there.

YOU: I think that sounds great. I don't think anyone would object to that! Now that you've told me about the house, tell me what other things are new with you.

BOBBY: Well, in January I worked in Puerto Rico for two weeks, and then I did the Italian Song Festival in San Remo, Italy. Later, I did a two-weeks' tour of South America.

YOU: Are you going on any more tours, Bobby? Everyone wants to know.

BOBBY: Most of my public appearances now are made on behalf of my favorite charity, ALSAC. This is the St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. It is doing research on leukemia and has bed for all who suffer from this terrible disease, regardless of race, color or creed.

YOU: That's wonderful of you, Bobby. Is there anything we -- your friends -- can do to help out?

BOBBY: Well, if you can afford it, it would be nice to send a small donation to the St. Jude Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.

YOU: How about night clubs? When are you doing the Copa again?

BOBBY: I'll be doing the Copa in April. By the way, I'll have an entirely new act worked out, so I hope you get to see it.

YOU: One last question, Bobby. Are you finally going to get a dog now that you have a house in the country/

BOBBY: Ouch! That question always hurts. Nope, not yet. I still think it is unfair to animals to see them only part of the time, so I am going to wait till I am doing l�\#��� get myself �0ppy.

YOU: Gosh, I sort of hate to hang up, but I know you must have lots to do, so --

BOBBY: I hate to hang up, too. But you are right. I've got so much to do I don't know which way to turn. Well, for right now, I'll have to say goodby. I'll be talking to you again real soon -- and I'm sending you a kiss. Goodby.

YOU: Oh, thanks -- and goodby, Bobby.