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Spotlight on Bobby Rydell
Everybody loves a surprise -- and the one
Carole got when she visited Teensville! was a sur-prize package she'll never
forget!
- Dear Carole:
- I just finished reading the wonderful story you wrote for 16 on the greatest guy in the
world, Bobby Rydell! I, and all of Bobby's many fans, can never thank you enough!
- I am writing this to invite you to come up to Hartford, Connecticut, and visit me and go
on our daily record and dance TV show, which is run by a doll of a deejay named Tom Vater.
It takes no time at all to fly up, and if you'll come next Friday, there'll be a fabulous
surprise in store for you!
- Please, please try to make it, because I'm dying to meet you and talk about our hero,
Bobby. And so are all the other regulars on Teensville!
- Dear Peggy:
- What a thrill it was to get your letter! I showed it to your mom and she was as
pleased as I was. Well, you won't have to ask me twice! In fact, I'm already packed and
will be flying up this Friday!
- Can't wait to meet you, Tom Vater, and all the kids!
- P.S. I can't sleep nights for wondering about that big surprise!
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- When I arrived in Hartford, Peggy recognized me as I got off the train. See came over
and introduced herself. I was delighted to see that she was a warm, adorable girl with an
infectious smile. She took me straight over to WHCT-TV, where the show was just about to
begin.
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- When I went inside, I was introduced to Tom Vater, who looked more like one of the
teenagers than the master of ceremonies. Next, I met some of the regulars on the show, and
nowhere could there ever be a sweeter bunch of kids. Rocky Hart, a recording artist on the
Cub Label, was there also. He lives in Hartford and he had come over to be my dancing
partner.
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- All this time, no one said anything about the surprise. I kept looking around to see if
there was anything hidden anywhere. Peggy noticed my curiosity and said, "I know what
you're looking for. Well, it isn't here yet, but it will be any minute."
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- Suddenly, the door to the studio burst open and in walked Bobby Rydell! A chorus of
screams went up in the studio as Bobby (with his manager, Frankie Day) ran up to Tom and
shook his hand.
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- Before we could move or say a word, Tom grabbed the mike and said, "Hey! Hey!
Everybody calm down! It is exactly thirty seconds before air-time! We'll all get to talk
to Bobby after the show!"
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- The Teensville! was on the air.
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- I danced with Rocky for awhile, then Peggy and I got together and moved as close to
Bobby, who was off-camera talking to the director, as we possibly could.
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- When he finished getting his instructions, Bobby turned our way and saw two smiling,
ecstatic faces looking right at him. You'll never know how utterly thrilled Peggy and I
were when he rushed right over to us.
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- He greeted each of us with a warm handshake.
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- "Carole," he said, "what a surprise! What on earth are you doing
here?"
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- Since I had temporarily lost my powers of speech, I let Peggy explain.
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- "so you see," she was saying, "I thought Carole might like to say hello
to you again, at it was a good excuse for us to meet her."
- "Boy, Peggy," Bobby said, with a big grin, "I can always count on you to
come up with something. Carole, this girl has done too much for me to ever be able
to tell -- but the nicest thing is the swell surprises she always arranges when I come up
to Hartford."
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- Tom Vater was standing near (the commercial was on) and overheard the conversation.
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- "There are still a couple more surprises coming up." he said, mysteriously.
"and there'll be a special one for you, Peggy."
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- Boy, you should have seen Peg's eyes pop. She looked back at me and I signaled that I
didn't have a clue -- which was true.
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- I'll let Peggy describe what happened in her own words:
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- During the show, Tom Vater came over and told me to sit on a couch at one end of the
studio. I did as he asked, not knowing why he wanted me there. All of a sudden, Bobby
Rydell walked over and sat beside me. It was then I realized that he was going to sing a
number just to me! Boy, was I on a pink cloud all my own! As I sat there, too thrilled to
breathe, the one boy I rate first in all the world looked straight into my eyes and sang
what will be my favorite song forever, You're the Greatest.
- While he sang, I remembered all the hard work (thought it was always a labor of love)
I had put into getting my club for him started, and how I had known from the beginning
that Bobby would be a big star one day. I recalled the writer's cramp from answering
letters and about the "fuzzy" tongue from licking the stamps. But now, sitting
there beside him, looking into his sparkling eyes and hearing him singing to me alone,
made everything I'd ever done more worthwhile than ever.
- I only wish that every girl in America could have this same wonderful experience, and
I hope I've been able to let you share a little of it with me.
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- There's no doubt about it: Peggy has a very precious memory to hold in her heart. I
stood and watched her face as Bobby sang to her. It was a mirror of complete joy.
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- Now came time for another thrilling surprise. But this one was on Bobby himself. It was
very near the end of the show. Bobby had already done Little Batty Girl and Wild
One, when Tom beckoned him back onto camera.
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- "Now, Bobby," Tom said, "you've been really great to us on Teensville!
Every time you come up it's a real holiday for me and the kids. As you know, we have only
one annual poll. That's our Top Vocalist of the Year write-in poll."
- Tom reached out for camera-range and picked up a large trophy which he placed in Bobby's
hands. You should have seen the look on Bobby's face!
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- "Bobby," Tom went on, "you have won this year's top vocalist award by
such a tremendous landslide that nobody even came near you! Take this with our very
best wishes and may God bless you!"
- Bobby looked so stunned and solemn for a moment that I thought he was blinking back
tears, but he snapped to in a split second and started laughing and thanking everyone in
sight. A if this weren't enough, Peggy rushed onto the set with a huge cake she'd made
just for Bobby with We Got Love written on it! He was beaming proudly into the
camera when the show was over.
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- All the kids stuck around for a few minutes to shake Bobby's hand, and then what seemed
like half the guests got in line for an autograph.
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- Peggy and I took their opportunity to sit down and talk about our favorite subject,
Bobby Rydell. Peg had not only been writing to Bobby for a long time, she also had
corresponded with Mrs. Ridarelli, Bobby's mother.
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- Here are some of the things she has learned about Bobby:
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- Bobby's favorite subjects, when he attended Bishop Neumann High in Philadelphia (his
home town), were bookkeeping and band. He played drum. Now, he is being tutored because of
his heavy schedule.
- Bobby's favorite colors are red and olive green, and he digs his grandmother's
home-cooking. One of his favorite sports is swimming, and his worst habit is
forgetfulness.
- The first thing he notices about a girl is her personality and sense of humor. Looks
come second. Bobby does not wish to marry young, and will wait until he's 28 if necessary.
He's very nervous before a performance. His biggest dreams are to buy his family a home
and make a movie. His first concern in life is his fans, and more than anything he wishes
to please them.
- Bobby loves to go out dating when he can, and his favorite pastime is listening to
records and dancing, especially jitterbugging. His birthday is April 26, and his mother
keeps a scrapbook on all his activities.
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- By the time Peggy had told me all these things, the studio had cleared. I looked at the
time and gulped.
- "Hey! It's time for me to shove off!" I cried. "My plane leaves in
twenty-five minutes!"
- Tom had joined us and offered to drive me to the airport. As we got ready to leave,
Bobby also joined us and insisted on coming along. The drive with Peggy, Tom, Frankie Day,
and Bobby was just wonderful, and I secretly wished that it would never, never end.
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- Of course, it had to. And soon I was saying goodby and shaking hands with all my
friends. I waited to bid Bobby goodby last of all.
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- "So long, Carole," he said, as we parted, "I hope I see you again real
soon."
- "Gee, Bobby -- and everyone." I replied, "it's been too swell to believe.
I honestly never had such fun. I thank you all for everything. Peggy, I want you to come
down and visit American Bandstand one day. Please try to. Write and tell me
when."
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- Then I walked the lonely walk to the plane, and just before I boarded, I turned around
for a last look. They were all still standing there waving at me. I lifted my hand and
blew a kiss and went inside.
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