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               ALOHA  A  GO-GO

The great photo above was taken during the ALOHA A GO-GO interlude in Hawaii.  There is a wealth of interesting detail in this high quality color photo.  In the far rear left we see producer AL BURTON talking to an unidentified gentleman.  The lovely GAZZARRI in the red bikini and floppy hat is JUNE (WILSON) FAIRCHILD.  She appears to be talking to auburn-haired dancer GAY SCHICKLER.  The girl in the black and white (actually it's deep blue) polka-dot bikini is GAZZARRI LUCILLE WILLS.   The Challengers, who play a big role in this episode, are represented by bass player Randy Nauert and singer Ed Fournier, seated left and right respectively.

This page is dedicated to the special episode of HOLLYWOOD A GO-GO  titled ALOHA A GO-GO.  It originally aired on Wednesday, July 14, 1965.  This placed the airing date mid-week between syndicated episodes # 29 and # 30, which aired on the Saturdays before and after this special.  The actual taping dates were most likely between June 26-29.  It was the only episode that broke with the normal KHJ Saturday evening TV scheduling for L.A. area viewers.  This production anomaly also threw the normal Saturday California tapings out of whack.  Episode # 28 was definitely not taped on June 26 because the crew were in Hawaii by that time.  It is also unlikely that episode # 29 was taped on July 3 only a day after their return from Honolulu.

As the name implies, it was filmed in Hawaii on the islands of Oahu and Kauai, and has a decidedly tropical feel to it.  The production cost to KHJ must have been considerable.  The entire production staff, as well as the GAZZARRI DANCERS, and the musical guests were flown on a United Airlines DC-8 to  Hawaii, and then housed directly on Waikiki Beach in the Royal Hawaiian Hotel for several days.

Much of the production takes place on the beach, so it is appropriate that a surf music theme be incorporated in the episode.  This was accomplished by having Jan & Dean, as well as The Challengers, on the list of musical guests.  The rest of the artists to appear were Jackie & Gayle, The Wellingtons, The Crickets, Ray Peterson, and Jimmy Boyd.  You can see Jackie & Gayle performing a song from this episode at the following link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvCvUbQN2BY

And yes, the lovely GAZZARRI ladies do appear in bikinis.  You can see them at these links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoMjos9yy2o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgNlMGT4Tdc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaElONVTitU
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CK3sKdQXvw

On June 30 and July 1 HOLLYWOOD A GO-GO performed four shows at the Honolulu International Center with the same artists appearing.  These shows were not taped and were seen only by paying ticket holders.  The shows were produced to help recoup the costs to KHJ for the week long trip to Hawaii.  The entire crew flew back to California most likely on July 2 immediately following these shows.

A promotional piece showcasing the musical guests who appeared on ALOHA A GO-GO.  Even SAM RIDDLE performs a song on this episode!

GAZZARRI DANCERS in front of the Royal Hawaiian hotel (left to right): LUCILLE, JUNE, GAY SCHICKLER, then MIMI, and DeANN.

This photo shows dance coordinator OSCAR WILLIAMS and Randy Nauert, the bass player in The Challengers.  The Challengers made the second most number of appearances on HOLLYWOOD A GO-GO.  THE SINNERS made the most appearances.

We can thank Randy Nauert, the bass player from The Challengers, for the high quality photos documenting ALOHA A GO-GO that appear on this page.  In the above photo we see Randy and Ed Fournier, his bandmate, standing.  The ladies (left to right) are LUCILLE WILLS, SAM'S girlfriend and future wife, Adrienne, with AL BURTON'S daughter Bambi in her lap, and then AL'S wife Sally.  LUCILLE shared the story that their luggage got lost during the journey and the outfits that she and some of the other dancers had on were emergency fashion disaster replacements!

The two photos below show LUCILLE and JUNE on Waikiki Beach with Diamondhead in the background.  You can see the TV filming camera on the beach since many of the scenes from the show were filmed here.

The photo above, taken on the tarmac of Honolulu Airport, shows two members of The Challengers, singer Ray Peterson, and dancer DeANN MOLLNER.  Ray is on the far right.  DeANN, in the multi-colored outfit,  is wearing the dark headband.   Ed Fournier, from The Challengers, is front center.  His bandmate, Art Fisher, is directly to the left of Ed.
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Below we see Jan & Dean, along with DeANN (left), MIMI (center), and GAY SCHICKLER (right).

In this photo left to right: Art Fisher from The Challengers, JUNE in her floppy red hat, Ed Fournier and Randy Nauert from The Challengers, GAY SCHICKLER, and LUCILLE.  Note Challengers' drummer Richard Delvy's drum kit in the sand.

Randy from The Challengers and LUCILLE WILLS at Honolulu International Airport

Jimmy Boyd pictured on Kauai during the taping of his "That's What I'll Give To You" performance.

This faux postcard is actually an advertisement promoting ALOHA A GO-GO in the Los Angeles area newspapers during the week preceding the show.  The show aired in southern California on July 14, 1965, which was a Wednesday.   This was the only episode that was broadcast mid-week in the home market.  s Not only did lucky viewers get to see the GAZZARRI DANCERS in bikinis, they also got to see them three times in eight days.