The purpose of this page is to get feedback from people who actually appeared on the show as dancers in the audience. There were quite a few "regulars" in the audience who danced their way through many episodes. Needless to say, we have no names for these lucky teenagers. They have been captured forever in their youth since the emergence of the many videos from the show posted on the net and collected here on this website. If you see yourself in any of these videos please do contact us because we would love to hear your memories of the show. If you see yourself on this webpage it is because you have most likely appeared on many of the episodes and made an impression on us! There were many great dancers on this show, and they all weren't GAZZARRI DANCERS!
|
| ___________________________________________________________________ |
Do You Know This Couple ?
The couple pictured below, both individually and collectively, appeared on over several dozen acts on multiple episodes. They both were excellent dancers and appeared to be very hip because they always kept up with the latest dances and styles. The girl is one of the very few audience members to mount a GAZZARRI DANCER platform or stage to dance. We would love to hear from either one of them to hear their memories of the show and to discover whatever happened to them. Hopefully someone out there knows who they are!
|
| ___________________________________________________________________ |
Recollections From PAM R.
"I'm thinking that this taping was a bit unique. We arrived fairly early, at the assigned time, and lined up at the stage door. I recall that after a long while, it was announced that there was a problem with the lighting. Eventually, we were allowed on to the set, while they worked to solve the problem. The delay lasted for hours.....we hung out with the stars, chatting and..and sharing the refreshments.
I vividly recall Simon and Garfunkle just hangin with us..I was only 15, so they were really mature..and so East Coast...Paul Simon, verbally played with me, like a cat with a mouse...I knew it..but they had me going in circles....The Association were the stars..Leslie Gore, Bobby Freeman, The Dixie Cups..just hanging out..
I don't remember that the [Gazzarri] dancers were with us. I think they were practicing, in reality they were the only live performers. I do remember that Donna [Loren] was fairly aloof, she may have been with the girls?
I'm pretty sure the technical issues were not all resolvable, so it was finally decided to just shoot the thing. From the tapes, it looks like the lighting isn't quite right. Pretty dark, don't you think? The S&G bit was oddly lit...I think they worked around whatever lights they lost? anyway..I think they gave us the little tablets, we had a lot of time together. I may have more stuff in a box, that is in storage..."
ed. note: Pam's recollections are from episode # 53, which was taped on December 18, 1965, and originally broadcast on Christmas Day 1965. The autographs shown below, of that episode's musical guests, were obtained by her during breaks in the taping. Thank you Pam for a most interesting account !
|
|
To the left is a photo of Pam taken only two years after the show ended production.
|
| ____________________________________________________________________ |
Recollections From NELSON G.
"My sister and I were invited to the station 'dancing audition'. We did not know what show until later on. I went with her because she needed a dancing partner. The show was taped on Saturday afternoon and aired on Sunday evenings. I believed the asssociate-producers were seeking clean-cut good kids that somewhat represent the youth of the time. I think that was the market segment they were trying to reach.
Regarding interaction with the Gazzarri dancers, I do not remember nothing of that. We were told that they were professional performers just like the rest of the guest artists of the show, and that was that.
I remember Andrea and Judd from the rehearsals prior to the recordings, and I can tell you that I found them friendly and upbeat, just like you see them on the video clips. DeAnn seemed to be more quiet , but ready to shoot you a big smile at anytime... terrific dancer. Her steps seemed to come very natural to her.
I think her first name could it be Judy because I remember people at the sound stage, calling her "Jud", probably as short for Judy. I never spoke to her to confirm her name as my sister and I were only guests for the show 3 times from October thru December 1965. And you may be right, it could be a nickname that she liked to use. I hope someday all 52 'Hollywood A Go Go' episodes become public domain and available for purchase, until then we have to keep watching YouTube.com."
ed. note: Although we all know who DeAnn is, we have no information about Andrea or Judd (possibly Judy?). They must have been short-term dancers who have not yet been identified.
__________________________________________________________________
The top four photos below show Nelson and his sister (right side) dancing to "Love Minus Zero" by Eddie Hodges. They are on the left side in the bottom two photos taken from the Eddie Hodges "New Orleans" video. Both of these performances are from Episode # 44, taped on October 16, 1965
|
| ____________________________________________________________________ |
Do You Know This Couple ?
Captured forever in their youth on Saturday, April 24, 1965, is this very attractive couple. These photos of them have only recently been discovered, and they might not even know that they are now part of television history. Both would probably now be in their mid to late 60s. If this is you, or if anyone knows who they are, please contact us at this website.
|
| ___________________________________________________________________ |
|
Recollections From ED BLACK
"My name is Ed Black. I am a 52 year old former Air Force navigator and now a child pyschologist. I now live north of Boston in NEW HAMPSHIRE. But in 1965 I was living with my parents and my 2 younger sisters at Edwards AF Base where my father was a pilot. My mom's younger brother is Jay Black of Jay and the Americans and he was performing on ...Hollywood a Go-Go one night. My mom had not seen Jay in 8 months, so she took me to the show! I watched from the off camera view and got to meet the guests and the Gazzarri girls. All the dancers shook my hand and patted me on the head. I was only 7 and a half and so cute in my little suit. But there was one dancer, so pretty who got down to one knee and hugged me and kissed my face. Wow! I knew I liked girls and had a crush on that one. 6 months later my mom and I returned to see not Uncle Jay, but mom's best friend Beverly Bivins lead singer of the We Five. We arrived just before the show, but every body was there. After walking around for 10 minutes this dancer came running over, almost knocking down Shelly Bonis and other dancers! This beautifull girl picked me up and twirled me around like I was go go dancing. I got another hug and kiss and my mom Joanna was smiling from ear to ear. We asked AL Burton who is she? It was DALE VANN! We moved back to New York 2 years later when my father was killed in Vietnam. I had Thanksgiving at my Uncle Jay's this past 09. He's 71, but the Gazzarri girls were crazy about him in 65. In the youtube Shindig "Cara Mia" he was handsome. Jay and I talked about that night and he said they were the prettiest, athletic go go dancers and always smiling! Dale's kindness to me a stranger was so touching and I never forgot!" ED BLACK.
|
| ___________________________________________________________________ |
|
RECOLLECTIONS FROM DON GLUT
"In the sixties I was bass guitar player in a couple bands, including the Penny Arkade, which Mike Nesmith produced. I went to the clubs a lot, at first mostly Gazzarri's on La Cienega. It's there I think I met her (DeAnn Mollner), also Dale Vann. We never dated but were friends. She invited me to a taping and to her house for some kind of get together, etc. After the late 1960s I lost contact with her. I'm sure there's more to tell, but that's all I remember. She seemed like a nice, sweet girl and I'm glad to have known her as well as I did, although for a short time.
I think the episode I attended was # 17, because the Arrows were on. The only other ep with the Arrows also featured Major Lance. I probably would have said
something to Lance. Because before I moved to California in 1964 from Chicago I'd been attending DePaul University. And back then a mostly unknown Lance
frequently performed at the school dances and even in the cafeteria.
I only remember standing around and watching, my main attention being on DeAnn and the other dancers. I believe Bill Gazzarri had a special "thing" for Dale. He ran 16mm movies on screens at both nightclubs and at LaCienega there was a lot of footage of Dale dancing and just standing/sitting around looking great. Bill would run those movies he'd taken of the dancers, all on set of the TV show as I recall and favoring Dale, on a wall at the La Cienga club. I think Bill regarded Dale as the most beautiful of the dancers.
Also, I remember, when De De invited me up to her house, it was somewhere in the Hollywood Hills. I rode there on a motorcycle. I seem to recall other people
being there, either roommates or maybe for some event she was hosting there that day. My most vivid memory of that day is her puttering around her kitchen.
By the way, the original Gazzarri's was where I celebrated my 21st birthday. You had to be that age to get in. The band playing that night was the Sons of Adam. A couple of years later my band, Penny Arkade, was playing there."
ed. note: Donald Glut is an American writer, motion picture film director, and screenwriter. He is best known for writing the novelization of the second Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back.
|
|
|
