Avalon Honorary Chair of Moonlight at the Ranch V: ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll!’
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: May 18, 2011
You’ll doo-wop till you drop at Moonlight at the Ranch V: “Shake, Rattle & Roll!” where “Cruisin’ thru the 50s!” will be the nostalgic road trip of a lifetime, including a stop with an iconic entertainer. Frankie Avalon is the honorary chairman of the Moonlight V celebration, to be held Saturday, September 17 at Limoneira Ranch.
You’ll want to make the scene to experience all the 50’s fun. Tickets are only $60 (smackers) each.
In spite of an at times staid reputation, the 1950s unleashed major cultural impacts that will forever make the mid-century famous for the evolution of popular music, the introduction of the new media television, and the film emergence of teenagers as real people.
From Jackie Gleason’s “To the moon, Alice, to the moon!” and Engineer Bill’s Red Light/Green Light Milk Drinking Contest to “Leave it to Beaver” and “Captain Video” to Ricky Ricardo noting his bride Lucy had some “splainin’ to do!” television, that flickering box with grainy black and white images, helped define (and baby sit!) a generation.
From 45 rpm records and transistor radios came the sounds of music, from dream ballads to Elvis and emergence of “Shake, Rattle & Roll!” - a cultural phenomenon creating a Sock Hop atmosphere of poodle-skirts, Chevrolets, and men’s duck-a-- er -tail haircuts.
Sulky was cool, as exhibited by the dark films of teenage angst starring James Dean. Other teenagers were shown in peril from threatening space creatures and monsters - who can forget “The Blob!” - in films that filled drive-in theaters with couples often more interested in necking than craning their necks towards the screen.
And like “Venus,” the title of his most famous hit of the 1950s, the brightest of the brightest stars was Frankie Avalon, the kid from Philly whose career took off in the 1950s and is still flying high. An entertainment icon, Avalon branched out to acting and is still revered for his singing and acting talents, handsome looks and good-natured attitude toward his enduring reputation as a legend of teenage lore.
Staged each year to benefit the Santa Paula Police & Fire Foundation and Chamber of Commerce, Moonlight has become Ventura County’s signature celebration. And for the fifth annual event, “When we first came up with the idea of a Fifties theme we started to talk about an honorary chair,” said Moonlight V Chairman/Santa Paula Police Chief Stephen MacKinnon.
“Frankie Avalon’s name floated to the top very quickly as someone we all immediately connect with that era.... We were absolutely thrilled when he said yes, and,” noted MacKinnon, “we are already getting indications Frankie may be very involved with this year’s event.”
Moonlight at the Ranch will feature dozens of fine restaurants offering generous samples of their finest cuisine that will “Shake, Rattle & Roll!” your taste buds. No-host bars will offer fine spirits and a variety of beers and wine, and there will be many fun prizes in the popular Raffle. There’ll be a whole lot of shakin’ going on to the music of the renowned Men on the Moon band, and a series of fascinating displays that will highlight the “Happy Days” of the nation.
In the 1950s adults liked Ike, teens mourned the Day the Music Died, and kids sat enraptured in front of the television set enjoying “Crusader Rabbit” and “The Lone Ranger” while wearing their genuine Davy Crockett coonskin cap. Milton Berle was the star of “Texaco Star Theater,” and “Uncle Miltie” wasn’t averse to dressing up as hilarious send-ups of female 1950’s stars.
Ernie Kovacs’ comic genius burned bright, but it was Lucille Ball who kept the whole family riveted in front of the round TV screen with “I Love Lucy.” Elvis’ swivel was shown only from the waist up on Ed Sullivan’s show, and the mantra of kids appearing on American Bandstand was, “It’s got a good beat and you can dance to it!”
Moonlight guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite real or fictional character from the 1950s (do you dare go Bozo?) or, of course, plan to “Rock Around the Clock” in whatever they are most comfortable in.
Don’t forget: Moonlight at the Ranch V: “Shake, Rattle & Roll!” will have you “Cruisin’ thru the 50s!” for a night of unforgettable fun featuring ultimate teen heartthrob Frankie Avalon. “Go-Daddy-Go!” to www.moonlightattheranch.com and visit the Moonlight at the Ranch Facebook page to see the fun of past year’s events while updates are being completed.
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