Modern Screen (Jan-Dec 1960)

Petting and Parking (Continued from page 49) ANNETTE FUNICELLO: A I suppose you mean Paul, Fabe and Frankie. 9 You supposed correctly. A Well, may I honestly set the record straight on this confused story for the last time? <J> Go right ahead. A I'm terribly fond of each one of these three guys and we have a lot of fun together. But there's nothing like a romance involved. We just enjoy each other's company. 9 Why not take each boy, one at a time, and reveal your specific feeling about A Fine. First there's Paul. There's little to say about Paul except that he's my big brother and very closest friend. What was once is no longer and I'm sure we've become better and more understanding friends as a result. 9 Fabian? A What can I say about that crazy hound-dog man? He's the ginchiest and we've had a lot of laughs together. Including the time he shoved a watermelon in my face. But as far as a romance goes, I haven't got a chance. I'm just one of a million girls in his life. 9 And, last but not least, Frankie. A To tell you the truth, we've never had a real date together. But there's something very special about him that I haven't figured out yet. I've seen him less than Paul or Fabe but I think of him more. I don't know what it is. One of the nicest things that ever happened to me was when Frankie called me on my birthday from Texas. It meant so much to me. I hope that I can see more of him. He's great. 9 Now let's go from the specific to the general. Let's talk about the problems teen-agers always worry about. Like firstdate kissing. Do you believe in it? A I dig it. But it actually depends on the guy you are with. If he's just a friend, platonic and all that, then don't kiss him. But if you like him, then you should. I think it's a natural reaction to having had a good time. Most of the guys out here expect it. Q You don't date many 'friends?' A Nope! 9 How about first-date hand-holding? A Oh, sure! <? Have you learned any lessons about sex? A Only one. To take it slow. 9 What's the biggest mistake you've made? A I haven't made a big one. Just a lot of small ones during the course of a date. But then there really is no formula to dating. Every boy is a new, and usually exciting, experience. 9 And experience is the best teacher? A For me it is. 9 Do you park with a guy? A Sure. But not until the third or fourth date and I'm certain that I'm fond of him. Q Do you have a favorite parking spot? Like Los Angeles' famed Mulholland Drive? A Yes, and don't laugh. I like to park right in front of my own house. 9 Why? A So I don't have to rush at the last minute if I'm late! 9 How do you handle wolves? A I just don't lead them on. If you don't lead them on, then I've found that you'll have no trouble. If they do make a pass, and many of them do, then just kid them along and show them that while they may mean business, you're only kidding them along. Just put them into their place. 9 Do you believe in drinking on a date? A No. Definitely no! It's bad. Usually you're just a little girl trying to be big. But drinking does not prove a thing. Don't drink until you're over twenty-one and even then it isn't necessary. 9 Are your parents too strict? A No, they're not very strict. They trust my judgment. All they ask is that I introduce them to the fellow I date, and I don't think this is unfair. 9 What do you think of going steady? A As far as I'm concerned, I don't believe in it. I'm away so much that it wouldn't be fair to the boy. 9 And for others? A I think it's up to the individuals, though I'm not really in favor of it. I think that after a while it becomes unfair to both the guy and the gal. 9 Do you think that you can define the most precious word in the dictionary — love? A I'll try. I think that you're really in love when you have a special understanding with him. When you like no one else and have no jealousy and trust only him. But, then, I guess love is also a sort of a jealousy. Crazy. It's when you want to be together and do everything together. 9 Have you a current romance? A Yep, but I'm not talking. All I'll say is that he's tall, dark and handsome and lives near me. 9 Describe your version of the ideal guy A He's 5 feet 11, he has dark brown hair, a good build and a great smile. That's my dream because I've never met the 'ideal' guy — and probably never will. 9 Who are your favorite men? A Frankie, Paul, Fabe, my brothers Mike and Joey, my current 'Mr. X' who I'm not talking about, and my daddy. 9 How does the transition from girl to woman feel? A I don't know. I haven't made the change yet. I don't feel any older than I did a year ago though I suppose I do look older. It's just that I look at things differently than I did a year ago. I'm still a girl, but no longer a little girl. end FRANKIE AVALON: (Continued from page 49) experience. I finally had to get the manager of the hotel, and it took hours to find him, to convince the girls they should leave. Everyone in the hotel knew what was going on before they finally left. 9 Are your parents worried about your trips away from home? A Yes. They can't wait until I get back. I've been away about ten months this year. 9 What sort of advice has your father given you about girls you meet? A He has always told me to be careful and watch myself. He reminds me there's a lot to tempt a fellow, and that a guy has to learn self-control. 9 Was there a time when you had to remind yourself of his advice? A Oh, sure! 9 What did your mother suggest you do to stay out of trouble? A She always leaves the advice up to my dad. She was just nineteen when she married him, you know. . . . 9 What was your most embarrassing moment with a girl? A Once, on a date, I tried to get a girl out of the car, and dashed around the front of the car, tripped and fell flat on my face! I was all shook up and had quite a time pretending to keep my poise. 9 If a girl gets aggressive, how do you react? A I never let the girl get me alone. They seem to hold back if there are other people around. 9 Did you ever feel like going beyond the accepted relationship with a girl? A I'm just normal! 9 If you never got into trouble, to what do you credit it? Your parents' influence? Your religious background? Your managers' warnings? A It's a combination. My homelife and my church and my religious background naturally have a lot to do with it, plus the important factors of my early surroundings. 9 Have your managers ever forbidden you to date a certain girl? A No. I'd heard that they supposedly refused to let me date Tuesday Weld, but that isn't so. 9 Do you check with them before you take out a girl? A No — never! 9 Do they tell you how much money you can spend? A Yes. I get an allowance of twenty dollars a week. But that doesn't mean I'm restricted to that. I get more if I need it. 9 Did you ever have a crush on one of your women teachers? A Yes. I couldn't wait until I was in her class. She must have been twenty-two. She wasn't too big, sorta blonde and cute. I couldn't seem to get any work done. I'd just sit there, looking at her. She used to say, "Frankie, would you please run to the office with this message?" or ask me to pull the shades down, or some other errand, and I thought she really liked me. Until the end of the semester, that is. Then she flunked me. 9 Were you ever in trouble with the law? A Once, in Milwaukee. I left my hotel room with a police escort, because of all the fans hanging around, about ten in the morning, and didn't get back until 11:30 at night. When I did, I found three girls outside my room. Every night after that, when I returned, I found more and more girls until I think some kind of a record was set. It got so when I'd try to get into the elevator to get to my floor, there would be girls waiting in it to ask for my autograph. One night I got into the elevator and there were three girls with pencils and notebooks. They asked if they could come in and visit, so I told them sure. After all, it takes time to unwind after a day's work, so I didn't mind some company. Anyway, they came in, and we sat around and talked about movies and movie stars for about a quarter of an hour. All at once there was a knock on the door, and some detectives burst in. The girls had told me they were seventeen, but when the detective warned them he'd talked with their mothers, they admitted they were only fifteen! I didn't even know that a curfew existed in town, but as soon as he got them to admit their ages, he told me that they were all out way past the curfew — and I was at fault! I had to report to the court to explain what had happened. I said I didn't know the girls were under-age. So they let me go. 9 How do you feel about premarital relations between a boy and a girl? A I think it is very nice for a boy and girl to go steady. But it is better not to see a girl that much. There are too many temptations. I pet . . . we're all human. It's better to go to the movies, listen to records and dance, and have fun, without letting it get too complicated. 9 Do you think there's too much emphasis on sex in literature, school, and church?