European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 16, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Life s still a Beach for _ Frankie and Annette by John Eldridge Cox news service Rankie Avalon and Annette Funicello were icons of innocence during their Brief reign Over the Beach and Bikini craze in the Early 60s. Regardless of the often simple plot twists in their movies you could always count on them to do the right thing. Frankie and Annette were wholesome. What a More they were italian somehow you knew they a end up married with a string of Bambino on the Way in the not too Distant future. They had music in their souls. Happy or sad they a sing about it. "1 think we re pretty much both 100 percent italian Quot Avalon said. Quot first of All physically we look very much italian. Dark hair and eyes kind of tiny in stature. I always thought we looked More like brother and sister than romantic lovers on the  Avalon credits his singing ability to his italian heritage. His family is from Naples where his Grandfather was a flautist in the symphony orchestra. Although they did t marry each other Frankie and Annette actually did Settle Down to raise families before going Back on the Road recently to join the current up americans Beach sweethearts starting their new tour in Buena Park calif., Friday left and in their heyday. Nostalgia wave. A i still do the oldies All the time Quot said Avalon. Quot in a not looking for an audience going out there looking at led Zeppelin. I want my audience who started with me and stayed through the years to come listen again. It s the Only thing we have our  Well almost the Only thing. Avalon has eight children and he can name them one after the other without pause Frank Tony Dina Laura Joe Nick Kathryn Carla. Quot what s amazing is that my children they re As today As you can be. When they hear the music and see the pictures of our Era they say gee dad i wish we were born in those Days a Quot said Avalon. Quot they done to put them Down. They really like them. Quot you have to realize in those Days the majority of Young people did t know about foreign affairs or the Economy. Today s kids Are in tune with everything. Quot we were concerned about our Duck tails our pegged pants our dances we went to our cars. Those things were important to kids. In a not saying there weren to kids into the other things. That s How free and easy it was. Those Days were  Avalon said he and Annette kept in touch Over the years but while he continued performing around the country Annette stayed Home to raise her family. Quot she d never been out live Quot Avalon said. Quot she a always wanted to but had to fulfil commitments being a mom. She was really involved with car pools Pat meetings. Now the kids Are grown. We were asked 1o do the preshow for the super bowl in Miami we talked about seeing the game and she agreed to do it. She enjoyed it so much live with 75.000 people cheering for her. It was a Nice  Annette agreed to do some More shows with Avalon who schedules approximately 30 concerts per year mostly one fighters. Quot that Means there really in t a tremendous amount of pressure a Avalon said. Their shows Are a mix of duets and solos comedy and reminiscences Avalon turned 50 this year or half a Hundred As he put it. There Are a few wrinkles around the eyes and a certain thickening of the body Here and there but he still looks remarkably much like the surfing Singer in the Beach flicks. And one thing has stayed exactly the same. Quot my hair. It has never changed. My kids say when you were first born was your hair exactly like that a i try to grow it Long. It does t work. They Call me helmet  sunday May 13 dear mom i know i done to say it often enough but today i want to Tell you with this message that i love you your son style one a $10 a Fth for getting us off to school on time and everything else you do we just want to say we love you from your Bunch of spoiled kids. 3k Oncu in a sending you this message to thank you for always being there when i needed you. I love you your Loving daughter style two a $25 style three a $25 name address san Apo duty phone Home phone Check one a style one $10 a style two $25, momus #1 a style three $25, your headline mail to stars amp stripes attn mothers Day Box 266 Apo 09211-4211. Headline. 20 Chorociej maximum message area Send a special mothers pay message to mom. It s simple and easy to Dol just write your message 25 words or less on this order form or on a Ploin piece of paper. Please include your name social Security number address and phone number. Select your style from the samples shown below. Examples shown Are actual size. For longer messages add 10< per word. Make your personal Check or Money order payable to stars and stripes fond Tcn-874. Do not Send Cash. Messages received from children loss than 16 years of age Are half Price. All Mother s Day messages must be received no later than Friday May 6. Monday april 16, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page