[Speed Gibson,
Saturday December 30, 2006 at 7:13pm]
Let's Twist Again
Turner Classic Movies served up another gem recently, "Don't Knock the Twist" starring Chubby Checker, made in 1961. It was low budget by any standard, but it's a wonderful look back. And as music videos go, I'll take several of its segments over most modern fare. Oh, and this movie was a sequel!
I was in the eighth grade when the twist craze happened. I even remember watching Chubby Checker give twist lessons in short film features on Bill Carlson's "Nite Cappers" after Dave Moore's "The Bedtime Nooz" after the iron mining sponsored movie Saturday nights on WCCO-TV.
What makes my heart sigh most is how nice everyone looks, even the band. They're all wearing matching coats and ties - suits, in fact. And Chubby looked fantastic. I had forgotton how handsome the guy was. And nobody does the twist like Chubby Checker.
The music was fun, too, and there's something about Chubby's signature style of twist music in particular. A steady yet peppy base with some old doo-wop in the background. (ooooooh! bop! bop!)
File this under: "I wish I had a Mr. Peabody Wayback Machine."
I was in the eighth grade when the twist craze happened. I even remember watching Chubby Checker give twist lessons in short film features on Bill Carlson's "Nite Cappers" after Dave Moore's "The Bedtime Nooz" after the iron mining sponsored movie Saturday nights on WCCO-TV.
What makes my heart sigh most is how nice everyone looks, even the band. They're all wearing matching coats and ties - suits, in fact. And Chubby looked fantastic. I had forgotton how handsome the guy was. And nobody does the twist like Chubby Checker.
The music was fun, too, and there's something about Chubby's signature style of twist music in particular. A steady yet peppy base with some old doo-wop in the background. (ooooooh! bop! bop!)
File this under: "I wish I had a Mr. Peabody Wayback Machine."