Got a Lot of Livin’ to Do with Bye Bye Birdie

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Girls love Conrad Birdie across the globe. Girls scream when they hear his name. It is this type of power that Alfred F. Peterson seeks to launch his songwriting career with the help of his love, Rosie DeLeon, and Ed Sullivan on the Ed Sullivan Show. It is that which brings them all to Sweet Apple, Ohio. Conrad Birdie’s moves make women faint, as is apparent in the 1963 film version of the musical Bye Bye Birdie. In addition, if the girls are not thinking about Conrad Birdie they are thinking about boys.

Dick van Dyke plays Alfred F. Peterson, the man trying to get himself out of hock so he can marry Rosie DeLeon, played by Janet Leigh. Rosie worries sometimes though about Alfred, because at times he is thinking more about his mother, Mama Mae Peterson, played by Maureen Stapleton, instead of her. Paul Lynde plays Harry McAfee, and he and Dick van Dyke performed in the original Broadway show.

George Sidney is the director. Onna White does the choreography for this picture and she worked on the movie, Oliver! This was a big mover for Ann-Margret, who played Kim McAfee, and who George Sidney became so taken with, as you can tell since she performed the opening song as well as the closing song to the credits for the picture. Jesse Pearson plays Conrad Birdie, and Bobby Rydell plays Kim’s boyfriend, Hugo Peabody.

In 1964, Bye Bye Birdie came in 2nd place for Top Musical and received The Laurel Award, and Ann-Margret received 2nd place for Top Female Comedy Performance.

This story is a homegrown family favorite but in this picture, everyone wants their shot including the Russians. This musical is worth seeing and is definitely lots of fun. At that time if you were in Sweet Apple even you would want to be on the Ed Sullivan Show.