Happy Birthday, John! - Hand a Handkerchief to Helen

John Ettline was born 117 years ago

on the 12th day of March, 1906.

I learned from John's

family that he once worked

as a music agent booking

bands for York area clubs.

He also managed several

local clubs including

The Valencia Ballroom,

the first air conditioned

 dance hall in America,

the historic swing dance

music venue located

in downtown York.

For a time, John was

manager of Lehmeyer’s,

the classy men's clothing

store on North George St.
John himself was a dapper

dresser, a great dancer and

a handsome gentleman,

a ladies' man, a man's

man and very much

his own man.

John loved music and dancing, and it's no stretch to understand
why he was inspired to buy the Shady Dell and turn it into
an ice cream parlor and juke joint for teenagers.

To celebrate John's birthday this year,

I picked four songs I think he'd like.

 THE CRUISERS 

Released before Christmas, 1980, the French film La Boum aka The Party

aka House Party aka Ready for Love was an international box-office hit.

  La Boum was the film debut of actress Sophie Marceau who went on

to become an international star 15 years later in Braveheart. I believe

John would enjoy these scenes from the movie in which The Cruisers

perform and the young characters dance to-- "Swingin' Around." 

"Swingin' Around" - The Cruisers

(scenes from Dec. 1980 French film La Boum aka The Party) 

 SUSAN MAUGHAN 

Up next, a cute "Helen" song by Susan Maughan, a perky English singer

who had a string of pop hits in the 60s. This song was co-written by

American rock & roller Paul Evans who had a hit in 1959 with

the novelty ditty "Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Backseat"

featuring The Curls - Sue Singleton and Sue Terry.

This song waxed by Susan features backing by Wally Stott and his orchestra

and chorus. The single was released in the UK around Christmas, 1962,

and just missed the top 40 early the following year. Here now is the

beautiful Susan Maughan performing a song John might have

sung to tease his wife-- "Hand A Handkerchief To Helen!"

"Hand A Handkerchief To Helen" - Susan Maughan

(Feb./Mar. 1963, highest chart pos. #41 UK)

 THE DELTEENS 

In April of 1953, bandleader Ray Anthony And His Orchestra released a doublesider

dance record that my mother brought home and played often. The B side of the 45 is

"The Hokey Pokey," a campfire song and participation dance that dates back to 1826.

The A side of the platter is the novelty social mixer dance song "The Bunny Hop."

Ten years later, The Delteens, a group with the perfect name for a

John Ettline tribute, released both songs on a Federal single

of their own with the A & B sides reversed. 

From March of 1963, getting us in the mood for Easter...

here are The Delteens with their version of-- "The Bunny Hop!" 

"The Bunny Hop" - The Delteens

(Mar. 1963, B side of The Hokey-Pokey") 

 SHELLEY FABARES 

Again this year on his birthday, I think John will enjoy being serenaded by

America's sweetheart, Miss Shelley Fabares aka Mary Stone, as she sings

her sig song "Johnny Angel" on the hit TV series The Donna Reed Show.

For the first time, the clip is available AI-restored 5K and colorized!

"Johnny Angel" - Shelley Fabares

(Mar./Apr. 1962, highest chart pos. #1,

scene from The Donna Reed Show)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN.

WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!