Wildwoods Twistin’ Back to the Fabulous ’50s

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT > EDITOR'S CHOICES

The Wildwoods will be buzzing with bobby sox and Billy Haley look-alikes this weekend, as the Fabulous '50s Weekend returns for the seventh year Oct. 15-17

By Ray Schweibert

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Oct. 13, 2010

The Geator Jerry Blavat will be a part of the festivities in Wildwood this weekend.

Highlighting the festivities is the Fabulous ’50s Concert, starting Saturday at 7pm, which will include a 50-year celebration of that ’50s dance craze, The Twist. On hand will be the legend himself who made The Twist famous, Chubby Checker. Also performing will be Dee Dee Sharp (“Slow Twistin’”), Joey Dee and the Starliters (“Peppermint Twist”) and The Marvelettes (“Twistin’ Postman”). Chubby Checker debuted The Twist in the Wildwoods in July 1960.

“We have a lot of surprises in store for him,” says Tracey DuFault, executive director of event presenter Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce. Among the fun will be an attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the most people doing The Twist simultaneously. Concert admission is $45 per person, and tickets can be purchased by calling 729-4000 or going to gwcoc.com.

Fifties Weekend festivities begin Friday night, Oct. 15, at the Wildwoods Convention Center (WCC) with the Fabulous ’50s Record Hop ($12 admission) hosted by famed DJ and Atlantic City Weekly columnist Jerry “The Geator with the Heater” Blavat, who is celebrating 50 years in entertainment. They don’t stop until Sunday, Oct. 17, with live entertainment by the Love Affair Band, the Del Angels, and others at Fox Park from noon-3pm. In between is a free street fair on Saturday, 11am-6pm, with live music from the ‘50s and ‘60s, including ‘50s guitar virtuoso Charlie Gracie, surf guitar band the Rip Chords, original songs by Philip “Philly Cuzz” Battaglia, food and merchandise vendors, Hula-Hoop contests, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Elvis Presley look-alike contests, dance contests, a classic car show at the WCC and more. There will also be a casting call for the NBC series The Marriage Ref throughout the day.

Visit gwcoc.com or wildwoodsnj.com for more.