Atlantic City Weekly

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Once again, greetings and salutations. And like so many of you who were hit by the storm that affected virtually all parts of southern New Jersey, we, too, at Memories, had no power. It is only the second time in 40 years that we did not open up on a Saturday night — the first several years ago when there was a hurricane emergency, and then this past Saturday night. 


I have to apologize to all of you who did come to party and found that we had no power. I personally stayed Saturday night with our staff, hoping that power would return and we would also be able to do our live broadcast from Memories on KOOL 98.3. That did not happen. Let’s just get all the inconveniences behind us and move on and make this a partying summer for one and all at the Jersey beach. 


And we will see you this Friday when we open up our doors at 8 and go live with a fabulous food buffet from Barrels and Chickie’s & Pete’s, music by DJ Eddie Tully, special drink prices, casual dress, and no cover after 11pm. 


And of course we’re still going strong Thursday nights at Lighthouse Pointe at 8 and Sundays at our La Costa jam sessions in Sea Isle starting at 4.


Now, before we start, I’ve got a trivia question for you. Tim Burton’s first choice for the role of Beetlejuice was not Michael Keaton — and I bet you won’t guess who it was. Hint: He was a good friend of the Geator’s. Answer at the end of the column. Now to your questions. 


I read in a blog that “What’s Your Name” by Don & Juan was supposed to be the B-side of another song, “Chicken Necks,” but a Philadelphia DJ kept playing the B-side and it shot to No. 7. Could that DJ have been you? — Absecon Lou 


No, that was Lloyd “Fatman” Smith, who I worked with on WHAT back in the early part of the ’60s. He became a DJ there in 1955 after years as a comedian, blues singer, bandleader, and manager, and was there until his passing in 1989. 


You did a show on XPN of songs with the word “eye” in the title. One of the songs was “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” You said it was a group called Playground. Was that Frankie Valli singing lead? It sure sounded like him. – Little Stewie, Philadelphia


You are right, that is a Frankie Valli/Four Seasons soundalike. Playground does a Four Seasons tribute show that is very popular in the north Jersey area.


Who is the female voice you play during the introduction to your radio show where the phone rings and she says, “Hello? Who’s this?” — Linda Lee, Williamstown


That was a local comedienne whose name I cannot recall. She worked the chitlin’ circuit and would do a very funny hooker routine in her act. 


Answer to trivia: Tim Burton originally wanted Sammy Davis, Jr. to play Beetlejuice, but David Geffen, the producer, suggested Michael Keaton, who Burton agreed would be perfect. Tim Burton is a huge Sammy fan who I’ve been told does one of the best impersonations of Sammy around.