How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
Maker
National Screen Service
(American, 1920 - 2000)
Date1965
Object number00008591
NamePoster
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 1041 x 685 mm
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection
Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
DescriptionThis promotional poster for the film 'How to Stuff a Wild Bikini', was printed by the National Screen Service Corp in 1965. The film starred Annette Funicello, Dwayne Hickman, Brian Donlevy, Buster Keaton, Harvey Lembeck, John Ashley, Jody McCrea. Mickey Rooney guest starred. The poster features a number of stills from the movie including Mickey Rooney standing with a pelican; a woman in a yellow bikini holding a pointer; and a motorcycle race.HistoryDuring the 1950s and 1960s Hollywood developed the beach party movie as a genre. Plots usually centered on teenage gangs that lived around beach. The appeal of surfing in popular culture was in part due to the 1957 publication of Frederick Kohner's novel 'Gidget' and subsequent 'Gidget' films and television series.
American International Pictures, following on from the appeal of 'Gidget', produced the surprise hit 'Beach Party' in 1963, helping to popularise surfing and surf music in films. 'How to Stuff a Wild Bikini' was the sixth in a series of seven beach party films produced by American International Pictures and featured Buster Keaton in one of his final roles. The storylines of each of the seven films usually centred around boyfriend Frankie Avalon and girlfriend Annette Funicello and the adventures they got up to with their friends, both on and off the beach. In 'How to Stuff a Wild Bikini', Annette Funicello played a starring role while Frankie Avalon only made a minor appearance.SignificanceThis poster provides an example of the promotional material associated with beach party movies produced during the 1950s and 1960s.