Richard Beymer as Tony in 'West Side Story'
Once again, greetings and salutations. And as you read this, we’re down in the sunny lands for Jersey Shore Weekend at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla. — but the big news is that beginning April 3 we’ll be bringing our Happy hours back to Atlantic City, where you used to join us on the deck of the former Trump Marina. That spot has been transformed into the spectacular new Golden Nugget, and we’ll be there in the Main Atrium every Thursday from 4-8pm through July 4, switching to Tuesday nights for the rest of the summer so we can continue our legendary Thursday night get-togethers at the Lighthouse Pointe in Wildwood. More about our summer schedule at the Jersey shore in the coming weeks — but now, let’s ask the Geator.
I was listening to your program last Saturday on WXPN and you mentioned a singer named Ruth who died young in 1963. Ruth who? I was driving and unable to jot down her name. I’d like to find out more about her. — Darrell Griffiths, New York, N.Y.
I was referring to Dinah Washington, whose real name was Ruth Jones and who was only 39 — and married to her seventh husband — when she died.
Does anyone know the lineup for the April 19 Kimmel show? — Len Sloane (via Facebook)
Sure do, and it’s going to be the greatest doo-wop reunion of them all, with the Duprees, the Classics, the Chimes, Jay Siegel’s Tokens, the Happenings, the Roommates, the Demensions, plus tributes to Johnny Maestro and Frankie Lymon. For tickets call 215-893-1999 or go to kimmelcenter.org where you can see available seats and purchase your own.
Watching the Oscars, wondering whatever happened to Richard Beymer from West Side Story? — Halley C., Ocean City
It’s interesting that after West Side Story, except for his appearance the following year in The Longest Day, Richard Beymer’s acting career never took off. The same thing happened to George Chakiris, who scored an Oscar nomination for playing Bernardo. Beymer became involved in painting, writing, and filmmaking, and also made a documentary on efforts to get black people in the South to register to vote. In the 1990s both he and another WSS castmate, fellow Jet Russ Tamblyn, who played Riff, had major roles in David Lynch’s TV series Twin Peaks. But maybe the best way to get the answer to your question is by reading Richard Beymer’s own novel, which he wrote in 2007, called Impostor, or Whatever Happened to Richard Beymer?
Hey, Geator, always enjoy your WXPN show on Saturdays. Just watched the Super Bowl and thought Bruno Mars did an OK Jackie Wilson tribute. Why not spin some Jackie Wilson during one of your boss Saturday shows on the radio sometime? — Ron Shapella, Lambertville, N.J.
Thanks, Ron. I very often play Jackie on my XPN show and I featured him this past January in a tribute I did to some of the great blues voices of the past. Keep listening and I’m sure you’ll hear him before too long because Jackie is a “regular” on the Geator’s Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues Express on XPN every Saturday at 6pm. Down here at the Jersey shore, if you can’t pick it up on 88.5, you can get it online at xpn.org/xpn-programs/Geator.