Little Debbie

As young gaylings, one of our favorite afternoon pasttimes was watching old AIP beach party flicks on television. We loved Frankie and Annette, of course; and thrilled whenever Donna Loren belted out a tune; but our favorite was the uber-perky, slightly-tomboyish Deborah Walley (August 12, 1941 - May 10, 2001).

Although best-remembered today for her supporting roles in those beach party flicks, Deborah actually made her initial splash by starring in Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961), taking the role over from Sandra Dee.


MICHAEL CALLAN & DEBORAH WALLEY IN GIDGET GOES HAWAIIAN (1961)


(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) DEBORAH WALLEY, VICKI TRICKETT, MICHAEL CALLAN & JAMES DARREN IN GIDGET GOES HAWAIIAN (1961)

We are actually more enamored of Michael Callan in this film than Deborah, but that's just us. She followed up this picture with a few projects for the good folks at Disney, including a memorable turn as Hayley Mills' snooty cousin in the entertaining family film, Summer Magic (1963).


POSTER FOR SUMMER MAGIC (1963). DEBORAH'S LIKENESS IS ON THE FAR LEFT.

Of course, since it's her show, Hayley gets the guy in the final reel. And as much as love Deborah's spoiled-little-rich-girl act, we can't help having eyes only for dreamy Peter Brown.


17-YEAR-OLD HAYLEY MILLS & 28-YEAR-OLD PETER BROWN POSE THE CREEPY QUESTION: WHAT MAKES A GOOD DATE?

Lest you think us horrid hypocrites, we assure you that we really do love Deborah Walley, and don't always ogle her handsome co-stars rather than the lady herself. We will mention just one more good-looking leading man in her life; Walley's real-life husband from 1962-1966, John Ashley, who was a suave, handsome presence in otherwise tawdry affairs like Dragstrip Girl (1957) and Frankenstein's Daughter (1958).



Deborah and her hubby were paired together in the Citizen Kane of beach party epics, Beach Blanket Bingo (1965). They portrayed a couple of bickering skydivers. Don't ask.


DEBORAH WALLEY & JOHN ASHLEY ON THE SET OF BEACH BLANKET BINGO (1965)

Deborah also appeared in Ski Party (1965), Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1966), The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966) and It's a Bikini World (1967). She also managed to squeeze in an appearance in Spinout (1966) with Elvis, and co-starred in the popular sitcom, The Mothers-in-Law (1967-1969) as Eve Arden's daughter.


TOMMY KIRK & GLAMOROUS DEBORAH WALLEY IN IT'S A BIKINI WORLD (1967)

Off the screen since the early 1970's, Deborah was a popular attraction at fan events and autograph conventions across the country. Sadly, she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away at the young age of 59. She would have been 64 today. Happy Birthday, Deborah Walley! Wherever you are, we're sure that you're providing a little summer magic to a bikini world.