Anniversary of Annette Funicello's Passing

I heard the news six years ago today, that Annette Funicello had passed away.  She had lost her long battle with multiple sclerosis, which I vividly remember her first announcing back in 1992.  Even though Annette Funicello was a star of the Baby Boomer generation, it certainly didn't mean that I.. a Generation X-er, wasn't just as enthralled with her.  Even though I was a child of the 70s and 80s, I was very much a lifelong fan.





I vividly remember going to my grandparents house after school back in the early 70s, flipping on the TV, and watching old reruns of The Mickey Mouse Club.  Annette was always my favorite Mouseketeer.  There was just something about her that seemed comforting, relaxing, and real.

She came across as so sincere in her acting, that it actually felt as if she was speaking directly to me.  I was a huge fan of Disney's Zorro, and a two part episode Starring Funicello became one of my favorites as a kid.


Fast forward to my preteen years of the early 80s.  Many a Saturday afternoon was spent in front of the TV watching Monster movies, when somewhere around summer 1982.. I discovered surf and beach party films.  When I saw the movie 'Beach Party' starring Annette and Frankie Avalon, Annette once again caught my eye (albeit for totally different reasons than when I was six years old).

'Beach Party' got me hooked on the campy 60s surf flicks like 'Beach Blanket Bingo' and 'Bikini Beach'.  Those movies sure showed plenty of skin, but were wholesome enough to sit down with Mom to watch, and watch she did.

Whenever I was watching surf movies like this, my Mom would sit down and spend the entire time reminiscing about her youth.  She would tell me about how she would go hang out with friends at the beach as a teenager.  She would explain slang and vernacular that I wasn't familiar with.  She would also laugh at the hairstyles, clothes, music, and dance that she herself was in the thick of during the 60s.  I cherish those times, as it was at that point of my life that I realized my Mother was once someone else other than "Mom".  It made her more human to me, and from that point on I related to her much easier than ever before. 

Through the 80s and 90s, I remember seeing Annette everywhere on television.  She was an incredibly popular spokesperson for 'Skippy' peanut butter, she would often be seen at Disney events and specials, and I recall on more than one occasion seeing her at Mousketeer reunions.  I specifically remember folks getting excited or fondly smiling and reminiscing when she appeared on television programming.  The mere sight of her would almost always garner responses from my parents like "Hey look it's Annette!"  It was always obvious to me that she had quite an effect on many folks besides myself.

Annette Funicello had that "special something" that very few actors have.  She could sing, dance, and act, but above all that, she was endearing.  Countless folks fell under her spell, and she is ingrained in pop culture and Americana as a result.  She will continue to be missed, but not forgotten.  Rest in Peace Annette. 



Throwback Thursday - The One pound Pizza Burger


Close to a couple of years ago, Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom offered a pizza burger on their 40th Anniversary menu that sported a one pound beef patty.  I was more than intrigued when I first heard about it, and of course gave it a try (on a couple of occasions).

Old Chicago's Pizza Burger really was a sight to behold, and I must admit that the pictures I took on my old phone don't do it proper justice.  The burger sported a one pound hamburger patty, sandwiched between two pub pizzas, topped with Italian sausage and pepperoni.  Oh yeah, this behemoth was also served with sides of onion rings, fries, and ranch dressing.





My burgers were cooked perfectly, with the center right on the verge of turning from pink to light brown.  The outside of the patty had a nicely seasoned and crispy char to it.  No other condiments are added to the burger, apart from a nice layer of pizza sauce on the bottom "pub pizza bun".



This pizza burger was incredible, and had neither too much or too little of any one ingredient.  The proportions were spot on as well.  I've eaten burgers bigger than this one, and the bun is usally a soggy mess by the time it was half eaten.  However, the pub pizza buns held up perfectly, and worked nicely with the massive hamburger patty.   A bit on the pricey side at $19.76, the burger was still worth every penny, and was totally big enough to split with someone.

I love burgers, and I'm of course a pizza addict, so this wild creation was right up my alley.  I've thought about this burger so many times since I originally tried it.  I've searched high and low for a burger similar to this one for a couple of years now, but have not found a reasonable simile as of yet.  Now that I live so close to the food mecca that is Orlando Florida, perhaps I need to double my efforts to try and find a comparable or better version.  If I find one.. rest assured you'll read about it here.


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