MALIBU U
The theme of this ABC-TV summer replacement
show was a fictional college summer school on Malibu Beach know as "Malibu
U". It was a 1967 beach party hosted by "Ozzie & Harriet" TV star Rick (Ricky)
Nelson as the dean. The show featured Australian vocalist Robie Porter, and
The Bob Banas Dancers, featuring bikini clad girls known as the "Maulibeauties"
(aka "The Malibuettes"). One of these dancers is none other than a very young
Erin Gray, who went on to portray Wilma Deering on the popular 1980's sci-fi
TV series "Buck Rogers In The 25th Century". Another dancer is the adorable
bubbly blonde Patricia Wymer, who had a fleeting cinematic career as a drive-in
exploitation starlet in the enjoyably trashy movies "The Babysitter"; "The
Witchmaker" and "The Young Graduates". Virginia Ann Lee also dances, but
is best known for her appearances in "Hillbillies In A Haunted House"
& "The Cool Ones". The dancer in braids is Denny Howard and
another dancer is Kam Nelson. Bob Banas became choreographer on "The
Jonathan Winters Show" premiering December 1967 for two seasons.
Rick Nelson was billed as "the dean of the drop-ins" at Malibu U. Various
celebrities appeared as "guest professors" delivering "lectures," which
meant singing their numbers, usually on Malibu Beach. According to the lyrics
of the theme song, performed by Harper's Bizarre: "All the students report
to the dean of the school, his office is cool. It's a telephone booth at
Malibu-U. He will tell you to work just as hard as you can, gettin' a tan
at Malibu-U." There were a lot of shows that didn't go into re-runs in the
'60's, but rather had other shows to replace them. "Malibu U" was a summer
replacement for "Hondo", and ran from 7/21/1967 to 9/1/1967 Friday nights
on ABC. A Robert E. Petersen production in association with Teen-Age Fair,
Inc. Directed by Jack Shea. Milt Larsen & Bob Lauher were the show's comedy
writers. There was a total of only 7 episodes. The shows available are presented
here in Black & White and are all complete with original commercials.
EPISODE 1 EPISODE 2 EPISODE 3 EPISODE 4 EPISODE 5 EPISODE 6 EPISODE 7
Premiere episode w/ Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons; Don Ho; Dionne Warwick; Paul Lynde; Robie Porter. Has UCLA
statement & time-code. (7/21/1967)
Leonard Nimoy debuts "Bilbo Baggins" (complete version with "The Malibuettes");
Buffalo Springfield "Bluebird" (Buffalo Springfield
w/ Steve Stills play the rare AM radio edit of their signature
tune 'Bluebird'); Engelbert Humperdinck "Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)";
Bobby Rydell "Volare" & "Dansero"; Mrs. Miller "Let's Hang On". Has UCLA
statement & time-code. (7/28/1967)
James Darren "Georgy Girl" & "Didn't We?"; Harper's Bizarre "Anything Goes"
& "Malibu U" (theme song); Frankie Randall "She Loves Me"; Rick Nelson "Moonshine";
Robie Porter "Rainbow Tree"; Includes one of George Barris' killer custom
hot rods! (He built the Batmobile; Monkeemobile & The Munsters' Dragula
& Koach). Has UCLA statement & time-code. (8/4/1967)
The Turtles "Happy Together" & "Do You Know What I Mean"; Lou Rawls"When
Love Goes Wrong"; Lesley Gore "Sunshine Lollipops & Rainbows"; Don & The
Goodtimes "I Could Be So Good To You"; Rick Nelson "Suzanne On A Sunday
Morning". The Bob Banas Dancers dance to "Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead".
Series regular Robie Porter also appears. (8/11/1967)
The 5th Dimension "Up Up And Away"; The Sunshine Company Happy"; Roger Williams
"Born Free"; John Astin comedy sketch.. Has UCLA statement & time-code.
(8/18/1967)
The Doors "Light My Fire"; Marvin Gaye "Ain't That Peculiar?"; Chad &
Jeremy "Distant Shores"; Lou Christie "(There's) Always Something There
To Remind Me"; Robie Porter "Sure Good Loving You, Baby". The 'Big Daddy'
Ed Roth bubble-top custom car 'The Road Agent' also appears. Has UCLA statement
& time-code. BONUS: Jim Morrison outtakes... (8/25/1967)
The final show of the series, with The Breed "Green Eyed Woman"; Peter &
Gordon "Sunday For Tea"; Dionne Warwick "Windows Of The World"; Marvin Gaye
"Your Unchanging Love"; Sandy Posey "I Take It Back" (9/1/1967)
