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Donna Loren
1947-
Updated 8/26/2008.
biography
Born Donna Zukor on March 7, 1947, in Boston, Massachusetts, pretty Donna Loren started her music career while still a child. At the age of 8, Loren sang a jingle for an ice cream commercial. Soon afterward, she began making TV appearances on such shows as Playhouse 90 and The Mickey Mouse Club. She was also a regular performer on a country and western radio show. Although Loren began making recordings in the mid-1950s, she would have to wait until 1963 to find fame as a singer, when she was signed as the "Dr. Pepper Girl." Loren did radio spots and appeared in TV commercials and print ads for the soft drink company until 1968. Capitol Records signed Donna Loren to a recording contract in 1964, a deal which resulted in several singles and the release of Loren's Beach Blanket Bingo album. Loren later recorded for other labels, including Warner Bros. While her career was going very well, in 1968 Loren married and started a family; in the process, she walked away from performing.
LEFT: Capitol Records promotional photo. RIGHT: Photo of Loren used for her Beach Blanket Bingo album
The success of Donna Loren's singing career led her to make several films and numerous television appearances. She appeared in four beach party films (Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), Pajama Party (1964), and Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), as well as another American International release, Sergeant Deadhead (1965). In fact, Loren was one of the very few actual teenagers in AIP's beach party flicks. Much of Donna Loren's TV work was on the ABC network, where she appeared on such popular shows as Shindig, Batman, and The Milton Berle Show both as a singer and actress.
the films of donna loren
Donna Loren and Dick Dale in a still from Muscle Beach Party (thanks to Alan Gordon)
Promotional still from AIP's Bikini Beach
From AIP's fourth beach party entry Pajama Party. LEFT: Loren sings That's the Way It's Done Among the Young as Candy Johnson frugs. CENTER: With Annette Funicello. RIGHT: Promotional photo with Jody McCrea, Harvey Lembeck, and Candy Johnson
Shindig! (1964-1966 ABC TV Series)
LEFT: Loren was a series regular on ABC's Shindig!. RIGHT: With Shindig! host Jimmy O'Neill
Donna Loren sings It Only Hurts When I Cry in these stills from AIP's Beach Blanket Bingo
Batman (1966-1968 ABC TV Series)
LEFT: Donna Loren as Suzie in a March 1966 episode of ABC-TV's Batman. RIGHT: With Burt Ward
The Milton Berle Show (1966-1967 ABC TV Series)
LEFT: With Milton Berle in The Milton Berle Show. RIGHT: Publicity still
donna loren today
After Loren's first marriage ended, in the 1980s she attempted to revive her music career, but this time she returned to her country music roots rather than pop. However, Loren eventually abandoned her singing in favor of fashion design at which she has become very successful. Check out the links section below to find out more about Loren's designs.
donna loren dvds available from movies unlimited
Frankie & Annette: M-G-M Movie Legends Collection [DVD] DVD
"Surf's up" in this four-disc boxed set saluting AIP's teen comedy series and seaside sweethearts Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Anthropologist Bob Cummings uses the pair as part of a study of modern mating habits in the original "Beach Party" (1963), with Morey Amsterdam, Dorothy Malone, and Harvey Lembeck as Eric Von Zipper. Annette has her hands full when the Potato Bug, a British pop star who's Frankie's double, arrives at "Bikini Beach" (1964). Don Rickles and Little Stevie Wonder guest star. Gym owner Rickles wants to take over the kids' surf spot, and heiress Luciana Paluzzi wants to woo Frankie from Annette, in "Muscle Beach Party" (1964). Avalon trades his board for slats and joins Dwayne Hickman, Deborah Walley and James James Brown for a "Ski Party" (1965). "Beach Blanket Bingo" (1965) boasts a missing singer, a mermaid, and skydiving surfdogs. Avalon wants to keep pal Hickman away from Funicello while he's on military duty in "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" (1965), with Buster Keaton. Frankie's a moonshine-running hot rodder competing with racer Fabian for Annette's hand in "Fireball 500" (1966). And Fabian and Funicello burn rubber together in "Thunder Alley" (1967). 12 1/2 hrs. total. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English mono.
Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)/How To Stuff A Wild Bikini [DVD](1965) DVD
The "Beach Party" gang is back in a double bill that's packed with more fun than a two-piece bathing suit. "Beach Blanket Bingo," a wild mix about a missing singing star, a mermaid, and biker Eric Von Zipper's gang, features guest stars Don Rickles, Paul Lynde, Buster Keaton, and Linda Evans joining series regulars Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon and Harvey Lembeck. Then, while Frankie is away on Army Reserve duty, he gets witch doctor Keaton to send a bikini-clad beauty to keep rival Dwayne Hickman away from Annette, in "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini." Beverly Adams, Mickey Rooney, and The Kingsmen also star. 192 min. total. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: French, Spanish; theatrical trailers.
Beach Party (1963)/Bikini Beach [DVD](1964) DVD
The first entry in A.I.P.'s surfside slapstick series, "Beach Party" stars Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello as fun-loving teens who become the subject of anthropologist Bob Cummings' research into adolescent mating rituals. With Morey Amsterdam, Dorothy Malone, Dick Dale and The Del-Tones, and Harvey Lembeck as Eric Von Zipper. Next, Frankie plays himself and mop-topped British pop idol the Potato Bug (get it?)--and both are vying for Annette's attention--in "Bikini Beach," co-starring Don Rickles, Keenan Wynn, Little Stevie Wonder, and Boris Karloff. 198 min. total. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: French, Spanish; theatrical trailers.
Muscle Beach Party (1964)/Ski Party [DVD](1965) DVD
Surf's up! Frankie and Annette sure have their hands full at a "Muscle Beach Party," as gym owner Don Rickles and his strongmen try to take over the beach, lovesick heiress Luciana Paluzzi tries to snare Frankie, and Little Stevie Wonder stops by to perform "Happy Street." With Morey Amsterdam, Buddy Hackett, Peter Lorre. Next, Frankie trades in his board for some slats and hits the slopes with Dwayne Hickman to find why their gals are swooning over ski bum Aron Kincaid. ..with the guys resorting to dressing up as girls! "Ski Party" also stars Deborah Walley, Yvonne Craig, Robert Q. Lewis, and musical guests James Brown and Lesley Gore. 186 min. total. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; theatrical trailers.
The Monkees: Season 2 [DVD](1967) DVD
All 26 episodes from the second season--including "It's a Nice Place to Visit," "Hillbilly Honeymoon," "The Christmas Show," "The Monkees' Paw," "Monkees Mind Their Manor" and more--are featured in a five-disc set. 11 1/4 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1; audio commentary; bonus special "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee"; interviews; TV commercials; more.
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filmography
FILM
Beach Blanket Bingo (1965) with Frankie Avalon, Deborah Walley, Annette Funicello, and Jody McCrea, and John Ashley
Sergeant Deadhead (1965) with Frankie Avalon, Deborah Walley, John Ashley, Eve Arden, Cesar Romero, Harvey Lembeck, Buster Keaton, and Pat Buttram
Pajama Party (1964) with Tommy Kirk, Annette Funicello, Jody McCrea, Bobbi Shaw, Buster Keaton, Jesse White, Elsa Lanchester, and Dorothy Lamour
Bikini Beach (1964) with Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Jody McCrea, Martha Hyer, John Ashley, Keenan Wynn, and Don Rickles
Muscle Beach Party (1964) with Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Jody McCrea, Peter Lupus, John Ashley, Luciana Paluzzi, and Don Rickles
TELEVISION SERIES
The Milton Berle Show, 1966-1967, series regular
Shindig, 1964-1966, series regular
TELEVISION GUEST SPOTS
The Monkees, episode Everywhere A Shiek, Shiek, originally aired September 25, 1967
Batman, episode The Joker Goes to School, originally aired March 2, 1966
Batman, episode He Meets his Match, The Grisly Ghoul, originally aired March 3, 1966
The Mothers-in-Law, with Eve Arden, Deborah Walley, and Kaye Ballard, episode ?, series aired 1967-1969.
Dr. Kildare
The Danny Thomas Hour
The Red Skelton Show
Gomer Pyle
Hollywood Squares
Dr. Pepper commercials, aired 1964-1968
donna loren links
The Adasa Hawaii Site
This site highlights Donna Loren's fashion designs and offers many photos, old and new, of Loren. A great site, and a must-see for Donna Loren fans!
Somewhere Down the Road: An Interview with Donna Loren
Donna Loren sits down with Adam Gerace to reminisce about her swinging sixties, talk of her new passion, and to tell the world what she still believes.
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This page premiered August 15, 1999.
Counter reset March 1, 2001.
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