where the boys are

06/01/10 09:36

Crowds filled A1A Saturday night and packed bodies leaned from the balcony of the Elbo Room. From a distance, it looked as if spring break had returned to Fort Lauderdale (a couple months late), but up close the faces, and many of the figures, revealed themselves to be well past college.

A little before dark Connie Francis took the stage that had been set up in the middle of the street and sang, in a faraway voice, "Where the Boys Are." It struck a chord, now fifty years later. New York has Sinatra, San Francisco Tony Bennett, but not many cities our size have a trademark song and singer.

Mayor John "Jack" Seiler asked Francis to do one more number, and she obliged with "God Bless America." People sang along, or listened quietly, lost in thoughts of country or still focused on lost youth.

Then Francis slowly made her way to her limo through a crush of admirers. "Connie, we love you," someone yelled. "Connie, you did great." "Connie, you look beautiful." "I'm looking at Connie," someone said into a cellphone, "I'll call you back."

Then the limo pulled away. "They all had hard lives," one man said to another, while others headed to the beach to watch the movie that made us famous.

This entry was posted by and is filed under hometown.
By • Galleries: hometown

12 comments

Comment from: Michael Wright [Visitor]
Michael Wright

Geez, I was seriously thinking of flying that way to join in on the celebrations, and with my ENG cam could have got lotsa great footage too. It sure sounds like fun. I noticed Sun-Sentinel has no coverage (they get stuck in traffic?).

Speaking of cities with signature songs, San Jose has “Do You Know The Way…” by Dionne Warwick who performed at same place as Connie did previous weekend. Hal David along with Bacharach first approached Connie with this and other songs, she declined so they went to next went to Dionne. Connie later released a Bacharach and David album.

Congrats to all you Ft. Lauderdale people!

question: is balcony of Elbo Room been reinforced to handle large crowds?

06/01/10 @ 20:20
Comment from: acemoney [Visitor]
acemoney

I’m really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written

11/01/11 @ 12:05
cheap steinberg cubase

Thanks for that awesome posting. It saved MUCH time

11/04/11 @ 15:16
Comment from: free proxy [Visitor]
free proxy

Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.

11/07/11 @ 10:05
Comment from: sibelius 6 [Visitor]
sibelius 6

I am a long time ago I read your blog and has long been saying that you’re a great writer

11/10/11 @ 12:16
pay advance no credit check

Reading by way of your nice content, will help me to do so sometimes.

11/16/11 @ 14:17
Online Payday Loan Direct Lenders

I found what I was looking for. great article, thanks

11/17/11 @ 14:09
facebook affiliate marketing

Hello! I’ve been following your web site for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from New Caney Texas! Just wanted to say keep up the fantastic job!
facebook affiliate marketing

08/28/13 @ 17:21
outlet online shopping

Vielen Dank! Wollt ich nur sagen.
Louis Vuitton outlet
Louis Vuitton handbags cheap
Louis Vuitton Hawaii handbags
outlet online shopping
Louis Vuitton Kansas Belt

11/07/13 @ 23:57
SW Florida Web Design

Generally I don’t read article on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to try and
do so! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, very great article.

04/03/14 @ 09:21
Comment from: Derrick [Visitor]
Derrick

With gorgeous graphics and awesome animation, Diablo 2 offers players an enchantig world of demons and monsters.
Success for mobile marketing is not only from targeting and
engaging the primary demographics, but also from targeting and engaging the other diverse
demographics that can make the difference to the overall
success of an entire marketing campaign. What did
you say; you have specially earmarked the amount
for buying the phone.

07/04/14 @ 09:30
Comment from: mobile websites [Visitor]
mobile websites

What i do not understood iis actually how you are now not really a llot more
smartly-appreciated thnan you may be right now. You’re very
intelligent. You understand therefore consideraably with regards tto this
topic, made me in my opinion consider it from
so many various angles. Its like women and
men don’t sewem to be interested unless it’s something to doo with Girl gaga!
Your individual stuffs excellent. All the time maintain itt up!

02/16/15 @ 13:05


Form is loading...