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"Golden Boys" put on quite a show for fans at Penn's Peak

For several hours on Friday night at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe, Dick Fox's "Golden Boys" took their fans back to their teen years during live performances of their many songs.

As Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon and Fabian, came on stage the audience cheered and clapped. No wonder. All three superstars from the Bandstand era were heart throbs from the 60s and they still had all the exuberance and appeal of their youth.It was a night of "Venus (Make My Wish Come True)" as the three sang their favorite and signature songs. It was also apparent that these three teen idols loved performing and loved their audience.Bobby Rydell began the show with film clips of him and Ann Margaret embracing. While he doesn't quite look like the slender teen of his youth, his performance had the power to turn on the audience.His crowd pleasing songs included many songs from the teen movie, "Bye Bye Birdie," that had the crowd singing along."Remember the 45s?" he asked. "They had spindles. Sometimes they fell and sometimes they didn't.'He sang his signature song "Volare," and said that "Forget Him," sold a million records and had been part of an album before it became a single.Fabian, as part of his show had the ladies dancing on stage to "The Twist."As Sue Anthony of Lehighton, said, "They still have all the moves, especially Fabian." Anthony was one of the fans who held onto her ticket when the previous show was canceled last year and wasn't disappointed with Friday's show."They were great," she said. "What a show. I couldn't wait for this show to happen."Fabian said with a chuckle that he realizes now he had a lot of nerve singing, "I'm a Man," on the Dick Clark Show," He said he was about 17 on that show.Fabian sang "Turn me Loose," and snippets of "Blue Suede Shoes," "Let's Rock," "Tootie Fruitie," "Old Time Rock and Roll" and many others.For Frankie Avalon, it was his first time at Penn's Peak and he said that he loved the venue. Avalon's career spans three generations of music, television and motion pictures. He has a long string of Gold Record Million-Seller singles and albums. In 1959 alone Frankie had six solid hits that were in the top 40.Avalon said that he had eight kids in 10 years and introduced his son, Frankie as the drummer. As he sang, scenes from the movie "Beach Blanket Bingo" played behind him, He joked, "What plots? What stories?"He also joked about his hair, saying that while many men his age have a receding hairline, that his advances instead.Among the songs he sang were "Teen Angel" and "Venus." He and Etan Everly, a son and nephew of the original Everly Brothers, sang a few songs, including "Bye-Bye Love," and "All I Have To Do Is Dream."Avalon also sang tribute songs to other stars of rock and roll, including, "Rock Around the Clock," and "Rock and Roll Heaven."

Gail Maholick/TIMES NEWS The Golden Boys put on a spectacular show Friday night at Penn's Peak. From left are, Fabian, Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell. The show was featured as Dick Fox's Golden Boys show.