Marker 01

Marker 02

Marker 03

On this episode of Our American Stories, not many teen idols are able to carve a successful career for themselves as they mature, but Frankie Avalon is one of these exceptions. Avalon had 31 Billboard singles, including number one hits, "Venus" and "Why" in 1959. Avalon is also well-known for his role in the musical film Grease as Teen Angel, in which he sings "Beauty School Dropout." He appeared on American Idol to sing for Simon Cowell on his birthday. Here's Frankie Avalon to tell his story!


Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, not many teen idols are able to carve a successful career for themselves as they mature, but Frankie Avalon is one of these exceptions. Avalon had 31 Billboard singles, including number one hits, "Venus" and "Why" in 1959. Avalon is also well-known for his role in the musical film Grease as Teen Angel, in which he sings "Beauty School Dropout." He appeared on American Idol to sing for Simon Cowell on his birthday. Here's Frankie Avalon to tell his story!
 <a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate" data-auth="NotApplicable">Support the show</a> (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

The Frankie Avalon Story: The Man Who Influenced Music and Film for Three Decades

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/74824a38-ae75-4f08-a77f-b1d4001f10f0/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, in February 2006, Buck O'Neil and Bob Kendrick were packed and ready to fly to Florida for what they believed would be a Hall of Fame celebration. Instead, O'Neil fell one vote short. Kendrick was devastated. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum were angry. Buck responded differently.

Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, remembers how O'Neil celebrated the 17 Negro Leaguers who had been elected, comforted everyone grieving on his behalf, and then went to Cooperstown to honor them. Fifteen years later, Buck O'Neil was finally elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, in February 2006, Buck O'Neil and Bob Kendrick were packed and ready to fly to Florida for what they believed would be a Hall of Fame celebration. Instead, O'Neil fell one vote short. Kendrick was devastated. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum were angry. Buck responded differently. Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, remembers how O'Neil celebrated the 17 Negro Leaguers who had been elected, comforted everyone grieving on his behalf, and then went to Cooperstown to honor them. Fifteen years later, Buck O'Neil was finally elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

What Buck O'Neil Did After Missing the Hall of Fame by One Vote

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1aa17644-46a6-4d08-8633-b4d7014fb857/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, George O'Brien became one of Hollywood's biggest leading men after starring in John Ford's 1924 silent epic The Iron Horse. But long before Hollywood made him famous, O'Brien had already served in the Navy during World War I, and when Pearl Harbor brought America into World War II, the 41-year-old husband and father volunteered to serve again.

As part of our ongoing Hollywood Goes to War series, Roger McGrath, author of Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes: Violence on the Frontier, shares the astonishing story of how O'Brien went from silent-film star to Navy beachmaster, serving under fire at Attu, Saipan, and Leyte before returning once more to uniform during the Korean War.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, George O'Brien became one of Hollywood's biggest leading men after starring in John Ford's 1924 silent epic The Iron Horse. But long before Hollywood made him famous, O'Brien had already served in the Navy during World War I, and when Pearl Harbor brought America into World War II, the 41-year-old husband and father volunteered to serve again. As part of our ongoing Hollywood Goes to War series, Roger McGrath, author of <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2F0520060261%3Flv%3Dshuf%26channelId%3D500%26plpRedirect%3DmhFallback&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Ce3bd3b099f744c4e294408df20a657cb%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639265570961344494%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Zqf%2Bh0MRhPF6LPQmJjFoPMGUbyadEabk57XzCaS0oCo%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes: Violence on the Frontier</a>, shares the astonishing story of how O'Brien went from silent-film star to Navy beachmaster, serving under fire at Attu, Saipan, and Leyte before returning once more to uniform during the Korean War.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Hollywood Goes to War: George O'Brien, Star of Three Wars

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5776f9ca-8f07-4013-b8c7-b4d7014fb85a/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, it was the Cold War on ice, and no one expected Team USA to win. But in 1980, a ragtag group of college kids stunned the world when they beat the seemingly unbeatable Soviet Union at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics.

Our own Greg Hengler and Mike Eruzione himself, captain of the U.S. men’s hockey team and the man who scored the game-winning goal, share the inside story of one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, it was the Cold War on ice, and no one expected Team USA to win. But in 1980, a ragtag group of college kids stunned the world when they beat the seemingly unbeatable Soviet Union at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. Our own Greg Hengler and Mike Eruzione himself, captain of the U.S. men&rsquo;s hockey team and the man who scored the game-winning goal, share the inside story of one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Beating the Soviets: Mike Eruzione on the 1980 Olympic Upset

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b00aa993-1e59-4a0b-989f-b4d7014fb85a/transcript

The Frankie Avalon Story: The Man Who Influenced Music and Film for Three Decades

In 1 playlist(s)

Our American Stories

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips