elvis Facts clambake 2 - 3

Clambake - 2 / 3

Actor Bill Bixby played Elvis's competition for both the girl and the speedboat race in the film "Clambake."  Bixby, a sixth generation Californian who grew up in San Francisco, had a lifelong interest in acting.  He studied law for a while at the University of California at Berkley, but three credits shy of graduation, he moved to the Los Angeles area where he began doing commercials and modeling work.  Best known for starring in several TV series including "My Favorite Martian," "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," "The Magician" and "The Incredible Hulk," he also was a producer and director. He directed a 1993 TV movie entitled "The Woman Who Loved Elvis." He had  been directing the TV series "Blossom" in 1993 when he lost his battle with cancer and died.  He was an accomplished painter and magician.  He once recalled that on the set of "Clambake" there were the usual practical jokes with Elvis and his guys, but that Elvis was also very fascinated by an album of recitations by Charles Boyer called "Where does Love Go?" and played one particular piece over and over for everyone.  It was "Softly As I Leave You," which, years later, Elvis would add to his 1970s concert shows.

The beaches of Florida are the setting for "Clambake" and the movie culminates with the running of the Orange Bowl International Power Boat Regatta.  Actual footage from the January 1967 race was used in the movie.  In the actual race the "Scarlet Lady" was owned and raced by Jim Stough of Florida and the "Raw Hide" was owned and raced by Lou Brummett of California.  The 250-mile race was held at Miami's Marine Stadium, which was built for boat races, concerts and firework displays.  The stadium was closed in 1992 after being severely damaged by Hurricane Andrew.  The location scenes in Miami were done with doubles for the actors, and Miami water ski champion Jim David was used for stunts.  All of the actors' scenes were filmed in California.

Gary Merrill played Sam Burton and his many credits include films such as "Twelve O'Clock High," "The Pleasure of His Company" and "All About Eve."  Working on "All About Eve" was Merrill's introduction to the star of the film, Bette Davis, who became Merrill's second wife.  Their marriage ended after ten years and two adopted children.  He went on to enter politics and he unsuccessfully ran for a seat in Maine's legislature in 1968.  He kept busy with voice-over work in both radio and TV commercials until his death of lung cancer in 1990.

James Gregory played Duster Heyward, the wealthy father to Elvis's character Scott.  A native New Yorker, Gregory gave up working on Wall Street in the stock market to become a stage actor in the mid-1930s.  He played many small towns before his Broadway debut in 1939 in "Key Largo."  His successful Broadway career was interrupted by World War II and a tour of duty in the Pacific.  In 1955 he switched to acting in TV and movies.  His credits are numerous but include "The Silencers," "PT 109,", "Capt. Newman M.D.," "The Sons of Katie Elder," "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" and the hit TV series "Barney Miller,"  in which he played the crusty Inspector Frank Luger