It was on this day in 1959 that production began on Fabian’s first movie – Hound-Dog Man. Actual filming would happen towards the end of the month.
The movie was based upon the 1947 novel by Fred Gipson. His earlier novel, Old Yeller, had been a big success at the box office, so 20th Century Fox decided to buy the rights to this one. (FYI – the novel for Old Yeller actually came out long after Hound-Dog Man).
(From Wiki) Gipson said when he started writing he intended it to be “a short semi fact article for a men’s magazine” but that it “just grew and grew. I was writing about real people straight out of my childhood and I couldn’t seem to get them stopped and finally wound up with a complete novel.”
20th Century Fox had seen success with Pat Boone and Elvis in the movies, so they figured they could do the same with Fabian. Director Son Siegel said, “They thought they had a gold mine in Fabian and they wanted it to be a Fabian vehicle — that’s where we were poles apart, much as I like Fabian.”
Needless to say, the movie did not do well. In December of 1959, Variety called its box office performance “a disappointment.” The song did a little better. It was Fabian’s third top 10 record, reaching #9 on the charts.
(Keith’s personal opinion: I have never liked this song. I understand that labels were trying to find the next Elvis while he was in the army, but Fabian is a poor excuse for a singer. This is painful to listen to, for me anyway.)
My apologies for today’s tune. LOL
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 
I was never a fan. Did you know he is still touring with Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell? Hard to believe!
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I didn’t know that!
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His name doesn’t resonate through time quite like Elvis’, does it? Still, if he’s still going as Dana says, that says something.
Running a bit late on my site today
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