signed Buddy Bregman picture, for sale on Ebay
Live in 5-4-3-2-1, Fredrica
To hear this story, please view the clip that goes with it.
And now I will tell you my behind the scenes story.
My dad produced a live rock and roll television show on Sunday nights on NBC in the late 50’s called Music Shop. My brother and I did get to hula hoop in the pilot for this show. But, I was a nudge. Ha, like was a nudge, past tense. I think my first words were, “Daddy, I want to be an actress, let me star in something”. If my dad had something going, he would often humor me and give me a small role. But, this was my first role. Not much of one, really. James Darren sang his hit song Gidget to me. Oh, just watch the clip and let me finish with the other part of this story.
The emcee of the show was a man named Buddy Bregman. To me, he was the most handsome man on earth and he was my first real and true love. He would often say the words “I love you”. So, I knew this to be a real thing. Then one day on the set. Ha, one day on the set…I was maybe four years old, and I overheard a stage hand or the first assistant director say that Buddy’s girlfriend was here. Well, hello? Of course she was here. She, was ME. Only they then said the words Anna Maria Alberghetti. It was as if someone had just shot an arrow through my heart and not in the Valentine good kind of way. And then I saw her and then I saw them, embrace. Moments later I overheard yet another tormenting thing. He was rumored to marry her. And he was madly in love. That’s when I took to calling her Anna Maria Spaghetti, said with a tude on the spaghetti.
my dad on left with Buddy and Sammy Davis Jr.
My dad’s rock and roll show got cancelled in less than a season. And Buddy did not end up marrying me or Anna Maria Spaghetti.
My favorite pasta as a child and I ordered it in every Italian restaurant, still do, is Aglio e Olio.
Recipe for Anna Maria Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Ingredients
1 pound dried pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or your favorite pasta)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
Directions
Cook pasta in boiling, salted water until al dente. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until garlic is lightly browned. Remove from heat. Drain pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid, and place in a bowl for tossing and serving. Add olive oil mixture and toss. Add the reserved cooking liquid if mixture seems dry. Serve immediately and I might add some chopped Italian parsley.
When James Darren sang Gidget to me
Tags: actress, Aglio e Olio recipe, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Buddy Bregman, fredde duke, Freddie Duke, Freddy Duke, Gidget, hula hooping, James Darren, Maurice Duke, Rock and Roll in the 60's, Sammy Davis Jr.
You are so cute mamma.. The apple doesen’t fall far from the tree….. Oh crushes
yes, for real, you are both my biggest girl crushes….xxx
Love it when you can’t control yourself!
You are a terrific writer, have a wonderful imagination, this is so creative, as are your many posts…and the Spag. Rec…sounds absolutely delicious!
Still my hero, Fred, you Rock!…and I would have waved too! (good for you ,-> )
Just the cutest thing… i can see you waving with that huge smile of yours. Love the pasta recipe – i do it with italian parsley – lot’s of it!!! Keep writing sweet girl. You shouldhave your own rock and roll talk show!!! xxoxoxox
Those first crushes are murder…but totally wonderful until they aren’t.
Wish that show could have lasted a couple more seasons. Keep those blogs and videos coming!!
Fredde, my Dad offered to make me an extra in the Elvis Presley movie he was producing and I turned him down. All three times. I like your story better!
Uggghhhhh…
I relate all too well to the little-girl-first-heart-break syndrome. Imagine my crest fallen heart when I found out that my father was married!!!! Scarred me for life! 😉
You were an adorable child and you carried that adorableness right into adulthood and added “it” to your writing talent. Soooo cute!
James Darren will forever be MOONDOGGIE! And Buddy Bregman? Is he one and same… father of Barry? He went to St. Paul the Apostle with Mark Harmon,Paul Palmer, me and a host of others…
Buddy may have been handsome as a young man but wow… he shrunk and his hair turned henna. I worked with him on a C- show at 20th 1976. Brings back ol times.
Fred, how cute were you!! Your voice tells a marvelous story. Your words even moreso.
Happy 2012.
Jenn
It’s just too much sometimes, you. Cuteness abounds.
more,
L
Hi Fredde,
I self-produced a brand new pop/jazz (vocal) album, personally arranged & conducted by Buddy Bregman, with an 18-piece big band of the West coast’s finest side-men, at Westlake Studios L.A, in 2006; this featuring various standards he’s not revisited since Lady Ella, back in 1956…..Sadly, it was never released and turned out unhappily, both legally & financially.
Howsoever, I’ll find a way to release it, someday soon.
Either way, I’m also an amateur copywriter, so if Michael is ever short of a gag line or two, don’t hesitate to let me know!
All best, B.
What a great little story Fred. Here’s a little story for you. As a little italian american boy who grew up in Detroit, I travelled across town to my grandparents home, (maternal) who used to have us over practiacally every Sunday for a family feast and she actually served your recipe every so often and I think that I have garlic flowing through my vains to this day. Then somehow by the age of 21, I ended up in BH cooking pizzas and working my way through college and writing songs and one day at the pizzaria this bubbly gal who smiled so widely that her face would turn a rose color, strolled into the joint and I was taken. OK, I admit it, i loved you then for your talent, fab looks, your verve for life and because you liked to eat really good food, and I still love you today because you have distilled yourself and your charm into a woman of elegance humor and grace. How was that? lol xox G
I totally LOVE this story …!
Just read Anna Maria Spaghetti for the first time and loved it! I love spaghetti aglio olio too! Thanks for keeping me laughing for so many years!