I love-ah, love-ah, love-ah everything about this fun, kitschy, and sexy music video! It’s from 1966, five years after Calendar Girl was on the charts. The 16mm film was made to be played on Scopitone machines. You’ll find some background on the short-lived Scopitone video jukeboxes at this link.
With 1966 belonging to the youth market, this film was obviously intended for an older audience — specifically, drunk men in bars! If I’d been one of them, I would have gone through a roll of quarters for this one selection. It’s both a throwback and very much of its time. The pinup girl calendar paintings by Gil Elvgren and other great artists were on the way out by then, and Playboy had taken over.
The virtues of the song are apparent, thanks to the way the film complements the recording. Sedaka is enjoying himself, and he’s suitably goofy compared to the charming girls. There are Sixties mod dresses, Vegas showgirl costumes, and bikinis. Every step and gesture is choreographed, the set is simple yet quite clever, and I like the way the girls are framed as they make each of their entrances. Note how everything changes to keep up visual interest, even the color of the piano. For such a limited production it’s a work of art. Most important of all, of course, are the four lovely ladies.
The Scopitone company went bankrupt only a few years later, so the chance there might be documents to be found somewhere is probably next to zilch. Debbie Reynolds lost money investing in Scopitone, and she reportedly doesn’t like to discuss the project. Neil Sedaka would probably be the best source for information, but if anybody has interviewed him about his Scopitone appearance I haven’t found it.
Follow-up: NPR did a feature on Scopitone five years ago.
Checking images of Leba, I don’t see it. *Maybe* the girl who’s first introduced for February?
Wiki says one of the models was his wife Leba but doesn’t say which one.
It’s a mystery! Unfortunately, comments are disabled for the video.
What is the name of the girls in Neil Sadaka’s Calendar Girl video. I think that each individual girl needs to be properly acknowledge for their contribution to the video.
I ask the same question that Jill Asked: What are the names of the models/dancers in Neil Sedaka’s Scopitone video Calendar Girls? Thank you.
Hi Jill – I wish I knew! I love how the each of the girls is presented in a unique way. For a while after posting this item (already five years ago), I tried to find more information, but gave up the effort. Maybe I’ll ask about it on Debbie Reynolds’ Facebook page.
What are the names of the models/dancers in Neil Sedaka’s Scopitone video Calendar Girls? Thank you.