Dash and Darren

Friday, Oct. 22, 2004 | 4:35 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

October 23 - 24, 2004

Who: James Darren.

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday through Oct. 31.

Where: Suncoast Showroom.

Tickets: $24.95.

Information: 636-7065.

Singer/director/actor James Darren, a native of South Philadelphia, flew into Las Vegas on Thursday to receive a key to the city from another Philadelphia native -- Mayor Oscar Goodman.

After the ceremony Darren dropped by Montesano's Italian Deli to dine with a few of his South Philly friends and to try to figure out how to get the metal key through security when he flew back home to Los Angeles later in the afternoon. He decided to leave the key in Vegas until he returns for his engagement at the Suncoast from Friday through Oct. 31.

The 68-year-old Darren has retained the good looks that made him a teen idol in the '50s and '60s.

Many fans remember Darren as Moondoggie, the rich surfer who was the love interest of Sandra Dee in the 1959 hit movie "Gidget." (He made two sequels -- 1961's "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" and 1963's "Gidget Goes to Rome").

Darren made five films before "Gidget" turned him into a star, beginning with "Rumble on the Docks" in 1956. And he appeared in several classic films after "Gidget," including "Let No Man Write My Epitaph" (1960), "The Guns of Navarone" (1961) and "Hey There, It's Yogi Bear" (1964).

Although he started out as an actor, he sang two songs in "Gidget" that created a demand for him as a singer -- the title tune and "There's No Such Thing as the Next Best Thing to Love."

Among his hits of the '60s were "Goodbye Cruel World" and "Angel Face."

Darren starred in the 1966 TV series "Time Tunnel" and in "T.J. Hooker" from 1983 to 1986.

For 10 years, in the late '70s and early '80s, he toured with comedian Buddy Hackett.

Darren recently discussed his career with the Las Vegas Sun.

Las Vegas Sun: You come from an area of Philadelphia that has produced a lot of performers. Why do you think so many originated in South Philly?

James Darren: I don't know. A 10-block area produced so many entertainers -- Eddie Fisher lived right around the corner from me. Mario Lanza, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Chubby Checker, David Brenner, Joey Bishop, Larry Fine of the Three Stooges,

The only thing I can think of, almost everybody in that neighborhood played a musical instrument. My uncles all played sax. My aunt played the guitar.

It was an Italian, Jewish, Irish neighborhood that had so many weddings and so many bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs that we all had a chance to perform. I performed a lot -- I'd go and we would get up and sing. I guess when you do that so much, it instills a confidence in you.

Sun: How did you get started singing?

JD: I started out as an actor. I lucked out and signed a seven-year contract with Columbia Pictures.

Sun: Your first major role was Moondoggie in "Gidget." Do you mind being remembered for that part?

JD: It was a wonderful movie and I loved doing it. I never dreamed it would be a hit. Sandra Dee was a dream. We were just kids having fun. I was having a good time doing what the studio told me to do.

Sun: You became a singing sensation after "Gidget," sending your career in another direction. Did you perform in Vegas?

JD: The first time I played Vegas was in 1966 at the Sands with Joey Bishop. I was there, off and on, for two or three years.

And when I worked with Buddy Hackett I not only worked Vegas but all around the country. The only reason I quit touring with Buddy was because I joined "T.J. Hooker."

Sun: You made some excellent movies after "Gidget," including "The Guns of Navarone." Why didn't you pursue that career more vigorously?

JD: I don't think I had the right people pushing me. I was a contract player. I did "The Time Tunnel" in 1966 and after the series ended I had difficulty getting jobs -- that's when I started seriously to sing.

Sun: What did you do after "T.J. Hooker" ended?

JD: I got out of acting and singing -- quit totally -- and started directing. It's something every actor wants to try. The last episode of "T.J. Hooker" had no director assigned and I asked if I could do it. When they agreed I panicked at first, but then I realized I could do it.

Sun: Were you able to stay busy directing?

JD: Pretty busy. I did 50 or 60 shows -- "Hunter," "Walker, Texas Ranger," "Stingray," "Melrose Place" and a lot of others.

I was heavily into directing until 1998 when, quite by accident, I got back into acting and singing. How that came about is very interesting. I was offered a script for the series "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," but I turned it down without reading it. I didn't want to act anymore.

But I was told the part was perfect for me so I read the script and I liked it. So for two years I had the recurring role of Vic Fontaine, a Vegas singer from the Rat Pack era.

Sun: What have you done, musically?

JD: I signed a recording contract with the Concord Jazz label -- they had Rosemary Clooney and George Shearing. I cut two beautiful CDs.

I work quite a bit. I've performed at Caesars and Harrah's in Atlantic City. I've done a lot of casinos, and I'm doing a lot of symphonies -- Dallas, San Diego, Iowa.

I do a lot of pop songs -- pop jazz, all the old standards.

Sun: Did you have difficulty singing after laying off for so many years?

JD: It took me three or four months to get my chops back up. I hadn't even sung in the shower. But it wasn't too difficult. The chops were fresh, not worn out. It was like putting a car up on blocks in the garage.

Sun: Do you plan on sticking with singing now?

JD: Yeah, unless I get a feature film that I would really love to direct. But when you're directing, you're up at 3:30 in the morning, on the set by 5 and you don't get home until 10 at night. It's pretty grueling. Singing, it's like second nature to me.

Sun: What do you think about returning to Vegas after so many years? Are you nervous?

JD: I'm really excited to be coming back after such a long, long, long time. I can't wait. It's going to be a kick. But it wasn't too difficult. The chops were fresh, not worn out. It was like putting a car up on blocks in the garage.