THE FANS' LOVE STORY: How The Movie 'DIRTY DANCING' Captured The Hearts Of Millions!
Read THE FANS' LOVE STORY: How The Movie 'DIRTY DANCING' Captured The Hearts Of Millions! Online
Authors: Sue Tabashnik
Tags: #PERFORMING ARTS / Film & Video / Guides & Reviews
The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher.
THE FANS’ LOVE STORY
How The Movie ‘
DIRTY DANCING
’ Captured The Hearts Of Millions!
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2010 Sue Tabashnik
v4.0
Cover images © 2010 JupiterImages Corporation. All rights reserved – used with permission.
This book is an independent publication and is not associated with or authorized or approved by Lionsgate, Eleanor Bergstein, Patrick Swayze or any other person/entity associated with the movie,
Dirty Dancing
. All references in this book to the movie are for the purpose of commentary, analysis, and literary discussion only.
Furthermore, this book is not associated with or authorized by or approved by Lisa Niemi or The Patrick Swayze Pancreas Cancer Research Fund at the Stanford Cancer Center. The decision to donate a portion of the proceeds to the above fund is strictly the author’s idea and wish.
The views and opinions expressed by the interviewees and other third party sources in this book are not necessarily those of the author, and the author accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies or omissions by interviewees or other third party sources.
COPYRIGHT PERMISSIONS
I gratefully thank these sources for giving permission to use their material.
- Copyright © 2008
Broadwayfanclub.com
.
“Dirty Dancing: A Legendary Story on National Tour.” The Broadway League. August 2008 Newsletter. - Copyright © 2009
Jewish Journal
. “‘Dirty Dancing’ Comes Alive on Stage.” Rick Schultz. May 20, 2009. - Copyright © 2008
Chicago Tribune.
“‘Dirty Dancing’ creator keeps the legend alive.” Sid Smith. September 28, 2008. - Copyright © 2005
Globe Newspaper Company
. “Stay’in Alive.” Mark Shanahan.
The Boston Globe
. September 29, 2005. - Copyright © 1988
ABC.
Barbara Walters Special Interview
. - Copyright © 2006
Whatsonstage.com
.
“Photos: Swayze & Sweeney Ready to Play in Dolls.” Terri Paddock. June 5, 2006. - Copyright © 2008
FemaleFirst.co.uk
. “Miranda Garrison talks Dirty Dancing.” September 2, 2008. - Copyright © 2006
Guardian News & Media.
“Patrick Swayze on ‘Dirty Dancing.’”
Telegraph.co.uk
.
September 23, 2006. - Copyright © 1988
Times Herald-Record
. “Film thrills Horner.” August 18, 1987. - Copyright © “Biographical Sketch—Jackie Horner.” Jackie Horner.
- Copyright © 2006
Guardian News & Media
. “There’s a secret dancer inside us all.” Veronica Lee.
Telegraph.co.uk
. September 26, 2006. - Copyright © 2009
Mountain Lake Hotel.
Mountainlakehotel.com
. - Copyright © 2008
Chicago Tribune.
“Swayze feels at home in Chicago.” Robert K. Elder. November 18, 2009. - Copyright © 1988
Detroit Free Press.
“Movie makes her do the mambo, not the munch-o.” Neal Rubin. January 7, 1988. - Copyright © 2003
Arts Houston Magazine
. “One Last Dance.” Patrick Swayze. April 2003.
This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Outskirts Press, Inc.
http://www.outskirtspress.com
ISBN: 978-1-4327-5110-4
Outskirts Press and the “OP” logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
To Mr. Patrick Swayze—who plays a hero in
Dirty Dancing
and who has been and will always be a hero in real life to me and to millions of people all over the world.
I have special gratitude to you for being such an inspiration—for how you lived your life, full of zest—and for the messages that you communicated by your artistry, actions, and words: to follow dreams, to partake in the arts, to “rock ’n roll,” and “spread the love.” I really appreciate the devotion that you showed to your fans for years. You and Ms. Lisa Niemi have been an amazing example of dedication and love to the arts, and most important, dedication and love to each other and your families.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continual “re-discovery of innocence” and for inspiring the same in me.
Your battle with pancreatic cancer counted and will never be forgotten. We will carry on the fight.
You have been and always will be a big, big bright light in my life that is an anchor for decency, humanness, spirit, and compassion.
One
MY CONNECTION TO
DIRTY DANCING
AND WHY I THINK IT CONTINUES TO GO ON AND ON
Two
THE “REAL” CATSKILLS PEOPLE
Interview of Gary Wilson, Head of Security at Rumbling Bald Resort
Six
SUMMARY OF THE FAN INTERVIEWS
Seven
DIRTY DANCING
FOLKLORE & TIDBITS
Eight
SUE’S
DIRTY DANCING
QUESTIONNAIRE
INTRODUCTION
When I first started writing an article about
Dirty Dancing
in 2006, I never dreamed that it would turn into a book. I just knew that the movie had deeply resonated with me and that the 20th anniversary of the movie was coming up in 2007. I wanted to shout out to the world about this unbelievably wonderful movie, to honor this movie and the people who made it. Also, perhaps there was a bit of the social worker in me that wanted to explore the wonderful phenomenon of this 1987 movie. Why was
Dirty Dancing
still capturing, with no sign of slowing down, the hearts of people all over the world—including mine? Furthermore, maybe in my search, I would validate my attachment to the movie.
After completing the article, I made the jump into writing the book. I was rather naive about what it takes to write and publish a book. I must say that I ran into many roadblocks regarding writing an independent book focused on a movie. During this time period, unexpected and very stressful events occurred, as five important people in my life had life-threatening health crises. Two of these key people died within three weeks of each other—Ms. Lee Santiwan, my mentor, and Mr. Patrick Swayze. (In terms of time frame, just six days before Mr. Swayze passed, this manuscript was accepted for publishing.)
In the past two years or so, I persisted in completing the book with support and encouragement from many, many people. I derived a great deal of inspiration from Mr. Patrick Swayze—by his amazing spirit, tenacity, and dignity in his battle against pancreatic cancer—and from Ms. Lee Santiwan—by her wisdom, amazing support, and lesson in dealing with illness with dignity. I will be forever grateful to both of them.
With all of that said, I would not trade this journey for the world. I met amazing people, ages seventeen to eighty-three—from four continents and all different walks of life—who were also totally enthralled with the movie and were open in sharing their connections to the movie. Each person had his or her own unique alliance to the movie, along with sharing in some universal linkages. By hearing each person’s journey, I satisfied my desire to explore the
Dirty
Dancing
phenomenon in the world and within me, and came away with a renewed sense of faith in the spirit of man-womankind.
In transitioning from the article to the book, my first step was creating an online survey that was posted on the Internet by Mrs. Margaret Howden in November 2007, from which I received 186 responses by August 2008. I interviewed twenty-two people in-person, by telephone, or via e-mail—or by some combination of these modalities. I chose fifteen of the twenty-two fan interviewees from the people who answered the survey and seven via other ways—from referrals and known
Dirty Dancing
fans.
I journeyed to Mountain Lake Hotel in Pembroke, Virginia—one of the two major film locations—in January 2009, and had the amazing experience of being there first-hand to see, feel, and learn about this
Dirty Dancing
historical site. I had the absolute good fortune to have Mr. H. M. “Buzz” Scanland Jr., General Manager—who was present during the filming of the movie—show me around and impart to me a wealth of information, verbal and written (including access to archives on the movie). I then had the wonderful opportunity to telephone interview two other people who were present during the filming—Mr. Mike Porterfield, Executive Chef at Mountain Lake Hotel, and Mr. Gary Wilson, Head of Security at Rumbling Bald Resort, the film location for the golf course scene.
I had the absolute pleasure to correspond by writing and telephone with Ms. Jackie Horner. She served as a consultant to the filmmakers (see “special thanks to Jackie Horner” on the screen credits) as she was the dance pro at Grossinger’s in the Catskills from 1954 to 1986. She has led an amazing, legendary career in the entertainment business and is still going strong. Finally, I had the wonderful, fascinating experience of interviewing Mr. Steve Schwartz by telephone regarding his years as a dancer in the Catskills—including being the dance partner of Ms. Horner at Grossinger’s. Ms. Horner refers to Mr. Schwartz as being the person whom the character “Johnny” is based on.