Thanks to the persistence of Bill Bohs, fellow Del-Aires enthusiast, for making this interview happen. Mr. Bohs e-mailed me several times saying that Bobby Osborne, the bespectacled member of the Del-Aires, wanted to get a hold of me. He'd seen the website and wanted to talk to me but since he didn't have access to the web he wanted my phone number. 

I was hesitant to give out my phone number. Several scenarios ran through my head. A.) This is a psycho and I just gave him my home phone number -- but that wasn't very likely. (No offense, Bill.) B.) Mr. Osborne didn't like the website, didn't want to be found and would yell at me. A lot. Again, not very likely but I'd better check. 

After several e-mail exchanges with Bill, I found out that Bobby was, indeed, excited about the website and even more excited to talk to me. He said he was still working as a musical entertainer in Florida. This coincided with several other leads I'd received, so I e-mailed my phone number post haste.

Which lead to problem C.) I'm never home. There's a small window of opportunity to get a hold of me during daylight hours. Otherwise -- I'm asleep, or out of the house.

Almost a week passed before the phone rang late that fateful morning. I was still asleep but the ringing had woke me up. The machine kicked on and the caller introduced himself as Bobby Osborne of the Dynamic Del-Aires. He continued and I tried to shake the cobwebs of sleep out of my head. I tried to scramble out of bed but my legs were tangled in the covers and I gave myself a nice face burger on the carpet. Please leave a number and I'll call you back. Please! Please! Please!

He did. 

I called him back and talked him. Twice as a matter of fact. Mr. Osborne was patient, polite, engaging, enthusiastic and very forthright in answering all my questions. So much so that I had trouble keeping up with him scribbling it all down. He also proved extremely generous by offering to send me some goodies from his days in the Del-Aires. We've exchanged numbers, addresses and an open line if we ever want to talk again or have any more questions. 

And I was worried. Yes, I am an idiot. Thanks for the patience fellas.

- - - -

3B Theater: If you would have told me twenty years ago after the first time I watched The Horror of Party Beach that I'd be talking to a member of the Del-Aires I'd of said you were crazy but here we are. 

Bobby: Thanks, man. Glad to be here. Can you answer me a question first?

3B Theater: Sure.

Bobby: Where are you from? How did you get into us?

3B Theater: Well, I'm from Nebraska of all places. I got in to you guys after watching The Horror of Party Beach. I dug your tunes. Thought you guys were pretty good but couldn't find anything out about you. So when I started the website and decided to make a corner of it dedicated to you guys hoping to find out what happened to you. Heck, I didn't even know you and John Becker were in the band until recently. The credits for the film through us all for a whammy.

Bobby: Not a problem. You weren't the first one to get tripped up on that. Do you have any of our records?

3B Theater: I wish. You guys have got quite a cult following. Your records are pretty scarce and rare and going for well over $100 bucks on EBay.

Bobby: Seriously? Can I get any of that? (Laughs.) Listen, I can probably get you some recordings of our songs, some live shows and promotional stuff if you like. Just give me your address. 

3B Theater: That would be outstanding. Thanks!

Bobby: Not a problem. So what do you need to know? What can I tell you?

3B Theater: Let's start at the beginning. How did you guys first meet?

Bobby: Well I was only fifteen at the time and this was back in '58. Ronnie Linares and the other guys were playing at Lippy's Casino while I was playing sax and keyboards at the Cha-Cha Club and they asked me to join them. That was me playing sax on Drag. (The song playing during the credits of THOPB.) 

3B Theater: And this was in New Jersey right? 

Bobby: Yeah, Patterson, New Jersey.

3B Theater: Who was all in the band at this time.

Bobby: It was Ronnie Linares, Gary "Big Al" Jones, Jimmy Jersey and John Becker on the drums. Our first big gig was playing the Atlantis Club at Coney Island.

3B Theater: I've heard your live shows were pretty wild. 

Bobby: They were. Ronnie was a wild man and I'd jump up on Jimmy's shoulders and blow the sax and we'd walk out into the audience. I tell you John Becker was a helluva drummer. He was a big fan of Buddy Rich and would do these amazing drum solos and then kick over his equipment before Keith Moon made it famous.

3B Theater: You guys eventually got signed by Coral Records. How did that come about?

Bobby: We got hooked up with a booking agent and started getting more gigs at places like The Peppermint Lounge. They saw us, liked us and we did our first record for them which was Elaine and Wiggle Wobble. You know (sings) "Wiggle Wobble!" Those two songs of course wound up in the movie. They also released Drag and My Funny Valentine.

3B Theater: How did you guys get involved with The Horror of Party Beach?

Bobby: It was through the booking agent. Del Tenney was looking for a band for his movie. We auditioned and got the gig.

3B Theater: Any good stories from the shoot?

Bobby: Nah, not really. We were just involved for about two or three days of shooting. They brought us up to Stamford, Connecticut and put us in a hotel room. We did the shoot out at the beach and that was about it.

3B Theater: What did you think of that bratwurst monster?

Bobby: You know, we went to Del Tenney's house and he had the costume there. Those weren't hotdogs. Those were rubber gloves chopped up and stuffed in the mouth. And the eye-balls were ping-pong balls. Del actually shows up in the movie twice. 

3B Theater: I know he was the gas station attendant where else is he?

Bobby: He was the guy wearing glasses getting a newspaper from the newsboy. There was also a bigger part in the movie for that head biker guy but there was a big accident. I think they all piled up into each other. The guy was hurt pretty bad so they had to change the script.

3B Theater: Okay, here's a question that needs settling. Was there a soundtrack for the film recorded as several sources claim? 

Bobby: No. No soundtrack. Like I said a couple songs wound up on the Coral singles but that was it.

3B Theater: I guess I can stop looking for one then. It wasn't that long after you guys made the movie that you broke up. What happened?

Bobby: Well, we played a few more shows and a couple of Drive-In gigs to help promote the movie. We attended the premiere at New York's Paramount Theater and had to sign the Fright Release to get in. I think our last release for Coral was I'm Your Baby. We were young. Music was changing. The Beatles were just starting to hit big and we all just wanted to go in a different direction musically.

3B Theater: Was it an amicable split?

Bobby: Yes. 

3B Theater: Are you still in touch with the other guys?

Bobby: I honestly don't know where John or Gary are. I'd love to talk to them again. Maybe we can do a reunion show (Laughs.) If you find them shoo them my way. Ronnie and I have stayed in touch though. We're like brothers and we still play together on a regular basis.

3B Theater: So what have you been up to since? Still in the business I hear.

Bobby: After the Del-Aires broke up I continued to play. I was in a band called Gas Mask. We toured and opened for the likes of Sly and the Family Stone. We released some tracks through Tonsil Records. Did some studio work and still performing today here in Bonita Springs, Florida. Ronnie and I will do a gig together. That's how I found out about the website. He told me "You're not going to believe this. We've got a website." We got so excited we played some of the old songs again. I think Ronnie wants to talk to you too. 

3B Theater: Cool, give him my number.

Bobby: Can do. He's 59 years old but still a wild man and you can usually find him walking the piers doing some juggling.

3B Theater: Well, you've answered all my questions. Thanks, I really appreciate it.

Bobby: Your welcome. It's nice to know we've got some fans. 

3B Theater: Probably a lot more than you think. The fan response to the website has been huge. There's a lot of Del-Aires fans out there.

Bobby: Really? Publish my address if you want too. I'd love to hear from them. 

3B Theater: Are you sure?

Bobby: Yeah. It might be fun. If you need anything else give me a call. I'll try to get that stuff sent to you as soon as you can.

3B Theater: No problem, m'man. Take your time no hurry on this end.

- - - -

And with that our interview wound down with promises to stay in touch.

Wow. 

I had more stuff written down about what he did after the Del-Aires but for the life of me I can't find the paper I wrote it on. As soon as I do I'll get it posted.

Big thanks again to both Bobby Osborne for the interview and Bill Bohs for not being a psycho and hooking us up. I've got a few more questions cooked up for him already, like what ever happened to the mysterious fifth Del-Aire, Jimmy Jersey, but that will have to wait for another day. Stay tuned!

You can reach Bobby at - 

Now Bobby was nice enough to allow me to post his address here. So please, no crank letters. Thanks.