Fireball 500 was released by American International Pictures on June 7, 1966
Director William Asher
Fireball 500 cast: Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Fabian Forte, Julie Parrish, Harvey Lembeck, and Chill Wills
For director, William Asher, the creator of AIP’s beach party film series, Fireball 500 marked the end of the line. Though it still turned a profit, ticket sales for How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, released the previous year, had fallen markedly, clearly indicating that, after a good two-year run, the sun had set on the beach party franchise. So, AIP abruptly shifted gears from the beach and surfing, to Southern California’s other prime obsession, cars and racing, while retaining many of the original beach party cast. Frankie and Annette take the leading roles, but not as love interests. Harvey Lembeck, finally allowed to drop the ridiculous Von Zipper shtick, turns in a surprisingly credible performance as the heavy. The tight, but cliché-ridden plot, about moonshine runnin’ race drivers, manages to stay focused, which keeps the show from going completely off-track. The actual racing footage inserted throughout the film features real stock car legend Richard Petty in his famous number 43, sky blue Plymouth.
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The early racing scenes were shot at the Riverside Raceway, where the film’s director, William Asher, can be seen in the press box holding a clipboard. The rest of the racing action was filmed at the Saugus Speedway in Santa Clarita CA. Frankie is seen driving a “The” Fireball 500, a 1966 Plymouth Barracuda made over by the customizer to the stars, George Barris.
FYI
At the time the film was in production, the Thomas Organ Company, located in Sepulveda CA, had purchased Vox (a British manufacturer of musical instruments) and initiated a very aggressive product placement campaign featuring the equipment in dozens of youth-oriented films, of which, Fireball 500 was the first. They even had George Barris build them a custom show car “The Voxmobile,” which appeared at parades, fairs, and special events.