Remember the good ol’ days of drive-in movies, sock hops, duck tails and poodle skirts? Going for a cherry Coke in a cool car?
Langley’s Sandy Dunkley sure does, and she’s bringing back those ‘happy days’ for one memorable evening in September. And it’s all for a good cause.
Baby Boomers and wannabe Baby Boomers are invited to the first annual Ron Dunkley Memorial Society’s Happy Days Are Here Again event on Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Twilight Drive-In movie theatre.
Dunkley has rented out the drive-in and is hoping to fill the place with classic cars and people dressed up in their best 1960s outfits, ready to dance and laugh.
The night will begin with a sock hop and dance contest, while the young and young at heart jive, twist and stroll to the classic rock of Liquid Courage.
Prizes will be given to the best jive, best stroll and more.
Following the dance in the parking lot, two movies will be played: Back To the Beach, featuring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, followed by Rebel Without a Cause, featuring James Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo.
A ’60s style concession will be open to serve burgers, fries, sodas and popcorn, all included in the ticket price.
All proceeds will support the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. with proceeds going to the Honour House, a temporary home located in New Westminster for all emergency services and veterans and their families to use free of charge, while they travel to receive medical care.
“Ronny was a huge ’50s/’60s music fan. He had the whole Beach Boy collection of music,” said Dunkley about her son who died in a Seattle hospital in January 2011, two months after being hit by a train. He was 34.
Sandy has since created the Ron Dunkley Memorial Society, a charitable foundation raising funds for a number of causes, including the B.C. Professional Firefighters Burn Fund, Honour House, Muscular Dystrophy Foundation and Canadian Blood Services.
A blood drive has been held in Ron’s name each year since 2011 at his Langley City fire hall.
The motto: One life touches many.
“Ronny would love this event. I just feel like he’ll be there, too. It’s just an all around fun thing to be a part of,” she said. “Ron also loved Happy Days, and doo wop music.”
He was a big James Dean fan as well, so showing the movie Rebel Without a Cause is special for the Dunkleys.
Up to 400 cars-full can attend the event. Considering this ’60s-style event is taking place one weekend after the Langley Good Times Cruise-In, Dunkley is hoping owners of classic cars will bring their shiny rides to her event.
Cruise-In used to have a Friday night cruise to the drive-in.
Dunkley has a ’59 Ford Fairlane, which she will have at the event. There will be a prize for best car, too.
Tickets will be available beginning Aug. 1. They will be $50 for a car and two people or $100 for car with four people. Single person at the gate is $25.
The ticket includes theatre admission, movies, sock hop, concession gift certificate, door prizes and prizes for best dances, best classic car and best ’50s – ’60s costume.
Tickets will be sold at the Langley Good Times Cruise-In, which is taking place the weekend before.
Tickets can also be purchased at ABC Freedom Arts, and at the Langley Times office.
For more information go to the Ron Dunkley Memorial Society website: rd-ms.com or contact Sandy Dunkley at 604-866-2873.
