Oy! I always thought she was a shiksa! 
Without looking it up, I can name five girls who played Gidget. How many can others name? 
She was on “The Tonight Show” four years after Beach Party came out, demonstrating self-defense and calisthenics with Johnny.
Growing up in San Diego, I loved the Beach Party movies. The whole endless summer aspect seemed like an ideal way of life to aspire to. I never learned to surf but I still watch them from time to time as comfort viewing.
The best part of “Back To The Beach” was that it brought Dick Dale and Stevie Ray Vaughn together for a terrific version of Pipeline.