History Theatre / ByeByeBirdie

* PlayingGertrude: In the film, Albert's mother is played by Maureen Stapleton, who was only a few months older than Dick Van Dyke.

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Most people assume Conrad Birdie is entirely an Elvis caricature, but his name is actually a parody of Conway Twitty, one of Elvis’ main rock-and-roll rivals in the '50's. He is much better remembered today as either a country performer or a [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy non sequitur gag]], depending on one’s generation.

* MyWayOrTheHighway: Harry [=MacAfee=] adopts his stance once having Birdie in the house becomes overwhelming. He announces: "I have tried to run this house on a democratic basis. I have extended the privilege of self-determination to both the woman I have married, and the children I have sired...Gentlemen, the democracy is over! Parliament has been dissolved; the Magna Carta is revoked, and Nero is back in town!" Soon after, he voices his objection of Birdie kissing Kim to his family; when Doris and Kim protest, he says to Kim: "This is my house and until you're eighteen...". Before he has a chance to finish his thought, Albert comes and announces that the kiss will be broadcast on the Ed Sullivan Show, prompting Mr.[=MacAfee=] to reconsider.

* AdaptationalVillainy: Harry [=MacAfee=] in the 1963 movie, by a narrow margin. While quite the surly authoritarian in both the original play and in the film, in the former his behavior seems to be situational, as he is under duress from Conrad Birdie's rude, pretentious behavior while a guest in his house and the prospect of his daughter kissing him on live television. The film, however, seems to imply that Mr. [=MacAfee=] had a surly and despotic nature to begin with.

* BothSidesHaveAPoint: Mr. [=MacAfee=] has a very legitimate complaint with regards to Birdie essentially hijacking his family's home while a guest there. But it is also understandable that Kim, at her age, finds the prospect of being associated with the Rock 'N' Roll singer appealing. As well, she is in the process of growing up, and her father could have handled the situation in a more sensitive and less domineering way than he does.

* WhenIWayYourAge: Played for laughs in "Kids": "Why can't they be like we were,/Perfect in every way?/What's the matter with kids today?"

* {{Nerd}}: Harvey Johnson

The original 1960 production of ''Bye Bye Birdie'' starred Creator/DickVanDyke as Albert and Chita Rivera as Rosie. It won four Tony Awards including Best Musical, with Van Dyke and director/choreographer Gower Champion also winning. It was adapted into a 1963 film directed by George Sidney, starring Van Dyke, Creator/JanetLeigh as Rosie, and Creator/AnnMargret as Kim. A TV movie version was made in 1995 with Creator/JasonAlexander as Albert, Music/VanessaWilliams as Rosie, and Chynna Phillips as Kim. In 1981 the creators wrote a sequel, ''Bring Back Birdie'', about Albert and Rosie trying to find Birdie for a comeback TV special, with Chita Rivera re-creating her role and Creator/DonaldOConnor taking over as Albert; it was a critical and commerical disaster, lasting only four performances.

* FirstNameBasis: Kim refers to her parents by their first names, Harry and Doris.

''Bye Bye Birdie'' was most successfully adapted as a 1963 film directed by George Sidney, starring Creator/DickVanDyke as Albert (reprising his original Broadway role), Creator/JanetLeigh as Rosie, and Creator/AnnMargret as Kim. A TV movie version was made in 1995 with Creator/JasonAlexander as Albert, Music/VanessaWilliams as Rosie, and Chynna Phillips as Kim. In 1981 the creators wrote a sequel, ''Bring Back Birdie'', about Albert and Rosie trying to find Birdie for a comeback TV special, with Rivera re-creating her role and Creator/DonaldOConnor taking over as Albert; it was a critical and commerical disaster, lasting only four performances.

''Bye Bye Birdie'' was most successfully adapted as a 1963 film directed by George Sidney, starring Creator/DickVanDyke as Albert (reprising his original Broadway role), Creator/JanetLeigh as Rosie, and Creator/AnnMargret as Kim. A TV movie version was made in 1995 with Creator/JasonAlexander as Albert, Music/VanessaWilliams as Rosie, and Chynna Phillips as Kim.

Albert's plan is really quite simple: all he has to do is write a hit song called "One Last Kiss" for Conrad to record, announce that Conrad is going to perform that song for just one of his millions of hysterical [[{{Fangirl}} fangirls]], giving her that "one last kiss" in the process. Then all he has to do is keep Conrad out of trouble long enough to get him into the Army and out of his hair and the money is bound to start rolling in. [[WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong What could possibly go wrong?]] The lucky girl turns out to be Kim [=MacAfee=], the president of the Conrad Birdie Fan Club in Sweet Apple, Ohio, who just happens to be going out with a nerdy boy named Hugo. HilarityEnsues.

* AntiClimax: [[spoiler:The kiss between Kim and Conrad in the movie. It's been built up to for the whole film, but just when it's about to happen, Hugo punches Conrad in the jaw ''on live television'' and he is never seen again]]

[[quoteright:340:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bye_bye_birdie_broadway_cast_album.jpg]]

''Bye Bye Birdie'' is a 1960 {{musical}} comedy with book by Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams. It was inspired by the hoopla that surrounded Music/ElvisPresley's induction into the U.S. Army.

''Bye Bye Birdie'' was most successfully adapted as a 1963 film starring Creator/DickVanDyke as Albert (reprising his original Broadway role), Creator/JanetLeigh as Rosie, and Creator/AnnMargret as Kim. A TV movie version was made in 1995 with Creator/JasonAlexander as Albert, Vanessa Williams as Rosie, and Chynna Phillips as Kim.

''Bye Bye Birdie'' is a 1960 comedy musical with book by Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams. It was inspired by the hoopla that surrounded Music/ElvisPresley's induction into the U.S. Army.

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bye_bye_birdie_broadway_cast_album.jpg]]

''Bye Bye Birdie'' was most successfully adapted as a 1963 film starring Creator/DickVanDyke as Albert (reprising his original Broadway role), Creator/JanetLeigh as Rosie, and Ann-Margret as Kim. A TV movie version was made in 1995 with Creator/JasonAlexander as Albert, Vanessa Williams as Rosie, and Chynna Phillips as Kim.

''Bye Bye Birdie'' is a 1960 comedy musical inspired by the hoopla that surrounded Music/ElvisPresley's induction into the U.S. Army.

* FatGirl: The main comedic point of one-off character Gloria Rasputin in some productions.

* MyBelovedSmother: Albert's mother. Hoo, boy.

* FanGirl: this is the next level GroupieBrigade

* GroupieBrigade: Conrad has a million-strong army of fangirls who [[BrownNote scream bloody murder and/or faint whenever his name is spoken]], pledge allegiance to Conrad Birdie, and incessantly sing the biggest ear worm of the show.

%%* FanGirl: this is the next level GroupieBrigade

* GroupieBrigade: Conrad has a million-strong army of fangirls who [[BrownNote scream bloody murder and/or faint whenever his name is spoken]], pledge allegiance to Conrad Birdie, and incessantly sing the biggest EarWorm of the show.

* RoleReprisal: For the 1963 movie, Creator/DickVanDyke and Creator/PaulLynde again played Albert Peterson and Harry [=MacAfee=], whom they both originated on Broadway.