Template:Multiple issuesKathleen "Bunny" Gibson is an actress (born Jan. 19, 1946 in Jersey City, New Jersey) and former regular dancer on the American Bandstand television program. She was nicknamed Bunny by her mother because she hopped around like a bunny when she was little.She was introduced to American Bandstand as a 13-year-old when Bandstand regular Arlene Sullivan and her dance partner, Kenny Rossi, appeared at a swim club near her home, attracting a throng of screaming teenagers. When a friend told her who the dancers were, Gibson began watching the show and practiced the jitterbug with her refrigerator door. She made her first appearance on the show at the age of 13 so that she could met her idol, Philadelphia singer Bobby Rydell.Gibson soon became a regular dancer on the show and remained until 1961. Her regular dance partner was Eddie Kelly but she also danced with Steve Colanero, Johnny Alamia and Jay Jacovini. She had many fan clubs across the country and was listed in teen magazines' "popularity contests" alongside stars such as Elvis Presley, Frankie Avalon, Chubby Checker and Connie Francis. Gibson was regularly featured in articles in the most popular teen magazines of the day, such as 16, Dig and Teen Screen. Bandstand host Dick Clark once announced on air that Gibson had been named "Queen of the Shasta" by U.S. Navy men stationed aboard that ship.In 1962, the 16-year-old Gibson married Don Travarelli, a 21-year-old fan who fell in love with her when he saw her dancing on American Bandstand. Travarelli practiced dancing with his niece, Robin, but was older than the 18-year-old limit to appear on Bandstand so he found another way to meet Gibson, getting her phone number from another dancer. In 1963, Gibson graduated from Northeast High School, a condition her mother required before giving permission for the marriage. Travarelli and Gibson had two daughters, Angel and Maria, before divorcing in 1970.As a single mother, Gibson was an award-winning sculptor and did commercials in New York, including five national spots for Minute Rice. She also did commercials for Charmin, Panasonic, Acme Markets and McDonalds. She also studied acting in New York with Warren Robertson, Stella Adler and Herbert Berghof.She moved to Los Angeles in 1980 to pursue her acting career. As Kathleen Klein, she eventually landed a role as Megan on ABC-TV's General Hospital. In the early 1990s, she appeared in two episodes of the Showtime series, “Compromising Situations,” and played a hard, cigar-smoking saloon operator in the film “Rollerblade Warriors.” She has also appeared in the movie "No Ordinary Love" (1997).In 2010, Gibson was the lead dancer in the conga line scene of "The Backup Plan" starring Jennifer Lopez. Other recent films in which she's had roles include “Scout’s Honor” with Fred Willard, “The Rainbow Tribe,” “I’m Going to Kill Leonard Riley,” “Creepshow 3,” “Karla,” “Second Class Citizens” and "Tao Hung’s Dream."Gibson's TV
No matter what, keep on dancing! Dancing is my drug of choice!
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Bunny is one of "America's Original Bandstand Dancers" - "Regulars" from Philadelphia hosted by Dick Clark. Peter Jenning's features Bunny in his "The Century" and "The Century Book for Young People". High School students learn about her in Social Studies and are asked "How are times different now from when Bunny Gibson was a teenager".
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