Welcome back to Indy Chicken Soup, where we warm your soul with local flavor, classic nostalgia, and the occasional “Wait… THAT really happened?” moment.
And today’s moment is a doozy.
Before Marvel movies took over the universe, the 1960s specialized in wild mash-ups: beach stars on skis, soul legends in snow boots, and the future Batgirl trying not to slip on ice while wearing perfect eyeliner. This brings us to one of the greatest oddball film moments of the decade…
When James Brown Brought the Funk to a Ski Resort
The movie was Ski Party (1965)—a bubblegum-sweet teen musical starring Frankie Avalon, Dwayne Hickman, and a young Yvonne Craig, who later suited up as Batgirl on the 1966 Batman TV series.
The plot? Two college guys pretend to be women to learn how to pick up girls on the slopes. It’s the kind of movie where the logic ends and the dance numbers begin.
And then… James Brown enters.
Yes, that James Brown—the Godfather of Soul—bursts onto the snowy screen with The Famous Flames and unleashes “I Got You (I Feel Good)” in one of his earliest on-film performances of the song.
A Performance So Hot It Should’ve Melted the Snow
Brown’s feet moved faster than most people ski.
The man didn’t need winter gear. His energy alone could’ve powered a small mountain town.
The song wasn’t even a huge hit yet—but after this movie, it became one of the most recognizable anthems of all time. Frankie Avalon crooned, Yvonne Craig sparkled, but James Brown straight-up stole the film.
It’s still celebrated as one of the most delightfully unexpected musical cameos in 1960s cinema.
Did You Know? (Fun Facts!)
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“I Got You (I Feel Good)” hit No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 shortly after the movie’s release.
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Yvonne Craig filmed Ski Party the same year she was cast as Batgirl.
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James Brown didn’t ski—he didn’t have to. He let the snow try to keep up with him.
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Ski Party was part of the “beach party movie” craze… except someone said, “Forget the beach—let’s put everyone in a lodge.”
Final Ladle of Chicken Soup Wisdom
If anyone ever tells you the ’60s were boring, show them the movie where Frankie Avalon skis, Batgirl flirts, and James Brown sings his heart out at high altitude.
Trust me—you’ll feel good.