TWIN DESTINIES

The True Story of the Pappas Twins, 1950s Teen Radio Stars and Broadcasters in the Classic Hits Era

Kathy Pappas Angelos

A nostalgic look back at the exciting teen music and dance craze of the 50s through the classic hits era of the 60s, 70s, and 80s

Twin Destinies tells the story of Pete and Mike Pappas, the twin sons of Greek immigrants who deÿ ed predictions of failure and worked their way to the top of the broadcasting business in the exciting and glamorous classic hits era of 1950s radio and television.

Pete and Mike pitched the idea for a show dedicated to teens, “Pete and Mike’s Dance Time,” in their hometown of Modesto, California, and, due to their talent and charismatic personalities, quickly found themselves local celebrities. Soon the twins entered the burgeoning television industry with their own half-hour program, “Pete and Mike’s Variety Show,” airing on KTVU in Stockton.

Fame followed Pete and Mike even a° er they enlisted in the military. While in the service, bags of fan mail arrived weekly, and love letters from fans followed them wherever they were based.

A° er returning from the service, Pete and Mike’s strong, loving bond as identical twins found them pursuing broadcasting careers and living their lives together, overcoming obstacles in the business world and achieving the success their immigrant parents had dreamed would one day be theirs.

Twin Destinies is a story of hard work, perseverance, and the love between twin brothers that was the foundation of their American success story.

“In Greece, the Pappas family lived o˛ the land. In America, they switched and started living o˛ the sky’s broadcasting waves. Was their new business any easier than the old? While this fascinating memoir will let you judge for yourself, it will convince you that the road to success is never easy, wherever you happen to be. And without family, friends, hard work and plain luck, you’ll never reach the ÿ nish.”

—William B. Secrest, author of Greetings from Fresno

$18.95

“Twin Destinies is a book about facing and building on adversity. It is about a vision and determination. ˝ ere is a lesson here beyond the dinner table. It is the lesson of what it means to succeed and what it takes to do it.”

—James Ardaiz, author of Hands ˜ rough Stone