External PHP file DB access stops

I have an external .php file that resides in my root directory. I have created a link to it and it loads and retrieves data from a MYSQL data base to display in a table just fine.

The problem starts when I add the following into the .php file to make the page look like the rest of my WP site

<?
require('wp-blog-header.php');
get_header();

After adding that in I no longer get any data from the MYSQL database that it uses.The page displays but the table is empty.
My database connector is this:

require('database.php3');

$db=MYSQL_CONNECT($hostname, $username, $password) OR DIE("Unable to connect to database");

@mysql_select_db("$dbName") OR DIE(error(mysql_error()));

database.php3 holds the variables for accessing the database and all of those variables read correctly. As I have echoed them out and all were shown correctly.

The other issue I am having with this is I included this at the bottom of my .PHP file to include the footer and sidebar. But those 2 items do not display.

get_sidebar();
get_footer();

Anyone have a clue as to why they do not display??

I appreciate any help..
Rick