SHE TOOK THE BLUE PILLS
Click here to view a fabulous web site that pays tribute to vinyl LPs and 45 rpm soundtrack records with wonderful retro cover images. Seems every country put out its own version of each record, so cover images varied widely.
That’s Glamour Girl Sharon Tate (at right) downing some dolls from that camp classic, Valley of the Dolls. They sure don’t make 45 rpm covers like that anymore.
WHAT A DOLL!
By 1973, the sixties spy craze had practically run its course. One of the last films during this time period was the action B-film The Doll Squad, directed by Ted V. Mikels. Francine York energetically played Sabrina, a CIA agent and leader of The Doll Squad. She is assigned by CIA operative Connolly (Anthony Eisley) to stop a madman who plans to overthrow the governments from around the world by unleashing thousands of rats infected with the bubonic plague. After contacting two of her members to re-join the Doll Squad they are ambushed and killed. Realizing that there is a mole in Connolly’s office, Sabrina deduces that it is his secretary, which leads to a catfight complete with hair pulling. Sabrina gets the vixen to reveal that the mastermind is Eamon O’Reilly (Michael Ansara), a former agent and Sabrina’s lover. After rounding up four more deadly dolls including Cat (Sherri Vernon) and Lavelle (Tura Satana), the Doll Squad, decked out in black jumpsuits with white go-go boots, heads to O’Reilly’s island fortress. After a series of explosions and gun battles, O’Reilly captures Sabrina. As he is about to eliminate her, the wily agent sprays him with her mace ring and stabs him with a sword.
The Doll Squad was one of Mikels’ (who had previously directed Astro-Zombies) bigger budgeted films. Though with a little more funding for special effects and extra time for shooting, Mikels could have had a winner. However, it was good enough for ABC to “borrow” the idea for their new series Charlie Angels. Or that is what Mikels claims and York wholeheartedly agrees with. “Ted went to the producers with the premise,” states Francine York emphatically. “They even asked me to audition for Charlie’s Angels and I would have been perfect for it. Charlie Grauman made a pass at me, I turned him down, and that was the end of that!
At a recent screening in LA, the still gorgeous Francine York introduced the movie. See below as the energetic York recalls the making of the film whilea disinterested audience barely acknowledges her presence. Shame on them!
AN ALL-STAR GALA (SORT OF)
The Thalians is a worthy organization around since the mid-Fifties where young Hollywood stars at the the time got together to help children with mental problems. The organization is still going strong today with Debbie Reynolds as President (a post she has held since 1958) and Ruta Lee as Chairman of the Board. Every year they honor an actor at this year’s Thalians Gala Ball the recepient was Clint Eastwood.
Sadly, the All-Star Gala Ball was more like a Hollywood Collector’s Show reunion. Great for people like me but not one A-List star to be found as one would expect to see at a salute to Eastwood. Guests included BarBara Luna (looking smashing in a glittery evening gown), Mamie Van Doren, Carol Lynley (looking really hagard and what’s with the leopard pants and orange raincoat? sigh), Stella Stevens, Deanna Lund, Lou Ferrigno, Anne Jeffreys, Rich Little, Barbie Benton, Linda Blair, Patty McCormack, etc.
Click here to take a look as the celebrities arrived.
I LOVE MOVIE PREVIEWS
Click here to check out Trailers from Hell a cool site featuring classic movie previews with commentary from an ecletic array of movie pros. Lots of the 60s starlets’ including Ursula Andress, Raquel Welch, Stefanie Powers, Joan O’Brien, Joan Freeman, Marianna Hill, Yvette Mimieux, etc. are featured.
Click here to sample The Trip (1967) below with Peter Fonda, Salli Sachse as the LSD Freak-Out Girl and Susan Strasberg.