sixties

by


BEACH PARTY GIRLS 2006

Check out the August issue of Vanity Fair. There is an interesting article by Sheila Weller called “Wet ‘n’Wild! How Surfing Took Off in 1950s America.” The story focuses mostly on former Malibu surfers Mike Nader, Larry Shaw, Duane King, and their guru the late Miki Dora. But the last section has comments from and updates on beach girls Patti Chandler, Salli Sachse, Mary Hughes, and Linda Opie. The best part of the piece is a reunion photo of all the them at Malibu.

Pictured above are the beach girls ca. 1965 with (left to right) Patti Chandler, Aron Kincaid, Salli Sachse, Jo Collins, Mary Hughes, and Mikki Jamison.

The one disappointing aspect of the article is that I helped Ms. Weller by providing some contacts and answering her questions regarding the beach movies. All I asked for in return was a plug for my book, Hollywod Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959-1969, in her article. As I expected there is no mention of it. Even so, I still recommend picking up a copy. It is always nice to see the beach girls get their do.

by


JOSH HOLLOWAY (above) AND LOST BOYS SNUBBED BY EMMY VOTERS

To say I was aghast with this year’s crop of Emmy nominees is an understatement. What were these fools thinking!?! How they could snub Desperate Housewives, Lost, Rescue Me, and Entourage is beyond me! Not nominating the ladies of Wisteria Lane especially Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria and Nicolette Sheirdan is a crime and then to add insult to injury the only regular cast member nominated is Alfre Woodard! I know Alfre is an Emmy favorite but she was boring as hell in the show’s worst subplot! It is nice to see almost 60s starlet Shirley Knight nominated for her turn as Bree’s mother-in-law. I know from insiders that Shirley‘s ego is even bigger than Wisteria Lane but I’ll still be rooting for her.

As for Lost it was totally robbed. Not even a nod for Best Drama Series. Of course, that piece of shit The West Wing is there with lots of nominations. Zzzzzzzzzz. But where oh where are my Lost boys? Matthew Fox, Naveen Andrews, Josh Holloway, Terry Quinn were all well-deserving of Emmy nominations.

On the bright side a few of my faves are up for awards including Denis Leary in Rescue Me, Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh in Grey’s Anatomy, Leslie Jordan in Will and Grace, and Jeremy Piven in Entourage.

by

Due to technical difficulties, my Blog was down much too long. I am back thanks to my skilled and hot webmaster, Jim McGann!!!!

STARLET HALL OF SHAME

Today another diva joins the growing list of overrated sixties starlets. Drum roll please. The loser is that girl, Marlo Thomas. During the course of interviewing starlets for my new book two of them bashed Marlo for being a witch on wheels. Seems that perky nice girl she played on TV was no where near what Marlo was like off screen.

Ann Morell was a beauty queen from Texas who landed a part on That Girl when that girl barred her from working on her series. Suzanne Charny, the ponytail girl from Sweet Charity, had the misfortune of actually working on That Girl in her first TV role. Marlo made her life so miserable that she decided to quit and return to New York. A pep talk from her dad gave Charny the confidence to give it another try, which she did and learned that not every one in Hollywood was a mean-spirited diva. So Marlo, it’s free to be, you and me, so shame on you!

P.S. I always disliked Marlo Thomas and her little dog of a show as well!

Finally, check out this DVD review of a movie produced by Diane Baker, another Starlet in the Hall of Shame. Poor thing even has no personality when being herself on camera so it is no wonder she gave the same bland performance in all her movies.

by



CAROL LYNLEY

Readers of my Blog know that Carol Lynley is one of my favorite actresses of all time. I’ve been a fan of hers since I was 11 years old when I saw her clad in hot pants and go-go boots when the SS Poseidon went topsy turvy in The Poseidon Adventure. So it was nice to see Carol get lots of press recently with the release of the special edition Poseidon Adventure DVD where Carol appears in a number of featurettes (stay tuned for my upcoming review) and the debut of the so-so remake Poseidon where she was invited to the premiere and interviewed on the red carpet by a number of entertainment outlets. Check out Pamela Sue Martin’s web site to see pics from the premiere at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

Here in New York, Lynley was interviewed for the New York Times while the Museum of Modern Art screened Carol’s best film, Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) a highly entertaining mystery about the disappearance of a little girl who may or may not exist from director Otto Preminger. (Of course I attended with my boyfriend Ern and friend John.) The movie is full of droll performances from a number of fine British actors including Laurence Olivier as a doubting police offical who suspects something is off between glacial Carol Lynley and her over protective brother Keir Dullea (pictured above), Noel Coward as Lynley’s perverted landlord who adores the Marquis de Sade, and Martita Hunt as a daffy school mistress. But it is Carol who carries the entire film on her capable shoulders as the harried unwed woman who is determined to prove that Bunny Lake exists. Bunny Lake Is Missing was recently released on DVD so I highly recommend you check it out!