COUNTDOWN TO POSEIDON

It’s five days to the opening of Poseidon, which has been receiving excellent reviews for its visual effects and as a thrill ride. But as expected, the characters are not nealy as colorful as in the original.

For an enjoyable look back at The Poseidon Adventure, click here to read Thomas Vinciguerra’s entertaining New York Times piece, “Underwater, and Over the Top in 1972.” He interviews the over zealous fans of the original and Carol Lynley (pictured above in Nonnie mode). I met Mr. Vinciguerra at the Player’s Club here in New York and was supposed to be interviewed as well but I guess I was not fanatical enough contrary to what my friends think.

Finally, for a good laugh at starlet Diane Baker’s expense, read the comment from a reader under my blog from a few days ago about the Starlet Hall of Shame. It cracked me up.

R.I.P.

I am sorry to report the passing of 60s starlet Alberta Nelson (pictured at left with Harvey Lembeck in Bikini Beach ) on April 29, 2006. Alberta was a very talented comedienne who was best known for playing a biker chick as part of Eric Von Zipper’s inept motorcyle gang Ratz and Mice in all the Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello movies beginning with Beach Party (1963) and ending with The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966). She also had funny bits in Muscle Beach Party (1964) as one of Don Rickles’ fitness nuts and a malfunctioning robot in Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965). When the beach party came to an end, Alberta made a few appearances on The Andy Griffith Show as Flora, a waitress and love interest for Goober.

I was on the hunt to interview Alberta Nelson for my new book and knew she lived in Erie, Pennsylvania but unfortunately I was never able to locate her.

STARLET HALL OF SHAME

A few blogs ago I bashed Hanoi Jane and added her to my list of 60s starlets I-love-to-hate. I had an inquiry about the other 3 actresses mentioned and why I personally dislike them so here is my all-in-fun personal “bitchy” opinions:

Diane Baker – To me, she is one of the blandest most boring actresses from the decade to reach leading lady status. No range whatsoever. Despite this she is sooo full of herself that she teaches acting classes. When one of her 60s contemporaries heard this, she remarked incredulously, “What credentials does she think she has to teach? They might as well have hired a hamster.”

Jill St. John – Of all the actresses I have interviewed that worked with her all but one said she was unkind to them on the set and described her as a witch and that is one of the nicer terms used.

Stefanie Powers – Beautiful? Yes. Deserving of her stardom? No. She never had a memorable movie role and in my opinion gives the same performance in everything she does.

On the positive side, starlets of their ilk that I love-to-love include Carol Lynley, Pamela Tiffin, Anjanette Comer, Tina Louise, Joanna Pettet, Nancy Kwan, Stella Stevens, Julie Newmar, Marianna Hill, Raquel Welch, and Ann-Margret.