Trish VanDevere? She was married to George C. Scott, and they did "The Changeling" together (that is good!). She did a Columbo episode. And the movie "The Hearse". And "Where's Poppa?" I'm sure much more.
I really liked her. She was so pretty, and when she acted she seemed so natural.
Well, from the websites I just visited, she is either 66 or 68 years old. She was the original Meredith Lord on "One Life to Live". She married George C. Scott in 1971, when she became his 5th wife. As he lessened his work load, she accepted some roles in some crappy movies. She was married to him until he died. (But not long before he died, someone was suing him for a sexual harassment suit...) Her real name is "Patricia Dressel". After Scott's death, she continued appearing "with distinction" on the stage. I could not find a current picture of her and don't know if she's working now or not.
Rona Barrett? My mother used to buy every movie magazine that was on the stands, and I remember reading lots of Rona Barrett. I don't remember if she had her own magazine, or just a column...
Well, she's still living. Today she is 72. Here is a picture of her last March at a book signing in LA.
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Yes, the mag was titled "Rona Barrett's Hollywood"-- I confess to reading it during the late '70s, before the likes of "Entertainment Tonight" and "infotainment" reportage on the burgeoning cable outlets blurred the line between news & entertainment, thus making the likes of Ms. Barrett rather vestigial, if not obsolete (owing to the youth culture more than her abilities). She belonged to another era, that of Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons. She made some powerful enemies, including Frank Sinatra, because she openly hypothesized that Frank Jr. staged his kidnapping in order to garner attention from his father.
Rona was very "West Coast." I enjoyed reading Liz Smith's newspaper column for "East Coast" reportage. Liz was on the edge of telling everything that was going on-- and down-- at Studio 54. Baryshnikov, Liza, Halston, Warhol, and Bianca Jagger (for some odd reason-- as if she ever did anything).
Liz, who's in her 80s, recently lost her gig with the NY Post, but picked up another with Parade, that Sunday newspaper insert. I saw Rona very recently on TV, and she's remarkably well preserved.
Okay, A-- as long as you're reminiscing-- here's another blast from the past: Ruta Lee. I was thinking of her not long ago, and all the guest appearances she made on TV shows during the '60s: "The Twilight Zone," "The Lucy Show," ad infinitum. She's about Rona's age, and remarkably well preserved as well.
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As for Trish-- she seemed to drop off the radar after she divorced G.C. I remember him playing The Beast to her Beauty in a good TV movie. I still think he's the most superb Ebenezer Scrooge and "The Christmas Carol" he did is the best (with Roger Rees also excellent as his nephew). Hate that that cloud of abuse charges has marred his image.
His son (not by Trish), Campbell Scott, does a lot of TV and movie work (mostly indie films). Saw him recently in the Drew Barrymore/Hugh Grant "Music and Lyrics" (title correct???), which I recommend. Speaking of scandals-- hate about Hugh Grant's big faux pas. He deserved an Oscar nomination for "About a Boy," and now he'll never be nominated, much less win one. Well, neither did Cary Grant (win one).
I enjoyed your post, DJ. I remember Hedda Hopper like she was earlier than Rona Barrett. I don't remember Louella Parsons, but I've heard of her.
I LOVE Ruta Lee. I remember the Twilight Zone with her as a secretary when an office guy found a watch that could stop time. Did she do a second one? I remember her being on The Lucy Show. She was always sooooo beautiful. I thought she was maybe the most beautiful of all actresses.
I am glad to know that she is still living. She is 73 years old and was born in Montreal. Her father was a Lithuanian tailor. Her real name was Ruta Mary Kilmons. She is still very beautiful! She's done about five movies in the recent past, lots of theatre, and charity work where she's been the president of something I think having to do with ill actors for 45 years.
Here she is when she got her star on the Walk of Fame first with Mitzi Gaynor, next with Ann Rutherford. The last one is from another unforgettable sitcom episode she did. (Didn't she do another Andy Griffith episode where she played a lawyer and Andy got a sunburn out by her pool? I think her character's name was "Lee Drake" in that one, if it was her.)
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Yup, she did "Andy Griffith," among her dozens of other '60s TV credits. Was she the sunburned lawyer or someone out in Hollywood, when the movie was being made about Sheriff Andy Taylor?
She was in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and "Witness for the Prosecution."
I loved the "Lucy" episode-- where she was filling in for the supposedly vacationing Lucy Carmichael and attempting to usurp her position during the absence, being ever so much more efficient (and appealing to Mr. Mooney). Lucy fears as much, and dresses up as a mod decorator, then sabotages Ruta's filing.
What made me connect Ruta to Rona (aside from the similarities in first names) was that Rona often covered Ruta's charitable activities, among them The Thalians ball.
Finally, Ruta was Alex Trebek's be-feather-boaed croupier on his pre-"Jeopardy" game show, "High Rollers."
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Yes, Hedda and Louella peaked in popularity during the '40s and early '50s. Both were syndicated columnists with radio spots. Louella wrote for the Hearst newspapers-- was always rumored to have something big "on" the Old Man (thinly veiled subject of "Citizen Kane"). Hedda was famous for her hats; she began as an actress, and can be seen in such movies as "The Women." She stood by Lucy when she was accused of being a Communist during the early '50s, and was thus a dear friend of Miss Ball.
In the posted photo, she played a famous actress in Hollywood when the Taylors went out there regarding that movie "Sheriff Without a Gun" and Helen got jealous over the phone. She also played a lawyer whom Andy had to go out of town to see. Her name I think was 'Lee Drake' in that episode, and he was surprised "Lee" was a woman. They worked by the pool and he came back all sunburnt and Helen got jealous in that one, too. Thanks, DJ, for the plot of the "Lucy" episode. I remember she was on it but didn't remember what it was about. Was that a two-part episode, or was she in a second "Lucy"? It seems like she was in an earlier 'Andy Griffith' in black and white, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
I read in some book on Lucy that when she was accused of Communism, they had their show to do the night the news broke, and Desi warmed up the audience. Lucy was so distraught. But when Desi said, "The only thing red about her is her hair," and added "and I'm not so sure about that," he had the audience roaring.
Oh you must rent Cat's Meow- a 2001 movie about that famous weekend on the Hearst yacht when William Ince was murdered-or died - who knows?. This is supposedly what Louella Parsons knew all about and had on Hearst. There was a huge cover up as only Hearst could have afforded. Of course we will never know, but the movie portrays the Ince death as a homicide with Hearst pulling the trigger in a mistaken identity scenario. He was wildly jealous of his paramour Marion Davies, who was flirtatious with many men including Charlie Chaplin. I won't give it all away- but it is brilliant! Ah Hedda and Louella- arch rivals in the gossip biz- they don't make em like that anymore.
Actually, Marion Davies was a good comedienne. TCM has shown a fair number of her MGM flix; of course, her career was fueled by Hearst, and she got a bad rap for doing expensive costume pictures that couldn't recoup their production costs. WRH could have saved himself some bother and shot Louella, too, but I guess she didn't flirt with MD. Louella was married to a proctologist. Carole Lombard, ever the wag, referred to him as "The Velvet Finger."
This past Sunday, TCM aired a "late" silent version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin": Almost unbelievable in its stereotypes! An obviously expensive production, Eliza's crossing the river on ice floes, pursued by bloodhounds, is spectacular! Don't miss it if it re-airs!
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A-- the Ruta Lee "Lucy" was a one-part. Maybe RL did some other episodes? Ann Sothern made a lot of guest appearances, often as the Countess Framboise. AS and Lucy were pals from their MGM days, when Ann did all those "Maisie" movies.
As for Helen Crump: She does seem to have had some trust issues! .
I've read the story about Desi-- Lucy broke down when the audience stood and cheered. Contrary to Weird Al's lyric, "And the laughter's alwyas canned," "I Love Lucy" was filmed before a live audience, each and every episode, and Ball's mother, Deedee, was always there, laughing the loudest (listen for her).
Lucy's career almost ended over the Communist accusation (actually, she had registered, back in the early '30s, as such to appease a dotty old grandfather).
Frank Sinatra wanted her for the Angela Lansbury role in "The Manchurian Candidate." That would have been awesome!
Yes Marion was a great comedienne but Hearst was hellbent to make her a "serious star" much to her dismay - and dropped a ton of money trying to make it happen. Poor little Marion. What a story. I tend to believe Ince was murdered- the story handed out was fishy to the nth degree!
Another suspicious case was Olive Thomas- I believe she was murdered. On her honeymoon with Mary Pickford's brother Jack (a ne'r do well scamp) she ended up dead in a Paris hotel one morning. I love Olive- America's first flapper- and have her poster in my dressing room at home. She got no justice thanks to those Pickfords and their money. http://www.flapperjane.com/Olive%20Thom ... mepage.htm
Oh yes- mercury! What a horrible death. Not like we happen to have mercury hanging around on our nightstand every night either. Bichloride of mercury is used in some antiseptics in very small amounts-not enough to kill someone. It was also used as a remedy for syphillis which Jack reputedly got in the war. oooo- that is a juicy case. I have to wonder about that new hubby of hers- he was a womanizer and dabbled in all the bad stuff from drugs to philandering. There were plenty of those around the Hollywood set- how about William Desmond Morris?
Yes, Olive was a stunner, poor thing. I would bet Lizzie knew of her- she was a big star when she died in 1920 at the age of 26.
Stunning. Unusual hairline. Humans are perplexing. Aren't we ? Almost any of us could be drawn into something shady, and not know it, until it's too late. (sound of howling wind, and shutter flapping against the sill)
Well, I think Jack Pickford's sudden departure out of the country was highly suspect. They had had a quarrel- Olive had sort of given him an ultimatum and then refused to return to their hotel with him and stayed out partying. They had secretly been married for a year but kept it secret because Olive wanted to make it big without the Pickford name- which she did. Then Jack went off to war and this trip to Paris in 1920 was their delayed honeymoon.
The story which was released was that she must have gotten hold of the wrong bottle in the medicine cabinet. Some time had elapsed before she was found by an employee of the hotel- dead on the floor. Jack gone with the wind. Of course we will never know how many pills were in that bottle or if it was a mistake- or even if somebody switched the mercury for the asperin, knowing she would take it for her hangover. Something very fishy there-the whole story. There are a lot more pleasant ways to commit suicide- and mercury, a caustic irritant is not the way anyone would choose- especially when she had access to about any drug including heroin and cocaine. They travelled in a "fast set".
Yes, I mentioned that one above. Mary Miles MInton's silk panties were a plant you know- so people would not know Taylor was gay. Oh her mother was a PIP!
The lingerie with MMM on it was not there- then it was there. You can bet that the crime scene was tampered with long before the police got there.
Here's a pretty good account http://www.classichollywoodbios.com/Wil ... Taylor.htm
Hollywood moguls were notorious for covering up crime scenes and diffusing serious crimes committed by their stars. Even in 1957, when Johnny Stompanato was knifed, Lana Turner called her attorney to the scene first (smart gal-- Lizzie could have taken a cue from her), not so much concerned about Stompanato, but in hysterics, proclaiming, "My career is over!"
It wasn't of course-- the scandal just juiced up her box-office for the remake of "Imitation of Life."
Cheryl Crane could tell us the truth about the incident-- the last book I read about Lana claimed that she stabbed Stompanato because she caught him in bed with the underage Cheryl, and had said as much to the author, in order to explain her burgeoning acrophobia-- apparently terrified that the mob had a hit out on her.
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Back to the Pickfords-- Joan Crawford also had a time with them.
I often wonder what became of celebrities that disappeared over the years. I love those "Whatever Happened To..." series of books. Findadeath.com is a good source for those who have passed on.
Lately I've been wondering what became of actor Hank Salas. He played the bully "Mike" in the 1980 teen movie "My Bodyguard." He cracks me up every time I see him in that role. I play the DVD when I need a good laugh. He did a few things then dropped out of sight about 25 years ago.
I was surprised to learn recently that the actor who played the boy in "The Song Of The South" was found dead in a run-down flea infested New York apartment by a couple of kids back in 1968. He had a hard time getting work because of his drug habits and ended up too broke to eat. A lot of celebrities end up like that.
-1bigsteve (o:
"All of your tomorrows begin today. Move it!" -Susan Hayward 1973
I used to enjoy the Richard Lamparski "Whatever Became Of?" books, too. So sad to see most of those "modern-day" shots, though.
I've "rediscovered" the film version of "Hello, Dolly!" and enjoy watching it with my niece and nephews, who love it. The critics ripped it to shreds when it was first released, and it doesn't deserve the bad rap. (Neither does the film version of "Mame".)
The outstanding dancer who played Barnaby Tucker in HD, Danny Lockin, was stabbed, more than thirty times, to death. He and Michael Crawford (later the Phantom of the Opera), as Cornelius, both perform admirably, as does Matthau. Streisand fumbles here and there, but-- hey-- she can tear the heck out of a song! All the production numbers are brilliant.
BTW: I dont' believe Disney ever put "Song of the South" on VHS, much less DVD. You know, "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" won the Oscar for Best Song in 1947!
It is what it is. Heck, all those Mickey & Judy musicals, most of which are chock-full of minstrel numbers, are shown on TCM and have been released to the home market.
Was flipping the remote last p.m., and happened upon a movie featuring Louella Parsons (discussed above) as herself.
"Hollywood Hotel" (1937).
TCM is paying tribute to lyricist Johnny Mercer this month, and the movie features some of his songs.
The network aired, this past week, a very good new documentary on Mercer, produced by Clint Eastwood.
DJ @ Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:11 pm wrote:I used to enjoy the Richard Lamparski "Whatever Became Of?" books, too. So sad to see most of those "modern-day" shots, though.
I've "rediscovered" the film version of "Hello, Dolly!" and enjoy watching it with my niece and nephews, who love it. The critics ripped it to shreds when it was first released, and it doesn't deserve the bad rap. (Neither does the film version of "Mame".)
The outstanding dancer who played Barnaby Tucker in HD, Danny Lockin, was stabbed, more than thirty times, to death. He and Michael Crawford (later the Phantom of the Opera), as Cornelius, both perform admirably, as does Matthau. Streisand fumbles here and there, but-- hey-- she can tear the heck out of a song! All the production numbers are brilliant.
BTW: I dont' believe Disney ever put "Song of the South" on VHS, much less DVD. You know, "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" won the Oscar for Best Song in 1947!
It is what it is. Heck, all those Mickey & Judy musicals, most of which are chock-full of minstrel numbers, are shown on TCM and have been released to the home market.
I remember hating the song "Hello Dolly" in the '60s because it was on the radio constantly. But, when I finally saw the movie about twenty years ago I began to really like that song. I always liked Matthau. He is one of my favorites.
I saw "Song of The South" at the theater about 1971ish. I really enjoyed it.
Those "Whatever Happened To..." books remind me of a very sad story I read in Barry Paris's biography, "Louise Brooks." A writer went to one of those retirement communities for retired movie people in Los Angeles to interview an old silent film actress who worked with Brooks. He got lost in the maze of streets and stopped at a cottage for directions. The old woman living there was herself a silent film actress and she got all excited thinking he was there to interview her. As he was pulling away from her house he saw her in the rear view mirror standing on her porch, in the rain, watching him leave. I thought it was sad that so many of those movie people get pushed aside and end up living out their last years broke and forgotten. I hate to see that kind of thing happen.
-1bigsteve (o:
"All of your tomorrows begin today. Move it!" -Susan Hayward 1973
Can't find much on Hank Salas, other than he was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. A lot of sites are listed on a google search that, at best, listed his films.
OMG, "Hello, Dolly". I never saw either movie version, but I knew that song by heart. I used to be made to sleep in the living room in the winter time (my mother said it was warmer in there than the bedroom). My dad used to have insomnia, and he got up at times at 3 am and he'd cook elaborate breakfasts for himself; clang, clang, clang his spoon stirring his coffee forever; and he had on the radio. "Hello Dolly" was on the radio all the time, even at that hour. And Nancy Sinatra's "Sugartown" (which I loved). Then in the daytime, my mom used to go around singing "Hello Dolly".
I found an obituary on Mark "The Bird" Fidrych that says he died in April of this year. He was a real popular pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He was 54 years old. The NY Times says he was found underneath his pickup truck, and they think he was fixing it. His farm was in Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Oh, I just watched "The Changeling" on YouTube a few months ago! It's fantastic!!! Just as I remembered it! This is for Kat (and everyone else who's interested; but Kat mentioned it, so thought I'd point you in this direction) --
Thanks for the search for Hank Salas, Augusta. There doesn't seem to be much about him anywhere. He seems to have dropped off the earth.
I remember hearing "Hello Dolly" on the radio during the '60s and got tired of it but when I finally saw the Streisand movie I suddenly liked the song. Crazy how that works out. Streisand's voice was warm in this film. It is usually too cold for me.
I personally like the song Nancy Sinatra sang with Dean Martin, "Things." A video of them singing it is on YouTube. It's fun to watch. I also love the one she sang with her father, "Something Stupid." That is such a warm song.
-1bigsteve (o:
"All of your tomorrows begin today. Move it!" -Susan Hayward 1973
Lenchen, thanks for posting the youtube URL to "The Changeling". That is one of the best spooky movies I've ever seen. I got the DVD kind of cheap from somewhere like Amazon.com. I watch it every now and then - but only in the daytime when I'm by myself.
BigSteve, I love Dean Martin. I haven't heard of the song he did with Nancy Sinatra, but thanks for the tip that it's on youtube. I'll go there.
Yes, her duet with her father on "Something Stupid" was just wonderful.
I was forced to grow up with Frank Sinatra's music, as my mom was nutz about him and had so many albums of his that she'd play a lot on the old stereo. I got to where I didn't like him.
But a few years ago, friend William U (from this Forum) turned me on to Frank Sinatra. He gave me a DVD - and I started getting hooked. He met his wife standing in line for a Frank Sinatra live concert in like the 1940's! I forget what theatre, but it was in NYC, which I thought was so exciting. It wasn't long before I bought a DVD myself and got hooked. I used to think there was nothing great about him. The songs were fabulous, and I found myself loving his voice. I guess I had to grow up to see the romance of his voice and music.
Sammy Davis, Jr., is another favorite of mine. The whole Rat Pack of the '60s is fascinating to me.
Well, from the websites I just visited, she is either 66 or 68 years old. She was the original Meredith Lord on "One Life to Live". She married George C. Scott in 1971, when she became his 5th wife. As he lessened his work load, she accepted some roles in some crappy movies. She was married to him until he died. (But not long before he died, someone was suing him for a sexual harassment suit...) Her real name is "Patricia Dressel". After Scott's death, she continued appearing "with distinction" on the stage. I could not find a current picture of her and don't know if she's working now or not.
I remember Hedda Hopper like she was earlier than Rona Barrett. I don't remember Louella Parsons, but I've heard of her. 
