watched MARTIN PAYNE on INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDY this afternoon .
he was pretty good - but then i remembered FLIP WILSON and GERALDINE - that one is hard to beat imo .
sorry FLIP is gone - i enjoyed his gentle style of humour .
hbg
hbg, I loved Flip as Geraldine. Great video, Canada.
One of my favorite quotes from Geraldine is:
What do you mean? If you can fly at 500 miles an hour and find Los Angeles in the dark, you can find my bags.
Well, for all you folks out there who are freezing, find three dogs somewhere and coax them into bed with you.
Time for me to say goodnight, and I will do it with this song by Three Dog Night.
We'll dedicate this to Prince Gautam wherever he is. The place in this song is a mythical city and it has been noted that the book, Lost Horizon, was loosely based on this place.
Dear Woody and Arlo, edgar, and your video shows us how Americans have valued private property throughout the decades, Texas.
Today is Thomas Edison's birthday, folks, and although we do not have the sound hooked up for this one, it says so much about the movies.
The Statler Brothers
There's lots of things in this old world fancy cars and pretty girls
And something I like more than sunny skies
The grandest thing I've ever seen are pictures on a movie screen
Wolfman you're a fright alright but sure a sight for sore eyes
It's a world of kings and queens up there on that movie screen
It's a picnic Crossin' River Kwai
The movies are great medicine thank you Thomas Edison
For giving us the best years of our lives
Citizen Kane Caine Mutiny Mutiny on the Bounty
The Bounty Hunters and Hunters and the Sting
Thunder Road and Road to Rio Rio Grande and Grand Hotel
Tell them Willie Boy was here with bride of Frankenstein and Shane
I love anything that moves dancin' feet to horses hoofs
Payton Place to Dorothy's trip to Oz
Tom Mix to David Hedison thank you Thomas Edison
For giving us the best years of our lives
I love Captain Blood and Elmer Fudd and Charlie Chan
Ben Ben Hur The Way We Were True Grit and Music Man
Thunderball and Walking Tall and Jaws and Jesse James
Doctor No and Vertigo and Singing in the Rain singing in the rain
Blood and Sand and Santa Fe Dunaway and Gataway Mexicali Rose and Rose Marie
Blackboard Jungle Jungle Jim Jim Thorpe All American
An American In Paris Paris Blues Blue Hawaii
I'm Teacher's Pet on Ship of Fools the movies were my special school
I'm the Gradute of Twelve o'clock High
The movies are great medicine I thank you Tommy Edison
For giving us the best years of our lives
One flew over the cocoo's nest the movies are the craziest
I'll be a movie nut until I die
The movies are great medicine thank you Tommy Edison
For giving us the best years of our lives (Roy Rogers)
You gave us the best years of our lives
0 Replies
Raggedyaggie
1
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Mon 11 Feb, 2008 12:55 pm
Good Afternoon, WA2K. It's a in PA today.
Wishing a Happy 82nd to Leslie Nielsen; 74th to Tina Louise; 72nd to Burt Reynolds and 46th to Sheryl Crow
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hamburger
1
Reply
Mon 11 Feb, 2008 02:14 pm
letty wrote :
Quote:
Perhaps we'll see a reawakening for jazz and it's about time, right?
coming right up !
i have a neat cd : BILLY BUTTERFIELD AND ANDY BARTHA
"take me to the land of jazz" - recorded 1970 at GLUTH'S LIFE LOUGE in FORT LAUDERDALE
Hey, frozen penguin puppy. It's chilly here as well, and thanks for the great montage, PA. Love the quartet!
Someone was asking if a red-tailed hawk killed cats. Maybe BioBob is in the midst of a cat fight. UhOh!
Hey, hbg. That's what I call great Dixieland jazz. Wasn't Billy doing a swing thing on Deep River? Loved it, buddy. Well, Canada, Fort Lauderdale is where I first saw the ocean, and that's a song in itself.
Thanks for both of those swinging songs.
Guess we should honor Sheryl Crowe on her birthday, so here is one from A James Bond movie
Whew! That cat was really tough. Last time I go to a cathouse.
Eva Gabor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Born February 11, 1919(1919-02-11)
Budapest, Hungary
Died July 4, 1995 (aged 76)
Los Angeles, California, USA
Spouse(s) Erik Drimmer (1939-1942)
Charles Isaacs (1943-1949)
John Williams (1956-1956)
Richard Brown (1959-1972)
Frank Jameson (1973-1983)
[show]Awards
Other Awards
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Persondata
NAME Gabor, Eva
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION
DATE OF BIRTH February 11, 1919
PLACE OF BIRTH Budapest, Hungary
DATE OF DEATH July 4, 1995
PLACE OF DEATH Los Angeles, California, USA
Eva Gabor (in Hungarian Gábor Éva) (February 11, 1919 - July 4, 1995) was a Hungarian-born actress, best known as Lisa Douglas, the wife of Eddie Albert's character Oliver Wendell Douglas, on Green Acres. She was the sister of Zsa Zsa Gabor and the late Magda Gabor.
Biography
Career
Éva was the first in her family to emigrate to America. She moved with her first husband, Swedish physician Eric Drimmer. Her first movie role was a bit part in Forced Landing (1941) at Paramount Pictures. She acted in movies and on the stage throughout the 1950s. In 1965, she commenced her best known role in the TV sitcom Green Acres, a Paul Henning production in which she portrayed Lisa Douglas, the New York wife of Oliver Wendell Douglas played by Eddie Albert who left New York City to live on a farm. This was a hit show for several seasons, ending in 1971, and is still seen in syndication.
In later years, she did notable voice-over work for Disney movies, providing the European-accented voices of Duchess in The Aristocats, Miss Bianca in The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under, and the Queen of Time in the Sanrio film, Nutcracker Fantasy.
She was also a successful businesswoman marketing the "Eva Gabor Wigs" and "The Eva Gabor Look".
Marriages
Like her sisters, Éva was known for her string of marriages; she had five:
1939-1942 Eric Drimmer, a Swedish physician
1943-1950 Charles Isaacs
1956-1956 John Williams, an American physician
1959-1972 Richard Brown
1973-1983 Frank Gard Jameson
For several years, Éva had a close platonic relationship with businessman/entertainer Merv Griffin, attending events together for publicity purposes.[citation needed] Throughout her marriage to Frank Jameson and in the years after she revealed to those closest to her that she remained in love with husband #4, Richard Brown, and that she wished they had worked out their differences.[citation needed] Mr. Brown now resides in London and also believes that he made a mistake in giving up on the marriage.[citation needed]
Death
Éva Gabor died on July 4, 1995 at the age of 76 from respiratory failure in Los Angeles, California. Although the youngest of the three sisters, she was the first of them to die. On 1 April 1997 her 100 year old mother, Jolie, died. On June 6, 1997 her sister Magda died at the age of 82, 5 days before her 83rd birthday. Éva is interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, California. She is buried very close to her Green Acres co-star Eddie Albert who died May 26, 2005 at 99 years old.
0 Replies
bobsmythhawk
1
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Mon 11 Feb, 2008 03:59 pm
Leslie Nielsen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Birth name Leslie William Nielsen
Born February 11, 1926 (1926-02-11) (age 82)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Occupation Comedian, actor
Years active 1956?-present
Spouse(s) Monica Boyer (1950?-1956)
Alisande Ullman (1958?-1973)
Brooks Oliver (1981?-1983)
Barbaree Earl (2001?-present)
[show]Awards
Other Awards
ACTRA Award
2003 ACTRA Award Of Excellence
Leslie William Nielsen OC (born February 11, 1926) is a Canadian-American Emmy Award-nominated comedian and actor. He is well known for his roles as Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun, Dr. Rumack in Airplane! and most recently President Harris in the Scary Movie series. Although Nielsen's acting career crossed a variety of genres in both television and movies, he has achieved his greatest film success in comedies, including Airplane! and The Naked Gun series of films. His portrayal of serious characters seemingly oblivious of (and complicit in) their absurd surroundings gave Nielsen a reputation as a comedian.[1] A series of later comedies attempted to emulate the popularity of his prior roles.
This paralleled the serious roles of his early career. Leading roles in the science fiction classic Forbidden Planet and as the ship's captain in The Poseidon Adventure came long before Nielsen considered a turn to comedy. His deadpan delivery as a doctor in 1980's Airplane! marked a turning point in Nielsen's career, one that would make him, in the words of movie critic Roger Ebert, "the Olivier of spoofs."[2]
Early life
Nielsen was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, the son of Maybelle and Ingvard Nielsen. Nielsen's mother was Welsh and his father Danish.[3] He has two brothers, including Erik Nielsen, who was Deputy Prime Minister of Canada during the 1980s, and is a nephew of the late actor Jean Hersholt. Leslie and his family spent some time living in Fort Norman, NWT (Tulita) as his father was stationed there with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.[4] After graduating from Victoria Composite High School in Edmonton, Alberta Nielsen joined the Royal Canadian Air Force where he served for a year as an aerial gunner during World War II (although he was not sent overseas to fight).[4] Once he left the military, he found a job as a disc jockey at a Calgary radio station and decided to enroll at the Lorne Greene Academy of Radio Arts in Toronto.[4] In his early twenties, he moved to New York City for a scholarship he received for the Neighborhood Playhouse. He studied both theater and music while performing in summer stock theatre. In 1948, he made his first appearance on television in a Studio One episode.
Career
Early career
Nielsen's career began in dramatic roles, with numerous appearances as a doctor, lawyer, or police officer. In 1950 alone, he appeared in almost 50 live programs. Nielsen reported that for his salary that there "was very little gold...we only got $75 or $100 per show."[5] His distinctive voice narrated several documentaries and commercials. With a handful of exceptions, his early work as a dramatic actor was uneventful. All Movie Guide notes, "much of Nielsen's early work was undistinguished; he was merely a handsome leading man in an industry overstocked with handsome leading men."[6]
Soon after moving to Hollywood in 1954 under a contract with Paramount,[5] he was cast as Commander John J. Adams in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film Forbidden Planet (1956) which would receive many good reviews. The film took its plot from Shakespeare's The Tempest, and also starred Walter Pidgeon and Anne Francis. Nielsen is also known for his roles as Debbie Reynolds' love interest in the first of the Tammy movies, Tammy and the Bachelor, and as Captain Harrison in The Poseidon Adventure (1972) as well as in the M*A*S*H episode "The Ringbanger".
Nielsen says he has appeared in over 1,500 television programs.[7] His early television appearances include parts in Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Virginian, and Wild, Wild West.His first leading role in a tv series was as American Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion in Disney's The Swamp Fox, a spin-off of the Davy Crockett series, it also featured his singing of the theme song. In 1961, he was the lead in a taut L.A. police drama called The New Breed. In 1968, he had a major role in the pilot movie for the popular police series Hawaii Five-O. In 1969, he had the leading role as a police officer in The Bold Ones: The Protectors. Nielsen also starred in the by William Girdler directed 1977 cult-classic Project: Kill. Furthermore, he starred in a classic episode of Night Gallery, "A Question of Fear", as an intrepid but braggardly war veteran who discovers that fear is more a part of him than he knows. This episode is notable for its haunted house scares and, by the end, a startling turnabout.
Airplane! and The Naked Gun
Nielsen's comedic breakthrough came with a supporting role in 1980's Airplane!, a parody of Zero Hour!. Nielsen played a doctor aboard an airplane whose crew has been struck with food sickness. His deadpan delivery contrasted with the absurdity surrounding him. When asked "Surely you can't be serious?", he responds with a curt, "I am serious. And don't call me Shirley." He later reflected in several interviews on the significance of the comedic line: "I thought it was amusing, but it never occurred to me that it was going to become a trademark. It's such a surprise...the thing comes out, people say "What did he say?!"[8] He also said that he was "pleased and honored that I had a chance to deliver that line."[9] The comedic exchange was at #79 on the American Film Institute's list of Top 100 movie quotes.[10] The American Film Institute would also include the film in its list of the top ten comedy movies of all time.[11]
Critics praised the movie, which proved to be a success with audiences as well.[12] The film's directors, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker, decided to choose Nielsen for the role due to his ability to play "a fish in water", stating that "You could have cast funny people and done it with everybody winking, goofing off and silly...we wanted people to be oblivious to the comedy."[11] The directors, interested in the success of the new comedy, decided to bring the slapstick style of comedy to television. They asked Nielsen to play the lead role in their new series, Police Squad! The series introduced Nielsen as Frank Drebin, a stereotypical police officer modeled after earlier detective series.
The show's opening sequence was based on the 1950s cop show M Squad, (starring Lee Marvin), which opened with footage of a police car roving through in an after-dark urban setting as a big band played a jazz theme song. The voice-over and the show's organization into "acts" with an epilogue was homage to classic Quinn Martin police dramas including The Fugitive, Barnaby Jones, The F.B.I., and Cannon. Much like Airplane!, Drebin was a serious character whose one-liners appeared accidental next to the pratfalls and sight gags around him. Although the show failed, lasting only six episodes after being juggled between time slots, Nielsen received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.[13]
With the exception of Airplane!, Nielsen was not known as a comedian. His roles continued to be small and sporadic, such as Prom Night (1980) and Creepshow (1982), which were both horror films. Nielsen's most recent non-comedy role was the cameo appearance as Allen Green, a sleazy character who is murdered by Barbra Streisand's character Claudia Draper in Martin Ritt's courtroom drama Nuts.
Six years after the cancellation of Police Squad!, the directors decided to make a feature length version for theaters. Titled The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, the film returned Nielsen to his role as Frank Drebin. The film involved a comical scheme to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II through a hypnotized baseball player. Drebin, like the doctor in Airplane!, seemed unaware of the absurdity even when unintentionally contributing toward it. Nielsen later said in an interview that he had done many of his own stunts, saying "You have an idea of how you're going to do something, and it's your vision...unless you do it, it really doesn't stand a chance."[8] The movie was popular and well received by critics.[14] Ebert's 3½-star review (out of four) noted, "You laugh, and then you laugh at yourself for laughing."[15]
Two popular sequels followed, The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994). Nielsen remains open to the prospects of acting in a fourth Naked Gun film, although doubts it will ever be produced - "I don't think so. If there hasn't been one by now, I doubt it. I think it would be wonderful."[16]
Nielsen briefly appeared in the World Wrestling Federation in the summer of 1994. Capitalizing on his Frank Drebin character, Nielsen (and George Kennedy) were hired as "super-sleuths" to unravel the mystery of The Undertaker, who had disappeared at January's Royal Rumble event. At SummerSlam 1994, in a Naked Gun parody, they were hot on the case (in fact, they were literally standing on a case). Although they did not actually find The Undertaker, the case had been closed (the literal case had been shut) and thus, they solved the mystery.[17]
Later comedies
Nielsen attempted a variety of similar roles which never achieved the success of Frank Drebin. Many of the films emulated the style of The Naked Gun films, but with varying degrees of critical and commercial success. Indeed, many of the films were panned by critics and most performed poorly.
Although The Naked Gun series parodied police dramas in general, Nielsen's later parody films focused on specific targets. Critics panned Repossessed (1990) and 2001: A Space Travesty (2001), parodies of The Exorcist and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Both films attempted the absurdist comedy Nielsen is recognized for, but were poorly received.[18][19] Even a leading role in a Mel Brooks comic horror parody, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, failed to generate much box office excitement, although it did gain somewhat of a following on its later release to video. Both 1996's Spy Hard and 1998's Wrongfully Accused, a parody of The Fugitive, received even more popularity on home video and were not-well received by critics.[20][21]
His attempt at children's comedies met additional criticism. Surf Ninjas (1993) and Mr. Magoo (1997) faced scathing reviews. Several critics were disappointed that Nielsen's role in Surf Ninjas was only "an extended cameo" and Chris Hicks, a film critic at desertnews.com, recommended that viewers "avoid any comedy that features Leslie Nielsen outside of the Naked Gun series."[22][23] Jeff Miller of the Houston Chronicle panned Mr. Magoo, a live action remake of the 1950s cartoon, by saying, "I'm supposed to suggest how the film might be better. But I can't think of anything to say other than to make the film again."[24]
Nielsen's first major slapstick success since The Naked Gun came in a supporting role in Scary Movie 3. His appearance as President Harris proved popular enough for a second appearance in its sequel, Scary Movie 4. This became the first time Nielsen reprised a character since his numerous appearances as Frank Drebin. In one scene in the film, Nielsen appeared almost fully nude, and one critic referred to the scene as putting "the 'scary' in Scary Movie 4."[25] With the recent announcement of 2008's Scary Movie 5, Nielsen is expected to reprise his role a third time.
Nielsen also hosted a series of golf instructional videos beginning with 1993's Bad Golf Made Easier. The videos were not serious, instead combining absurd comedy with golf techniques. The series were popular enough to spawn two additional sequels, Bad Golf My Way (1994) and Stupid Little Golf Video (1997). Nielsen also co-wrote a fictional autobiography titled The Naked Truth. The book portrayed Nielsen as a popular actor with a long history of prestigious films.
Recent work
Even in his eighties, Nielsen continues to have an active career. He performs serious roles on screen and stage (such as his one-man theatre show Darrow, playing Clarence Darrow), as well as providing voice-overs and on-camera appearances for commercials; cartoons like Zeroman where has the leading role/voice; children's shows, such as "Pumper Pups", which he narrates, in addition to comedic film roles. The sibling relationship with his elder brother, the Honourable Erik Nielsen, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, serves as the premise of an HBO mockumentary entitled The Canadian Conspiracy in which Leslie Nielsen appears, along with other prominent Canadian born media personalities. Recently, he was a celebrity contestant on CBS's Gameshow Marathon, where he played The Price is Right, Let's Make a Deal, Beat the Clock and Press Your Luck for charity.[5]
Beginning in February 2007, Nielsen began playing a small role as a doctor in the humorous yet educational television show Doctorology. The show chronicles real-life medical techniques and technology, and airs on the Discovery Channel. In an interview, Nielsen admitted his admiration for the doctors on the show: "There are any number of things that you think about when you ponder if you hadn't been an actor, what would you be, and I've always said I'd like to be an astronaut or a doctor. I have such admiration for doctors. I just don't know how you go around to thank them enough for coming up with the world's most remarkable new discoveries."[9]
In 2007, Nielsen starred in the drama Music Within. In 2008, he will reprise his role as President Harris for a third time in Scary Movie 5, and will portray a kidnapped Mayor Jogen for Superhero Movie, a spoof of superhero films. He also will lend his voice to the direct-to-DVD animated film, The Waterman Movie which will be released in early 2008.[26]
Characters
Over the years Nielsen has portrayed over 220 characters.[27] The following are perhaps his most famous characters that he portrayed in films and a television show.
Dr. Rumack
In 1980 Nielsen portrayed Dr. Rumack in the hit comedy Airplane!, this proved to be a changing point in Leslie's acting career.
Lt. Frank Drebin
Nielsen's perhaps most well-known character was Sergeant Frank Drebin, Detective Lieutenant Police Squad, a character that delivered him an Emmy award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Nielsen first portrayed this character on the television series Police Squad! in 1982 for all the episodes until the cancellation. Six years after the cancellation of Police Squad! (which was considered "the most stupid reason a network ever gave for ending a series" by TV Guide[28]) The movie The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! was released, and it performed well at the box office grossing around $78,756,177.[29] A sequel was made and entitled The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear, which was released on June 28, 1991. The sequel grossed more than the original with $86,930,411.[30] The final sequel was released on March 18, 1994 and was entitled Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult. It grossed less than the previous two films with $51,132,598 in receipts.[31]. Nielsen's most recent appearance as Drebin was in the miniseries America's Top Sleuths[32] which also included appearances by Pierce Brosnan, Chevy Chase and Peter Falk. Nielsen appeared on TV in 2006 when archive footage of Drebin was used in the made-for-TV movie ¿De qué te ríes?[32]
President Harris
In 2003, Nielsen portrayed fictional President Harris in Scary Movie 3, which was the second highest grossing movie of the Scary Movie film series.[33] Although he did not play a large role in the film, the character was popular among fans and Nielsen was asked by producers to return for Scary Movie 4.[34] Scary Movie 3 was the first of the films in the franchise that was directed by David Zucker, part of the ZAZ, a directing group for which Nielsen had already worked for in movies such as The Kentucky Fried Movie (in which he made a cameo appearance), Airplane!, and The Naked Gun.
Personal life
Nielsen has been divorced three times: Monica Boyer (1950-1956), Alisande Ullman (1958-1973), and Brooks Oliver (1981-1983).[13] In 2001, he married his fourth wife, Barbaree Earl, with whom he has been since 1983.[35][36] Nielsen also has two children from his second marriage, Maura Nielsen Kaplan and Thea Nielsen Disney.
Nielsen is a fan of golf, and plays it in his free time.[37] In an interview he stated that "I don't play golf to feel bad, I play bad golf but I feel good."[8]
Nielsen has stated in several interviews that he has a few medical problems such as hearing impairment.[38] Because of this impairment, he has joined the International Better Hearing Institute and has become its president.
When reflecting on his career, Nielsen has stated "I'm afraid if I don't keep moving, they're going to catch me...I am 81 years old and I want to see what's around the corner, and I don't see any reason in the world not to keep working. But I am starting to value my down time a great deal because I am realizing there might be other things to do that I am overlooking."[9]
Achievements
Among his numerous awards, Leslie Nielsen received UCLA's Jack Benny Award for his comedic roles in 1995.[13] In 2001, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6541 Hollywood Blvd, and has been inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.[39][40] The following year he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, although he is also a naturalized U.S. citizen (like many celebrities, Nielsen maintains a residence in the Phoenix, Arizona area).[41]With his American status, he still maintains his Canadian heritage: "There's no way you can be a Canadian and think you can lose it...Canadians are a goodly group. They are very aware of caring and helping."[42] On May 19, 2005, during the centennial gala of his birth province, Saskatchewan, Leslie Nielsen was introduced to HM Queen Elizabeth II.[43]
The Leslie Nielsen School of Communications at Grant MacEwan College, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is named for him.
Nielsen was also tested for the roles of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Messala in Ben-Hur.[44] Nielsen currently lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona with his family.[44]
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bobsmythhawk
1
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Mon 11 Feb, 2008 04:01 pm
Tina Louise
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Birth name Tina Blacker
Born February 11, 1934 (1934-02-11) (age 74)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation actress
Spouse(s) Les Crane (1966-1974) 1 Child
Tina Louise (born February 11, 1934) is an American model, singer and actress. She is probably best-known for her role as "movie star" Ginger Grant on the TV sitcom Gilligan's Island.
Biography & career
She was born in New York City, an only child and attended the Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She began her career as a model and nightclub singer while she studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Her acting debut came in 1952 in the Bette Davis musical revue Two's Company, followed by roles in other Broadway productions as John Murray Anderson's Almanac, The Fifth Season, and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?. She also appeared in such early live TV dramas as Studio One, Producers Showcase, and Appointment with Adventure.
In 1957, she and Julie Newmar appeared on Broadway in the hit musical Li'l Abner. Her album It's Time for Tina was also released that year, with songs such as "Embraceable You" and "I'm in the Mood for Love."
She made her Hollywood film debut in 1958 in God's Little Acre. She became an in-demand leading lady for major stars like Robert Taylor, Richard Widmark and Robert Ryan, often playing somber roles quite unlike the glamorous pinup photographs and Playboy pictorials she had become famous for in the late 1950s. Further roles followed, on Broadway and in films in Italy and Hollywood, but they failed to accelerate her career. Among her more notable Italian film credits was the historical epic Viva L'Italia! (1960), directed by Roberto Rossellini, that concerned Garibaldi's efforts to unify the Italian states in 1860.
When Louise returned to the United States, she began studying with Lee Strasberg and eventually became a member of the Actors Studio. She appeared in an early 1960s "beach movie," For Those Who Think Young, with Bob Denver, prior to the development of Gilligan's Island.
In 1964, she left the Broadway musical Fade Out - Fade In to portray movie star Ginger Grant on the TV sitcom Gilligan's Island, after the part was turned down by Jayne Mansfield. However, she was unhappy with the role and worried that it would typecast her. The role did make Louise a pop icon of the era, and in 2005 an episode of TV Land Top Ten ranked her #2 as television's all-time sex symbol, second only to Heather Locklear.
After the series ended in 1967, Louise continued to work in films and made numerous guest appearances in various television series. She appeared as a doomed suburban housewife in the original The Stepford Wives (1975), and both the film and her performance were well received. She attempted to shed her comedic image by essaying grittier roles, including a guest appearance as a pathetic heroin addict in a 1974 Kojak episode, as well as a co-starring role as an evil Southern prison guard in the 1976 ABC TV Movie Nightmare in Badham County. Her other TV movies of the period included Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby (1976), SST: Death Flight (1977), and Friendships Secrets and Lies (1979).
Despite this success, she has declined to participate in any of the four reunion television movies for Gilligan's Island, but did appear on a few talk shows and specials for some Gilligan's Island reunions, including Good Morning America (1982), The Late Show (1988) and the 2004 TV Land award show, with the other surviving cast members. In the 1990s, she was reunited with costars Bob Denver, Dawn Wells, and Russell Johnson in cameo appearances on an episode of Roseanne. Her relations with series star Denver were rumored to be strained, but in 2005, she wrote a brief, affectionate memorial to him in the year-end "farewell" issue of Entertainment Weekly.
Louise appeared as a semi-regular character in the prime-time soap opera Dallas and made an appearance on Married... with Children. In 1985, Louise played the second and final Taylor Chapin on the syndicated soap opera Rituals. Later film roles included a co-starring appearance in the Robert Altman comedy O.C. and Stiggs (1987), as well as the independently made satire Johnny Suede (1992) starring Brad Pitt.
She was married for several years to the radio announcer/interviewer Les Crane, with whom she had one daughter, Caprice Crane (born 1974), who became an MTV producer and a novelist. Crane's first novel, Stupid and Contagious, was published in 2006, and was warmly dedicated to her mother. Louise now resides in New York City. Since 1995, she has worked as a volunteer teacher with Learning Leaders, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing tutoring to New York City school children. In 2007, Louise released a children's book entitled "When I Grow Up".
It's Time For Tina LP
Tina made four record albums, two for Concert Hall, and two for Urania Record (1958 and 1959 respectively). By far the most sought-after of these is the "It's Time For Tina" (Concert Hall 1521). With arrangements by Jim Timmens and Buddy Weed's Orchestra, 12 tracks include Tonight Is The Night and I'm In The Mood For Love. Coleman Hawkins is featured on tenor sax. A version of this album is planned by UK label Harkit Records [1]
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bobsmythhawk
1
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Mon 11 Feb, 2008 04:04 pm
Gene Vincent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Birth name Vincent Eugene Craddock
Born February 11, 1935
Origin Norfolk, Virginia
Died October 12, 1971 (aged 36)
Genre(s) Rock and Roll,
Occupation(s) Singer, Musician
Instrument(s) Vocals, Guitar
Gene Vincent, real name Vincent Eugene Craddock, (February 11, 1935 - October 12, 1971) was an American rock'n'roll pioneer musician, best known for his hit "Be-Bop-A-Lula".
Early life
His parents, Ezekiah Jackson and Mary Louise Craddock, were shop owners in Norfolk, Virginia. He grew up in Virginia under the influence of country, rhythm and blues and gospel music. He received his first guitar as a gift from a friend at the age of 12.
In 1952, Gene left school and joined the Navy. In 1955 he was stationed in Korea. In July 1955, whilst in Norfolk, he was involved in a severe motorcycle accident that shattered his left leg. He refused to have it amputated, the leg was saved, but left him with a permanent limp and considerable chronic pain for the rest of his life.
Early career
He left the Navy and started playing in various country bands in his native Norfolk, Virginia. There, he won a talent contest organised by local radio DJ "Sheriff Tex" Davis, who became his manager.[1] In 1956 he wrote "Be-Bop-A-Lula" and signed a publishing contract with Bill Lowery of The Lowery Group of music publishers in Atlanta, Georgia. Lowery recorded Gene singing "Be-Bop-A-Lula" and with Lowery's influence secured him a recording contract with Capitol Records. "Be-Bop-A-Lula" was not on Vincent's first album and was not picked by Capitol as the first single to be released, however, Lowery got Capitol to agree that "Be-Bop-A-Lula" would be the "B-side" of the first single ("Woman Love"). Prior to the release of the single record, Lowery pressed promotional copies of "Be-Bop-A-Lula" and sent them to radio stations throughout the country. By the time that Capitol released the single, "Be-Bop-A-Lula" had already gained attention from the public and radio DJ's. "Be-Bop-A-Lula" was picked up and played by other U.S. radio stations (obscuring the original "A-side" song), became a hit and launched Gene Vincent as a pop star. Vincent's backing band included Willie Williams on rhythm guitar, Jack Neal on upright bass, Dickie Harrell on drums,Paul Peek singer/guitar and the innovative and influential lead guitarist, Cliff Gallup.
After "Be-Bop-A-Lula" became a huge hit (peaking at #7 and spending 20 weeks in the Billboard Pop Chart), Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps were unable to follow it up with the same level of commercial success, but released critically acclaimed songs like "Race With The Devil" (#96 in Billboard) and "Bluejean Bop" (#49). That year, Vincent was reportedly convicted of public obscenity and fined $10,000 by the state of Virginia for his live performance of the erotic song, "Woman Love", although this is now believed to have been a rumour, possibly started by his manager.
The group had another hit with 1957's "Lotta Lovin'" (highest position #13 and spending 19 weeks in the charts). Gene Vincent was awarded Gold Records for 2 million sales of Be-Bop-A-Lula and 1.5 million sales of Lotta Lovin'. The same year he toured the east coast of Australia with Little Richard and Eddie Cochran. Vincent also became one of the first rock stars to star in a film, The Girl Can't Help It together with Jayne Mansfield.
"Dance to the Bop" was released by Capitol records on October 28, 1957.[2] On November 17, 1957 Vincent and His Blue Caps performed the song on the nationally broadcast Ed Sullivan Show.[5]. The song spent 9 weeks on the charts and peaked at #23 on January 23, 1958, would be Vincent's last USA hit single.[6] The song was used in the movie "Hot Rod Gang" for a dance rehearsal scene featuring dancers doing West Coast Swing.[3]
Gene and His Bluecaps also appeared several times on The "Town Hall Party" show, California's largest country music barndance held at the Town Hall which was at 400 Long Beach Boulevard in Compton, California. The Town Hall Party drew in excess of 2,800 paid admissions each Friday and Saturday with room for 1,200 dancers. The show was also on from 8:30pm to 9:30pm over the NBC network. In addition, it was shown over KTTV, channel 11 from 10:00pm to 1:00am on Saturday nights.[7] Appearances were on October 25, 1958, as well as July 25th and Nov. 7th, 1959. Songs performed were: Be-Bop-A-Lula, "High Blood Pressure," Rip It Up, "Dance To The Bop," "You Win Again," "For Your Precious Love," "Rocky Road Blues," "Pretty Pearly", "High School Confidential," Over The Rainbow, Roll Over Beethoven and "She She Little Sheila".[8]
Departing from traditional naming conventions, he and his band are named "Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps", not "...the Blue Caps" as often stated. A dispute with the US Tax Authorities and The American Musicians' Union over payments to his band and his having sold the band's equipment to pay a tax bill led him to leave the USA and try his hand in Europe.
Following a visit to Europe in 1959, Vincent managed to attract a new huge and discerning audience there, especially in the United Kingdom and France. By that time his career had mostly ended in the US. In 1960, while on tour in the UK, Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were seriously injured in a high-speed traffic accident in a private hire taxi travelling through Chippenham, Wiltshire on the A4 on the journey to London Airport where they were set to return to the US that night. The car, a Ford Consul, suffered a blowout causing it to swerve and crash into a lamp post on Rowden Hill. Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and further damaged his weakened leg, and Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. Both Vincent and Sheeley survived, but the accident killed Vincent's tourmate and Sheeley's fiancé, Eddie Cochran.
Vincent subsequently moved to England in 1963. His stage shows became "must see" events that greatly influenced some of the most respected players in the world today. It was during his early tours of Britain that he adopted the trademark leather outfit, at the suggestion of British rock 'n' roll impressario, Jack Good. British fans held in high regard the band that supported him, Sounds Incorporated - a six-piece outfit which included three saxophones, guitar, bass and drums. They later went on to play with The Beatles at their famed Shea Stadium concert.
Later career
His attempts to re-establish his American career recording in folk rock and country rock genres proved unsuccessful, he is best remembered today for his recordings of the 1950s and early 1960s which originally appeared on the Capitol Records label. He also put out some tracks on EMI's Columbia label, the best of which being his cover of Arthur Alexander's "Where Have You Been All My Life". A new backing band called The Shouts joined him at this time.
In 1966, back in the States, he recorded Am I That Easy to Forget for Challenge Records. On this, he was backed by ex-members of The Champs and Glen Campbell. Although critically well received, it did not sell very well either in the USA or Britain where it was released on the London label.
In 1969, he recorded the album "I'm Back and I'm Proud" for long-time fan John Peel's Dandelion label, which included backing vocals by Linda Ronstadt. He later recorded a further two albums for the Kama Sutra label.
He has achieved a genuine legendary status and his work is respected, and often copied, by singers and groups worldwide. His major hit, Be-Bop-A-Lula, is considered one of the great rock 'n' roll records.
On his final tour of the UK, he was backed by The Wild Angels, a British band who had previously worked at the Royal Albert Hall with Bill Haley & His Comets and Duane Eddy. Because of pressure from his ex-wife, the Inland Revenue and promoter Don Arden, Gene had to return rather swiftly to the USA.
Gene Vincent died in 1971 from a ruptured stomach ulcer while visiting his father in California, and is interred in the Eternal Valley Memorial Park, Newhall, California.
He was the first inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame on its formation in 1997. The following year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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bobsmythhawk
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Mon 11 Feb, 2008 04:07 pm
Burt Reynolds
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Birth name Burton Leon Reynolds, Jr.
Born February 11, 1936 (1936-02-11) (age 72)
Lansing, Michigan.[1]
Years active 1959-present
Spouse(s) Judy Carne (June 28, 1963 - 1965) (divorced)
Loni Anderson (April 29, 1988 - March 7, 1995) (divorced)
Official site BurtReynolds.com
Awards
Academy Awards
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor
1997 Boogie Nights
Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actor - Comedy Series
1991 Evening Shade
Golden Globe Awards
Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
1997 Boogie Nights
Best Actor - Musical or Comedy Series
1991 Evening Shade
Burton Leon Reynolds, Jr.[2] (born February 11, 1936) is an Oscar-nominated Emmy Award-winning American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Paul Crewe in the original version of The Longest Yard, Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, J.J. McClure in The Cannonball Run and Jack Horner in Boogie Nights.
Burt is one of America's most recognizable film and television personalities. With more than 90 feature film and 300 television episode credits, he was the number-one box-office attraction for five straight years (1978-82).[3]
Early life
Reynolds's parents were Fern and Burton Reynolds, who was of half-Cherokee Indian descent.[4] Reynolds states in his autobiography that his family was living in Lansing when Burt Senior was drafted into the United States Army. Burt Junior, his mother and his sister joined Burt Senior at Fort Leonard Wood, where they lived for two years. Burt Junior has stated that his first memories are of playing in the Ozark woods at Fort Leonard Wood. When Burt Senior was sent to Europe, the family returned to Lansing, Michigan. After a short while, the Reynolds family moved to northern Michigan, across the road from his maternal grandparents' farm. Burt Junior started attending school in Merritt, Michigan, where he felt he did not belong among the Native American, farm and backwoods children who made up most of the student body.[5]
Burt Senior was discharged from the Army in late 1945. In early 1946, while Burt Junior's parents were on a second honeymoon in Florida, Burt Senior was offered a job as general contractor for a new housing development in Riviera Beach, Florida. Burt Junior moved to Riviera Beach with his parents, while his sister stayed in Michigan to finish the school year. The Reynolds at first lived in a mobile home, but Burt Senior bought the first house that was completed in the new subdivision.[6]
Burt Junior thought he was in paradise. He had access to the Everglades to the west, the shore of the Lake Worth Lagoon to the east, and further east, across the Blue Heron Boulevard bridge to Singer Island, the Atlantic Ocean. He was fascinated by the Conch fishermen and their families who made up most of the population of Riviera Beach.[7]
After two years Burt Senior's contractor job ended, and the Reynolds bought a lunch counter and sundry store next to the bridge to Singer Island. As the business was close to a large dock and some fish and shrimp packing houses, business was good. Soon after, Burt Senior was recruited as a police officer for Riviera Beach. When the police chief died a few years later, Burt Senior became the chief.[8]
As the Reynolds family home was at the north edge of Riviera Beach, Burt Junior attended school in Lake Park, just to the north of Riviera Beach. While Burt Junior was in seventh grade, the Palm Beach County School Board decided that there were too few seventh grade students in the school to justify a teacher's salary, and Burt was transferred to Central Junior High School (now Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts) in West Palm Beach. Burt felt lost at the big school, and started hanging out with greasers and skipping school. He also began showing off with dangerous stunts, such as diving off the top of a raised drawbridge, and jumping from an airboat onto the back of a running deer.[9]
When Burt Junior was twelve he became friends with Jimmy Hooks. After learning that Jimmy was being physically abused in his home, Burt Junior took Jimmy home with him and told his parents he wanted Jimmy to be his brother. The Reynolds took Jimmy in. The Reynolds officially adopted Jimmy Hooks years later, when he was in his twenties.[10]
When Burt Junior was fourteen he tried out for football team at Central Junior High. He had never played organized sports, but worked hard at practice, earned his letterman's sweater, and was named to the county all-star team. The next year, when Burt Junior entered high school, he made the varsity team, but did not have much opportunity to play. In his junior year Reynolds had more opportunity to play. Seeing his ability, and foreseeing that he was likely to receive scholarship offers, one of Reynolds coaches persuaded him to take the courses necessary to enter a college. In his senior year Reynolds was named First Team All State and All Southern as a fullback, and received multiple scholarship offers.[11]
College
After graduating from Palm Beach High School in West Palm Beach, Florida, Reynolds attended Florida State University on a college football scholarship, becoming an all-star halfback. While at Florida State, Reynolds joined the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, the football team's fraternity of choice. He was anticipating a very good season his second year, with expectations of being named to All American teams, and an eventual career in professional football. In the first game of the season Reynolds tore the cartilage in his knee. He made the injury worse by trying to play again later in the game, and then again in a couple of games late in the season. On Christmas break that year, Reynolds ran his father's car up under a flatbed trailer that was sitting across a dark street. The car was wedged under the trailer, and it took rescuers seven and a half hours to remove Reynolds from the wreckage. He had multiple injuries, including his knee, shoulder, some broken ribs, and a ruptured spleen, the last of which was removed in emergency surgery.[12]
With his college football career ended, Reynolds considered becoming a police officer, but his father suggested that he finish college and become a parole officer. In order to keep up with his studies he began taking classes at Palm Beach Junior College (PBJC) in neighboring Lake Park. In his first term at PBJC Reynolds was in a class taught by Watson B. Duncan III. Duncan pushed Reynolds into trying out for a play he was producing, Outward Bound. He cast Reynolds in the lead, based on his impressions from listening to Reynolds read Shakespeare in class. Reynolds won the 1956 Florida State Drama Award for his performance in Outward Bound. Reynolds calls Duncan his mentor and the most-influential person in his life.[13]
Career
The Florida State Drama Award included a scholarship to the Hyde Park Playhouse, a summer stock theater, in Hyde Park, New York. Reynolds saw the opportunity as an agreeable alternative to more physically demanding summer jobs, but did not yet see acting as a career. While working at Hyde Park Reynolds met Joanne Woodward, who helped Reynolds find an agent, and be cast in Tea and Sympathy at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City. Reynolds received favorable reviews for his performance in Tea and Sympathy. Reynolds then went on tour with Tea and Sympathy, driving the bus as well as appearing on stage.[14]
After the tour Reynolds returned to New York and enrolled in acting classes. His classmates included Frank Gifford, Carol Lawrence, Red Buttons and Jan Murray. After a botched improvisation in acting class, Reynolds briefly considered returning to Florida, but he soon got a part in a revival of Mister Roberts, with Charlton Heston as the star. After the play closed, the director, John Forsythe, arranged a movie audition with Josh Logan for Reynolds. The movie was Sayonara, and Reynolds was told he couldn't be in the movie because he looked too much like Marlon Brando. Logan advised Reynolds to go to Hollywood, but Reynolds did not feel confident enough to do so.[15]
Reynolds worked odd jobs while waiting for acting opportunities. He waited tables, washed dishes, drove a delivery truck and worked as a bouncer at the Roseland Ballroom. It was while working as a dockworker that Reynolds was offered $150 to jump through a glass window on a live television show.[16]
He made his Broadway debut in Look, We've Come Through. Reynolds first starred on television, in the 1950s series, Riverboat, and went on to appear in a number of other shows, including a role as blacksmith Quint Asper on Gunsmoke from 1962 to 1965.
His film debut was in 1961, in the movie Angel Baby. At the urging of friend Clint Eastwood, Reynolds used his TV fame to secure leading roles in overseas low budget films, commonly called "Spaghetti Westerns". (Eastwood advised Reynolds from experience, as he had done the same). Reynolds first Spaghetti Western, Navajo Joe, came out in 1966. These low budget starring roles established Reynolds as a bankable leading man in movies, and earned him starring roles in American big-budget motion pictures. His breakout performance in Deliverance in 1972 made him a star. The same year, Reynolds gained notoriety when he posed naked in the April (Vol. 172, No. 4) issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Reynolds claims he was offered the role of James Bond by producer Albert R. Broccoli, after Sean Connery left the franchise. Reynolds turned the role down, saying "An American can't play James Bond. It just can't be done."[17] In 1973, he released the album Ask Me What I Am. He would also sing in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
On March 15, 1978, Reynolds earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in the same year built a dinner theatre in Jupiter, Florida. His celebrity was such that he drew not only big-name stars to appear in productions but sell-out audiences as well. He sold the venue in the early 1990s.
In the 1980s, after Smokey and the Bandit, he became typecast in similar, less well-done and less successful movies. Comedian and actor Robert Wuhl, in a standup act in the late 80s, said that "Burt Reynolds makes so many bad movies, when someone else makes a bad movie Burt gets a royalty!" He had his hand at producing a television show with friend Bert Convy in 1987, Win, Lose or Draw. He even appeared as a celebrity gameplayer in a few episodes of the show.
During the first half of the 1990s, he was the star of the CBS television series Evening Shade, for which he won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1991). Reynolds started a comeback with the movie Striptease in 1996, and the critically acclaimed Boogie Nights, in 1997, put his career back on track. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Boogie Nights and won a Golden Globe Award for the movie. He was considered a front-runner for the Supporting Oscar, but ultimately lost to Robin Williams, who won it for his role in Good Will Hunting.
In early 2000, he created and toured Burt Reynolds' One Man Show. In 2002, he lent his voice to the character Avery Carrington in the controversial video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
In 2005, he co-starred in two remakes: the first released was of The Longest Yard, this time with Adam Sandler playing the role of Paul Crewe, the role Reynolds had played in the 1974 original. This time around, Reynolds took on the role of Nate Scarborough. The second was of the hit 1980s TV series The Dukes of Hazzard, as Boss Hogg.
He starred in the audio book version of The Worst Case Scenario Handbook. In May 2006, Reynolds began appearing in Miller Lite beer commercials. In 2007 at the World Stuntman Awards he was awarded the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. While presenting him with the award Arnold Schwarzenegger referred to him as the greatest of the great.
Southern filmmaking
Although Reynolds had already made eleven films, his performance as Lewis, the macho Atlanta businessman in the 1972 film adaptation of James Dickey's novel Deliverance, signaled the beginning of his box-office popularity. Hailed as one of the year's best films, Deliverance is the story of four suburbanites' harrowing journey into Appalachian Georgia. Filmed on Georgia's Chattooga River, Deliverance also marked the beginning of Reynolds's devotion to making films in and about the South.
The following year Reynolds was persuaded to play the role of a moonshiner in the film White Lightning after the filmmakers promised to shoot in the South. White Lightning, which was filmed in Arkansas, broke attendance records nationwide, and the film's success encouraged Hollywood studios to make more southern films. In 1976 Reynolds both starred in and made his directorial debut with Gator, the sequel to White Lightning. Deciding to shoot Gator entirely in Georgia, Reynolds announced that "I have this violent urge to get behind the camera... I want to say some nice things about the South."
In 1974 Reynolds starred in The Longest Yard, which was filmed at the Georgia State Prison in Reidsville. In the film Reynolds portrays a former athletic star forced to compete in a life-and-death football game. Many inmates served as extras and helped to construct the sets, including a football field that was given to the prison after filming was complete. Governor Jimmy Carter played a key role in the orchestration of the project and, according to Reynolds, promised that he "would personally come in and take me out if anything happened." The film, remade in 2005 with Reynolds in the role of Coach Nate Scarborough was popular with audiences, but not with critics.
During the next few years Reynolds continued his pattern of choosing southern-themed films that were often shot, at least partially, in the South. In the 1975 film W. W. and the Dixie Dance Kings, filmed in Nashville, Tennessee, he played the fast-talking, gas station robbing manager of a group of country musicians whose collective dream is to one day play the Grand Ole Opry. Two years later, Smokey and the Bandit, which also features the Georgia musician Jerry Reed, was released and is one of Reynolds's best-known and loved films. Filmed entirely in Georgia, the successful comedy was followed in 1980 by Smokey and the Bandit II, which was filmed partially in Georgia.
Reynolds's next film, The Cannonball Run 1981, was shot almost entirely in Georgia, referred to as "Burt's good luck state" by the director, Hal Needham. That same year Reynolds directed and starred in Sharky's Machine. Filmed entirely in Atlanta, the movie features Reynolds as a narcotics officer investigating the murder of a prostitute in the city.
During these years, Reynolds starred in a number of other notable films, including The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing 1973; Semi-Tough 1977; The End 1978, which he also directed; Starting Over 1979; and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas 1982, which was filmed mostly in Texas.[18]
Personal life
Relationships
At various points in his life, Reynolds was romantically involved with Dinah Shore, Sally Field, and Chris Evert.[19] His relationship with Shore garnered particular attention given the fact she was 20 years his senior. Reynolds was married to actress/comedienne Judy Carne from 1963 to 1965, and actress Loni Anderson from 1988 to 1993, with whom he adopted a son, Quinton Anderson Reynolds. E! Online reports that he dated Kate Edelman Johnson from 2003 to 2005.[20]
His autobiography, titled My Life, was published in 1994 with much writing help from his close personal friend, Al Glasgow.
Sports team owner
On July 3, 1982, Reynolds lived out one of his dreams by once again getting involved with a sport that still holds a certain soft spot in his heart, by becoming a co-owner of the Tampa Bay Bandits, a professional football team in the USFL. Other owners included John Bassett, a Canadian movie producer, and Stephen Arky, an attorney from Miami. Reynolds was a general partner of the team from 1982 to 1985, the entire existence of the USFL. The team held a winning record in every year. In 1983 they went 11-7-0 in the Central Division but did not make the playoffs. In 1984 they went 14-4-0 in the Southern Division and lost in the conference semifinals to the Birmingham Stallions 36-17. In 1985 they went 10-8-0 in the Eastern Conference but lost in the quarterfinals to the Oakland Invaders 30-27.
Reynolds also co-owned a NASCAR Winston Cup team with Hal Needham, which ran the #33 Skoal Bandits car, with driver Harry Gant.
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bobsmythhawk
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Mon 11 Feb, 2008 04:11 pm
Bobby Pickett
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert George Pickett (February 11, 1938 - April 25, 2007) was an American singer who found fame as a one-hit wonder musician under the name Bobby "Boris" Pickett. He was known for co-writing and performing the 1962 hit novelty song, "Monster Mash".[1]
Biography
Early life
Pickett was born in Somerville, Massachusetts. His father was a theater manager, and as a 9-year-old he watched many horror films. He would later incorporate impressions of them in his Hollywood nightclub act in 1959. Pickett was a United States Army veteran, who served in Korea.
Music career
Pickett co-wrote "Monster Mash" with Leonard Capizzi, featuring impersonations of veteran horror stars Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi (the latter with the line "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?"). It was passed on by every major label, but after hearing the song Gary S. Paxton agreed to produce and engineer it; among the musicians who played on it was pianist Leon Russell. The single became a million seller, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks before Halloween in 1962. It was styled as being by "Bobby 'Boris' Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers". The track re-entered the U.S. charts twice, in August 1970, and again in May 1973, when it reached the #10 spot. In Britain it took until October 1973 for the tune to become popular, peaking at #3 in the UK Singles Chart.
A Christmas-themed follow-up, "Monster's Holiday," was also released in 1962 and reached #30 in December that year. Another of his songs, "Graduation Day", made #80 in June 1963. Pickett also recorded a novelty spoof on Star Trek called "Star Drek" with Peter Ferrara, again performing some of the various voices, which was played on Dr. Demento's radio show. In October 2005, Pickett protested inaction on global warming by releasing "Climate Mash," a new version of his hit single.
Film and writing
In 1967, Pickett and television author Sheldon Allman wrote the musical I'm Sorry the Bridge Is Out, You'll Have to Spend the Night. It has been produced by local theatres around the USA. They followed it up later with another musical, Frankenstein Unbound. In 1995 the co-writers of Disney's Toy Story, Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolov, produced a movie of it, originally entitled Frankenstein Sings, but later released in the US under Monster Mash the Movie. Pickett starred in it with Candace Cameron, Jimmie Walker, Mink Stole, John Kassir, Sarah Douglas, Anthony Crivello, Adam Shankman and Carrie Ann Inaba.
In 2005 Pickett published his autobiography through Trafford Publishing. It was called Monster Mash: Half Dead in Hollywood.
Death
Pickett died at the age of 69 on April 25, 2007 in Los Angeles, California, due to complications from leukemia. His daughter Nancy Huus was at his side when he died. He left two grandchildren, Jordan Huus and Olivia Huus.[2][3] The Sunday, May 13, 2007, episode of the Dr. Demento show featured a documentary retrospective of Pickett's work.
Appearances in popular culture
"Monster Mash" was covered by The Misfits, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and Bad Manners. It was also covered by The Beach Boys, who recorded it for an early live album; in their version, the line "the Crypt Kicker Five" was changed to "the Beach Boy Five". It was even covered in 1977 by Horror Icon Vincent Price.
The line "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?" and several other vocal segments of "Monster Mash", are sampled by Rush on the song "Limbo", from their 1996 Test for Echo album.
The song was featured on an episode of the old television show "Cheers" when the patrons of Gary's Old Time Tavern rigged the juke box and telephone at Cheers so that "Monster Mash" would come playing out of them when someone tried to use them.
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