Thanks for the Memories

Allee Willis Fabian Thanks for the Memories

WE WILL NEVER FORGET ALLEE WILLIS

We had a heartbreaking Christmas eve – our longtime friend, songwriter and kitsch aficionado Allee Willis died suddenly of a heart attack. Allee was much more than a songwriter – her whimsical valley home was loaded with collectibles she found at the Rose Bowl flea market – where we met in the 80’s. She gave amazing theme parties, the likes of which will probably never be seen again. At one all-girl pajama party (we were waited on by scantily clad men serving drinks and retro food) she had a contest – the girl who told the best or funniest story about a youthful romance would win a date with 60’s heartthrob FABIAN! HE was there in person, still looking good! My story was in the lead when Cassandra “Elvira” Peterson topped it with her description of her date with Elvis! SHE won the date with Fabian (a waste – she was married at the time) and we were justifiably disappointed. But WHAT a fun party! We will miss Allee forever…

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

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By Janet / December 26, 2019
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Karl Lagerfeld Thanks for the Memories

KARL LAGERFELD: THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Karl Lagerfeld, the King of Fashion, who once described himself as a “fashion nymphomaniac” (we can relate to that) has died, and we will miss him. This is a man who loved his cat Choupette SO much that he said he’d marry her, if it were legal. Years ago, when Karl was still overweight and wearing caftans and gesturing with fans, we were part of a group having dinner with him at Mr Chow in Beverly Hills. How a tabloid reporter got mixed up with that crowd we don’t recall, but we do remember being pleasantly surprised by how witty and entertaining Karl turned out to be. We always followed Karl’s advice “Don’t drink and wear stilettos” and who knows how many social disasters we avoided…

Above, A very early photo of Karl as an aspiring designer in the late fifties

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

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By Janet / February 19, 2019
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Johnny Hallyday Thanks for the Memories

JOHNNY HALLYDAY : NOBODY LOVED AMERICA MORE

The original French rock n roller Johnny Hallyday just died and it’s a huge deal in France but should be noteworthy here too. As successful as he was, Johnny was mostly unknown outside of France, but he was always madly in love with American culture. As a teen he was inspired by Elvis Presley and went on to record many American hits by Elvis, Carl Perkins, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran, Chubby Checker, Fats Domino etc. – translated into French – and he made a fortune. He loved all things American – Harley Davidson motorcycles, fast cars, leather pants, hamburgers etc. He died in Los Angeles.

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By Janet / December 6, 2017
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Chuck Berry Thanks for the Memories

CHUCK BERRY: THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Chuck Berry was undoubtedly one of the architects of Rock n Roll and both The Beatles and Rolling Stones worshipped and imitated him. He was also the Bad Boy of rock – the height of Berry’s career was interrupted when he served two years in prison for traveling across state lines with a 14 year old girl. (These southern rockers were obsessed with underage girls!) And don’t forget that awful incident where he was caught filming women in the bathroom of his St Louis restaurant! (The case was settled.) Despite all, you cannot deny his greatness. He died today at the age of 90, and left behind four children and his wife Themetta, whom he married in 1948! Sweet Little >Sixteen was our favorite of his songs.

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By Janet / March 18, 2017
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Mary Tyler Moore Thanks for the Memories

MARY TYLER MOORE: THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES – AND INSPIRATION

We wonder if Mary Tyler Moore realized what a feminist inspiration her character Mary Richards was back in the 70’s. Until then, most females on TV were moms, housewives, teenage girls or passive women hunting for husbands. It was a revelation to see a professional independent thirtysomething single woman NOT obsessed with getting married. She was cute and funny, a good friend, and successfully navigated around the egotistical men in her office. Mary Richards inspired young women everywhere to create their OWN future.(We only wished her character had moved to New York for a better TV job and a Manhattan penthouse.) Of all the acting that Mary Tyler Moore did, she will most be remembered for her own MTM show, which she FINALLY embraced in her later years. Good night, Mary.

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By Janet / January 25, 2017
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Carrie Fisher Debbie Reynolds Thanks for the Memories

WHO DIDN’T LOVE DEBBIE REYNOLDS?

Is this the week of heartbreak or what? We’re still miserable from the loss of Carrie Fisher yesterday and apparently her mother Debbie Reynolds was so distraught that she suffered a stroke. At her son Todd Fisher’s house, while making funeral plans for her daughter Carrie! Back in the 90’s, we were lucky to have spent a weekend with Debbie Reynolds at her doomed Hotel in Las Vegas. Debbie and her best friend Charles Nelson Reilly were desperately trying to save the hotel from bankruptcy. She invited press people for a free weekend to see the Hollywood Memorabilia Museum she had installed there. She and Charles entertained and wined and dined us nonstop throughout the weekend. We DID love the museum and wrote about it. But nothing could save the mismanaged, dated hotel. Debbie had a lot of disasters in her life- financial and otherwise- but she remained an enthusiastic and positive sweetheart. We will never forget her.

(Above, Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, and Albert Brooks (her costar in the wonderful “Mother”) at Debbie’s second Walk of Fame star ceremony in 1997)

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

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By Janet / December 28, 2016
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Fake! Funeral Prince Frederic von Anhalt Thanks for the Memories Zsa Zsa Gabor

ZSA ZSA GABOR FINALLY MARRIED THE WRONG MAN

It’s the final insult for the late Zsa Zsa Gabor, who passed away at the age of 99 at her Bel Air home. In 1986 when Zsa Zsa took Frederic Von Anhalt for her ninth husband, she thought she was marrying royalty – a legitimate German prince – and that made HER royalty too! Eventually she learned that Frederic’s royal ties were questionable at best, but by then she was too ill to object. As her health declined, Zsa Zsa spent most of the last decade in bed in a vegetative state. Fredric sold photos of her looking awful in bed to tabloids! And he cut off her daughter Francesca Hilton’s allowance, so when she died, she was living in her car! All the while, Von Anhalt was “adopting” numerous young men to give them Princely titles. When Zsa Zsa mercifully passed away Dec 18, Fredric hired a publicist to arrange a “star studded” memorial service. A list of celebrities “expected “ was distributed to the media. The “Prince” hoped to earn big bucks for media access. It turns out NONE of the listed celebrities agreed to attend and don’t plan to! A small but genuine memorial service for her friends will be happening in January after the holidays.

(Above, a billboard that Frederic posted on Sunset Strip in 2011 while Zsa Zsa was in the throes of dementia)

Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News

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By Janet / December 27, 2016
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Carrie Fisher Star Wars Thanks for the Memories

CARRIE FISHER SAW THE HUMOR IN EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO HER

We all saw it coming but we didn’t want it to be true. Carrie Fisher suffered that massive heart attack on a plane as she was coming home for Christmas. She was described as “unresponsive” when she was removed from the plane. What exactly does that mean? Unconscious, or no signs of life? After she was whisked to the hospital we were told that she was “stable.” Days later George Michael suddenly died and attention turned to him. Now Carrie is gone and we fondly remember laughing uproariously at her stage show “Wishful Drinking.” Carrie had plenty of problems in life and dealt with them all with her brilliant sense of humor. Not many children of famous parents achieve their own success like Carrie did. She was one of a kind. Hopefully her dog Gary was right beside her at the end.

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

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By Janet / December 27, 2016
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George Michael Thanks for the Memories

GEORGE MICHAEL WAS HIS OWN WORST ENEMY

He had a rollicking career that lasted for decades and millions of adoring fans, but was George Michael ever really happy? His life seemed to go downhill starting in 1998 when he was arrested for lewd conduct in that Beverly Hills public restroom. THAT bounced him out of the closet in a hurry. The following years were a blur of arrests, drug and sex scandals . He was involved in half a dozen driving incidents – mostly DUI. (Imagine finding a celebrity asleep behind the wheel of his car on the side of the road? And that happened more than once!) Anxiety and depression seemed to fuel his self -medication. Rehab didn’t work for him and he couldn’t help himself. So sad. His music made everyone else happy.

(Above, George and his last boyfriend, hairdresser Fadi Fawaz, on vacation in Australia in 2012)

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By Janet / December 26, 2016
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Prince Frederic von Anhalt Thanks for the Memories Zsa Zsa Gabor

ZSA ZSA GABOR: THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

It’s the end of an era. Zsa Zsa Gabor has passed away at the age of 99. For many years we reported on the adventures of Zsa Zsa, her troubled daughter Francesca, and her assortment of husbands. Back in the early ‘90s, we appeared on a daytime talk show with Zsa Zsa (the subject, of course, was gossip, which she loved) and she was affected, but quite nice and very entertaining. Later when she was married to “Prince” Frederic Von Anhalt we were invited to a party at her home and got to see the house. It had obviously been ostentatious at one time but had become rather run down and shabby. We could only enter a few rooms, but DID love the glass walls that parted and led outside to the pool area. Her Prince WAS charming and friendly – he loves publicity. Zsa Zsa’s friends don’t trust him but he IS quite a character – adopting all those young men and dubbing them “Princes.” Alas, now the house, which sold for around 11 million, will be torn down – we wonder what will become of the “Prince.”

(Above, Frederic Von Anhalt wore his lederhosen to Beverly Hills one day)

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

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By Janet / December 18, 2016
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