Thanks for the Memories

DR ARNOLD KLEIN: PARIS AND PRINCE JACKSON’S FATHER DIED – AGAIN

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The death of Michael Jackson’s dermatologist Dr Arnie Klein may open a HUGE can of worms and shed light on who Paris and Prince’s biological father was. It is believed that Dr Klein was the sperm donor for nurse Debbie Rowe, who gave birth to Michael’s two kids. Arnie was sworn to secrecy but even HE noted the resemblance between Prince and himself. And significantly, Prince is a straight A student like Dr Klein. FINALLY, Dr Klein’s will might reveal all! Will his biological children be mentioned? On a sadder note, despite Klein’s misadventures with Jackson, he WAS a kind and very entertaining and likeable doctor. (We frequented his office for gossip!) He died suddenly at the age of 70 in Palm Springs where he retired. (Above Arnie Klein spent Michael’s last Christmas in 2008 with the family)

BB KING: THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

We didn’t realize how lucky we were growing up in Chicago because BB King was a frequent performer in Old Town. In our late teens, armed with fake IDs, our boyfriends would take us downtown to witness The Blues and sip forbidden drinks like Singapore Slings. At the time we didn’t realize how important BB King would become – we just loved the music. Now he’s gone, but far from forgotten. Above is a video of BB and Bobby Blue Bland on Soul Train in 1975. Check out those lapels.

BEN E KING: THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

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Hardly a day goes by in our house that we don’t hear a song by Ben E King or The Drifters – that’s how much we love them. And Ben’s voice was magic – sometimes so dramatic and filled with teenage yearning, and sometimes whimsical. Save the Last Dance For Me was our absolute favorite (click HERE to listen) but there was also Spanish Harlem, This Magic Moment, I (Who Have Nothing) etc etc….Ben was fabulous with and without The Drifters. And he retained that VOICE and performed until the very end. Which came way too soon.

GREG PLITT: THE STEROIDS MADE HIM DO IT!

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The more we read about the death of TV bodybuilder Greg Plitt, the more we think steroids were responsible for his gruesome finish. Police say he was filming action shots running along the train tracks for his motivational website when he was struck by a train. His friends admit that he tried to act like Superman and liked to push things to the limit. “There was nothing he couldn’t do!” He had no permit to be on the tracks and didn’t think he needed one. He was no genius and the drugs made him feel invincible. Just look at Greg’s face and body and it’s apparent he’s pumped up. Steroids stimulate violence and superhuman confidence it’s as simple as that. A tragic and shamefully avoidable loss.

TAYLOR NEGRON: THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

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The world is not going to be as much fun as it was when Taylor Negron was around. He was a surprisingly smart and witty and likeable guy, besides being a writer and artist. His face was amazingly communicative and made him an unforgettable character actor. Every time he popped up on TV or in a movie, he left the viewer wanting more. Taylor loved to have a good time and everybody who met him wanted to be his friend. He could make any occasion special – once we went to the zoo with Taylor and a group of friends and he had us laughing all day. He will be missed.

ELVIS PRESLEY: ALWAYS ON MY MIND

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Today would have been Elvis Presley’s 80th birthday and we love any excuse to publish an early photo of what might have been the best looking entertainer of all time. One of the things we loved best about Elvis was the fact that he took delight in giving away gorgeous Cadillacs to friends and strangers! Imagine some wealthy entertainer doing that today – it will never happen!

LIFE WAS NOT SO EASY FOR ZSA ZSA’S DAUGHTER FRANCESCA HILTON

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We lost a memorable – and sometimes tragic – Hollywood character yesterday. Zsa Zsa Gabor’s only child, Francesca Hilton, 67, died of a heart attack/stroke, according to her publicist, Edward Lozzi. Francesca was born average looking into a family of impossibly beautiful women. Her mother was still married to Conrad Hilton when Francesca was born, but she was romancing actor George Sanders and there was always doubt about Francesca’s real father. Francesca struggled to live up to family expectations but she always had a sense of humor and friendly demeanor. She loved gossip and was always very open when talking about her family. She and her mother’s last husband Prince Frederic von Anhalt clashed continuously in court over money and access to ailing Zsa Zsa so Francesca’s last few years have not been easy. She had a big personality and we will miss her.

JOE COCKER GOT A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS

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Saying goodbye to Joe Cocker isn’t easy – we didn’t realize how much we’d miss him. Back in the early 70’s he spent a lot of time in Los Angeles and performed on Sunset Strip. We’d never seen ANYTHING like him. Onstage he looked like something the cat dragged in – he was dripping in sweat, his hair stuck out in all directions, his clothes were dirty and rumpled, and he could barely keep his balance. He was always in danger of falling off the stage. Drugs and alcohol were destroying him but he still sounded magnificent. His spastic twitching only added to the horror and glory. Actually, it’s surprising he lived as long as he did, and it’s nice that he continued to perform until lung cancer got him at 70.

JOAN RIVERS LOVED TO JOKE ABOUT BOTOX, BUT IT’S NO JOKE NOW

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We’re still in shock over the loss of Joan Rivers and a source revealed to us exactly what procedure she had done in the clinic before she died. Joan had Botox injected into her vocal chords so her voice would be less hoarse and raspy. (Joan always had trouble with her voice – she never went anywhere without throat lozenges.) It’s apparently a common and minor procedure and generally requires only local anesthesia. This information only makes her death more mysterious. Ironically, Joan made thousands of jokes about Botox during her career.

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

JOAN RIVERS: THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

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Photo: QVC
We’ve been dreading the moment when we actually have to say goodbye to Joan Rivers – for many reasons. First of all, Joan defied all odds and at 81 was one of the hardest working people we knew. She flew back and forth across the country for various jobs every week and never turned down an opportunity to do more. Around a month ago, Joan was at The Grove for a book signing and 300 people were in line when she arrived. She stayed until EVERY person got a photo with her and a moment to speak to her. Joan had a daytime talk show in the early 90’s and we were lucky to become a weekly regular on the show, along with other gossip journalists. Generous Joan flew us business class and put us up at The Plaza. She was always gracious and kind despite her occasionally rough humor. She was healthy and busy up to the last minute of her life, but it ended too soon. That clinic has a lot of questions to answer…