Thanks for the Memories

Fashion Robin Williams Thanks for the Memories

HERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT ROBIN WILLIAMS YOU MAY NOT KNOW

You’ve read a lot about the late, great Robin Williams today, but here’s something you probably never knew about him. He was a closet dandy. Robin was so funny and entertaining that observers seldom noticed what he was wearing. Few people realize that he loved extravagant designer fashion, often in black. He was well known at the most exclusive stores like Maxfield in LA, San Francisco, and New York. Robin was courageous – he delighted in wearing fashion forward styles like Commes Des Garcons that many men are afraid to touch. His personality was so BIG that it drew attention from his style – but he WAS an underrated fashion icon. (Click HERE to see what he wore to pick up his Oscar.)
Above: The scene outside Robin’s Tiburon home

Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News

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By Janet / August 12, 2014

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James Garner Thanks for the Memories

JAMES GARNER: THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

James Garner was a real man’s man and he will be missed. The 6’2” actor was a classically handsome leading man in the fifties and sixties and he was funny enough to costar in comedies with Doris Day. James Garner’s characters always had something in common with the actor. There was a sly bit of con man or rascal there, but basically Garner played relaxed, decent, honest, and always unpretentious characters. (Maverick and Rockford Files especially) You had to love them. He was married to his wife Lois for 58 years.

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By Janet / July 20, 2014

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Marilyn Beck Thanks for the Memories The Gossip Show

MARILYN BECK WAS A RELUCTANT HOLLYWOOD GOSSIP

The late Marilyn Beck was a piece of Hollywood history. We had the pleasure of appearing with her on The Gossip Show on E! in the 1990’s. She considered herself a serious journalist and didn’t love the word “gossip.” Indeed, she preferred being friendly with celebrities and writing more about their projects than private lives. Marilyn was a syndicated writer in the days when it really meant something – in the 70’s and 80’s her column appeared in hundreds of newspapers and she had 20 million readers. In spite of the fact that she looked down on our obvious delight in juicy gossip, she was always friendly and professional, and she will be missed. Certainly she took a plenty of Hollywood secrets with her.
(Above, Marilyn with George Burns)

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By Janet / June 3, 2014

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Ann B Davis Thanks for the Memories The Brady Bunch

ANN B DAVIS: WAS SHE OR WASN’T SHE? IT DIDN’T REALLY MATTER

Who didn’t love Ann B Davis? Our first memory of her was as the wisecracking assistant to pin-up photographer Bob Cummings on Love That Bob. When she appeared on The Brady Bunch she played the same type of character – outspoken, bossy, smart, and sensible in both demeanor and attire. No frills. We always assumed she was a very likeable lesbian – and didn’t everyone dream of having a maid like Alice? When we think of Ann’s no-nonsense characters we are reminded of another actress who often played spinsters: the late Nancy Kulp (Jane Hathaway from The Beverly Hillbillies.) Ironically, Nancy started out as a bird-watcher on Love That Bob with Ann. Both were much loved character actresses who gave lesbians a very good name, whether they WERE or not. (Above- that’s Ann in the window)

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By Janet / June 2, 2014

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Comedy David Brenner Thanks for the Memories

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: EVERYBODY LIKED DAVID BRENNER

We lost another funny guy. David Brenner’s droll style of observational comedy back in the 70’s inspired many of the comics of today. He was a regular on just about every talk show through the years because he was always hilarious. David briefly had his own talk show “Nightlife” in the 80’s, and above, his guests were Frank Zappa and his kids Dweezil and Moon Unit. Brenner is holding up a necktie that was given to Frank to wear when he entered a restaurant that day. David continued doing his stand-up comedy until the beginning of this year.

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By Janet / March 16, 2014

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Groundhog Day Harold Ramis Thanks for the Memories

HAROLD RAMIS’S BRILLIANT “GROUNDHOG DAY” IS A CLASSIC

Not only did Harold Ramis come from Chicago, our home town, but he was responsible for one of our favorite movies of all time – Groundhog Day. Described as a “philosophical comedy” – it gave Bill Murray perhaps the best role of his lifetime. Who could ever forget Murray’s unlikeable character waking up EVERY morning to his clock radio playing Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe” and reliving the day before? And the day repeated until he got it right. Harold Ramis was one of those rare smart AND funny comedy writers, and he will be missed. (Above, Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell)

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By Janet / February 25, 2014

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Sid Caesar Thanks for the Memories

SID CAESAR WAS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST COMICS EVER ON TV

The late Sid Caesar’s Show of Shows was like the Saturday Night Live of the 50’s – everybody talked about it the next day. We remember our father laughing uproariously at Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca playing husband and wife in sketches. There was something sexy about Sid in those days – he was big and husky and had shiny slicked back hair. His amazing list of comedy writers included Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, Carl Reiner and Woody Allen. (Above is a sketch of Imogene dragging her husband to an early health food restaurant )

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By Janet / February 13, 2014

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Shirley Temple Thanks for the Memories

SHIRLEY TEMPLE: THE GOOD SHIP LOLLIPOP HAS SAILED AWAY

Shirley Temple was too cute not to honor with an official good-bye. She passed away at the age of 85 yesterday after a long and successful life. She was the number one box-office star from 1935 to 1938 when America was still hurting from the recession. Her mother was with her every day on the set of every movie. In 1939 she lost the lead in The Wizard of Oz to Judy Garland and her career started to decline and she retired at 22. But the fortune she had earned was protected in a trust for her. Shirley was a pioneer in celebrity endorsements. Her Shirley Temple dresses, cereal bowls, curly wigs etc, and most of all her DOLLS, earned her more money than her movies did. She had a successful 55 year marriage to her husband Charles Black.

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By Janet / February 11, 2014

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Christopher Jones Drugs Thanks for the Memories Wild in the Streets

CHRISTOPHER JONES REALLY WAS WILD IN THE STREETS

We’ll never forget our last glimpse of Christopher Jones. After the release of “Wild in the Streets” the James Dean lookalike became wildly popular. The rebellious teen movie connected with the mods and hippies of the late 60’s. He was a legend until, as they say, he “succumbed to the drug culture of Sunset Strip.” We had a shop on Sunset in the early 70’s and customers frequently reported seeing a dazed Jones lurking around the neighborhood in dirty clothes reportedly sleeping on porches or stairwells. One day we saw him drugged up in filthy jeans, barefoot, with a bottle of baby oil in his back pocket. We feared he’d have a short life. Imagine our surprise when his death at age 72 was reported this weekend. At least he managed to pull himself out of that episode and have a life. Hopefully, it was a good one. (Above, a German poster of “Wild in the Streets”)

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By Janet / February 3, 2014

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Doubt Drugs Philip Seymour Hoffman Thanks for the Memories

WE’LL NEVER FORGET PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN BECAUSE OF “DOUBT”

SO sad that Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman died of an apparent heroin overdose. He was certainly one of the finest actors of our time. But his public persona and attitude toward the press was often negative and he seemed angry without reason. He chose his roles carefully and we will never forget his movie ”Doubt.” It should be required viewing – especially for people who think they know it all and are stubborn about their opinions. Hoffman was brilliant as a priest (above) accused of being too friendly with a young boy. Things are not always as they seem. This touching and important movie changed the way we judge things forever. For that, we have to thank Hoffman, at least in part. Sadly, Philip is survived by his three young children and a longtime companion Mimi O’Donnell.

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By Janet / February 2, 2014

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