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Lucille Ball had 23 years of successful sitcoms from 1951 through 1974. During the next dozen years, Ball appeared only in specials and did the occasional game show. In 1986, after some serious negotiating, ABC persuaded the 75-year-old Ball to come out of retirement and do another sitcom, Life With Lucy, alongside 80-year-old Gale Gordon. Lucy would be paid for 22 episodes even if the series was cancelled before they aired or were even made. She also insisted that Bob Carroll and Madelyn Pugh--her two primary writers from I Love Lucy--would have final script approval. Lucy played a widow who moves in her with daughter's family. The first episode aired on Saturday, September 23, 1986. It ranked 23rd for the week. The reviews were not kind. Critics felt the scripts were old-fashioned and predictable. Some Lucy fans cringed watching the elderly Lucy and Gale perform stunts they did years earlier. Lucy’s timing was a bit off as well because she now needed cue cards to remember her lines. As the weeks went on, Life With Lucy steadily fell in the ratings. Within two months, it was among the lowest-rated shows on television. Lucy was shocked because she had never failed in a series before.
There were occasional bright spots, though: Lucille Ball was likely at her personal best in an episode featuring John Ritter. (Each was a huge fan of the other.) An episode titled 'Mother of the Bride,' in which Audrey Meadows (of The Honeymooners) appeared as Lucy's sister, probably was the best of the bunch. Unfortunately, nothing could save what was becoming a major disappointment for ABC. Even though 13 episodes were filmed, only eight made it to the airwaves before the series was axed. 'Mother of the Bride' was the last one to air on November 15, 1986. Lucy was apparently devastated by the show's cancellation, tearfully declaring to longtime friend Ann Sothern that TV viewers only accepted a younger Lucy--not Lucy as a grandmother. ABC never aired any reruns. Life With Lucy has not yet been made available on DVD.
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Life
With
Lucy
Sitcom
Added: 21st March 2010
Views: 1068
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Posted By: Lava1964 |
 
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Could you believe it has been that long? Do you believe that a certain Graceland star was almost hired for the opposite part? Do you know why he never got it? Management on his part wanted lead bill over the beautiful woman. Not a chance, those involved wanted nothin' to do with the offer. It may of given him that push that he needed at the time. This after all, was headed for a "can't top me" spot for weeks-on-end back then. Around the world, the rewrote story went with being successful towards celluloid fans for a third time, and it achieved many honors along the way too. Kris was then establishing himself as being able to carry another form of entertainment. It was a must-see in that year for obvious reasons.
*E*
Tags:
1954
Cool
Oscar
Film
1937
Paul
Williams
#1
Added: 29th March 2010
Views: 678
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Posted By: Electricland |
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Art Linkletter, whose "People Are Funny" and "House Party" shows entertained millions of TV viewers in the 1950s and '60s with the funny side of ordinary folks and who remained active as a writer and speaker through his ninth decade, died Wednesday. He was 97.
Linkletter died at his home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles, said his son-in-law, Art Hershey, the husband of Sharon Linkletter.
"He lived a long, full, pure life, and the Lord had need for him," Hershey said.
Linkletter had been ill "in the last few weeks time, but bear in mind he was 97 years old. He wasn't eating well, and the aging process took him," Hershey said.
Linkletter hadn't been diagnosed with any life-threatening disease, he said.
Tags:
Art
Linkletter
Passes
at
age
97
kids
say
the
darndest
things
Bill
Cosby
Added: 26th May 2010
Views: 683
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Posted By: Old Fart |
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I have been meaning to speak about Melanie for weeks. Known as a 1970s icon, these days though,she has still remained top-level with being enjoyable for everyone who catches on. Today as then, she had established herself as a high-quality performer on stage with her gift. In 1970s Holland, she created a crazy buzz with The Edwin Hawkins Singers, all who provide the awesome gospel inspirations during the stunning chorus in the early days. This was her true calling as it went to the top spot then, but it wouldn't of happened if it weren't for seeing something she had never experienced before on such a large scale. Looking out from the Woodstock Festival stage the year previously before had given her something. She was really moved at the amount of people out there looking at her from atop the stage. She is also known for composing the romantic theme to "Beauty and the Beast", this was the televised version. She has not let up progressively since she began way back in 1969, without having the overconfidence of many you'd find today who don't compare.
*E*
Tags:
Cool
Sixties
Groovy
Seventies
Added: 29th May 2010
Views: 1303
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Posted By: Electricland |
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Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita deals with a middle-aged writer's sexual infatuation with a 12-year-old girl. Due to its shocking and risque subject matter, Nabokov was unable to find an American publisher for Lolita after finishing his manuscript in 1953. After four refusals, he finally resorted to Olympia Press in Paris in September 1955. (The photo below shows a copy of a first edition.) Although the first printing of 5,000 copies sold out quickly, there were no substantial reviews. However, at the end of 1955, Graham Greene, in an interview with the Times of London, called Lolita one of the best novels of 1955. This statement provoked a response from London's Sunday Express, whose editor called it 'the filthiest book I have ever read' and 'sheer unrestrained pornography.' British Customs officers were then instructed by a panicked Home Office to seize all copies entering the United Kingdom. In December 1956, the French followed suit and the Minister of the Interior banned Lolita. (The ban lasted for two years.) Its eventual British publication by Weidenfeld and Nicolson caused a scandal that contributed to the end of the political career of one of the publishers, Nigel Nicolson. In contrast, American officials were initially nervous, but the first American edition was issued without problems by G.P. Putnam's Sons in 1958, and was a bestseller--the first book since Gone with the Wind to sell 100,000 copies in the first three weeks of publication. Today
Lolita is widely considered to be one of the finest novels of the 20th century. In 1998, it was named the fourth greatest English language novel of the 20th century by the Modern Library.
Tags:
fiction
Lolita
publishing
controversy
Added: 8th July 2010
Views: 1366
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Posted By: Lava1964 |
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Feel like remembering a golden Susan now? How about remembering something called "Cliffhangers"? Can you remember her weekly carried-over stories that featured the woman in dangers in the "Stop Susan Williams" part? It only lasted roughly four weeks until it was stopped. Too bad. It was a favourite of many then. You may recall she was a Miss California Beauty Queen and second runner up in '69 with Miss America. In many different countries, considered a top small screen personality, only during those years back then. You may of even seen her in a few Muriel Cigars advertisements years ago, too. In 1980, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her film portrayal as Best New Star that year for a woman. Remember "Cannon Ball Run 2"?
The late 1980s, and the early, early 1990s, you could of saw her on a certain popular swimming suit show. Also, she had the ability to get herself in the supermarket magazines. Do you remember when she was seeing Sly in the early eighties while he was still married? You know what I am talking about here, right? How about in later years with the late Dudley Moore? Do you recall the spring of '79 now? Only on for a short-run, you would of seen variety and her abilities weekly with a smile. It was shown for about a month back then. It was after this, Susan got an Olympian-type film offer. You can see her in Vegas nowadays doing her thing. *E*
Tags:
Susan
Star
70s
Vegas
Smile
Added: 11th August 2010
Views: 1581
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Posted By: Electricland |
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Gail Russell was a dark-eyed beauty who starred with some of the most popular leading men in Hollywood in the 1940s and 1950s, including John Wayne, Joel McCrae and Alan Ladd.
Born in Chicago on September 21, 1924, Russell was a shy child and often hid beneath her parents' piano when they entertained. The family moved to Los Angeles when she was 14. Even though art was Russell’s passion, her mother convinced her to audition at Paramount Studios. Gail was offered a standard seven-year contract at $50 a week. Upon graduating from high school, she signed with Paramount. Russell suffered terribly from stage fright. She made her first film appearance at 19 in Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour. The following year she appeared in Lady in the Dark. Although Russell’s role was minor, the film was nominated for three Oscars, which boosted her career.
Russell's raven hair and enigmatic beauty was particularly suited to the ghost story plot of The Uninvited, her second film of 1944. During filming, Russell’s stage fright was so great that one of her co-stars suggested alcohol as a means to calm her nerves. Russell completed the film, but lost 20 pounds and later suffered a nervous breakdown. This film was also nominated for an Oscar, drawing even more attention to the young starlet.
Russell played Emily Kimbrough in the 1944 comedy Our Hearts Were Young and Gay. The following year she starred as a schoolteacher opposite Alan Ladd in Salty O'Rouke, another Oscar-nominated film, then with Joel McCrae in the supernatural tale The Unseen. In 1946 she starred in Our Hearts Were Growing Up, a sequel with Diana Lynn. Before the year was over she completed yet another movie, The Bachelor’s Daughters, with Adolphe Menjou. Still, Russell continued to experience stage fright, liberally using alcohol to deal with it.
In 1947, Russell performed one of her most famous roles as the innocent Quaker love of John Wayne in The Angel and the Badman. Rumors circulated that Russell and Wayne were having an affair, though they both denied anything more than friendship. In 1949, Russell once again starred as John Wayne's love interest in Wake of the Red Witch. When she learned that her husband had cast Russell in this role, John Wayne’s wife, actress Esperanza (Chata) Bauer, exploded in an alcoholic, jealous rage. When Wayne returned home late from the cast party, Bauer aimed a gun at her husband and pulled the trigger. The bullet barely missed Wayne’s head.
Months later, Russell married her long-time boyfriend, television actor Guy Madison. In 1953, Russell was called to testify in John Wayne’s divorce trial and once again, Russell and Wayne both denied the affair. Two weeks later Russell was arrested for drunk driving, which fueled more rumors about an affair and caused serious damage to her marriage. Her alcoholic reputation so troubled Paramount executives they refused to renew her contract. Then Russell and Madison divorced, adding to her despair. In 1955, Russell left the scene of the crime after rear-ending another vehicle while intoxicated. In 1957 she drove her new convertible through the glass windows of Jan's Restaurant in Beverly Hills, pinning the janitor beneath her vehicle. Russell was picked up by Universal Studios and continued to star with some of the most famous names in Hollywood, including Randolph Scott. However, in August of 1957, when she failed to appear in court, officers were sent to her home and found her drunk and unconscious. The hearing was held at General Hospital where she was bedridden with severe effects from alcoholism. She joined Alcoholics Anonymous and stayed with this organization for a year, to no avail.
In 1961, Russell starred in her last movie, The Silent Call. When filming was completed, she locked herself in her Los Angeles studio apartment, sketching and drinking. On August 27, 1961 Russell died from an alcohol-induced heart attack. She was just 36.
Tags:
actress
Gail
Russell
Added: 18th December 2010
Views: 1277
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Posted By: Lava1964 |
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I would like to bring 2 your attention another game for this holiday time. I have been super-busy for weeks, and I will try 2 comply to the messages by being here more often.
Can you guess what this is all about? Most of you may know it.
*E*
GAME SOLVED BELOW
Tags:
Game
Film
Added: 16th December 2010
Views: 336
Rating:
Posted By: Electricland |
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Bobby Farrell, whose group Boney M topped the 1970s European charts with its glittering showmanship and blend of disco and Calypso music, was found dead in his hotel bed Thursday while on tour in Russia, his agent said. He was 61.
The frontman appeared as scheduled in St. Petersburg Wednesday night, but complained of breathing problems before and after his show, said the agent, John Seine.
The group had 38 top 10 hits, including 15 number ones in Germany. They included "Brown Girl in the Ring" and "Mary's Boychild." Their version of "By the Rivers of Babylon" sold nearly 2 million records in Britain alone, keeping it No. 1 for five weeks in 1978.
Tags:
Daddy
Cool
Boney
M
Passes
At
Age
61
Added: 31st December 2010
Views: 403
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Posted By: Old Fart |
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If you've seen any of Charlie Chaplin's best comedy shorts, you've probably seen Eric Campbell. Campbell, a native of Scotland, played opposite Chaplin in a dozen films in 1916 and 1917. Campbell's daunting 6-foot-5, 300-pound frame made him perfect as a foe for the diminutive Chaplin. Despite his menacing figure, Campbell was a gentle soul whose final year was marred by terrible tragedy. On July 9, 1917, Campbell's wife died suddenly of a heart attack after dining at a Santa Monica restaurant near their home. Walking to a nearby store to buy a mourning dress, Campbell's 16-year-old daughter, Una, was hit by a car a seriously injured. That September, Campbell met Pearl Gilman, a vaudeville comedienne with a family reputation for gold-digging. Just five days after they met, Campbell and Gilman were married. (Daughter Una, still recuperating at a friend's home in Santa Monica canyon, was not told of the wedding for several weeks.) Less than two months after marrying the gentle giant, Gilman sued him for divorce, claiming her new husband abused her with his heavy drinking and profanity. Campbell moved into the Los Angeles Athletic Club, taking a room next to his best friend Chaplin. At a cast party Campbell got drunk. Driving home on December 20, 1917 at 4 a.m., Campbell crashed his car and was killed. He was 39. Campbell's ashes remained unclaimed for more than 30 years.
Tags:
Eric
Campbell
actor
silent
films
Chaplin
Added: 9th February 2011
Views: 623
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Posted By: Lava1964 |
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