As my wife and I progress into the later stage of our lives, we have begun purging the many items on display in our home. The first thing to go was our massive, thirty-plus year collection of Disney memorabilia. That itself was a huge undertaking. We were kept busy for over a year, listing each …
After graduating from the Pratt Institute with a degree in art, Allen Funt began working at a New York advertising agency. Soon, he was switched to their radio advertising department. He found himself writing episodes of the popular radio show Truth or Consequences as well as helping Eleanor Roosevelt with her regular radio addresses. He …
Joe Burrus wanted desperately to be as famous and as beloved as Houdini… and he was very, very determined. Billing himself as “Amazing Joe,” the recovering drug addict began performing magic around the Southern California area, sometimes bringing his act all the way up the West coast. His fascination with Harry Houdini grew until it …
Kathy O’Dare was born in Los Angeles, the daughter of a popular local TV show host. She followed in her father’s show biz footsteps, making her acting debut in 1968 at the age of 11 as a member of the notorious “Sour Grapes Bunch” on the children’s psychedelic showcase The Banana Splits. Her second role …
If you ever heard any kind of popular American music — either from your radio or your record player — chances are, you’ve heard Gerry McGee play the guitar. The son of popular Cajun fiddler Dennis McGee, Gerry developed his own style of guitar-playing as a teen, influenced by Jimmie Rodgers, Chet Atkins and Lefty …
Jane Weir and her mother left Davenport, Iowa for Hollywood, California in 1926. Jane attended and graduated Hollywood High School and immediately signed a five-year contract with Paramount Pictures. The studio had big plans for the pretty blond. She was cast in both dramas and comedies and co-starred with such big names as George Raft, Gary …
If you grew up in the 70s, you couldn’t turn on a radio without hearing the beginning, middle or end of Helen Reddy’s feminist anthem “I Am Woman.” She performed it on variety shows, on talk shows and on late-night music shows. It was inescapable and undeniably infectious. At the time, it pretty much defined …
Sergio Franchi. What a melodic, romantic sounding name! It was very fitting for the Italian tenor with the robust voice and charming demeanor. Sergio Franchi! Throughout the 70s, he sang on The Ed Sullivan Show, filled the big showrooms in Las Vegas and toured the country, enchanting audiences that were mostly comprised of suburban American …
Terry Burnham was a natural actress. She made her television debut at 6 years-old with a bit part in an installment of the anthology series Climax!, best known for introducing the James Bond tale Casino Royale. Terry appeared in small roles on I Love Lucy and The Danny Thomas Show, leading up to her most …
Irving Kanarek was a character. He was an aerospace engineer until his government security clearance was revoked. He pursued a law degree and was admitted to the California Bar in 1957. In 1963, Irving represented Jimmy Lee Smith, who was arrested for kidnapping and murder. Smith’s case was chronicled in the 1973 book The Onion …
