In 1949, budding actress, the former Rosetta Jacobs, signed a contract with Universal Pictures. Studio executives changes the seventeen-year old’s name to Piper Laurie, a name which she used for the rest of her life. The young ingénue was cast opposite the top male leads of the day. She appeared in all genres — comedies …
It’s the Third Week of Inktober 2023 and just about time for a vampire. On a summer afternoon in 1966, ABC premiered a brand new soap opera. Based on a dream by creator Dan Curtis and fleshed out by TV writer Art Wallace, Dark Shadows hit the airwaves to mediocre reception. It was a stilted …
Abby Dalton cut her acting teeth under the tutelage of cult director Roger Corman, mostly playing uncredited roles as tough teenage delinquents. She totally changed her on-screen image to that of the wholesome — though innocently sexy — girl-next-door. She made guest appearances on many series in the early days of television. Abby was cast …
Last week, I discussed Twilight Zone, the venerable “godfather” of horror anthology television series. While not the first, it paved the way for others in the genre like Outer Limits, Thriller, Tales from the Darkside and Masters of Horror. There were others, too. Many others. Many, many others, including one with which you may not …
Summer is over and October is upon is. The leaves are changing. The hot temperatures of July are yielding to cool breezes that bring a nip to the air. The sun is setting at an earlier time and everything is flavored with pumpkin spice. Well, everything has been flavored with pumpkin spice since the third …
I have been drawing since I was a little kid. Much to my parents’ chagrin, I decided to make art my chosen career. I went to art school and I have made a living as a professional artist — in one capacity or another — for over 40 years. Unlike a lot of my colleagues …
Robin Williams was funny, manic, inspired, hysterical and troubled. Rather than put himself and his family through the potential turmoil that awaited upon his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, increasing paranoia and continued depression, he took his own life. Robin Williams committed suicide on August 11, 2014 at the age of 63. (My …
In an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, broadcast on November 24, 1973, the perennially-arrogant and equally-dimwitted WJM news anchor “Ted Baxter” listed Kaboom and Cocoa Puffs as his favorite cereal. I remember eating (and liking) Kaboom, as well… but I was a child.
This is Sabrina Ellis. Sabrina is a ridiculously talented singer-songwriter-musician-dancer-performer from Austin, Texas. They are the singer for several bands, including Sweet Spirit and A Giant Dog. While performing with their bands, they are a bundle of pure energy. Jumping, dancing, twirling, singing, writhing — non-stop! The first time I saw A Giant Dog was …
I saw Emo Philips at a little comedy club in Philadelphia in 2009. There were four people in the audience. My son and I were seated at a tiny table for two positioned stageside and a man and a woman were at a larger table about six or so feet behind us. That’s it. There …
