My beard is some hair
That sprouts out of my chin
And I’m proud of the way that it grows
It’s long and it’s lovely
Surrounding my grin
And I wear it instead of my clothes.
from my sketchbook: wanda hawley
A career in Hollywood was the natural choice for pretty, petite blond Wanda Hawley. Beginning in 1917 with her debut in the drama The Derelict, Wanda crammed an astounding 84 film appearances into fifteen years. She proved her versatility and was adept at both comedy and drama. Wanda shared the screen with forgotten stars like Bryant Washburn (star of over 375 silents) as well as memorable legends like Douglas Fairbanks, Western stalwart William S. Hart and screen lover Rudolph Valentino in The Young Rajah. She was one of the most popular actresses of the silent film era.
However, when talking pictures came into vogue, Wanda was left in the dust. She, like many of her contemporaries, dismissed the “novelty” of sound. But she found herself out of Hollywood’s favor by 1933. With no skills and nowhere to turn, Wanda earned a meager living as a prostitute in San Francisco.
Wanda passed away in obscurity at the age of 67.
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IF: summer
Summertime… and the livin’ is easy.
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IF: mask (part 2)
What the hell did Wendy see?
* * * * *
Here is another illustration for the word “mask.”
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IF: mask
Christine should have kept her hands to herself. Now, Erik is pissed.
* * * * * *
Here is another illustration for the word “mask.”
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IF: contraption
Alexander Graham Bell introduces an early prototype of the telephone.
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from my sketchbook: gene tierney
Gene Tierney’s career and critical acclaim began when she carried a bucket of water across a Broadway stage in 1938’s What a Life! A critic for Variety proclaimed “Miss Tierney is certainly the most beautiful water carrier I’ve ever seen!” She took bigger, more substantial roles on the stage until Darryl F. Zanuck, the head of 20th Century Fox, caught one of her performances and signed her to a contract.
At Fox, Gene appeared in comedies, dramas and adventures, displaying a full range of acting talents. She worked with popular actors like Dana Andrews, Tyrone Power and Rex Harrison. In 1945, she was recognized by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with a nomination for Best Actress for her role in Leave Her to Heaven opposite Cornel Wilde.
In 1941, 21-year-old Gene married fashion designer Oleg Cassini. While she was pregnant with their first child, Daria, Gene made a publicity appearance at the Hollywood Canteen, a club that catered to servicemen and women about to be dispatched overseas. A young female Marine sneaked out of her quarters to meet the movie star. She had been quarantined with rubella. Gene unknowingly contracted the disease and her child was born prematurely. Daria weighed just three pounds and required a complete blood transfusion, in addition to suffering from blindness, deafness and severe mental retardation. The child’s mounting medical costs were graciously covered by Gene’s friend Howard Hughes.
In the early 50s, Gene experienced mental issues that forced her to drop out of Mogambo (she was replaced by Grace Kelly). During the filming of The Left Hand of God, co-star Humphrey Bogart recognized the signs of mental illness in Gene. Bogart had a sister who suffered from mental illness. After consulting a psychiatrist, Gene was admitted to Harkness Pavilion in New York. Later, she went to The Institute of Living in Hartford, Connecticut, where she was subjected to twenty-seven shock treatments. At one point, Gene attempted to escape but was caught and returned to the facility. Upon release, she became an outspoken opponent of shock treatment therapy, claiming that it had destroyed significant portions of her memory. Her mental illness worsened and, in 1957, she stepped onto the thirteenth floor ledge of her mother’s apartment building. Police were called and after evaluation, she was admitted to the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas on Christmas Day. As part of therapy to ready herself to re-enter society, the clinic arranged for Gene to work as a sales clerk in a large department store. She was recognized by a customer, resulting in scandalous newspaper headlines. Fox offered her a role in Holiday for Lovers, but the job proved too stressful. Gene was replaced by Jane Wyman and she returned to Menninger.
Gene made a comeback in 1962’s Advise & Consent and followed it with The Pleasure Seekers two years later, then retired from the screen. She came out of retirement briefly for a part in the TV mini-series Scruples in 1980.
After the screening of her first film, Gene was dissatisfied with the sound of her voice. She began smoking to lower its timbre, which she likened to that of Minnie Mouse. She smoked heavily throughout her life and, in 1991, passed away from emphysema – less that two weeks before her 71st birthday.
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IF: temptation
“I still got the moves, Blue.”
Paul Williams took his own life in August 1973. He was 34.
David Ruffin died in 1991 from an adverse reaction to cocaine. He was 51.
Eddie Kendricks died from lung cancer in 1992. He was 52.
Melvin Franklin was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in the 1960s. Regular cortisone treatments ravaged his immune system. He contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh eating bacteria and fell into a coma. Melvin passed away in February 1995. He was also 52.
Otis Williams, at 72, still continues to tour and perform with a current incarnation of The Temptations.
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IF: universe
Janice thought she had the pageant locked up, until she saw the rack on Miss Uranus.
(CLICK HERE for a larger version of this illustration… or not.)
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DCS: debralee scott
Debralee Scott kicked off her career as a nude corpse in the Clint Eastwood cop thriller Dirty Harry. Two years later, she was sidling up to Harrison Ford in his “piss yellow-puke green” hot rod in George Lucas’ American Graffiti.
In 1974, the feisty, freckled redhead with the adorable overbite landed a regular supporting role in the fledgling drama Sons and Daughters (not to be confused with the four other series by the same name). The show, set in the 1950s, chronicled the love life of high school sweethearts played by Gary Frank and Glynnis O’Connor. The show lasted nine episodes, being crushed by ratings giant Little House on the Prairie.
After appearing in guest spots on episodic television, Debralee was cast as Louise Lasser’s little sister in the syndicated soap-opera send-up Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. She was instantly recognizable from her appearances in 288 episodes. At the same time, she introduced the recurring character “Rosalie ‘Hotsy’ Totsy,” the ambiguously-slutty flirt on sophomoric sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter. With her star on the rise, Debralee made the obligatory stop on The Love Boat. Soon, she was snapped up to play Donna Pescow’s sister in her new sitcom Angie.
Debralee soon became a welcome participant on TV game shows, displaying a heretofore unknown wit and intelligence. She was a staple on Chain Reaction, Password Plus and the many incarnations of The Match Game. On an episode of Password Plus, she nearly (and unknowingly) exposed her breasts when several buttons popped during a particularly animated attempt at delivering a clue, thus becoming a “wardrobe malfunction” 25 years before Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl fiasco made the term popular. She famously joined in on a celebrity protest over the specifics of a judge’s call on a raucous 1977 episode of The Match Game.
As the 70s came to a close, Debralee auditioned for the role of “Marty” in the film adaptation of the musical Grease. She lost the role to Dinah Manoff, despite being more recognizable and closer in age to the other cast members. Still she persevered with parts in films and even a Donna Summer TV special alongside cult actress and Andy Warhol cohort Pat Ast (best known for her role in Reform School Girls). In the 80s, Debralee gave a quick, but funny turn in two installments of the Police Academy film franchise.
The 1990s brought a career change when she teamed up with her sister (and former actress) Jeri to form Empowered Artists, a talent management agency. The siblings were very successful.
In early 2001, Debralee was engaged to New York City police officer John Levi, with a wedding planned early the following year. In September 2001, Officer Levi was killed while on duty at the World Trade Center. He was investigating evidence in the basement when the buildings collapsed. Debralee was devastated and heartbroken.
In 2005, she moved to Florida to live with and take care of her sister Scotty who was battling emphysema. Mysteriously, Debralee, herself, fell ill and was admitted to the hospital where she lapsed into a coma for several days. She woke up on her own and was released. A few days later, just after her 52nd birthday, Debralee took a nap on her sister’s sofa and never woke up.