He Knew Nothing!

Who is the best Nazi in the world? John Banner! His real name may not be a household word but his character's is. John Banner played the iconic character of Sergeant Hans Georg Schultz on the popular TV series "Hogan's Heroes".
Banner was actually a Austrian Jew born in Vienna. He escaped the Nazi occupation and got to Hollywood. Banner was then cast as a Nazi in the anti-German films during and after the war. His career was stalled until he had his break through as Sgt. Schultz the most inept Nazi in a stalag of ineptitude Stalag 13.
John Banner after his fame on "Hogan's Heroes" was able to be cast in guest starring role on many TV shows. He and his wife decided to return to his native Austria in 1972. It was while visiting friends in Vienna John (Johann Banner) Banner died. It was on his 63rd birthday.

Happy Holidays!

Nothing Says Xmas Like a Toy Drive Riot

Kappa Alpha Psi may just go down as the wildest frat in the good ole USA. They decided to have a toy drive for the Xmas season at a hotel in Long Beach, California. Well you know how toy drives can get, the next thing you know a festive holiday step contest starts up as they do. Natch a riot breaks out. Sucker punches and pepper spray rear theirs heads. Happy Holidays!

She was Miss Belfridge

If you are a fan of the British sitcom "Are you Being Served?" you know her um face. Her name is Candy Davis famous Page Three girl cum actress. Candy Davis is most remembered for her role of the slightly daft but extremely buxom Miss Belfridge. Candy Davis is really Candy Davis' creation. Born in London in 1962 to a nice and normal English family, her father worked for NASA and her mother was a school mistress. When Candy, then known as Clare Bastin, was teenager she worked in a candy store until she ran away from home and became a stripper. She went on to become very well known as one of the naughty Page Three models in the London Sun. In 1982 Candy Davis won the Miss Nude title and it was because of this she was given the role of Miss Belfridge on "Are You Being Served?". Her role was that of the secretary in Mr Rumboldt's office. The role was played by several actresses until Candy Davis was cast. Miss Belfridge became a regular character in the later years of the series. There was a running joke on the show where either Mrs. Slocum or Miss Brahms would find Miss Belfridge in the lady's fitting room trying on a very small and revealing bathing costume. 
Candy Davis knew what she was doing and parlayed her good looks and body into a prosperous career. 

 

Happy Birthday Johnny Whitaker

Cute curly haired and freckle faced Johnny Whitaker was a 1960's hot commodity. He started off his career doing a local LA car commercial before getting cast in "The Russians are Coming the Russians are Coming". It was his role along side Anissa Jones as twin Jodie Davis on the television series "Family Affair" that made him a household name. Whitaker played Buffy's twin brother for five years. 
The next major role on television was the role of Johnny Stewart in the Sid and Marty Croft Saturday morning show "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters".  He also appeared on many televisions shows like "Green Acres", "Adam 12", and Walt Disney's "Wonderful World of Color". Whitaker also starred as the title role in the musical film version of Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer".
After graduating from high school Johnny Whitaker lived in Portugal for several years as a missionary. Upon returning he worked here and there as an actor eventually joining his sister's talent agency. One of his client's was Dana Plato from "Different Strokes". He has worked with SAG/AFTRA Young Performers Committee with the goal of helping child actors transition in adult life and careers. In 1997 he started a drug and alcohol dependency program after giving up drugs and alcohol himself.
Johnny Whitaker is now 54 years old. 

The Dancing Cop

There is a Christmas tradition in Providence, Rhode Island like no other tradition. The tradition is The Dancing Cop. The Dancing Cop is Tony Lepore and he directs traffic over the holidays in key Providence intersections. Lepore is a retired Providence Police officer who was at one time a traffic cop and directed traffic. The dancing part started as standing is the street directing traffic is sort of boring and to entertain himself he started to dance. Well you would think he would be in trouble for these antics but Providence residents loved it. Lepore is now retired but he comes back every year to stand in the snow and rain to direct shoppers and office workers in the downtown area. His performances are fun to watch and get a lot of attention, unfortunately drivers are so entranced with him traffic can at times snarl. Too much of a good thing!

The Baroness has Died

Actress Eleanor Parker has died  today. She was 91 years old. Although she was in over 80 movies and was known as the woman with a thousand faces she will always be rememberd a the jilted scheming Baroness in "TheSound of Music" Parker worked with everyone and was in some amazing movies but her performance as the icy Baroness with her heart set on Baron Van Trapp in "The Sound of Music" willmke her immortal!Married 4 times Eleanor Parker died in her Palm Springs home.

Ziffel vs Ziffel

In the annals of television history there are few questions more important than who was the best Doris Ziffel! There were two Mrs. Ziffels on the classic sitcom "Green Acres". The original Doris Ziffel was played by Barbara Pepper who originated the character but was replaced due to heart ailments. the second Mrs. Ziffel was played by veteran character actress Fran Ryan.
Mrs Ziffle was the wife of Fred Ziffel the nearest neighbor of Oliver Wendell Douglas and his Hungarian wife Lisa. The Ziffels also had a "child" their son Arnold the pig.

Barbara Pepper started her career in New York at the age of sixteen as a Goldwyn Girl where she met and became a life long friend with Lucille Ball. She married fellow actor Craig Reynolds. They had two sons. Reynolds was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1949. Left alone to raise her children she went back to work doing radio and small movie roles. Over the years she gained weight and this lead her to television character parts. She did appear in a few movies later in life like "Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" and "My Fair Lady". She was made several appearances on "I Love Lucy" eventually being cast in "Petticoat Junction" and eventually the role of Doris Ziffel on "Green Acres". She had to leave the show due to her ill health. She died in 1969 at age 54.

Fran Ryan started her career at the age of six at the Henry Duffy Theater in Oakland, California. Ryan attended Stanford University until World War II started when she joined the USO where she used her comic abilities to entertain the troops. After the was she moved to Los Angeles she took up acting and did a lot of television. Ryan had role on "Gunsmoke" and "The Doris Day Show". She was then chosen for the role of Doris Ziffel. She played the role until the show ended. Fran Ryan continued to act in television and movies until the end of her life. Fran Ryan died in 2000 at the age of 83.

Aside: I was working on a film in the 1990's and riding in a van to the set when I started talking to the lady next to me. That lady turned out to be Fran Ryan and was thrilled that I remembered her as Mrs. Ziffel.

Harlow Gold

Harlow Gold is a burlesque show like no other I’ve seen in a while. This isn’t your old standby bump and grind and take it off show. Harlow Gold is loud brash and in your face. Snare drums and cymbals have been replaced with Tom Waits and PJ Harvey. The performance I attended was in a club called Harvell’s in downtown Long Beach. Harvell’s is a great venue for this show. The club is underground (physically) on a walk street right off of Broadway right in the center of Long Beach. Walk down a metal stair case to a plain black metal door that when opened reveals it is lined in tufted red leather and opens onto a dark red and black themed underground space.  The club has two options either a reserved table or standing room and back wall seats. The former is more expensive but well worth the extra money. The cheaper option is good though as the performers in Harlow Gold frequently leaves the stage sometimes even dancing on the bar and hanging from the ceiling.

The creators of Harlow Gold are Tracy Phillips and Dominic Carbone.  Who not surprisingly are successful choreographers kept busy in Hollywood working with the like of Rhianna, The Spice Girls and Fiona Apple. They have given the old time burlesque a modern twist evoking a Weimar meets Cirque du Soleil vibe.  The performers exude female energy and power as well a healthy sexuality.

The audience is part of the show while the performers jump up on tables and climb across walls. The show starts off with a disclaimer saying the performers may touch you but you are not allowed to touch them. I at one point in the night had a package of Planter’s peanuts pushed into my mouth during an airline flight attendant themed piece. If you are faint of heart or a prude this might not be the show for you but then again what burlesques show would.

Harlow Gold is also performed at another Harvell’s location in Santa Monica as well as at Bar Fedora in downtown Los Angeles. If you are in the area the show is well worth checking out. Performed several times a month in the three venues around town there is definitely a lot of opportunity to see Harlow Gold.

As Seen on TV

The time has come for the constant barrage of television commercials specially designed to separate you form your money. It is Christmas and this is when you can buy a "Clapper". You know the device that turns lights on and off with just a simple clap of the hands. "The Clapper, clap on clap off". This is the one time of year to run out to your local Walgreens, CVS or selected Orchard Supply Hardware stores and pick one up for your loved one! Hurry you only have 24 days!