One of Los Angeles' most fascinating houses was the House of Davids in Hancock Park. The house's owner was an eccentric record producer who had a distinct "flare" for decorating. His neighbors in the tony neighborhood did not care for his taste at all but it stop him from covering his home with copies of Michelangelo's David.
The edgy owner decided to sell and move out of the area but not before unloading his Davids and other Bric-a-Brac at a huge yard sale. Well sadly the hose was sold and it is now back on the market. I am sure the neighbor's love it but LA has lost a treasure. The House of Davids is now a rather bland nondescript big old tract house.
Born in Kwajalein, Marshall Islands with the name Lisa Ann DeCinces Lisa Loring became an American Child actress. Her career started when her parents divorced and she and her mother moved to Los Angeles. Her first role on television was on "Dr. Kildare" where she worked with worked with Blossom Rock who would later play her Grandmother on "The Addams Family". Lisa Loring was cast as the daughter Wednesday. She worked on the series from 1964 - 1966 appearing in 37 episodes. After the series went off the air she was cast in the ill fated "Phyllis Diller Show" sometimes know as "The Pruitts of Southhampton". Loring worked on and off in television throughout the 1970's and 1980's as an actress and make up artist. She was working on a make up artist when she met her third husband.
Lisa Loring's mother died when she was young due to chronic alcoholism and Loring married her first husband at the age of 16. The marriage lasted only one year. She married a second time this time the marriage lasted two years. Her third husband was named Jerry Butler. Jerry Butler was a porn actor. He was working on a movie called "Tracie's Big Trick".
Her husband's involvement in pornography was a major problem in their marriage. He claimed to have gotten out of the business but in reality he was working in films behind her back. The couple appeared on "Dateline NBC" and "The Sally Jesse Raphael Show" discussing the problems the pornography industry had on their marriage. He described himself as "addicted to the lifestyle".
Lisa Loring also admitted to being a heroine addict during her last marriage. After her divorce she was able get off of heroine. She worked then for a while in the hospitality industry. In 2011 she returned to working in the film industry as an actress.
As I write this there is still time, but the clock is ticking! What am I talking about? In just one year it will be the 50th anniversary of one of the most important dates in rock' roll history. On July 25th 1965 Bob Dylan went electric at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island.
Dylan's milestone was one of the most defiant acts in the the history of Rock' Roll. Dylan stuck his thumb to his nose to the music cognizanti and they hated it. Fans of Dylan and folk actually booed him. Dylan left the stage in a form of defeat. He did later return to the stage and capitulate to the crowd by playing his "standards" appeasing the assembled ticket buyers. Little did those who booed know that they would be one of the catalysts of change. Dylan's defiance empowered a lot of people. It made hippies and their rock music a player in the world of popular music. The old world was over and it happened in Newport, Rhode Island.
The folk Festival still exists as does the Newport Jazz Festival. Love Rock n' Roll well then you need to be there next year so get your tickets now.
World of Wonder Productions is a production company based on Hollywood Blvd in the center of swinging Hollywood. They are the company behind "RuPaul's Drag Race" and "Million Dollar Listings" they also produce a smaller bunch of web series and one of these is "RuPaul Drives...". The concept of the series is very simple RuPaul picks people up in his vintage Volvo and drives them around LA. "Everyone needs a lift in LA" say RuPaul. The show videos or about ten minutes long and hilarious. Ru picks up some very interesting people and they chat with him while he drives his car fitted with Go-Pro cameras. His riders are an eclectic mix of people. He has driver Henry Rollins, John Waters, Sharon Needles, Olivia Newton-John, the list goes on and on. Every week Ru picks up someone new and has more fun than anyone just driving around. The old episodes can be found on the World of Wonder You Tube channel and at the World of Wonder website (www.worldofwonder.net)
One of the most recognizable toy company names is Hasbro. The Pawtucket, Rhode Island based company has created and sold some of the world's favorite toys. The company didn't start out as a toy company it was originally a textile remnant company based in Providence owned by three brothers Henry, Hilal and Herman Hassenfeld. The Hassenfeld brothers expanded their business to include making of pencil cases and then school supplies. When it was decided in 1926 to get out of the remnant business; Hilal left the company leaving his two brothers to expand their business making pencils and then crayons. In the 1940's the company started producing Nurse and Doctor kits for children and then modeling clay. During World War II Hasbro got into the plastic manufacturing business as an effort to support the war.
In 1952 Hasbro purchased a toy from its creator George Lerner. This toy was their first super hit it was Mr. Potato Head. In 1964 Hasbro believing boys would play with dolls released G I Joe. He was another hit.
Their motto for may years was "Oh wow its a Hasbro Toy!" In 1969 Hasbro bought the "Romper Room" franchise and put out a line of "Romper Room" toys. The also put out a line of "Galloping Gourmet" cookware but the line was discontinued after the salad bowls had a termite problem that ruined the brand. The toy line had a few disasters as well one was "Jarts" which were lawn darts that were considered very dangerous (albeit fun) and "The Hypo-squirt" a hypodermic shaped water gun described as a "junior junkie kit".
In the 1980's the company got even bigger with its purchase of the "My Little Pony" line as well as the entire Milton-Bradley company. The company now runs neck and neck with Mattel for the title of largest toy company.
Not unlike Santa Claus and the Great Pumpkin the Easter Bunny comes and leaves treats for all the good boys and girls. The Easter Bunny has a more mysterious back ground the Santa. The bunny has a long history started by the Lutherans in Germany known as The Easter Hare. The Easter Hare would bring eggs to children who the hare determined were good. Eggs are a symbol of renewal and spring.
The bunny came to the USA from Germany with the "Pennsylvania Dutch and was know as the Osterhase. The translation of that became Easter Hare or Easter bunny. The bunny over the years would go from leaving eggs in children's hats and bonnets to eventually leaving chocolate eggs in a basket sometimes including toys.
There are actors who have well known faces and voices but no one knows their names. John Fieldler is one of those actors. He had a very successful career appearing in films and televisions as well as on the Broadway stage. He is most remembered on television as the milquetoast put upon Mr. Peterson on "The Bob Newhart Show". He was also famous for being the voice of Piglet in the Walt Disney "Winnie the Pooh" movies.
Born in Wisconsin in the year 1925 Fiedler joined the navy in World War II. When the was was over he moved to New York where he started acting. He first memorable role was that of Juror #2 in "Twelve Angry Men". He reprized the role in the film version. He was also in Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple" playing Oscar's nervous poker buddy Vinnie. He worked consistently through out the 50's, 60's 70's and the 80's.
John Fiedler was never married and died in the Lillian Booth Actors home in New Jersey in 2005 at the age of 80.
Yvette Vickers was once for a minute or two a star. Her brief stardom was pretty amazing and fast in coming. It also left equally as fast. Yvette Vickers is now known more for the way she died than anything else in her life. Ms. Vickers mummified remains were found in her Benedict Canyon home over a year after her death.
Born in Kansas City Missouri to a Jazz musician she traveled the country with her parents for work and eventually settled in Los Angeles. Vickers studied at UCLA starting as a journalism major but found she liked acting and changed majors. It was while attending UCLA She started making local television commercials. Upon graduation Yvette moved to New York to do some modeling work. She soon found herself back in Los Angeles where she made her first film appearance in an un-credited role in "Sunset Boulevard". This sadly was the most high brow film she was ever to be involved in. One of her next films was "Reform School Girls" but her masterpiece was "The Attack of the 50 Foot Woman". Vickers mad a few more films including "Attack of the Giant Leeches". "Beach Party" and "What's the Matter With Helen?". It was TV that was her bread and butter. She made guest appearances on TV through out the 1960's and 1970's. Her last film role was in the movie "Evil Spirits". During the 1990's Vickers released a jazz CD dedicated to her parents. In 1959 Vickers was Playmate of the Month in Playboy Magazine. Russ Myers shot her centerfold.
The five foot three inch Yvette Vickers was married three times and was a in long-time relationship with Jim Hutton. She was also know as being the date of Lee Marvin and Cary Grant. Her life in later years was very quite although she would make appearances and do autograph events. Her neighbors described her as very nice and very quiet, keeping to her self.
The quiet life is what makes her death so sad. no one had noticed she wasn't around. It was finally a mail man who figured out that something wasn't right. When her house was entered and her body discovered it was well over a year since anyone had last seen her.
Edward Andrews had an amazing career. He was always the ornery boss or crabby father or the slight untrustworthy executive. He worked a lot once hit his 40's until that time he managed to get by but when he came to his age he rocketed to character actor stardom.
Edward Andrews was born in Georgia in 1914 to an Episcopal minster and moved many times throughout his childhood. After studying at the University of Virginia Andres made his Broadway debut in 1935 at the age of 21. He toiled in the New York theater scene until he was in his 40's and made the move to Hollywood. Andrews appeared in films such as "Send Me No Flowers" with Rock Hudson and Doris Day, "Elmer Gantry", "How to Frame a Figg", "Tora,Tora,Tora" the list goes on and on.
Andrews also did lots of television. He was a constant on sitcoms and in dramas. He also had reoccurring roles including a regular role in the 60's drama Broadside on ABC. He once played a drug dealing mortician on "Mod Squad". One of his last roles was Jack Tripper's grandfather on "Threes Company".
Edward Andrews died in 1985 from a heart attack. He was 70 years old.
