A Bumpy Road Led Hank Garrett to ‘Car 54’ and Beyond
By Nick Thomas~ Childhood was rough for Hank Garrett. He grew up in Harlem in the 1940s and 50s, an especially tough time for that New York City neighborhood. “We lived in the slums, and I’d walk into the kitchen in the mornings to find the floor covered with roaches,” Garrett, now living
Jacqueline Bisset’s Thriving Career
By Nick Thomas~ Now in her seventh decade as a film actress, British beauty Jacqueline Bisset first hit the big screen in the mid-1960s. She became a household name after dramatic roles in films such as “Bullitt” with Steve McQueen. Although Bisset’s role as McQueen’s love interest was small,
Natalie Wood’s Daughter Keeps the Memories Alive
By Nick Thomas~ With the holidays approaching, it’s only a matter of time before seasonal movie favorites play on televisions nationwide. Though generally a Christmas film, the opening scenes of Miracle on 34th Street occur on Thanksgiving Day, alongside the annual Macy’s parade. For actress Natasha
Kelly Stewart on Her Famous Father, Jimmy Stewart
By Nick Thomas~ Jimmy Stewart put the classic in ‘classic movies!’ Consider these titles in which he starred: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Philadelphia Story,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “Rear Window,” “Harvey,” and
‘Tinker Bell’ Ties the Knot at 90
By Nick Thomas~ What could convince a 90-year-old actress – once a model for Disney animators creating the Tinker Bell character of 1953’s “Peter Pan” – to abandon her West Coast home of nine decades and fly off to a new life in Florida some 2,500 miles away? Perhaps a sprinkle
France Nuyen’s Amazing Hollywood Journey
By Nick Thomas ~ France Nuyen is astonished — not only by her successful Hollywood career, but also by her very survival. Nuyen, who turned 80, last year, is beloved by Star Trek fans for her performance as Elaan, the obnoxious princess Captain Kirk attempts to tame in the episode “Elaan of Troyius.”
Paul Petersen Remembers TV Mom, Donna Reed
By Nick Thomas ~ While most of us will be remembering mothers on May 10 this year, entertainers who worked as child actors in television sitcoms may also have special memories of their ‘TV mom.’ For Paul Petersen, that was Oscar winner Donna Reed, the matriarch from “The Donna Reed
The Science of Garlic
By Nick Thomas ~ If you plan on celebrating National Garlic Day on April 19, remember the old New York Yiddish saying, “A nickel will get you on the subway, but garlic will get you a seat.” Even a well-known Muslim prophet supposedly once informed his followers: “Whoever has eaten garlic should
Pat Priest Shares Munster Memories
By Nick Thomas ~ When Universal Pictures assembled the cast of the popular TV series “The Munsters” for its 1966 big-screen adaption, “Munster, Go Home!,” another actress replaced Pat Priest as Marilyn Munster. “I was devastated not to be in the film,” said Priest, from her home near Boise,
James Drury Remembers ‘The Virginian’ Co-stars
By Nick Thomas ~ Originally airing on NBC from 1962 to 1971 and currently rerunning on several cable networks (INSP and Starz), the enduring popularity of the “The Virginian” doesn’t surprise 85-year-old James Drury who starred throughout the series in the title role (see www.thevirginian.net).
