Never Leave the House Without Makeup

Aspire to be Nita Naldi at all times.

We All Need Help

New Year's Resolution

Accumulate more baggage

I Am a Nymphomaniac

No, silly, that's the name of the movie. In English.

Spend all day here.

Ankh Power: Claudia Jennings

See some previous ankh lovers.

Pink Pussycat's Owner Dies

I mistakenly thought she was already gone. Had I known, I would have tried to interview her.

photo Carol Fields/NYTimes.

Alice Schiller, a well-brought-up Midwestern woman who burst into tears the day her husband announced he was opening a burlesque house in Los Angeles, but who rallied to make the place — the Pink Pussycat of Hollywood — one of the most successful, celebrated and profusely feathered nightclubs of its era, died on Dec. 19 at her home in Washington. She was 95.

It was a favorite watering hole of the Rat Pack, and for good reason. Mrs. Schiller shrewdly gave her dancers stage names like Fran Sinatra, Samya Davis Jr., Deena Martin and Peeler Lawford, and the originals soon showed up to inspect their namesakes.

Read the rest here.

I asked Tura about the Pink Pussycat - of course she worked there! - but she mainly worked at The Losers, where she was, natch, the lead gal. Billy Wilder discovered Tura at The Pink Pussycat, or rather, Audrey Wilder did, spotting her and saying to Billy: "There's your Suzette Wong," for "Irma LaDouce." To see some of my Pink Pussycat collection, just click on the "Pink Pussycat" label below.

screenshot from "The Swinger," which is how I first became obsessed with the PP.

It's Hot In Here

Yes, Donna, there is a Santa Claus

There was a guy where my dad tended bar in Lowell that grew a long white beard every year to look like Santa. One day I was getting stoned with our cat burglar pal out back and I came back in and saw him and thought I was hallucinating! I said, "Dad, I'm so stoned that I think I see Santa Claus!" He said, "No! That man does that on purpose, you really DO see Santa!"

Damned Santa Claus

Salesman

He said he had a magic machine that would make me feel better ... so I let him in.

I Drank Too Much Robitussin

PS. Gang, did you know Felix has his own blog now? Go, go, go!

Stay Up or Stay Dumb!

I should just have a permanent "Thanks, Arthur" all of the time!

The Bird's the Word

The cockatoo, meanwhile, went on to co-star on "Baretta."

And Where DO You Play, Exactly?

From the ultrafab Blonde Zombies.

Do You Play?

Thanks, Arthur, sugarplum.

PS. Click to, ahem, enlarge.

"Fetch it Yourself!"

Rhonda Fleming vs Mamie Van Doren, round one:



Thanks, Mike

The Most of Christmas Present

Why do I love this cover so? Is it the man in the chair? The dog?

Do the Pussy Pussy Shake

Photo courtesy Arthur Ignatowski. Yes, he's had them and has gone back for seconds.

They're Whistle Bait!

See more here. You know you want to. (Click to enlarge.)


Why on earth isn't there a Ranch Party clip of them doing this as kids? For those of you who don't know it, here's a listen:



There's tons of other clips. If you don't know 'em - go wild!

Goin' Down the Beauty Shop, to Get My Hair Sock!

If you don't watch "American Gangster," I highly recommend it.



Mr. Beauty Shop also talks about breakin' up the signifyin' in the same ep. Just like Sonny Boy.

Get out of my pool!

Pantheon Zeus found this amazing site of Valley of the Dolls screenshots. Go wild here.

Shangri-La's: Out in the Streets

I told Shadow Morton today, as I often do, that it's all his fault that I'm this way.

And You Thought I Just Sat Around All Day ...

one of the first songs I ever wrote, back in ... 1984? 5? Kenne added the "broken heart" line - I was all about shootin.'

Which Means They Twisted Before ...

How do you spell Xmas?

I was chatting tonite with Steve Hodel. Steve is not only a pal but was my best party guest ever (well, a tie with my friend Rona who was in "Trog" with Joan Crawford as well as being one of Benny Hill's Angels.) I worked on a "48 Hours" with Steve. He's my kinda guy because he has the best party chatter! Nothin' like talking dissection over canapes.

'Just a Queen, That's All'

Mindblowing.

Thanks to Allen "Charmin" Larman for this. Peggy may be my new favorite singer.

All I Want for Xmas: The SPEED KING!

Did you know that fab Felix in Hollywood has a store? Is there really a Santa Claus?

I do think she's groovy

I got into P.P. back when I lived in England. Thank god they appreciated her - why she was never a star here is beyond me.

You Know I Wanted To Be Perfect For Him ...

I don't usually like those "static" youtubes but ... I've been there.

The Smoking Stylist/The Witchy Stylist

"Jackie is getting ready to go home after a long and hard day at the salon. After a little bit of clean up around her station, she takes a few minutes to relax. Jackie realizes that her hair needs a change so she decides to set her own hair in rollers. During her roller setting process, she smokes a couple of cigarettes while blowing her hair with a hand-held dryer and sits under a clear hooded hair dryer. Jackie not only smokes to relax but also strips off her apron and dress to get more comfortable. Finally, she takes out the rollers and starts teasing her hair while smoking another cigarette."

Well gee, you don't even need to see it now, do you? But of course you do. God bless the youtubes. I would recommend you also check out The Witchy Stylist. Oh, just look!