Saturday, November 6, 2021

"Wovoka" by Redbone

Redbone holds a unique position in rock history as a Native American/Chicano band. And while they are best known for their 1973 hit "Come and Get Your Love," Redbone performed several songs that touched upon Native American subjects. Among these songs is the title track to their fifth album Wovoka.

The subject of the song "Wovoka" is the Paiute holy man of the same name. Born around 1856, he founded the second Ghost Dance movement. Following the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, the Ghost Dance would decline in importance. Wovoka would remain an important leader in the Native American community until he died on September 20 1932.

"Wovoka" was the third single from the album Wovoka, following "We Were All at Wounded Knee" (unreleased in the United States) and "Come and Get Your Love." While "Come and Get Your Love" reached no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Wovoka" did not chart on the Hot 100, but reached 101 on the Bubbling Under chart.

Friday, November 5, 2021

Godspeed Peter Scolari

Peter Scolari, who appeared on the classic sitcoms Bosom Buddies and Newhart, died on October 22 2021 at the age of 66. The cause was leukaemia.

Peter Scolari was born on September 12 1955 in New Rochelle, New York. He took an interest in acting in high school, and during his junior year he played the lead in the school's production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. After graduating from school he worked with the Colonnades Theatre Lab in New York City.

Peter Scholar made his film debut in the movie Take Off in 1978. He made his television debut in a guest appearance in the short-lived sitcom Angie in 1979. In 1980 he was a regular on the short-lived sitcom Goodtime Girls. He appeared in the television movie The Further Adventures of Wally Brown. It was in 1980 that he was cast in the role of Henry Desmond in the sitcom Bosom Buddies. He played opposite Tom Hanks, who played his roommate Kip Wilson. The show centred on two men who disguise themselves as women in order to rent an apartment at the Susan B. Anthony Hotel. While the show only lasted 37 episodes, it would develop a cult following over the years.

In 1983 Peter Scolari played one of the leads in the short-lived sitcom Baby Makes Five. It was in 1984 that he joined the cast of Newhart. He played Michael Harris, the producer of lead character Dick Loudan's television show. He remained with the show until the end of its run in 1990. He also guest starred on the television shows Remington Steele, Happy Days, Finder of Lost Loves, Hotel, Family Ties, Fresno, You Are the Jury, The Love Boat, Mike Hammer, The Twilight Zone, CBS Summer Playhouse, Trying Times, and Encyclopedia Brown. He appeared in the movies Imps* (1983), The Rosebud Beach Hotel (1984), and Corporate Affairs (1990).

In the Nineties he starred on the shows Family Album, Dweebs, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. He guest starred on the shows Nurses, Fallen Angels, Burke's Law, Empty Nest, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Touched by an Angel, The Mommies, A Whole New Ballgame, Can't Hurry Love, Dave's World, The Drew Carey Show, and The Nanny, George & Leo. He was a guest voice on such animated shows as Animaniacs, Batman: The Animated Series, Gargoyles, and Pinky and the Brain. He appeared in the movies Ticks (1993), Camp Nowhere (1994), and That Thing You Do! (1996).

In the Naughts Peter Scolari guest starred on the TV shows Touched by an Angel, Ally McBeal, Reba, The King of Queens, ER, The West Wing, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Listen Up, and Big Love. He appeared in the movies Sorority Boys (2002), Mentor (2006), Cathedral Pines (2006), Suburban Girl (2007), and a Plumm Summer (2007). He was the voice of Billy (the Lonely Boy) in The Polar Express (2004). He appeared on Broadway in Hairspray and Sly Fox.

In the Teens he had recurring roles on Gotham, Girls, Anthem: Homunculus, and Evil. He played the lead role in the mini-series Madoff. He guest starred on the shows White Collar, Odd Man Out, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Good Fight, Murphy Brown, and Blue Bloods. He appeared in the mini-series Fosse/Verdon and Lisey's Story. He was a guest voice on the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold. He appeared in the movies Letting Go (2012), (Dean) (2016), Weight (2018), The Social Ones (2019), and Looks That Kill (2020). He appeared on Broadway in Magic/Bird, Lucky Guy, Bronx Bombers, and Wicked.

Peter Scolari was an excellent actor. As the nervous and overly emotional Michael Harris on Newhart he was part of what that sitcom such a classic. While his best known roles were in sitcoms, Peter Scolari was perfectly capable of more serious roles. On Evil he played Bishop Thomas Marx, the somewhat sceptical, if somewhat humorous, priest who assigned the protagonist David his cases. On Gotham he played the corrupt Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb, who is a secret alliance with mobster Carmine Falcone. Peter Scolari could play a wide variety of roles and play them very well

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

JoAnna Cameron Passes On

JoAnna Cameron, best known for playing the title role on the Saturday morning live-action television series Isis, died on October 15 2021 at the age of 73. The cause was complications from a stroke.

JoAnna Cameron was born on September 20 1948 in Vail, Colorado. In college she befriended Bob Hope's daughter Linda Hope. Bob Hope then cast her in the role of his character's daughter in the movie How to Commit Marriage (1969). In the late Sixties this led to guest appearances on TV shows The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, Medical Center, Daniel Boone, and The Name of the Game. She appeared three times as Nurse Anne McAndrews on Marcus Welby M.D. She appeared in the TV movie The Last of the Powerbrokers. She also appeared in the movie I Love My Wife (1970).

In 1975 she cast in the role of Andrea Thomas on Isis. Andrea Thomas had an ancient Egyptian amulet that would transform her into the superhero Isis, who had power over the elements and animals. The series ran for two seasons on Saturday morning on CBS and was then repeated for another season. Miss Cameron also guest starred on the shows Love, American Style; The Partners; Search; Columbo; Shazam! (as Isis); McMillan & Wife; Gibbsville; The Amazing Spider-Man; and Switch. She appeared in the TV movies The Great American Beauty Contest, A Time for Love, Sorority Kill, Night Games, It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy, High Risk,. and Swan Song. She appeared in the movies Pretty Maids All in the Row (1971) and B.S. I Love You (1970). She also made several commercials, at one time holding record for having starred in the most commercials according to The Guinness Book of World Records.

In the late Seventies she went to work as the host of the U.S. Navy's Navy Network and even directed the half-hour documentary "Blue Angels in Razor Sharp" (1982). After she left the entertainment industry she worked in home healthcare as a nurse and later in marketing for various hotels.

The Secrets of Isis was historic as the first TV show centred on a female superhero, pre-dating The Bionic Woman by four months and Wonder Woman by seven months. In this way it paved away for further TV shows featuring superheroines. JoAnna Cameron was perfect in the role, giving a sincere performance and remaining convincing as both science teacher Andrea Thomas and superheroine Isis. The character made an impression, and remains remembered to this day. This was largely due to JoAnna Cameron's performance.

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Happy Halloween 2021

Halloween is a time for tricks and treats. Here at A Shroud of Thoughts I can promise you there will be no tricks, although I do have a few treats for you. It is a Halloween tradition for me to post classic pinups, so here are this year's lovely ladies!

First up is one of the prettiest witches one will ever see, Morgan Fairchild circa 1981.

Next up is another lovely witch, Nancy Carroll!

Here's Madge Evans with a collection of masks!


Anne Neyland is flying on her broom!

Nan Wynn and Anita Louise appear to be awaiting the Great Pumpkin!

And last, but not least, is the lovely and leggy Anne Miller atop a Jack o'lantern!

Happy Halloween!