The Late Great Michael Madsen

Michael Madsen, who played Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs (1992) and appeared in several other Quentin Tarantino movies, died on July 3 2025 at the age of 67. The cause was cardiac arrest.

Michael Madsen was born on September 25 1957 in Chicago. His mother was documentarian and author Elaine Madsen. His father, Calvin, was a firefighter with the Chicago Fire Department. His older sister was Cheryl Madsen, who operates a restaurant, while his younger sister was actress Virginia Madsen. His parents divorced when the three siblings were still children. When he was growing up, Michael Madsen was inspired by such films as Heaven Knows Mr. Allison (1957), Cool Hand Luke (1967), and The Scalp Hunters (1968). He grew up admiring Robert Mitchum.

It was in Chicago that Michael Madsen began his acting career with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. He apprenticed under John Malkovich. He moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a mechanic at a gas station. He made his film debut in 1982 in the movie Against All Hope. In 1983 he made his television debut on two episodes of St. Elsewhere. In the Eighties, he guest starred on the shows Cagney & Lacey, Miami Vice, The Hitchhiker, Crime Story, Almost Grown, Tour of Duty, Jake and the Fat Man, Quantum Leap, and The Outsiders. He was a regular on the short-lived show Our Family Honor and appeared in the mini-series War and Remembrance. He appeared in the movies WarGarmes (1983), Racing with the Moon (1984), The Natural (1984), The Killing Time (1987), Iguana (1988), Shadows in the Storm (1988), Blood Red (1989), Kill Me Again (1989), and The End of Innocence (1990).

It was in 1992 that he appeared as Vic Vega, better known as Mr. Blonde, in Reservoir Dogs. In the Nineties, he also appeared in the movies The Doors (1991), Thelma & Louise (1991), Straight Talk (1992) Fatal Instinct (1992), Inside Edge (1992), Trouble Board (1993), Free Willy (1993), Money for Nothing (1993), A House in the Hills (1993), The Getaway (1994), Blue Tiger (1994), Season of Change (1994), Final Combination (1994), Wyatt Earp (1994), Species (1995), Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995), Man with Gun (1995), Almost Blue (1996), Mulholland Falls (1996), The Winner (1996), The Last Days of Frankie the Fly (1996), Red Line (1996), Donnie Brasco (1997), The Maker (1997), The Girl Gets Moe (1997), Executive Target (1997), Catherine's Grove (1997), Rough Draft (1998), Papertrail (1998), The Sender (1998), Surface to Air (1998), Species II (1998), Detour (1998), Fait Accompli (1998), The Florentine (1999), Ballad of the Nightingale (1999), Flat Out (1999), The Stray (2000), Luck of the Draw (2000), The Alternate (2000), The Price of Air (2000), The Thief & Stripper (2000), Ides of March (2000), and Bad Guys (2000). He was a regular on the short-lived TV show Vengeance Unlimited. He guest starred on the show Gabriel's Fire.

In the Naughts, Michael Madsen was the narrator on the Animal Planet documentary television series Animal Precinct. He was a regular on the TV shows Big Apple and Tilt. He guest starred on the shows Mad TV, CSI: Miami, and 24. He appeared in the movies Fall (2001), The Ghost (2001), Choke (2001), Pressure Point (2001), L.A.P.D: To Protect and Serve (2001), Extreme Honor (2001), Love.com (2002), Die Another Day (2002), The Real Deal (2002), Welcome to America (2002), Pauly Shore Is Dead (2002), My Boss's Daughter (2003), Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), Vampires Anonymous (2003), Blueberry (2004), Kill Billl: Voll. 2 (2004), Smatyvay udochi (2004), Sin City (2005), L. A. Dicks (2005), Muzhskoy sezon. Barkhatnaya revolyutsiya (2005), Chasing Ghosts (2005), BloodRayne (2005), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005), All In (2006), Scary Movie 4 (2006), The Last Drop (2006), Hoboken Hollow (2006), Canes (2006), UKM: The Ultimate Killing Machine (2005), When the Devil Rides Out(2005), Machine (2007), Living & Dying (2007), Boarding Gate (2007) Afghan Knights (2007), Strength and Honour (2007), Tooth and Nail (2007), Cosmic Radio (2007), Hell Ride (2008), Last Hour (2008), Vice (2008), Break (2008) No Bad Days (2008), 45 R.P.M. (2008), House (2008), Deep Winter (2008), You Might as Well Live (2009), A Way with Murder (2009), Hired Gun (2009), Road of No Return (2009), Shannon's Rainbow (2009), Put (2009), Outrage (2009), Serbian Scars (2009), Lost in the Woods (2009), The Kid Chamaco (2009), Ligeia (2009), Clear Lake, WI (2009), The Killing Jar (2010), Let the Game Begin (2010), The Big I Am (2010), Krach (2010), Terror Trap (2010), Federal (2010), The Brazen Bull (2010), The Portal (2010), Corruption.Gov (2010) Now Here (2010), Six Days in Paradise (2010), and Money to Burn (2010).

In the Teens, Michael Madsen had a recurring role on the television show Big Time in Hollywood, FL. He guest starred on the shows Bob's Burgers, Blue Bloods, The Mob Doctor, Golden Boy, Hawaii Five-0 Real Detective, Those Who Can't, Powers, Explosion Jones, Real Rob, and Dystopia. He appeared in the movies A Cold Day in Hell (2011), Not Another Not Another Movie (2011), Dirty Little Trick (2011), Loosies (2011), A Matter of Justice (2011), Refuge from the Storm (2012), Cole Younger & the Black Train (2012), Sins Expiation (2012), Desperate Endeavors (2012), Beyond the Trophy (2012), Terrible Angels (2012), Magic Boys (2012), Prince of the City (2012), Prince of the City (2012), Madoff: Made in America (2013), Day of Redemption(2013), Along the Roadside (2013), Infected (2013), The Sorrow (2013), ICE Agent (2013), Gabrielle (2013), Nomad: The Beginning (2013), Lionhead (2013), Ashley (2013), I'm in Love with a Church Girl (2013), Skoryy 'Moskva-Rossiya' (2014), The Ninth Cloud (2014), Water Wars (2014), 2047: Sights of Death (2014), Turnaround Jake (2014), A Turn in the Sun (2015), The Whole World at Our Feet (2015), The Just (2015), No Deposit (2015), Lady Psycho Killer (2015), Death in the Desert (2015), Skin Traffik (2015), Lumberjack Man (2015), Sacred Blood (2015), Flipped (2015), The Hateful Eight (2015), Vigilante Diaries (2016), The Lost Tree (2016), Beyond the Game (2016), Kidnapped in Romania (2016), Last Man Club (2016), Unbelievable!!!!! (2016), Magi (2016), Back in the Day (2016), Talons (2016), Devil's Domain (2016), Unfallen (2017), Garlic and Gunpowder (2017), Rock, Paper, Scissors (2017), The Broken Key (2017), Love Addict (2018), Papa (2018), Dirty Dealing 3D (2018), Assassins Revenge (2018), Hangover in Death Valley (2018), CobraGator (2018), Dead on Time (2018), God's Eye (2018), Trading Paint (2019), The Garden Left Behind (2019), Welcome to Acapulco (2019), Born2Race (2019), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), Red Handed (2019), Conjuring: The Book of the Dead (2020), 2 Graves in the Desert (2020), Serpent in the Bottle (2020), Shark Season (2020), Dirty Fears (2020), Puppy Love (2020), and Nishabdham(2020).

In the 2020s, Michael Madsen appeared in the movies Missiya: Prorok (2021), Burial Ground Massacre (2021), American Night (2021), Every Last One of Them (2021), Christmas Thieves (2021), The American Connection (2021), Damon's Revenge (2022), Until We Meet Again (2022), Incarnation (2022), Numbers (2022), Waking Karma (2023), The Wraith Within (2023), Assault on Hill 400 (2023), The Lurking Fear (2023), Outlaw Johnny Black (2023), and Resurrection Road (2025).

Michael Madsen also provided voices for several video games, including Grand Theft Auto III, Reservoir Dogs, Dishonored,. The Waking Dead Season Two, and Crime Boss Rockay City, among others. Michael Madsen was also an award winning poet who published several books of poetry.

Michael Madsen was an extremely prolific actor, with over 300 credits to his name. If he was so prolific, it was because he was also so very talented. He may be best known for the many tough guys he played, particularly in Quentin Tarantino movies. Indeed, his best known character may be the sadistic Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. Joe Gage in The Hateful Eight was on the quiet side, but still nonetheless a tough customer. In the movie Sin City he played the treacherous, corrupt cop Detective Bob.

While Michael Madsen was very good at playing very evil characters, he could play other sorts of roles as well. In the Free Willy movies he played Glen Greenwood, who was the foster father of the movie's protagonist. In the movie Thelma & Louise he played Louise's boyfriend, the laid-back musician Jimmy. In The Doors he played Jim Morrison's friend and Andy Warhol associate Tom Baker. Michael Morrison could play a wide variety of roles. What is more, he left an impression no matter how briefly he appears on screen. In Once Upon a Time..in Hollywood he appears in a clip of the fictional show Bounty Law as a sheriff who informs bounty hunter Jake Cahill some bad news. There is no forgetting Michael Madsen in the clip. If Michael Madsen made a lot of movies, it was because he was so very talented.

Farewell to TCMParty Member Peggy Tapek

Last night I learned that longtime TCMParty member and my friend Peggy Tapek, known to most TCMPartiers as "Marie just Marie" on Twitter (@d3sk) and later Bluesky (@d3sk.bsky.social), died a few days ago. Peggy had been a part of "Film Twitter" for around 15 years and she numbered among the original TCMParty crowd, "TCMParty" being a collective live posting (originally on Twitter but now on Bluesky) of movies on Turner Classic Movies using the hashtag #TCMParty. Peggy's TCMParty friends meant a good deal to her and, in turn, she meant a lot to us. She was one of the kindest, most supportive people to ever participate in TCMParty.

Peggy was born Margaret Tapek in Michigan. It was not long after her birth that her family moved to Rushville, Indiana. They later moved to Elwood, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis. It was Peggy's mother, who was a fan of  Barbara Stanwyck and Gene Tierney, who introduced her to classic movies. In those days local television stations still showed movies at various times during the week, including late nights and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. She was still a girl when she became a fan of both Bette Davis and the classic "Sherlock Holmes" movies starring Basil Rathbone. Peggy was also a fan of everything from Alfred Hitchcock movies to the classic horror movies from Universal and Hammer to Fred Astaire movies. If anything, her tastes were eclectic. 

In addition to classic movies, Peggy was also a fan of classic television. She may well have been the biggest fan of the British TV show The Avengers I knew aside from myself, and a fan of British television shows in general. She also loved the old classic mystery shows, such as Columbo and Ellery Queen. She loved both the 1966 Batman and The Monkees, as well as the original Star Trek.

Peggy was proud of her boyfriend Bruce, a fellow TCMPartier, and my condolences go out to him. She was also close to many TCMPartiers. She would show concern if any of us were ill or troubled, and she would always applaud us for our accomplishments. I know I will miss discussing The Avengers or the various mystery shows she loved with her. Her passing will certainly leave a hole in the TCMParty that cannot be filled.

TCM Spotlight: Mythology Movies on Wednesdays in July

The skeleton fight from Jason and the Argonauts

As long-time readers already know, the first movie I can remember watching all the way through was the classic Jason and the Argonauts (1963). I have loved mythology and movies based on mythology ever since. It's for that reason I am excited for this month's TCM Spotlight, which is on Mythology Movies. Every Wednesday in July 2025 Turner Classic Movies will be showing movies based on mythology.

Some of these movies, such as the aforementioned Jason and the Argonauts and its fellow Ray Harryhausen film Clash of the Titans (1981), are fairly straightforward adaptations of the myths, with some poetic licence. Others are movies set in later eras, but based on myth nonetheless, such as Pygmalion (1939). Below is a schedule of the films being shown on TCM Spotlight: Mythology Movies. All times are Central.

Wednesday, July 9:
7:00 PM Clash of the Titans (1981)
9:15 PM Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
11:15 PM My Son the Hero (1963)

Thursday, July 10:
1:30 AM The Minotaur (1961)
3:!5 AM: Atlantis, the Lost Continent (1961)

Wednesday, July 16:
7:00 PM Helen of Troy (1956)
9:15 PM Ulysses (1955)
11:00 PM Hercules, Samson & Ulysses (1960)

Thursday, July 17:
12:45 AM: Hercules (1983)
2:30 AM The Colossus of Rhodes (1961)

Wednesday, July 23:
7:00 PM Oedipus Rex (1967)
9:00 PM: Medea (1969)
11:15 PM Electra (1962)

Thursday, July 24:
1:15 AM: Iphigenia (1977)
3:30 AM Damon and Pythias (1962)

Wednesday, July 30:
7:00 PM Down to Earth (1947)
9:00 PM Black Orpheus (1959)
11:00 PM: Phaedra (1962)

Thursday, July 31:
1:15 AM: Pygmalion (1939)

Happy 4th of July 2025

On the 4th of July, as on many holidays, I usually post vintage pin-ups. This time out is a little different. While all of these pictures are of beautiful women, one is a magazine cover. At any rate, I hope all of my fellow Americans have a happy 4th of July, even if this year there seems to be little to celebrate. 

A promotional photo of Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman from the show's first season, which was set during World War II.

Olga San Juan, Noel Neil, and Nancy Porter

Technically not a 4th of July picture, but you can't get much quintessentially American than a drum majorette. This is Theresa Harris in a promotional photo for Love Thy Neighbour (1940), starring Jack Benny, Fred Allen, and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson.

A 1958 cover of the French magazine Cinémondefeaturing the all-American Rita Moreno.

Martha Hyer

And, finally here's Ann Miller and a really big firecracker.

Happy 4th of July!

"Born to Raise Hell" by Cheap Trick

Right now I am in a bad mood and I am certainly not in the mood to make a full-fledged blog post. Here then is a song that fits my current mood, "Born to Raise Hell" by Cheap Trick. It appeared in the classic animated film Rock & Role (1983). 

The Late Great Lalo Schifrin

Lalo Schifrin, the composer best known for the icon theme to Mission: Impossible, died on June 26 2025 at the age of 93. 

Lalo Schifrin was born Boris Claudio Schifrin on June 21 1932 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His father, Luis, was a violinist with the Buenos Aires Philharmonic. He was only six years old when he began to learn the piano. He was 16 years old when his classmates introduced him to jazz, and he quickly became a fan of the genre. At the University of Buenos Aires, he studied music and law. He received a scholarship to the Paris Conservatory of Music in 1952, where he studied classical music under composer Olivier Messiaen. At night he would play in jazz bands.

He returned to Buenos Aires in 1956. There he founded his own jazz band. It was also there that he began composing for TV shows and films.He served as the composer on the Argentinian movie Venga a bailar el rock (1957) and El jefe (1958). It was when jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie was visiting Argentina that he invited him to the United States to work with him. He moved to New York City in 1958 and played piano at a Mexican restaurant until he began work as an arranger with Xavier Cugat. In 1960 he performed with Dizzy Gillespie on the jazz great's album Gillespiana.

It was in 1963 that Lalo Schifrin moved to California to work in film and television. He served as a conductor on the score for the movie Rhino! (1964) and on television he composed and arranged background music for such shows as Dr. Kildare and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. He composed the score for the TV movie Dark Intruder, which aired in 1965. In the Sixties, he composed the themes for the shows Mission: Impossible, T.H.E. Cat, Mannix, and Medical Center. He worked on such films as Who's Minding the Mint (1967), Cool Hand Luke (1967), The President's Analyst (1967), Coogan's Bluff (1968), Bullitt (1968),Hell in the Pacific (1968), Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows! (1968), Che! (1969), Eye of the Cat (1969), Kelly's Heroes (1970), and WUSA (1970).

In the Seventies Lalo Schifrin composed the themes of the TV shows Planet of the Apes, Starsky & Hutch, and Petrocelli. He worked on such movies as The Beguiled (1971), THX 1138 (1971), Dirty Harry (1971),Joe Kidd (1972),Enter the Dragon (1973), Charles Varrick (1973), Magnum Force (1973). Voyage of the Damned (1976), The Eagle Has Landed (1976), Rollercoaster(1977), The Cat from Outer Space (1978), The Amityville Horror (1979), Brubaker (1980), and The Competition (1980).

In the Eighties he worked on such films as Caveman (1981), Buddy Buddy (1981), Class of 1984 (1982), The Sting II (1983), Doctor Detroit (1983), The Osterman Weekend, (1983),Sudden Impact (1983), Tank (1984), Bad Medicine (1985), The Fourth Protocol (1987), and The Dead Pool (1988). On television he composed themes for the shows Chicago Story, Glitter. 

In the Nineties Lalo Schifrin worked on such films as F/X2 (1991), Scorpion Spring (1995), Money Talks (1997), Something to Believe In (1998), Tango (1998), and Rush Hour (1998). In the Naughts he worked on such films as Longshot (2001), Bringing Down the House (2003), After the Sunset (2004), and Abominable (2006). In the Teens, he worked on the films Love Story (2011) and Lyset fra sjokoladefabrikken (2020). 

Lalo Schifrin was one of the greatest television and movie composers of all time. He was nominated multiple times for Emmy Awards and Oscars. His compositions are certainly memorable, particularly the theme to Mission: Impossible, which remains one of the best known television show themes of all time. A 2023 list of the "50 Best TV Theme Songs of All Time" fro Consequences of Sound placed it at no. 4. Lalo Schifrin would be remembered if it was the only thing he had ever written, but as it is he wrote so many other pieces of music for television and film.

"Impasse": A Groundbreaking Episode of Medical Center

Positive portrayals of lesbians were unknown in the first few decades of American broadcast television. At worst, they were sometimes portrayed as outright sociopaths, as in the case of Miss Brant (Virginia Christine), a sniper who kills attractive young women out on dates with their boyfriends, in an episode of the short-lived series The Asphalt Jungle (based on the movie of the same name). Although it is never explicitly said that Miss Brant was a lesbian, it was made fairly obvious. At best lesbianism might be presented as a mental disorder, as in the case of the Eleventh Hour episode "What Did She Mean by Good Luck?" and the Bold Ones: The New Doctors episode "A Very Strange Triangle." The Medical Center episode, "Impasse," from 1973, was then revolutionary in featuring a psychiatrist, Dr. Anne Claymor (Lois Nettleton), as both a lesbian and a healthy, well-adjusted human being.

For those of you unfamiliar with Medical Center, it was a medical drama that ran from 1969 to 1975. It centred on surgeons Dr. Paul Locher (James Daly) and Dr. Joe Gannon (Chad Everett) at an unnamed hospital (the "medical centre" of the title) in Los Angeles. "Impasse" starred Lois Nettleton as Dr. Anne Claymor, a psychiatrist who is called into treat a a young heart patient, Tobi (Jamie Smith-Jackson), who is proving difficult. Dr. Gannon has a crush on Dr. Claymor, and it is after Tobi's boyfriend Sam (Tim Matheson) tells Dr. Gannon that Dr. Claymor is a lesbian. That leads Dr. Gannon to visit Dr. Claymore in her apartment where she admits that she is a lesbian.

This particular scene is remarkable for a TV show episode airing in 1973 (if you want to see it, it si available on YouTube). It is made clear that Dr. Claymor is comfortable with her lesbianism, as she deals with the stereotypes Dr. Gannon, like many Americans at the time, believed to be true, No, she does not hate men. Yes, a lesbian doctor can treat a young woman without pouncing on her. At no point in the episode is lesbianism presented as a mental disorder, although the fact that it was still frowned upon in society was acknowledged.

At the time, when homosexuality was still presented as a mental disorder on most American television shows and was still listed as such in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by the American Psychiatric Association, "Impasse" was revolutionary in its portrayal of Dr. Claymor. In his book Alternate Channels - LGBTQ Images on Television, author Steve Capsuto refers to Dr. Claymor in "Impasse" as "...American TV’s first productive, happy lesbian character." Following "Impasse" there would still be shows on which homosexuality was presented as a mental disorder and homosexuals as sociopaths, but it was definitely a step in the right direction. 

"Stonewall Nation" by Madeline Davis

Chances are good that you have not heard of the song "Stonewall Nation" by Madeline Davis (I must confess that I had not until relatively recently),: but it is is historic nonetheless. Quite simply, it has been called the first gay liberation anthem. It was written by Madeline Davis after she had attended her first march on the New York capitol in Albany, New York. 

Of course, the song's title will have some significance for those who know their history. It was from June 28 1969 to July 1 1969 that spontaneous demonstrations against  a police raid (commonly called the "Stonewall riots") took place form June 28 1969 to July 3 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. The Stonewall uprising is commonly regarded as the starting point for the gay liberation movement. For many in the LGBTQ community in the Seventies, the phrase "Stonewall Nation" may have had even more significance. The name "Stonewall Nation" was given informally to a separatist community proposed in Alpine County, California in 1970. 

As to the song itself, "Stonewall Nation" seems somewhat reminiscent of the folk music of the time, namely the work of such artists as Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, and Buffy Sainte-Marie. I do not find it particularly listenable, but the song is historic nonetheless. 

Bobby Sherman Passes On

One-time teen idol and actor Bobby Sherman died on June 24 2025 at the age of 81. Hr had stage IV kidney cancer. He was known for such songs as "La La La (If I Had You)" and "Julie, Do You Love Me,"  and was one of the regulars on the show Here Come the Brides. 

Bobby Sherman was born in Santa Monica, California on July 22 1943. He grew up in Van Nuys, California. His father owned and operated his own milk delivery service, Woodland Hills Dairy. Bobby Sherman took to music while he was still young, and growing up he knew how to play guitar, piano, French horn, trumpet, trombone, and drums.

He graduated from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys in 1961 and then studied child psychology at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.  His first single, "Judy, You'll Never Know (I'll Never Tell You)," came out in 1962. He followed it with a few singles that did not chart.  It was while he was attending Pierce College that his girlfriend took him to a cast party for the movie The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965). Bobby Sherman got up and sang with the band at the party, which led actors Natalie Wood, Jane Fonda, and Sal Mineo to approach him and offer to help him with a music career. This would lead to Bobby Sherman becoming a regular on the ABC music series Shindig!. 

It was in 1965 that Bobby Sherman made his acting debut in a guest appearance on an episode of Honey West. In the late Sixties, he guest-starred on the shows The Monkees and The F.B.I. It was in 1968 that he began playing the role of Jeremy Bolt on the TV series Here Come the Brides. He appeared in the movie Wild in the Streets.

It would be from the late Sixties into the Seventies that Bobby Sherman's music career would be at its height. His first major hit was "Little Woman" in 1969, which went to no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year "La La La (If I Had You)" would go to no. 9 on the chart. Over the next few years he would have such hits as "Easy Come, Easy Go," "Hey, Mister Sun," "Julie, Do You Love Me," and "Cried Like a Baby." His last major hit would be "The Drum" in 1971, although he would continue to release singles until 1975.

It was in 1971 that he guest-starred on The Partridge Family in an episode that was a backdoor pilot for the TV series Getting Together. Getting Together did not prove to be a success, lasting for only 14 episodes. In the Seventies, he guest-starred on the shows Cade's County, The Mod Squad, Emergency!, Ellery Queen, Jigsaw John, and Flying High. He appeared in the movie He is My Brother (1975). It was following his guest appearance on Emergency! that Bobby Sherman decided to become a paramedic. He worked as an emergency medical technician who trained paramedics in CPR at the Los Angeles Police Academy and also served as a reserve police officer in L.A. and a deputy sheriff in San Bernardino County.

Bobby Sherman would continue to appear from time to time on TV shows and in movies, making guest appearances on Fantasy Island; The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo; The Love Boat; Murder, She Wrote; Blacke's Magic; and Frasier. He was a regular on the short-lived sitcom Sanchez of Bel-Air in 1986. He appeared in the film Get Crazy (1983). 

|It was in 1998 that Bobby Sherman returned to the stage as part of the "Teen Idol Tour" alongside Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits and Davy Jones of The Monkees. In 2011 he and his wife Brigitte founded the Brigitte & Bobby Sherman Children’s Foundation.

I can't speak for Bobby Sherman's musical career, as I have never listened to his music, but I always did enjoy him as an actor. I particularly remember him well as the vain, egomaniacal beach movie star Frankie Catalina in the Monkees episode "Monkees at the Movies." In the Emergency! episode "Fools," he played an arrogant intern, Dr. Donaldson, whom Dr. Brackett (Robert Fuller) orders to ride with Squad 51 for a day to teach him humility. Not all of Bobby Sherman's characters were as unpleasant as Frankie Catalnia and Dr. Donaldson. On Ellery Queen he played Doug Carmichael, the brother-in-law of an eccentric inventor and one of the few who knew the inventor was still at himself. Of course, when it comes to acting I suspect he will always be remembered best as the stammering Jeremy Bolt on Here Come the Brides.  Bobby Sherman was certainly talented and he was always entertaining.

Godspeed Lynn Hamilton

Lynn Hamilton, who played Fred Sanford's girlfriend Donna on Sanford and Son and the Waltons' neighbour Verdie on The Waltons, died on June 19 2025 at the age of 95.

Lynn Hamilton was born on April 12 1930 in Yazoo City, Mississippi. She was only four years old when her family moved to Chicago. She attended Bloom High School in Chicago Heights. She studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama Theatre in Chicago. She gained more experience in acting with a South Side theatre in Chicago. 

She moved to New York City in 1956.  In the late Fifties, She appeared on Broadway in Only in America, The Cool World, and Face of a Hero. She made her film debut in a bit part in Shadows (1958), which marked the directorial debut of John Cassavetes. She also appeared in the short "The New Girl" (1960).

Lynn Hamilton spent three years with the New York Shakespeare Film Festival. She was also a part of President John F. Kennedy's cultural exchange program, in which she toured with the plays The Miracle Worker and The Skin of Our Teeth. She appeared on Broadway in Tambourines to Glory in 1963. In 1966 she became part of the Seattle Repertory Theatre. In the late Sixties, she auditioned for a role in Funny Girl (1968). While she didn't get the part, she decided to stay in Los Angeles. She appeared in the movie The Learning Tree (1969). In 1969 she made her television debut in a guest appearance on the show Room 222. In the late Sixties, she also guest starred on the shows Then Came Bronson, Mannix, Gunsmoke, The Bill Cosby Show, Insight, and The Psychiatrist.

It was in the Seventies that Lynn Hamilton played what may be her two best known roles. She made her first appearance on Sanford and Son early in its first season, laying a landlady from whom Lamont Sanford briefly rents a bachelor pad. The producers were so impressed with Lynn Hamilton that when they decided to give Fred Sanford a girlfriend, they cast her. She first appeared in the role of Donna Harris on Sanford and Son in its tenth episode. She appeared until the show ended its run. It was in the first season of The Waltons, while she was still appearing on Sanford and Son, that she first appeared in the recurring role of Verdie Grant, a widowed neighbour and close friend of the Walton family.  She played Verdie until the show ended its run in 1981, and then appeared in two of the reunion movies. 

During the Seventies, Lynn Hamilton appeared in the mini-series Roots: The Next Generation. She guest starred on the shows Longstreet, Hawaii Five-O, Ironside, Ghost Story, Barnaby Jones, The Young and the Restless, Good Times, Starsky and Hutch, and The Rockford Files. She appeared in the movies Brother John (1971), The Seven Minutes (1971), Buck and the Preacher (1972), Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Hangup (1974), and Leadbelly (1976). 

In the late Eighties, Lynn Hamilton began a two year run appearing in a regular role on the soap opera Generations. She also had a recurring role on the soap opera Rituals and the sitcom 227. She guest starred on the shows The Powers of Matthew Starr; Knight Rider; Insight; Quincy, M.E.; ABC Afternoon Specials; Riptide; Highway to Heaven; Webster; Still the Beaver; Days of Our Lives; Amen; Hunter; and The Golden Girls. She appeared in the movie Legal Eagles (1986).

In the Nineties she continued to appear on Generations. She appeared in a lead role in the soap opera Dangerous Women and had a recurring roles on Sunset Beach and The Practice. She guest starred on the shows Sister, Sister; Murphy Brown; Sisters; Life's Work; Dangerous Minds; Moesha; and Port Charles. She appeared in the movie The Vanishing (1993). 

In the Naughts she continued to appear on The Practice. She guest starred on the shows NYPD Blue, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Judging Amy, and Cold Case. She made her last appearance on screen in Baby's Breath (2003).

Lynn Hamilton was a very talented actress, which can be seen in her two famous roles, two roles that she played concurrently. Donna Harris on Sanford and Son was strong, independent, and no-nonsense, often calling Fred on some of his wackier behaviour. Verdi on The Waltons was also a strong woman, although she was also fiercely proud and somewhat distrustful of others beyond family and close friends (and sometimes she can distrust them as well). Lynn Hamilton was particularly good at paying strong women. In the Gunsmoke episode "The Sisters" she played Mother Tabitha, the caring but firm head of two other nuns. Not all of Lynn Hamilton's characters were necessarily nice. She appeared in the Barnaby Jones episode "Sunday: Doomsday" she played the wife of a man that Barnaby had sent to prison. She is downright hateful towards Barnaby, blaming him for how her life went wrong  In her guest appearance in The Rockford Files episode "The Hammer of C Block" she played a character who was a bit more pleasant, but still a far cry from Donna or Verdi. She played a former prostitute, now married to a doctor, who's fearful of her past being revealed. Lynn Hamilton had an enormous amount of talent and was even a bit of a pioneer, paving the way for future Black actresses. 

Lou Christie Passes On

Lou Christie, the singer-songwriter who had such hits as "Two Faces Have I," "Lightnin' Strikes," and "Rhapsody in the Rain," died on June 18 2025 at the age of 82 following a short illness.

Lou Christie was born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania on February 19 1943. He attended Moon Area High School in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. He was 15 years old when he befriended classical musician Twyla Herbert, who was 22 years older than he was.The two formed a songwriting partnership that would last until her death in 2009. He performed with various Pittsburgh area groups from 1959 to 1962, and released various singles on local Pittsburgh labels. His single "The Jury" by Lugee & The Lions (which comprised him Twyla Herbert's daughter Shirley, and two more people) proved to be a local hit. 

After graduating from high school in 1961, Lugee Vacco moved to New York City. There he worked as a session vocalist. It was in 1962 that he went to Pittsburgh record executive Nick Cenci with some demo tapes. It was Mr. Cenci who gave him the stage name "Lou Christie." He also produced Lou Christie and Twyla Herbert's composition "The Gypsy Cried" and released it on his own C & C label. It proved to be a regional hit. It was then picked up by Roulette Records and released nationally. It went to no. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. Roulette also released his self-titled debut album.

Lou Christie would follow "The Gypsy Cried" with an even bigger hit, "Two Faces Have I," which went to no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Lou Christie's career would be interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Army. He was in the Army for two years. After being discharged from service, Lou Christie signed with MGM Records. While MGM disliked his first single for the label, "Lightnin' Strikes," Lou Christie promoted the song himself and it eventually hit no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following year he would have a hit with "Rhapsody in the Rain." In the Sixties, Lou Christie would have one more hit, "I'm Gonna Make You Mine," which went to no. 10 in 1969. 

In the Seventies, Lou Christie would have a minor hit with "Beyond the Blue Horizon," which went to no. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. At the same time he shifted towards country music, releasing a self-titled album in the genre. After the Seventies, Lou Christie would release two more singles (one being a cover of "Since I Don't Have You"with Lesley Gore) and five more albums. His last, Summer in Malibu, was released in 2015.

Lou Christie was both a gifted songwriter and a gifted vocalist. He had a remarkable falsetto that he put to particularly good use on "Lightnin' Strikes." He also had fantastic delivery. If such songs as "Two Faces Have I," "Lightnin' Strikes," and "Rhapsody in the Rain" were hits, much of it was because of the emotion in Lou Christie's vocals. A perfect example of Lou Christie's incredible vocals can be found in "Lightnin' Strikes," in which he goes from the stanzas of the song, which are all sweetness and light, sung in his rich baritone voice, to the maniacal falsetto in the build-up to the chorus. Lou Christie was a great vocalist and his song remain listenable to this day. 

Announcing the 12th Annual Rule, Britannia Blogathon

I am proud to announce that the 12th Annual Rule, Britannia Blogathon will take place from September 19 to September 21 2025. 

While Hollywood comes to many people's minds when they think of classic movies, the fact is that the United Kingdom made many significant contributions to film over the years. From the Gainsborough melodramas to Hammer Films to the British New Wave, cinema would be much poorer without the British.

Here are the ground rules for this year's blogathon:

1. Posts can be about any British film or any topic related to British films. For the sake of simplicity, I am using "British" here to refer to any film made by a company based in the United Kingdom or British Crown dependencies. If you want to write about a film made in Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man, then, you can do so. Also for the sake of simplicity, people can write about co-productions made with companies from outside the United Kingdom. For example, since 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is a British-American co-production, someone could write about it if they chose.

2. There is no limit on subject matter. You can write about any film in any genre you want. Posts can be on everything from the British New Wave to the Gainsborough bodice rippers to the Hammer Horrors. I am also making no limit on the format posts can take. You could review a classic British film, make an in-depth analysis of a series of British films, or even simply do a pictorial tribute to a film. That having been said, since this is a classic film blogathon,  I only ask that you write about films made before 2015. I generally don't think of a film as a classic until it has been around for thirty years, but to give bloggers more options I am setting the cut-off point at ten years ago.

3. I am asking that there please be no duplicates. That having been said, if someone has already chosen to cover From Russia with Love (1963), someone else could write about the James Bond series as a whole.

4. I am not going to schedule days for individual posts. All I ask is that the posts be made on or between September 19, 20, and 21 2025.

If you want to participate in the Rule, Britannia Blogathon, you can simply comment below or get hold of me on Bleusky at mercurie80 or my email:  mercurie80 at gmail.com

Below is a roster of the participants:

A Shroud of Thoughts: Quatermass and the Pit (1967)

Moon in Gemini: Far from the Madding Crowd (1967) 

Realweegiemidget Reviews: Dancin' Thru the Dark (1990)

Speakeasy: The Passionate Friends (1949)

Cinematic Catharsis: Witchfinder General (1968)

Liberal England: The Intruder (1953)

Smoke in the Library: Salt and Pepper (1968) and One More Time (1970)

Crítica Retrô: The Importance of Being Earnest (1952)

18 Cinema Lane: Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

Below are graphics you can use for the blogathon or you can always make your own!

Nestor Paiva: Portuguese American Character Actor

(This post is part of the 2025 Luso World Cinema Blogathon hosted by Spellbound by Beth Ann and Critica Retro)

Nestor Paiva may not be a familiar name to the average person, but chances are good that they might well recognize him if they saw him. His career spanned from 1937 to 1967, and he appeared in over 400 movies. His roles ranged from bit parts that were on screen but briefly to supporting roles with a good deal of screen time. He may be best known as Captain Lucas in Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) and Revenge of the Creature (1955) and the innkeeper Teo Gonzales on the TV show Zorro. During his career Nestor Paiva played a number of ethnicities and I have to think some viewers thought he was Hispanic in descent, but in truth he was a Portuguese American.

Nestor Paiva was born on June 30 1905 in  Fresno, California. His parents were Portuguese citizens from the Azores, an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean which Portugal had begun colonizing in the 15th Century. His father's family migrated to the United States in 1880, when his father, Frank, was only seven years old. His mother, Mariana, was 17 when she migrated to the United States in 1896. That same year she married Frank. They operated a grocery in Fresno for a time. The family eventually moved to Alameda County, California, It was there that Nestor Paiva attended the University of California, Berkeley. He acted in both plays at the university and elsewhere. It was the University of California, Berkeley that he also had the opportunity to direct plays. 

In fact, among Nestor Paiva's earliest jobs was as director of the Eight o' Clock players at radio station KLX in Oakland, California. Nestor Paiva would have a successful career in radio. Through the years he appeared on such radio shows as Bold Adventure, Cavalcade of America, Family Theatre, Gunsmoke, Lux Radio Theatre, The Roy Rogers Show,  Wild Bill Hickok, and others. 

Of course, it would be inevitable that Nestor Paiva would find his way to Hollywood. He made his film debut in 1937 in an uncredited role in the movie Island Captives. From the Thirties into the Forties he played a number of small, often uncredited roles. He was the head waiter at the West Indies Club in Another Thin Man (1939) and a store detective in Bachelor Mother (1939). He played a theatre manager in Dressed to Kill (1941). Often his characters wouldn't have names, such as the Man with Suspenders in Reap the Wild Wind (1942) and the sausage vendor in Road to Morocco (1942). While politically incorrect today, he also played a wide variety of ethnicities, from a Venezuelan officer in Boom Town (1940) to an Italian mayor in Chetniks (1943) to the Romani Gregor in The Inspector General (1949). Curiously, Nestor Paiva rarely played characters of Portuguese descent. One instance in which he did, according to IMDB, was The Lady Has Plans (1942), in which he played a Portuguese waiter.

As to his most famous role, given the movie is set in Brazil and Nestor Paiva was Portuguese in descent, one would think that Captain Lucas in Creature from the Black Lagoon would be a Brazilian. Instead, he is specifically said to be Venezuelan. Of course, it is still possible that Captain Lucas could be Portuguese in descent. People of Portuguese descent make up one of the largest ethnic groups in Venezuela. People from Portugal began immigrating to Venezuela in the early 20th Century. Supposedly the Portuguesa River in Venezuela was named for a Portuguese woman who drowned in the river.The State of Portuguesa would in turn take its name from the river. Regardless of Captain Lucas's ancestry, he was the only character besides the Gill-Man himself to appear in the sequel Revenge of the Creature. 

Of course, Nestor Paiva is also known for playing the innkeeper Teo Gonzales, who appeared in several episodes of Zorro. Zorro would be the only show on which Nestor Paiva had a recurring role, although he guest starred on many, many other shows. He made his television debut on an episode of Dick Tracy in 1950 and then went onto guest star on such shows as Topper, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Lone Ranger, Maverick, Perry Mason, Rawhide, Bonanza, and many others. 

Nestor Paiva would have significant movie roles beyond Creature from the Black Lagoon and Revenge of the Creature. While Nestor Paiva was often only on screen for a few minutes in many of his early films, he got a bit more screen time playing the villain The Scorpion in the serial Don Winslow of the Coast Guard (1943).  He played Old West outlaw Sam Bass in the 1946 B-Western Badman's Territory.  In Tarantula (1955) he played Sheriff Jack Andrews, who ultimately turns to Dr. Matt Hasitings (John Agar) in investigating some strange deaths.  He had a fairly large role in the Western Comanche (1956) in which he played a scout named Puffer.

With his gift for dialects and accents, it should come as no surprise that Nestor Paiva also provided voices for both theatrical and television cartoons. He provided voices for two Walter Lantz cartoons, "What's Sweepin'" (1953) and "Alley to Bali" (1954) and the MGM carton "Señor Droopy" (1949). He would later provide voices for the animated TV series Jonny Quest. 

Sadly, Nestor Paiva would die all too soon at the age of 61 on September 9 1966. The cause was stomach cancer. His last role was in the comedy The Spirit is Willing in 1967. He left behind many performances that remain enjoyable to this day. Nestor Paiva was the consummate character actor, capable of creating a fully-realized character in a matter of minutes. From Mighty Joe Young (1949) to All That Heaven Allows (1955), Nestor Paiva left an impression even when his character was only on screen for a few moments. His roles were often small, but they were always memorable.

Happy Juneteenth 2025

I want to wish everyone a happy Juneteenth. It was on June 19 1865 that Major General Gordon Granger  of the United States Army arrived in Galveston, Texas where he was take command of the Union troops there to enforce the emancipation of the slaves there. Juneteenth is then also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day for that reason. It has been celebrated in Texas since 1866 and in 2021 it was made a Federal holiday

"Lightnin' Strikes" by Lou Christie

Lou Christie, who had the hits "Two Faces Have I" and "Lightnin' Strikes," among others, died yesterday at the age of 82. I will write a full eulogy tomorrow, but tonight I would like to leave you with his biggest hit, "Lightnin' Strikes," which went to no. 1 in February 1966. This particular clip is from the syndicated music show Hollywood a Go Go. He only appeared on the show once, in the January 15 1966 episode.

Godspeed Sly Stone

Psychedelic soul and funk pioneer Sly Stone, well-known as the lead of Sly and the Family Stone, died on June 9 2025 at the age of 82. The cause was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Sly Stone was born Sylvester Stewart on March 15 1943 in Denton, Texas. His family moved to Vallejo, California when he was still very young. His family was deeply religious and he grew up in the church, which included music. He was only eight years old when he and three of his siblings recorded the gospel single, "On the Battlefield"/"Walking in Jesus' Name." As  a child, Sly Stone was already skilled on keyboards. He had learned to play guitar, bass, and drums by the time he was eleven. 

In high school Sly Stone (still going by his birth name) played with various bands. He was a member of a doo-wop group called The Viscaynes. It was in 1961 that they released the single  "Stop What You Are Doing," on which Sly Stone sang harmony. Their next single was "Yellow Moon," which had been written by Sly Stone. The Viscaynes would release a few more singles.

Sly Stone attended Vallejo Junior College, after which he became a deejay at radio station KSOL in San Francisco. He later moved to radio station KDIA. It was during this same period that he produced records for the San Francisco based label Autumn Records. He produced records for Bobby Freeman, The Beau Brummels, and The Great Society, among others. It was also around this period that he took the name "Sly Stone."

It was in 1966 that he formed a band called Sly & The Stoners. It was about the same time that his brother Freddie formed a band called Freddie & The Stone Souls. It was saxophonist Jerry Matinic, a friend of Sly Stone, who suggested that the two brothers combine their two bands. The end result was Sly and the Family Stone. Sly and Freddie's sisters Vet and Rose would also be a part of the Family Stone. 

Sly and the Family Stone signed to Epic Records. Their first album,, A Whole New Thing, was released in October 1967. The album sold poorly and did not chart. Fortunately, the non-album single "Dance to the Music" proved to be a huge hit, going to no. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and no. 9 on the Billboard R&B chart. Their second album took its title from the single and featured a more pop-oriented sound. It also proved more successful than their first album.

As successful as "Dance to the Music" was, Sly and the Family Stone would see even more success with the single "Everyday People." Released in November 1968, it hit no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 9 1969 and stayed there for four weeks. It also went to no. 1 o the Billboard Soul chart. Arguably 1969 would see Sly and the Family Stone at the peak of their success. They would have another number one single during the year, the song "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)." Their single "Stand!" went to no. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and their single "Hot Fun in the Summertime" went to no. 2. 

Sly and the Family Stone would have one last number one single, "A Family Affair," in 1971. The band would see less success in the early Seventies, although they still had singles that did relatively well. Unfortunately, drug use and internal strife would take its toll on Sly and the Family Stone. As the Seventies progressed Sly and the Family Stone's singles and albums saw less success. Sly and the Family Stone broke up in 1975.

Sly Stone's first solo album, High on You, was released the same year. Sly Stone did a great deal of session work in the next many years, from playing organ and piano on The New Riders of the Purple Sage song "Mighty Time" to the horn arrangement on The Brothers Johnson's song "Ball of Fire." In 1976 Sly Stone reunited with The Viscaynes and recorded the single "Oh What a Nite" as Sly Stone and The Biscaynes. Sly Stone recorded the 1979 album Back on the Right Track, which was released under the name Sly and the Family Stone, The 1982 album Ain't But the One Way was also released under Sly and the Family Stone. In both cases they were more or less Sly Stone solo albums. In 2011 he released one last solo album, I'm Back! Family & Friends. 

Sly Stone was a true pioneer and he could quite rightfully be described as one of the inventors of psychedelic soul and funk. While he had a low opinion of both the song "Dance to the Music" and the album Dance to the Music, both would prove influential. Both The Temptations an The Four Tops followed its lead, while arguably such groups as the Undisputed Truth and the Jackson Five owed their existence to Dance to the Music and later Sly and the Family Stone albums. Along with James Brown and George Clinton, Sly Stone was responsible for the development of funk. Their early successes would pave the way for future funk artists. Sly Stone would also have an impact on a wide array of artists in a wide array of genres, including Herbie Hancock, Curtis Mayfield, Bob Marley, Prince, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Eyed Peas, and The Roots. It has been said that Sly Stone invented sounds from the Seventies in the late Sixties. He certainly was a true pioneer. 

The Late Great Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson, co-founder, leader, and primary composer of The Beach Boys, died yesterday, June 11 2025, at the age of 82. He is often counted among the greatest composers and producers of the rock era. He was the architect behind The Beach Boys' album Pet Sounds, often counted among the greatest albums of all time. It even influenced The Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. 

Brian Wilson was born on June 20 1942 in Inglewood, California. He was two years old when his family moved to Hawthorne, California. He had two younger brothers, Dennis (born in 1944) and Carl (born in 1945). He proved to have a gift for music while very young. He studied the harmonies of The Four Freshman closely, and taught his brothers to sing background harmonies. In high school he played baseball and football, and participated in track and field as well. 

It was at Hawthorne High School that Brian and Carl Wilson enlisted his cousin Mike Love and two friends to perform at Carl and The Passions. Afterwards Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love, and Al Jardine formed The Pendletones, the name being a play on the clothing brand "Pendleton." It was Dennis Wilson, the only member of the band who actually surfed, who suggested the sport as the subject of their first song, "Surfin'." The Pendletones became The Beach Boys and "Surfin'" was released on the local, Southern California X and Candix labels. It became a regional hit, leading to The Beach Boys being signed by Capitol Records. Their first single on Capitol, "Surfin' Safari," reached no. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. Their first major hit, "Surfin' U.S.A.," released in 1963, went to no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Even in The Beach Boys' early days, Brian Wilson was their primary composer, writing songs with songwriter Gary Usher and band mate Mike Love. He also expanded into production, producing such singles as "Surfer Girl" and "In My Room," and eventually albums such as Surfer Girl and Little Deuce Coupe. He also produced other acts, including Bob and Sheri, Rachel and The Revolvers, The Hondells, Paul Petersen, and others. 

The Beach Boys were one of the American bands to continue their success after the arrival of The Beatles and the British Invasion. If anything, they may have become bigger. Such songs as "I Get Around," "Help Me Rhonda," "California Girls," "Barbara Ann," and "Good Vibrations" all hit the top five of the Billboard Hot 100. Unfortunately, the pressures of The Beach Boys' career would created a strain on Brian Wilson. It was on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston that he broke down crying uncontrollably. While he would play the show in Houston, for the rest of the tour he was replaced by Glen Campbell. It was in January 1965, when The Beach Boys went to work on their next album, that Brian Wilson announced he would no longer tour with the band, although he continued to record with them in the studio. Brian Wilson's first solo credit would be on the single "Caroline No," which was released in March 1966. While the single was credited only to Brian Wilson, it would be included as the closing track of The Beach Boys' album Pet Sounds. 

Arguably, The Beach Boys' success both creatively and on the charts peaked with  Pet Sounds, released in May 1966. The album reached no. 10 on the Billboard Top LPs and no. 2 on the UK Record Retailer LPs chart. While the album received positive notices upon its release, it would be overshadowed by the release of The Beatles' album Revolver in August.Since then it has come to be regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time. Following Pet Sounds, Brian Wilson worked on the single "Good Vibrations" and then began work on the planned album Smile. Unfortunately, his mental health would begin to decline and Smile would never be finished.

After 1967 The Beach Boys were no longer the creative force they once were, although they would have hits from time to time. As to Brian Wilson, the 1967 album Wild Honey would be the last album on which he was the primary composer for a time. Although he wrote songs for the 1970 album Sunflower, most oft them were not included on the album. Afterwards Brian Wilson reduced his participation with The Beach Boys. Following his father's death in 1973, he lived a reclusive life until about 1975. In 1976 he returned to performing with The Beach Boys. He produced their 1977 album The Beach Boys Love You. As a followup he produced the album Adult/Child, which would go unreleased. 

Unfortunately, following a catastrophic tour of Australia that Brian Wilson began to backslide, taking both cocaine and barbiturates. Eventually he was gotten into recovery and he would participate in the recording of the band's 25th, self-titled album. It was in 1988 that his first solo album, titled simply Brian Wilson, was released. He would release twelve more solo albums, with the last being Brian Wilson Long Promised Road in 2021. Among them was the 2004 album Brian Wilson Presents Smile, which revisited the aborted Beach Boys album Smile with all new recordings of the songs meant for the original project. 

Of course, Brian Wilson continued to work with The Beach Boys. With others he produced The Beach Boys' albums Still Cruisin'. With Joe Thomas he produced Stars and Stripes Vol. 1. He produced the entire album That's Why God Made the Radio except for the song ""Daybreak Over the Ocean", which was produced by Paul Fauerso). He would perform on stage with The Beach Boys from time to time, including during their 50th anniversary tour in 2012. He last performed with The Beach Boys in 2022.

Brian Wilson's influence on popular music is incalculable. The various hits he wrote and produced with The Beach Boys would have an impact not only on individual artists, but on entire genres. Arguably, it was Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys who invented the California sound, which would eventually include artists from Jan & Dean to the Mamas and the Papas. Their album Pet Sounds proved influential on the genre of sunshine pop. With the harmonies in his songs, Brian Wilson would have a huge impact on power pop, and the song "Wouldn't It Be Nice" would be one of the urtexts of the genre. Along with The Beatles, The Byrds, and Small Faces, they would be among the bands responsible for progressive pop. His work with The Beach Boys would influence genres as diverse as art rock, jazz, punk, and hip hop. Except for The Beatles, The Kinks, and The Who, The Beach Boys may have been the most influential artists on power pop, punk and alternative rock.

Of course, there should be little wonder that Brian Wilson would be so influential. He was responsible for some of the most sophisticated harmonies in popular music. Along with The Beatles, Brian Wilson was one of the individuals who transformed rock 'n' roll into rock music. Early rock 'n' roll was concerned primarily with things of interest to teenagers of the era, such as love, dancing, and cars. Brian Wilson moved the genre into more sophisticated, more introspective lyrical territory. At the same time he made music that was more complicated than it had been before. Brian Wilson took rock music beyond the typical ensemble of lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, and drums, incorporating strings even the theremin into The Beach Boys' music. Few composers and producers would ever have the impact on modern music that Brian Wilson has had.

Godspeed Pippa Scott

Pippa Scott, who appeared in the movies Auntie Mame (1958) and Petulia (1968), and was a regular on such TV shows as The Virginian and Jigsaw John, died on May 22 2025 at the age of 90.

Pippa Scott was born on November 10 1934 in Los Angeles. Her father was screenwriter Allan Scott, who wrote such films as Top Hat (1935) and The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953). Her mother was Laura Straub, a stage actress who had appeared on Broadway. Her uncle was screenwriter Adrian Scott, her father's brother who was one of the Hollywood Ten. 

Pippa Scott attended Radcliffe and UCLA, then studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England. She made her television debut in 1955 in an episode of Your Play Time. In the late Fifties, she was a regular on the TV series Mr. Lucky. She gust starred on the shows Camera Three, Producer's Showcase, General Electric Theatre, Maverick, The Dupont Show with June Allyson, The Alaskans, The Aquanauts, The Twilight Zone, and Hong Kong.  She made her debut on Broadway in 1956 in Child of Fortune. In 1957 she appeared on Broadway in Miss Lonely Hearts. She made her film debut in The Searchers in 1956. She appeared in the movies As Young as We Are (1958), and Auntie Mame (1958).

In the Sixties, Pippa Scott was a regular on the first season of The Virginian. She guest starred on the shows Stagecoach West; Thriller; Have Gun--Will Travel; Outlaws; The Tall Man; Dr. Kildare; Adventures of Paradise; Bus Stop; Follow the Sun; The United States Steel Hour; Redigo; The Fugitive; Wagon Train; Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.; The Reporter; The Rogues; Kraft Suspense Theatre; The John Forsythe Show; Ben Casey; The Dick Van Dyke Show; Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre; Perry Mason; The Felony Squad; Insight; Tarzan; F Troop; T.H.E. Cat; Dundee and the Culhane; The Rat Patrol; I Spy; Judd for the Defense; Family Affair; The Outsiders; The Outcasts; and Lancer. She appeared in the movies My Six Loves (1963), The Confession (1964), For Pete's Sake! (1966), Petulia (1968), and Some Kind of Nut (1969).

In the Seventies, Pippa Scott was a regular on the show Jigsaw John. She guest starred on the shows Storefront Lawyers; Medical Center; Cade's Country; Sarge; Arnie; The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Gunsmoke; Love, American Style; Longstreet; Owen Marshall, Counsellor at Law; Mission: Impossible; The Rookies; The Waltons; Columbo; Barnaby Jones; Cannon; The Cowboys; Ironside; The Streets of San Francisco; Kolchak: The Night Stalker; Mannix; Matt Helm; This is the Life; Popi; and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. She appeared in the movie Cold Turkey (1971).

Following the Seventies, Pippa Scott appeared less frequently on screen. She appeared in the movies The Sound of Murder in 1982, Footprints in 2009, and Automotive in 2013. She guest starred on Remington Steele in 1983. 

Pippa Scott was an incredible talented actress who could play a wide variety of roles. In Auntie Mame she played the title character's lively secretary, Pegeen, who develops an attraction to Mame's nephew.. On The Virginian she played the no-nonsense, strong-willed newspaper editor Molly Wood. She played a well-known, down-and-out, overly dramatic actress on The Waltons episode "The Actress." She guest starred on Perry Mason twice, once as a defendant who had learned her husband was a bigamist in "The Case of the Bigamous Spouse" and once as a defendant accused of stealing from her business who switches identities with another woman in "The Case of the Fanciful Frail." Pippa Scott was equally talented at both comedy and drama, and she was capable of playing roles that were very different from each other.

Renée Victor Passes On

Renée Victor, a singer actress who voiced Abuelita Elena Rivera in the movie Coco (2017) and appeared on such shows as Weeds and Snowpiercer, died on May 30 2025 at the age of 86 after a battle with lymphoma.

Renée Victor was born in San Antonio, Texas on July 25 1938. It was in the 1960s that she moved to Los Angeles where she began her career as a singer. She worked with such legendary bandleaders as Xavier Cugat and Perez Pedro. She also worked as a dance instructor, teaching tango and salsa. She married Ray Victor, and the two would perform as a duo Ray & Renée from 1963 to 1973. It was in the 1970s that she began hosting the local public affairs show Pacesetters on KTLA in Los Angeles. 

It was in the 1980s that Renée Victor began acting. During the decade she guest starred on the shows Hotel, Masquerade, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, George Burns Comedy Week, and Matlock. She appeared in the movie Salsa. 

In the Nineties Renée Victor provided additional voices on the Saturday morning cartoon The Addams Family. She guest starred on the shows Bob, The Parent 'Hood, Men Behaving Badly, The Tony Danza Show, Team Knight Rider, and That's Life. She appeared in the movies The Doctor (1991), Steal Big Steal Little (1995), The Apostle (1997), The Prophecy II (1998), The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit (1998), and My Brother the Pig (1999). 

In the Naughts Renée Victor had recurring roles on ER, Weeds, and Tyler Perry's House of Payne. She guest starred on Strong Medicine, Mister Sterling, Women's Murder Club, Good Morning Agrestic, and Children's Hospital. She appeared in the movies Island Prey (2001), Never Trust a Serial Killer (2002), Assassination Tango (2002), Prospect (2004), Hot Tamale (2006),. Hollywood Familia (2006), Confessions of a Shopaholic  (2009), Stuntmen (2009), and Boyle Heights (2010).

In the Teens  Renée Victor voiced the grandmother in Coco (2017). She also appeared in the movies Wake (2011), A Night in Old Mexico (2013),  Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014), Superfly (2018), and In Other Words (2020). She continued appearing on Weeds. She had recurring roles on Snowpiercer, The Super Man, Vida,  and Dead to Me. She guest starred on the shows Major Crimes, Witches of East End, Gentefied, All Rise, and Victor and Valentino.

In the 2020s she had a recurring role on With Love. She guest starred on Fairfax, Undone, Mayan M.C., and A Million Little Things. She appeared in the movies Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone (2021), Welcome to Our World (2021) and Moe (2023). 

For most people Remée Victor would always be Abuelita Elena Rivera in the movie Coco. Mrs. Victor did a great job of voicing Abuelita, who was no-nonsesne and overly protective, yet still loving towards the lead character Miguel. Renée Victor excelled in playing comforting characters. On Snowpiercer she played Mama Grandé, one of the spiritual leaders of the oppressed people living in the tail of the title train. She played the nun Sister Teresa on Mayans M.C. In contrast to these characters was Lupita, the housekeeper of lead character Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) on Weeds. Lupita is wisecracking, cagey, and gutsy, Renée had an enormous amount of talent and could play a wide array of characters.

Ena Hartman R.I.P.

Ena Hartman, who was a regular on the TV series Dan August and appeared in the movie Terminal Island, died on April 16 2025 at the age of 93.

Ena Hartman was born Gerthaline Henry on April 1 1932 in Moscow, Arkansas. She was raised by her grandparents until she was 13, when she moved to Buffalo, New York to live with her mother. She dropped out of high school and opened a restaurant. She earned enough money from the restaurant to move to New York City. where she took up modelling and studied acting with Josh Shelley and Lloyd Richards.

Ena Hartman became the first Black actress to receive a talent contract from NBC. She made her television debut in the Bonanza episode "Enter Thomas Bowers." She guest starred on the shows Profiles in Courage, The Farmer's Daughter, The Jean Arthur Show, Tarzan, Dragnet 1967, Adam-12 (the very first episode), The Named of the Game, It Takes a Thief, The Outsider, and Ironside. She appeared in the TV movie Fame is the Name of the Game, which served as the pilot for the TV series The Name of the Game, and Prescription Murder, the TV movie that marked the first appearance of Peter Falk as Columbo. She was one of the stars of the TV series Dan August. She made her film debut in an uncredited role in The New Interns (1964). She appeared in the movies Our Man Flint (1966), Games (1967), and Airport (1970).

In the Seventies she continued to appear on Dan August. She guest starred on Police Story. She appeared in the movie Terminal Island (1973).  She retired from acting in the mid-Seventies.

Earlier in her career Ena Hartman had been chosen by Dorothy Dandridge to play her in a biopic that would have co-starred Sidney Poitier. Unfortunately, Mr. Poitier decided not to do the film and it was never made. She was one of the actresses in the running for the part of Lt. Uhura on Star Trek, a role which ultimately went to Nichelle Nichols. She was also in the running for the role of Sister Irene in the Elvis Presley movie Change of Habit (1969), the part going to Babara McNair in the end. 

Many of Ena Hartman's roles during her career tended to be small, but she made an impression nonetheless. In Our Man Flint she played the WAC who assists Cramden (Lee Cobb), the former boss of superspy Derek Flint (James Coburn). In the Bonanza episode "Enter Thomas Bowers," she played Caroline, the daughter of Jed (Ken Renard), a citizen of Virginia City who befriends opera singer Thomas Bowers (William Marshall). On Dan August she played the no-nonsense, plain-spoken police dispatcher Katy Grant. She was the star of the movie Terminal Island, in which she played Carmen, a  woman sentenced to life imprisonment on the island of the title, where convicted murders are sentenced following the abolition of the death penalty. Ena Hartman was a talented actress who gave solid performances regardless of the size of a given role. She was also a pioneer as a Black actress, paving the way for other women of colour.