Lori Nelson Passes On

Lori Nelson, who played Rosie Kettle in the "Ma and Pa Kettle" movies, starred in the TV series How to Marry a Millionaire, and starred in Revenge of the Creature (1955), died yesterday, August 23 2020, at the age of 87. She had suffered from Alzheimer's disease for the past several years.

Lori Nelson was born Dixie Kay Nelson in Santa Fe, New Mexico on August 15 1933. She made her debut on stage when she was only two years old. She was four years old when her family moved to Encino, California. She was five years old when she was named "Little Miss America." As a teenager she participated in beauty pageants. She won the title of "Miss Encino" when she was 17. After graduating high school, she started a modelling career.

In 1950 she signed a seven year contract with Universal-International. She made her film debut in Bend of the River (1952). Lori Nelson appeared as Rosie Kettle in Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair (1952) and then Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki (1953). In the Fifties she appeared in the movies Francis Goes to West Point (1952), All I Desire (1953), Walking My Baby Back Home (1953), Tumbleweed (1953), Destry (1954), Underwater! (1955), Revenge of the Creature (1955), Sincerely Yours (1955), I Died a Thousand Times (1955), Day the World Ended (1955), Mohawk (1956), Pardners (1956), Hot Rod Girl (1956), Untamed Youth (1957), and Outlaw's Son (1957). She made her television debut in 1955 in an episode of It's a Great Life. She starred as Greta Hanson in the syndicated sitcom How to Marry a Millionaire. She guest starred on Climax!, The 20th Century Fox Hour, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Texan, The Millionaire, General Electric Theatre, Sugarfoot, Tales of Wells Fargo, and Lock Up.

In the Sixties Lori Nelson guest starred on Dante, The Tab Hunter Show, Laramie, Bachelor Father, Whispering Smith, and Armstrong Circle Theatre. In 1961 she retired from acting, not long after marrying composer Johnny Mann. Afterwards she acted only sporadically. She guest starred on the TV show Family Affair in 1971 and in the TV movie Secret Sins of the Father in 1994. She reprised her role of Helen Dobson in Revenge of the Creature in the 2005 movie The Naked Monster.

For the most part Lori Nelson played the love interest in various television shows and movies, roles for which she was ideally suited. That having been said, she was capable of other roles. She played a club-footed farmer's daughter in I Died a Thousand Times. In Untamed Youth she played a juvenile delinquent alongside Mamie Van Doren. On the TV series How to Marry a Millionaire, she was the brainy psychology student Greta Hanson. Lori Nelson was always a pleasure to see anytime she appeared in a movie or on a TV show.

Ray Bradbury's 100th Birthday

It was 100 years ago that Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois. This is significant for me as Mr. Bradbury may well be my favourite author of all time. He certainly wrote my favourite novel of all time, Something Wicked This Way Comes. By no means am I alone in my admiration for Ray Bradbury. He would have a lasting influence on fiction and even film and television. He influenced writers from Stephen King to Neil Gaiman.  So great has Ray Bradbury's impact on modern day popular culture been that it would seem immeasurable.

Given Ray Bradbury wrote teleplays as well as short stories and novels, I can't say with any degree of accuracy when I was first exposed to his work. I can say that the first book by Ray Bradbury that I read was The Martian Chronicles. I read it in grade school and I remember that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The next book by Ray Bradbury that I read was Fahrenheit 451. While I had enjoyed The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451 really impressed me. This was something different from much of the classic science fiction I had read. It was a work of depth, a criticism of the destruction of literature and the undue influence can have on the individual.

As impressed as I was by Fahrenheit 451, I was even more impressed by Something Wicked This Way Comes. It was not simply that the book spoke to me on a personal level, although it certainly did. I grew up on a farm outside a small town, so I could easily identify with the lives of Will Holloway and Jim Nightshade. Indeed, like Will, my father was older when I was born, although I was closer to my father than Will initially was to Charles. Beyond the fact that I could identify with the characters and settings of Something Wicked This Way Comes, there was also my realization that that it was a work of some depth. Certainly at its most basic Something Wicked This Way Comes is a story of the battle between good and evil. At the same time, however, Something Wicked This Way Comes is very much a coming of age story. Will and Jim are about to turn fourteen, and Jim is anxious to become an adult. Something Wicked This Way Comes also touches heavily upon the power of belief, conveying the idea that the power of a person, idea, or thing has over one depends largely on the power you give them. There is so much more to Something Wicked This Way Comes. While it is a short novel, it is also a very sophisticated one, so much so that one can come away with something new every time they read it.

Of course, Ray Bradbury was more of a short story writer than a novelist, and over the years I read many anthologies of his work. Mr. Bradbury's short stories were every bit as great as his novels, and equally as sophisticated. It should also come as no surprise that many of Ray Bradbury's short stories would be influential. His short story "A Sound of Thunder" is largely responsible for the popularization of "the butterfly effect." The story centres on a group of time travellers to the Late Cretaceous period who return to the present only to find it has changed dramatically, all due to one of them unknowingly killing a butterfly. Ray Bradbury's short stories often seem prescient. An example of this is "The Veldt," which deals in part with a virtual reality nursery that can produce any setting a child can think of. "The Burning Man" touches once more upon the struggle between good and evil.

If Ray Bradbury is loved among fans of speculative fiction, it is not simply because he was one of the greatest writers of fantasy, horror, and science fiction to ever live, if not the greatest. Ray Bradbury was also known for his great kindness. While I never met him, I know people who have, and every single one of them speak highly of Mr. Bradbury. He always had time for his fans and he always greeted them as friends.  Ray Bradbury was known to encourage young writers. Comic book writer and author Martin Powell, who was friends with Mr. Bradbury, attributes his career to him. I think I can speak for many fans when I say that Ray Bradbury felt like a beloved uncle, the one who always told you that you were worthy and that you can do anything you set your mind to.

Indeed, above all else Ray Bradbury was a voice for hope. Hope can be seen even in Mr. Bradbury's darkest works, including Fahrenheit 451 and Something This Way Comes. While Mr. Bradbury could portray the darker aspects of human nature, he remained an optimist. Indeed, one of the things that separates Fahrenheit 451 from other works of dystopic fiction is the hope that pervades the novel, even when things seem darkest. While Ray Bradbury knew all too well the darkness that can reside in the human heart, he also remained enthusiastic about life and even humanity. Ray Bradbury never characterized himself as an optimist, but in his work there seems to be the persistent theme that good will defeat evil if only we recognize the good within ourselves.

Ray Bradbury has had an enormous impact on me well beyond the fact that he is my favourite author. I honestly believe that Mr. Bradbury made me a better person. He taught me that it is always better to look to the good in oneself than to give into one's baser instincts. He taught me that even in the darkest of situation there is hope. I think it is very possible that if it were not for the lessons I learned from Ray Bradbury, that I might have given up long ago. I think that might be the most significant thing about Ray Bradbury, that he could save the lives of people that never even met him.

Ben Cross Passes On

Ben Cross, who starred in the movie Chariots of Fire (1981) and starred as Barnabas Collins in the 1991 revival of Dark Shadows, died on August 18 2020 at the age of 72. The cause was cancer.

Ben Cross was born Harry Bernard Cross on December 16 1947 in London. His father died of tuberculosis when he was eight years old. After leaving school, Mr. Cross worked as a window cleaner, waiter, and joiner. He also worked at the Welsh National Opera, and was the Property Master at The Alexandra theatre in Birmingham. When he was 22 Ben Cross enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After graduating from RADA, he performed at The Dukes in Lancaster and later joined the Prospect Theatre Company.

Ben Cross made his television debut in the mini-series Wessex Tales in 1973. In the Seventies he appeared on the television shows Strangers, ITV Playhouse, and The Professionals. He appeared in the TV movie Great Expectations. He made his film debut in 1977 in A Bridge Too Far (1977).

In the Eighties Mr. Cross appeared in the television mini-series The Flame Trees of Thika, The Citadel, The Far Pavilions, and Pursuit. He appeared on the TV shows Play for Today and The Twilight Zone. He appeared in the TV movies Coming Out of the Ice, Strong Medicine, Steal the Sky, and Nightlife. He appeared in the movies Chariots of Fire (1981), L'attenzione (1985), The Assisi Underground (1985), The Unholy (1988), Paperhouse (1988), and La bottega dell'orefice (1988).

In the Nineties he starred as Barnabas Collins in the short-lived revival of the supernatural soap opera Dark Shadows. He appeared on the TV shows The Ray Bradbury Theatre, Tales from the Crypt, and Poltergeist: The Legacy. He appeared in the mini-series The Potato Factory. He appeared in such TV movies as The Diamond Fleece, Hellfire, 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Solomon. He appeared in the movies Eye of Widow (1991), Cold Sweat (1993), The Criminal Mind (1993), The Ascent (1994), Honey Sweet Love (1994), Temptress (1995), First Knight (1995), El último viaje de Robert Rylands (1996), Turbulence (1997), The Corporate Ladder (1997), The Invader (1997), and The Venice Project (1999).

In the Naughts Mr. Cross appeared in the movies Young Blades (2001), The Order (2001), She Me and Her (2002), Exorcist: The Beginning (2004), The Mechanik (2005), Wicked Little Things (2006), When Nietzsche Wept (2007), Finding Rin Tin Tin (2007), Hero Wanted (2008), War, Inc. (2008), and Star Trek (2009). He appeared on the TV show Trial & Retribution. He appeared in the mini-series Spartacus, Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial, and Ben Hur. He appeared in such TV movies as S.S. Doomtrooper, Hannibal, and Grendel.

In the Teens he appeared in such movies as Jack the Giant Killer (1991), A Common Man (2003), The Hurricane Heist (2018), Wildlings (2019), and The Rest is Ashes (2020). He was a regular on the television series Banshee and Pandora. He was a regular voice on the animated series Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja. He appeared on the TV show 12 Monkeys.

Ben Cross was an extremely talented actor and over the years he played a wide variety of remarkable roles. He was Harold Abrahams in the movie Chariots of Fire, Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows, King Solomon in the TV movie Solomon, Rudolf Hess in the mini-series Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial, and Spock's father Sarek on Star Trek. What is more Ben Cross, never gave a bad performance. While it is likely he will always be remembered best for Chariots of Fire, he gave a number of great performances throughout his career.

"Mo'reen" by Paul Revere & The Raiders

Okay, those of you who know me know that August is not an easy month for me, particularly as it gets close to the 30th. That is why I haven't been posting as often as I usually do. It's for that reason that tonight I am taking the easy way out and simply sharing one of my favourite songs with you.

Ever since childhood one of my all-time favourite bands has been Paul Revere & The Raiders. My sister, who is 17 years older than I am, had a few of their albums and I listened to them often growing up. I am particularly a fan of their classic line-up, which consisted of lead vocalist Mark Lindsay, keyboardist Paul Revere, lead guitarist Jim "Harpo" Valley (and before him lead guitarist Drake Levin), bassist Phil "Fang" Volk, and drummer Mike "Smitty" Smith. In the mid-Sixties they released what I consider three of the greatest garage rock/proto-power pop albums of all time: Midnight Ride, Spirit of '67, and Revolution!.

Revolution! features one of my all time favourite Paul Revere & The Raiders songs, "Mo'reen." It is one of Paul Revere & The Raiders' heavier songs,  complete with fuzz bass. Although not as well known, I think it ranks along with "Just Like Me," "Kicks," "Hungry," and "Him Or Me – What's It Gonna Be?" as one of their best songs. Anyway, without further ado, here is "Mo'reen."

The Late Great Trini Lopez

Trini Lopez, the musician and singer known for such hits as "If I Had a Hammer" and "Lemon Tree," died on August 11 2020 at the age of 83. The cause was complications from COVID-19.

Trini Lopez was born Trinidad Lopez III on May 13 1937 in Dallas, Texas. His father, Trinidad Lopez II, had been a singer, dancer, and actor in his native Mexico, but earned a living as a manual labourer. He was a teenager when he married Petra Gonzalez in their hometown of  Moroleón, Guanajuato. They later moved to Dallas and would have six children, including Trinidad Lopez III. Trini Lopez grew up in the area of Dallas known as Little Mexico. He was eleven years old when his father bought him a guitar and taught him how to play it. Young Mr. Lopez began playing on street corners for a few coins. He played tradition Mexican songs, as well as songs by such artists as T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Reed, Elvis Presley, and Buddy Holly. He formed his first band, The Big Beats, when he was 15. The band played at the upscale Cipango Club in Dallas.

In 1958 Trini Lopez met Buddy Holly. Buddy Holly introduced Trini Lopez to his producer, Norman Petty. Unfortunately, both Mr. Lopez's relationship with Norman Petty, as well as his own band, were strained at the time. They released two instrumentals for Columbia Records before Trini Lopez left the band.

Trini Lopez recorded this first single, "The Right to Rock," as a solo artist for Volk Records in Dallas. The label tried to persuade Trini Lopez to change his last name in order to hide the fact that he was Mexican American, but Mr. Lopez refused to do so. It was the next year that he signed with King Records. Trini Lopez recorded around a dozen songs for King Records for the next three years including "Rock On" and "Sweet Thing," but none of them charted.

It was a few months after Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens were killed in a plane crash five miles northwest of Mason City, Iowa on February 3 1959 that The Crickets asked Trini Lopez to be their new lead singer. Mr. Lopez went to Hollywood to join The Crickets, but ultimately it did not work out.

Trini Lopez's big break came when he started playing at P.J.'s, a club frequented by many dignitaries, among them Frank Sinatra. Mr. Sinatra had Trini Lopez signed to his own label, Reprise Records. His first album on Reprise Records, Trini Lopez at PJ's, proved to be a hit, going to no. 2 on the Billboard album chart. Taken from the album was the single "If I Had a Hammer," which peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would be followed by further hits in the Sixties, including "Kansas City" (which went to no. 23 on Billboard Hot 100), "Lemon Tree" (which went to no. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100), and "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" (which went to no. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. His albums did better than his singles, regularly charting throughout the Sixties. Some even broke the top twenty of the Billboard album chart, including More Trini Lopez at PJ's (which peaked at no. 11), The Latin Album (which peaked at no. 18), and The Folk Album (which peaked at no. 18).

Trini Lopez's last single to chart was "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying", which peaked at no. 113 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. He continued to release singles until 1978. Trini Lopez continued to release albums until the Teens, with his last album, Into the Future, being released in 2011. He continued performing well into the Teens.

Trini Lopez was a talented guitarist and in 1964 designed two guitars for the Gibson Guitar Corporation. He designed the Trini Lopez Standard, a guitar for rock and roll, and the Lopez Deluxe, a guitar for jazz.

Trini Lopez also had an acting career. He made his acting debut playing himself in Marriage on the Rocks (1965). He again appeared as himself in Poppies Are Also Flowers (1966). He played Pedro Jiminez in the classic The Dirty Dozen (1967). He also appeared in The Phynx (1970) and Antonio (1973). Mr. Lopez also appeared on television, guest starring on Adam-12 and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries and the TV movie The Reluctant Heroes. In addition to numerous variety shows and talk shows, he also appeared in his own TV special, The Trini Lopez Show, in 1969.

Trini Lopez was truly a force to be reckoned with. He blended such diverse styles as folk, blues, rockabilly and Mexican music. He provided upbeat arrangements for songs that usually aren't upbeat, such as "If I Had a Hammer." He was a virtuoso with the guitar. In addition to his talent as a guitarist and singer, Mr. Lopez also displayed talent as an actor. He shined as Pedro Jiminez in a cast full of stars in The Dirty Dozen. In the Adam-12 episode "Log 115: Gang War," he was impressive as Father Xavier Rojas. Here it must also be mentioned that Trini Lopez was a pioneer with regards to Mexican Americans in popular culture. He refused to change his name, telling the Dallas Morning News in 2017, "You know how many [Latino] artists in America that changed their name? Vikki Carr and Freddy Fender. I insisted on keeping my name Lopez. I'm proud to be a Lopez. I'm proud to be a Mexicano." At a time when images of Mexicans in American pop culture were usually stereotypes, Trini Lopez refused to be anything but himself, paving the way for other artists of Mexican descent. He was a true pioneer and an enormous talent.

Raymond Allen Passes On

Raymond Allen, who played Aunt Esther's alcoholic husband Woodrow on the classic sitcom Sanford and Son, died on August 10 at the age of 91.

Raymond Allen was born March 5 1929 in Kansas City, Kansas. He made his film debut in 1946 in a small part in the film Fight That Ghost. In the Seventies he appeared in the movies Mean Mother (1973) and Darktown Strutters (1975). He first appeared on Sanford and Son as Uncle Woodrow in 1974 and continued to appear on the show until it went off the air in 1977. He reprised his role of Woodrow on the spinoff Sanford Arms. While he was on Sanford and Son, he also appeared in the recurring role of Ned the Wino on Good Times. In 1976 he began appearing on Starsky and Hutch as mechanic Merl the Earl. He guest starred on Insight, The Love Boat and The Jeffresons. He appeared in the TV movie Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster in 1985.

Mr. Allen retired from acting in 1985, although he continued to make personal appearances.

Raymond Allen was a wonderful actor with a real talent for comedy. He stood out as Uncle Woodrow in a cast that included Redd Foxx and LaWanda Page. He stood out on other shows as well, and remains memorable as Ned on Good Times and Merl the Earl on Good Times.

Wayne Fontana Passes On

Wayne Fontana, the British singer who had hits with both The Mindbenders and as a solo artist, died on August 6 2020 at the age of 74.

Wayne Fontana was born Glyn Ellis in Manchester on October 28 1945. He took his stage name from Elvis Preley's drummer D. J. Fontana. In 1962 he formed his backing band The Jets. After various line-up changes to The Jets, in 1963 Wayne Fontana signed to the label named, by total coincidence, Fontana Records. Mr. Fontana's backing band was then renamed The Mindbenders, after the Dirk Bogarde movie The Mind Benders (1963).

Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders' first single, "Hello Josephine," peaked at no. 46 on the British single chart. Their next two singles did not chart. Their first album, the eponymous Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders, was released in 1964. Their next single, "Stop Look and Listen," peaked at no. 37. It was followed by their first major British hit, "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um," which peaked at no. 5 on the British singles chart. It would be their next single that would prove to be Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders' biggest hit. "The Game of Love" peaked at no. 2 on the British singles chart and at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The success of the single would lead to their first American album, The Game of Love.

Unfortunately, Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders were unable to capitalize on the success of "The Game of Love." "It's Just a Little Bit Too Late" did relatively well in Britain, peaking at no. 20, but only went to no. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100. "She Needs Love," Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders' final single together, only went to no. 32 on the British singles chart. One last album, Eric, Rick, Wayne and Bob – It's Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders was released in 1965.

Wayne Fontana left The Mindbenders in October 1965, reportedly in the middle of a concert. Still under contract to Fontana Records, his first single as a solo artist, "It Was Easier To Hurt Her," was released in 1965. It went to no. 36 on the British singles chart. Wayne Fontana had a few hits in 1966. "Come On Home" went to no. 16 on the British singles chart, while "Pamela Pamela" went to no. 11. Despite the success of "Pamela Pamela," continuing to release singles through 1969, "Pamela Pamela" would be his last single to chart. Wayne Fontana was one of the first performers to play at the now legendary Glastonbury Festival in 1970.

After the Glastonbury Festival, Wayne Fontana took a break from music. He signed to Warner Bros. and released the single "Together" in 1973, but it failed to chart. After signing to Polydor, his final single "The Last Bus Home," was released in 1976.  Afterwards he retired from the music industry. He would later perform on the Sixties revival circuit.

Wayne Fontana had his share of problems ever since the Seventies, but that does not erase his contribution to popular music. Both with The Mindbenders and as a solo artist, he recorded a number of memorable songs. In the United States, "The Game of Love" remains one of the best known British songs from the Sixties and still receives a good deal of radio airplay. His contemporaries certainly respected him. Among the tributes to Wayne Fontana were ones from Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits and Terry Sylvester of The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Hollies.