Caroline John Passes On

Caroline John, best known as Liz Shaw on Doctor Who, passed on 5 June 2012 at the age of 72. The cause was cancer.

Caroline John was born on 19 September 1940 in York.  She trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She would later work with both the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the National Theatre. She made her film debut in 1955 in Raising a Riot. In the Sixties she appeared in the film The King's Breakfast (1963). She guest starred on the TV shows Teletale and The Power Game. It was in 1969 that Caroline John joined the cast of Doctor Who as The Doctor's companion Liz Shaw. She remained with the show until 1970. Later Miss John returned as Dr. Shaw in the 1983 Doctor Who episode "The Five Doctors."

In the Seventies Caroline John appeared on such shows as Z Cars, Love Story, and Crown Court. She appeared in the film Assassin (1973). In the Eighties she appeared in such shows as The Bill, A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery, A Perfect Spy, Dramarama, Casualty, and Chancer. She was a regular on the shows Wish Me Luck and Harry Enfield's Television Programme. She appeared in the films The Razor's Edge (1983), Santa Claus (1985), and Link (1985). From the Nineties into the Naughts, Caroline John appeared on such shows as The House of Elliot, EastEnders, Silent Witness, Midsomer Murders, and Vital Signs. She appeared in the film Love Actually (2003).

Caroline John whose experience on stage allowed her to make the role of Dr. Liz Shaw on Doctor Who very convincing, even in the show's most out of the world episodes. Miss John played Liz as intelligent, independent, and a very skilled scientist (she had degrees in physics and medicine). Miss John also gave performances in very nearly every role in which she was ever cast. Even had she not been cast as one of The Doctor's companions, she would be an actress who would be remembered.

Bob Welch Passes On

Bob Welch, one time guitarist with Fleetwood Mac and a successful solo artist, passed on 7 June at the age of 65  or 66. The cause was a self inflicted gunshot wound.

Bob Welch was born in Los Angeles, California on 31 August, 1945 or 31 July 1946 (the date varied from source to source). His father was film and TV producer Robert L. Welch. Bob Welch learned clarinet as a child and as a young teen switched to playing guitar. After his graduation from high school he went to Paris with the intention of attending the University of Paris, although he spent little time on his studies. He later returned to Los Angeles where he studied French at the University of California-Los Angeles.

He dropped out of UCLA and joined the vocal group The Seven Souls as their guitarist in 1964. The Seven Souls would see little success, although their song "I Still Love You (B-side of the single "I'm No Stranger")" would become a Northern Soul standard. The Seven Souls broke up in 1969. Afterwards he moved to Paris where he founded the trio Head West. Head West would not prove to be a success.

It was in 1971 that Bob Welch was invited to join Fleetwood Mac, who had just lost founding members Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer, both guitarists. Future Games, released in 1971, was the first Fleetwood Mac album on which Bob Welch played guitar. He wrote the album's title track and another song on the album, as well as co-wrote one other with the rest of the band. Bob Welch would remain with Fleetwood Mac for the albums Bare Trees and Mystery to Me, and Heroes Are Hard to Find. In 1974 Bob Welch left Fleetwood Mac.

Bob Welch returned to Paris and formed the band Paris with Glenn Cornick (formerly of Jethro Tull) and Thom Mooney (formerly of Nazz). Paris released two albums, Paris in 1976 and, after Hunt Sales replaced Thom Mooney, Big Town, 2061 later in 1976. Neither of Paris' albums were successful. Paris broke up before a planned third album could be recorded.

It was in 1977 that Bob Welch released his first solo album, French Kiss. The album would produce two hit songs, "Ebony Eyes" and "Sentimental Lady."   French Kiss itself went to #12 on the United States album chart. In 1979 he followed French Kiss up with Three Hearts, which produced the hit song "Precious Love."  Three Hearts peaked at #20 on the U.S. album charts. Unfortunately, Mr. Welch's following solo albums would decline in sales. The Other One (1979), Man Overboard (1980), Bob Welch (1981), and Eye Contact (1983) did not even reach the top 100 of the U.S. albums chart.

Unfortunately, as his career went into decline Bob Welch developed a heroin addiction. Once he had recovered from his addiction, Mr. Welch stopped performing and concentrated on his songwriting instead. It was in 1999 that he returned to recording, with the album Bob Welch Looks at Bop.  He would follow this with two albums that combined the songs he wrote for Fleetwood Mac with new material, His Fleetwood Mac Years and Beyond in 2003 and His Fleetwood Mac Years and Beyond 2 in 2006.

Bob Welch was a remarkable guitarist and songwriter who had a large part in changing the direction of Fleetwood Mac from blues to a more pop oriented song. It was largely because of Bob Welch and Christine McVie that Fleetwood Mac would evolve the sound for which it is best known. Although he left the band in 1974, it is likely that had he not joined Fleetwood Mac, they might never have recorded an album like Rumours. Although his solo success would be short lived, during his solo career he produced a good number of remarkable songs. While Bob Welch may have never achieved the phenomenal success that his former band Fleetwood Mac did, arguably he was responsible in part for that success and he contributed a number of great songs in his solo career.

The Late Great Victor Spinetti

British comic actor and film star Victor Spinetti passed on 18 June 2012 at the age of 82. The cause was prostate cancer. He may be best known for his appearances in The Beatles' films A Hard Day's Night (1964) and Help! (1965), as well as their 1967 television special Magical Mystery Tour.

Victor Spinetti was born Vittorio Spinetti on 2 September 1929 in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales. His father was descended of an Italian immigrant who found work in the coal mines in Wales. His mother was a native Welshwoman. His parents operated a chip shop in Cwm, Blaenau Gwent, Wales. Mr. Spinetti attended Monmouth School in Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales. He studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Victor Spinetti made his debut on the West End of London in Expresso Bongo in 1958, playing four different roles. He made his television debut in 1958 in Behind the Mask.  He made his debut on Broadway in New York City in 1960 in The Hostage. Mr. Spinetti appeared in the films The Gentle Terror (1961), Sparrows Can't Sing (1963), The Wild Affair (1963), and Becket (1964). He appeared on television in episodes of the TV shows Richard the Lionhearted and The Saint.

In 1963 Victor Spinetti was appearing on the West End in the satire Oh What a Lovely War. It was one night that two members of The Beatles (already popular in the United Kingdom, but not yet having conquered the United States), John Lennon and George Harrison, visited him backstage. George Harrison told Victor Spinetti that he had to be in The Beatles' film (what would become A Hard Day's Night), all of The Beatles' films. Curious, Victor Spinetti asked, "Why?" George Harrison simply replied, "Because if you’re not in them, me mum won’t come and see them. She fancies you." As a result Victor Spinetti appeared in A Hard Day's Night as the neurotic television director in charge of the programme on which The Beatles were appearing in the film. Victor Spinetti would also appear in The Beatles' second film Help! There he played the mad scientist Foot, desperate to steal the sacrificial ring stuck on Ringo's finger ("With a ring like that I could - dare I say it? - rule the world!").  With his appearance in The Beatles' 1967 television special Magical Mystery Tour, he became the only person besides The Beatles to appear in A Hard Day's Night, Help!, and Magical Mystery Tour. Victor Spinetti would remain friends with The Beatles well after Magical Mystery Tour had aired.

In the Sixties Victor Spintetti also appeared in the films The Taming of the Shrew (1967), The Biggest Bundle of Them All (1968), Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969) . Start the Revolution Without Me (1970), This, That and the Other! (1970), and Defeat of the Mafia (1970). He appeared on television in an episode of Thirty-Minute Theatre. He was a regular on the TV show Two in Clover. He appeared on the West End in Oh What a Lovely War (1963) and appeared in the show when it debuted on Broadway in 1964. He also appeared on Broadway in La Grosse Valise (1965).

In the Seventies Victor Spinetti was a regular on the TV shows Take My Wife and Kelly Moneith. He guest starred on the shows Harriet's Back in Town, Cooper, Bernie, and Time of My Life. He appeared in the films Under Milk Wood (1972), Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973), The Great McGonagall (1974), The Little Prince (1974), The Return of the Pink Panther (1975), Voyage of the Damned (1976), Some Like It Cool (1977), and Fiona (1977).

In the Eighites Mr. Spinetti was a regular on the TV programme Sweet Sixteen and provided the voice of Texas Pete on the animated series SuperTed.  He guest starred on the TV shows BBC Play of the Month, Bad Boyes, and Omnibus. He appeared in the mini-series Mistral's Daughter and Sins. He appeared in the films Under the Cherry Moon (1986) and The Krays (1990).

In the Nineties he was a regular on the TV show An Actor's Life for Me. From the Nineties into the Naughts he guest starred on the shows Paul Merton: The Series, Take Off with T-Bag, Bottom, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, First Degree, New Tricks, and High Hopes. He appeared in the films Julie and the Cadillacs (1999), Wednesday (2006), and Cosa raccomanda lei? (2006).

Victor Spinetti was one of the best comic actors to emerge out of the United Kingdom in the late 20th Century. He had a fantastic wit and he was a master of the English language. At the same time he was very adept at physical comedy. These talents suited him very well, as he easily handled material ranging from The Beatles' films to Shakespeare's comedies to such broad family movies as  Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973). Although Victor Spinetti was perfect for comedy, he could also play dramatic roles as well. He gave excellent performances in both the film Voyage of the Damned and the television movie The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank.

In interviews Victor Spinetti was a great raconteur. By all reports he was also a very warm hearted man. He appeared at many Beatles conventions around the world where he told stories about the making of A Hard Day's Night and Help!, as well as his friendship with The Beatles. Mr. Spinetti was always patient with my fellow Beatles fans and always had kind words for them. Indeed, when he was on Broadway in Oh What A Lovely War he told those Beatles fans who attended to see him that if they behaved he could sit in the front row after the play and he would tell them about The Beatles for 10 minutes. Victor Spinetti did so for the rest of his time with the play. Not many actors would be so kind to take time out to talk to fans of a popular musical group about his experience with them! In the end Victor Spinetti was not just a great comic talent, he was a fine Welsh gentleman.

Kathryn Joosten R.I.P.

Actress Kathryn Jootsen, who was a regular on The West Wing and Desperate Housewives, died 2 June 2012 at the age of 72. The cause was lung cancer.

Miss Jootsen was born on 20 December 1939 in Chicago, Illinois. She worked as a psychiatric nurse at a hospital there. She had two sons and raised a family. She divorced her husband in 1980 and did not decide to take up acting until she was 42 years old. 

Kathryn Jootsen made her film debut in Grandview, U.S.A. (1984).  In the Eighties she appeared in the shows Sable and Lady Blue. She appeared in the film The Package (1989). In the Nineties she appeared on such shows as Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, Grace Under Fire, 3rd Rock From the Sun, E.R., Roseanne, Murphy Brown, Frasier, Seinfeld, N.Y.P.D. Blue, The Nanny, and Home Improvement.  She appeared in the films Eating Las Vegas (1997), Phoenix (1998), and Kiss Toledo Goodbye (1999). In the Naughts she was a regular on The West Wing, Joan of Arcadia, and Desperate Housewives. She appeared on such shows as Dharma & Greg, Spin City, The X-Files, The Drew Carey Show, Charmed, The King of Queens, Will & Grace, Everwood, My Name is Earl, Monk, and Scrubs. She appeared in such films as Wasabi Tuna (2003), Red Roses and Petrol (2003), Breaking Dawn (2004), Hostage (2005), Taking Your Life (2005), Wedding Crashers (2005), and Cheaper by the Dozen (2005).

Platters Founder Herb Reed R.I.P.

Herb Reed, one of the founding members of The Platters, passed on 4 June 2012 at the age of 83. The cause was lung disease.

Herb Reed was born on 7 August 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri. Both of his parents died when he was 13. When he was 15 years old he moved to Los Angeles California. There he started singing in church choirs and later participated in amateur talent contests. It was in 1953 that Herb Reed formed The Platters with David Lynch and lead singer Tony Williams. It was Herb Reed who was credited with naming the group, the term "platters" being slang at the time for records.

The Platters released their first two singles through Federal Records. Unfortunately, both singles failed. Eventually songwriter, producer, and arranger Buck Ram took The Platters under his wing. He would also manage The Penguins, who had a hit single with the song "Earth Angel. When Mercury Records wanted to sign The Penguins, Mr. Ram insisted that they take The Platters as well. In the end The Platters would be the more successful of the two groups. In 1955 they had their first hit with the song "Only You," which went to #5 on the Billboard singles chart. It was followed by the hit single "The Great Pretender,' which went to #1 on the Billboard singles chart.

The Platters would continue to have several hit singles in the late Fifties, including "(You've Got) the Magic Touch," "My Prayer," "You'll Never Know," "Isn't It Right," "I'm Sorry," "Twilight Time," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," and "Harbour Lights." Unfortunately, as the Fifties became the Sixties, The Platters went into decline. After the song "Harbour Lights," The Platters would not hit the top twenty on the Billboard singles chart until 1967 with "With This Ring." From 1961 to 1968 only four of their songs made even to the top 40. While the line up of The Platters changed over the years, Herb Reed remained a constant with the band, staying with the group well into the Sixties.

Once The Platters' recording career ended Herb Reed would continue performing. In the Seventies he toured with a group called The Platters. Unfortunately, other groups calling themselves "The Platters" would eventually spring up, some with no real ties to the original group. Herb Reed would find himself embroiled in a long legal battle to the rights to the name. Eventually, as the lone survivor of the original Platters, Herb Reed would win the rights to the name.

The Platters were one of the most legendary R&B vocal groups of all time with a string of hits, many of which became standards. The Platters were also one of the first groups to break the colour barrier, as their manager Buck Ram encouraged Mercury Records to market the group to both blacks and whites. Herb Reed was a large part of the group's success. He was gifted with a melodious bass voice that lent strength to the group's many songs. Beyond his singular talent as a singer, Mr. Reed was also the original member who remained with The Platters the longest, from the group's founding into the Sixties. With the passing of  Herb Reed, a part of  R&B history has also passed.

120 Years Ago Basil Rathbone Was Born

Even today it is rare for an actor to play both heroic and villainous roles. From John Wayne to Tom Cruise, most actors either stick to wearing white hats or black hats. That having been said, from the Twenties to the Sixties there was an actor who became famous for playing both heroes and villains. He not only played some of the screen's most famous good guys, but some of its most famous bad guys as well. That actor was none other than Basil Rathbone. He was born 120 years ago today on 12 June 1892.

Of course, the most famous role that Basil Rathbone would ever play was a heroic one, that of Sherlock Holmes. He first played the detective in 20th Century Fox's adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939). The film proved successful enough that it was followed by 20th Century Fox's production of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939). The success of both movies would lead to a series produced by Universal Studios, starting with Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror in 1942 and ending with Dressed to Kill in 1946. A total of 12 films were made in Universal's "Sherlock Holmes" series. Not only would Basil Rathbone be so successful in the role of Holmes that he became typecast to some degree, but he would be so successful in the role that to this day he remains for many the quintessential movie version of Sherlock Holmes.

In many ways Basil Rathbone was ideal for the role of Sherlock Holmes, and not simply because he looked the way many people pictured the great detective. The fact is that like Sherlock Holmes, Basil Rathbone was a master of disguise and camouflage. During World War I he had served as an intelligence officer and was so skilful that he once scouted enemy positions in broad daylight!

Basil Rathbone would play other heroic roles besides Sherlock Holmes. One of his more famous roles was that of Baron Wolf von Frankenstein, the son of Henry Frankenstein (creator of the Creature), in Son of Frankenstein (1939). In the film Wolf von Frankenstein attempts to redeem his father's reputation while crossing wits with evil blacksmith Ygor (played by Bela Lugosi). Basil Rathbone would also play detective Philo Vance in one film, The Bishop Murder Case (1929), ten years before he first appeared as Sherlock Holmes. Mr. Rathbone would play heroes in the films The Dawn Patrol (1938--the only film in which he was Errol Flynn's ally) and International Lady (1941).

Of course, while Basil Rathbone played Sherlock Holmes in many films and occasionally played heroes in a few others, beyond playing Holmes he is perhaps best known for playing the villain in many swashbucklers. In fact, his most famous role besides that of Sherlock Holmes may well be that of Sir Guy of Gisbourne in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). The Adventures of Robin Hood would not be the only film in which Basil Rathbone and Errol Flynn fought each other. Mr. Rathbone had also been the villain of Captain Blood (1935). Mr. Rathbone was also the villain in the classic swashbucklers The Mark of Zorro (1940). He would go onto play the villain in the parodies of the old swashbuckler films Casanova's Big Night (1954) and The Court Jester (1955).  Basil Rathbone was not only the villain in swashbuckler movies, but in adaptations of classic literature  such as David Copperfield (1935) and  A Tale of Two Cities (1935). He would play sinister figures in such horror movies as Tower of London (1939), The Mad Doctor (1940), and Tales of Terror (1962).

Just as Basil Rathbone shared skills with Sherlock Holmes, he also shared a skill with the villains he played in his swashbuckler movies. Quite simply, Basil Rathbone was a master fencer. While Errol Flynn won their battles in Captain Blood and The Adventures of Robin Hood, in truth Mr. Rathbone could have beaten Mr. Flynn in matter of minutes, if not seconds. Ironically given his skill in real life and his many on screen sword duels (including ones in Tower of London and The Court Jester), he only won one fight in a movie, playing Tybalt in the 1936 version of Romeo and Juliet!

Ultimately, Basil Rathbone was a singular talent, capable of playing both heroic and villainous roles. In fact, off the top of my head I can only think of one actor who was as capable of playing both good guys and bad guys: Vincent Price. Interestingly enough, Vincent Price's career paralleled that of Basil Rathbone in many ways. Both appeared in costume dramas early in their career and would later appear in horror movies. The two appeared together in Tower of London (1939), Casanova's Big Night (1954), Tales of Terror (1962), and Comedy of Terrors (1963).

Sadly, Basil Rathbone would die of a heart attack at the age of 75 in 1967. He left behind an amazing legacy of films in which he often played the villain, but also films in which he played the hero as well. He was an actor of such skill that he was convincing in playing both good guys and bad guys. Indeed, he played Sherlock Holmes for the first time in the year following his famous turn as Guy of Gisborne! There are very few actors who get to play the hero and the villain in various films. There are still fewer who can do both well. Basil Rathbone was one of those very few.

The Late Great Ann Rutherford

Film star Ann Rutherford, star of films ranging from Pride and Prejudice (1940) to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) , passed yesterday, 11 June 2012, at the age of 94.

Ann Rutherford was born 2 November 1917 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Her father, John Rutherford had been a tenor at the New York Metropolitan Opera. Her mother, Lucille Mansfield, had been a silent film actress. The family moved to California, first to San Francisco and then to Los Angeles. On her way home from school each day Miss Rutherford would stop by the radio stations in Los Angeles to watch the actors in radio dramas perform. It was after she was criticised by her English teacher that she decided she would become an actress. Within a month of her decision Miss Rutherford was employed at Los Angeles station KFAC in the radio drama Nancy and Dick: The Spirit of 76.

Ann Rutherford made her film debut in 1935 in Waterfront Lady at Mascot Pictures (soon to become Republic). For the next few years she would star in B Westerns featuring such actors as John Wayne and Gene Autry, including Melody Trail (1935), The Oregon Trail (1936), The Lawless Nineties (1936), The Lonely Trail (1936), and Public Cowboy No. 1 (1936).  She then moved from Republic to MGM. Her first movie shot at MGM would be The Bride Wore Red (1937), in which she had a small, uncredited role. It was in 1937 that she made a debut as Polly Benedict, Andy Hardy's girlfriend, in You're Only Young Once. From 1938 to 1942 Miss Rutherford would appear in twelve more movies in the popular "Andy Hardy" series, which starred Mickey Rooney. She also appeared in Of Human Hearts (1938), Dramatic School (1938), A Christmas Carol (1938--as the Ghost of Christmas Past), and These Glamour Girls (1939).

It would be in 1939 that Ann Rutherford would appear in what could be her most famous role, that of Scarlett O'Hara's youngest sister, Carreen, in Gone With the Wind (1939). She very nearly did not get the role. Miss Rutherford was under contract to MGM, the head of which was Louis B. Mayer, who also happened to be the father in law of David O. Selznick (the producer of Gone With the Wind). Mr. Selznick had approached Mr. Mayer about borrowing Ann Rutherford for Gone With the Wind, but Mr. Mayer told Miss Rutherford that it was a "nothing part" and he intended to refuse to loan her to Mr. Selznick. Ann Rutherford was a huge fan of the novel and wanted to be in the film so badly that she broke down in tears, something highly unusual for her. Louis B. Mayer then relented and loaned her to David O. Selznick.

Following Gone with the Wind, Ann Rutherford appeared in such films as Pride and Prejudice (1940), Whistling in the Dark (1941), Whistling in Dixie (1942), Happy Land (1943), Whistling in Brooklyn (1943), Bedside Manner (1945), Inside Job (1946), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), and The Adventures of Don Juan (1948).   She would take over the title role in the radio show Blondie in the late Forties.

Miss Rutherford would retire from film in 1950, but she had a healthy career in television ahead of her. In the Fifties she guest starred in such shows as Suspense, Robert Montgomery Presents, General Electric Theatre, Climax, Playhouse 90, The Donna Reed Show, and Perry Mason. Except for a guest appearance on Perry Mason in 1964, Ann Rutherford would not appear on screen again until 1969 in a guest appearance on Love American Style. She would guest star twice more on Love American Style, and she would guest star on The Bob Newhart Show, playing the mother of Emily Hartley (Suzanne Pleshette). She also appeared in the films They Only Kill Their Masters (1972) and Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976). Her later years Ann Rutherford spent attending many special screenings and conventions for Gone With the Wind. Aside from Olivia de Havilland, she was the final surviving major cast member from the film.

The first thing that anyone would notice about Ann Rutherford is that she was beautiful. I have often said my first classic film crush was Vivien Leigh, an event which occurred when I saw Gone With the Wind for the first time. That having been said, my crush on Ann Rutherford was not far behind. I always thought she was incredibly beautiful, whether in the B Westerns I watched when I was young or the major feature films she made in the Forties. Indeed, I could never understand why Polly Benedict remained faithful to Andy Hardy in all those films when his head was constantly being turned by other girls (Judy Garland and Lana Turner among them). As a lad I always thought that as pretty as Polly was she could easily find another boyfriend who wouldn't even look at another girl!

Of course, as I got older I learned that Ann Rutherford was not just beautiful, but she was also a very good actress. More often than not she played girl friends and fiancées in her movies, but she endowed them with life and character that a less talented actress might not be able to. When she did receive a role that worth her talent, Miss Rutherford showed just how good of an actress she really was. Indeed, despite being on screen for what is actually only a few minutes, Ann Rutherford made a big impression as Carreen O'Hara, Scarlett's overly optimistic, younger sister. She was also quite good as the impulsive and headstrong Lydia Bennett in the 1940 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. One of her best roles was also one of her less sympathetic. She was impressive in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty as Walter's none too bright, yet still nagging fiancée Gertrude. 

Not only was Ann Rutherford one of Hollywood's great beauties and a very fine actress, but from my fellow Gone With the Wind fans who had the opportunity to speak to her, even briefly, I have heard that she was one of the sweetest women one could meet, a true lady. She always made time for her fans and always had kind words for them. Not only did she frequently appear at various Gone With the Wind events, but she also donated many things to the Gone With the Wind museum in Atlanta, Georgia, including an original script. She was known for her generosity and was always helping others. In the end Ann Rutheford was not simply a talented and glamorous actress, she was a woman who was a beautiful on the inside as she was on the out.