YIKES

Just learned that the link to cinema retro in last post was incorrect;
This one WILL take you there. An interesting site to explore and a very nice interview that Graham Hill did with and for me.

http://www.cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/3275-GEORGINA-SPELVIN-A-DEVILISH-DELIGHT!.html

New Interview

Graham Hill took this snapshot of me after our lunch date at the Beachwood Cafe. Of course, I didn't have my camera along to get a shot of him, but, trust me, he's a darling man - a bit reminiscent of our beloved Benny Hill, but calmer. Who's Graham Hill?
Well, he is someone who has always loved HOLLYWOOD, it's history and it's movies. Having moved to the United States from England, just to work in HOLLYWOOD. He tracked down all the locations and movie sets he had grown up with. And in doing so, became a HOLLYWOOD historian.
He's nowhere near as famous as a Leonard Maltin, but he has written numerous articles for magazines including CINEMA RETRO, for the British and American Film Institutes and many others. Has given tours and lectured on studio history and even produced documentaries such as MATINEE RANCH and HOLLYWOOD ON PARADE.

Graham maintains a huge research library of books and DVD's on HOLLYWOOD and all it's classic movies and TV shows. He feels honored that he has met so many stars, directors, writers, stuntmen etc., people who's names he always remembered from childhood...

Imagine my delight when he contacted me and asked if he could interview me! He and his lovely wife, Gina, met John and me for lunch one day and we've been pals since. He has gifted us with many dvd's of amazing collections of Hollywood "bests."

Here's a link to the interview.
http://www.cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/3275-GEORGINA-SPELVIN-A-DEVILISH-DELIGHT!.html#extended

I feel like I have no right to be so pleased with my life on this Memorial Day when so many who made the supreme sacrifice are being duly honored. But I can't help it. I am so fortunate - and so grateful.

Bon Voyage, Marilyn

Here is a recent portrait taken by the talented Mr. Steve Zambrano of our recently departed pal. He brought it - and another he had shot of her with her daughter, MacKenna - to the fairwell party said daughter and the Devine M's best friend Peggy arranged at Zuma Beach on - appropriately - Earth Day, April 22nd. Hearing all the great stories and parting words from a host of those who knew her so much better than I, was wonderful. It was a somber day, but the lovely lavendar festooned dias and 57 - count them - 57 lavender baloons framing it made for a festive feel in spite of a chilling and unremitant wind. The balloons were in celebration of the almost 57 years she was with us - April 22nd being her 57th birthday. Two very talented sculptors, whose names I didn't get - damn it - had been out on the chill beach since 6am building a sand replica of our lady of the Green Door. If any of you have pictures from the occasion - especially of that sculpture - please email them to me. Several folks there said they would send pictures, but I've not received any as yet, and I just couldn't let another day go by without posting this small tribute to that so much larger than life personality - our beloved Ms. Chambers. Bon Voyage, Marilyn.

Marilyn Remembered

A new star graces that firmament we can't quite reach. Though, sometimes, it truly seems we actually can, and do. At least it often seems that way to me. Especially in my garden. Yesterday morning I was getting feelings of excitement from my two best biker buds - Iron Mike and Pegleg Flix. I often "hear from" them out there. Couldn't make out any clear "messages." Oh, I don't actually hear voices or anything. Don't call the funny farm - yet. It's sort of imaginary email. Anyway, I couldn't think of what was making me think so of the aforementioned "biker buds." Then I felt a wave of "Wow" from old Henri Pachard - who will always be Ron Sullivan to me. Not until I opened up my email shortly thereafter did it all make sense. The Devine Ms. Chambers had arrived! No wonder "the guys" were in a twitter. Now, please don't think I do not feel sorrow. Well, some sorrow - especially for her daughter - and for her multitude of friends and fans - but I feel more a sense of gratitude that I got to meet her a few times. I was even in her (I think) last film. Just a cameo walk-on, but I thank my good buddy Veronica Harte, who was directing it, for that perk. I'm very proud to be able to say, "Yes, I was in one of her movies."

Naturally, I thought back on the weekend she, Chuck, and I spent in Chicago with the indominable "Professor Irwin Corey." He, she, and I were guest judges at a nude beauty pagent. Chuck rode shotgun. Much hilarity ensued, as I recount in my book, The Devil Made Me Do It.
Alas, that was about the longest time I ever got to spend with her.



Here we are at one of the "company picnics" where I was honored to present her with a Lifetime Achievement Award from her peers.





She was a true original. The sweetness of her nature permeated every corner of any room she entered.

I raise my glass of Perrier to you, Dear Lady of the Soap Box. Happy Trails.

LA Times Festival of Books

The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society (GLAWS) has accepted me as a member! Not only that, I am one of the authors to be represented at their booth - #631 - at the forthcoming LA Times Festival of Books on the UCLA campus in Westwood.

I'll be there with books to sell and handouts to hand out on Saturday, April 25th, from 4 to 6 pm and again on Sunday, April 26th, from noon until 2pm. Be sure to let me know if you are there because of reading this. I actually do try to keep track of that sort of thing. Details of the event can be seen here.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Spring Equinox. It's Easter, it's Passover, it's flowers all over the place and I just love it.

Another Denise creation

Hi Chele,

I found another great pic of you online and souped it up with some pink fog and ornate hearts...The Dancing Queen of Hearts

xo

Denise

Ah me. So I got out the tape measure. Yes, the circumference is the same at 73 years of age - but it's all a LOT LOWER.

So I asked the talented Denise...

I asked my friend, the very talented artist, Denise LaFrance, where she found that image of my foot. Her answer:

I was on this photosite and saw a pic of a lady in a bath tub and I then thought of how her there in the tub reminded me of you in the tub...so then I went on youtube and searched for a clip from your film.

I found the movie clip...so then I saw that scene with you and your lovely and cute foot turning the taps on with your foot ( as you'd mentioned you always do^^)--so I then pushed PAUSE and got my camera and snapped a picture of the still/paused shot.

THEN I brightened up the colors, imported the picture to my photobucket account where I could then add the steamy effect on the edge and put a frame which I chose in pink...for that 'bathroomy' feel...and then added some glitter & blinking graphics to create an homage to you, your film and your lovely famous foot!^^.

The blinking image I shall attatch here--it's another type of file and I was not sure if or if not you'd be able to open such a file//but I can at least try and so I send it to you here now..you have to click here:

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z142/DeniseLaFrance/?action=view&current=ChelesFOOTinbathtub-1.gif