"The Valley of the Dolls" Did Not Take Place During the "Summer of Love"

They have nothing in common so why combine them into one posting? Because I can ramble on and say whatever I want on this blog -- that's why! Does anyone have a problem with that?

Again, it just amazes me that one of your favorite movies is also one of mine. One of two things has happened ... you've turned into a fat, 53 year old man with a penchant for campy movies starring aging/fading Hollywood has-beens or I've turned into a chick flick/tear jerker fanatic! OK - let's not beat around the bush ... we know that men of my ILK love anything that reeks of camp! And God knows I've got my fair share of Broadway show tune genes! DUH! I guess it's obvious!

I watch "The Valley of the Dolls" every time it's on TV. I love the theme song and I love watching Barbara Parkins and Patty Duke -- but let's not forget Susan Hayward, another one of my absolute faves!

Barbara Parkins was so lovely, fresh off the set of "Peyton Place". Where is she? I was enamored of her, she was so beautiful. And I have always loved Patty Duke, that little fresh-faced muffin (I think I liked Cousin Cathy even more). Both Barbara and Patty were 60s TV icons, it was impossible not to like them -- especially when you're 12 years old (as we were).

Remember when "Peyton Place" was on TV three nights a week? We were in grade school and I watched it every night. Never missed an episode ... and then we'd talk about it the next day at school! We thought it was so provocative ... maybe even lurid. Rodney Harrington, Allison MacKenzie, I'll never forget them!

They say history repeats itself ... I did the same thing with "Dallas", "Dynasty", "Falcon Crest", et al -- I was also enthralled with those TV shows. We had our soap opera phase, didn't we ... "Dark Shadows". "All My Children", "General Hospital". My phase lasted through the early 80s and I couldn't get enough when I was at my most addicted!

I think that "The Valley of the Dolls" also had a certain lurid appeal to it. The book was considered "dirty" at the time and certainly trashy (of course, it couldn't compare to "Sin One, Sin All", remember our first foray into "pornography"? We didn't even know what "get your rocks off" meant!)

Lastly, I hear the Whitney Museum in New York has a fabulous exhibit of "Summer of Love" memorabilia. A friend of mine from Miami went to see it and spent 5 hours there. She got these very groovy postcards that are psychedelic and brought back a poster of Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisted". The young punks at work didn't know who he was ... only us "mature" folks recognized him! The local oldies station here in Miami is giving away trips to San Francisco to see the concert in Golden Gate Park on Labor Day weekend. Anyway, if I can get a really cheap airfare, I want to come up and see the exhibit. Remember how much we wanted to go to "Woodstock"? We had a very colorful and rich experience growing up ... I wouldn't have changed it for the world!

Love you Syl -- always have and always will.

You Are "Effin' Amazing!"

OH MY GOD! "By jove, I think she's got it!" (Can you say "My Fair Lady"?)

Absolutely, positively, completely and totally RIGHT! I told you #7 was a trick question but you weren't tricked -- it's not movie dialogue, it's a line from the song "Ode to Billie Joe". And yes, what exactly did they throw off of the Talahatchee Bridge?.

So #4, where's it from? It's dialogue between Constance Bennett and Lana Turner in the movie "Madame X".

The plot: Holly Parker (Turner), a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, meets and marries the future Senator Clayton Anderson (John Forsythe) from Connecticut (he is on the fast track to the White House). The Senator is always on the road, fulfilling his political ambitions, and the lonely Holly becomes involved with the Lothario Phil Benton (Ricardo Montalban). When Holly breaks-up with Phil, he accidentally falls down the stairs and dies. Estelle Anderson (Bennett), the Senator's mother, learns of Holly's scandalous behavior and she arranges for Holly to fake her own death by drowning at sea, ultimately disappearing forever, and thereby avoiding a scandal that could forever tarnish the Senator's reputation and embarrass their 4 year old son.

In the scene, Holly passionately questions Estelle's plan and her underlying motive, to which Estelle SCOWLS,

"TO BE RID OF YOU"!

This is the scene in the movie during which the line is said.

It's so campy ... and even though the line is meant to show Estelle's innate hatred of Holly, the delivery of the line always makes me laugh!

I'd bet $$$ to doughnuts that you know the plot of "Madame X", but just in case, here's a link. It's a definite tear jerker (I'm not giving away any more of the plot except to say that Holly falls to the bottom of the barrel, murders a man to save her son from learning about her shady past, and then goes on trial for the man's murder). You've got to see it, if you already haven't!

http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article.jsp?cid=88744&mainArticleId=31278

Love you Syl ---

Always Have and Always Will!