What's all you good people watching on the telly ? Shorter title next time !
In 1975, Michael Parkinson discussed with Bette Davis, her legendary status in Hollywood. pic.twitter.com/AxFgwdsFc2
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 6, 2022
Just in case anyone missed my latest Blog piece - I'm going to post it here too. The Dead Alice Blog pages have been fixed by Sugar Tits so that the video posts that were making it impossible to load and view are fixed now. But, because the pages are so feature-heavy they may be quicker to display on a more regular post. Either way it's good to spread things around for a wider audience, I think, and I may do this more often. And, if I mentioned all this before, sorry. 🤣😜
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This shot features Janet Leigh’s belly button. Hard to tell but is it an outie?
Janet Leigh (pre shower scene) pic.twitter.com/W4ZUFIotEw
— Follower of Lilith (@BratDollsPatron) September 25, 2022
This may not seem important but belly buttons weren’t allowed in movies when Psycho was filmed in 1959 and released in 1960.
Nevertheless, Hitchcock managed to squeeze a quick flash past the censors.
We’ll get to that shot, but first, look at this image and don’t get distracted. Note the model’s belly button.
Recognise this belly button?
If you put two and two together and got Marli’s belly button, well done!
Photo: after-all-i-dream:
axemansjazz:
Marli Renfro (Janet Leigh’s body double in Psycho… https://t.co/nyuBC31ikP pic.twitter.com/hirqSqngnJ
— Universal Oleg (@oleh_universal) November 2, 2015
El Rey Club, Searchlight NV, March 1961
L to R: Mari Renfro (Janet Leigh's body double in “Psycho”), Virginia Gordon, Linda Gibson, Sandi Silver, and Patti Brooks.
Found on Vintage Las Vegas @Tumblr. pic.twitter.com/sm3QkmRSAq— Scott Marks (@scottmarks) January 20, 2022
Readers of The Dude would’ve known in 1961.
Today’s best second-hand buy: a pair of issues of The Dude magazine from 1961/62 pic.twitter.com/3Wh8fTot6Q
— Steven Sheil (@SSheil) June 17, 2022
Includes a pictorial with Marli Renfro, Janet Leigh’s shower body double from Psycho, a short story by Evan Hunter (Ed McBain) and copious ‘racy’ cartoons pic.twitter.com/VP8isPo8S4
— Steven Sheil (@SSheil) June 17, 2022
But not everyone remembers The Dude. Including me. I’d never heard of it and the title given its date, frankly, surprised me.
As did this.
Janet Leigh’s body double in the shower scene for Psycho was 21-year-old Playboy cover girl Marli Renfro. She worked for 7 days on that single scene. And it’s her hand that you see clenching the curtain as the life slowly drains from her limp body. pic.twitter.com/NoIyufnu0O
— Bad Spit (@BadSpit) March 31, 2022
And this.
Janet Leigh's body double in PSYCHO was a Playboy Club bunny, a casual nudist, and once was misreported as dead. https://t.co/pM4jG09RVt
— Tyler Coates (@tylercoates) October 20, 2017
Marli’s being misreported as dead relates to a serial killer and a real-life tragedy.
Janet Leigh’s body double in Psycho, Myra Davis, was killed by a serial killer in 1988. Police suspected Davis' grandson of committing the crime, leaving the real killer free to continue his killing spree. https://t.co/hcCkDi0MJ4
— bad websites (@badwebsites) June 21, 2022
Myra Davis was a lighting stand-in for Janet Leigh rather than her body double for the shower scene. Her murder wasn’t solved until 13 years after her tragic death.
Starting a new book. A true crime story about Janet Leigh’s body double in the Psycho shower scene. Uplifting! pic.twitter.com/HoAwwFGq
— Robert Mills (@RobertMills) December 30, 2012
Myra
Also worked as Saul Bass’ model for the shower scene storyboards
Original storyboard (hand-sketched by Saul Bass) for the iconic shower scene in Hitchcock's seminal horror classic Psycho, which premiered in NYC 62 years ago today. pic.twitter.com/912yE0MUR8
— Little White Lies (@LWLies) June 16, 2022
A sad ending to a journey down the rabbit hole that began with, well, belly buttons.
You think you see the knife penetrate skin in #Psycho’s shower scene, but it did not. That specific shot that was filmed in reverse. This was how Hitchcock bypassed the censors’ scissors. pic.twitter.com/KVll8Petp6
— TerrorMolins (@terrorMolins) December 12, 2018
Marli Renfro, Janet Leigh's body double in PSYCHO, in person for #7852doc this Friday and Saturday (5pm screenings only) at @camelottheatres in Palm Springs!
Info: https://t.co/9HqPWY5ZwW pic.twitter.com/lKpUQAp9wq
— IFC Midnight (@IFCMidnight) December 21, 2017
9 October 1900. Legendary actor, Alastair Sim, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His best loved roles were in the films Scrooge, a Christmas favourite, and as the headmistress in the St Trinians films. pic.twitter.com/DaTkUSImJZ
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 9, 2022
9 October 1936. Legendary British actor, Brian Blessed, was born in Mexborough, Yorkshire. He’s best known for playing PC “Fancy” Smith in Z-Cars, Augustus in BBC series I, Claudius, and Boss Nass in Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace. pic.twitter.com/7NE83swlCu
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 9, 2022
#OTD 1985 – George Orson Welles, 70, US actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, designer. (b. 1915)
Writer/Director and/or Actor: Citizen Kane (1941) The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) The Stranger (1946) The Lady from Shanghai (1947) Macbeth (1948) Othello (1951) Mr. Arkadin (1955) pic.twitter.com/8J5bMaK5t7
— Lauren Facall (@Lauren66793666) October 9, 2022
In Remembrance of Yul Brynner who passed away on this day, 10 October, 1985 (age 65) in New York City, New York, USA.
Photo | Yul Brynner in a publicity portrait for The King And I (1956, directed by Walter Lang courtesy of the Silver Screen Collection. pic.twitter.com/bIJsOCSMYc
— Hollywood Golden Age of Cinema (@HGACinema) October 10, 2022
Today in History
October 10th
2004:
Superman Christopher Reeve dies at age 52
2004, the actor Christopher Reeve, who became famous for his starring role in four Superman films, dies from heart failure at the age of 52 at a hospital near his home in New York #OTD pic.twitter.com/6naM7a3sxm— Connie Landro (@clandro) October 10, 2022
11 October 1957. Popular comedy actress, Dawn French, was born in Holyhead, Wales. She’s best known for starring in the BBC comedy sketch show, French and Saunders, with Jennifer Saunders, and for playing, Geraldine Granger, in the BBC comedy sitcom, The Vicar of Dibley. pic.twitter.com/QcRhXwCB9Z
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 11, 2022
11 October 1958. The first edition of the BBC1 sports programme, Grandstand, was broadcast. The first presenter was Peter Dimmock, who was replaced after three programmes by David Coleman. The programme ran until 28 January 2007. pic.twitter.com/SmHOqYgVbN
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 11, 2022
12 October 1953. Popular comedian, actor and TV presenter, Les Dennis, was born in Liverpool. He’s best known as presenter of Family Fortunes from 1987 until 2002. He was also a regular in Coronation Street and has since played several critically acclaimed roles in the theatre. pic.twitter.com/pZrySqoIfh
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 12, 2022
12 October 1965. The first episode of the BBC dubbed French-German series, The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, was broadcast. It was much loved. Only 13 episodes were produced, and the series ended on 4 January 1966, before being frequently repeated. pic.twitter.com/3VrupdEMPi
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 12, 2022
Quote from Anne On on October 12, 2022, 6:13 pm
12 October 1965. The first episode of the BBC dubbed French-German series, The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, was broadcast. It was much loved. Only 13 episodes were produced, and the series ended on 4 January 1966, before being frequently repeated. pic.twitter.com/3VrupdEMPi
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 12, 2022
Well it must have been repeated for quite some time cos as old as I am I wasn't around when it was first broadcast. 1 of the most rememberable theme tunes from my childhood though.
There was another dubbed series back then, possibly Czech or Yugoslav, The White Horses. And Belle and Sebastian. Oh and The Flashing Blade.
Then there were totally weird dubbed 1s like the Singing Ringing Tree - it was a bit disturbing and totally crap.
But back to childhood theme tunes. Doctor Who is still on the go with a few modifications.
BUT my favourite theme tune from all those years ago has to be Black Beauty.
Although Robinson Crusoe wouldn't be far behind. That clip was a very short version of the full theme. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Denis King (born 25 July 1939)
“was born in Hornchurch, Essex, England.[1] He began his musical career at the age of six as a banjolele-playing singer at children's matinees and, by the age of thirteen, with his two older brothers, Mike and Tony, was a member of one of the most successful pop groups of the 1950s and 1960s, The King Brothers[2] — considered to be Britain’s first boy band. Denis played the piano, Mike the guitar, and Tony the double bass.[1]
By the time King was thirteen, The King Brothers were touring around the U.K. in what was known as twice-nightly variety (the equivalent of America's vaudeville), performing two shows a night in one town before moving on to the next the following week. For two years King attended a different school in a different town almost every week. Along with concerts and tours around Europe, The King Brothers did summer shows, and television appearances, played the Windmill Theatre and, in 1956, became the youngest variety act to play the London Palladium.[1] Within a year they were in the UK Singles Chart. "A White Sport Coat" and "Standing On The Corner" were their biggest successes.[1] They appeared with Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Frankie Vaughan, Roy Castle, Shirley Bassey, Alma Cogan, Ronnie Corbett, Bruce Forsyth, Morecambe and Wise, as well as American stars Bobby Darin, Howard Keel, Sammy Davis Jr, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan, Sophie Tucker and Frank Sinatra.
Later career[edit]
With the disbanding of the group in 1970, Denis studied orchestration at the Guildhall School of Music in London and got his first break in television writing the music for The Adventures of Black Beauty ("Galloping Home"),[1] which won an Ivor Novello Award.[3]
You've got taste, Barney! I just LOVE the Black Beauty theme. The first two notes kill me and it's a rollercoaster of emotion from there. Just love it 😍😍
13 October 1974. TV presenter, Ed Sullivan, died (aged 73). He’s best known as the creator and the host of the popular TV variety programme? The Ed Sullivan Show, which broadcast from 1948 to 1971 and was the longest-running variety show in US broadcast history. pic.twitter.com/CkKEP3leA9
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 13, 2022
14 October 1927. Roger Moore was born in London. He starred in the TV serials, The Saint, The Persuaders, and Ivanhoe, before becoming James Bond, 007. He appeared in 7 Bond films from 1973 to 1985. His witty portrayal of Bond was far removed from the Ian Fleming novels. pic.twitter.com/T585lCZKfR
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 14, 2022
14 October 1959. Australian born Hollywood heart-throb, Errol Flynn, died of a heart attack (aged 50). He was best known for his role as Robin Hood in The Adventures of Robin Hood. Other films include Captain Blood, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Dodge City, and Santa Fe Trail. pic.twitter.com/wJKLSk25L4
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 14, 2022