John Amos is awesome! But the set of Good Times was not.

Have you ever heard the behind-the-scenes trivia of the actors versus producers battle of the CBS 1970's hit "Good Times"? No, then listen up. But first, do you remember what series "Good Times" was a spin off from? Esther Role was the no-nonsense maid from Bea Arthur's hit show "Maude". Audiences liked her so much that they gave her a spin off. Created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans (the original Lionel on "All In The Family and The Jeffersons) the show hit the airwaves in 1974 on CBS. It was one of the first TV shows that featured the struggles of a lower income african american family in which the mother and father were strong and upheld good values for their kids. The show wasn't afraid of taking chances with controversial topics like race and unemployment.

Apparently, as the show progressed John Amos and Esther Role were fighting to keep the show's reputation of pushing-the-limits in tact. But as Jimmie Walker's character of JJ began to take-off the plots began turning more toward his goofy character and away from those social issue based episodes.

As a result John Amos left after 2 seasons and Esther Role left after 3. The show's last episode aired on August 1st 1979 but it still rings as a groundbreaking show from the 1970's that still has legs today. You can still see it on TV Land to this day ( www.tvland.com )

....and don't forget to look for Janet Jackson's adorable Penny.

Eric Chilton

CLASSIC TV GETS THE STAMP OF APPROVAL

HEY COLLECTORS here's your next list of things to get. The US Postal Service is issuing commemorative stamps dealing with some of our favorite classic TV shows.
With these stamps, the U.S. Postal Service commemorates 20 great shows from TV’s golden age of the 1950s. For more than half a century, Americans have turned to television for entertainment and information. To those watching in its early days, TV offered the additional excitement of the new. Whether laughing at the first situation comedies, tingling at crime dramas, or identifying with ordinary people who had their day in the spotlight on game shows, audiences were charmed by the novelty of the young medium. Today, memories from television’s “childhood”—often especially vivid—are a pure pleasure.
The stamps recognize The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet; Alfred Hitchcock Presents; Dinah Shore Show; Dragnet; Ed Sullivan Show; George Burns & Gracie Allen Show; Hopalong Cassidy; The Honeymooners; Howdy Doody; I Love Lucy; Kukla, Fran and Ollie; Lassie; The Lone Ranger; Perry Mason; Phil Silvers Show; The Red Skelton Show; Texaco Star Theater; The Tonight Show; Twilight Zone; and You Bet Your Life.
These are an awesome collectable for those...like myself....who love the glory days of the "little screen". I'll see you in line at the Post Office. LOL

CLICK HERE to go to the USPS Commemorative Stamp page!

JOHN HUGHES: The voice of a generation

John Hughes was a legend for anyone who was a tween or a teen in the 80's. I grew up with his coming of age movies. Who couldn't find SOMEONE in one of his movies that you could identify with. He was either a writer, producer or a director for literally ALL movies that explored the hormone-driven, angst-ridden amusement park ride called adolescence. I remember once saying...this John Hughes guy is like 15 years older than me but he just GETS IT. How did he do it. He was a guy in his mid 30's writing movies for teenagers!! I actually think that "The Breakfast Club" was a piece of movie magic. To capture the cross-section of teenaged stew and splatter it on the screen mixed with a soundtrack that rivals ALL soundtracks is something rarely seen before or since. It was Hughes who gave us The Brat Pack.... he gave us National Lampoon's Vacation, Ferris Bueller, Molly Ringwald, "Ducky", Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy and the list goes on. He was brilliant and I was...and will always be...a true fan. Ya know its really sobering to watch as the icons of my 80's adolesence leave us one by one. Just when I thought I was realizing that MJ was actually gone...now I have this to deal with.
I think we should all go to our old VHS stack and blow the dust off of "The Breakfast Club" and relive what is THE movie for the 80's teenager. We all KNEW someone in that movie whether it was ourselves or someone in high school...we knew them.
Now go watch....remember...reflect... and have a glass of wine (its ok...you're legal now. LOL)

John Hughes was a master. We were lucky to have his vision brought into our crazy, confusing teenage lives.

ROSE MARIE (The Dick Van Dyke Show)

Hey! I was very excited to have an interview with the incomparable Rose Marie. Who could forget the witty "Sally Rogers" from The Dick Van Dyke Show. Mrs. Marie was also a regular on Hollywood Squares and has been making audiences laugh for decades. But here's your TRIVIA ALERT! Did you know that Al Capone (or as she called him ...UNCLE AL) helped her get a start. She also had connections with Bugsy Segal!! Tune in and "get made" with Rose Marie. Check out my interview using the blue player above.

BOB MILLS: A WRITER FOR BOB HOPE

Most of us remember the guy below...known for his quick wit and dead pan delivery Bob Hope was a king of classic Hollywood. But did you know that a team of writers helped Hope through all those television specials and the guy to the left, Bob Mills was a member of that royal court. We are thrilled to interview Bob and hear not only the backstage stories of Bob Hope but also the stars that surrounded him during those fabulous shows!! It promises to be a LOAD OF FUN. Join us TONIGHT for Bob Mills, writer for the king...Bob Hope.

ALSO: CHECK OUT HIS BOOK TO THE RIGHT. IT IS PHENOMENAL

TIPPI HEDREN

She was one of Hitchcock's most famous blondes. Tippi Hedren was the classic beauty we loved in Hitch's "The Birds" (1963). Tippi plays a wealthy San Francisco playgirl follows a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town where birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people. You know the plot. I remember this one as one of the first horror movies I ever saw. Of course I saw the edited for television version as a kid but it really struck a chord with me. Scary.
Tippi pretty much owes her acting career to Alfred Hitchcock who saw her on a commercial while watching the Today show in 1962 and signed her to star in his next film. In the commercial for a diet drink, she is seen walking down a street and a man whistles at her slim, attractive figure, and she turns her head with an acknowledging smile. In the opening scene of The Birds (1963), the same thing happens as she walks toward the bird shop. This was an inside joke by Hitchcock.
Rumours had it that Hitch tried to have a relationship with her during the filming of The Birds...it didn't work.
She starred in the title role of the Hitchcock film Marnie the following year but the movie was a flop and ended the working relationship between her and Hitchcock.
Over the years she has won numerous awards for her work in animal rights and is president of a group she started called "The Roar Foundation".
We are very excited to have interviewed a star of this caliber and class. She is one of a kind....make sure you listen to Tippi unplugged. :)

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

Just a quick note about the passing of Michael Jackson. We all joked about him at one time or another but we all knew his incredible talents as well. Lately I've been thinking back through his life and realizing that his lack of a childhood was damaging to this man. Then I found the lyrics to his song "Childhood". It's as if he is speaking to us from the grave. Very sad.
I loved him as a performer. Here are the lyrics. Long live the king of pop.




"Childhood"

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for the world that I come from
'Cause I've been looking around
In the lost and found of my heart...
No one understands me
They view it as such strange eccentricities...
'Cause I keep kidding around
Like a child, but pardon me...

People say I'm not okay
'Cause I love such elementary things...
It's been my fate to compensate,
for the Childhood
I've never known...

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like pirates in adventurous dreams,
Of conquest and kings on the throne...

Before you judge me, try hard to love me,
Look within your heart then ask,
Have you seen my Childhood?

People say I'm strange that way
'Cause I love such elementary things,
It's been my fate to compensate,
for the Childhood I've never known...

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like fantastical stories to share
The dreams I would dare, watch me fly...

Before you judge me, try hard to love me.
The painful youth I've had

Have you seen my Childhood...

"Confessions of A Prairie Bitch" We've got Nellie Oleson!!

Her name is Alison Arngrim, in case you didn't know, and oh how we loved to hate her as the golden locked evil Nellie on Little House On The Prairie. Well, if you have never heard an interview with her since her 70's heyday then you are in for a treat. She was truly one of our most honest interviewees EVER! Her edgy sense of humor is so fun especially when you remember the "innocence" of the show that made her famous. There's one story that I absolutely love which involves the Different Strokes kids...that's all I'll say...you have to listen.
She has a one woman stand-up show called "Confessions Of A Prairie Bitch" which is hilarious. (Go to Youtube and check it out...too many to post here)
So get your bonnets and lunch pails and lets head back in time to the days of Ma, Pa, Half-Pint and the "Prairie Bitch". See ya there.

Oh, and if you didnt hate Nellie before...get your tissues and watch this clip. :)

1976 A Year To Remember

1976 is mostly remembered as the bicentennial year. Remember CBS' Bicentennial Moments? But for me it was a year to remember in television as well.
I have looked through the primetime lineup of that year and it brought so many memories back I had cerebral overload!
First of all...here is the lineup courtesy of superseventies.com

Lets just get the obvious out there. I mean, no need to hide the hideous folks. Yes, The Captain and Tennille had their own show on Monday Nights at 8pm.

I know its not from their show but nothing says 70's like Cap and Toni. :)
ABC's power line up was definitely Tuesday with Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley and Rich Man, Poor Man. Meanwhile CBS dominated on Saturday nights with The Jeffersons, Mary Tyler Moore, The Bob Newheart Show and The Carol Burnette Show. WHAT A LINE UP!!!
Some of the shows that weren't HUGE hits but rang a bell for me were Delvecchio on CBS, Spencer's Place (CBS) and Switch. Google those and I'm sure you'll remember some of them.
Interesting that CBS seemed to have the women's lib night on Monday with Phyllis, Rhoda and Maude. All were spin offs of Mary Tyler Moore or All In The Family.
And who could forget the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie which was either Columbo, McCloud, MacMillan and Wife or Quincy M.E.


Enjoy these openings as well...and keep on remembering!!!
We will see you next time!

JULIE NEWMAR IS THE QUEEN!!!

There's nothing more to say than "rrroooowwwlllll". Yes we have Julie Newmar. The sexiest most sultry Catwoman of them all. I'll bet Adam West was pointing north when she walked on the set. Did I just say that out loud. Anyway, what a beautiful woman and what a great Catwoman. Join us as we delve deeper into the world of Julie and get the behind-the-scenes stories of the Batman series that holds its weight even today.
That's Friday June 5th at 7:30pm EST!!!

RIP TAYLOR: SHARE THE MADNESS!!

If you remember "The $1.98 Beauty Show" then you remember the crazy RIP TAYLOR. Well, we are completely pumped to have him as our guest on "Wait, I KNow This!" this Sunday at 7pm and YOU can log in to the live taping and ask any questions of your own. Rip is always an adventure to say the least. Rip began as a comedian...a rather straight laced comedian believe it or not. He soon realized that the crazier he was the more response he got from audiences. His act became more and more "in your face" with zaniness!!! His antics incuded "calling the audience out" if they didn't laugh at his jokes. He would say things like "Heloooooo, are you listening!!" We love Rip and if by chance you aren't that familiar with his "method" then watch this clip from our dear friend the YOU of TUBE. Great stuff!! Enjoy!.

Willie Aames is back!!...and we've got him.

Remember little Tommy Bradford on Eight Is Enough? Of course you do. I'll bet Willie Aames was on Tiger Beat Magazine as much as anybody back in the day. The hearthrob Bradford was to teens what his TV older sibling Grant Goodeve was to the 20-somethings of the late 70's.
Willie's story is amazing. AND LET ME SAY THIS... He was THE MOST HONEST INTERVIEW I have ever had. He shared personal moments of his life that can help any of us that have gone through or are going through rough times. His interview actually had an effect on me. He is a class act and this one is an interview for everyone. His story needs to be told. He is a guy who has the ability to change lives through his tales and inspire all the while.

He has battled and beaten drug addiction, divorce and bankruptcy but he is stepping into the limelight once again...but BOXING? Are you serious? Yes we are. Willie is appearing in a celebrity boxing match on May 16th in Philly. Hard to believe but this battle warn veteran is actually boxing to raise money for charity. A portion of the proceeds for the bout will go to an organization to battle financial illeteracy. You see, Willie just recently declared bankruptcy and had to sell his belongings to pay off more than 300-thousand dollars in debts. Now he's trying to help others from reaching the same place in life he did. As he puts it..."I'm fighting my way through school." The money he gets from the fight will go to pay for his school where he will study finance so as to help celebrities and pro sports players on managing their money.

It is a pay per view bout and you can get more info by going to www.iclips.net. But if you want to remember him the way WE like to then check out this clip...it will jog the ol memory bank for sure. ALSO, here's a little trivia teaser of what you'll get in our interview with Willie. DID YOU KNOW... Willie played the son of Felix Unger (Tony Randall) in television's The Odd Couple in the early 70's. Like that, did ya? More in the interview...check it out. We tape LIVE on Monday May 11th at 6:45pm or you can listen above!

AL JARREAU: He's cooler than the other side of the pillow

This was one I have been waiting for. The great Al Jarreau. Anyone who is a jazz fan knows all too well how the "instrument" himself never ceases to amaze those who know music. His voice isn't your normal fare. It is as different and facinating as he is pleasant and gracious. Al took almost an hour of time to be with us on this evening and took us back to his beginnings. From a college kid in Wisconsin who sang at country clubs to make ends meet to his first breaks in the bars of San Fran and L.A. where he was discovered. I gotta say, his stories of early brushes with Quincy Jones and George Duke are amazing. He even talks about his creative process and how one man had the vision to take Al to the world of pop music so he could grab a whole new audience back to the world of jazz. He is the only vocalist to have ever won Grammys in pop, R&B and jazz. He was an amazing interview and one that I think gives us what we always search for...behind-the-scenes stroies or trivia that you can't get anywhere else. Click on this episode and experience one of the most revealing and honest interviews to date. Al Jarreau.

CLICK HERE for his official website!

AL JARREAU Programming Change

Al Jarreau's staff informed us of a schedule change in our interview with him. Please make a note that we will now go LIVE with Al on Thursday night at 10pm EST and 7pm west coast time. They were EXTREMELY NICE and deserve a pat on the back from Al himself in the manner they handled themselves.
So mark your calendars!!! Wew are very excited to have the JAZZ GREAT himself Mr. Al Jarreau. If you want to log in to ask him questions live then go to www.talkshoe.com and look under the "Live Now" tab at 10pm EST Thursday night. When you find "Wait, I Know This!" just click on the "Join in" button and you're there!

Or TO CALL IN just dial (724) 444-7444, call id 33219# and PIN 1#

Hope to see you then. Until then check this out!

June Foray: Our time with a legend

I cant say enough about June Foray. She was as gracious and kind of an interview as I have ever had. To think that our little show had landed one of the greatest voice actors in the history of film, television and radio and she treated us like we were the Today show. What a classy lady. Now, if you are scratching your head and wondering...who is June Foray? ...let me say this. You know her. You may not KNOW that you know her...but you do. We will start with her most recognizable character...Rocky The Flying Squirrel!!

June is best remembered for providing the voice of Rocky but did you know that she was also Natasia...as in Boris and Natasia, Bullwinkle's arch nemesis? Oh and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Lets just focus on her Rocky and Bullwinkle, Dudley Do Right and Fractured Fairy Tales roles. This piece I found on You Tube has an uncut interview with June. I loved hearing her unedited.



June has worked more than just about anyone I have ever interviewd. From Lucifer the Cat in Walt Disney's Cinderella (1950) to the Smurfs, to Cindy Lou Who in the Grinch to Granny from Sylvester and Tweety June Foray is a living legend. Her resume reads like a who's who of cartoon voices. (CLICK HERE for more)

Please take the time to listen to our interview with the great June Foray! To quote Chuck Jones, great producer for Warner Bros. and the Looney Tunes crew..."June Foray isn't the female Mel Blanc. Mel Blanc is the male June Foray!"

Jeff Cook, "Alabama" founding member has a new gig!

First of all, let me say what a class act Jeff Cook is. On Monday April 20th I had the honor of interviewing Jeff and he was awesome!! (You rock, Jeff!) We talked about everything from the never-to-be-repeated success of the country and southern rock band Alabama to the roots of the band back in the 70's when they were called WildCountry!! Check out the podcast for all the stories. Jeff even talked about the challenges the band faced as they skyrocketed up the charts!



Just to put it into perspective... in their career they had more than 40 number one hits and sold more than 73-million records!!! With hits like Christmas in Dixie, The Closer You Get and Mountain Music they were a staple on the "cassette" shelf...LOL.



This was one of my favorites!



...and this one was awesome as well!



Jeff's NEW BAND is called the All-Star Goodtime Band and they are comprised of friends and friends of theirs!!!



CLICK HERE for a sample of the groups music!

And please check out his website at http://www.jeffcook-agb.com/ you won't be disappointed!

ALF: Somethings make you scratch your head.

I have to admit that I wasn't that into ALF. Not because the show wassn't good...I was in college and was more concerned where the next beer was coming from and not whether or not the Melmac native would find his way home.
ALF was definitely a "one-of-a-kind" show. Very rarely does a puppet get its own primetime show...unless you are the cousin of Jim Henson. This show had many scratching their heads wondering ...WHY? or HOW? But whatever the reason, ALF was extremely popular. IT orginally aired for 4 seasons from 1986 to 1990. NBC had the guts to give it a go. Of course when you have the Cosby Show on your network you've got room to let an odd idea see the light of day.
ALF was the brainchild of Paul Fusco. Fusco produced the series, operated the puppet AND supplied ALF's voice. He was truly the man behind the alien.
AS you would imagine, shooting a sitcom with a puppet provided MANY technological challenges. Keep in mind that it took 3 people to operate the puppet. Paul would do one hand and the mouth while Lisa Buckley would operate the other hand. Throw in Bob Frappiano who, using a remote control, would operate the eyes and facial expressions and you have one tough act to pull off. In later interviews the cast would say that it was a difficult and trying show to work on.
Max Wright who played the Tanner family patriarch said once that it was difficult to work on a show where its so technically challenging and where an inantimate object got all the good lines. Some cast interviews revealed that a 30 minute episode would usually take 20-25 hours to shoot putting everyone on edge and causing tempers to flair. One account said that after the final episode was taped Max Wright walked off the set and to his car without ever saying goodbye to anyone.
Despite the strained tensions on the set ALF was a winner in the ratings and the lovable explorer from Melmac took the 80's by storm.
TRIVIA ALERT!! The final episode wasn't the way it was supposed to end. In that show ALF was taken by the US military and the public was left to wonder what happened to him. But in reality it was scheduled to be a two parter in which the second part wouldv'e shown him being rescued by other survivors of his home planet. It seems that the producers had a verbal agreement with NBC to air the final episode. NBC never made good on a deal and ALF was cancelled. It was, however, wrapped up in a made-for-television-movie later called Project ALF.

And of course we can't leave you without one more trivia tidbit... every episode was named after a popular song title that would describe that show's plot.

OK, there is more than one should ever know about the show ALF. Long live ALF or Gordon Shumway...his real name. Damn, another trivia tidbit. I can't stop! Someone help me. (ALF stands for Alien Life Form) OK that's the last one...I swear!!

CLICK HERE for an early clip of ALF.

See ya soon at...
http://waitiknowthis.blogspot.com/ or http://www.waitiknowthis.com/

QUANTUM LEAP

It was one of my favorite shows of all time. Quantum Leap is a sci fi fanatics dream series. It still pulls in thousands at conventions every year. In fact the latest convention is the 20th anniversary celebration of Sam and Al's time travels. CLICK HERE to check out the website. Quantum Leap is still one of the most innovative shows of the 1980's. Donald Bellisario came up with the idea and threw it in front of legendary television executive Brandon Tartikoff in the late 80's. He explained the theory of a scientist who could use quantum physics to bend the laws of time and jump into the body of someone in the past to help them through a rough situation....to which Tartikoff said, "Explain this again as if you are talking to your 80-year-old grandmother!" After going into detail about the idea, Tartikoff loved it, saying that "you can never run out of scenarios".
Thus the story of Dr. Sam Beckett and his time traveling hologram pal Al was born.
It is one for the ages...if you think this show doesn't have legs, think again. When we interviewed Co-Executive Producer Deborah Pratt this past weekend we had the most listeners in our "LIVE CHAT ROOM" during the show's taping than ever before!
In fact check out these two You Tube videos that show Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell at a past Leap Back convention.







And don't forget to go to the Leap Back 2009 website to see whats up for this year's festival. Lots of fun!!!
In the meantime, leap back to our show taped on Sunday and hear Deborah's facinating interview. Not only was she a co-executive producer but she was also a writer AND the voice of Ziggy the computer that helped Sam figure out what he was supposed to do during his stay in year X.
Here is a link to our website to see what we have coming up next. Happy Leaping!!!

GERI JEWELL: From "Facts" to Frontier life...she's a class act.

If you were a "Facts Of Life" fan...and really, who wasn't.... then you will LOVE our next guest. Geri Jewell was the beloved "Cousin Geri" on the famous sitcom. The cousin of the beautiful Blair who made frequent appearances on the show. Her groundbreaking role made her the FIRST person with a disablilty (cerebral palsy) to have a major role on a primetime series. Her work would open doors for the likes of Chris Burke "Corky" on Life Goes On.



Geri's loveable personality and confidence has made her a favorite through the years. In the late seventies Geri could be found doing stand up at the Comedy Store in LA. It wasn't long after that when she got her big break. Performing in 1980 at the 2nd Annual Media Access Awards she was introduced to producer Norman Lear. He loved her and before long the world met Geri on Facts of Life.

In later years Geri went on to star in shows like "The Great Space Coaster", "Sesame Street", "21 Jump Street" and "The Young And The Restless". She is a highly sought after motivational speaker as well. Any HBO fans out there? Ahhhh there you are...if you love "Deadwood" then you may remember her as Jewell in that show. By the way, if you haven't seen this....she is absolutely phenomenal!!! Check it out. It is a must see. Here's a clip.



To interview Geri is more than just a chat with another celebrity....it's a life lesson. Join us this Sunday March 15th as we chat about life, love and Geri.
www.waitiknowthis.com http://waitiknowthis.blogspot.com

Yvonne Craig: BATGIRL!!

When we last left our superheroes they were chatting with the infamous Golddiggers. After leaving the show with a truckload of trivia about the bevy of beauties they were in search of something new....something wildly popular and interesting for next weeks caper. Will they find that guest? Will the guest find them? Will we ever stop talking like William Dozier? If you know who William Dozier was then you are a true BATMAN fan!!!! (He was the famous narrorator who would say ...same bat-time, same bat-channel") That's right we are talking BATMAN this week but not just the boy bat himself. Oh No!! We are visiting with Comissioner Gordon's daughter and secret crimefighter Batgirl. Yvonne Craig was the subject of many a young man's fantasies back in the day. (I was one of them!)
Who can forget Yvonne in that tight purple suit. She was wildly popular on the show. So much so that there was even an attempt at producing a spin-off of a "Batgirl" show just for her! Check out this clip!!! Love the Bat Cycle!!




And this one I couldn't let slip by. How about a PSA for equal pay for women!! Yvonne does a fine job letting the caped crusaders know that even crimefighters in sexy outfits deserve equal greenbacks!!





OK...now that we've tempted you with the glory that is You Tube lets proceed with our Bat Chat. Yvonne Craig will be joining us for our next show and we couldn't be happier!! In case you didnt know it she was also the green girl on Star Trek that Kirk hooked up with. Who wouldve thunk it!!
OK...so tune in this Sunday. Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel.

The Rat Pack, Dean Martin and The Golddiggers

The Rat Pack has inspired movies, television shows, songs...you name it. How many of us have thought about that group and wondered what were they REALLY like behind the curtains. We hear LOTS of rumors about these fun-loving party carousing drinkers but how much of that is true. Now, we could sit and debate for hours but there's one thing you cant deny, their comradery was contagious! If you go back and listen to the banter between this group of wise-cracking buddies you feel like you are at a party with them instead of listening to a concert. And I guess that was actually true. Their concerts were just big parties with a guest list of total strangers!!



This video says it all. (Please keep in mind the "times" as Sammy takes a few jokes that wouldn't be proper today.) But these guys had a friendship that made you feel like you were part of the group, one of the guys, if you will. They represented a time when drinking on stage in a tux wasn't an issue...it was all about your talent. And brother they had it.
If you're a big Rat Pack fan or just a fan of Dino then we have a great show that YOU need to hear. This Sunday March 1st we will be interviewing Maria Lauren and her sister Linda Eichberg who were on Dean Martin's show in the late 60's. They were members of the beautiful Golddiggers. The stories these gals can tell of Dean and the backstage antics are ture CLASSICS!!



This clip shows how Dean used to laugh through every sketch...he could never make it through without cracking up. I loved this show as a kid. Dino was a true treasure. He was also a fun guy EVEN when things went wrong. Check this clip out. What a guy!!





Be sure to join Maria and Linda for all their stories of the Rat Pack and Dean. Also, we hear there may be a few suprise guests along the way!!
That's this Sunday March 1 and 7pm EST. Just go to www.talkshoe.com to log into "Wait, I Know This!".
Also, please check out Maria's website as she is into ALL THINGS FITNESS these days. She's a beautiful talented lady. Here's her website www.marialauren.com and as always, check us out at www.waitiknowthis.com for more clips and quips.

TRIVIA GAME SHOW!!

It is that time! (cue the old Match Game theme song) Time for the 2nd installment of the "Wait, I Know This!" Trivia Game Show. Are you the guy/gal at work that everyone calls when there's a classic tv trivia question? Then sharpen your skills on our playing field tonight! At 7pm EST we will launch into our game show mode!

WIN PRIZES!! We are giving away classic TV DVD sets, t-shirts and much more!

So jump into our virtual studios tonight at 7pm EST to be a part of the fun.

Here's how you can be a part of it all:

To call in just dial (724) 444-7444, punch in the call ID 33219# and finally the PIN 1#

To log in: Go to www.talkshoe.com and look under the "LIVE NOW" tab. Then click on "Join In" beside our show's name "Wait, I Know This!" and use your headset to chat with us.

See you tonight!

SPECIAL SHOW, SPECIAL DAY, SPECIAL TIME. Its just SPECIAL!!!!

West Side Story. If you're going to have a classic film festival you gotta show West Side Story. This Wednesday the 18th we will be broadcasting LIVE from The Carolina Theatre in Greensboro, NC for their classic film series. The movie starts at 7:30 but we will be on with Lana Wood (Natalie's sister) from 7-7:30.

This is a monthly occurrence for us and one that we have grown to love. Folks get there 30 minutes early to listen to our show before the movie starts. Last time it was a Hitchcock film series and we had a Hitchcock author and Hitchcock's granddaughter as the guests. Movie goers were bringing me slips of paper with questions they wanted answered on them. It was a blast!!!

This go around we will be chatting about all things West Side and all things Natalie!!!

Lana was our FIRST guest on WIKT and has agreed to grace us with her presence again!! We love Lana. If you aren't familiar with her work then check out Diamonds Are Forever. She was "Plenty O'Toole" the Bond girl to Sean Connery in that flick!

We hope to see you there! Wed Feb 18th at 7pm EST. Log in at www.talkshoe.com or listen after the fact at www.waitiknowthis.com. We will see you there!!!

Trivia Game Show!!!

Are you the king of the watercooler? Are your suits better looking than Gene Rayburn's? Do you know the name of Alice's boyfriend on the Brady Bunch? Do you love TV Land? If you answered yes to any of these then you need to log into our LIVE game show this weekend and compete for prizes!! Win classic television DVD sets and more! During our last game we came down to ONE question between the top two point "getters" to determine our CHAMPION!!

It promises to be a lot of fun. To get involved go to http://www.talkshoe.com/ this Sunday Feb 22nd at 7pm EST and look for "Wait, I Know This!" under the "Live Now" heading. Then log in and using your microphone on the computer. OR you can actually dial in from a phoneline. Just call (724) 444-7444 and use the Call ID of 33219#, and then the PIN 1# and that's it!!! You're IN!!!

Check it out. And in case you need a teaser here ya go.... What was Maude's housekeeper's name? Hint: She starred in a show of her own after she left Maude. Tune in Sunday for the answer.

Check out our website for more! www.waitiknowthis.com

Billy Ingram: TV GURU

If you think you know something about classic TV then you need to meet Billy Ingram. I, myself, consider myself a classic TV buff but I quickly found out that I am a child in his world! Billy created a website called TVParty.com that I used to check out in the late 90's. This website began in 1994 when the internet was in its infancy. Billy says, "The TV is the one constant that brings us all together especially when there was only 3 netowrks to watch".

Billy was our guest this Sunday as we explored all the crazy details of Hollywood deaths that most of us never knew. Make sure you listen to this episode using the player on our website www.waitiknowthis.com or on our blog http://waitiknowthis.blogspot.com Billy tells us the strange facts surrounding the deaths of stars like Bob Crane, Carol Wayne and Paul Lynde to name a few. It is facinating to hear about the last few years of Paul Lynde's life and how he was on a downward spiral with his drinking. It is truly a behind-the-scenes look at these stars and how their lives were cut short.

Also, Billy says he may give us a few DVD sets to give away on our next Sunday show which will feature one of our famous TRIVIA GAME SHOW episodes. If you tune in LIVE during the taping you can participate and win prizes!!!

And this Wednesday the 18th we will be LIVE at The Carolina Theatre for a classic film festival. The movie is West Side Story and we will be interviewing Natalie Wood's sister Lana Wood about her movie role that launched her into stardom.

Until then...head off to TV Party and check out Billy's world!!!!

A chat with Garry Peterson of The Guess Who!

OK we are pumped! Not only do we have our first musician on "Wait, I Know This!" but he's the drummer from The Guess Who" for God's sake!! Garry Peterson has been there from the start. A start which goes back to the late 50's and early 60's in Winnipeg, Canada. They began as "The Silvertones" playing in any venue that would have them but soon lead singer Allan Kowbell voted for a change. Playing off their love for british music and the group called The Shadows" they came up with the name "The Reflections". Allan also said he needed a new name as well and took "Chad" from one of his favorite groups called "The Chad Mitchell Trio". Using THAT and his first name he came up with "Chad Allan and The Reflections".
The group was off and running landing gigs all over the Winnipeg area and eventually getting signed to a modest label and becoming the region's go-to band for local events. Finally in December of 1964 , the band was running low on money and went to the studios of CJAY-TV and recorded "Shaking All Over"....oh, by the way time for yet another name...Chad Allan and The Expressions.

COOL TRIVIA ALERT!: When Quality Records producer George Struth heard the song he thought it was a hit but didn't want DJ's and programming directors to think it was just another British Invasion wanna-be group so he came up with a plan that was pure genius. He sent out copies of the single with a plain white label and just the words "guess who" written on them. That way, he thought, the program directors might think it was the product of someone already famous.

The plan worked and soon the "mystery record" soared up the Canadian charts and by June of 1964 they cracked the USA market selling a quarter of a million copies and reaching #22 on the Billboard Charts!! The band was on its way to fame and fortune. Although there were a few speedbumps here and there they did quite well with hits like "Laughing", "Undun" and "No Time" but it wouldn't be until 1970 that they would get a number one hit in the US with the incredible "American Woman".

They are truly one of the best rock bands of the 60's and early 70's. I mean seriously, when you have someone who leaves your group and continues to rock America (Randy Bachman who would form Bachman-Turner Overdrive) you have a great group!!

Make sure you listen to Garry Peterson and his backstage tales on this week's "Wait, I Know This!" this Sunday Feb. 8th at 7pm EST! Check out their super groovy website at http://www.theguesswhocafe.com/

We will rock you. End of transmission.
http://www.waitiknowthis.com/

THE DOE BEHIND THE GLOW

Well, I have done it. After a lifetime of small accomplishments I have finally done something to write home about. I had the opportunity to chat with one of the sweetest celebrities you will ever meet. Billie Mae Richards was the original voice of Rudolph in the Rankin Bass production from 1964 and she was one of our special guests in the "all things Rankin Bass" show this week. See...I AM somebody!
Now for those of you who are true trivia buffs you may be saying, "wait, I watched this show a million times and in the credits it says the voice of Rudolph was voiced by Billy Richards. Billy with a "Y". But that is a mistake that has yet to be corrected even 44 years later. But Billie just smiles. Her work speaks for itself. The voice actress said she was always cast as little boys but truly loved her work. I always thought Rudolph sounded like he had a cold but I realize now it was Billie's characterization...plus, you have to remember that Rudolph had that little black cap on his nose to cover the glow and that made him sound funny. I can just imagine Billie in the studio holding her nose with one hand and gesturing with the other.
When you listen to our show (just use the "player" to hear it. I know...a shameless plug. I have no pride) you can still hear Rudolph pushing through Billie's voice. Billie's in her 80's now and has suffered a stroke but was still willing and happy to be a part of our show. Her spirit is one that could teach us all a lesson. Her daughter Cindy tagged along in our interview and gave us a really cool perspective on what it was like to have Rudolph as your Mom! Ha Ha.
Billie provided the voice of many a character for Rankin Bass and others. She handled the Rudolph duties for three Rankin Bass specials! She is amazing and why not she was taking dance lessons at the age of two
and was already performing on stages all across Toronto. During World War II Billie became a petty officer in the Navy and took that discipline into her acting profession.
She enrolled in the Lorne Green Academy of Radio Broadcasting and that began a huge phase of her career. She was noted as having a great voice for the roles of boys! Billie says it shouldn't have come as much of a surprise since she was named Billie and her dad wanted a little boy.
She starred in many radio shows back in those days but the biggest hit was W. O. Mitchell series "Jake and the Kid". That series has lasted for decades through radio, television and even books. She would even play the older brother of an actual kid on a radio show and then as he aged they would switch roles and she would begin playing the younger brother!

She is a wonderful actress but even more endearing is her personality. Please take the time to check out our show with Billie, you won't regret it. ALSO, Rick Goldschmidt gives us UNBELIEVABLE backstage trivia about the Rudolph special. In fact, I will leave you with this... Yukon Cornelius was known for his licking the ice pick and saying "NOTHING!"....most of us thought he was looking for gold. He wasn't....find out how that came about and why we didn't know the truth about it until 1998! Now that's what we call in the business, a "tease".
www.waitiknowthis.com

RUDOLPH IS COMING TO TOWN!!!!

Hi all. Just a quick change for this Saturday's show. In addition to the always entertaining Rick Goldschmidt, Rankin Bass historian...we now have Billie Mae Richards the original voice of Rudolph in the old 1960's stop-action photography special!! We are extremely excited!! Please tune in with all your questions for Billie.

Don't forget its http://www.talkshoe.com/ look for the "Wait, I Know This" show under the "live now" heading. Then just click into the show using the "Join in" button. You can talk to us with a mic or use the chat interface and type your questions in. Or. as always, just listen "after the fact" using the player on http://www.waitiknowthis.com/

Its 7pm Saturday Jan 31st. See ya there!

SHERIFF, THIS IS ROSCOE P. COLETRANE, CLASSIC ACTOR.

If this is your only memory of James Best then you don't know James Best. This actor is truly an american treasure. Think of it this way...how many times have you been recognized for something at work that took very little effort and the boss goes on and on about this one small thing that you equate to teaching a dog how to eat while you want desperately for the boss to know how you finished the project that got the company a million dollar contract!!! Well, James Best is one of the most accomplished actors of our time but most of us can't forget him as the bumbling Roscoe P. Coltrane from The Dukes Of Hazzard.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love Roscoe. But looking back on Mr. Bests career is like walking down the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has worked with most major stars in the industry and has worked ON some of the most famous shows in TV history.
How about this...he was in 3 Twilight Zone episodes.





















He was in 2 Andy Griffith Episodes as the guitar-man Jim Lindsey.



But here goes the unbelieveable list. Ready?

He was in Hopalong Cassidy, The Gene Autry Show, The Adventures of Kit Carson, The Lone Ranger, Wagon Train, Bat Masterson, Have Gun Will Travel, General Electric Theatre, Aalfred Hitchcock Presents, Surfside 6, Hawaiian Eye, 77 Sunset Strip, The Rifleman, The Fugitive, Rawhide, Daniel Boone, Ben Casey, Flipper, Perry Mason, The Green Hornet, Bonanza, I Spy, Mod Squad, Gunsmoke...and don't forget The Caine Mutiny!!
Are you kidding me!!! OK...i'm alright now.

He has dedicated his life to acting. He formed the first school to teach actors Motion Picture Technique in the 1970s. He taught in Hollywood for 25 years and worked with such prominent stars as Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood, Gary Busey, Teri Garr, Lindsay Wagner, Farrah Fawcett, and Quentin Tarantino. In 1987 he moved to Florida and taught at the University of Central Florida.

I can't say enough about the man most of us remember as Roscoe P. Coletrane. Do yourself a favor...research all he has been in and you will find your jaw hanging open. He is a real success story. IMDB says "The sixth of seven children, his mother died when he was 3 and he was taken to an orphanage when his Kentucky-born coal-mining father, an alcoholic, could no longer keep the family together. He was adopted at age 5 by Armen and Essa Best of Indiana".

He has risen from a challenging beginning to being one of the best actors of the past 50 years. Check out www.jamesbest.com to see snippets of his career and even more impressive is his fabulous art!! Go to http://jamesbestart.com to see that.

(If you are reading this from a feed go to www.waitiknowthis.com for more cool trivia!)

YOU KNEW HIM.....BUT YOU DIDN'T KNOW IT

Bob May passed away this past Sunday. It was congestive heart failure that took him from us. Can't you see him flailing his arms about and turning from side to side? Or maybe you remember the countless times we all have seen him following that red-headed kid around. Always the faithful companion. He was such a logical fellow. Never lied. Always made the right decision....and even though his brain far surpassed any of us he still kept that child-like honesty that made you smile.

Still don't remember Bob May? You've seen him many times whether you are aware of it or not. Bob was the guy INSIDE the famous B9 robot from the 1960's TV show "Lost in Space".



Intresting story... June Lockhart, who played Maureen Robinson, said May was working as an actor/stuntman in mid 60's when someone saw him on the studio lot and said he should go to producer Irwin Allen and see about a part for a new sci-fi series he was working on. He did. Irwin Allen said "If you can fit in the robot suit, you've got the part."



No one could've played the role any better than May. I read once that he learned ALL the actors lines so he could react to them at the proper time and manner.



TRIVIA ALERT: He did not provide the voice of the robot. That was done by announcer Dick Tufeld.



The grandson of famed vaudeville comedian Chic Johnson, May was introduced to show business at age 2 when he began appearing in the "Hellzapoppin" comedy revue with Johnson and his partner, Ole Olsen.He went on to appear in numerous films with Jerry Lewis and in such TV shows as "The Time Tunnel," "McHale's Navy and "The Red Skelton Show." He was also a stuntman in such 1950s and '60s TV shows as "Cheyenne," "Surfside 6," "Hawaiian Eye," "The Roaring 20s" and "Stagecoach."



But perhaps the funniest story I have read about him came from June Lockhart. She said that the robot suit was very difficult to get into and out of so Bob would stay in the suit for hours during filming...even during breaks. She said he was an avid smoker and on occassion one could glance over at the B9 robot and see smoke coming from the inside.



May was 69 years old. He was one-of-a-kind. We will miss him.
http://www.robot-b9.com/


(If you're reading this from a feed please check out www.waitiknowthis.com for more)

CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD UNCOVERED

It was a time when the Hollywood studios all but owned the actors they had under contract. A time when the studios choreographed the actors careers AND their love life. They would set up dates between stars ALL FOR PUBLICITY. Marriages? Yes, even marriages were arrainged sometimes. Wow.
Do we have your attention now? You need to listen to our last show featuring the always entertaining Laurie Jacobson! She always amazes me! We could've done a 2-hour show with her on board. She always has MORE material than we have time for...and stuff that even the hardcore trivia buffs walk away saying "I never knew that".
The story she told about Marilyn Monroe and how Frank Sinatra used her almost as a prostitute had our mouths hanging open. I won't say anymore about that since I can't do it justice...you have to hear it yourself.
Laurie has written four books on classic Hollywood.
Dishing Hollywood serves up the real scoop on 43 scandals with a recipe connected to each one: last suppers, first dates, favorite dishes – stories with some real meat to them.

Hollywood Heartbreak relives 75 years of Hollywood history through the lives and deaths of 31 people who helped to build it, how their lives helped to create the city and the industry, how their tragic or mysterious deaths contributed to its mystique.

Haunted Hollywood takes you into the oldest studios and hotels, the most glamorous theaters and nightspots, and beautiful homes from Beverly Hills to Hollywood. Hear about the ghosts of mobsters, lovers and bandits. Learn about the celebrities who have seen ghosts, celebrities who have lived with ghosts and celebrities who are ghosts!

And Timmys In The Well. Laurie is married to Jon Provost (Timmie on Lassie) and the fall, of 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of Jon Provost's debut as Timmy Martin on "Lassie". Just 7, he was already a seasoned professional, having appeared in ten films and TV shows with stars like: Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, Jane Wyman, Anita Ekberg, William Holden. Both Hollywood and NY critics named him the top kid movie actor of 1958. Yet, while Jon portrays part of an idyllic television family, he and his own family are deeply and irrevocably changing as a result of his skyrocketing fame.

Check out Lurie's personality, knowledge and wit as she takes US through a 30-minute show. When she's on board we should rename the show to Wait, I DIDN'T know jack!!
(Listen to the show at www.waitiknowthis.com)

ABC had the idea, and the guts to give America its first animated prime-timer. What a yabba dabba deal!

It is a sitcom that needs no introduction. The Flinstones carved their place in the stone of history in 1960. ABC decided to take a risk and give us the first animated series aimed primarily at adults and we've loved it ever since.

Beginning with the third season it was also the first ABC series to be aired in color. The first two seasons were later colorized to match the others. (Sad, but true). Another change that I just found out about recently involved advertising. In the first two seasons during the ending sequence the camera would zoom into the window of Fred and Wilma's home to reveal Fred relaxing in front of the TV and lighting up a cigarette. Winston was a sponsor and Fred would be heard singing the Winston jingle "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should."

These scenes were later reanimated to the way it is today. By the way, for those of us not old enough to remember cigarette ads, this practice was NOT uncommon for that time period. MOST shows that had a cigarette company as a sponsor would have the actors themselves doing an on camera bit touting the cigarette's qualities. Ha.

One of the most memorable bits seen in most every episode was the practice of using animals for technology. Here are a few examples found on Wikipedia.

a baby woolly mammoth being used as a vacuum cleaner
An adult wolly mammoth would act as a shower by spraying water with its trunk
Lifts are raised and lowered by ropes around brontosaurs' necks
"automatic" windows are powered by monkeys that dwell on the outside windowsill
birds configured as "Ryan Coombes" are activated by pulling on their tails
An electric razor is depicted as a clam shell housing a honey-bee vibrating it as the edges are rubbed against the character's face.

It has remained one of the most, if not THE most enduring cartoons of our time. One of the reasons for its success is the voice actors. Alan Reed provided the voice of Fred and some say that Fred physically resembled Reed. Barney was characterized by the most famous cartoon voice of all time, Mel Blanc. However, if some of you remember a high pitched Barney voice in some of the early episodes you may think another actor did the voice but that's not the case. Blanc changed his voice to the Barney we know and love after only a few episodes. Some say it was to imitate the Art Carney voice of Ed Norton from The Honeymooners. In a 1980's interview with Jackie Gleason, Gleason said he had considered suing Hanna Barbera over the issue but decided not to be referred to as the guy who sued Fred Flintstone. You see Alan Reed had done voice overs for Gleason in the early days and could imitate him like no one else. Boy, I'll say. For years I thought the entire series was an animated Honeymooners...and I guess it evolved to being just that.

By the way, Mel Blank did all but 5 episodes in the 2nd season when he nearly died in a car crash. Hanna Barbera called in the talents of one of their regular voice actors Daws Butler. But his fame was short lived as the entire cast went to Blanc's bedside with a full recording studio so Blanc could voice the episodes.

The Flintstones only ran from 1960 to 1966 but I think its safe to say that it has probably never been off the air since its first run. Oh and if you need a little extra Bedrock trivia ask your friends who voiced that little green alien that drove Fred and Barney crazy when he showed up. The answer: The Great Gazoo was voiced by Carol Burnette regular, Harvey Korman. Who knew.
My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-b77698cc7f0715f35cb2ba029b4cb114}

NOTE: CHANGE IN TIME THIS SUNDAY

PROGRAMMING NOTE: PLEASE REMEMBER THE CHANGE IN TIME FOR THIS WEEKS LIVE TAPING. WE HAVE MOVED FROM 7PM EST TO 6PM. BUT ONLY FOR THIS WEEK. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Khan, Cordobas and...Class. The death of an icon.

I was extremely sad to find out that Ricardo Montalban died today at the age of 88. I remember vividly those Saturday nights watching Mr. Rourke say "smiles, smiles, everyone!"
He was a part of my childhood AND later by way of Star Trek movies, my adolescence. Remember, "revenge is a dish best served cold!"
I found the most complete report of his life on, of all places, Bloomberg.com. They did such a great job, filled with factoids, that I had to copy it here. Read on. You will love it. It does Ricardo justice.

Jan. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor whose regal bearing and sonorous voice led to roles as a science-fiction villain, the host on the mysterious “Fantasy Island” and pitchman for the “soft Corinthian leather” of the Chrysler Cordoba, has died. He was 88.
Montalban died at his home in Los Angeles, the Associated Press reported today, citing City Council President Eric Garcetti. No cause or date of death was given.
Though he appeared in movies with stars such as Esther Williams, Lana Turner and Shirley MacLaine, Montalban said Hollywood wasn’t willing to make full use of a Latin-American actor. He once tried out for a part of a Mexican, only to lose out to American actor John Garfield.
So Montalban turned to television, starting with the live dramas of the 1950s that many actors shied away from. New Yorker magazine film critic Pauline Kael called Montalban “one of those potentially major actors who never got the roles that might have made them movie stars.”
Montalban was perhaps best known for his portrayal of the character Khan Noonian Singh, a genetically engineered, tyrannical super-human introduced in a 1967 episode of “Star Trek” that ended with the space ship USS Enterprise depositing Khan and his followers on an inhospitable planet. The plotline resumed 15 years later in the movie “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982), with Montalban’s character seeking vengeance.
Getting Noticed
In 1974, Montalban played the title role in George Bernard Shaw’s “Don Juan in Hell” on a six-month national tour after two-dozen performances on Broadway. In Detroit, his performance drew the interest of executives at Chrysler Corp., which was about to unveil a new car with a Spanish name: the Cordoba.
In television advertisements for the car, Montalban extolled the “tastefulness of its appearance” and the “thickly cushioned luxury of seats available even in soft Corinthian leather.”
The phrase “Corinthian leather,” which rolled off Montalban’s tongue, had been made up by copy writers at Young & Rubicam, Adweek later reported. No matter: it became a popular line, widely imitated and parodied.
Montalban worked with Chrysler for 15 years, hawking other luxury models including the LeBaron and the New Yorker.
Aaron Spelling, the prolific TV producer whose creations dominated ABC prime time in the 1970s and early 1980s, saw the Cordoba commercial and thought of Montalban for a new show about an island that lets visitors live out a lifelong dream.
Dreams Fulfilled
As Mr. Roarke, the white-suited superintendent of “Fantasy Island,” Montalban oversaw the fulfillment of the dreams, urging his staff to welcome each week’s visitors with “smiles, everyone, smiles!”
Though Roarke’s powers were never explained, Montalban said he came up with a theory that informed his portrayal.
“I decided this man was an angel that still had a little bit of sin of pride in him -- too proud,” Montalban said in a 2002 interview with the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation. In this view, Roarke was in charge of purgatory, “where people go through tests, and some of them go for the better, and some for the worse.”
The series ran from 1978 to 1984 and cemented Montalban’s reputation as a congenial and cooperative star.
“Working with Ricardo was a joy,” Spelling, who died in 2006, wrote in “Aaron Spelling: A Prime-Time Life,” his 1996 memoir. “Ricardo made good scripts better and not-so-good scripts work. I don’t remember him ever doing any rewrites. He set a perfect example for the rest of the cast.”
Early Frustration
Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalban Merino was born Nov. 25, 1920, in Mexico City. His parents had emigrated from northern Spain so Montalban’s father could take a job running a store. After a few years the family settled in Torreon, in northern Mexico.
Montalban moved in with an older brother in Los Angeles to attend high school. There, he got the acting bug after landing the lead in a school play.
After moving to New York, he appeared on stage and in the short musical films known as “soundies.” Frustrated after losing the part of a Mexican to Garfield in “Tortilla Flat” (1942), he returned to Mexico.
Leaving the U.S. behind, he recalled feeling, “I have no chance in this country. They don’t write for Mexicans.”
He made 13 films in four years and became a star in his native country, then was rediscovered by Hollywood when Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer went on location in Mexico to film the Esther Williams matador movie “Fiesta” (1947). In an improbable pairing, given their different accents and appearances, he and Williams were cast as twins.
Leading Man
Signed by MGM, Montalban played twice more opposite Williams, as her fiance in “On an Island With You” (1948) and as the Argentinian polo player who wins her heart in “Neptune’s Daughter” (1949). In that film they sang “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” which won Frank Loesser an Academy Award for best original score.
Montalban also played a wealthy Brazilian who charms Lana Turner in “Latin Lovers” (1953).
After MGM chose not to renew his contract, Montalban turned to television, appearing in episodes of live drama shows including “Ford Television Theatre” and “Playhouse 90.”
He would go on to appear in movies including the John Ford- directed western “Cheyenne Autumn” (1964), “Madame X” (1966) with Lana Turner and John Forsythe, “Sweet Charity” (1969) and “The Naked Gun” (1988).
His biggest TV role after “Fantasy Island” was as Zach Powers on “The Colbys,” the Spelling-produced “Dynasty” spinoff that aired on ABC from 1985-87. Montalban played a scheming business rival of the Colby clan.
Awards, Recognition
Montalban won an Emmy award for outstanding supporting actor playing a Sioux Indian leader in “How the West Was Won” (1978), a television mini-series. The Screen Actors Guild gave him a lifetime achievement award in 1993.
He founded Nosotros, a Hollywood-based nonprofit that trains and supports Latino actors. The group bought and renovated a theater, which opened in 2004.
Montalban’s brother Carlos played a Latin American dictator in Woody Allen’s “Bananas” (1971) and appeared as El Exigente in TV commercials for Savarin coffee.
Montalban’s wife of more than 60 years, Georgiana, a half- sister of film star Loretta Young, died in 2007. They had four children: Mark, Victor, Laura and Anita.