Links of the Week

Mitzi Gaynor, Audrey Meadows, and Janet Leigh; 1991

The Vintage Film Costume Collector highlights Mitzi Gaynor's dance costume from Golden Girl.  I love Mitzi Gaynor, so I was really excited to see this.

Mayor Tony Curtis

You

Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis; 1954

Can now refer to Tony Curtis as “your honor”.  He won a hotly contested race for the mayor of Universal City.  But Tony would rather be a proud father.  He and Janet Leigh are still hoping for a baby any time now.

[Source: Movieland; February 1955]

Sheriff Mamie Van Doren, Mayor Tony Curtis, Fire Chief Mara Corday

Janet and Tony, married from 1951 until 1962,  would have two children - Kelly, born June 17, 1956 and Jamie Leigh, born November 22, 1958. 

RIP Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis (June 3, 1925 - September 29, 2010)

Tony Curtis [on dying]: "I may have them take my ashes and spread them all over Las Vegas!" (IMDB)

What 100 Stars Want in 1956 - Vera Miles

Vera Miles (born August 23, 1929) is in one of my favorite movies of all time, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Totally iconic picture. Aside from that and her appearance on the Twilight Zone, probably my favorite TV show of all time, I don't believe I have seen her in anything else. Vera acted mostly on television from what I could find, her last appearance in 1995. Some Vera Miles trivia:

• She was Miss Kansas 1948. She ended up being third in the Miss America 1948 pageant.
• Vera was originally cast in Kim Novak's role in Vertigo but production delays cost her the part.
• There are conflicting reports on her middle name, some people say it is "May" and some people say it's "June".

What did Vera Miles wish for in 1956?

"Personally, I'd like to remarry in 1956 and eventually have a large family" - Vera was married 3 times, having a total of 4 children.

"Professionally, I'm looking forward to anything that will further my career as an actress - be it comedy, drama or mystery."

"As a citizen, I hope for a wide revival of religion" - Frankly, I think the U.S. has gone in the opposite direction.

What 100 Stars Want in 1956 - Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis

Janet Leigh (July 6, 1927 - October 3, 2004) and Tony Curtis (born June 3, 1925 and still with us) were married from June 4, 1951 to June 1962 - a pretty good run as far as Hollywood marriages go. I have always been a huge fan of Janet Leigh. She was totally stunning and intelligent, and who could have possibly played that role in Psycho except Leigh? Tony Curtis has turned into a bit of a dirty old man for lack of a better term these days, but I thought he was fabulous in one of my favorite films, Some Like it Hot. He did a great Cary Grant impression in that film. Here were Janet and Tony's 1956 wishes:


1. "We've just finished making pictures abroad. Janet made a picture with Victor Mature in Africa, and I just finished making Trapeze with Burt Lancaster in Paris. Personally we just want to stay home for a good long while! We loved it while we were away and we learned a lot, but there's no place like home." - Totally understand that. I love being in my little home much more than being away.

2. "Janet wants to remain as busy an actress as she has in the past. The way things are lined up, she's going to be. I'm wishing for another prizefight picture like The Square Jungle because prizefight pictures are lucky for me." - I've never seen The Square Jungle. Does anyone know if it's a good film?

3. "As citizens, we want a better world and we think the way to start is on our own doorstep." - So true!

Up next - Julie Adams and Ray Danton as well as everyone's sweetheart, Doris Day