Sidney Sheldon Dies

Author Sidney Sheldon Dies at 89.

Sheldon mostly wrote about stalwart women who triumph in a hostile world of ruthless men. His notable novels included "Rage of Angels," "The Other Side of Midnight," and "If Tomorrow Comes."

His books became the more suspensful equivalents of soap operas -- predictable in some regards, but boy wasn't it fun getting to the end anyway?



"I try to write my books so the reader can't put them down," he explained in a 1982 interview. "I try to construct them so when the reader gets to the end of a chapter, he or she has to read just one more chapter. It's the technique of the old Saturday afternoon serial: leave the guy hanging on the edge of the cliff at the end of the chapter."

Analyzing why so many women bought his books, he commented: "I like to write about women who are talented and capable, but most important, retain their femininity. Women have tremendous power — their femininity, because men can't do without it."

He also created and produced "I Dream of Jeannie," which lasted five seasons, 1965-1970. "During the last year of 'I Dream of Jeannie,' I decided to try a novel," he said in 1982. "Each morning from 9 until noon, I had a secretary at the studio take all calls. I mean every single call. I wrote each morning — or rather, dictated — and then I faced the TV business."

Many people forget Sheldon's movie career. He won the Academy Award for best original screenplay in 1947 for "The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer," starring Cary Grant, Myrna Loy and Shirley Temple.

He also won a 1959 Tony Award for his musical "Redhead," and earned an Emmy Award for his work on "I Dream of Jeannie."

You can find out more at www.sidneysheldon.com.

Speaking of Satan's Angel...

Satan's Angel performing her flaming tassel twirling!

Liz Renay

Liz Renay has passed away:

"Liz Renay, who in her R-rated lifetime was an actress, author, artist, stripper and convicted felon, died Monday night at Valley Hospital of complications after a lengthy recovery from a fall."

Actor, painter, gangster moll, stripper, publicity hound, great-grandmother, Liz can't be accused of not living life.

An interview with Liz can be found at Velvet Hammer Burlesque.

For an amusing look at Liz's life, especially as an actress and painter, read this John Waters interview. (John doesn't spare feelings, like his comments on Candy Barr).

You can also read her autobiography, "My Face for the World to See", which was reprinted in 2002, and My First 2,000 Men.

Her death prompted fellow burlesque dancer Satan's Angel to write:

A woman of many trades she was... I was so honored to meet her once again, at the Miss Exotic World Pageant in 2006. Talk about a great show! Being carried on stage to the music of Cleopatra, the one staring Liz Taylor, on a beautiful throne, by four beautiful muscle men, all draped in gold lame, jewels and beauty. It was a fabulous act! Because you see she was confined to a wheel chair, her health wasn't good. But she was a true performer, the show must go on. And what a show!

God bless you, Liz. There is no more pain, God has you now.

Your friend always,
Satan's Angel

Angel also wrote this reminder:

I keep telling all you people out there, this is what "Legend" means... Old, older, and really old. So get us while you can! Learn, absorb, come to our shows and classes. We won't be here forever.

Check here for the latest word on Satan's Angel's book.

(Click photos -- they lead to more information!)

Saving Davies -- And The Beach House -- From Sex

In Reviving a Faded Movie Star and Her Pool Martha Groves writes that "Marion Davies and her beach house embodied Hollywood's Golden Age. Decades later, the actress and the site are back in the limelight."

Living with married William Randolph Hearst at Hearst Castle (officially the beach house known as San Simeon), Davies endured denigration of being the mistress even as she played hostess to lavish Hollywood parties attended by the creme de la creme of society & power brokers of the world.

(Photo of a circus themed birthday party for W.R. Hearst at Davies' beach house attended by (left to right) Irene Dunne, William Randolph Hearst, Bette Davis, Louella Parsons and Mary Brian.)

Many never forgave her her sins; she was the notorious mistress.

And in 1941 Orson Welles'"Citizen Kane" (said to be loosely based on Hearst's life) convinced the public that Davies was shrill -- and talentless. Her sins confirmed, she screwed her way into films.

Later Welles would deny that the mistress in Kane was not Davies, and others would hail her one of the best comediennes in film. Others, like co-star William Haines would comment on her classy and kind nature.

Time may not have been entirely kind to the mansion Davies and Hearst lived in, but in retrospect Davies comes out both lovely and talented decades later. A cynic might say that the sex stains just needed to be removed in order to muster interest in cleaning up the joint, but I prefer to believe that Davies, maligned and misunderstood at the time, is now seen more clearly.

Things To Think About

A collection of links:

Profound Sex and Violence in film.

The Marquis de Sade, philosopher, a man of his times & just a man at that.

Ancient Abortion, a point of view which I do not share, presented here as an example of context. Our times and their threats shape our thoughts and our fears, and allow for the call to control sexuality.

For collectors who fear they have too much: Collecting or compulsive-hoarding-syndrome?

NUS image via Peek-A-Boob

Vintage Broadway Musicals and Sex

The University of Virginia has a neat section on 1930's film.

Lesbian to Bride: Female Sexuality in the Broadway Melody Series covers the changing nature of sexuality in Broadway Musicals over the course of the 30s.

News

The Reading Experience Database 1450-1945 is a project by the Open University and the University of London.

They are interested in knowing about how, why, what, when and where people read and what they thought about their reading. Of particular interest are groups who may have been previously under-represented in history: women, domestic servants and slaves, labourers, clerks, artisans and others - the ordinary people whose voices have rarely been heard.

Via Dove Grey Reader.

Also, Yvonne De Carolo has died. (Nice selection of photos and a vid clip too.)

Ten Sexiest Memoirs Of All Time

Playboy.com ranked the Ten Sexiest Memoirs Of All Time. This is the list:

1) The Sexual Life of Catherine M., by Catherine Millet (2001)
2) The Surrender: An Erotic Memoir, by Toni Bentley (2004)
3) The memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, by Giacomo Casanova (1826)
4) 100 Strokes of the Brush Before Bed, by Melissa P. (2003)
5) Nine and a Half Weeks, by Elizabeth McNeill (1978)
6) Emmanuelle, by Emmanuelle Arsan (1967)
7) My Life and Loves, by Frank Harris (1923)
8) Kinski Uncut: The Autobiography of Klaus Kinski, by Klaus Kinski (1996)
9) Ecstasy And Me My Life As A Woman, by Hedy Lamarr (1966)
10) The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band, by Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, Vince Neil and Nikki Six (2001)

I expected to see Kinski there, but Hedy was a surprise...