Category Archives: ’80s

A Basket of Kisses from Not-So-‘Bad Seed’ Patty McCormack

On Sunday, I was so excited to attend a screening of The Bad Seed (1956) at NYC's Film Forum. It's always a pleasure to watch this startlingly modern film wrapped in a startlingly '50s melodrama — it prefigured Psycho (1960) — but the bonus was a rare personal appearance by the film's Oscar-nominated star Patty…
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Monkees Maestro Mike Nesmith Dies @ 78

Michael Nesmith, the singer-songwriter whose work elevated the creative autonomy of the Monkees, died Friday at 78. Nesmith signed this just a year ago. (Image via book cover) Nesmith had undergone quadruple-bypass heart surgery in recent years. His death was attributed to natural causes. A statement from his family read, "With Infinite Love we announce…
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Bronski Beat’s Steve Bronski Dies @ 61

Steve Bronski, co-founder of the British synthpop trio Bronski Beat, died this week at 61. Teen fodder circa 1984 (Image via Smash Hits) Further details were not immediately available, but his old bandmate Jimmy Somerville, 60, who bolted the group in 1985, took to social media to remember him, writing: It was also a triumph…
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Tom Holland to Play Fred Astaire, Alan Alda on Being ‘Lithe,’ Bob Dole Dies & More

Links to the past, with relevance today: I can see it! (Images via IG & movie still) AP ENTERTAINMENT: Tom Holland confirms he will play Fred Astaire in a new film: https://twitter.com/APEntertainment/status/1467599912489525256?s=20 EW: Ridley Scott, the legendary director who just turned 84, went ballistic on a journalist who seemingly accidentally insulted him about his films.…
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Eddie Mekka, ‘Laverne & Shirley’s’ Carmine, Dies @ 69

Just 69 years old, Eddie Mekka — most famous as Laverne & Shirley's resident belter Carmina The Big Ragu Ragusa — died at his Newhall, California, home on November 27. I met Mekka about 10 years ago at an autograph show (Image by Matthew Rettenmund) No cause was given. A friend announced, "R.I.P. Big Ragu: It…
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Arlene Dahl, Movie Star & Beauty Expert, Dies @ 96

One of Hollywood's most glamorous redheads, Arlene Dahl, died Monday, November 29, in NYC. She was 96. A stunner for the ages (Image via head shot) Also an enterprising beauty expert and glamorous presence at red-carpet events for decades, she was the mother of Falcon Crest star Lorenzo Lamas, 63, with fellow actor Fernando Lamas…
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Stephen Sondheim, Broadway’s Biggest Legend, Dies @ 91

Stephen Sondheim, whose work resonated with generations of American theatergoers, died Friday unexpectedly at 91. What a dear man, and what a ferocious talent. (GIF via GIPHY) https://twitter.com/BarbraStreisand/status/1464364472399761413?s=20 He had celebrated Thanksgiving the day before with friends, and less than two weeks prior ventured from Connecticut to NYC to check out new productions of his…
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