CHECK BACK FOR PHOTO COLLAGE: Photos courtesy Harrison Held, Martin Rayala, Billy Bennight, Derek Yee, Jane Guy, instagram/facebook
Harrison Held’s SceneAroundTown… Hollywood!
The Marilyn Remembered fan club hosted another beautiful memorial to honor Marilyn Monroe on the 64th anniversary of her passing. MM tragically died at 36 from an accidental barbiturate overdose on the night of August 4, 1962. I don’t believe in all the conspiracy theories that were concocted by greedy fools starting a few years after her passing. Let’s let her RIP without slander and lies. Kudos to MC & fan club president Greg Schreiner, Scott Fortner, and volunteers for all their hard work. MR was founded in 1982 at MM’s crypt by Greg Schreiner, Teresa Seeger, her mom Catherine and Anthony Cordova. Speakers this year included Claudia Moriarty, niece of MM’s beloved stand in Evelyn Moriarty, Juliet Hyde-White daughter of MM Let’s Make Love co-star Wilfred Hyde-White, Devik Weiner, son of acclaimed photographer Leigh Wiener, actresses Jane Guy, Susan Griffiths and Alyssa Soper and long-time club members George Marcel and Roy Harvey, Sr. Debra Levine also spoke about her new book about MM’s favorite choreographer Jack Cole and noted MM doll maker Jean Norman was introduced. I’m away still recuperating from my TBI but greetings I got from Terry Moore and Mamie Van Doren, two of MM’s friends were also read. Fortunately, they are still with us today. Beautiful MM art was created by Rick Carl.
Several years ago, I went to Palm Springs for an evening birthday party for the legendary Mamie. As a beautiful candle lit birthday cake was rolled into the party Mamie made her grand entrance to enthusiastic applause. She looked fantastic. As she passed by me, I heard a female guest ponder to her friend “I wonder if Marilyn was alive today would she look like Mamie?”… Mamie heard the sweet comment and said softly, “I think about her everyday”. Her comment still resonates with me years later even after memory loss.
In the 50s the media came up with the 3 M’s… Marilyn, Mamie and Mansfield…. Mamie’s new must-read book “You Thought I was Dead” came out recently and a limited amount of signed copies are available at Premier Collectables. Around one and half years ago I had the pleasure of having a long talk with Mamie where she gave me a secret preview of some of the shocking tales she had kept under wraps since she was a teen in the 1940s breaking into movies. I was sworn to secrecy not to reveal anything and I kept my word. In my experiences talking to legendary Hollywood people, I let them talk for as long as they want – there is so much to learn about life from these legendary personalities.
My late great friend Ed Lozzi was Mamie’s publicist, so years ago he invited me to an event honoring her but didn’t connect with her personally. I found out later that my other late great friend actress Kathleen Hughes was friends with Mamie since the 50s when they were the hot young stars at Universal. I attended another event honoring Mamie, and her kind husband Thomas formally introduced us for the first time and when he said “Harrison is a friend of Kathleen Hughes” she instantly smiled her beautiful smile and warmly took me under her wing. We’ve been friends ever since. My late great friend Variety’s Army Archerd inspired me to be a columnist. He was also a good friend of MM’s, Mamie, Terry and Kathleen’s. Mamie loved the pictures I took and shared them on social media.
As a child I have a vague memory of looking at a book about Hollywood Goddesses and when I saw Mamie’s photo I was startled by her radiant beauty. I never dreamt in a million years that I would meet her or become friends with her or other stars I know. Life is definitely full of surprises.
After Kathleen’s late great husband Stanley Rubin died (he produced MM’s movie River of No Return) Kathleen and I attended a dinner where Mamie was inducted as an honorary colonel at the American Legion. Mamie is very patriotic and entertained the troops many times and she was deeply honored. As the years went by Kathleen’s health started to decline and Mamie was very good about calling her often, which Kathleen really appreciated. Sadly, Kathleen passed in May of 2025. She was almost 97… She wanted to make it to 100 like her mom did… but she had a life well lived and like Mamie, Terry and MM, she had a heart of gold.
The beautiful Hollywood Museum also had an event to honor MM hosted by Donnelle Dadigan that evening. Celebrity guests read inspiring letters they wrote to MM. Speakers and readers included Ruta Lee, Kathy Garver, Kate Linder, Jean Kasem, Carolyn Hennesy, Nancy Harding, Joel Diamond, Claudia Wells, Darby Hinton, David A.R. White, Danny Arroyo, Kevin Spirtas, Eve Richards, Tyrone DuBose and Kat Kolla. Donelle knows how to throw a party, and her MM exhibit is beautiful!
SceneAroundTown Short Takes…. Mario Lopez and sons attended a sporting event…Tom Holland and dad celebrated his excellent new Spiderman Movie and Spiderman co-star Jacob Batalon married Veronica Leahov…. Celebrity make-up artist Patrick Foley celebrated his birthday with many beautiful famous clients and friends… Jennifer Lopez enjoyed a refreshing drink while college searching with her twins… Legendary Duo Rona Barrett & Leeza Gibbons continue their hard work for seniors! Attorney Derek Yee and DH’s Nyla and Oscar Arslanian attend a hot event at the beautiful Hollywood Museum… At Comic-Con Svengoolie and Collector’s Call Lisa Welchel had a good visit (I love their TV shows on MeTV!) as did noted Author/Actor Mike Pingel and Star Trek’s legendary George Takai… Arnold Schwarzenneger enjoyed his birthday with his family…. It’s been a year since we lost the lovely Loni Anderson – her warm personality, talent and glamor sure are missed. I remember her modeling one of MM’s famous cocktail dresses at an MM exhibit at the beautiful Hollywood Museum c. 2010… “She was such a tiny little thing, I’m surprised I can fit into it” I recall she said to me… I took this photo many moons ago at a Tony Awards party hosted by The Actors Fund which was PR’d by Harlan Boll. RIP Dear Loni….
Have a good safe and happy month everyone… until we meet again…. HH