Monday, July 14, 2008

Happy Birthday



Miss Polly Bergen (July 14, 1930), whose career has included starring as Helen Morgan on television; recording classic albums of sumptuous torch ballads; appearing with Hermione Gingold on Broadway; being pummeled by Doris Day in Move Over, Darling (1963); and running her own cosmetics firm. Is it any wonder we absolutely worship her?



Miss Nancy Olson (July 14, 1928), who was the voice of sanity amidst the loonies and eccentrics in Sunset Boulevard (1950). We also loved her in Pollyanna (1960), and judging by the photo above, she could do a darn impressive Eleanor Parker impersonation, as well.



And, finally, the legendary Mr. Charles Pierce (July 14, 1926 - March 31, 1999), who would have been 81 today. In one of the paradoxes that defined the oblivious-to-straights overt gayness of the 1970's and early 1980's (see this clip of The Love Boat for another), Pierce's drag act made him a mainstream celebrity, with a lavish stage act which played major venues and featured expensive designer costumes, a full orchestra and celebrity-studded audiences. The affection which characterized Pierce's impersonations of Hollywood's Grand Ladies was palpable, as demonstrated by these candid shots of some of the old gals visiting backstage, all taken from the delightful Charles Pierce Tribute Site:


ANN-MARGRET


BEA ARTHUR & ANNE BAXTER


JOAN BLONDELL


CAROL CHANNING & MARY MARTIN


CLAUDETTE COLBERT


ALICE FAYE


ETHEL MERMAN


ELAINE STRITCH

Bea Arthur did the reading at Pierce's memorial service. Which, coincidentally, is exactly how we want to go. We miss you, Charles! Your wit, humor and talent made you one of a kind.

4 comments:

  1. Worked with Polly Bergen once. She was very nice and had a very sexy vibe to her that even I felt.

    Loved Charles Pierce...enjoyed his Bette in many small clubs before he went main stream.

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  2. Oh, yes. Polly has that great, sexy, world-weary broad quality that's very alluring. I love her throaty voice.

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  3. I adore that of all those ladies, only my darling Alice Faye appears really and truly in on the joke (well, along with Misses Arthur and Channing. Although with Carol you can never tell).

    Also: Why did Elaine Stritch look older thirty years ago than she does now?

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  4. It probably had something to do with the six-bottles-a-day hooch habit she had at the time.

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