Housewife in Hollywood - housewifeinhollywood.com

When I think of Labor Day weekend I think of The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. I remember staying up almost all night in 1977 watching the pledges come in, the performances by celebrities, Jerry Lewis and Ed McMann looking more tired as the hours went by, waiting for the timpani and the numbers to be tallied up. The next morning with very little sleep I got my piggy bank together full of pennies, nickels and dimes and took it to the nearest 7-Eleven store. Back in the 70′s the radio featured a DJ named Wolfman Jack. He was the one that told me via the radio to get my money together, take it to 7-Eleven for Jerry’s Kids, and have a Slurpee afterward. Wolfman Jack is probably the only DJ I’ve ever paid any attention to. With his unique voice, Be-Bop Medley’s he played over the radio, and his signature howl, he really was a cool dude. Some of you might remember Wolfman Jack being featured in the movie American Graffiti. For those of you who never heard of him take a listen to  this record via Youtube:

The telethon has been around since the 60′s. Just like everything in showbiz it’s had some controversies. Jerry has shown his human side on live television with jokes that may not be politically correct, and maybe offensive to some, but I still believe his heart and passion for the cause that he’s spent so much personal time and effort on is true. Lewis is a performer from old Hollywood, before politically incorrect was uttered for the first time, when Las Vegas was more about Downtown and less about The Strip, when the Rat Pack reigned supreme and you could smoke and drink a scotch while performing a number on TV.

I won’t be dragging my piggy bank to the store this year but I will be donating to the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon online. You can too. Check it out here www.mda.org/

Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal are leading the way in World Wide Web internettainment. This duo met in the first grade and now they’re all grown up working together as musicians, filmmakers, and comedians. Most Internet enthusiasts know them for their large collection of videos on the Internet.

This is one of my favorites:

Rhett & Link put the viral in viral marketing. Catch Rhett & Link at these 5 featured Links:

1. Their official website www.rhettandlink.com/

2. Being a MySpace user myself, I just have to share this link to their official MySpace page  www.myspace.com/rhettandlink  

3. You can watch all 21 of their summer episodes for the Alka Seltzer Great American Road Trip at www.speedysroadtrip.com/

Here’s the first one that started the summer seltzer craze, it’s in San Diego my hometown!

4. Rhett & Links Websongs, Volume 1 on Napster featuring all of their online hits including the Facebook Song, Unicorn Rap, Velcro Song, Pluto on the Rebound, and Fireworks Song. Click here to be linked.

5. Here’s the link to their film Looking for Ms. Locklear, www.locklearmovie.com/, and no, it’s not about Heather.

As I’ve mentioned before, my favorite ride at Disneyland is the Pirates of the Caribbean. I was delighted when I found Scarlett Harlott, a real life version of the famous Redhead from Disney’s pirate ride. I didn’t find her signing autographs at Disney’s theme park, instead I stumbled upon her while searching the internet. Many have met her at a pirate event, or Renaissance Faire, maybe they watched her ride by in the Grand Marshall carriage at the 2008 PyrateCon in New Orleans, or they’ve read her articles in Pirates Magazine. For anyone familiar with the classic ride at Disneyland, seeing her will bring out nostalgic memories.

Here is my interview with Scarlett Harlott:

HIH: When did you decide to become “The Redhead” being auctioned off on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, and how did you get the idea?

Personally, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride is very dear to me. My dad used to take me to Disneyland as I was growing up as special “father-daughter time” and one of my earliest memories there was when my dad first took me on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride when I was about six years old. THAT was when I first fell in love with all things pirate! As we rounded the bend of the famous auction scene, “She” crept into view. It’s a vision I will never forget and it has stayed with me to this day. I gazed upon the splendor of the woman in all red, heard the beckoning pyrates bellowing, “We wants the red’ead!” and quickly informed my father, “I am going to be HER when I grow up!” (Which is amusing in itself as my father was a preacher at the time!) As a young impressionable girl, “The Redhead” personified and encompassed everything that I thought a woman should be. Her costume was especially inspiring and I remembered it more than ANYTHING on the ride or in all of Disneyland, for that matter! While my friends were dressing up in pink Disney Princess gowns and tiaras, I was trying to stuff pillows in top of my mom’s red dress, pathetically trying to “fill the dress out” to be “The Redhead”. God found it amusing I’m sure to give me more than my share later in life! I had been dreaming since that day, when I was six, to design “The Redhead” costume for myself but it finally came to fruition in 2006 when I debuted it for the Hollywood Pirate Ball at the Key Club and won FIRST PLACE! What was even more moving is that when I got up on stage to be judged the crowd of a couple hundred “pirates” started chanting, “WE WANTS THE REDHEAD!” over and over. It was a VERY special moment for me, indeed. I even got to meet and interview the woman in charge of costuming the entire ride back in 1967, Disney Legend Alice Davis! She was the wife of another Disney Legend, Marc Davis who created and drew all the characters for the POTC ride! That was quite an honor for me.  I showed up for the interview with Alice in my Redhead costume. She got quite a kick out of it!

HIH: Your MySpace page is loaded with impressive pics of pirate events, Renaissance Faires and lots of other reasons to get all decked out in a costume. How did your love of costuming come to be?

I have had a love for costuming and dressing up since I was born, I think. My mom tells me stories about me dressing up in her clothes, makeup, hats and wigs and putting on full-fledged singing and dancing shows for my family and friends since I was a toddler. My mom used to make elaborate costuming for me and enter me into contests every Halloween and I always seemed to win first place ribbons! So I guess this is all her fault! Performing and wearing elaborate costumes is something that feels very natural to me and I enjoy it immensely. I look for any excuse to get dressed up and have some fun with friends!

HIH: Were you always a pirate enthusiast?

Since that fateful day my dad took me on the POTC ride long ago, I have always searched for books, artwork, songs, etc. about pirates. Anything I could get my hands on. I became fascinated with all things piratical and still am to this day.

HIH: You have songs being made about you by Pirate themed bands, your own column in Pirate magazine and even fan artwork. It seems you have your own celebrity status, did this take a long time to build up or did you have a following early on?

To be honest, this so-called “celebrity status” has taken me quite by surprise! I started a MySpace page in 2005 at the urging of a friend and to also “watchdog” my daughter, then quickly realized this was an awesome way to network and keep up with friends and other people who were like-minded (and dorky like me!)  After I debuted my Redhead costume, I then changed my MySpace page theme to revolve around “The Redhead”, complete with the auction scene dialogue from the POTC ride playing in the background. My new page got A LOT of attention and I guess there were more fans of The Redhead and the Disneyland POTC ride than I had thought!

I just love life and enjoy living it to the fullest extent at all times. I like to express myself artistically through my costumes and characters and give 110% in everything I do and I think people respond to that. I treat people like I would like to be treated and I love meeting new people wherever I go! I have been blessed with wonderful, supportive friends and fans, I love them all very much.

HIH: You have an album on your Myspace page with pics from your home decorated with a pirate and Moulin Rouge theme. I noticed a lot of collector items such as Mark Davis artwork. Were you interested in Walt Disney and Mark Davis before you became the redhead?

Oh yes, I’ve ALWAYS been a Disney fan of all sorts. I actually started my collection of Marc Davis artwork before I evolved into “The Redhead”.  Since the POTC ride has always been my favorite, I’ve collected wonderful artwork and other collectibles since I was young. I even have an original pirate map from the Disneyland “Pieces of Eight” pirate store from 1967 that I found on eBay! I also have every “Redhead” item Disney ever released, including a 2½ foot tall statue of her (and the Auctioneer), figurines, dolls and all the collectors pins, too! Yup, I’m obsessed!

HIH: You obviously visit Disneyland often. Do you ever go in costume? If so how do the park guests react to you?

I wish I COULD go into Disneyland in my “Redhead” costume! Unfortunately, they won’t let you enter the park if you are wearing any kind of costume. I had a Disney cast member friend of mine (I won’t say WHO) tell me to pack my costume in a bag and put it on once inside the park, then stand by the exit of the POTC ride and enjoy being a “character” until I get kicked out! (SHHHH! I’m thinking seriously about this!) Actually, adults and children actually think I’m “Ariel” from “The Little Mermaid” when I go to Disneyland because of my long, bright red hair. I usually put my Ariel flower in my hair, carry around my “Flounder” fish character purse and wear my Ariel t-shirt when I go, too! HAHA!

HIH: I noticed many pics with more than a few Captain Jacks. Have you ever met the real Captain Jack Sparrow?

DON’T I WISH!!!!!! *le sigh* I do have several friends that got to work with Johnny Depp on the POTC movies, but not me. Not YET, anyway!

HIH: Besides the famous redhead on Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride, what other characters do you emulate?

She’s the character closest to my heart, but I also love to dress up in other eras and play a variety of characters besides “The Redhead”. I also play “Big Nose Kate” who was Doc Holliday’s girlfriend in the 1880′s during the Tombstone years and “Vallon the Voluptuous Viking Valkyrie from Valhalla”. I even got to ride a Percheron horse down Hollywood Blvd. wearing my Viking armour last month! What a hoot!

HIH: Is this just a fun hobby for you or more of a career at this point?

It’s a little of both at this point. I wish it was MORE of a career for me, but being a “professional pirate” doesn’t pay as steadily as the historical pirates got “paid”. I need a steady “day job” to pay for my costuming addiction! I am, however, available to hire for themed parties & events, just visit my website to email me: www.scarlettharlott.com

HIH: It is the summer of 2008 and there will be millions visiting the happiest place on earth. What are a couple of your most memorable Disneyland moments?

Well, besides the most obvious, here are some OLD SCHOOL (the younger generation may not remember these things) Disneyland memories from when I was just a wee one:

1. Eating warm churros and drinking hot chocolate while standing in line for the Haunted Mansion on winter mornings.

2. Playing on Tom Sawyer Island (before the pirates took it over) with my dad.
Riding the “People Mover” with my family in Tomorrowland!

3. Fighting over the very few “E-Tickets” in the ticket book with my older brother!

4. Thinking I was REALLY flying high over London on the Peter Pan ride.

5. Riding the ORIGINAL submarine (before “Nemo” came) ride with my folks and my mom always getting Claustrophobia!

6. Getting scared out of mind that the floating candelabra in the dark hallway on the Haunted Mansion ride was REAL (and most everything else on that ride, too, EEEP!)

7. Singing along with the Country Bear Jamboree show and wishing I could grow up to be “Teddi Barra”, the girl bear that came down from a hole in the ceiling on the swing, singing! “Big Al” and his deep, bellowing voice was a favorite of mine, too!

8. My dad buying me cotton candy, Mouse Ears and a HUGE rainbow lollypop!

With Talk Like a Pirate Day  just around the corner I’ve been feeling very “piratey” lately. Last night I took my brother, and my sister-in-law to a Pirates Press Gang Rhythm and Rum Party in Long Beach, CA at The Blue Cafe.

I usually get to bed by 10:00 and a couple of the bands I wanted to see didn’t get on stage till 11:00. This housewife is dragging a bit today but it was well worth the lack of sleep.

The evening was full of authentic looking pirates, tribal dancers, unique pirate rock music, and even some retro swing tunes thrown into the mix. Stay tuned for more about the two great bands I danced the night away with. Now I need to get back to dusting and cleaning the kitchen. Well, maybe after a little afternoon nap.

Yes you read correctly. I’ve located five fives in pop culture. Here they are…in five four three two one… 

1. David Bowie – Five Years live in 1972

2. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five said, “Don’t push me cause I’m close to the edge…” This song explains a bit why the five were so furious.

3. Hawaii Five-O, the retro TV show with one of the best theme songs ever.

4. National High Five Day- Ahh I can’t believe I missed this! It’s in April. I’ll be ready next year. After finding out all about it on their official site www.nationalhighfiveday.com  I am ready, now give me a high five!

5. The Five A’s- from the founders of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, coming up September 19th by the way. So start practicing your best Arrrs and Ayes, and the other three. Find out what the other three be ya landloving bilge rats!

A new movie is coming out on Friday called The House Bunny. Although I’ve never been in a sorority and I’ve never lived at the Playboy Mansion I think this movie looks cute. It’s one of those “don’t think, while you drink Cherry Coke, and stuff your face with movie popcorn” sort of movies. 

This looks like the kind of film that will give me a warm fuzzy feeling when I leave the theater. I’ll be elated by the oneness of girl power and realize that it’s not the outside that counts but the inside that matters most, especially when you’re surrounded by a group of warmhearted, helpful girlfriends. Then I’ll remember my real life experience of Basic Training in the United States Army with a platoon of 30 women and that thought bubble will be popped real quick.

The Girls Next Door cast makes a cameo appearance in the film. I’m a fan of Hef and his three bodacious blondes, Holly, Bridget, and Kendra. It’s fun to get a sneak peek into the mansion, all the lavish parties, the elusive grotto, and of course their pets are just adorable. How can anyone resist Bridget’s Gizmo?

The Bunny role is played by comedian Anna Faris from Scary Movie fame. Bruce and Demi’s kid, Rumer Willis, stars in the movie, so does American Idol’s Katharine McPhee. She sings a classic 80′s tune called I Know What Boys Like for the movie soundtrack.

I know what I like, and it’s the original by The Waitresses

So what do you think? Are you going to get some Cherry Coke and check this one out?

Two talented sisters put together one of the biggest show sensations on the Internet. If you’re a fan of Johnny Depp, Captain Jack Sparrow, or Tim Burton movies, you’ll be a fan of The Hillywood Show.

It’s not just the subject matter they choose that makes this show unique. Their witty humor, talent, motivation, and amazing attention to detail intrigue viewers and have them eagerly waiting for the next episode.

I met with Hilly & Hannah at Comic Con 2008. As we talked, fans commented on Hilly’s incredible costume, and gathered to take pictures with her as Edward Scissorhands. I was a bit bummed to find out I would be missing Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett the following day but I was thankful to meet these two Internet celebs in person. Check out their video from the event.

The Hillywood Show recently released Episode 13. In a jaw dropping sort of way, Hilly & Hannah reenact scenes from one of Tim Burton’s best films, Sweeney Todd. They weave in creative content, making each episode their own work of art.

Here is my interview with Hilly & Hannah of The Hillywood Show:

HIH: I read on your official website that you were both performing at a young age either impersonating characters or taking dance classes. When did the idea of The Hillywood Show come about?

It started back in 2006. AOL put out a contest that encouraged teens to send in their own idea for a web show. So, we sent in our entry and discovered we were in America’s Top 5 Finalists out of 100,000 entries! It was so exciting! After the contest was over, we came in 3rd place and gained fans through that! They told us to continue with the show, so we did!

HIH: Hannah, we see a lot of Hilly on screen, recently you’ve been playing Mrs. Lovett in your Sweeney Todd featured episodes. What are some things you do behind the scenes for The Hillywood Show?

I am the Director of “The Hillywood Show”, script writer (along with Hillary), cinematographer (along with Hillary), and make-up artist. Plus, I do most of the scheduling for shoots and organizing things for the show.

HIH: Hilly, has Johnny Depp told you what he thinks of your flattering homage to his characters?

No, because I have never met Johnny, but it would be an honor to hear what he thinks about “The Hillywood Show”!

HIH: In a recent interview for Las Vegas Weekly I read that you were both homeschooled. Did homeschooling help you pursue this out of the box idea of creating your own show on the Internet?

Yes! Being home schooled allowed us to focus on the things we wanted to do in life and opened up our imagination even further. It was a true blessing.

HIH: What do your parents think of the show? Are they involved in your productions?

Our parents support us 100%! They are constantly involved and in ‘the know’ about all our projects and future episodes. They are absolutely amazing!

HIH: Your intro complements the professionalism of your show. Who created The Hillywood Show intro?

We both did! We both wrote the lyrics to “Hooray for Hillywood” and shot the intro as well. We contacted a band by the name of ‘SPIV’ and asked them to perform “Hooray for Hillywood”. They agreed and we couldn’t have been more pleased with it! It’s great!

HIH: With all the acts, impersonators, and flashy resorts in Las Vegas, does living there help the production of your show in anyway?

Well, to be honest, it depends on what we are looking for at the time. Episode #5 was very easy to shoot, down on the Strip and everything, but Episodes #10 – #13 (Sweeney Todd) was very difficult. The locations needed to look like England in the 1800′s…so that was extremely difficult to find!

HIH: Where do you film your episodes? Do you rent space or is it a home project?

Our episodes are shot in various locations. Sometimes they will be shot on a set or at an actual location.

HIH: You’ve appeared and been featured on many TV shows, a few being Access Hollywood, Fox 5 News, and CNN Live. Although your show itself isn’t on television you have enough visibility to generate a big fan base. You have a fan center on your site which includes fan artwork, fan videos, and fan avatars. What is it like having so many appreciate and promote your creative work?

It really encourages us and makes us want to make more episodes for the fans! They have been so supportive through everything and we couldn’t ask for more. It is absolutely fantastic having people appreciate your work! Without the fans, “Hillywood” wouldn’t be the same.

HIH: What is next for The Hillywood Show?

We are currently shooting for Episode #14 which will air sometime in September. Also, we would like for a television network to pick up “The Hillywood Show”! That’s one goal we are praying for!

You can watch The Hillywood Show in High Definition at www.thehillywoodshow.com

Leave a hello or a comment for Hilly & Hannah on their official MySpace page. Tell them the Housewife in Hollywood sent you! www.myspace.com/thehillywoodshow

There have been videos, photos and stories about unidentified mammals circulating the news on television, radio, and the Internet. From sightings of legendary BigFoot, the fabled Chupacabra to the recently found Montauk Monster.

What is it that’s bringing out all these mysterious mammals? Here on housewifeinhollywood.com, I am the first to publish a strange form of unidentified insect found in my own mother’s yard late last week.

At first glance it appears to be from the grasshopper family but when viewed closely you can see the butterfly like wings, reptilian head and glowing antennae that clearly show this is not just your ordinary insect.
Plans will not be set to send this to a lab for further investigation, instead we will keep this specimen as a family pet. We are calling this unique creature Bugsy, after the classic character Bugsy Malone.

My kiddo’s first day of school is Monday, August 19th. Even though the summer sun is still shining down on us, it will be less time in the pool and more time in school. I got to thinking about school supplies and with my retro tendencies I decided to get a bit nostalgic with 5 Back to Old School Favorites:

1. Pee Chee Folder

Nothing was more fun in History class than doodling a mustache on the girl playing tennis, and writing “I heart” whoever he was at the time, helped to break up the lectures.

2. Trapper Keeper

This was a novel idea wasn’t it? The newest in binder technology, folders trapped by Velcro! Nothing says retro better than Velcro, except maybe legwarmers. Also an old school favorite but you really didn’t need those for class unless you were a character on Fame.

3. Lunchbox

Two things made lunch great, Twinkies and themed lunchboxes. My favorite was Snoopy and Friends but I would have loved to sport this one around the lunch tables.

4. Back to School Clothes

Shopping for a new school wardrobe was what I looked forward to the most, it almost made leaving behind all the summertime fun manageable.

How exciting it was to try on all new reversible parkas, with matching pleated pants!

5. Lip Balm

Alright so this wasn’t on everyones school supply list, but it was on mine. When I was a kid I was teased at school for two things. Okay maybe more than two, but I’ll only list two here.
One, my classmates changed my name from Suzanne to Suzy Q, which I wasn’t too keen about. Remember Suzy Q snack treats?

Take the AOL snack treat quiz here.

Two, my classmates had a great time making fun of my lips. People pay big money these days for big lips but in the 70′s this wasn’t the case, especially in 5th grade. I decided on combining the Suzy nickname with the lip idea by using the Olympic Skier, Suzy Chaffee’s “Suzy Chapstick” to my advantage and start a chapstick collection in my desk. I had everything from regular Chapstick to Dr.Pepper flavored lip balm. Remember Suzy Chapstick?

So what about you? What’s on your favorite back to old school list?