Month: November 2009

She’s not bionic after all

As my sister Jean will corroborate with sarcastic glee, as a young man a secret shame of mine was “The Bionic Woman.” Today, I had the pleasure of saying hi to Lindsay Wagner.

Lindsay Wagner

Lindsay put a lot into making “The Bionic Woman” more than just a spin-off of “The Six Million Dollar Man,” and for her efforts she won an Emmy. Ostensibly a kid’s show, there was plenty in there to keep college boys like me watching, as seen in this video that a Lindsay fan put on YouTube. You’ll see scenes from a beauty pageant, and you’ll find the complete episode below.

Lindsay is an advocate of homeopathic health, and she holds seminars and workshops as part of a program she calls “Quiet the Mind, and Open the Heart.” Here is part of a recent conversation with Lindsay.


Ellie Drake-Bionic Woman of Healing Lindsay Wagner Pt 2
by BraveHeartWomen

There isn’t a DVD set of “The Bionic Woman” in America yet, although Linsday says it’s been released in England and elsewhere in Europe. She was surprised to learn today that some of the shows are available on Hulu. Here’s the beauty pageant episode.

Happy Pet Day

Happy Birthday, Petula Clark!

Petula Clark as a child actressPetula Clark

Petula says she’ll continue to work and perform as long as there’s an audience. Judging from this appearance in France a few months ago, she still has an audience.

It was 40 years ago, on Petula’s birthday, that BBC One TV broadcast its first programme in colour. BBC Two had been transmitting in colour for some months. The first colour show on BBC One was, “An Evening With Petula.”

Sour Sugar, Sugar

If you’re of a certain age, the Monkees were once a very big deal. For two-and-a-half years I’d loved the Beatles, and “Revolver” had just been released. I was amazed by their progression, but I still loved light Pop music, and I thought the Monkees were great.

Way back in January, the Smithsonian Channel showed “Making the Monkees,” about the fascinating birth, brief life, and demise of the Pre-Fab Four, the all-time greatest manufactured Pop music entity. Here are five minutes from the documentary, focusing on the conflict between the group — especially Mike Nesmith, not so much Davy — and music supervisor Don Kirshner.

Mike’s interview is over ten years old, but the others were interviewed more recently. All of them, after these many years, still speak with anger and bitterness over what happened. Everybody was right, and everybody was wrong, but Kirshner comes across as a fool, for thinking that any four guys could have done what the Monkees did.

[flv:http://www.dograt.com/Video/2009/NOV/Monkees.flv 512 384]

Prue Bury at the Beatles Weekend, Ouistreham

I had told Prudence Bury-Fuchs a while ago that she should be prepared to sign autographs at the Beatles Weekend in France. Prue thanked me for the thought, but she sincerely doubted that anybody would ask her!

Hi Doug,
You were right, I did not stop signing autographs. People were “thrilled” to meet me!!! So it was most enjoyable. You will have to organise a “Beatles Weekend” across the pond!

Prue Bury at the Beatles Weekend, Ouistreham

Prue Bury on stage at the Beatles Weekend, Ouistreham

Of course I was right! Who wouldn’t be thrilled to meet her? In flawless French, Prue had no trouble charming the audience.

Prue must be the last person with a legitimate connection to the Beatles to make a first appearance at a fan event. I don’t have experience organizing shows, but now that Prue has come out of hiding from Beatles fandom, it is indeed time for her to make an appearance stateside, as well as in her native England, of course.

This is Prue with a gent named Yvon…

Prue Bury with Yvon at the Beatles Weekend, Ouistreham

…and here she is with a fan named Jean-Claude. You lucky guys!

Prue Bury with Jean-Clause at the Beatles Weekend, Ouistreham