Monday, July 12, 2010

While We Prepare a Fresh Batch of Fabulosity...

...take a gander at this bizarre little clip, featuring hunky bandleader Ray Anthony (the former Mr. Mamie Van Doren - and doesn't he look like a Vegas cross between Cary Grant and Vic Damone?) and his female sidekicks, The Bookends: Annita Ray and Diane Hall. Annita and Diane are shoehorned into the most wasp-waisted fishtail gowns we've ever seen; their hair is lacquered and spit-curled, yet; and they spend most of this hokey number practically giving Ray a massage which we almost expect to culminate in a happy ending. Adding to the weirdness are the "gag" reactions of a stunned, displeased audience. Oh, pre-sexual revolution America, wherefore art thou?



Incidentally, after their 26-week gig on syndicated television with Ray Anthony, Diane and Annita took a sharp left turn from lounge lizardettes to hep kittens, cutting a series of pop-rock singles for the Wand label, including the original version of "A Groovy Kind of Love." Who'd-a thunk?


5 comments:

  1. For some reason, all I'm seeing in him is Orson Bean. What a hilarious clip! Thanks

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  2. I'd have enjoyed it more without the audience reaction shots - which are obviously lifted from the original film of "The Producers". Love the gowns!

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  3. WTF? Those girls are hot, though.

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  4. He does look like Cary Grant sorta, handsome guy that he is. Gowns are cool. That audience is weird.

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