CLOSING OUT 1965 (Part One)
“Look what happened,” as I gave to all unintentionally the international sign. That was it, everyone was doubled over in total hilarity, myself included. What became of that film I have no idea, but suspect that it is in someone’s private collection of out takes. Surely it never made the final cut, and we never did any retakes of the scene. I just hope that was not the reason that Joseph Cotton, a very fine actor, was not part of the cast of the “Bold Ones” when it did air. Personally I was just not cut out to be a nurse, even in playacting.
CLOSING OUT 1965
As the year closed out I seemed to be doing a great deal of dancing. Of Course, that is something I did enjoy doing. But it did seem to be a lot of the Watusi. But there was the rumba and samba on “Convoy,” and always the jitterbug, on “McHale’s Navy.” I would use my “A” Card a number of times, especially for the show “Occasional Wife.” Then played a French girl for the Monkees, and a month later a wild eating scene for the same show, as we shoved large handfuls of cake into the mouths of our fellow extras. That was a bizarre day, but then it was the Monkees. They were by and large a playful and dear bunch of boys, who, because of my long dark hair, and other attributes called me “Wonder Woman,” from the popular comic character of the time. I took it as a complement. Work was fairly steady, and with the “silent bits,” “A” work, and the wammies, in many ways I was doing very well.
I also danced the Can-can for the show “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” Then for once was asked to dress in winter clothes for an episode filmed in October. The schedule was getting better, at least closer to the correct season. Then those casting for “U.N.C.L.E.” had me dress as a cowgirl with a short skirt, and then for the same show a Watusi dancer at a nightclub. Then the next week it was formal wear with furs. It is amazing how the atmosphere with the same players can be changed so radically.
It was on “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” that I would work with the director Alf Kjellin, and would see for the first time a combination of sophistication, substance, elegance, good looks, and personal presence. Here was a man whose eyes were kind, and his intelligence and self-control were remarkable. I was never again to see a man so continental and calm. He knew exactly what he wanted, and he directed everyone with his soft-spoken manner and politeness. This wasn’t all there was to admire about him, his hands were incredibly soft.
How well I remember that first time he placed those wonderful hands on my arm to move me over just a little bit so nothing hid me from the camera. When I returned home that evening, I couldn’t wait to call Linda to tell her of my new discovery. “Linda,” you have to work with this man! The way he looks! The way he looks at you! His voice, and his hands! You have got to feel these hands, you must get him to touch you!”
Well Linda not too much later did get to work with Mr. Kjellin, and when he did move her just a little, Linda was to reply “I am sorry, would you do that again.” Yes Linda melted like we all did.
McHALE’S NAVY COMES TO AN END
Linda and I still frequently would work on “McHale’s Navy,” but in late January we heard that “McHale’s” had been cancelled. This would be the last season, and it was bittersweet news, particular for me. I loved working on the set, and always the chance to see, even talk with Gary Vinson, my inamorato from afar. Linda and I both, as I remember, worked jitterbugging at some illegal party arranged by the crew, and two episodes in bathing suits, one as beauty contestants in another of the McHale crew’s attempts to make money. These suits were period costumes and certainly modesty in comparison to those Bikini calls.
I would also have a wonderful role that is for an extra, in “An Ensign’s Best Friend.” This episode had the crew thinking that Tim, Ensign Parker, had been smitten by me, and I was using him while I stilled carrying on with one of the young men of the Italian village, played by Steve Truaxe. As I said it was fun, and I was called upon to kiss both Tim Conway, and Steve. That was well and good for a silent bit, and wammies, except it was the wrong member of the crew that I was kissing.
The ‘crush” on Gary Vinson still remained perhaps stronger than ever. It was not rational, but deeply felt, surely born of my subconscious, and seemingly without any real sexual overtones. I just did not think of him in that way. It was a lilting romantic feeling without entanglements or deep passion. He may have been married at the time, and had I known that at the beginning, my dream may have had another focus. But at this subconscious level that may not have mattered, because that was not how I felt about Gary. He was never around me much, the words we exchanged were few. He was always kind, smiled easily, and always had a few gracious words for me as one of the members of the cast. But he never made an overt move to be more. Could he have sensed my feelings? I don’t know how he could not have, for I blushed easily at even his few words to me, and my eyes had to speak volumes. Clearly as I have said, my deep need was for someone I perceived as “safe.” (Continued next month 91)
