I’m not sure why I haven’t seen any Russ Meyer films.  For all intents and purposes, they should be right up my alley – campy, glam girls and amazing titles like “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill”. However, I have met a wife (Edy Williams) and a half (Kitten Natividad) and some of the girls from “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls”.  So let me tell you about them … 

EDY WILLIAMS 

Edy Williams was married to Russ Meyer and he was responsible for making her a “cult star”.  She is one of those examples of me not knowing ANYTHING about a particular celebrity but coming across some really amazing and ideal glamour stills for a low price when I was a teenager.  Saying to myself, someday I’ll have this Edy Williams person sign these for me.   

So, when Edy was appearing at a Hollywood Collector Show in January 2005, I made sure to be there and beelined to her table early in the day.  Still knowing not much about her and not having any ready-made compliments on a particular role, I gushed over what amazing photos she takes.  I think a smile was all I got in return.  She was polite, quiet and has a nice signature.   

I still haven’t seen any of her movies, BUT I have Google searched her Academy Award outfits.  Edy has made an annual tradition, starting in the 70’s of showing up at the Oscars red carpet in some outrageously fun or garish or sexy (your pick).  Check them out for yourself and if you look at them chronologically, note the gradual increasing of boob size.  And that red lipstick.  She strives to make us look and usually doesn’t fail. 

KITTEN NATIVIDAD 

As I explained in my entry on Carol Doda and other “erotic dancers”, I used to check the newspaper regularly back in the day to see who was appearing in person.  I knew that writing a fan letter in care of a theater to an always-traveling performer would have much better luck than writing to them at a temporary home address.  This was the case with Kitten Natividad. 

Kitten was performing at the Market Street Theater and at the time of writing to her on October 28, 1985 - I knew absolutely nothing about her except there was a pic of her in the paper, she had a great name and I assumed she had some level of notoriety.  She replied back on November 7th, 1985 and sent me a great photo, a handwritten letter and a flyer for her fan club along with signing my blue card and the (not great) newspaper photo. 

Years later, in January 2014, I met Kitten at a Hollywood Convention Show where they had a specific room devoted to “Adult Entertainment” stars.  Jenna Jameson was the headliner and the guests included Ginger Lynn, Amber Lynn, Seka, Ron Jeremy, Veronica Hart, Kay Parker and more – all of whom I will discuss separately. 

Kitten had an end-cap table on the opposite side of the room from where Jenna Jameson was holding court and had a huge crowd.  When I approached Kitten, it was just me and her and boy was she talkative and fun!  And I do mean talkative.  Super-friendly and all over the board regarding topic, random memories and giving me the backstory for all the pix on her table, I was just reveling in her jubilant personality.  I bought a copy of the “Beneath the Valley of the Ultra Vixens” mini-poster you see here. 

I caught Ginger Lynn to my left, returning to her table after a lunch break, and I wanted to get over there, but I was caught in a Kitten-trap!  I excused myself saying I was going to talk to Ginger, and she told me to come back later in the day and say hi.  She was truly one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met at a convention.  No wonder Russ Meyer kept her around so long – not marrying her – but a long-time companion.  I can see how she might have kept his spirits up and keep him laughing! 

TURA SATANA 

Who? Why do I know that name.  I was watching an episode of “Hawaiian Eye” which popped up on my DVR, because I had it recording anything featuring Faith Domergue.  (I know, I’m so freakin’ random) Anyway, the 1961 episode of “Concert in Hawaii” guest-starring Faith and Jack Cassidy, had a scene where there was this eye-catching receptionist.  As is my habit, I paused what I was watching, to look up the credits/trivia/details and saw that it was Tura Satana.  THEN I remembered the “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” scenes and stills that I had see and decided that I needed to have her autograph.   

Due to my daily ebay search for “Tura Satana” autograph and avoiding all the overpriced “BuyItNow” offerings of Tura, I was able to snag this great photo from an eBay auction being the only bidder at $29.99! You know she’d probably be selling those for at least $40 or $50 if she was doing conventions today.  

I’m so glad to have this in my collection and I really do need to watch “Pussycat”.  Just this photo alone shows how bad-ass she was! 

BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS 

At the Hollywood Collector Show in September 2014, I met a few members of “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls”.  DOLLY READ MARTIN was an absolute delight!  Chatty, telling stories, still very attractive and very natural and easy-going as we talked.  She was also really autograph aware with comments like “Where exactly do you want me to sign this on the picture?  What do you want me to inscribe or quote?”  “Which color pen do you like?” She was really an autograph collector’s dream and so much fun as a person.  Dolly loves her fans and still a very accommodating signer, even TTM.  She really is a living doll!   

(P.S. You will note that a 1980’s (?) photo shown here is signed “Dolly Read Martin” on a “Dolly Martin” headshot.  That’s because she was married to Dick Martin of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In”.  Clarification: Married, then divorced, then re-married him and was with him at the time of his death.  She is shown with him here in one of the Playboy Revisited photos from the 90’s.  Check out the fully intact centerfold that she signed as well! 

Marcia McBroom was at the same table as Dolly and we had a bit of a rough start with our interaction.  I don’t remember exactly what I asked or said, but I did something that made her bristle; it was definitely my fault.  Since she was there to sign autographs, she quietly signed my “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” mini-poster and then looked away (I was nicely dismissed, it seemed) until I asked her about the “For Our Children’s Sake” flyer she had on the table. When the topic changed to what she is doing now (teaching, I believe) and her charity, she really warmed up and we had such a pleasant chat. We started talking about her modeling days and she started jotting down the list of albums where she appears on the cover. I’m so glad I was able to break the ice! Really such a sweet and classy lady with a good and charitable heart 

I didn’t meet her personally, but I also have some autographs of Phyllis Davis, who was in “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls”, but I really only knew her from “Vegas” with Robert Urich (see the 80’s Linda Evans-esque picture).  So when I did a deeper dive and saw that she also was the STAR of “Sweet Sugar” a women-in-prison film, I just about died when I saw the poster. “Sugar gets what she wants when she wants it - Her machete isn’t her only weapon – They’re women. They’re warm. They’re wildcats”.  How have I missed all this cheesiness?!?!?! 

It wasn’t until I looked up Russ Meyer women that I realized I also have an autograph of the reclusive Uschi Digard who was in “Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens”.  This signed photo sat around in my “unidentified” file for quite a while, until I was able to decipher the name and research who Uschi was.  Uschi pulled a Garbo and virtually disappeared when she retired in 1982.  I kinda like when a celeb casually leaves the stage and closes the curtain.  I’m very interested in her still unpublished “I Used to Be Uschi” autobiography, supposedly completed in 2013.  What’s the hold up?!?! 

As I’m writing this entry, I’m realizing that I really need to watch some Russ Meyer films!! 

BOBBY TEXT COMPLETE 

Great photo of the cast from Faster Pussycat 

Dennis Busch was also a physique model and bodybuilder 

Erica Gavin research