Judy's Back Yard BBQ

I saw this last night. It was a laugh FEST! Very funny, very witty and a whole lot of fun! With FOOD too!
CLICK on each panel to enlarge in order to read.
Well done everyone, especially though Gail, Billy, Victor and Ms. Peggy Lee!!!
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Headin' For Broadway CLICK HERE

After the movie FAME hit it big, a knock off was released, very quietly and didn't do well. I finally saw it on HBO and though it has it's moments, it's just not as good. Very low budget and very rough around the edges.
Still, it is fun and this is the opening theme song. Rex Smith was the only star of note in the film, though Paul Carafotes is well known in tv now and Vivian Reed is known in Broadway and music circles.
Released May 1980
Directed by Joseph Brooks

Leader of the Pack - Ellie Greenwich Dies CLICK HERE

Sad in a way...but her music will live on forever!
Chapel of Love
Leader of the Pack
Da Do Ron Ron
Be My Baby
River Deep Mountain High

Thank you Ellie!!!!

Ellie circa 1986

Pee Wee CLICK HERE

I videotaped this when it first came on in 1986. I saved it all these years and was able to transfer it to DVD a while back.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology...I have now uploaded it to YouTube.

I still laugh hard at this. Love me some Pee Wee Herman!!!

Happy Birthday Mary Markham

Today is my friend Mary Markham's birthday!

Celebrate!!

Radford University - Where I Went to College

Radford University Named U.S. News "Up-and-Coming" University in
U.S. News Guide – One of Only Three Virginia Public Universities so Honored
– Radford University has been named one of the nation's "Top Up-and-Coming Schools" in the U.S. News and World Report's 2010 Guide to America's Best Colleges. The designation recognizes colleges and universities that have recently made the most "promising and innovative changes" and are projected to soar higher in the rankings.
"Our entire university community is elated by this recognition," said Radford University President Penelope Kyle. "This achievement speaks so well of the talents and hard work of our faculty, staff and students."

Radford University was ranked eighth among the "Top Up-and-Coming" Master's universities in the South and fifth among the public universities honored in the category. A total of 77 colleges and universities of the nation's 2,618 accredited four-year institutions (American Association of American Colleges and Universities, 2005) were recognized for innovation and improvements that signal the institution is on the rise.

Radford University is ranked 15th among public master's universities in the south and has been named one of the top 20 public universities in this category for the last six years.

The U.S. News and World Report category in which RU is included, master's universities in the south, includes institutions within a 12-state region that provide a full range of undergraduate and master's programs, with few or no doctoral programs. Radford enrolled students in its first doctoral program in 2008 and is expected to introduce two more in the near future.

RU has shown consistent improvement in the U.S. News and World Report rankings over several years. In 2005, Radford was ranked at number 51 among public and private schools in its category; in 2010, it ranked 38th.

"For a university on the verge of celebrating its Centennial, we've got a lot to be excited about," said Kyle. "Being recognized for progress and innovation in this prestigious study is a terrific honor. But it's also something I see every day when I work with our faculty, talk with our students, and meet our alumni. It's very gratifying to see the rest of the world get a glimpse of the excellence at Radford.


If you want to learn more about Radford visit www.learnmore.RUandYou.com

The Guest House CLICK HERE

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

--Rumi--

Dreams DO Come True CLICK HERE

Dreams
Artist: Diana DeGarmo

Dreams are just dreams
When they're stuck inside your head
And all it takes is a little help from you
You know it's true
That dreams are for real
When you see what I see
And you feel it too
We took the longest road
Just to make it harder
Let's do it all again
It only makes us stronger

Dreams
I guess we're just made of dreams
Nothin' else matters
As long as we believe
I'm lookin' at you
And I see my life
Passing before my eyes
And when the journey's over
And all my dreams come true
I dream of you

What do you see
When you look inside your heart
I little thought can walk a thousand miles
And change your life
When dreams lead the way
The impossible is suddenly in sight
Every step you take just brings it all together
You gotta keep the faith when all seems lost forever

Dreams
I guess we're just made of dreams
Nothin' else matters
As long as we believe
I'm lookin' at you
And I see my life
Passing before my eyes
And when the journey's over
And all my dreams come true
I dream of you

You're the one
That keeps my hope alive
My vision clear
I'll spend my life with you
Conquer fear
We'll make it through

Nothin' else matters
As long as we believe
I'm lookin' at you
And I see my life
Passing before my eyes
And when the journey's over
And all my dreams come true
I dream of you
I dream of you

Swimming with the Dolphins and Whalewatching

Johnny Thiebault took all of these amazing photographs! Thank you Johnny T!!



As I previously wrote, I was gifted by my boss Alan Shafer a trip to San Diego to play with the dolphins. Cary Brown and Johnny Thiebault went with me. I could have sworn Dean Ellerbusch was there too, but Johnny said something happened and he wasn't able to be there.
However, another time Dean coordinated a whale watching trip which Cary, he and I went on, maybe Johnny was there, I can't remember. I do remember we got fairly close to the whales and that was amazing. So big and yet so graceful.
No dates on the photos, but it had to have been 1996 or 1997.
My wonderful friends and my adventures with nature's most beautiful and graceful creatures!

Hollywood Supports

When AIDS first came to the forefront in Hollywood everyone was afraid, just as most of us were. Brad Davis and Rock Hudson died of AIDS and everyone but Liz Taylor turned their backs.
After Brad's death, Hollywood was finally chastised for turning their collective backs, so Barry Diller and the head of Universal Studios started Hollywood Supports, to educate studio and entertainment personnel.
I was part of the first training group. My co-workers Mark Hassen and Kirwan Rockefeller were with me as well.
Here are some pics from that time. At the Showbiz Expo in downtown LA, 1992 Rich Jennings and I manned the booth. Rich did an amazing job of spearheading this movement. I was very proud to be a part of that and to know him and so many of the other brave men and women who were part of this.

During the Gay Pride Parade 6/28/92 Mark Hassen and I proudly wear our shirts!

Mark did a great job at our first solo presentation. Me, not so good. I didn't prepare and got very nervous, dizzy even and had to stop and leave the room. I did come back, and finished my portion of the presentation. I learned my lesson, rehearse and prepare!!! Thought I was reprimended, I did get to do a second presentation and this time I nailed it!!
Live and Learn and many people were educated and helped by this effort.
Thank you Hollywood Supports!

March on Washington 1987

With the upcoming Marriage Equality March on Washington Oct. 11th, I am reminded that I attended the second Gay March on Washington, as well as the third. I just looked online and the first one was Oct. 14th 1979, but I was at Radford University then so didn't make that one.
I marched in the second one which was Oct. 11, 1987. These two photos of me and Cathy K were taken that day.
Cathy is in the light blue jacket almost in the exact center of this photo.

I have a very tentative fist up wearing my light blue jacket. We were passing the religious zealot protesters and everyone was chanting "shame, shame" to them.

Obviously I was still a bit afraid and still uncertain of my political power. It all seemed empowering but a bit low key. Still, I was glad I went.
I had gone to my first Gay Pride festival in June of 1980 and at that one we were too afraid to be in the street so we walked alongside. Still, it was so powerful to be surrounded by so many gay men and women. I even met then DC Mayor Marian Berry, who I thanked for coming to show his support. That impressed me as this was years before his problem times and he had a lot to lose, and gain, by coming to show his support! I will always appreciate him for doing that!
We all matter, we all count, we all belong!
God made us ALL!

We Found Dean Ellerbusch

Dean Ellerbusch and Cary Brown probably 1995 or 1996 at my apt on Fuller
Thanks to Matt and his super sleuth skills, he found Dean. YAY!
I remembered he'd moved to Washington state but thought it was Seattle. It's Spokane!
He was living with his mother, who has a different last name.
However he is now in his own place. Email me for the phone number.
I spoke with him and was so happy to talk to him. He's doing well and would love to hear from people.
Thank God for blogspot and Facebook! I am finding people I thought I'd lost and vice versa!
Big Hug to Delphine!!

Dean Ellerbusch, Johnny Thiebault and me at, where else, Disneyland! Probably 1996

Remembering Kevin McCann CLICK HERE

Kevin on the left, SF Joe on the right
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Today would have been Kevin's birthday. It still is. I know he would be celebrating with lots of laughter!
Well, I know I will be celebrating on the east coast and SF Joe will be celebrating on the west coast...so Kevin, Happy Bi Coastal Birthday!
Watch an episode of "The Golden Girls" or "The Patty Duke Show" in his honor!
Missing you and remembering you Kevin!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR KEVIN!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

And in honor of Kevin, click on the title above for a musical treat!!!
They sang at he and Joe's wedding! At Disneyland!!

One More Angel in Heaven CLICK HERE

Mark Crabtree as Levi sings this song from Springfield Community Theatre's 1982 production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat".

Halloween

Sometimes I like dressing up for Halloween and other times I just don't get into it.
Usually if someone else supplies the costume I'll dress up. Lazy I know!
Here are two such examples.
Keith Schaeffer brought over costumes one year, probably 1995 or 1996. I was supposed to be Rhoda Morgenstern, but looked more like Brenda. My friend Tim Moody dressed up as Pee Wee Herman, BEFORE the Paul Reuben scandal.
We went down to Santa Monica Blvd and walked around. This was before it got so crazy crowded you couldn't even move. That was fun.

This other time, 1997, Tim Moody and his then partner Kevin Smalley had a party at their house in Burbank. They went all out and decorated the place like a professional haunted house!
My friend Dean Ellerbusch gave me this black costume. I don't know what I was supposed to be. I had lost a lot of weight so I sorta felt sexy..go figure. Nice figure actually.
Bobby Buchanan was The Bride of Frankenstein! Simply Beautiful!
We ended up driving over the hill to the Big Halloween Parade on Santa Monica Blvd. but I remember that was when it started getting too crowded and too crazy. Still, we had a good time.

Aerobics Daze at Sports Connection

I miss the 90's!! I was in better shape because of AEROBICS! It was like doing a high energy dance routine. Gone are the days...sigh...but they were fun.
Thanks to SHARON GREEN!! She was THE BEST aerobics instructor!! Miss you Sharon!
And Dennis Rush...nnnndoubles!
When Bobby Buchanan moved out to LA in 1991 he made me join the gym, thankfully. We used to have so much fun.
Here are two pics from those days.
In this one we were all at Victoria's apt near Rock n Roll Ralphs on Sunset. I am on the couch next to Sharon. Bobby is behind Victoria next to Russell!
Probably 1992

A few times Bobby, Sharon and I went to a Mexican restaurant in Silverlake. Here we are 2/11/95
At table is David Schaeffer, Sharon Green, Kevin Sasaki.
Behind is Me, Bobby, Russ Lee and Virgina, Kevin's friend (she was a hairdresser and worked with Ann Margaret!)

Family Friends and ME

Some random photos.
******************
Here is a group shot of us kids and Dad in front of his house in Augusta, KS.
Me, Sonya, Dad and Randy
July 1995
Cheryl, myself and Kevin Sasaki at the opening of the "Coconut Club" or rather, the Beverly Hilton version of it that Merv Griffin opened. Kevin was Merv's publicist. A fun evening.
Me at work when I was in customer service for the Warner Bros. Catalog, before they moved the opeartion to Florida. This was across from the Burbank Airport. 10/27/90.

For a long time I have always thought I was unnattractive. My weight has been a constant battle...the battle of the bulge. Sometimes I have felt that I was nice looking, kinda cute. We all find what we are comfortable with and for me it's been a life long struggle.
That being said, I found these two photos and though..hey, I was kinda cute. Now, don't rain on my parade and say Nah Uh!
This was me at Tim Moody and Kevin Smalley's home in Burbank for Thanksgiving. 1996

This was Christmas Day 1996 taken by George Griffith down near Laguna Beach. Yes, Christmas Day..on the beach!! I actually had gotten TOO skinny and was down to 135, but I thought I was just right.

This photo was taken of me and my friend John Trahan, probably 1996 as well. His birthday. He moved to NY not long after I did so I see him from time to time. We are both HUGE "I Love Lucy" fans so we always do "lines" from the show when we see each other.

Extra Days Were Extra Fun or Extra UGH

When I moved to LA in 1988 I did what most actors do, extra work. It seemed like fun, hang around on movie sets all day and be the background actors.
Some days were fun, some days sucked. Just like any job.
Some days were short and some days were looooooooooooong! However the longer you worked the more money you made. LOTs of hurry up and WAIT. Still, it was a good learning experience.
I made some great friends on those shoots and actually learned a lot about acting and film techniques. On one of my first jobs, I was told "less is more" when I was hamming it up big time. So, I toned it down!
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This was for "Quantum Leap" when he played a Frank Sinatra type singer involved with the Mob. It was filmed on the grounds of a beautiful mansion in Pasadena, so this was fun. Plus Scott Bakula was a gentleman and very nice!
Below was a HORRIBLE HOT experience. About 100 of us for a BP GASOLINE commercial filmed on the San Fernando Valley Dam near the Sepulveda pass. Hot Hot Hot...Gary Berghoff was the "star" on this. This was the holding tent.
Below was out in the desert, not far from where that horrible helicopter accident on the "Twilight Zone Movie" set happened. It looked like Vietnam out there, hence all the miltary shoots. This was the set up for a movie called "Nightbreaker" starring Emilio Estevez. Out by Indian Dunes.
This is the view of the mountains and the "Honey Wagons" which were portable dressing rooms and bathrooms, in Altadena. This was for "Dirty Dancing" the TV Series, which lasted maybe one episode?
This series of 3 pics is from a tv series called "TV 101" set in a high school, filmed out at Verdugo High School. I felt so old, was in my 30's and tried to hide in the back, but ended up being pulled up front by the Assistant Director. Funny! That was the key - if you didn't want to be used or featured and tried to hide, they always pulled you up front. If you wanted to be used and featured, they put you in the back. Go figure!
Briar Harris (Greg was his real name) in the lined shirt, Lisa in the jean jacket/coat, Terry Hibbard in the dark blue sweatshirt and Jenna in the dark coat. Obviously I took the pic with the confetti NOT ready..Jenna told me to wait and I didn't. She took the pic of me with the confetti and SHE waited!

Jesus Christ Superstar More CLICK HERE

Here is the Market scene, the lepers, and "I Don't Know How to Love Him" sung by Vanessa Bradchulis Rothstein.

Jesus Christ Superstar CLICK HERE

This is the Simon Zealot number through..Only Have to Die.
David Jourdan as Jesus.
Directed by Jack Marshall for Fairlington Players 1985

Beaches

John Heard is in the white t shirt
Me and Jill in our costumes.

Bette and director Garry Marshall. Bette is the red head, natch!

When I was doing extra work in LA I did one day on Beaches, but you don't see me in the shot. It was on the backlot of WB. It was a scene where John Heard and Bette Midler are in a bar or restaurant, then they walk out the door and he puts her on a bicycle and they ride off. Me and another girl were to walk by, right after they exit, but the scene ends before you see us. Drat.
Still, it was fun to see Bette and John and be there on the backlot of Warner Bros.
Here are some shots I snuck!

Remembering Emma Cain

Today would have been my Aunt Emma Cain's birthday. Cheryl reminded me that she would be 115! Well, she only made it to 85. She died August 5, 1980, 9 days short of her 86th birthday. I was in VA at the time, working part time for the summer at Stohlman's. I wasn't able to go to her funeral, though now I so wish I had.
She was my Godmother and was always so wonderful to me. I miss her dearly.
She left me a candy dish that was always in her kitchen glass cabinet. I still have it.
This morning I placed my hand on it and sang her "Happy Birthday" to Miss Emma Cain. One of the best waitresses Claflin, Kansas ever had!!!
I called Cheryl to remind her and she held a good thought for her as well.
You are not forgotten Aunt Emma!!
I love you and miss you!

Latest News from Thom Bierdz

From Thom Bierdz
===========================
Hello.
I just wanted to touch base and wish you well.
My return to The Young and the Restless playing Phillip Chancellor/Phillip Langley is going great. Tomorrow I will be on the air again.
Attached is a recent magazine cover with my mug, and a bunch of other recent press about my return is at www.ThomBierdz.com . My new paintings and Y&R clips can be found there as well.
How grateful I am to have so much support in my life and career. The Human Rights Campaign will honor me with their Visibility Award in Minneapolis on September 12. This morning I did a radio show for Massachusetts. Thursday I do a radio show for Palm Springs. The 27th I do a radio show for one million listeners in the Chicago/Boston region, and I will join the Y&R cast at the annual fan dinner in Sherman Oaks on the 28th.
Forgiving Troy was just picked up by a national distributor and today I will finish painting a couple abstract commissions.
I love my life!
Thom Bierdz
www.ThomBierdz.com

Where I Work CLICK HERE

Interesting article on the design of the offices where I work.
I go down the stairs by the pink room daily.
Our floor is pink and lavendar. If you woulda told me when I graduated college I'd be working in Liz Taylor's dressing room...:)
Very cool place actually!!

What's the Buzz CLICK HERE

The opening of Jesus Christ Superstar 1985 Fairlington Players.

Jesus Christ Superstar - Peter Denies Christ CLICK HERE

Right after Gesthemene up to right before King Herod's Song.
The quality is worse here, but Steve Harris tried to fix the tracking.

Happy Anniversary Dad and Dolores

Today, August 12, 2009 would have been Dad and Dolores's 21st Anniversary.
I called Dolores to let her know I was thinking of her. She was thinking of Dad too. I'm glad I called.
We are both Missing Dad.
Thank you Dolores for making Dad come alive again! In so many ways.
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Dad and Dolores on their wedding day!

Cheryl gave Dolores the corsage and that is her own wedding dress she had worn on 8-12-88, Cheryl's wedding reception 9-10-88 Mentor, OH They look so happy!

Dad and Dolores in Sun City, AZ April 1989, where they had a condo for a while.

Casual shot of Glenn, Rick, Dad and Darren.

Darren and Dolores walking up the aisle, Uncle LB looking on, Mom's brother.