Holy Shirts! (Well, not if you put mothballs in the closet). These items are the latest in cat couture, the perfect beastas for the fashionistas, and powerfully purrful apparel.
Bar-hopping is out, but undulating is in...so if you're Desperately Seeking Slinking, this is the shirt that will get you through the velvet rope and among the swingin' kittens.
Every eye will be glued to your shirt! (Eyebrows optional.)
Some actors are identified with a particular role because they played it for years, in a hundred or more episodes. It took Julie Newmar only a handful of appearances in the original “Batman” series to be forever known as Catwoman. The slinky sexiness of her portrayal certainly helped, especially with male viewers.
“Whenever I’m stopped on the street,” Ms. Newmar said, “men tell me, ‘Ms. Newmar, did you know that you were my first turn-on?’ I would ask the next question: ‘How old were you?’ ”
The answers that have come back — some of the admirers said they were as young as 4 — led to one of her current writing projects, a book on first fantasies. (She is inviting submissions at julienewmarwrites.com.) Ms. Newmar, now 76 and still with that purr in her voice, has no problem being a fantasy object to so many, or being asked to autograph some odd things. “I’ve seen some interesting flesh,” she said.
But one fan in New York did surprise her when he pulled up his pant leg, not for her autograph, but for her to admire the Catwoman tattoo he had on it. She had seen plenty of tattoos of the comic book character, of course, but the face on this one was different.
“It wasn’t just the Catwoman,” she said. “It was me.”
Does that kind of identification with a character bother her?
“It’s an honor — it really is — that something stays for so long with people in the sweet depths of their feelings,” she said.
Last year some $25,000 in jewelry was stolen from Julie's home, but our brainy Catwoman knew the offense would require a fence! Purrfectly patient, it was a case of waiting for the thieving rat to fall into the trap. The alleged swagman, thinking enough time had passed, used an Illinois pawn shop as a pawn in his scheme. They put the items on eBay for him, but the distinctive Julie-jewels were instantly spotted, and Julie alerted police. The heinous heine who hijacked the jewels is out on $50,000 bail and awaiting trial. Just how much time he may have to put in on the rockpile for taking the sparkling rocks, is hard to say. Whatever the sentence, he deserves a THWACK and a POW, too.
CNN stands for...Creative News on Newmar? Could be.
"They did a very lovely interview," says Julie, which will in rotation as part of their "CNN Backstory" feature. The interview, held at the David Streets gallery, focuses on the monumental exhibit that traces Julie's career through the eyes of the nation's best photographers.
November 8th, Sunday, (3pm-6pm) is the date for the exhibition of a superb collection of Julie's photographs. Pictures from her life and her career on stage and screen, will be on exhibit at the David W. Streets Fine Arts Gallery, 9407-9411 S. Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills. (RSVP: 310-275-3464).
Some of the world's greatest photographers have captured iconic images of Julie, from Alfred Cheney Johnson to Peter Basch, from Peter Gowland to Andre de Diennes, from the great staffers at Life Magazine to the portrait specialist Harry Langdon. And who can forget the famous "To Wong Foo" shot, taken by Bernard of Hollywood.
Julie's been a favorite of all the greats because of her fantastic versatility. Some women, such as Audrey Hepburn, are fine with a portrait shot, or in a fashionable dress. And some, such as Ann-Margret, are brilliant with full body poses, but Julie's one of the very few who can be stunning in both portrait photography and dance, beach poses, swimsuit shots, gowns, action images, lingerie shots and humor. From a Stupefyin' leotard in Life Magazine to Elvis Presley drag in Esquire, she's always been a surprising, exciting model.
Also on the bill, Pat York and her husband actor Michael York, for her book signing. She's published a book of photos: "Pat York: Fame and Frame" with Andy Warhol on the cover.
Get to the gallery if you can, and witness all the great Newmarbilia, photos from all the great photographers...Julie's pix are music for your Eye Pods.
In the Spring, look for a super BATMAN re-union at Comic-Con in California, as Julie joins Adam West and...coming out of "signing retirement," both Burt Ward and Yvonne Craig.
Thanks to all who came out for the New York Comic-Con in September. You can see footage of the event on YouTube.com, just search: Julie Newmar Comic-Con.
"Beautiful Darling" is not a bio of Julie, it's a documentary about Candy Darling, one of the more gifted members of Andy Warhol's factory. Candy was a one-time star for Tennessee Williams off-Broadway, and of course was name-checked by Lou Reed in his most famous song. Julie is one of the on-screen interview subjects. The film is having some "tryouts" at festivals around the country before the final cut and release. For more information, type on the wild side: www.beautifuldarling.com
Here's some festive Spring colors for you, as an artist puts some pastels on his pallette and pops up...some fanciful images of Julie. Or, how Julie might look with Carol Channing's eyelashes and Jayne Mansfield's falling-down gown. So a plug goes to Radboy.com where more of the same (with different dames) is the name of the game. (Note, our "picture feed" is sometimes more erratic than erotic, so if it seems like there should be images with a post and there aren't, bear with us, they'll probably turn up next time you visit).
The sister website to JULIENEWMAR.COM is JULIENEWMARWRITES.COM, which focuses on Julie's essays and observations. Alan Mercer interviewed Julie recently to give fans some insights into Julie's writing life...as well as her gardening, since Julie's next book will be a photo-guide to her favorite flora!
AM: What possessed you to start writing?
JN: I guess it’s like finding oil. It just flows up… towards you and then it gets in your face. It kind of oozes… into your consciousness and at some point you grab a pencil and a paper… and keep it by your bed and start taking notes.
AM: That’s how you started?
JN: Now I’ve gotten to the point where I have an editor because I have to get better. I have to improve for my sake. The heartland is there, the juice for the writing, the ideas. I’m a good picture maker with words. I’m also good in bringing to life through description.
AM: Is that a natural talent for you?
JN: I think it helps being an actress where you ‘phys-i-cal-ize’ the words to the point where you know you’ve reached an audience. You want reaction and that’s what we all feed off of, not just admiration anymore, but reaction, how to move people. There it is. So writing is essentially telling our own story. I know why I write! Most people live to eat and I write to know.
AM: I believe you met Dita Von Teese and Ava Garter at that last party. You know they love you! They adore you beyond belief. Ava said she was cat woman for several years in a row because of you.
JN: I’m the Halloween kid.
AM: How does it feel to you to know that you inspire legions of fans?
JN: Excellent. It’s the way life should be for those of us who are out there among the antiques surviving.
AM: One of the things you have written about is aging gracefully. Is that something that you feel a calling for?
JN: You bet! You better be. You just notice it, where we are. We notice how important it is to do the right thing. All the things our parents taught us, and if they didn’t teach us, it is three times as hard to learn. If you are not doing the right thing you won’t make it long after the age of fifty. I guarantee you if you are not doing the right thing.
AM: I agree.
JN: A lot of that is not, me first. It’s not… I’m the greatest. Do the right thing. Then the power within you becomes tangible and you can draw on it.
AM: If I am hearing you correctly you are saying that with every year on earth one becomes more spiritually aware.
JN: Usually that’s how it happens because you are not running the four minute mile. You are not breaking records physically so you begin to notice that what you are predominantly is much bigger than physical. Your ideal when you die, and you don’t die, based on what I said…if you have been listening.
AM: How do you describe it?
JN: I’m going to lift off. Let’s put it that way. The sheer joy of happiness, you did it right, everything has been fun…I’m smiling. I am happy…blessed dreams…and I am in a different space. No hospitals, no drugs…we aspire to that. That is a good goal for your finale of finales. It keeps you on the path, if you know what I mean.
AM: Do you feel like a spiritual leader?
JN: I’m not a spiritual leader. I am a spiritual being. I respond to you as the spiritual you. It’s the person I’d rather play with. I’m not going to compete with you or anyone else. I’m not even going to compete with myself. I’d lose. All you can hope to do in life is know that tomorrow is better “somewhere.” Why repeat what you’ve already done anyway and “listen.” I like your questions. They are very interesting.
AM: Thank you. I’d like to know what it feels like at seventy-five to look back over your accomplishments. Do they have the same meaning they have always had or do they have less meaning…or more?
JN: Good question. The answer is yes, they have more meaning because there is a ‘buoyancy’ that these accomplishments give my life today, at this moment. Sure I failed at times and boy did I learn fast not to make the same mistakes again.
AM: Have you always been interested in gardening?
JN: The answer that is clearest to me is that in a garden I was always happiest with my father.
AM: Does your garden remind you of your father?
JN: Any garden reminds me of my father because he built the three story house we lived in. It was built on a hill towards Los Feliz. It looked out over the entire city of Los Angeles. You could even see the Pacific Ocean. We watched Bel Air burning. It was an inspiring place to grow up.
AM: I find it interesting that you say the garden reminds you of your father. Wasn’t he the more cut and dry personality? Wasn’t your mother the more nurturing?
JN: Mother was more companionate. Dad was always, ‘Get up and do this!’ He was a football coach. That’s why I still have a straight spine. I do not slump. Do not put me in a C-shaped chair.
AM: When did you become known for your gardens?
JN: I would put plants on balconies when I traveled and stayed in Hotels. I would grow anything anywhere. I love to touch these things that God made. Every leaf is different. Every flower is different, all the colors and the combinations and the ‘this and that.’ You get down in the grass and you see the stuff that’s growing at the low level. My goodness is that something to behold! I can’t get enough of what grows on this earth. So what I do here is assemble it. We go to all the nurseries and we find out what’s new.
AM: Do you spend a lot of time going to nurseries?
JN: Not anymore. I’ve got someone far more talented than I who knows all the Latin names way beyond me in experience and intelligence. Now I’m the one who is on the lucky side. This really is one of the most beautiful gardens in all of California. Let’s brag a bit. For its size, it’s probably the most beautiful garden. It’s always beautiful here. There is always something blooming. Every morning I go out and see something new.
Fans clamoring for "Monster Squad" were having as much success as someone clamming for an ultra squid. But...good things come to all optimists.
THE COMPLETE MONSTER SQUAD will be in stores the last week in June. And yes, the two DVD set of the cult Saturday Morning TV series includes the classic appearance of Julie as ULTRA WITCH.
So whoever cast the right spell, you've made the witch come true. It's Julie, the Ultimate in Ultra...on that fondly remembered and finally found episode of MONSTER SQUAD.
