If you watched the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson during the Seventies, you
may remember sexy Carol Wayne. She was the big-busted, bubbly "Matinee Lady" of
the 'Tea Time Movies with Art Fern' sketches that began in 1971 and stayed
popular throughout the decade.
Carol Wayne was also a frequent guest on game shows like Celebrity Sweepstakes
and The Hollywood Squares, she also made quite a bit of money doing personal
appearances. She had the ability to make the most innocent remark seem like a
dirty joke with her little girl voice, wide "innocent" eyes and ultra-ample
bosom.
It was often joked that Carol Wayne would never drown with those large breasts
of hers - but ironically that's exactly how she did die. To this day, the exact
circumstances leading up to her death in 1985 remain a mystery.
Carol Wayne's troubles started in 1980 when Johnny Carson threatened to quit
his lucrative role as host of the popular 'Tonight' show. He demanded that NBC
cut the show from ninety-minutes to sixty. The network was having a very bad
year, and the nightly talk show was its biggest profit center at the time ('The
Cosby Show' changed that situation a few years later). NBC had no choice but to
reluctantly agree to Carson's demand. Freeing up this time led to the creation
of 'Late Night with David Letterman', which became another hot property for the
network and Carson Productions - so everyone came out a winner.
Well, everyone but Carol Wayne. The new sixty-minute format meant that Carson
had less time for skits starring familiar characters like "Aunt Blabby", "Floyd
R. Turbo", and "Art Fern". As a result, Carol Wayne's appearances on the
'Tonight' show became fewer and farther between.
Carol Wayne was no longer in demand for daytime game show appearances either,
that genre was dying on the vine. In 1980 she divorced her husband, bestselling
writer Burt Sugarman.
In 1984 a thin, pale Carol Wayne declared bankruptcy due in large part to a
cocaine and alcohol problem. It was said the entertainer was reduced to being
an occasional escort for wealthy businessmen in order to make a living.
According to published reports, Carol Wayne was on vacation in Santiago Bay,
Mexico with Los Angeles car salesman Edward Durston on January 10, 1985 when
(it has been reported) the couple had a argument about where they were going to
stay that evening (they were scheduled to fly back to Los Angeles the next
morning). Durston checked into a hotel and Wayne reportedly left to walk down
the beach (to cool off?). That was the last time anyone saw her alive. Local
fisherman Abel de Dios found her limp body floating in the shallow bay waters
three days later.
Mexican authorities wondered how Carol Wayne came to drown in waters four feet
deep, fully clothed. There were no cuts or abrasions, so a fall from the nearby
rocks was ruled out. The coroner stated that death occurred 3 - 4 days earlier
and the body tested negative for drugs and alcohol.
Suspicions were raised: Carol Wayne had to be identified by workers at the Las
Hadas resort where the couple had been staying earlier in the week. When locals
went to look for Wayne's traveling companion, they discovered that Edward
Durston checked out three days earlier - leaving Wayne's luggage at the airport
with a message that she would pick up her bags in the morning.
Carol Wayne could not swim, and reportedly did not like to go too near the
water. So how did she happen to be found dead in calm and shallow waters?
"Carol Wayne's death is unsolved, certainly.", the U.S. Consular William
LaCoque was quoted as saying in 1990, "But I don't think it was a drowning. A
drowning, yes, of course, but there is much more to it than that." What more,
we may never know.
As an aside, many readers may remember the LSD related death of Art
Linkletter's daughter Diane. She jumped (or fell) from a sixth floor apartment
building in 1969. Art Linkletter basically ended his successful television
career when he started crusading against drugs with a fervor that made it hard
for middle America to find the afternoon talk show host funny anymore. Not that
it means anything (and I'm absolutely sure it doesn't), but Diane Linkletter's
companion the night she was killed was named Edward Durston.
*********************************************
Hehe. I hear Bush's lead over Gore has gotten way bigger!
Reading "The Mammoth Book of Nostradamus" by Damon Wilson
I remember watching Linkletter in my youth. While
I know nothing of his politics, I would hardly say
that he was in Johnny Carson's league in terms
of "comedic talents." Linkletter's audience, based
largely on when his show aired, was housewives, with
very family-based material. Carson, as a late-night
host, was always more "adult," more sophisticated, and
more deliberately comic. Linkletter always struck
me more like Mike Douglas or even Ed Sullivan
than Johnny Carson.
I don't question your statements about Linkletter's
political views, but one additional reason why he
may have been branded negatively was that he
released a spoken word single in the wake of his
daughter's death, called "We Love You, Call Collect."
I've never heard it, so I don't know if it was
directly about the suicide; since the filp side was
a spoken word response by Diane, it was obviously
planned and recorded before her death. It made the
Billboard charts, peaking at #42. I do remember some
accusations against him of commercializing on her
death, since the song was released within a month
of her death.
--M.
>Morgan La Fey wrote:
>>
>> At the time Art Linkletter was at the peak of his popularity was a
>> skilled interviewer with comedic talents to rival Johnny Carson.
>> Following his daughters death when, like any father Art spoke out
>> against the dangers of drugs; he came out against drugs, in particular
>> LSD, he was quickly branded a right wing reactionary. In actuality,
>> Art Linkletter was a very mainstream moderate Baptist, occasionally
>> given to making pro-civil rights pro-social statements.
>
>I remember watching Linkletter in my youth. While
>I know nothing of his politics, I would hardly say
>that he was in Johnny Carson's league in terms
>of "comedic talents." Linkletter's audience, based
>largely on when his show aired, was housewives, with
>very family-based material. Carson, as a late-night
>host, was always more "adult," more sophisticated, and
>more deliberately comic. Linkletter always struck
>me more like Mike Douglas or even Ed Sullivan
>than Johnny Carson.
More low-key than Mike Douglas, I'd say. My memories are not of an
afternoon version of an entertainment talk show, but closer in style to
today's lifestyle shows, with kids being a big part of it. I can't even
remember if celebrity interviews were a part of it. I remember lots of
audience stuff.
Some people simply shouldn't be used in comparisons. There was only one
Lucy, and only one Carson.
Linkletter had an extraordinary run, 17 years, but his show, which
premiered in 1952, wasn't meant for the 70s.
>>David ========>
--
David Migicovsky, Evil Overlord of ACF
d m i g i c o v at n e w s c e n e dot c o m
What did you miss in ACF today? You didn't miss Peep, Reets, Judes & Rita.
Or any other gay-bashing trolls. Just more fun than three years of ASG
Subscribe at http://www.egroups.com/group/a_c_f
When a sig just isn't enough: http://www.Litterbox.eboard.com
> So where is Edward Durston now?
>
No one by that exact name is listed as dead in the Social Security Death Index
(available on http://www.rootsweb.com and other sites).
But that does not necessarily mean he is still alive.
Rick
Exactly. I don't remember if he had celebs on, but
the kid segments were the most popular parts of
the show--Linkletter, I believe, started the
"Kids Say the Darndest Things" series of books.
> Some people simply shouldn't be used in comparisons. There was only one
> Lucy, and only one Carson.
Gosh, we're agreeing on a lot of stuff lately!
--M.
Michael Ritchie <mrit...@columbus.rr.com> wrote in article
<39834210...@columbus.rr.com>...
Michael Ritchie <mrit...@columbus.rr.com> wrote in article
<3982EBFE...@columbus.rr.com>...
> Morgan La Fey wrote:
> >
> > At the time Art Linkletter was at the peak of his popularity was a
skilled
> > interviewer with comedic talents to rival Johnny Carson. Following his
> > daughters death when, like any father Art spoke out against the dangers
of
> > drugs; he came out against drugs, in particular LSD, he was quickly
> > branded a right wing reactionary. In actuality, Art Linkletter was a
very
> > mainstream moderate Baptist, occasionally given to making pro-civil
rights
> > pro-social statements.
>
> I remember watching Linkletter in my youth. While
> I know nothing of his politics, I would hardly say
> that he was in Johnny Carson's league in terms
> of "comedic talents." Linkletter's audience, based
> largely on when his show aired, was housewives, with
> very family-based material. Carson, as a late-night
> host, was always more "adult," more sophisticated, and
> more deliberately comic. Linkletter always struck
> me more like Mike Douglas or even Ed Sullivan
> than Johnny Carson.
>
> I don't question your statements about Linkletter's
> political views, but one additional reason why he
> may have been branded negatively was that he
> released a spoken word single in the wake of his
> daughter's death, called "We Love You, Call Collect."
> I've never heard it, so I don't know if it was
> directly about the suicide; since the filp side was
> a spoken word response by Diane, it was obviously
> planned and recorded before her death. It made the
> Billboard charts, peaking at #42. I do remember some
> accusations against him of commercializing on her
> death, since the song was released within a month
> of her death.
>
> --M.
>
Michael Ritchie <mrit...@columbus.rr.com> wrote in article
<39834210...@columbus.rr.com>...
Morgan wrote: It's true, there was a lot of controversy and criticism about
the release of the 45. In those days, sensibilities were quite different.
But the record had been recorded prior to the tragedy and was based on the
then (to parents) frightening phenomenon of middle-American teens running
away from home to join the "hippies" and all which that implied. Perhaps
the records release was misguided, certainly some of the comments I've read
about it suggest it was tasteless, but it certainly wasn't done for the
money--Linkletter was and is very wealthy--but perhaps it was released
because, as naive as it sounds, in the 50's-60's the relationship between
audience and TV personalities was more intimate and many television
celebrities felt they had a relationship and a responsibility to their
audience. One article suggested that Art felt that a lot of other parents
were going through the same "generation gap" problem his family was
suffering with and that they might be helped or comforted. Also, a grieving
father perhaps felt it might serve as a last tribute to his daughter.
Morgan
FWIW, Art Linkletter has his office in the Larry Flynt building on
Wilshire. I saw him in the elevator one day. He doesn't look too bad
considering how old he is.
Linda C.
> I don't question your statements about Linkletter's
> > political views, but one additional reason why he
> > may have been branded negatively was that he
> > released a spoken word single in the wake of his
> > daughter's death, called "We Love You, Call Collect."
> > I've never heard it, so I don't know if it was
> > directly about the suicide; since the filp side was
> > a spoken word response by Diane, it was obviously
> > planned and recorded before her death. It made the
> > Billboard charts, peaking at #42. I do remember some
> > accusations against him of commercializing on her
> > death, since the song was released within a month
> > of her death.
> >
> > --M.
> >
> <snip>
>
> I was wondering if Rhino or Demento or someone has any of those strange
45 from the sixties, like A Canadians Thank you to the United States (or
something like that) or the Sen Everet Dirkson spoken word forty-fives or
the Mike Douglas, "The Men in my Little Girls Life." I recently became
fascinated with these old time celeb recording efforts. I recently got the
Leonard Nimoy album and some others which are very strange. Also can anyone
explain why these records were put out. Was it just a celebrity vanity
thing? Did they make much money? I heard some fascinating stuff playing
over the PA at a TV nostalgia convention. The ones that stuck with me was
Hugh Downs singing folk songs!?! And Telly Savalas singing love songs!!!?!
Who bought these records? Can you imagine settling in your shag carpeted
living room, cuddling on your Swedish modern sofa in front of your
modernistic black metal and crome gas powered fireplace with Telly Savalas
singing love songs in the background as your date unfastens her bullet bra?
Whoa, where are the Quualudes, dude!
Ambrose
***I'm almost certain the recording was released well before Diane's death (a
year or so?). Perhaps it didn't become popular though until after she died?
Maggie
"A long dispute means that both parties are wrong." Voltaire
:> I don't question your statements about Linkletter's
:> > political views, but one additional reason why he
:> > may have been branded negatively was that he
:> > released a spoken word single in the wake of his
:> > daughter's death, called "We Love You, Call Collect."
:> > I've never heard it, so I don't know if it was
:> > directly about the suicide;
I have this!! It is far beyond the cheesiest thing you can imagine. Got it
at a flea market about 10 years ago. I didn't realize the flip side was
"from" Diane, but if so, surely it isn't really her. I'll check.
:> > Billboard charts, peaking at #42. I do remember some
:> > accusations against him of commercializing on her
:> > death, since the song was released within a month
:> > of her death.
But, you haven't seen anything until you've seen John Waters' short "The
Diane Linkletter Story", a one-scene film with Divine playing Diane. The
final scene is of Diane/Divine lying dead on the ground, as "We Love You,
Call Collect" plays on the soundtrack...
:> I was wondering if Rhino or Demento or someone has any of those strange
: 45 from the sixties, like A Canadians Thank you to the United States (or
: something like that)
"Americans", Byron MacGregor
: the Mike Douglas, "The Men in my Little Girls Life." I recently became
: fascinated with these old time celeb recording efforts. I recently got the
: Leonard Nimoy album and some others which are very strange. Also can anyone
: explain why these records were put out. Was it just a celebrity vanity
: thing? Did they make much money? I heard some fascinating stuff playing
: over the PA at a TV nostalgia convention. The ones that stuck with me was
: Hugh Downs singing folk songs!?! And Telly Savalas singing love songs!!!?!
: Who bought these records? Can you imagine settling in your shag carpeted
: living room, cuddling on your Swedish modern sofa in front of your
: modernistic black metal and crome gas powered fireplace with Telly Savalas
: singing love songs in the background as your date unfastens her bullet bra?
: Whoa, where are the Quualudes, dude!
I presume you've never heard the album "Miss Bette Davis Sings"? The Ethyl
Merman Disco Album? I even know someone with a 45 of Anita Bryant singing
"Do-Re-Mi".
Kent
As noted earlier in the thread, it was recorded before
her death. According to Joel Whitburn's Record Research
book of Billboard Top 100 Singles, the flip side, called
"Dear Mom and Dad," was "a response by Art's daughter
Diane."
BTW, I'm jealous that you apparently have a working turntable!!
--M., who has one, but it's buried away in a box
in the basement
I don't know. She committed suicide on October 4, 1969, and
the single entered the Billboard charts on November 1,
1969. Certainly the subject matter of the song was
about runaways--was Diane a runaway?--rather than
specifically about drugs and suicide. According
to the Joel Whitburn book of Billboard Singles,
the jacket of the single had an anti-drug abuse
message. The point remains that Art and/or his
record company ran into some criticism because
of the timing of the release, or perhaps, the
re-release.
--M.
> I remember watching Linkletter in my youth. While
> I know nothing of his politics, I would hardly say
> that he was in Johnny Carson's league in terms
> of "comedic talents." Linkletter's audience, based
> largely on when his show aired, was housewives, with
> very family-based material. Carson, as a late-night
> host, was always more "adult," more sophisticated, and
> more deliberately comic. Linkletter always struck
> me more like Mike Douglas or even Ed Sullivan
> than Johnny Carson.
...he made Mike Douglas look like Jack Kerouac...Linkletter's shows were
definitely coma-inducing...
> I don't question your statements about Linkletter's
> political views, but one additional reason why he
> may have been branded negatively was that he
> released a spoken word single in the wake of his
> daughter's death, called "We Love You, Call Collect."
> I've never heard it, so I don't know if it was
> directly about the suicide; since the filp side was
> a spoken word response by Diane, it was obviously
> planned and recorded before her death. It made the
> Billboard charts, peaking at #42. I do remember some
> accusations against him of commercializing on her
> death, since the song was released within a month
> of her death.
...I used to have a copy of that damned thing; interesting that it was produced
by the inimitably wretched Ralph Carmichael, who had his hands in the works at
both Capitol Records and the pseudo-Christian propaganda ministry Word
Records...it staggers the mind that that producer was responsible for both this
piece of immoral shit and some of the albums Capitol had Stan Kenton record that
led him to break away from Capitol to form his own Creative World label...
...track down Harlan Ellison's books THE GLASS TEAT and THE OTHER GLASS TEAT. In
one of those two (I don't recall which) is a brilliant essay Ellison wrote for
the Los Angeles Free Press that questions why Linkletter made his living off the
words of six-year-olds for years but didn't become concerned about teenagers
until his own daughter took a trip out a window...
--
King Daevid MacKenzie, UltimaJock!
kingd...@radiodigest.com
http://www.radiodigest.com/chicago
http://www.radiodigest.com/milwaukee
Love your enemies. It drives them right up the wall.