To be honest, at first sight, I was rather surprised that this, was the “Judy,” that was so popular. It is quite amazing what a little PR can accomplish. For after my third glance she had transformed into a goddess, when in actuality, Judy was a very strange looking bird . . . not at all what I was expecting and probably it was visa-versa. Her brown hair was cut into a boyish duck tail, with wide streaks of peroxide blond running through . . . like a raccoon. She stood slumped, with her head pressed forward in what was an odd, yet appealing manner. She had extremely long feet, and her large hazel eyes, were heavily lined in black, like Nefertiti. This detracted from her rather large nose. Her lips, glowed from gobs of frosty pale lipstick. I felt she looked, extremely chic . . . very, cool. She wore her collars stiff and up, with a scarf tied around her neck. Incessantly cracking her chewing gum, she had that sense of savoir-faire. Picture, in one’s mind, if you will, Barbara Streisand, who was still a few years from her debut and that, was Judy. We were properly introduced by some of the boys.
Judy had no fears of my possibly encroaching upon her turf. We fell in like peas and carrots and formed a synergy by our joint popularity, in the way young girls can do. Judy's father was a prominent physician and she lived in a mansion in the prestigious area above Los Feliz Blvd. Her parents were very lenient, allowing Judy and her three siblings to have countless parties, around the pool and in their enormous ground floor basement. They simply didn't care how many parties she threw. Judy’s home was the quintessential fun house. In no time, I was practically living there.
With my help, Judy landed Bobby Quinn. She in turn, introduced me to the most gorgeous, David Warner . . . the most popular boy at King Jr. High School. David was perfect . . . David was also Jewish. He was dark, and classically handsome, with deep brown eyes, and a beguiling smile. From the moment we met, we were both swept away. Judy decided to throw a party, just so she could be with Bobby and I could be with David. Then, she threw many more after that. Those were such heavenly nights. We’d dance in the dark, holding each other close, swaying slightly to the voice of Johnny Mathis ~ the voice of love.
Chances are, cause I wear a silly grin,
The moment you come into view,
Chances are, you think that I'm in love with you.
Well the chances are, your chances are. . . awfully, good.
David looked down at me in the dim light, and he kissed me gently . . . my first real kiss. He released me and watched me solemnly, waiting for a signal. I forgot everything and wanted nothing, but him.
"Is tonight our first night of forever?" he asked.
"Forever.” I blushed, barely able to say the words, yet so happy in my heart.
I used to know 2 girls who went to all the parties in Hollywood, Vicki Laurenrson and Sheri Duin. Sheri lived in the house in back of mine, in Pasadena, when I was 15, and I used to watch her come down the driveway, in the evening, all costumed-out and get in the limo with long-haired boys! I was so curious about what they were up to! I didn't know it, but soon, I would be running around with pretty much the same crowd. What a great coming of age it was..only those who lived it could know about the magic of it..and, you are one of those! Did you know Chris Mancini?
Chris was Henry's son and Monica's brother, and they lived in the Pickford mansion back then. I met Chris at the Monterey Pop Festival when I got there with a man I had also just met at Canters the morning before, a photographer named Hal Marshall. He was older. He arranged for us to stay in Chris' motel room for 2 nights; YES! I was a day tripper, a one way ticket yeah!
Oh, you lucky girls! That sounds like a world unto itself, fascinating and enchanting...far away from the small mid-western town I grew up in...but some things are universally common: You never forget certain milestones in your life, and the first kiss is a monumental one. And what a line by David...'Is tonight our first night of forever?'...pretty slick for his age!
awww .... the moment swallows you whole ... that first REAL KISS ... the one that you see yourself in his eyes ... I've had only one of those in my entire life ... funny how things are far better if you wait for them ... Excellent read by the way, as your stories are ... I love em
..OMG, that really takes me back, sigh, oh those feelings, those sensuous , wrap around the heart feelings, once again sighing, closing my eyes and remembering when........
EASY TO BE HARD
Often, there was the question of how, when or where. What matters most is why...
They say there is but five degrees of separation between all of us.
This is my story and observations about growing up under the infamous Hollywood Sign, in the 50's 60' and 70's. This is also a story of my entering the fast lane, and finding that if I wanted to survive, I had to get off it, but... it wasn't that easy.
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