May 14, 2020
We are continuing our social distance, deep dives on dearly departed actresses. This week we dig into the oeuvre of actor, singer, and dancer Paula Kelly. You Might Know Her From Sweet Charity, The Women of Brewster Place, Night Court, Uptown Saturday Night, South Central, Santa Barbara, and Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling. We get into Paula’s work in musicals including the little-known Alice opposite Debbie Allen and Alice Ghostley, her acting range best on display in films made by black filmmakers and screenwriters, and her cutting-edge role as one half of a lesbian couple opposite Lonette McKee.
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@damianbellino || @rodemanne
Discussed this week:
Damian loves this oddly satisfying Twitter account “Vídeos Satisfatórios”
Anne loves ASMR #hotknife #slime #kineticsand videos
Chiropractor YouTube channels we love: Advanced Chiropractic Relief LLC and
Damian is on TikTok
Relatives of celebrities on TikTok: John Travolta’s son, Judi Dench’s grandson, Julianne Moore’s daughter
Paula Kelly in Sweet Charity (1969) directed by Bob Fosse
Rema Webb played Paula Kelly in Fosse/Verdon but was a blink and you miss it
Paula went to LaGuardia School of the Arts and Juilliard
Something More! directed by Jule Styne, starring Barbara Cook
Starred in original London cast of Sweet Charity with Juliet Prowse
“Big Spender” and “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This”
Paula’s killer FLOURISH at end of “Big Spender” 4:32 mark
“Baby Dream Your Dream” from London cast
Scatting on The Richard Pryor Show
Peter Pan for BBC with Paula as Tiger Lily, Mia Farrow as Peter, Danny Kaye as Captain Hook
Broadway’s original Tiger Lily was Sondra Lee
Alice musical starring Debbie Allen, Alice Ghostley, Paula Kelly
Did Mike Nichols secretly direct Annie on Broadway?
Mike Nichols put Alice Ghostley into Annie as Dorothy Loudon’s replacement in Annie
Debbie do Catalina Bar & Grill
Late in life lesbian, Marsha Warfield
Paula Kelly as Leggy Peggy with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier in Uptown Saturday Night
The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor (miniseries starring Oprah, Cicely Tyson, Paula Kelly, Lonette McKee)
Lonette McKee’s beige bra and oatmeal monologue
Paula Kelly in Playboy (the pubic wars)
Fuck Yeah, Paula Kelly is a great resource