Charlie Holiday 1

Charlie (Shelley) and the Nutcracker,

Revlon Charlie's theme for the holidays

and for Macy's 55th Annual

Thanksgiving Day Parade, 1981

Shelley was THE quintessential Charlie Girl and appeared in many, many ads for the Charlie by Revlon brand. In 1981, she appeared in a newspaper ad for Charlie that offered "Charlie's Nutcracker Collection of special holiday delights!" For that year, the theme of Revlon's float for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was "Charlie And The Nutcracker." So gift sets for that holiday season were similarly themed. The Charlie gift sets had a Nutcracker theme on the packaging and were perfect gifts for that holiday season. They were priced from $6.75 to $50.00; and they contained various Charlie cosmetics, personal care, and perfume products. Also promoted in the ad was "Charlie's Color Adventures" which contained 4 Charlie eye shadows, 2 blushers, 3 lipsticks, 2 nail enamels, mascara, and lip gloss. It was a gift set that could be purchased for $9.00 when one buys $5.00 worth of Charlie fragrance. And Shelley, of course, appeared in the newspaper ad looking Charlie fabulous and Charlie gorgeous as always.

Shelley in a newspaper ad

for Charlie perfume and cosmetics, 1981

Ready To Move On

Shelley with Mr. Lift

(from the William Morris Talent Agency)

at a party in New York, 1980

In February of 1980, it was reported that Valentine's Day cards were handed out to Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd and David Doyle, inviting them to join the fifth season of Charlie's Angels. And it was also reported that Shelley didn't get one and that quickly spread. But the truth is Shelley wasn't fired. She signed a one-year contract with the show which had a three or five-year option. According to Glamour magazine in May of 1980, "Shelley isn't being fired", the producers of the show said, "Actually, Shelley must decide whether she wants to continue with the show." It was probably why she didn't get one? But then according that same Glamour article, Shelley said, "I'm not sure whether my option is being picked up for the next season." Well, as everyone knows, it wasn't. But then Shelley was okay with that, because, as she told TV Tales: Charlie's Angels in 2002, doing Angels for a year was already more than enough for her. She was ready to move on and take on the new opportunities before her... with the help of the William Morris Talent Agency (the agency that represented her).

a short writeup about Shelley

and her Angel status, 1980

Moroccan Chic 1

a pic of Shelley used in a spread

on Seventeen magazine,

August 1970

Shelley appeared on many issues of Seventeen magazine from 1964 to the 1970s. In 1970, she appeared in the magazine's August issue, in a spread called "Moroccan Bazaar," which featured fashions inspired by the splendors of Morocco, vivid put-togethers inspired by a desert sheik. Shelley wore the black and white cat's cradle vest (made of crisscrossed silk rope) by Naked Grape over an orange hooded long-sleeved T-shirt by Match II. With her hair tucked under the hood of her T, Shelley looked unique and downright chic. Shelley also wore a vest emblazoned with silky embroidery by Lady Barry over a shimmery shirt with a carved out collar and gathered long sleeves and matching pants, both by Modern Jrs. She finished her look with detailed scarves around her neck and waist and with Capri beads. With her hair tied back and with tendrils framing her face, Shelley looked like a chic desert doll.

a pic of Shelley used in a spread

on Seventeen magazine,

August 1970

Found Money TV Movie 14

screen captures from the TV movie

Found Money, 1983

Shelley appeared alongside comedy legends Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar in the 1983 TV movie Found Money. The movie was about computer expert Max Shepherd and security guard Sam Green, two former employees of First National Bank who have been let go with little to no benefits after decades of employment. Max uses his computer skills to create an account in the bank using the money from inactive accounts that are automatically transferred to the state when not claimed after five years. Using the name Seymour Good, head of The Invisible Friend Inc., he transfers the money to accounts of ordinary citizens who bring kindness to the world. After some convincing, Sam joins Max in his quest. As good Samaritans begin receiving the money, the story is picked up by the press and is covered by reporter Leslie Phillips (Shelley Hack) who becomes Max's love interest.

screen captures from the TV movie

Found Money, 1983

Shelley found both Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar "very generous to work with" but had to keep up with the their pace. "You had to work so fast, because everything was left loose," she told TV Guide. "I felt like I kind of jumped on a moving train," she added. As for Shelley's performance in Found Money, Television writer Fred Rothenberg said "Miss Hack's acting has improved since she played one of Charlie's Angels." Shelley said of the TV movie, "It's a whole type of distinctly American comedy, the closest to theater on film I'd ever gotten." Prior to Found Money, Shelley had starred in several stage plays in the early 1980s and had received excellent reviews for her performances. She was also cast in the Martin Scorsese film The King of Comedy where she held her own in scenes opposite acting giant Robert De Niro; she got excellent reviews for her performance in the film as well. Shelley had come a very long way indeed.

screen captures from the TV movie

Found Money, 1983

Needle-Work 1975

a closeup of Shelley wearing

the Autumn Motif poncho, 1971

Shelley appeared on many magazines throughout her modeling career. She appeared on the pages of Lynn Brooks Needle-Work fall 1975 issue. The magazine contained various patterns for garments and accessories that could be knit and crocheted by readers. Shelley appeared in the spread called "Light and Lovely for Fall" which featured various ponchos that were perfect for fall that season. Shelley wore the Autumn Motif poncho, a crocheted poncho in various shades of autumn colors. She wore it over a dark turtleneck top and dark trousers, which she tucked into matching boots. A dark cowboy hat finished her look. And Shelley looked chic and sensational. (note: The pic was previously used on the cover of a 1971 booklet. For more, check out: Autumn Motif)

Shelley in a spread

for Lynn Brooks Needle-Work,

fall 1975

L.A. Airport

a paparazzi pic of Shelley

at the L.A. Airport, 1979

Shelley's debut episode on Charlie's Angels, "Love Boat Angels," was partly filmed in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. By then, Shelley's Angels casting was widely known around the world and press coverage on the new Angel was at an all-time high. "Yesterday, I was a schnook, and today I can't get across the street" is how Shelley described her sudden rise to Hollywood superstardom. When they arrived at the Caribbean, she said in astonishment, "When I got off the plane, there were maybe eight million paparazzi. I looked around for Sophia Loren. It was for me. I couldn't believe it." The same was true when they returned from the Caribbean. The paparazzi was at the L.A. Airport, waiting for their arrival. But this time, Shelley was ready with her chic dark sunglasses.

a paparazzi pic of Shelley

at the L.A. Airport, 1979

Shooting Stars

Shelley with Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd

in a promo pic for Charlie's Angels, 1979

Shelley became Charlie's newest Angel in 1979, and she jumped from being Revlon Charlie's Supermodel to becoming TV's latest Superstar Angel, joining incumbent Angels Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd. "It has been quite a whirl," said Shelley. She was instantly propelled to international superstardom; and her face appeared on magazines, tabloids and newspapers all around the world. Télé-Junior, a youth-oriented magazine that was produced from 1977 to 1983 in France, featured all the Angels (Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Hack, and Tanya Roberts) in their September 1981 issue. The issue featured a short history about the hit TV series and a catch up on what each Angel has been up to since. Anyway, the writeup translates as follows:

CHARLIE'S ANGELS

Shooting Stars

You'll find the famous Charlie's Angels team in comic-strip form, embarking in crazy adventures. As you might have noticed in the strip published in this issue, while Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith are still around, Shelley Hack has left the team. As you know, in the United States, Shelley has already been replaced by Tanya Roberts, who plays Julie in the series. So, we're publishing the adventures of this new trio as a preview, before they air it here on television.

Just as it is in fairy tales, the every Angels episode begins with the line "Once Upon a Time..." And once upon a time, indeed, there was a beautiful love story between TV viewers and a series that began airing in our country on January 8, 1978, on the second channel. Charlie's Angels, renamed Funny Ladies in France, made its debut on Jacques Martin's The Little Reporter and caused an avalanche of phone calls from the show's viewing audience.

So, who were these astonishing detectives in real life, whose beauties were only surpassed by their humor, their poise, and, of course, their efficiency?

Shelley with Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett,

Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, and Tanya Roberts

on the pages of Télé-Junior,

September 1981

IMMEDIATE FAVORITE

Of the three leads, it was Jill Monroe who immediately garnered the most fans. Indeed, the youngest of the three actresses, Farrah Fawcett-Majors was destined for fame. Legend has it that, faced with the enormous Hollywood machine, this Bogart in a skirt could very well hold her own against the Hollywood establishment.

The former superwoman of the small screen, fighting against the bullies, announced to any journalist who would listen that "money will never force her to do anything", a statement she immediately put in practice.

Even better, when her salary was increased from $5000 to $75,000 a week, she went as far as to sue her producers for damages. The tempestuous Farrah then divorced Lee Majors and relentlessly pursued just one goal: to make movies.

CURSED MOVIE CAREER

But in support of the series' producers, major American production companies refused to work with the flamboyant star. Numerous male stars, including Al Pacino, Harrison Ford, Roger Moore, and Dustin Hoffman, vehemently declined offers to act alongside Farrah.

Furthermore, despite the significant promotional campaigns for her films Sunburn and Saturn III, Farrah's feature films proved to be resounding failures.

She later returned to the series as a guest star, as stipulated in her settlement. This led to her reappearance in "Fallen Angel" with Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, and Shelley Hack. Six additional episodes were filmed, allowing her agents to sell 5 million T-shirts bearing her image.

As for her acting skills, a well-respected American newspaper provides a categorical response: "Farrah Fawcett should keep her mouth shut. She should take some acting lessons before aspiring to take on a role!" a columnist from The New York Times coldly stated.

FROM FARRAH TO CHERYL

Meanwhile, the series moved on, and Kris Monroe stepped in at the last minute to replace her sister Jill, they (questionably) swapped Farrah Fawcett's character with Cheryl Ladd's. It was reported that the first day of filming was a very trying time for new Angel Cheryl. She had a hard time being accepted as a full-fledged member of the trio. For her part, Jaclyn Smith is the only one to keep her role, that of Kelly Garrett, a sensitive and sweet orphan, more sentimental compared to her co-Angels.

a closeup of Shelley

from a Charlie's Angels promo pic,

1979

FROM KATE TO SHELLEY

Of the original trio, Kate Jackson, daughter of a real estate developer, played the role of intellectual Sabrina Duncan, a character that would later disappear entirely (replaced by Tiffany Welles, as portrayed by top model Shelley Hack). It was in August of 1978 that tensions quickly rose between Kate and Cheryl Ladd on set.

To make things worse, American critics harshly lambasted her replacement Shelley, publishing scathing articles describing her as "too thin, not pretty, and a bad actress." Within weeks, Shelley was sent packing and returning to her 250-acre family farm in upstate New York.

FROM SHELLEY TO TANYA

As Shelley writes her memoirs about her brief stint with Charlie's Angels, it appears that Tanya Roberts is the latest recruit in this constantly evolving team. But the end of their adventures is on the horizon, and it's rumored that the newest Angel will only have a short run.

But going forward, unemployment isn't a problem for any of them. Because as we go to press, we've learned that Farrah Fawcett will star in Murder in Texas, a TV movie where she will play the wife of a sadistic doctor. Jaclyn Smith will bring to life former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, in a TV movie entitled Self Portrait. And finally, Cheryl Ladd will portray the late Jean Seberg in another TV movie.

With Shelley Hack retired and Tanya Roberts seemingly brimming with new projects, all the actors who played gangsters, drug traffickers, and thugs of every stripe are going to be out of work with the disappearance of these tough detectives, who certainly gave them a hard time.

But American television is no stranger to sequels, so they will most certainly continue their adventures. It's up to you to choose which actress (from among the six lovely ladies who graced our TV screens) you'd like to see again.