Researching For A Role 3

Shelley in a promo pic for Night Court, 1984

In 1984, Shelley joined the cast of the nighttime sitcom Night Court for its second season (replacing Paula Kelly). She was cast to play public defender Christine Sullivan and the character was going to be romantically involved with Judge Harry Stone (played by Harry Anderson). "I'll be doing my research at the New York court," Shelley said, "I always look forward to researching a role. It will be interesting." With help and guidance from the Legal Aid Society of New York, Shelley spent time watching defendants being arraigned in court. "Even though it's a comedic role, I still like to get in touch with the reality that it's based on," she said. "What goes on at the court is not funny. It's tragic, and very moving." From one of the courtroom's wooden benches, she watched the proceedings surrounded by the defendants' friends and family sitting on the nearby benches. When asked if anyone noticed her, Shelley replied, "No, I think they had other things on their mind."

a writeup about Shelley joining

the cast of Night Court, 1984

McCall's Booklet C

a closeup of Shelley from a spread

for the Carefree Patterns From McCall's booklet, 1974

Shelley appeared on the pages of the Carefree Patterns From McCall's booklet, the July/August 1974 issue. The booklet was a condensed version of the big book catalog and it featured spreads with models wearing the latest fashion patterns from McCall's for that season. Shelley appeared on several spreads throughout the booklet.

Shelley with Patti Hansen in a spread

for the Carefree Patterns From McCall's booklet, 1974

In the spread called "Super-Cool Summer Skirts Go To Any Length," she modeled pattern nos. 4095 and 4097. They were patterns for a short-sleeved pullover top with a scooped neck and a midi-length yoked bias skirt with inset pockets and left side zipper. A matching belt and heeled espadrilles finished her look. A straw hat, a head scarf, matching bracelets and a necklace accessorized her outfit. She also wore pattern no. 4113. It was a back-zippered top with a ruffled hem, bias-bound armholes and a continuous neck binding that formed the shoulder straps. It had a matching a skirt with a ruffled hem and a side zipper. A straw hat, a head scarf, heeled espadrilles (which dangled from her fingers) and trendy bangle finished her look. And Shelley looked super-cool and super-summery in both outfits.

Shelley in a pic

for the Carefree Patterns From McCall's booklet, 1974

Tennis Sweater '74

pics of Shelley in Simplicity Pattern no. 6254

from the cover of and from a spread

on  the Simplicity Craft Catalog, 1974

Shelley appeared on many Simplicity pattern catalogs, brochures and packaging during the 1960s and 1970s. The Simplicity Pattern Company is the leading manufacturer of sewing patterns and sewing pattern guides which are distributed throughout the world. They have been manufacturing sewing patterns since 1927 and have allowed fashionistas on a budget and sewing aficionados to create clothes in a reliable manner. In 1974, she appeared on the cover of the Simplicity Craft Catalog and on several spreads within the catalog.

Shelley on a spread that appeared

on the Simplicity Craft Catalog, 1974

Shelley appeared on the spread which featured Simplicity Pattern no. 6254. It was a pattern for a classic cable knit sweater with contrasting stripings at the neck and hipline and could be knitted in any color combination desired. It could be worn on its own over a pair of jeans or over a shirt and trouser or shorts combo for a quick tennis match. Shelley modeled a white version of the sweater with burgundy and blue stripings - both on the spread and on the cover of the catalog. Check out: Craft Catalog 1974. And Shelley looked so sporty and just fabulous on both spread and cover.

a pic of Shelley in Simplicity Pattern no. 6254

from the cover of the Simplicity Craft Catalog, 1974

Press Bonanza

a paparazzi pic of Shelley from 1979

Shelley was a certified Supermodel by the mid-1970s. She was known as THE Charlie Girl, Revlon's superstar model and "it" girl - loved and admired all over the world. In 1979, after speaking to her agent who said, "It's a terrific show - you really should think about testing," she auditioned for the role of Tiffany Welles in Charlie's Angels. As part of her audition, she was subject to a personality test. Shelley recalled, "The first question was, 'What is your name?'" She said, "You know my name." They said, "Just answer the question, Shelley." And she got excited and said, "Is this a really personality test? I've always wanted to do a personality test." Then she said, "Oh, dammit, I didn't rehearse my personality this morning." The test seemed to have worked in her favor. Shelley eventually won the part and become Charlie's 5th Angel.

a writeup about Shelley from 1979

Upon the announcement of her Angels casting, Shelley's life suddenly went into overdrive. "Gee, I hardly have time to breathe or eat," she said after her first two weeks as Charlie's latest cherub. As THE Charlie Girl, she was used to being recognized on the street and sometimes even being followed around. But becoming an Angel was completely different. She had stepped into a different space, the rock star space. "I was totally unprepared for the press 'bonanza' that followed," she said on Jane Pauley's show Time and Again in 2000. "I was surprised by the amount of attention," she said. She suddenly found herself caught in the worldwide frenzy known as Charlie's Angels. "I had press people crawling in my windows," she told E! in 2002.

a paparazzi pic of Shelley from 1979

Natural Lashes 1973 A

Shelley modeling MOD Lashes no. 11, 1973

Shelley appeared in an ad for MOD Natural Hair Lashes in 1973. It was an ad for the many different kinds of false eyelashes made by the company. Their affordable eyelashes matched every woman's personality and her every changing mood. The ad had the tagline "Wow! Real Hair Lashes ...Realistically Priced - to bring out the Real You". Each eyelash style was numbered and had a personalized lash look to it. Shelley modeled several styles for different kinds of lifestyles and moods. Career, Outdoors, Home-Loving, Child-At-Heart and Intellectual - style numbers 11, 16, 26, 31 and 33 - were all modeled by Shelley. And Shelley captured every personality and mood to a T.

Shelley modeling MOD Lashes no. 16, 1973

Trackdown Telefilm 5

screen captures from the telefilm

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer, 1983

October 2023 will be the 40th anniversary of the telefilm Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer. Initially released on October 15, 1983, the film was based on the case that inspired the Judith Rossener novel Looking for Mr. Goodbar. Based on the brutal and shocking murder of Roseann Quinn in January of 1973 (Quinn was a late-20s schoolteacher for deaf children in New York City), this particular telefilm was a dramatization and recreation of the investigation into the 1973 homicide - with Quinn renamed Mary Alice Nolan. In the film, George Segal played New York detective John Grafton who only had a cartoon drawing found at the crime scene as lead. In the course of his investigation, he meets Logan Gay (Shelley Hack), Mary Alice's friend and co-teacher. Logan would later help Grafton in his investigation. Tracy Pollan played Eileen Grafton, John Grafton's daughter.

screen captures from the telefilm

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer, 1983

1983 was a landmark year for Shelley. It was the year she starred in the Martin Scorsese feature film The King of Comedy with Robert De Niro and the filmed-for-TV play Close Ties. It was the year she starred in Found Money alongside comedy greats Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar. It was also the year she starred in her second TV series, Cutter to Houston, with Alec Baldwin and Jim Metzler. And it was the year she starred in Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer with industry veteran George Segal (in his first made-for-TV movie). The best part was, Shelley received critical acclaim for all her acting efforts for that year.

screen captures from the telefilm

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer, 1983

Charlie Hit Parade Album V1

gorgeous Shelley in a promo pic

for Charlie perfume, 1979

Shelley was THE quintessential Charlie Girl and appeared in many, many ads and promotional items for the brand around the world. In 1980, she appeared on the record album Charlie Hit Parade, a musical album produced in Denmark with pictures printed on both sides of the vinyl disc. Side 1 featured a full-body picture of Shelley as THE Charlie Girl with the Danish phrase "Ide og produktion Kosmetik" (which translates to "Idea and production Cosmetics") written under her feet. Side 2 featured pictures of the many products included in the Charlie Collection (cologne, cosmetics, lotions, nail polish and perfume) as well as the names of the new colors of that year from the Charlie Collection - Jazzy Lilac, Bongo Berry, Punk Pink, Boogie Woogie Blue, Rose Sonata, Be Bop Grape, Rock 'N Roll Red and Fantasia Plum.

Shelley on version 1 of the vinyl disc

Charlie Hit Parade, 1980

Charlie Hit Parade was a long-playing (LP) musical album and was released in different parts of Europe. It contained a compilation of songs recommended by Charlie for the Charlie Girl in everyone. The songs in it were cover versions of the popular hits of the time. Two versions of the album were released. Version 1 featured a pic of Shelley on one side and pictures of the Charlie Collection on the other. It came with a plastic sleeve that had a sticker on it that said "Charlie Hitparade" plus a list of the songs contained in the album. The songs included in the album were the following:

Charlie Hitparade

Coming Up (P. McCartney)

Could You Be Loved (B. Marley)

Xanadu (J. Lynne)

Sunset People (P. Bellotte/M. Faultermeyer)

Funky Town (Greensburg)

Sexy Eyes (Mother/Stogall/ Waters)

I'm Alive (J. Lynne)

Little Jeanie (Osborne/E. John)

Don't Make Waves (Findon/Meyers/Puzey)

One More Little Kissie (Janschen/Janschens)

Shelley on version 1 of the vinyl disc

Charlie Hit Parade, 1980