A Terrific Opportunity

Shelley in a promo pic

for Charlie's Angels, 1979

"I think it's a terrific opportunity," Shelley said of her casting as Charlie's newest Angel in 1979. In May of that year, she was chosen by producers Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg to replace Kate Jackson in the hit TV series. Spelling and Goldberg were looking for someone long and lean like Kate. They were looking for a girl with "the right bubble and intelligence." The new Angel, Tiffany Welles, was written as a Smith College graduate, a girl from the East who was not a voluptuous sexpot... and Shelley fit the bill perfectly. She's a Smith College graduate (with a degree in history), she was born in New York and she grew up in Connecticut, and she had that classic model shape and beauty. Moreover, not only did she photograph so well with her new co-Angels Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd, she was welcomed by both. Jaclyn said, "I feel good about her. I think the three of us are going to get along great." Cheryl said, "Shelley seems like a terrific girl. I think she's good and I'll do everything I can to make her feel at home." Shelley was a gorgeous, smart, fast-talking blonde and was just what the show needed. "Shelley is a very bright young lady," said Goldberg. "The one thing that stood out was that she was totally likable."

a writeup about Shelley joining

the cast of Charlie's Angels, 1979

Also, by 1979, she was already a world-famous million-dollar Supermodel. She was THE world-renowned Charlie Girl; and she catapulted the Revlon Charlie brand to worldwide success. Shelley told Playboy magazine, "Once, on a promotional tour, I was talking with a guy at a radio station and he wanted to know why my Charlie perfume commercials for Revlon were so successful. I suggested we make it the call-in question, because I was curious myself. The women respondents said that this girl walking into a restaurant alone - which most women are afraid to do - looking chic, but not too chic, seemed like somebody they would like to know or to be. I was their idea of a modern, liberated but not threatening woman. The men thought I was someone they would like to go out with; again, modern, not brassy and someone who, if they met me, would talk to them." And this association with the Revlon Charlie brand actually played in her favor. The headline "THE Charlie Girl Becomes A Charlie's Angel" was just what the show needed to gain even more viewers and popularity.

Shelley in a promo pic

for Charlie's Angels, 1979

In the King of Horror's Top 5

Shelley in a promo pic

for The Stepfather, 1987

It's been called one of the great horror movies of the 1980s. The Stepfather was released in June of 1987 and has since become a cult classic. Directed by Joseph Ruben, it starred Terry O'Quinn in the title role, as Jerry Blake, a man who had the knack of marrying into the "perfect" family and then killing the family off when he deemed that they're not perfect after all. Shelley Hack played Susan Maine, the woman who marries Jerry and is willing look past the cracks she's beginning to notice. Jill Schoelen played Stephanie, Susan's daughter by her first marriage. Stephanie doesn't like Jerry, finds him weird and is determined to find out what he is hiding.

Unilad Ranked recently shared

Stephen King's Top 5 Movies Ever

Horror writer Stephen King recently revealed his Top 5 Movies Ever. King, whose works include The Shining, Pet Sematary, Misery and Carrie, is no stranger to his books being adapted for the big and small screens. And he has his choices for the 5 movies he prefers and they were recently shared by Unilad Ranked this March of 2025. In no particular order, the so-called "King of Horror's" choices were Sorcerer (1977), Les Diaboliques (1955), Duel (1971), The Changeling (1980) and The Stepfather (1987). The screenplay of The Stepfather was written by Donald E. Westlake, from a story by Westlake, Carolyn Lefcourt and Brian Garfield (the latter of Death Wish fame), with an uncredited rewrite by David Loughery. The psychological thriller was released theatrically in 1987 and has gained a cult following ever since.

Flats Take A New Direction

a closeup of Shelley from a pic

used in a spread on the Sears 1970

Spring Through Summer catalog

Shelley appeared in many catalogs throughout her modeling career, from the late '60s to the late '70s. Mail-order catalogs were at the height of its popularity at the time. They were big-book size publications that contained a list and pictures of the general merchandise from, usually, a department store that were available for purchase and delivery straight to the homes of their customers. Everything from homeware to toys were featured in these catalogs... as well as garments and the latest fashion pieces. Shelley appeared in spreads throughout the Sears 1970 Spring Through Summer catalog.

Shelley in a spread for the 1970 Sears

Spring Through Summer catalog

Shelley she appeared in section called "Flats Take A New Direction For 1970," which featured the latest in low-heeled footwear for young misses. A variation of Shelley's pic from the "Pants And All That Jazz" spread was used... where she wore the White-on-White Tunic Top (a pullover-style top with a V-neckline, wide pointed collar, long full sleeves with elasticized wrists and a self-belt) over a pair of Twill-Textured Double-Knit Pants (a pair of flared pants with a contoured waistband, belt loops and fly-front). The "Flats Take A New Direction For 1970" spread featured six great-looking footwear styles in extraordinarily fine leather or vinyl uppers and the latest in exciting trims and ornaments. And Shelley looked fabulous in the spread.

Cantiniere Angels 3

a closeup of Shelley from a promo pic

for Charlie's Angels, 1979

Look-In magazine was a kiddie/teen UK magazine that featured two-page comic/picture strips of the most popular television shows of the era. Subtitled as "The Junior TV Times," its first issue came out in 1971 and its final issue came out in 1994. Many popular American TV series were featured in the mag including Kung Fu, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, CHiPs, Battlestar Galactica, Mork and Mindy... and, of course Charlie's Angels.

Shelley as Tiffany Welles in Look-In mag's

Charlie's Angels comic/picture strip, 1980

From 1979 to 1980, during the airing of the 4th season of Charlie's Angels, Shelley's Tiffany Welles character was featured in the mag's Charlie's Angels comic/picture strip. Along with her co-Angels Kelly Garrett (Jaclyn Smith) and Kris Munroe (Cheryl Ladd), Tiffany solved cases for Charlie for several issues, two pages a week. Her first case debuted on November of 1979 and her final case ended on October of 1980. The mag also featured occasional writeups about Shelley as well as posters of her and the Angel team of that season.

Shelley Hack with Jaclyn Smith

and Cheryl Ladd in a promo pic

for Charlie's Angels, 1979

Charlie-The-Great

Shelley in a promo pic for Charlie, 1977

Shelley was THE Charlie Girl from 1976 to 1982. "THE" because it was Shelley's image that inspired women to go out, be independent and be happy about it. In fact, it was and still is Shelley's face that is most associated with the brand. In fact, the Charlie brand was so popular that a masculine counterpart was created and was named Chaz. Both Charlie and Chaz were derived from the name of Revlon's founder Charlies Revson. In 1977, a newspaper ad promoting both fragrances with the tagline "Buy Him Some Chaz... And Get Yourself 'Charlie-The-Great' For Just $3.00!" was released. The promo stated that with any purchase of $3.00 or more from the Chaz collection (which included the 3-oz. natural pump cologne worth $10.00, the 3 1/2-oz. splash on cologne worth $9.00, and the 3 1/2-oz. after shave worth $7.50), anyone could purchase Charlie-The-Great, an 8-oz. sized bottle of Charlie cologne, for just $3.00. And, as always, Shelley was just fabulous in the ad.

Shelley in a newspaper ad

for Charlie and Chaz, 1977

On Stage Triumphs

Shelley in the play Close Ties, 1983

Shelley was very active in the stage scene back in the early 1980s. It's where she honed her chops as an actress. In 1981, she received glowing reviews for her work in the Jack Heifner play Vanities, surprising critics as well as her detractors. She then ventured further and did Elizabeth Diggs' Close Ties in 1983 and likewise received glowing reviews. Directed by Arwin Brown, it was about the struggles of a New England family coping with the senility of the clan's matriarch. Shelley played Anna, one of the matriarch's daughters, and wowed again critics. Her performance in both plays was proof that, yes, she could act.

Shelley in the play Close Ties, 1983

Jumpers 1972 A

a closeup of Shelley from a pic

for Simplicity Fashion News,

August 1972

Simplicity Fashion News was a monthly pamphlet Simplicity came out with to showcase their latest patterns. The Simplicity Pattern Company had been manufacturing sewing patterns since 1927 and had allowed fashionistas on a budget and sewing aficionados to create clothes in a reliable manner. In August of 1972, Shelley appeared on the pages of Simplicity Fashion News. She was featured in a spread called "What's New... New Jumpers to Sew Right Now." In the spread, she wore pattern number 5154 (a mini-jumper that was softly gathered at a lined yoke, that had set-in cap sleeves and a squared neckline) over pattern number 9178 (a blouse that was softly gathered at the forward shoulder seams, that had a high round neckline, a bias roll tie collar, a back zipper, and long set-in sleeves that gathered to buttoned cuffs.) She finished her look with a pair of matching tights and a pair of heeled loafers. A complementing circular brooch accessorized her look. Shelley looked vibrant and ready for those summer outings and shindigs.

a pic of Shelley

from Simplicity Fashion News,

August 1972