Saturday, June 29, 2019

Add A Dash of Beauty

a closeup of Shelley from an ad for Princess Gardner, 1976

Shelley has appeared in many ads during her Supermodel tenure. In 1976, she appeared in an ad for Princess Gardner, a line of leather goods that brought together style and function to their designs. Shelley endorsed the Trio Collection, a key holder-coin purse-wallet-card holder-clutch set that had a trio of stripes as a design feature. It came in tan and ivory and added a dash of beauty to any outfit. Shelley looked fab in the ad as always.

Shelley in an ad for Princes Gardner, 1976

Shelley Hack, Leading Lady 5

Shelley in 1978

In 1978, Shelley got her first leading lady role opposite screenwriter, director, producer, and composer Joe Brooks in the film If Ever I See You Again (which spawned the hit single with the same title - as interpreted by Roberta Flack). "A bomb!" she would later admit. When she walked in to audition for the role, she was immediately hired. Brooks thought she was perfect for the role. He also insisted she wore her glasses.

Shelley on the VHS cover for the 1978 film
If Ever I See You Again

Shirt Trims

closeups of Shelley from a spread in Wrights Idea Book of Trims, 1972

Shelley appeared in the booklet Wrights Idea Book of Trims in 1972. In one spread, she modeled a couple shirts made personal with appliques and trims. She modeled a gold long-sleeved shirt with a sunflower design made from Rick Rack and trim. She also modeled a white long-sleeved shirt made personal with appliques. In both Shelley looked stunning.

Shelley in a spread for Wrights Idea Book of Trims, 1972

Out and About, '80s

Stunning Shelley in a pic from the mid-1980s

Snazzy Bits B2

a closeup of Shelley wearing Simplicity pattern 5175, 1972

Shelley appear in many modeling spreads throughout the 1960s and 70s. In 1972, she appeared in the spread Snazzy Bits It featured fashion pieces that could add a bit of jazz into any girl's wardrobe. She modeled two variations of Simplicity pattern 5175 - as a tunic length topper and as a midriff topper. The midriff topper was a shrink top in red and navy stripes and had a ribbed midriff. It looked great when worn over a shirt and tie combo. Matching pants finished her look. And Shelley looked FAB-U-LOUS.

Shelley wearing Simplicity pattern 5175, 1972

Single Bars, 1984

Shelley in a capture from the 1984 telefilm Single Bars, Single Women

Shelley starred in the telefilm Single Bars, Single Women in 1984. And for her role, she did some research by going to bars herself but in disguise. Her efforts proved to be worthy, because she was able to gather a wealth of info that helped her with her role. She also tired her hand at becoming a truck stop waitress (which was her her character's job) in Utah where most of the film was shot.

Shelley and Paul Michael Glaser
in a promo pic for Single Bars, Single Women, 1984

Ms. Lee, Ms. Lee

Shelley in an ad for Ms. Lee, 1977

Shelley has appeared in many ads for Ms. Lee in the 1970s. In 1973,    The Lee Company, a popular American denim jeans brand, came up with a label catering to women. It was called Ms. Lee. The label catered to the women’s market and was a tribute to women. Ms. Lee was tailor-made for women, in fit and in style. In 1976, Shelley appeared in a Ms. Lee ad that featured cotton denim jeans that had eight lanes of needled-on-color that curved from the waist to the hem, from the front to the back. A turtleneck top under a shirt and wedged heels finished her look. A fancy scarf, a crocheted hat and a bracelet accessorized her look. She appeared in the same outfit in another Ms. Lee ad in 1977. In both, Shelley looked stunning like always.

Shelley in an ad for Ms. Lee, 1976

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Smashing Coats

a closeup of Shelley from an ad for Sears, 1971

Shelley has appeared on many ads for Sears during her Supermodel tenure. In October 1971, she appeared in their ad called "Yes, from Sears Junior Bazaar." It featured fashions and accessories for the autumn season of that year. It showcased "two smashing coats" for that fall season. Shelley wore one of them, the military-style rain shedder coat in bright red... and she wore it over a cream-colored turtleneck top and brown slacks. Boots that laced up the front and zipped down the side completed her outfit. Knitted gloves with real leather palms, a brushed leather shoulder bag and a matching belt finished her look. With her hair simply tied in a bun, Shelley looked positively smashing.

Shelley in an ad for Sears, 1971

Shelley Hack, Leading Lady 4

Shelley in 1978

In 1978, Shelley got her first leading lady role opposite screenwriter, director, producer, and composer Joe Brooks in the film If Ever I See You Again (which spawned the hit single with the same title - as interpreted by Roberta Flack). "A bomb!" she would later admit. When she walked in to audition for the role, she was immediately hired. Brooks thought she was perfect for the role. He also insisted she wore her glasses.

a writeup about Shelley from 1978

The Iconic Charlie Girl

Shelley in a promo pic for Charlie perfume, 1981

Shelley is one of the Supermodels of the 1970s. It was all due to her turn as THE Charlie Girl from 1976 to 1982. Revlon Charlie was the first lifestyle fragrance to become successful worldwide; it was the first American fragrance to become a bestseller. Shelley was a huge factor in making the brand a worldwide hit. When her first Charlie commercial debuted, it was an instant hit. Her confident, self-assured, androgynous and fabulous portrayal of THE Charlie Girl hit a nerve among many women (and men) across the world. Suddenly, everybody wanted to be a Charlie Girl. Shelley was already a pop culture icon, a worldwide phenomenon long before she joined the cast of Charlie's Angels.

Close Ties, 1983

Shelley in a promo pic for 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.

Snazzy Bits B1

Shelley wearing Simplicity pattern 5175, 1972

Shelley appear in many modeling spreads throughout the 1960s and 70s. In 1972, she appeared in the spread Snazzy Bits. It featured fashion pieces that could add a bit of jazz into any girl's wardrobe. She modeled two variations of Simplicity pattern 5175 - as a tunic length topper and as a midriff topper. The midriff topper was a shrink top in red and navy stripes and had a ribbed midriff. It looked great when worn over a shirt and tie combo. Matching pants finished her look. And Shelley looked FAB-U-LOUS.

Shelley wearing Simplicity pattern 5175, 1972

TV Spotlight, 1987

Shelley as Jackie Shea in Jack and Mike, 1986

Shelley's big break in Hollywood came via Charlie's Angels. It opened doors for her and brought her to international attention. She became a superstar but she wanted to be known as an actress, just like her idol fellow Connecticut-bred actress Katherine Hepburn. After Angels, she immersed herself into stage acting via the plays Vanities, Close Ties and Born Yesterday - all for which she received glowing reviews. Having been a successful Supermodel, she could afford to be picky with the roles she accepted - on both the small and big screen. She appeared in the Martin Scorsese film The King of Comedy with Robert de Niro and Jerry Lewis, in the TV movie Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer with George Segal and the TV movie Single Bars, Single Women with Paul Michael Glaser, Christine Lahti and Tony Danza. She also did had a short-lived TV series Cutter to Houston with Alec Baldwin. In 1986, she was the lead in another TV series Jack and Mike, playing Jackie Shea.

a writeup about Shelley from 1987

Supermodel of the 1970s

a closeup of Shelley from a modeling pic for Halston, 1977

After her schooling, Shelley signed on full-time at her modeling agency, Ford Models Inc., and became one of the top models in the United states. In 1976, she jumped to Supermodel status via a Revlon commercial for Charlie Perfume. She was one of first batch of models  who were able to negotiate previously unheard of, lucrative and exclusive deals with giant cosmetics companies. The worldwide popularity she gained as THE Charlie Girl brought her to the attention of Aaron Spelling  who cast her in his hit series Charlie's Angels in 1979.

 Shelley, Karen Bjornson, Chris Royer, Cheryl Tiegs, 
Halston, Anne Holbrook and Shelley Smith 
in a pic for Harper's Bazaar, 1977

Saturday, June 15, 2019

McCall's 1980 C

Shelley from a spread for McCall's Jan 1980 issue
an outtake of her wearing the same coat and clothes
that appeared in the Japanese fan mag Roadshow, Feb 1981

Shelley appeared on the cover and pages of McCall's magazine in January of 1980. In a spread called "Light, Bright Ways to Keep Warm", she modeled three lightweight but warm  cold-weather coats that could be made by anybody. All made from McCall's pattern number 6754, the coats looked like designer high-priced designer originals. They were made from fluffy quilted fabric and were guaranteed to keep anyone warm during the cold months. And of course, Shelley looked fabulous in all of them.

Shelley Hack, Leading Lady 3

Shelley in 1978

In 1978, Shelley got her first leading lady role opposite screenwriter, director, producer, and composer Joe Brooks in the film If Ever I See You Again (which spawned the hit single with the same title - as interpreted by Roberta Flack). "A bomb!" she would later admit. When she walked in to audition for the role, she was immediately hired. Brooks thought she was perfect for the role. He also insisted she wore her glasses.

1000 Hints For Teens

an outtake of a modeling pic of Shelley used 
for the cover of 1000 Hints For Teens magazine, 1965

Shelley began modeling in late 1964 when she was 17. One of her first covers was 1000 Hints For Teens magazine in 1965, a magazine that contained writeups catering to teenage girls, their emotions, dating, parents, school, moods clothes and their future. Shelley was new to the modeling world at the time. "I was brought up not to close doors," she said, "Modeling was a great summer job. It beat waitressing."

Shelley on the cover of 1000 Hints For Teens magazine, 1965

Single Bars, Single Women, 1984

Shelley and Tony Danza on the VHS cover
of Single Bars, Single Women, 1984

Shelley was cast as Frankie, a single waitress looking for love, in the telefilm Single Bars Single Women in 1984. She was knockout gorgeous throughout the film but was especially so in her first scene. Shelley did a lot of research for her role as Frankie. Aside from going and observing at single bars, she worked at a truck stop in Provo, Utah, to see what waitressing was really like.

a screen capture of Shelley
from the TV movie Single Bars, Single Women, 1984

Snazzy Bits A1

Shelley wearing Simplicity pattern 5175, 1972

Shelley appear in many modeling spreads throughout the 1960s and 70s. In 1972, she appeared in the spread Snazzy Bits. It featured fashion pieces that could add a bit of jazz into any girl's wardrobe. She modeled two variations of Simplicity pattern 5175 - as a tunic length topper and as a midriff topper. The midriff topper was a shrink top in red and navy stripes and had a ribbed midriff. It looked great when worn over a shirt and tie combo. Matching pants finished her look. And Shelley looked FAB-U-LOUS.

Shelley wearing Simplicity pattern 5175, 1972

Maggie, 1984

Shelley in a promo pic for Kicks, 1985

Shelley starred in the telefilm Kicks in 1985. It was about Maggie Pierson, a thrill-seeking university professor who liked living life on the edge. She finally met her match in a mysterious wealthy businessman named Martin Cheevers (Anthony Geary). The romantic pair went around, trying every kind of thrill they could possibly think of. But the question was - how far was Maggie willing to go to satisfy her need? The film is well-paced and the twist in the end is a surprise. If you can get it, watch it.

Shelley with Anthony Geary in a promo pic for Kicks, 1985

Supermodel of the '70s

Shelley, Cheryl Tiegs, Chris Royer, Karen Bjornson,
Halston, Anne Holbrook and Shelley Smith 
in a pic for Harper's Bazaar, 1977

After her schooling, Shelley signed on full-time at her modeling agency, Ford Models Inc., and became one of the top models in the United states. In 1976, she jumped to Supermodel status via a Revlon commercial for Charlie Perfume. She was one of first batch of models  who were able to negotiate previously unheard of, lucrative and exclusive deals with giant cosmetics companies. The worldwide popularity she gained as THE Charlie Girl brought her to the attention of Aaron Spelling  who cast her in his hit series Charlie's Angels in 1979.

a closeup of Shelley from a modeling pic for Halston, 1977

Saturday, June 8, 2019

McCall's 1980 B

Shelley from a spread for McCall's Jan 1980 issue
an outtake of her wearing the same coat and clothes
that appeared in the Japanese fan mag Roadshow, Feb 1981

Shelley appeared on the cover and pages of McCall's magazine in January of 1980. In a spread called "Light, Bright Ways to Keep Warm", she modeled three lightweight but warm  cold-weather coats that could be made by anybody. All made from McCall's pattern number 6754, the coats looked like designer high-priced designer originals. They were made from fluffy quilted fabric and were guaranteed to keep anyone warm during the cold months. And of course, Shelley looked fabulous in all of them.

Shelley Hack, Leading Lady 2

Shelley in 1978

In 1978, Shelley got her first leading lady role opposite screenwriter, director, producer, and composer Joe Brooks in the film If Ever I See You Again (which spawned the hit single with the same title - as interpreted by Roberta Flack). "A bomb!" she would later admit. When she walked in to audition for the role, she was immediately hired. Brooks thought she was perfect for the role. He also insisted she wore her glasses.

1000 Hints

a modeling pic of Shelley from 1965

Shelley began modeling in late 1964 when she was 17. One of her first covers was 1000 Hints For Teens magazine in 1965, a magazine that contained writeups catering to teenage girls, their emotions, dating, parents, school, moods clothes and their future. Shelley was new to the modeling world at the time. "I was brought up not to close doors," she said, "Modeling was a great summer job. It beat waitressing."

Shelley on the cover of 1000 Hints For Teens magazine, 1965

The Stepfather Interview

screen captures for Shelley from a 1987 interview 
about her movie The Stepfather

Shelley appeared in the 1987 horror flick The Stepfather in 1987. In the movie, she played Susan Maine, the woman who marries Jerry (Terry O'Quinn in the title role) and looks past the cracks she's beginning to notice about him. Jill Schoelen played Stephanie, Susan's daughter by her first marriage. Shelley didn't have to audition for the role, because director Joseph Ruben thought she was easy on the eyes and had a naturalness that was perfect for the role.

more screen captures for Shelley from a 1987 interview 
about her movie The Stepfather

Shelley was interviewed in 1987 about the movie. In the interview, which was aired in the UK, she revealed how she approached her role as Susan, how she reacted when she saw the finished movie and a few anecdotes from filming it in Canada. She talked about Terry O'Quinn and Jill Schoelen and how much they got along and had fun doing the movie. Watch it at:

The Stepfather (1987) UK Promotional Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms8nzH66Zww
   (highlight the link, right click
and choose "Open Link in New Tab" option)

even more screen captures for Shelley from a 1987 interview 
about her movie The Stepfather

Shelley got some of her best reviews from her role in this movie. Entertainment Weekly magazine said, "Shelley Hack also puts in a fine turn as a woman who loses patience with her psychopath husband and wayward daughter. Check out the scene where she smacks her teen across the face and shrieks, ‘He's your father now and you'll respect him!’" Shelley got the role because director Joseph Ruben had seen her, not on Charlie's Angels, but in the 1982 Martin Scorsese film The King of Comedy and thought she did a great acting job (Shelley got great reviews for that role as well).

Snazzy Bits A

a closeup of Shelley from a 1972 modeling pic

Shelley appear in many modeling spreads throughout the 1960s and 70s. In 1972, she appeared in the spread Snazzy Bits  It featured fashion pieces that could add a bit of jazz into any girl's wardrobe. She modeled two variations of Simplicity pattern 5175 - as a tunic length topper and as a midriff topper. The midriff topper was a shrink top in red and navy stripes and had a ribbed midriff. It looked great when worn over a shirt and tie combo. Matching pants finished her look. And Shelley looked FAB-U-LOUS.

a pic of Shelley from a 1972 modeling spread

Charlie's Angels, 2019 Reboot


All the official Spelling-Goldberg Angels, so far

Shelley joined the cast of the phenomenal TV hit Charlie's Angels in 1979. She was the fifth Angel to join the Townsend Agency. She appeared in the 4th season alongside Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd and they were occasionally joined by Farrah Fawcett. She took over from Kate Jackson who left the show after the 3rd season. And when Shelley left, Tanya Roberts took over in the 5th season. The original series was produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg and it ran from 1976 to 1981. Many reboots soon followed - in 1988, in 2000 and 2003, in 2011 and now in 2019.

Charlie’s Angels, the original TV series:
Kate Jackson …as Sabrina Blaylock Duncan
Farrah Fawcett (then Majors) …as Jill Munroe
Jaclyn Smith …as Kelly Garrett
Cheryl Ladd…as Kristine Munroe
Shelley Hack …as Tiffany Welles
Tanya Roberts … as Julie Rogers

Charlie's Angels debuted in 1976, with Kate, Farrah and Jaclyn as the original Angels. The series broke new ground as it was the first series with a cast led by women with no men around to "bail them out" - they bailed each other out instead. Another groundbreaking element of the series was how the leads were portrayed. They weren't backstabbing each other, trying to get to a man (as women were portrayed in films previously). They had each others backs and were actually good friends. It was the very first show that perpetuated Girl Power. Cheryl, Shelley and Tanya came in subsequent seasons. This blog's favorite is Shelley Hack, of course!!! Second fave? Jaclyn Smith.

Angels '88:
Karen Kopins …as Trisha Lawrence
Claire Yarlett …as Connie Bates
Sandra Canning …as Pam Ryan
Téa Leoni …as Bernie Colter

In 1988, an attempt to reboot the series was in the works, with Angels '88. This series holds a lot of significance in Angels history as it was produced by Aaron Spelling himself. Casting was finalized and Karen Kopins, Claire Yarlett, Sandra Canning and Téa Leoni were announced as the new Angels in a press conference. This new iteration of was to be an updated version of the original. There was to be no Charlie as the girls would put the agency up themselves. But after casting was done, the series went through many setbacks including a writer's strike. It was postponed, renamed Angels' 89 and was finally shelved. The cast organized a Fallen Angels party to commemorate the show's demise. Among the Angels '88 cast, Téa Leoni is this blog's favorite. Second is Sandra Canning - love the hair.

Charlie's Angels
and Charlie's Angels Full Throttle:
Cameron Diaz …as Natalie Cook
Drew Barrymore …as Dylan Sanders/Helen Zaas
Lucy Liu …as Alex Munday
Demi Moore …as Madison Lee

In 2000, the series was finally brought back to life, this time on the big screen, with Charlie's Angels the movie. The big budget reboot was produced by Leonard Goldberg and Drew Barrymore. Drew along with Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu became the newest Angel team and they karate chopped their way to the top of the box office that summer. In 2003, a sequel was released, Charlie's Angels Full Throttle, with the addition of a new "bad" Angel, played by Demi Moore. Jaclyn Smith reprised her role as Kelly Garrett. This blog's favorite is Lucy Liu. Demi Moore comes in a close second.

Charlie's Angels 2011:
Annie Ilonzeh …as Kate Prince
Minka Kelly …as Eve French
Rachael Taylor …as Abby Sampson
Nadine Velazquez …as Gloria Martinez

In 2011, the TV series was again reboot; this time with an updated TV series also produced by Leonard Goldberg and Drew Barrymore, dubbed Charlie's Angels 2011. The new Angels were Annie Ilonzeh, Minka Kelly and Rachael Taylor. A fourth Angel was also introduced in the series- Nadine Velazquez, who played Gloria Martinez, probably the Angel with the shortest screen time as she was killed in the first act of the first episode. The series had a hard time finding an audience and was cancelled after seven episodes with one episode left unaired. This blog's favorite is actually Nadine Velazquez as Gloria - love her kick-ass scene on the beach. Second fave is Annie Ilonzeh, no-nonsense and fab outfits.

Charlie's Angels 2019:
Kristen Stewart ...as Sabina Wilson
Naomi Scott ...as Elena Houghlin
Ella Balinska ...as Jane Kano

This 2019, Charlie's Angels has again been rebooted, another big screen version has finished filming and will be on screen this November. Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska are the newest Angels. In the movie, the agency goes international (But didn't it already go international in the original series? In 1981, the plaque in the Hawaiian office read "Townsend Agency Beverly Hills Paris Hawaii"). Let's see how the movie will fare and how many former Angels will be in this version.