Make It Shimmer

Shelley in a fashion spread for Seventeen Says Make It, 1971

Shelley appeared on the pages of Seventeen Says Make It in 1971. The mag featured fashions anyone could make for themselves. In the spread called "Make It Shimmer The Body Dress", she modeled a dress that was soft to the touch and followed the contours of the body. The velvety panne knit fabric used for the dress had a subtle sheen and was silvery and shimmery - great for a romantic night out in the town. The corresponding McCall's dress pattern was also mentioned.

Shelley in McCall's pattern 2731

In the "Moonlit Moments" section of the spread, Shelley wore McCall's pattern 2731, a day to evening dress that had a scoop neck and long sleeves. The velvety fabric used went from sable-y brown to light-struck rose taupe to silvered blue. The mag recommended adding five inches to the skirt "to get the boot-topping Gibson length" shown. A pair of matching boots and some old-world inspired jewelry finished her very romantic look. And Shelley was just lovely under all that moonlight.

a closeup of Shelley from the spread

For How Long

Charlie's Angels Mark III,
Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd and Shelley Hack,
on the cover of the Australian edition of TV Guide, 1979

Charlie's Angels was a worldwide phenomenon and was in its 4th season in 1979 when Shelley joined the cast. Shelley brought a breath of fresh air into the series which was showing signs of fatigue (the 3rd season finished at 12th over all in the ratings - 8 places down from the 2nd season's ratings which was 4th). The season opened with a lot of fanfare - as well as the expected negative reviews - and finished at number one for that week. As the season progressed, many were wondering how long the series was going to last in the air - and which Angel would last the entire series. The Australian edition of TV Guide posed the question "Charlie's Beautiful Angels: How Long Can They Last?" Well, people are still talking about all the Angels until this very moment. So what do you think?

Calendar Girl

Shelley appeared on Roadshow's celebrity calendar for 1981. Roadshow was a Japanese fan magazine that featured many international celebrities. Shelley was the celebrity for May that year. The others were Jaclyn Smith for January, Catherine Bach for February, Melissa Gilbert for March, the CHiPs stars for April, Greg Evigan for June, Cheryl Ladd for July, Lynda Carter for August, David Soul for September, Melissa Sue Anderson for October, Farrah Fawcett for November and Paul Michael Glaser for December.

Playing Doctor

Jim Metzler and Shelley in a still from Cutter to Houston

Shelley starred in her second TV series in 1983, Cutter to Houston. He co-stars were Jim Metzler and Alec Baldwin. The series was set in Texas and was about three doctors who were assigned to a small town clinic in the fictitious town Cutter. The three were there for different reasons. Shelley played Dr. Beth Gilbert, an ambitious surgeon who needed the assignment as a stepping stone towards her real goal - to become a surgeon in a big city hospital in Houston, Texas. Jim played Dr. Andy Fenton, a general practitioner who grew up in Cutter and was happy to be home. Alec played Dr. Hal Wexler, an internist on probation for writing unnecessary prescriptions, who hadn't quite figured out whether he liked it there or not. The series had a short run, but it had its charm and was gaining ground, audience-wise and critic-wise, before it was canceled. Let's hope it makes it on DVD.

a promo pic of Shelley for Cutter to Houston, 1983

Great Contemporary Looks

Shelley in a spread for Sears Fall Winter 1974 catalog

Shelley appeared on the pages of Sears Fall Winter 1974 catalog. She appeared in a spread called "Featuring Polyester Double-Knits in Great Contemporary Looks". She modeled a pants outfit made up of a shirt jacket (solid-colored with a button front opening and shirt-tail bottom as well as white top stitching) and a pair of checked pants (smooth-knit pull-on style pants with an elasticized waistband and slightly flared legs). And Shelley looked very contemporary for 1974.

a closeup of Shelley from the spread

Wild Wednesday

Shelley in an ad for "Caged Angel"
a Charlie's Angels episode aired in 1979

In 1979, Shelley joined the cast of one of the wildest shows on TV, Charlie's Angels, joining incumbent Angels Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd. Charlie's Angels was a breakthrough television series because it featured women in an action-adventure show. Previous TV shows like The Bionic Woman and Wonder Woman were in the same genre but, unlike the Angels, they were both superheroes with super strength and abilities. Police Woman was closer in theme; but Sgt. Pepper Anderson, the lead character, had Lt. Bill Crowley watching her back at all times, rescuing her if needed. The Angels were one their own. They only had each other to rely on, looking after each other's backs and saving each other if needed. This was something no other show had, a sort of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid kind of dynamic between the three female leads. Prior to Angels, women were always portrayed as physically weak, dependent and cat-fighting each other over men. The Angels were strong, independent women who didn't need men to save them from anything, who could do anything men could do, who could be buddies with each other and other women. And that idea influenced a generation of women, changing gender roles forever.

Contrast Collar-Cuff Dress

Shelley in a spread

for Simplicity Fashion News,

March 1973

 

Shelley appeared on the pages of Simplicity Fashion News for March of 1973. The booklet featured the latest fashion trends for 1973, from dresses to sportswear. Shelley modeled pattern number 5497 - a contrast collar-cuff dress with puffed sleeves and a high-rise waist that tied in the back. And the short dress looked positively sweet on Shelley.

 

 

a closeup of Shelley

from the spread