Creative Studies 4

a closeup of Shelley from an ad

for Zwicker Knitting Mills, 1975

 

Shelley appeared in an ad for Zwicker Knitting Mills in 1975. Zwicker was a knitting mill company (the last one in the US when it closed in 1990) that sold knitted winter wear such as scarves, gloves, hats and the like. Their 1975 ad had the tagline "Zwicker Creative Studies" and featured the company's "never-dull fashion curriculum." It featured their many different hat styles which came with matching scarves. One even had matching socks to go with it. Shelley wore three of their fash combos and looked absolutely fab in them.

 

Shelley in an ad
for Zwicker Knitting Mills, 1975

A Promising Career

a closeup of Shelley from a promo pic

for the telefilm Found Money, 1983

 

Shelley appeared alongside comedy legends Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar in the 1983 TV movie Found Money. Originally titled Max and Sam (Van Dyke's and Caesar's characters) the movie was re-titled My Secret Angel then finally Found Money. The film 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 nil 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 instead to accounts of ordinary citizens who bring kindness to the world - starting with $10,000 in Sam's account. 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.

 

Shelley with Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar

in a promo pic for the telefilm Found Money, 1983

 

Shelley had a very promising acting career immediately after leaving Charlies Angels in 1980. She honed her acting skills in Jack Heifner's Vanities, Elizabeth Diggs's Close Ties and Garson Kanin’s Born Yesterday, wowing her critics and detractors as she did. She shined in the Martin Scorsese film The King of Comedy opposite Robert De Niro. She held her own opposite George Segal in the TV movie Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer. And she was great in the telefilm Found Money opposite legendary comedians Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar. Shelley found both of them "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. Shelley would again work with Dick Van Dyke in 1997 - as a guest star in his series Diagnosis Murder.

Knit in Today's Colors

a closeup of Shelley from a spread

for the Simplicity Home Catalog Fall/Winter 1972 catalog

 

Shelley appeared on the pages of the the Simplicity Home Catalog Fall/Winter 1972 catalog. In the spread that featured knitted fashions, she modeled a Tennis Sweater Knit in Today's Colors, 1972 colors, of course, an could be worn to the courts or anywhere. Simplicity Pattern no. 6254 was a classic cable knit sweater with contrasting striping 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 combo for a quick tennis match. And Shelley looked fabulous in it.

Shelley in a spread
for the Simplicity Home Catalog Fall/Winter 1972 catalog

A Hit Play

screen captures of Shelley

from the Jack Heifner play Vanities

filmed for the HBO series Standing Room Only, 1981

 

Immediately after leaving Charlie's Angels, Shelley was cast in the Jack Heifner three-character play Vanities. Set in 1963 (as high school cheerleaders) then 1968 (as college roomates) and finally in 1974 (as young adults), the play was about three girls from Texas - their friendship and demise thereof. Meredith Baxter Birney and Annette O'Toole played the other two characters. The play was a record-breaking hit and was taped and aired as part of the HBO series Standing Room Only in 1981. "I guess I did get spunky," Shelley said in a 1983 interview, "I decided I was going to run my own life. I started doing theater for the first time in my life although I'd never been on stage before." And Shelley received glowing reviews for her performance, surprising many critics, detractors and Charlie's Angels producer Ed Lakso who thought she couldn't act and that casting her in Angels was a mistake. "One year after the show, I saw Shelley in the stage play Vanities, and she did a wonderful job," Lakso admitted.

 

more screen captures of Shelley
from the Jack Heifner play Vanities
filmed for the HBO series Standing Room Only, 1981

A Sporty Charlie Girl

a 1979 sporty pic of Shelley for the Charlie brand

 

Shelley first became famous in the 1970s as THE Charlie Girl, THE Revlon Charlie Girl. Revlon creative director David Leddick had Shelley's then boyfriend Steen Svensson shoot the first presentation with her. It got her the contract. Her first commercial debuted in 1976, and it was an immediate and immense hit. By 1977, Charlie became the #1 fragrance in the world (the first American-made international bestseller and Revlon sales figures passed the $1 billion mark.) Shelley was a huge hit as THE Charlie Girl; so much so that she represented the brand from 1976 to 1982 - the longest any model ever did. In the ads she represented the brand's ideal woman - gorgeous, sexy and liberated. She was sassy, fun and sporty too.

 

another 1979 sporty pic of Shelley for the Charlie brand

Rock Star Territory

a paparazzi pic of Shelley from 1979

 

Shelley became Charlie's Angel no.5 in 1979 and fans were thrilled to see THE Charlie Girl join Charles Townsend's team of heavenly detectives. Shelley was already well-known as Revlon's quintessential Charlie Girl and was recognized wherever she went. Going shopping, according to Shelley, "was a disaster." In 1978, Shelley said, "The Charlie image is interesting because people recognize me and some actually chase me down the street." But becoming a Charlie's Angel was different. Shelley suddenly found herself in unfamiliar territory - rock star territory. After being cast as Angel Tiffany Welles in 1979 she said, "The thing is  I haven't even done anything yet. I've been recognized before and I've signed autographs before but I get a part and suddenly find myself in the fishbowl."

a writeup about Shelley from 1979

Mix 'N' Match Know-How

a closeup of Shelley from a spread 

for Sears Spring through Summer 1973 catalog

 

Shelley appeared on many spreads for many catalogs from the late '60s to the mid-'70s. Many Supermodels at the time appeared in the most popular catalogs during the era like Cheryl Tiegs, Beverly Johnson, Patti Hansen and Shelley Smith, just to name a few. Many models who eventually became actresses also appeared in the catalogs like Veronica Hamel, Erin Grey, Kim Basinger and Pam Dawber.

 

closeups of Shelley from a spread 

for Sears Spring through Summer 1973 catalog

 

Shelley appeared in many ads and catalogs for Sears in the 1960s and 1970s. In the Sears Spring Through Summer 1973 catalog, she appeared in a spread called "Knits with Mix 'N' Match Know-How." It was a fashion set of knitted pieces that could be mixed and matched as any would desire. She paired the applique-trimmed Bare-Back Halter top, which buttoned at the back neck and tied at the center back, with a pair of Boy-Cut Pants which rode two inches below the waistline and had flap trims and flared legs. Matching clogs finished her look. She also paired a multicolored striped Pullover top, which had a scoop neckline and short puffed sleeves, with a pantskirt - a matching pair of multicolored striped shorts wrapped in a matching skirt with had a patch pocket and button trim at the waistband. Matching clogs finished her look as well. Shelley looked fab in both parings.

Shelley in a spread
for the Sears Spring through Summer 1973 catalog