Who Was Harrison Carroll?

Harrison Carroll was for more than 40 years a columnist for The Herald Express and I have a number of his articles from the 1950's and 1960's in my collection when he wrote about Joan.
This one is dated Mar 28, 1956 and is about the film, The Opposite Sex.

Joan actually told this story during her one woman show in March this year at Leicester Square Theatre in London

HOLLYWOOD, Mar. 28. - Tears and foregiveness ended what could have been the start of that whopping big feud everybody has been expecting to develop among all those feminine stars in MGM's "The Opposite Sex.
Supposed to fake a slap for a scene, June Allyson belted Joan Collins so hard that Joan's earrings flew off and a welt swelled up on her face.

"It was just awful!" June tells me. "I never hit anybody before in my life. I don't even spank my children. I let go this haymaker. I had rehearsed faking it. Instead I hit her an awful wallop."
"Joan was wonderful. After the slap, she was supposed to look at me and smile. She went ahead and did it. Afterwards we both bawled." Harrison said, "When I reached her at home, Joan laughed:"It was a complete accident. But, when I heard my earrings hit the floor, I thought she had knocked out some of my teeth; I really did."

I will feature more of Harrison's columns in future posts and also have them added to the website

Advert: The Opposite Sex

I came across this slimline advert featuring Joan in some old American press clippings and reviews of Joan's early films. Although I cannot put a date to it, unsure if it is for the films original release or a screening at KENOSHA theater.

The Opposite Sex was a musical remake of the film "The Women", starring another 'JC' - namely Joan Crawford, with our Joan playing the role of Crystal Allen, set out to seduce and steal June Allyson's husband Steven, played by Leslie Nielson.
Other cast members included Dolores Gray, Ann Sheridan, Ann Miller and Agnes Moorehead.

Monte Carlo - Joan Sings

This rarely seen photo of Joan in a recording studio was taken during filming of her second mini-series, Monte Carlo when Joan as Katrina Petrovna sang "The Last Time I Saw Paris".

When asked how the Collins vocal chords were, Joan replied she has "an amusing voice that travels well - matured with age."

Past In Photos: Joan with Celebrities

This picture of Joan and Percy with David & Victoria Beckham is from 2002

Daily Picture: Seawife

This picture of Joan as a nun is from the 1956 film 'Sea Wife', in which she co-starred alongside Richard Burton, Basil Sydney and Cy Grant.

Joan's last line in the film was "No one ever looks at the face of a nun".

29 Years later (1985) in Dynasty, episodes 6.6 "The Titans" and 6.7 "The Decision" the Moldavian Massacre storyline continues with Dex disguised as a priest and Alexis as a nun trying to transport the injured King Galen out of Moldavia

Memorabilia Corner - Lobby Title Cards

Due to PC problems towards the latter end of last month and a busy work schedule, posts were a little scarce. Hopefully as we settle into May and my schedules start to calm down a little, I can devote more time to the blog.

Today I am featuring this title card for "The Girl In The Red Velvet Swing" from the collection

Title cards as they are known or #1 lobby card often have different artwork to the rest of the set, and often closely resemble the poster for the film

Check out other lobby cards on the website in the galleries section

Memorabilia Corner - The Slasher

Another "hot off the press" addition to my collection - this American lobby card is one of six I have acquired for the film "The Slasher" (Cosh Boy being its UK title).

Featured on this one is Joan with her young co-star James Kenney. The film also starred Hermione Baddeley and Hermione Gingold.

I have also acquired a US poster of the film for the collection and I will add this directly to the website, plus other memorabilia as well

Memorabilia Corner: A Night With Joan

This arrived in the mail 3 hours ago; so thought I would feature it as today's memorabilia corner post.

A flyer/handbill from the Australian tour of Joan's one woman show, under the title 'A Night With Joan'.
The great thing about adding this to the collection is that it has a different design to the UK, London version.

The reverse has the show's synopsis - "Golden Globe winner and Emmy-nominee Joan Collins returns to Australia, in a tour that promises to be simply fabulous!

With a career spanning more than 50 years as an actress, producer, author, humanitarian and entrepreneur, multi-award winning Joan Collins has cemented herself as an icon of stage and screen.

Her role in the television series Dynasty made her (and Alexis Carrington-Colby) a household name and her theatrical presence on Broadway and London's West End has only further enshrined her as one of showbiz's brightest stars. Joan Collins' novels and memoirs have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide.

Sharing the wit and anecdotes of a life spent in the spotlight A Night with Joan is set to be an unforgettable night. The show has been a sell-out in London and New York and promises to be a show-stopping event that her legions of Australian fans will not want to miss.

Memorabilia Corner: Star Trek

According to statistics, Star Trek episode 28 "City on the Edge of Forever" which Joan guest-starred in was the most popular episode of the entire series.

It was first screened on 6th April 1967 and has been shown worldwide and in 1968 won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation

Featured today are two collectors cards from the episode, which I purchased from different sources and know very little about. Presumably they belong to sets of collectable cards based on the series.

Memorabilia Corner: Rally Round The Flag Boys

Featured today is a Window card from the comedy Rally Round The Flag Boys.

This one was purchased in unused condition as the blank space at the top was where the theatre put screening times and any other details.

Window cards will be displayed in the posters gallery on the website.

Memorabila Corner: The Girl In The Red Velvet Swing

This American Lobby Card is one of five added to the website. It features Joan as Evelyn Nesbit with Ray Milland as Playboy architect Stafford White.

Check out the other cards which can be found under the lobby Cards link for the film.

Your E-mails Ask .........

Thanks to all those who continue to e-mail me about the collection, it's great to know that Joan has such an International following.
49 countries have now visited the website since it was relaunched as 'Joan Collins Collection'

Although the daily pictures are popular in the posts, some of you have asked me to feature other items including film memorabilia, press cuttings, and more requests for the return of the ever popular 'On the Newstands'post which highlighted magazines published from years gone by.

Hopefully, there will be another update to the website this weekend, as I still have alot to feature - so keep returning to see what's new. Now waiting for the 50th Country to visit ...... will let you know when this happens

Dynasty Fashions - Joan Goes For Gold

This publicity photo of Joan was a gown that Joan wore in Dynasty Season 2, 'The Party' when Fallon organises a party at the Mansion to welcome Sammy Jo into the Carrington family.

Alexis attends with Cecil Colby, another photo can be found on the website in the Dynasty galleries.

Dynasty Fashions - Day 2

Back again with some more pictures of outfits created by Nolan Miller for Joan

Dynasty Fashion Post - Season 2 & 7

Back after a busy working Easter - hope everyone had a good time.

Here is the first picture from my post relating to Dynasty Fashions and some of the many wonderful creations Joan wore courtesy of Mr Nolan Miller.

Couldn't think of a better way to start the post than a picture of the famous White and black suit Joan wore in the first episode of Season 2 when she joined the series.

Fans will remember that at the end of the first season, an unknown actress walked into the courtroom as Alexis prior to Joan being cast, which meant Joan had to wear the same outfit with possibly a few adjustments for her slender figure.

The outift complemented by a large hat; the world (including me) went "Wow" when Joan lifted the 'beekeeper veil' and removed the dark glasses to speak her first lines which went down in soap history.

The 2nd picture jumps ahead to the last episode of Season 7 (now available on DVD), the episode called "Shadowplay" and Joan wearing a pink gown for the wedding of Adam and Dana.

I'll feature some more fashions in tomorrows post

Daily Picture - Who Shot Alexis?

This picture comes from Dynasty Season 8, and shows Joan as Alexis recovering in hospital after taking the bullet meant for Blake at the debate for governor - fired from the rafters by a mystery gunman

.... And this time it wasn't the Butler who did it!!

Daily Post - Joan Through The Years

Recently some of the e-mails I have received have been about pictures of Joan before the Dynasty years, and whether I have anything from the 1970's & 1980's. The answer is Yes!

One person who contacted me must have been at Joan's One Woman Show and said how nice it was that Joan featured pictures of herself from the 'early years', so I have decided to start this post today, and feature a photo of Joan from 1971.

The description states "Here is Joan in a $4300 white mink midicoat at St Moritz, during a winter sojourn (short break) with husband Ron Kass.
The description of the coat says it had self covered buttons and a wide collar, teamed with a lace-up belt with metal trims and a jaunty Jackie Coogan cap.

Fashion was an important factor with the millions of Dynasty fans, tuning in every week to see what Alexis & Krystle would be wearing next, courtesy of Designer to the Stars, Mr Nolan Miller.
Later this week, I'll be starting a post called "Dynasty - A Trip Down Memory Lane" featuring pictures of Joan in some of the many gowns and costumes she wore on the series.

Daily Picture - Classic Cartoon

I recently came across this wonderful cartoon which appeared in American Magazine, 'Rolling Stone' back in December 1987.

It is called "Gold Diggers of 1987" by Robert Risko who I discovered is an American caricature artist,and as you can see features Joan with Brigitte Nielson burying Sly (Stallone) and ex Swedish husband Peter Holm.

Other celebrities that he has done caricatures of include Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Midler, Lucille Ball, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jackson, and Goldie Hawn.

Daily Picture - Joan Fashion Shoot

Today it's back to 1984 and a photo of Joan modelling an outfit from the McCalls fashion range.

A pattern book was produced in the same year and Joan featured on the cover of that too. I do have it in the collection and will look it out and post on the blog.

Daily Picture - Joan, Diahann Carroll & Dynasty

Today, I am featuring photos of Joan with Dynasty co-star Diahann Carroll, these photos appeared on American magazines to introduce the character of Dominique Deveraux to the series

Daily Picture - Joan with Nolan Miller

Joan discussing costume designs with Nolan Miller.

Daily Picture - Nutcracker Still

This photograph of Joan is a scene from the 1983 film Nutcracker and one of five more stills I have come across for this film.

I have a large box file of photos acquired over the last 3-4 years to scan and add to the website.

It's been a busy week hence my absence on the blog but I'm hoping to carry out another update this weekend

Daily Picture - Joan to play Marilyn?

This rare picture from 1973 of Joan as Marilyn Monroe. Reports at the time were that Joan was to play Marilyn in a new play written by David Butler called "Legend" (not to be confused with the 2007 American tour).

To my knowledge the play never went into production.

In her one woman show, Joan spoke about how she met Marilyn in the 1950's at a party given by Gene Kelly.

Daily Picture: Dynasty Season 4

Today I am featuring some photos from Season 4 of Dynasty, episode 25 "The Engagement" which aired 18/04/1984.

Daily Picture: Joan at 1987 Premiere

I am currently going through photos of Joan for the parties and premiere gallery on the website, and came across this one from 23/03/1987 when Joan attended the premiere of the film '84 Charing Cross Road' and met Princess Diana.

Daily Picture - Joan Collins Learns To Strip

This rare photo today was taken by Jack Albin on the set of Seven Thieves
Joan talked about the fiming of these scenes in her One Woman show last Sunday

The reverse of this photo states, "When the producers needed a girl to teach Joan Collins how to play a stripper in their new picture 'Seven Thieves' they went to the top of the strip -- Candy Barr.

The Texas blonde with the sugary handle and the British brunette have turned Stage #1 at 20th Century-Fox into the most visited acreage in Westwood and have caused the producers to hang the "CLOSED SET" sign out in front of the door.

Despite the no admission tag co-stars Edward G Robinson, Rod Steiger and Eli Wallach have discovered numerous excuses to amble down to the stage "just to see how Joan's getting along". After all she's the only girl in the picture and they have a "protective" interest in her learning, argued the male co-stars."
In case anyone is interested, the girls will have worked together 45 hours on the two dance and strip numbers that will probably run no more than six minutes on the screen Ah, but was a sizzling six minutes!

Candy later said "anytime Joan wants to leave the movies she has it made in burlesque"

Cannon Mills Advert

Joan mentioned in her one woman show last Sunday some of the many things she has advertised over the years.

From perfume to alcohol, cameras and cars .... here is an advert from March 1984 for Cannon Mills, the American textile company and their range of towels.

Daily Picture - 1976 Photo Shoot

Today's picture is a lovely one of Joan taken at a L.A. photo-shoot in 1976.

FANTASTIC SHOW - ONE NIGHT WITH JOAN

Back and refreshed from walking round Leicester Square on a Sunday afternoon, everybody enjoyed the show. I'm certain it looked like a full house, I had excellent front row seats and Joan looked fantastic.

Two if not three standing ovations, whistling, cheering, and a bouquet of flowers presented to Joan at the end by an one ardent fan from Sweden.

I talked to a number of people outside the theatre afterwards and everybody said how wonderfully entertaining Joan had been.

The only downside for some were those hoping to catch a glimpse of Joan as she left the theatre before the next and last performance at 7.30pm

Oh and must say a big hello to Sue, the lady who sat next to me in the vacant seat from my friend who unfortunately was unable to attend. We chatted during the interval about the website and our love of Joan.

Signing at Harrods - Second Act

Hoping to see Joan after the matinee on Sunday, these two pictures are from my personal collection and were taken at the Harrods booksigning for Second Act in 1996.

Joan leaves Harrods after the signing and as she made her way through the book department to the exit, someone called out to her, and she smiled and waved to an ever appreciative crowd of fans, as I clicked the shutter.

Dressing Room Joan ..... President Style

One never know's who is going to drop by your dressing room when you're working in the theatre - and today's photograph is one of Joan with Ronald and Nancy Reagan after a performance of Private Lives.

Daily Picture - Golden Globes 1983

Today's picture was taken at the 1983 Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles and shows Joan arriving with Gordon Thomson. Joan was nominated and won the award for Best Actress in a dramatic series.

One Night With Joan

From tonight until Sunday 18th, Joan is back by popular demand at the Leicester Square Theatre in London with her one woman show "One Night With Joan".

I will be at the matinee on Sunday afternoon, and so no blog this weekend - but next Monday I will post a blog about the show.

Daily Picture - Cinzano

Today's picture is a rare shot of Joan with Leonard Rossiter from the famous Cinzano Adverts, which were classic.

I have been working on the website since the weekend, updating the film pages which has not left much time for the daily blog.

There is still lots more to add, so keep visiting.
Thanks to those who have e-mailed me, and a big thank you to everyone for supporting the site

Daily Picture - Rally Round The Bathroom ....

Today's picture of Joan is a scene from the comedy, Rally Round The Flag Boys she made with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in 1958.

Daily Picture - Legends and Joan

This lovely picture of Joan is from the 2007 US tour of Legends, which I saw in Phoenix, Arizona.

As I enjoyed the play and have performed in theatre myself - I had to add the script to my collection.

Here's a description of Joan's character from the play.
SYLVIA GLENN - Attractive, flashy, former movie star, now around sixty. Still lots of pep and sas. Ambitious to reactivate her career, many times married, but now broke. Beneath the rather shiny veneer, there is a warm woman who shows herself when she feels secure. In films she usually played the strong, pushy type, like Crawford. She hardly ever played "a lady of breeding" She and Aretha have a special relationship which allows them to put each other "on" without any hurt feelings.

And Linda Evan's character ....

LEATRICE MONSEE - (Pronounced Mon-say) - Leatrice is around the same age, give or take a few years, as Sylvia. She is a far different kind of movie star, one who always played nuns, nurses and saints. Her public figure was always one of "goodness" but beneath the surface, she was just as strong as Sylvia. A Loretta Young or Joan Fontaine type with a reputation for sweetness but underneath lurked what came to be known as "an iron butterfly"

Daily Picture - Joan and Anthony Newley

I have been asked if I have any photos of Joan with Anthony Newley other than 'young married ones' that keep appearing on the internet.

This lovely one of them both was taken in April 1991 at the launch party for the BBC series of Noel Coward playlets, "Tonight at 8.30".
As fans know Joan was married to Anthony from 1963-1970, a marriage that gave her two children, Sacha Alexander Newley and Tara Newley, and as a family they co-starred in the film "Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness"

I was fortunate to meet Anthony in 1986 when he toured my home town, as previously featured on the blog.
Sadly, Anthony died on 14 April 1999 at the age of 67

Other photos of Joan and Anthony can be found in the galleries section of the website.

On The Newstands TODAY

Joan graces the cover of the Sunday Telegraph supplement, SEVEN today, March 4th.

Inside is a 3 page article, "I'm not used to watching what I say".

Dynasty Cartoon

Today I am featuring another of the cartoon's that appeared in English newspapers.

This one of Alexis and Krystle in the lilypond dates from 1986 following the tv show, "Christmas With The Carringtons" when Terry Wogan met the cast of Dynasty except Joan, who did not appear in the show.

There are more of these cartoons in the galleries section of the website

Daily Picture - Black Bess Hold-up

This picture of Joan is from the 1976 film "The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones", with Joan playing the role of Highway Woman Black Bess.

The film also starred Nicky Henson, Trevor Howard, Terry-Thomas, Arthur Lowe, and Georgia Brown

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