Angie Dickinson...interviewed live @ Castro Theatre tonight!

"Pepper" (that sexy dame who once inhabited television-land's golden nostalgic past) - aka sultry Angie Dickinson - is slated to appear on stage live! tonight at the Castro Theatre in picturesque San Francisco.

The legendary actress - who I met once on the set of the Television Mini-Series "Hollywood Lives" (she gushed that I wasn't exactly chopped liver when I uttered up a flattering comment her way) - is so humble and down-to-earth that she once refused to be profiled on the delightful - "This is Your Life" - in spite of having been tracked down by a posse of persistent staffers on the sound stages at the first reality-style TV show (?) for days.

For some inexplicable reason, Ms. Dickinson elected to throw caution to the wind on this occasion, and bask in the glow of a tribute in her honor in the city by the Bay (where folks often leave their hearts and a wad of cash).

The once-ravishing beauty will be interviewed onstage by Eddie Muller between screenings of "The Killers" and "Point Blank!"

If you pop by the Art Deco movie house tonight, then check out the theatre's calendar; after all, this weekend there is a special festival of "Noir City" film screenings underway worth every penny you pay at the Box Office out-front for.

See 'ya there!

David Letterman...how to avoid looking short if a guest!

If you're a fan of the "Late Show" with David Letterman - who tunes in faithfully every night just shy of the witching hour - it probably hasn't escaped your attention that guests often appear short when they first saunter onto the stage to greet the talk show host brimming from ear-to-ear.

For the most part, a majority of celebrities caught up in the "diminishing act" aren't aware that the merry prankster is to blame.

For example, if you haven't noticed 'til now - whenever a guest's name is announced over the loudspeakers - Dave is prone to leap up and stride to the edge of the raised platform to welcome the hapless individual to the show.

Letterman has calculated the intro so precisely - that when the "two" meet up at approximately center-stage - he's towering above them on the podium at-the-ready to shake their hand.

At this juncture, both trot back to the seated area (a low-key version of any old rec room in suburban USA) where Dave commences with - what will hopefully be - a probing interview.

For those of you intending (hoping?) to grace the stage of Dave's talk fest in the future, I offer up a tip, if only to enhance your image to folks around the country (who often go by the old Hollywood myth that most actors are midgets - well, as short as Tom Cruise - for starters).

To avoid looking "short" at the top of the show, simply scurry across the stage, step up onto the raised podium in the vicinity aforementioned, and beat Mr. Letterman to the magic "spot".

To get a jump on things, practise at home!

In upcoming posts I'll have a few suggestions on how to sidestep intrusive queries, too (and pull a funny in the process worth writing home about).

A good example?

Years ago when the potentially-scandalous news broke that Marilyn Monroe had posed for a nude spread, frenzied media types hounded the rising young star for all the "sordid" details.

At a press conference, one reporter grilled her mercilessly.

"Marilyn, did you have anything on when you were posing for the photographer?"

"The radio," the sex pot giggled, to a roar of approval from all in attendance.

By injecting a little humor into the mix, Ms. Monroe ended up "on top", instead of bottoming out.

Uh-huh.

There was a lot more going on in that pretty little noggin' of hers than we'll ever know!

Later!

Mitt Romney..."Mom Jeans" quote by Julian Ayrs!

At a recent pep rally (do they still call 'em that?) Mitt Romney appeared to be copy-catting (tom-catting, too?) President Barack Obama in subtle calculated ways to muster up votes.


For example, when the going got tough on the podium, Romney casually slipped out of his suit jacket with macho flair (exposing rugged-looking jeans), rolled up the sleeves of his pricey dress shirt, and - once he dug in his heels - proceeded to tackle the issues at hand.

Is Mitt aping Barack's style?


"At least Mitt Romney wasn't wearing 'Mom Jeans'," I howled to my pals in the pundit arena.


You know what they say!


"Don't send in a girlie-girl (as Arnold might snarl) to do a man's job, eh?"

See 'ya at the voting booth!