Vox Pop

TALK ABOUT POP MUSIC: Lindsay Bloom (above left) and Michelle DellaFave (above right) are stirring quite a buzz for their upcoming meta-Dingalings CD by letting their fans vote on their choice of album cover, and even giving them a chance to devise a title for group Blue Eyed Soul’s first full-length disc release.

As has been noted on the pages of the Super Site, those sweetheart sirens of soulful splendor, Michelle DellaFave and Lindsay Bloom — who first met up in the early ’70s as members of The Dingaling Sisters on The Dean Martin Show — have been in the recording studio in recent weeks, cutting what is not only their first album together, but indeed, the first ever made by descendants of the Dings Dynasty. The nine tracks that they’ve been laying down will be the featured set on the forthcoming debut CD of their much-in-demand new act, Blue Eyed Soul.

But trying to assemble artwork for that album has presented the group’s Manager, Wes Guidry, with a perplexing dilemma — in fact, precisely the kind that any music exec would wish for — namely that given so many great shots of these picture-perfect gals to work with, and therefore, such a rich palette of options from which to select themes and backgrounds to showcase them, Wes is faced with an embarrassment of riches in attempting to decide which photo to pick for the cover.

So Michelle and Lindsay thought that this would be an ideal opportunity to let all of their friends and fans get involved in the creative process. And they’ve come up with two different ways to do it:

First, everyone reading this post is invited to register his or her preference for one of two album covers that Wes has designed. One sports a bright and bouncy look, the other a more nocturnal, sophisticated sensibility. You can view mock-ups of both, and vote for either one (completely anonymously), by clicking on the following link to the BES website:

THE POLLS HAVE NOW CLOSED. CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE BES SITE, THEN SCROLL DOWN THE HOME PAGE, TO REVEAL THE WINNER.

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THEIR FRIENDS: The quandary for Blue Eyed Soul Manager Wes Guidry (above center) is selecting the crème de la crème from all of the available images for Michelle and Lindsay’s album cover. So the ladies are throwing it open to the public, for their fans to decide.

A second way in which those who’d like to participate in this effort can do so is to suggest a TITLE for the premiere Blue Eyed Soul album. For this one, entries are being accepted only through the GoldsAndDings Group message board, and in order to take part in that forum, membership in the group is a prerequisite. However, for those who don’t already belong but would like to, it’s easy to join, it’s free, and there are no strings attached. Just visit GoldsAndDings to enroll.

Should some clever individual actually conjure up an album title that Michelle and Lindsay choose to use, that person will win a free copy of Blue Eyed Soul’s CD before it’s even released, plus an accompanying 8 x 10 photo, with both items personally autographed by the gals.

Michelle and Lindsay are both very excited about having their friends and supporters play an integral part in putting the finishing touches on their upcoming CD, and they extend a warm welcome to everyone — including their Golddiggers and Dingaling Sisters peers — to join the fun.

COMFY AND COZY, SIDE BY SIDE: Michelle and Lindsay are making history as the first of Dean Martin’s Dingaling Sisters ever to record an album together. And collaborating once again, even after all of these years, feels to both of them as though they’ve picked up right where they left off, without missing a beat.

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Answering The Call

MONUMENTS TO DEDICATION: Two towering All-American figures, Lindsay Bloom (left) and Michelle DellaFave (right), stand shoulder-to-shoulder (well, almost) with a third — the Washington Monument — with only D.C.’s famous Reflecting Pool separating the world’s tallest stone structure (seen in the background) from the two show business legends commanding center stage above.

Its origins in the United States date back to the end of the Civil War, when it was first known as Decoration Day; and its purpose was to serve as a day of remembrance for those who died in service to their country.

In 1971, an Act of Congress assigned what we now know as Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, effectively transforming it into the final leg of a three-day weekend, and thus classifying it, for most Americans, as a time of leisure and the unofficial start of the summer season.

But there are many for whom the occasion has never lost its original significance, and if anything, recent years have witnessed a renewed sense of appreciation, and an upsurge in expressions of reverence, for the sacrifices made by our armed forces — particularly as military personnel continue to give their lives in ongoing conflicts.

The Golddiggers and The Dingaling Sisters, of course, have long and strong historical ties to America’s men and women in uniform, dating back to the late 1960s and early ’70s, when Bob Hope enlisted the all-girl singer-dancers to perform before throngs of eternally grateful G.I.s. in his USO-sponsored overseas tours.

Hope always described those shows as bringing a familiar touch of home to those serving abroad, and the ladies on loan from The Dean Martin Show were every bit the welcome and popular attractions with soldiers on foreign soil that they were in living rooms on the domestic front.

That legacy, which had its beginnings exactly four decades ago this year, was both honored and upheld this past Memorial Day weekend by two Dingaling Sisters emeriti — Michelle DellaFave (she also once of The Golddiggers) and Lindsay Bloom (she also once having played gal Friday to Stacy Keach’s Mike Hammer). Defying the passage of time and still as glamorous as ever, these belissima blondes, as faithful visitors to this website and fans of the pair know, have been professionally reborn within the last year as hot (or cool, depending on your perspective) new duo Blue Eyed Soul.

HONOR GUARD: That’s not his official role here, mind you, but obviously it would be anyone’s honor to guard these two. And likewise, they, no doubt, feel honored to be in the company of those who have guarded, protected and defended the liberty of our country.

In a series of events in Washington, D.C., scheduled by Blue Eyed Soul’s Manager, Wes Guidry (who also happens to be an exec with the Vietnam Veterans of America), Michelle and Lindsay spent last Friday through Monday meeting and chatting with Vets at the site of the Vietnam Wall Memorial; attending a motorcycle rally staged by a group called Rolling Thunder (whose aim is to publicize POW-MIA issues); and performing for patients and staff at the VA Medical Center.

During each of their stops along the way, the two autographed pictures, gave away copies of their new, soon-to-be-released CD, and devoted time to mingling with Vets and other well-wishers.

FROM THE REAL CHINA BEACH: Michelle stands beside an Army nurse who served in Vietnam.

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BORN TO BE WILD: (or at least endlessly photogenic), our two would-be chopper chicks pose before a bevy of bikes taking part in the motorcycle parade organized by Rolling Thunder, a Veterans’ group focusing on POW and MIA concerns.

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JOY AND COMFORT: Michelle and Lindsay’s warmth, enthusiasm, optimism and compassion bring palpable cheer to two Vets (above and below) with traumatic brain injuries.

On her final day in D.C., Michelle, who was part of the entourage that toured with Bob Hope in 1969 and again in 1970, was accorded the honor of laying a wreath at the Wall, on behalf of a helicopter crew with whom she had flown 37 years ago, and a Marine vet with whom she was reunited during this outing.

PHOTO FINISH: The picture-within-a-picture that you see above is a photograph of the 1970 Golddiggers that Marine Veteran Larry Zok has treasured as a keepsake for the last 37 years. It’s a souvenir from his tour in Vietnam, when he helped escort several young ladies traveling with Bob Hope’s USO show from their helicopter arriving in Danang. There was one girl in the group who especially caught his eye, but he never knew her name and never got her autograph…until this past Memorial Day, when serendipity reunited him with that mystery girl, and enabled him to finally nab her signature on that picture. Said Larry: “I had to wait almost 40 years to find out MY angel’s name: Michelle DellaFave! Always had a crush on her. Always will.”

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A SOLEMN MOMENT: Michelle salutes America’s fallen heroes after placing a wreath at the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Just as they had done many times in the past, Michelle and Lindsay gave of their own time this Memorial Day to those who’ve given so much to their country. But as their Manager Wes Guidry noted, both ladies acknowledge that for all that they’ve given, they’ve also received so much in return.

THE FEW. THE PROUD. THE VERY, VERY TALL: Michelle is a statuesque 5’9”, and in this shot, is probably wearing at least a low heel — so take a guess how tall those members of the Marine Drill Team standing behind her must be…

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IN THE TRENCHES: Wes Guidry, who was awarded an Army Commendation medal for his service to the nation in Korea during the late ’60s and early ’70s, these days is stationed stateside, where he’s in charge of the two blonde, blue-eyed grunts with whom he’s pictured above. At last word, the Pentagon was still trying to figure out how he managed to land this grueling tour of duty.

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Dozens of additional photos from Michelle and Lindsay’s Memorial Day activities in Washington, along with over 200 other recent and vintage images of The Golddiggers, Dingaling Sisters, Dean’s Girls, Dean Martin himself, and Blue Eyed Soul can be found exclusively at the GoldsAndDings group, where you have to be a member to see them, but membership is free. To apply, simply click on this link.

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Radio Redux

Just Added: Michelle & Lindsay on The Rick Rydell Program (see below)

PEEKABOO!: Those Blue Eyes see you, as you get a good look at their owners — Michelle DellaFave (above) and Lindsay Bloom (below) — bringing soulful sunshine to the Northern climes of Alaska.

As they continued their Mother’s Day Weekend swing through the State nicknamed The Last Frontier, Michelle DellaFave and Lindsay Bloom were back on the air again Friday, this time as guests on not just one, but two of Alaska’s most popular AM radio talk shows — Rick Rydell’s morning program on KENI Newsradio 650 and Eddie Burke’s afternoon chatfest on KBYR SmartRadio 750.

With the ladies of Blue Eyed Soul thus blanketing both the AM and PM drive-time blocks, Anchorage listeners had a chance to get acquainted with the gals and learn about all of the events connected with their tour.

But in this era of the Global Village, there’s no reason for the rest of the world to feel left out. So we’re pleased to be able to present Michelle and Lindsay’s interviews from The Eddie Burke Show and The Rick Rydell Program in their entirety in the two sound clips below, which include the world premiere of samples from Blue Eyed Soul’s brand new debut album, to be released soon.

OPERATING ON THE SAME FREQUENCY: Michelle and Lindsay (above l. & r.) were very much in tune with both one another and their fans, as they spoke with Anchorage radio host Eddie Burke and gave listeners the first taste of cuts from their new album — the first one that they’ve recorded together. Hear the full segment below.

Just click the Forward Arrow button below to listen to Michelle and Lindsay on The Eddie Burke Show:

Michelle and Lindsay on The Rick Rydell Program:

SITTING PRETTY: Motorcycle Moms Lindsay and Michelle seem to rev up folks’ engines wherever they go, so it came as no surprise when they set hearts racing yet again upon their visit with some chopper-riding Vets in Alaska, on the eve of their performance at the Gold Star Mothers Banquet in Anchorage.

Additional photos from the Alaska trip, along with more than 200 others that you won’t find anywhere else, are on display at our sister site, the GoldsAndDings Group. You must be a member of the group to enjoy its benefits, but membership is free, so if you’d like to apply to join, click here.

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Northern Exposure

SOUL TO GO: Don’t look now, but the next time you’re traveling, that beautiful blonde you pass in the airport terminal may well be MICHELLE DELLAFAVE or LINDSAY BLOOM. The onetime Dingaling Sisters of Dean Martin Show fame, now working together again under the rubric of their new act, Blue Eyed Soul, are moving virtually non-stop these days, performing in concert, making personal and media appearances, recording albums — and, of course, like any dedicated entertainers — staying in touch with their fans.

It’s onward and upward for Blue Eyed Soul — indeed, WAY up, as they prepare to head for a weekend of engagements in America’s 49th state.

On Friday, May 9th, the pair arrives in Anchorage, where they’ll tour V.A. hospitals and perform for wounded soldiers and other military personnel. Then on Saturday, May 10 — the day before Mother’s Day — they’ll headline a banquet honoring Gold Star Mothers (those who’ve lost sons or daughters to war).

Later this month, they’ll be be taking part in Memorial Day ceremonies in Washington, DC, and have a packed schedule of events lined up in connection with the Vietnam Veterans of America Leadership Conference, slated for mid-July. Those who’d like to review their full itinerary can do so by visiting their website at http://www.MichelleAndLindsay.com.

But it isn’t just our country’s Armed Forces who’ll benefit from Blue Eyed Soul’s upsurge in activity. Even before they begin accruing all of those airline bonus miles, Michelle and Lindsay are busy in the recording studio, cutting their first full-length album together, which will initially be handed out during their journey to Alaska, but which will also soon be readied for sale to all of their fans.

And since gals this good-looking should definitely be seen as well as heard, those who pine to be able to view the dynamic duo in action will be excited to learn that cameras will be rolling during both their recording sessions and their concerts, as well as for interviews and capturing other documentary-style footage. Portions of the video will be made available online to promote their CD and personal appearances, and longer segments may eventually be incorporated into a DVD that fans will be able to purchase.

Not only are their loyal supporters thrilled to witness Michelle and Lindsay’s reemergence, and gratified by their continuing devotion to the Vets, but corporate America is beginning to take notice, as well. This past week, Blue Eyed Soul’s manager, Wes Guidry, announced that he had secured the group’s first major outside sponsor, and it’s a biggie — the nation’s number one premium television service, Home Box Office.

But then, if you stop to think about it, it’s really only fitting for a first-class twin-engine jet taking off and starting to soar to have a first-class booster under its wings to help propel the flight along its noble path.

IT’S NOT TV: It’s HBO — a company with vision that apparently sees eye-to-eye with the vision of Blue Eyed Soul — namely, to give back to those who’ve given so much to their country. The pay TV giant this week signed on as Michelle and Lindsay’s first major corporate sponsor, just in time for the duo’s road trip to Alaska.

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Casting A Wide Net

BELLE AIR: Beautiful music stations may be a vanishing breed on the radio dial these days, but Dean Martin Show Dingaling Sisters Lindsay Bloom (above left) and Michelle DellaFave (above right) more than filled the void both vocally and visually when they made their broadcast media debut as BLUE EYED SOUL this past Saturday on WBZ Boston radio’s The Jordan Rich Show. The gals chatted about Dean, their days with The Dings, their current and future CDs, and their upcoming concert dates.

For years, radio stations in the United States broadcasting with 50,000 watts of power could be heard at night in areas way beyond the locale to which their call letters were assigned — often with a radius that covered a good portion of the country. Consequently, many of the nighttime personalities who took to the airwaves of these “clear-channel” super-outlets became nationally known in an era that preceded the emergence of famous latter-day talk institutions such as Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh.

Today, radio has become one more branch of the “older media” that the Internet has revolutionized. With most stations now making feeds of their entire broadcast schedules available on their websites, a local station’s audience has been enlarged exponentially, to encompass any location in the world where unfettered access to the Internet can be found.

So when two world-class alumnae of The Dean Martin Show — Michelle DellaFave and Lindsay Bloom — were guests recently on WBZ Boston radio’s popular Jordan Rich Show, not only their fans in the U.S., but also those around the globe, could tune in to their appearance.

Even with that international reach, the idea for the interview itself actually originated much closer to home: It was Boston resident Barry Deslauriers, a longtime devotee of both The Golddiggers and The Dingaling Sisters, who approached WBZ and helped bring the station and the ladies together.

For those who didn’t catch the April 13 broadcast when it aired live, but wish they had, visitors to this spot are not only in luck, but in for a treat, because we at the Super Site are providing an exclusive replay of the two Blue Eyed Soulster’s segments — and in stereo to boot.

You’ll hear them chat about working with Dean and other big-name celebs, about other facets of their lives and careers, about their album releases, and about their upcoming concert engagements (you can also learn more about the latter, including the dates for their next live performance in May, by going here).

Presiding over the conversation, Jordan Rich proves not only to be a gracious host, but also a generous one, even playing several excerpts from Michelle’s debut and Gospel CDs, which can be heard on the recording presented herewith.

As for the ladies themselves, both come across as articulate, warm, personable, and quick-thinking — not so easy to achieve when the interview is conducted via a remote hookup (as opposed to being done in-studio, face-to-face with the questioner), and at an hour past the time when these gals would normally retire for the night (after all, they don’t stay beautiful by missing their beauty sleep).

But the pair pulled off the gig like the pros that they are. Just as when the spotlight hits the stage, or the cameras start rolling, when the mikes go on, Michelle and Lindsay stand ready to deliver.

And so does the following transcription of their appearance, but please be patient — it may take up to a minute to load. Once it does, though, it will play straight through.

Just click the Forward Arrow button below to begin:

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Records ‘Round and ‘Round The World

Cool In Any Language

Because The Dean Martin Show was telecast not just in the United States but also in many other countries around the globe, both The Golddiggers and The Dingaling Sisters over time developed a following not just in America, but among international audiences, as well.

That legacy evidently continues to resound in the present day, as we discovered recently while trawling the World Wide Web.

One of the clearest signs of this ongoing transnational awareness of the Golds and Dings is the growing availability of, and demand for, Michelle DellaFave’s Cool Burn album. At first offered exclusively through the site CDBaby.com, the individual tracks from that album soon started to appear on music download platforms such as Napster, Buy.com, Bitmunk, MXP, MusicIsHere, and by far the biggest of them all, itunes.

BURNING UP THE CHARTS HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE: Michelle DellaFave’s Cool Burn album (above) has proven a winner on CD and on download services like itunes.

Then this past fall, Cool Burn received a huge vote of confidence from music merchants when it was picked up by the second largest vendor of CDs on the Internet, CD Universe.

What adds a fascinating note of foreign intrigue to the picture is the news that the album is now also being carried for sale by the German version of the Internet’s top seller of music discs, Amazon. Could placement on other Amazon sites, including the one here in the good old U.S. of A., be very far behind?

In the meantime, with sales of Cool Burn starting to cross the ocean, it seems that there are fans of Michelle, proliferating on both sides of the Atlantic, who might be inclined to paraphrase President Kennedy and say “I take pride in the words: Ich bin ein DellaFaver!“

Giving New Meaning To The Term “Gold Record”

In yet another corner of the world, the distant echoes of voices from vintage Golddiggers recordings continue to reverberate. Case in point: On one of the largest websites devoted to the sales of collectible vinyl and CDs, we came across what surely must be regarded as both a rarity and a curiosity: A white label promo copy of the very first Golddiggers album that was issued only in Japan.

TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES — PHYSICAL, CULTURAL AND TEMPORAL: It’s unclear whether Japanese audiences were familiar with The Golddiggers when promotional copies of their LP (depicted above) came ashore in 1969, but obviously at least one recipient valued the album sufficiently to hold onto a copy long enough to now be offering it for sale as a rare collector’s item.

(below): The back, followed by the front, of the U.S. album covers for The Golddiggers’ inaugural LP.

Examining the front cover of the Japanese release (the first of the three images shown above), and comparing it with both the front and back of its U.S. counterpart (shown next), observers will note both similarities and differences. Among the most obvious in both categories is that the photo used for the front cover of the Japanese pressing is the same one adorning the back of the U.S. edition (and while we don’t have a shot of what’s on the back of the Japanese jacket, who knows — maybe it completes the reversal and it’s the same circular photo seen on the front cover of the American album).

Notice also that the Japan-only album displays the same typography on the Golddiggers logo as seen on the U.S. version, except with a multi-hued rainbow fill.

Now, we know that The Dean Martin Show was broadcast in England, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy and in many other parts of the world, but whether or not it ever made it to Japan is a question that we simply can’t answer. However, even if Dean’s series never aired in the Land of The Rising Sun, it’s possible that The Golddiggers still had some exposure to Japanese viewers, because the Bob Hope Christmas Specials, on which the girls appeared from 1968 to 1971, were beamed to virtually every continent, and Japan might well have been one of the countries in which those programs were telecast.

Whatever the case, the very existence of this promo copy of The Golddiggers’ debut album tells us that — whether or not the group was already familiar to Japan’s audiences via the tube — some type of marketing effort was apparently made to acquaint Japanese listeners with The Golds’ music.

For anyone who’d like to see the actual listing of the album on the GEMM website where it’s being sold, here’s a link to it:

Golddiggers White Label Japan-Only Promo LP

Those who venture over to the page referenced above will discover that the release date listed for the album is 12/31/68 — seemingly implausible, given the fact that it wasn’t issued in the U.S. until 7/69, and also that some of the members of The Golddiggers shown on the cover and who actually sang on the album didn’t even join the group until 1969.

But there’s no mistake about another set of numbers in the description — the ones following the dollar sign. And no, if you did a double take when you saw them, your eyes weren’t deceiving you. It’s true: The price tag on this unusual item is a mere $172.50 (plus the proverbial shipping & handling).

To be sure, that’s pretty steep — especially considering that the included 33 1/3 RPM record is the same one contained in the U.S. release, and that even the album artwork is basically just a rearrangement of what’s found on the cover of the American version.

But then again, perhaps no asking price for such a rare artifact would be regarded as too exorbitant for that Golddiggers aficionado with the sufficient, ahem, yen to own it (sorry, we couldn’t resist).

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Blue Skies Ahead For Soulful Eyeful

Movement on the release of full, uncut episodes of The Dean Martin Show may be stalled for now, but that’s hardly holding back two vivacious performers from that series, on the brink of blazing exciting new trails in their careers.

News of their nascent venture first surfaced on the Super Site…Then they wowed ‘em in Washington…And now, even bigger opportunities beckon for Blue Eyed Soul.

The reunion of Michelle DellaFave — one of the most recognized members of The Golddiggers and one of the four original members of spin-off group The Dingaling Sisters — with Lindsay Bloom — the last performer hired for The Dings and who, with Michelle, was there for the foursome’s final curtain call — caused such a sensation when their newly-formed duo Blue Eyed Soul made its debut at the 25th Anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall that demand immediately began for them to take their act on the road.

And that’s just what they’ll be doing, thanks to Wes Guidry, who organized the November Wall concert in DC, and has now taken the reins as Blue Eyed Soul’s manager.

A ROSY RED FUTURE FOR TRUE BLUE SOUL MATES: Michelle DellaFave (left) and Lindsay Bloom (right) flank new Blue Eyed Soul manager Wes Guidry, just after BES’s riveting performance at the Vietnam Veterans Wall concert this past November.

And what surer sign could there be in today’s world that BES has hit the big time than the fact that they now have their own website. There, fans can view photos, read background information about Michelle and Lindsay, and discover where they’ll be touring — and event organizers and venue operators can inquire about booking them for performances.

To eye this soulful new site for yourself, follow this path to the blue horizon:

http://www.MichelleAndLindsay.com

Comments are always welcomed. To leave one, please visit the Comments section and look for the button a few paragraphs down from the top of the page.

BREAKING NEWS — NBC U, Guthy-Renker, Garrison Settle

***EXCLUSIVE***

The party’s over — before it had really even begun.

The lawsuit that millions of Dean Martin fans the world over had hoped would at last bring about their long-cherished desire to see complete episodes of The Dean Martin Show made available once again, has been dismissed with the consent of all of the parties to the case.

The Golddiggers Super Site, which broke the news of the suit last September, is the first to report that an out-of-court settlement has been reached between plaintiff NBC Universal, Inc. and defendants Guthy-Renker Corp., Greg Garrison Productions, Inc., Ronald L Blanc, Black Horse Television Enterprises, LLC, and Barrump-Bump Publishing Co.

As a result of the parties to the suit having — according to the settlement order —”resolved this matter to their mutual satisfaction”, the case was officially dismissed with prejudice on January 2, 2008 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (Los Angeles), where the suit had been in the Discovery phase.

The “with prejudice” portion of the order means that all of the parties involved in the case are hereafter barred from bringing any further actions against one another on the same claim. In other words, the outcome is final — there will be no appeals or further legal initiatives over the issues raised by this lawsuit.

PEACE, BUT AT WHAT PRICE?: (above and below) The actual settlement order putting an end to NBC Universal’s legal claims against Greg Garrison Productions, Guthy-Renker et al over the rights to the use of selected footage from The Dean Martin Show. Now comes the crucial question: Have the parties to this accord just signed the death warrant to any fresh release of this prized series, or instead (hopefully) just given it a new lease on life?

Additional claims made by Greg Garrison Productions against Howard West and Shapiro-West Productions were also dismissed. We don’t know the exact nature of Shapiro-West’s involvement in the suit, but we do know that the firm is a talent agency and program packager that, among other credits, represents Jerry Seinfeld and is listed as one of the producers of Seinfeld’s enormously successful NBC TV series.

Following the January 2nd dismissal notice, Guthy-Renker wasted no time in putting its 29-volume Best of The Dean Martin Variety Show collection back on the market. The website selling the series is once again taking orders for the product, and infomercials hawking the set, which were pulled off the air in the wake of the lawsuit, have reportedly been spotted running on television once again.

Meanwhile, the two separate lawsuits covered on these pages — one filed September 17, 2007 by Van Alexander, Lee Hale, Geoffrey Clarkson, and James Hill against Guthy-Renker, Greg Garrison Productions et al, and another brought April 25, 2007 by the American Federation of Musicians against Greg Garrison Productions — will proceed.

As is par for the course in out-of-court settlements like the one stemming from NBC U’s suit against Guthy-Renker, Garrison Productions et al, terms of the resolution of the dispute between the various litigants were not disclosed.

Naturally, we are thereby left to wonder, among other things:

• Did the settlement henceforth grant to Guthy-Renker and Greg Garrison Productions the exclusive right to use material from The Dean Martin Show?

• NBC U reportedly launched the suit because it had plans of its own to repackage the material. Does the settlement effectively mean that the media giant has abandoned any such plans to use the material in the future, including repurposing it for home video distribution and/or telecasts on either broadcast or cable television?

• Does the settlement in any way allow Guthy-Renker and Greg Garrison Productions to go forward with the production of additional anthologies of segments excerpted from The Dean Martin Show, or even the packaging and sale of complete episodes from that series?

These, we believe, would be among the questions that most readily come to mind for Dean Martin fans as a result of the settlement.

And so we’d like to cordially invite any of the parties that have been involved in this case to help shed some light on these matters by providing any information that they possibly can for the millions of dedicated fans of Dean Martin and The Dean Martin Show who have been waiting anxiously for months, if not years, to learn about future plans, if any, for this beloved television classic.

We would also encourage reporters for the entertainment trade and consumer media, once they have picked up this story from our lead — and even all fans of Dean Martin, The Golddiggers and The Dingaling Sisters — to pose these questions to the entities that could provide some answers.

Needless to say, with respect to any news that we learn on this front, you’ll hear it here first.

Comments are always welcomed. To leave one, please visit the Comments section and look for the button a few paragraphs down from the top of the page.

Winter Wonderland

THE 1969 GOLDDIGGERS WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS: (left to right) Bottom row: Barbara Sanders, Nancy Bonetti, Patricia Mickey, Susan McIver Lund; Second row: Rosetta Cox, Suzy Cadham, Peggy Hansen, Sheila Mann, Jackie Chidsey; Top row: Lezlie Dalton, Debi McFarland, Paula Cinko, Michelle DellaFave.

With the holidays upon us, we want to take this opportunity to welcome everyone to the first Golddiggers Super Site Christmas Special.

Like those warm and fuzzy Christmas variety specials of yore, we’ve tried to include a little something for everyone: The latest developments in the legal fight over The Dean Martin Show…A special gift from one of the most gifted, and popular, Golddiggers and Dingaling Sisters of all time…And a star-studded finale that contains a heartfelt wish for all men and women of good will.

See You In Court (EXCLUSIVE)

On the legal front, a trial date has now been set in the first of the three pending lawsuits filed over use of the material contained in The Best of The Dean Martin Variety Show collection, sales of which were halted this past summer.

The case brought on April 25, 2007 by the American Federation of Musicians against Greg Garrison Productions Inc. is scheduled to go to trial on July 8, 2008 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (Los Angeles). The judge in the case, Valerie Baker Fairbank, estimates that the proceedings will last 5 days (good thing Judge Ito isn’t presiding). Of course, that’s just the trial itself, not taking into account the appeals that will likely follow, nor the progress and outcomes of the other two cases involving issues relating to the Dean Martin Variety volumes.

WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS: But judging by the court calendar for the coming year, it appears that there won’t be any Dean Martin or Golddiggers shows under the tree anytime soon. Instead, we find a lump of coal in our Christmas stockings: As averred by the official judicial document shown above, the first of three pending suits over the Dean Martin Variety series will go to trial next July.

Two of the defendants in those other cases are actively seeking dismissal of one or more of the claims made against them.

In the suit brought by NBC Universal against Garrison Productions, Guthy-Renker, et al, one of the codefendants, Ronald L. Blanc, Trustee on behalf of the Greg Garrison Revocable Trust and Black Horse Television Enterprises (one of Garrison’s companies), has asked the court to throw out three of NBC U’s claims on the grounds that the plaintiff has brought suit for those claims under California STATE statutes, when in fact, the scope of the claims falls under U.S. Copyright Law, which is governed solely by FEDERAL statutes.

Attorneys for defendant Blanc also argue that there is a defect in the claims that NBC U has made under the Lanham Act, because that act pertains to protection of trademarks, and NBC U has not, in fact, alleged that it actually owns any trademarks in the case being contested.

Meanwhile, in the most recent of the three lawsuits to be filed — Van Alexander, Lee Hale, Geoff Clarkson and James Hill vs. Garrison Productions, Guthy-Renker, et al — Guthy-Renker is seeking dismissal of the plaintiffs’ claim of breach of contract, maintaining that because it (Guthy-Renker) had an agreement with Garrison but never entered into one with any of the plaintiffs, it could not have breached an agreement that it never made in the first place.

Given this kind of tortuous legal wrangling, it seems safe to speculate that it will be some time before trials for the latter two cases get under way.

But enough of all of the legal mumbo-jumbo for the time being. While we’re sorry that we can’t announce any Miracle on the Super Site this Christmas with respect to a breakthrough in the ongoing battle royale over Dean’s series, we’re certainly not about to let these litigious Grinches and their failure to come up with a sanity clause prevent us from bringing a little Santa Claus to our visitors (thank you, Groucho, Chico, and Dr. Seuss).

So without further adieu, let’s move on to the star attraction of our show:

Red Rose From A True Lady (EXCLUSIVE)

Many of you may recall first encountering during your school days the famous verse by the Scots poet Robert Burns that begins with “O my luve’s like a red, red rose, That’s newly sprung in June.”

Well, it was right here in the middle of December that one of the most beloved members of The Golddiggers and Dingaling Sisters (and more recently, of Blue Eyed Soul), the ever-radiant (not to mention, industrious) Michelle DellaFave, was able to spring from her archives a precious flower from which the bloom will never fade — her vintage recording of the jingle for Red Rose Tea.

In fact, she even has the full commercial — video, as well as audio — that she did for Red Rose a few years after The Dean Martin Show concluded its run, and it’s our hope to be able to show it sometime in the near future. Because it’s on film, though, it first has to be transferred. But the musical portion needn’t wait, and so, as her Christmas gift to all of us, Michelle has kindly provided us with both the soundtrack to the spot and a photo of her taken on the set where the commercial was shot.

One fascinating aspect of this find for everyone used to seeing Michelle with blonde tresses is to behold her as a brunette. The other great draw, of course, is that voice — even in the context of an advertisement, it’s extraordinary, as always. The enunciation: flawless; the tone: rich and melodious. It all adds up to exactly what a good commercial jingle should be — entertaining, and evoking a mood conducive to the product, all the while subtly impressing the product name in the listener’s consciousness.

THE LADY IN RED: Blonde or brunette, the fellas are crazy for this lady in red (and as it happens, the gals all love her, too). So don’t be surprised if, after folks see and hear Michelle’s plea for Red Rose Tea, there’s a sudden run on the product in stores across the country.

Click the Play button below to hear Michelle sing the Red Rose Tea jingle:

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REGALLY BLONDE: (above) Michelle, sporting her more
familiar lighter locks.

The Red Rose Tea company was founded in Canada all the way back in 1894, and its ownership has changed hands a couple of times since then. Over the years, the product has no doubt been represented by a variety of spokespersons, and Michelle DellaFave may have been one of many to do so. But make no mistake about it: The Red Rose song performed by any other name could never look or sound as sweet.

Have Yourselves A Merry Little Christmas (NON-EXCLUSIVE!)

Yes, here’s a thought that should INclude just about everyone.

DRESSED IN HOLIDAY STYLE: The 1972-73 Golddiggers return to Dean’s program to lock arms with their genial host: (l. to r.) Francie Mendenhall, Jackie Chidsey, Susie McIver, Loyita Chapel, Karen Cavenaugh, Liz Kelley, Rebecca Jones, Jimmi Cannon.

On behalf of The Golddiggers Super Site and all of the members of the GoldsAndDings Group:

Merry Christmas

o

1967’s CHRISTMAS WITH THE MARTINS AND THE SINATRAS: Dean and daughter Gail Martin; Frank and daughter Nancy Sinatra.

and

A Happy, Healthy New Year

AULD LANG SYNE: Guy Lombardo’s Royal Canadians never looked like this, but who better to fill the bandstand on the 1970 New Year’s Eve edition of The Dean Martin Show than The Golddiggers: (l. to r.) Front Row: Susie McIver, Wanda Bailey, Michelle DellaFave, Pauline Antony; Back Row: Pat Mickey, Rosie Cox, Janice Whitby, Jackie Chidsey, Francie Mendenhall, Tara Leigh.

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Trust Thrust Combusts — Kicking Up Dust, Distrust and Disgust

***EXCLUSIVE***

In the weeks since we broke the news about lawsuits filed by NBC Universal, Lee Hale and others against Greg Garrison Productions, Guthy-Renker, et al over material from The Dean Martin Show, one of the most intriguing unanswered questions has been whether or not the only major player in this saga that had yet to be heard from —The Dean Martin Family Trust — would enter the fray.

And while there has still been no definitive word from that quarter, we can now report why it may be that the Trust has not become involved in the current dispute — and indeed, might never. We can also confirm that if the Trust WERE to become involved, it would not be the first time that it had faced off against Garrison Productions in a court of law.

Working on leads supplied to us by well-placed sources, The Golddiggers Super Site has learned that the harmony assumed to exist between Greg Garrison and Dean Martin’s heirs had actually been shattered by the dissonant chord of legal action as early as three years ago, while Greg Garrison was still alive.

Upon investigation, we discovered that dating back to 2004 and perhaps even earlier, The Dean Martin Family Trust had sought to obtain 50% of the proceeds from sales of The Best of The Dean Martin Variety Show, the compilation series packaged by Greg Garrison and sold by Guthy-Renker from 2002 until this past August, when the product was withdrawn from the market after NBC U filed suit. All 29 volumes in that collection bore a copyright notice solely in the name of Greg Garrison Productions.

The Trust’s pursuit of a share of profits from sales of those DVDs and tapes is revealed in documents that we’ve obtained from a lawsuit brought on May 26, 2004 in California Superior Court for the County of Los Angeles by Greg Garrison and Greg Garrison Productions against Laura Lizer, trustee of The Dean Martin Family Trust. Garrison initiated the suit in order to seek declaratory relief from the Trust’s ongoing demands for payment.

The Trust, in turn, filed a Cross-Complaint against Garrison and his production company, and a trial date was set for May 17, 2005. But that trial would never be held.

On November 19, 2004, attorneys for both sides filed a Request for Dismissal with Prejudice of the entire action, including the Cross-Complaint. It was then affirmed and finalized by the court on December 1, 2004.

THE PAPER CHASE: (above) The actual first page in the Notice of Dismissal consented to by both Greg Garrison and The Dean Martin Trust in a 2004 suit and counter-suit filed in a California State Court.

What, if any, settlement or arrangement the two sides might have reached out of court — including any possible monetary agreement — we do not know, and may never know. If some type of accord was reached, that might very well explain why the Trust has thus far remained out of the current legal battle, and why it might possibly never join it.

What we do know from the upshot of the 2004 court case is that the Dismissal with Prejudice ensured that both parties were thereafter barred from bringing any further actions against one another on the same claim — at least in that particular court.

But bear in mind that the case delineated above was filed in California Superior Court — a State court — and was a tort pertaining to a monetary dispute.

In contrast, the two cases filed this fall by NBC Universal and Lee Hale, et al have been brought before the U.S. District Court for Los Angeles Country — a Federal court — and filed over the issue of Copyright Infringement. And that’s no accident — the reason that these current cases fall under Federal, rather than State, jurisdiction, is because the issue of Copyright Infringement is a Federal question, pertaining to U.S. Copyright Laws enacted by Congress. (Note: There are also claims under California State law in NBC U’s suit, which attorneys for Garrison Productions are seeking to have thrown out.)

So while we would certainly invite the legal scholars who might be reading this little treatise to weigh in with their thoughts, it seems to us that nothing about the “Dismissed with Prejudice” outcome of the earlier legal skirmish between The Dean Martin Family Trust and Greg Garrison Productions would preclude the Trust from still entering the current and ongoing litigation over Copyright Infringement — unless, of course, the two sides DID sign a truce of sorts back in 2004.

Not that we want to see this fight grow any more complicated or messy than it already is. We just thought that to provide some idea of where this imbroglio might be headed, it was valuable to shed light on one nearby venue where it had already been.

We still hold out the hope that Somewhere There’s A Someone who can put a quick end to all of this…Someone who possesses the desire that Dean had to make everyone happy…Someone who understands that based on the actual history of copyright registration, as we outlined in our earlier piece Whose Show Is It Anyway, no one party has an incontrovertible claim to all of this material, and endeavoring to prove otherwise might very possibly just waste the time, energy and money of the individuals involved, not to mention, further try the patience of an already weary legion of fans.

The Dean Martin Show was unlike any other television series that came before or after it, because its production team and cast were unrivaled, and its host, inimitable. So why not follow that example and make the resolution of the issues at stake in these cases the model for all other rights-embattled TV shows to emulate?

Bring the matter to arbitration. Find an impartial third party or parties who could serve as an honest intermediary(ies). Get together in a circle, hold hands and sing “Kumbaya”.

In short, try ANYTHING that might break this logjam, end the stalemate, and allow us to see these shows again. And who knows — if the material could be marketed again, it might actually make some money for those who have a legitimate claim to it. The only ones benefiting from the current stasis are, of course…you guessed it: The Lawyers! And we all know what one of Shakespeare’s characters in Henry VI advised doing about them.

Instead, we’d prefer to close on a more pacific note, with what Dean himself once said in 1970 at the end of one of those soothing “Welcome To My World” medleys with The Golddiggers — albeit in a different context (the war raging in Vietnam), but in the same spirit:

“Let’s all work for peace…not fight for it.”

Amen.

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE: Isn’t that what Dean would have wanted?

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