A video arrives in Whispers' inbox.
It features prominent Aussie socialite Skye Leckie, wife of media mogul David Leckie who has revived the fortunes of several TV networks including the 7 Network for Perth billionaire Kerry Stokes. Skye and David plus kids divide their time between a magnificent mansion in Sydney's Centennial Park and a very nice Southern Highland's farm. Skye performs her rendition of Big Spender. We reckon Skye is a pretty hot dancer. Enjoy....
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Showing posts with label Shirley Bassey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shirley Bassey. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Call Me A Cab
It's been an institution since it opened in 1958.
The Taxi Club in Flinders Street, Darlinghurst is a 24 hour club that originally catered for taxi drivers coming off their shifts, at 3pm and 3 am.
It soon became one of the most popular venues in Sydney and the place to end up after a night out to continue the celebrations. By 4am the joint was jumping and it stayed that way until around 10.30 am when it shut it's doors for one hour so the cleaners could give it the once over.
The great fun about the Taxi Club was the sheer variety of clientele : taxi drivers, off duty coppers, high court judges, bank robbers, drag queens, con men and a huge swathe of the gay and lesbian community long before Oxford Street became the gay haven it is now. In fact eventually the club changed it's constitution to state that it's prime objective was to serve the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex community.
And you could be sure that any visiting celebrity would end up partying at the Taxi- Tom & Nicole watched a drag show as did Morgan Freeman.
Bruce Springsteen played the pokies for 2 hours, Liberace called in for a drink as did Sammy Davis Jr and Shirley Bassey while Winifred Atwell often gave a impromptu performance at 2am.
The Shuttle once spotted Hollywood Legend Van Johnson nursing a drink at the bar.
Around 5am a burly truck driver may discover that a transgender status was no barrier to a night of romance and there were many tales about the noted magistrate who was fond of stilettos and skimpy frocks who often lured heterosexual men to the car park next door in the early hours and never once had anything other than a 'happy ending'.
And if anyone got out of control which was frequent before the club clamped down on drug use, the tales of who was ejected via the narrow staircase to the street below were legendary. Most woke up in hospital with no memory of where they had been the night before.
Sadly with the proliferation of nightclubs around Sydney that are mainly a variation on the last one, the Taxi Club has suffered for the past few years and is no longer financially viable. On April 6th it's doors close forever.
It soon became one of the most popular venues in Sydney and the place to end up after a night out to continue the celebrations. By 4am the joint was jumping and it stayed that way until around 10.30 am when it shut it's doors for one hour so the cleaners could give it the once over.
The great fun about the Taxi Club was the sheer variety of clientele : taxi drivers, off duty coppers, high court judges, bank robbers, drag queens, con men and a huge swathe of the gay and lesbian community long before Oxford Street became the gay haven it is now. In fact eventually the club changed it's constitution to state that it's prime objective was to serve the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex community.And you could be sure that any visiting celebrity would end up partying at the Taxi- Tom & Nicole watched a drag show as did Morgan Freeman.
Bruce Springsteen played the pokies for 2 hours, Liberace called in for a drink as did Sammy Davis Jr and Shirley Bassey while Winifred Atwell often gave a impromptu performance at 2am.
The Shuttle once spotted Hollywood Legend Van Johnson nursing a drink at the bar.
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| lethal stairs |
Around 5am a burly truck driver may discover that a transgender status was no barrier to a night of romance and there were many tales about the noted magistrate who was fond of stilettos and skimpy frocks who often lured heterosexual men to the car park next door in the early hours and never once had anything other than a 'happy ending'.And if anyone got out of control which was frequent before the club clamped down on drug use, the tales of who was ejected via the narrow staircase to the street below were legendary. Most woke up in hospital with no memory of where they had been the night before.
Sadly with the proliferation of nightclubs around Sydney that are mainly a variation on the last one, the Taxi Club has suffered for the past few years and is no longer financially viable. On April 6th it's doors close forever.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Saucy Pics of Deborah Hutton
Womens Weekly has a nude photographic of TV personality Deborah Hutton on it's cover. Deb is looking pretty hot for someone who has just turned 50 (despite the claims the snap may have been airbrushed).
Hutton hasn't stop working since the 1980s when she was the cover girl for the Grace Bros emporiums (now Myer). At that time the speculation was that she was girlfriend of promoter Harry M.Miller. The two were often seen arm in arm at social events.
But it was all a cover. Harry was Deb's manager for many years and steered her career from success to success. Deborah has never married and now shares an apartment with a gal pal Danni Roche. She's also become a property investor and has snapped up two flats that are being built in the old Harold Park site at Glebe.
Sadly Harry M's health has been failing over the past two years since a stroke downed him and he spends more and more time in a Potts Point nursing home where other residents include former PM Gough Whitlam and TV star Jeannie Little.
Miller was the agent for the stars and once dated singer Shirley Bassey. His clients have included Lindey Chamberlain and Gae Waterhouse and in the 60s he brought some of the world's top acts to Australia including the Rolling Stones and Louis Armstrong.
In his 2009 autobiography he revealed how Prince Charles had confided over dinner that he always believed Australia would and should become a republic one day. Two or three times a week Harry lunches with long time partner Siimone Logue at her Potts Point restaurant. Sadly the two rarely make it to red carpet openings these days,
But it was all a cover. Harry was Deb's manager for many years and steered her career from success to success. Deborah has never married and now shares an apartment with a gal pal Danni Roche. She's also become a property investor and has snapped up two flats that are being built in the old Harold Park site at Glebe.
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| Harry & Siimone |
Sadly Harry M's health has been failing over the past two years since a stroke downed him and he spends more and more time in a Potts Point nursing home where other residents include former PM Gough Whitlam and TV star Jeannie Little.
Miller was the agent for the stars and once dated singer Shirley Bassey. His clients have included Lindey Chamberlain and Gae Waterhouse and in the 60s he brought some of the world's top acts to Australia including the Rolling Stones and Louis Armstrong.
In his 2009 autobiography he revealed how Prince Charles had confided over dinner that he always believed Australia would and should become a republic one day. Two or three times a week Harry lunches with long time partner Siimone Logue at her Potts Point restaurant. Sadly the two rarely make it to red carpet openings these days,
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Liz Brewer, Ita Buttrose & International Terrorists
Madame Aracti has drawn our attention to a new book published in the UK by one of that countries top public relations experts Liz Brewer.
Liz was once married to Australian John Rendell of Christian The Lion fame and is the mother of chanteuse and songwriter Tallulah Rendell who wowed audiences in Sydney recently. She was also one of the hosts on the reality TV show Aussie Ladette To Lady where she attempted to convert a bunch of rough and tumble young girls into genteel lasses, suitable enough to mingle with the more refined classes .
Ms Brewer has just published a new book Ultimate Guide to Party Planning & Etiquette which is flying off British book shelves in a country where trying to keep up the standards expected is becoming increasingly difficult in the new 'chav' culture sweeping that great isle.
And Liz knows her stuff having organised some of the top bashes in London for celebrities like Shirley Bassey and Ivana Trump. She's been around celebrities and high society for most of her career that began on the Algarve in Portugal when she opened a nightclub and attracted big names like Paul McCartney and Cliff Richard.
But we also have our own tome - the recently published colonial version : A Guide to Australian Etiquette-for all occasions, from weddings to work by publishing icon Ita Buttrose who was featured in the TV drama Paper Giants-The Birth of Cleo that depicted the 1970's when Kerry Packer lost the contract to publish a local version of Cosmopolitan and instead, under the auspices of Buttrose came up with the top selling magazine Cleo that has been going gangbusters ever since.
Ita was a special guest at the Black & White Charity lunch last Tuesday which featured Dame Edna Everage who reminded the audience and Ita that it was her on the 1974 cover that rocketed Cleo to a staggering circulation of nearly half a million copies although it was Ita's idea to feature, for the first time, a man in a dress as she reminded the Dame.
Dame Edna retorted that she had no idea who Ita was at the time and thought her name was a reference to an International Terrorist group.
Both books are required reading if one is to attempt climbing the social ladder in either capitals and from Liz Brewer's interview on Madame Arcati we learn both cities suffer from similar problems. Like the eternal gatecrasher. Liz gives some handy hints to seeing them off and we feel concurs with our view of the local half dozen who plague events here - if they bring nothing to the event in appearance, manners, humour or intellect, what's the point of them ?.
But back to Ita's guide to surviving the sophistication of Australian culture. There are many crossover areas in both Liz Brewer's book and Ita's but the local version give us some much needed tips with a local flavour :
Ita also gives some helpful advice on weddings : what to do when the best man is a woman, how to dress for a Muslim wedding, what to do when you run into your ex ! and a host of veritable survival hints even at the football : no player should ever pretend to be their best mate in an attempt to have sex with another player's wife : if a girl has had too much too drink it's best to call a taxi to take her home and most importantly : you never watch a player's mate and his girlfriend having sex!
How can you live without this book ?
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| party planner Liz Brewer (right) and celebs including Ivana Trump & NCIS actor Michael Weatherly |
And Liz knows her stuff having organised some of the top bashes in London for celebrities like Shirley Bassey and Ivana Trump. She's been around celebrities and high society for most of her career that began on the Algarve in Portugal when she opened a nightclub and attracted big names like Paul McCartney and Cliff Richard.
But we also have our own tome - the recently published colonial version : A Guide to Australian Etiquette-for all occasions, from weddings to work by publishing icon Ita Buttrose who was featured in the TV drama Paper Giants-The Birth of Cleo that depicted the 1970's when Kerry Packer lost the contract to publish a local version of Cosmopolitan and instead, under the auspices of Buttrose came up with the top selling magazine Cleo that has been going gangbusters ever since. |
| Ita Buttrose &Betty Churcher at the B &W lunch |
Ita was a special guest at the Black & White Charity lunch last Tuesday which featured Dame Edna Everage who reminded the audience and Ita that it was her on the 1974 cover that rocketed Cleo to a staggering circulation of nearly half a million copies although it was Ita's idea to feature, for the first time, a man in a dress as she reminded the Dame.
 |
| Cleo-1974 |
Both books are required reading if one is to attempt climbing the social ladder in either capitals and from Liz Brewer's interview on Madame Arcati we learn both cities suffer from similar problems. Like the eternal gatecrasher. Liz gives some handy hints to seeing them off and we feel concurs with our view of the local half dozen who plague events here - if they bring nothing to the event in appearance, manners, humour or intellect, what's the point of them ?.
But back to Ita's guide to surviving the sophistication of Australian culture. There are many crossover areas in both Liz Brewer's book and Ita's but the local version give us some much needed tips with a local flavour :
if suffering from bad breath consult your dentist
are you constantly farting ?..avoid spicy food
do you constantly chew gum, smack you're gums and make popping noises ? Don't !
don't let your dog jump in a pond especially if there is green algae !
don't pig out on bread at the dinner table and leave only crumbs
urinating in public is revolting
spitting in public is uncivilised ...and so on.Ita also gives some helpful advice on weddings : what to do when the best man is a woman, how to dress for a Muslim wedding, what to do when you run into your ex ! and a host of veritable survival hints even at the football : no player should ever pretend to be their best mate in an attempt to have sex with another player's wife : if a girl has had too much too drink it's best to call a taxi to take her home and most importantly : you never watch a player's mate and his girlfriend having sex!
How can you live without this book ?
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Aussie Bitch Fest Shocks Brits!
Viewers of Britain's Dancing On Ice 2011 are up in arms over Australian choreographer Jason Gardiner's remarks to contestants. Jason is a judge on the show.They reckon he's far too bitchy and mean. Some have even started face book pages to get Gardiner sacked although few people have joined.
While Jason makes panelists like X Factor's Simon Cowell look tame, he's standard fare for Australian TV where he honed his art.
Visitors from the UK and USA are often shocked at the sheer bitchiness that passes for normal discourse between colonials.
Where this was inherited from we aren't too sure. It's been speculated that it developed in the first hundred years as working class Irish, East End and other British convicts developed a sort of secret language to speak derogatorily about their British jailers without them understanding.
Gardiner trained at the Australian Ballet School and New York's Steps academy and the Actor's Centre in London. He's choreographed West End shows and worked with Kylie Minogue, Elton John and Shirley Bassey as well as appearing on dozens of English TV shows.
He's actually a nice chap off stage without a hint of the bitch about him and his act is pretty deliberate.
Producers must absolutely love him for the ratings.
Jason follows in the footsteps of local performers like the late Bernard King-one of the nicest and kindest people to meet in person but wow-could he dish it out when on the judging panel of a talent quest. Beneath Dame Edna's mega star exterior runs one of the most vicious and bitchy dialogues ever uttered by man.
Below are 3 videos- one is Jason Gardiner ticking of competitors. It's pretty tame stuff compared to local shows.
The following is the wonderful Bernard King who could talk through mud and have an audience collapsing in tears of laughter. He demolishes a hapless contestant on the 80's Pot Luck (fast forward is recommended)
The third is really how the contestants should settle matters - take a leaf out of broadcaster Ron 'Won'Casey page when he got stuck into former pop star Normie Rowe on the Midday Show.
(note the wonderful and very British Diana 'Bubbles' Fisher wife of Sir Humphrey Fisher-in the background saying "no no no!")
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Monday : Tallulah at The Basement
She sang at Dame Shirley Bassey's 70th birthday, the Glastonbury Festival and a Vivienne Westwood fashion show. The British media has described her as 'London's most creative woman'- singer songwriter Tallulah Rendall who will be appearing for one night on Monday evening at the Basement.
This will be Tallulah's second professional appearance in Australia after touring successfully earlier this year but she has been visiting Australia since she was a child.
Her father is the Australian socialite John Rendall of 'Christian the Lion' fame and her mother is one of England's top publicists Liz Brewer who was seen recently as one of the panelists judging young girls in the Ladette to Lady TV series.
Tallulah's first successful CD titled Libellus, inspired by the writings of Iris Murdoch was described by critics as a "slow burner that hooks you in after a few listenings". The Age newspaper said her music is 'alternative, sultry and magical'.
Book early as Tallulah's shows tend to be a sell out bringing crowds of all ages. At the Hermes' beach party last week a team of party-goers said they had booked tickets.
Bookings at The Basement : here
here is Tallulah in an appearance on balconytv.co.uk :
Her father is the Australian socialite John Rendall of 'Christian the Lion' fame and her mother is one of England's top publicists Liz Brewer who was seen recently as one of the panelists judging young girls in the Ladette to Lady TV series.
Tallulah's first successful CD titled Libellus, inspired by the writings of Iris Murdoch was described by critics as a "slow burner that hooks you in after a few listenings". The Age newspaper said her music is 'alternative, sultry and magical'.
Book early as Tallulah's shows tend to be a sell out bringing crowds of all ages. At the Hermes' beach party last week a team of party-goers said they had booked tickets.
Bookings at The Basement : here
here is Tallulah in an appearance on balconytv.co.uk :
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Seeking Out Desperate Housewives !
There is an old maxim amongst Sydneysider socialites-"do not cross the bridge, do not go north", in reference to the leafier suburbs over the Harbour Bridge and along the North Shore where lay endless suburbs of impressive million dollar McMansions but little in the way of entertainment.
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| Sharon Sargeant joins the Desperate Housewives |
Our man in the field found them-at a charming little inlet nestled by the Georges River in Como and at of all places, a Thai restaurant.
100 locals and some from further afield had gathered to see (as our mole reports) a fab show of entertainment by 2 multi-Mo Award ( they're the gongs for live entertainment) winning performers, Krissy Stanley and Lizzie Taylor.
These 2 sing up a perfect storm with an endless patter of wit and anecdotes. Our chap was particularly taken with their impressions of Elaine Page and Susan Boyle complete with coughing fit as seen on Oprah Winfrey ( a report soon on the extraordinary security arrangements for Oprah's Oz tour-bigger then George W. Bush and Bill Clinton).
But there was more. An amazing medley from Ms Taylor as Tina Turner, Shirley Bassey and Cher had the crowd leaping to their feet to roar approval. Apparently the best impressions they have ever seen.
If you aren't as adventurous as our office boy doubling as a seasoned hack, in early 2011 the Desperate Housewives are bringing their show to ritzy Double Bay which is in desperate need of their talents, having lost most of it's nightlife now that the Ritz Carlton Hotel has closed.
We'll bring you dates and all the info as it comes to hand.
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