Eye on Hollywood: The Other Zelda

March 13, 2008 by in category Archives tagged as , with 5 and 0
Home > Writing > Archives > Eye on Hollywood: The Other Zelda

by Bobbie Cimo

I know being writers, probably the first person you think of when you hear the name Zelda, is the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald. But actually there is another well known Zelda–or at least there is to us who work at CBS. Last year, while giving our 2007 Co-Presidents, Sue Phillips and Sandy Chvostal, a personal after-hours tour, I introduced them to her.

Meeting Zelda at first, you might think as though she’s led the same kind of life as the other famous Zelda– disheveled, and as thin as a rail. As a matter of fact, the bottom part of her body is a rail. Okay, it’s really a pole. You see, Zelda is a mannequin that gets rolled from stage to stage to check the color balance for our cameras–not so much now with the new technology. But back when color was new to TV, CBS use to hire models just to stand in front of the cameras to see how well different colors came across on the monitors. And whenever they couldn’t get a model for the job, they’d have to end up calling upon one of the secretaries and asking them to come to the stage to do the job for them.

When hiring a model or taking someone away from their job ended up being too costly, someone got the bright idea of getting mannequin, putting a black sweater on her and pinning swatches of material to her chest . . . and that’s how Zelda was invented. Below is a picture of the lovely lady, whose been a CBS icon, as far back as I can remember. Photographic credit goes to Sue Phillips and her wonderful camera.


********************************

Bobbie Cimo is the OCC/RWA Programs Director who has brought us such notable speakers as Dean Koontz, Tami Hoag, Jackie Collins and Robert Crais.

Author Details
Author Details
A Slice of Orange started in 2004 as a group of authors from Orange County, California. We have expanded to include authors from around the globe–from the UK, all across the US to New Zealand. Our authors include the multi-published and writers at the beginning of their publishing career. In addition to authors, we feature blog posts from editors, PR professionals, and cover designers. The bright segments of the writing and reading community that make up one perfect entity—A Slice of Orange.
On Sale

Books on sale or free

STOLEN KISSES FROM THE VISCOUNT

Buy now!
STOLEN KISSES FROM THE VISCOUNT

THE GHOST OF DEPFORD HALL

Buy now!
THE GHOST OF DEPFORD HALL

THE ROGUE’S LAST SCANDAL

Buy now!
THE ROGUE’S LAST SCANDAL
WHO’S THE FAIREST? A Sisters Grimm Anthology
BECKONED, PART 1: FROM LONDON WITH LOVE

LEIF Viking Glory Book One

Buy now!
LEIF Viking Glory Book One

FREYA Viking Glory Book Two

Buy now!
FREYA Viking Glory Book Two
THIEVES: Book One of the Obscurité de Floride Trilogy

CITY OF BLAZE

Buy now!
CITY OF BLAZE

A LADY’S POINT OF VIEW

Buy now!
A LADY’S POINT OF VIEW

THE WOULD BE MOMMY

Buy now!
THE WOULD BE MOMMY

THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR

Buy now!
THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR

DANGER MUSIC

Buy now!
DANGER MUSIC

SAVAGED SURRENDER

Buy now!
SAVAGED SURRENDER

A SOLDIER’S ITALIAN CHRISTMAS

Buy now!
A SOLDIER’S ITALIAN CHRISTMAS

COME FLY WITH ME

Buy now!
COME FLY WITH ME

SUPERHERO IN DISGUISE

Buy now!
SUPERHERO IN DISGUISE

WELCOME TO LOON LAKE

Buy now!
WELCOME TO LOON LAKE
FATHOMS: A NOVEL OF THE PARANORMAL

THE LIFE OF RILEY

Buy now!
THE LIFE OF RILEY

COWBOY KARMA

Buy now!
COWBOY KARMA

ILONA’S WOLF

Buy now!
ILONA’S WOLF

LET IT SNOW

Buy now!
LET IT SNOW
FUR, FEATHERS AND SCALES: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Animal Tales

GIRL IN THE MIST

Buy now!
GIRL IN THE MIST

HAGAR’S LAST DANCE

Buy now!
HAGAR’S LAST DANCE
SNOW IN LOVE: Sweet Romance Holiday Collection

#Me Too

Buy now!
#Me Too

HOSTILE WITNESS

Buy now!
HOSTILE WITNESS
THE DAY BAILEY DEVLIN’S HOROSCOPE CAME TRUE
INTIMATE RELATIONS

GIRLFRIENDS & SECRETS

Buy now!
GIRLFRIENDS & SECRETS

THE FIX UP

Buy now!
THE FIX UP

LOVE NOTES

Buy now!
LOVE NOTES
2019

HAUNTING MISS FENWICK

Buy now!
HAUNTING MISS FENWICK
WINTER WISHES: A REGENCY HOLIDAY ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY

THE DEVIL’S CARESS

Buy now!
THE DEVIL’S CARESS
OFF THE RAILS: A Collection of Weird, Wicked, & Wacky Stories
CHRISTMAS ON NANTUCKET AND OTHER STORIES

LEIF Viking Glory Book One

Buy now!
LEIF Viking Glory Book One

FREYA Viking Glory Book Two

Buy now!
FREYA Viking Glory Book Two

HIS HIGHLAND SURPRISE

Buy now!
HIS HIGHLAND SURPRISE

THEIR HIGHLAND BEGINNING

Buy now!
THEIR HIGHLAND BEGINNING

ONCE UPON AN ENCHANTED FOREST

Buy now!
ONCE UPON AN ENCHANTED FOREST

THE WORTH OF A VISCOUNT

Buy now!
THE WORTH OF A VISCOUNT

REWRITING THE PAST

Buy now!
REWRITING THE PAST

TRACKING SHADOWS

Buy now!
TRACKING SHADOWS

ONE TASTE TOO MANY

Buy now!
ONE TASTE TOO MANY

TWO BITES TOO MANY

Buy now!
TWO BITES TOO MANY
SHORT and SWEET’S FAMILY ALBUM

HIDDEN BETRAYAL

Buy now!
HIDDEN BETRAYAL

CLEAR INTENT

Buy now!
CLEAR INTENT

THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Buy now!
THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT

GAME TOWN

Buy now!
GAME TOWN

DARK WINE AT DUSK

Buy now!
DARK WINE AT DUSK

HER LOST LOVE

Buy now!
HER LOST LOVE

THE CONSPIRACY

Buy now!
THE CONSPIRACY

THE DECEPTION

Buy now!
THE DECEPTION

SHADOWS AT DAWN

Buy now!
SHADOWS AT DAWN

THE OBLIVIOUS BILLIONAIRE

Buy now!
THE OBLIVIOUS BILLIONAIRE
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIDGE, NEW YORK, 1930

THE MASK OF MIDNIGHT

Buy now!
THE MASK OF MIDNIGHT

FOR A GOOD PAWS

Buy now!
FOR A GOOD PAWS
COLTON 911: CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE

DEAD BLOW

Buy now!
DEAD BLOW

HER COWBOY KING

Buy now!
HER COWBOY KING
SERIOUSLY, MOM, YOU DIDN’T KNOW?
THE WITCHES OF NEW MOON BEACH BOXED SET

THE WITCH OF BERGEN

Buy now!
THE WITCH OF BERGEN
LOST WITNESS: A Josie Bates Thriller
#PLEASE SAY YES (#HermosafortheHolidays Book 1)

    ×
    A Slice of Orange started in 2004 as a group of authors from Orange County, California. We have expanded to include authors from around the globe–from the UK, all across the US to New Zealand. Our authors include the multi-published and writers at the beginning of their publishing career. In addition to authors, we feature blog posts from editors, PR professionals, and cover designers. The bright segments of the writing and reading community that make up one perfect entity—A Slice of Orange.

    Meeting A Real Movie Star

    by Bobbie Cimo

    In the early years of my career, I was one of the few fortunately ones–if not one of the only ones–who got the perk of getting out of the office to work remotes. Sometimes that could mean being at the Pasadena Auditorium for two weeks at a time while we built the stage for the Emmy’s. Or being inside the Beverly Hilton Hotel’s ballroom covering the first dozen or so AFI’s (America Film Institute’s Life Achievement Awards), honoring such heavy-weight legends as John Huston, Frank Capra, Orson Wells, or Fred Astaire . . . just to name a few. Keep in mind this was a time when laptop computers hadn’t even been invented yet. Which meant if I wanted to have my cake and eat it, I had to cover my regular job first before working as an assistant on the fun stuff outside of the building. I use the term “assistant” loosely here, as it sometimes meant anything from crunching numbers to seeing how far over budget we were, to making sure Bette Davis got her parking ticket validated, to arranging for Gregory Hines’ shoes to be shined before air time, or even playing watchdog over Shirley MacLaine’s purse for her.

    But always, on the day of the big event–whatever it was–I got to play dress-up and be part of the gala. But like any good party you go to, you’re bound to see the same faces year after year– Wait, this is Hollywood. Scratch that last remark about the same faces . . . not with the help of good plastic surgeon, you won‘t. But what I’m trying to say is that it’s hard to remember who I saw and just when and at what event.

    Except for the time I met Cary Grant at the AFI honoring Alfred Hitchcock.

    I was standing on a two step-up tier of the main ballroom, when Cary Grant passed me. He was impeccability dressed in an expensive tuxedo, gorgeously tan and looking every bit of the movie star that he was. As for myself, I was dressed in a white, off one-shoulder Grecian gown. I thought I looked like Venus. Looking back at it now, I’m sure I didn’t.

    When Cary spoke to me, I suddenly went deaf–that happens a lot when I go into shock. When he cupped his hand over mine, I remember thinking, his hands are softer than mine . . . they probably weren’t, but his touch seemed like velvet. He acted and looked just like he did on the screen. Absolutely perfect.

    All too soon our conversation was over and he left. And I remained frozen, clutching onto to the staircase railing. Hector, our cameramen, obviously recognizing a woman in distress, asked me how I was doing. I told him the truth–I couldn’t move. My knees had locked. Hector found it amusing . . .I didn’t.

    Author Details
    Author Details
    A Slice of Orange started in 2004 as a group of authors from Orange County, California. We have expanded to include authors from around the globe–from the UK, all across the US to New Zealand. Our authors include the multi-published and writers at the beginning of their publishing career. In addition to authors, we feature blog posts from editors, PR professionals, and cover designers. The bright segments of the writing and reading community that make up one perfect entity—A Slice of Orange.
    On Sale

    Books on sale or free

    STOLEN KISSES FROM THE VISCOUNT

    Buy now!
    STOLEN KISSES FROM THE VISCOUNT

    THE GHOST OF DEPFORD HALL

    Buy now!
    THE GHOST OF DEPFORD HALL

    THE ROGUE’S LAST SCANDAL

    Buy now!
    THE ROGUE’S LAST SCANDAL
    WHO’S THE FAIREST? A Sisters Grimm Anthology
    BECKONED, PART 1: FROM LONDON WITH LOVE

    LEIF Viking Glory Book One

    Buy now!
    LEIF Viking Glory Book One

    FREYA Viking Glory Book Two

    Buy now!
    FREYA Viking Glory Book Two
    THIEVES: Book One of the Obscurité de Floride Trilogy

    CITY OF BLAZE

    Buy now!
    CITY OF BLAZE

    A LADY’S POINT OF VIEW

    Buy now!
    A LADY’S POINT OF VIEW

    THE WOULD BE MOMMY