Back during its heyday, The Dean Martin Show came on at my bed time. Every Thursday night, I’d lie in my room falling asleep to the sound of my stepfather’s lusty guffaws. On the rare nights I managed to stay up long enough to sneak a peak at the program, I wondered what all the fuss was about. And when the plastic chicks in matching costumes came out, that definitely signaled time for a potty break. I caught on to chicks soon afterwards, but wasn’t until a little later that I developed an appreciation for plastic (especially the 33.3 rpm kind).
The Golddiggers debuted in 1965, on the third season of Dean Martin’s variety show. They not only provided dance segues between Dean’s unrehearsed comedy blackouts, they also clustered adoringly around the host as he burbled an old chestnut or perhaps a recent hit. It was therefore important that the girls not only look great in motion but also at rest.
By 1968, their hard work paid off when they were given their own summer replacement series. After three years, the majority of them spun off into syndication while the top four were cherry picked to stay on with Dean as the “Ding-A-Ling Sisters.” Along the way, the Golddiggers managed to release two pop albums and a Christmas record. Now you may ask yourself, what good is an audio recording of what was essentially a cheesecake act? Well, they don’t call it “ear candy” for nothing. (And if you think that joke’s funny, you’re probably a Dean Martin fan.)
I suppose it goes without saying that the Golddiggers’ recorded work is not prized particulary high by music scholars, but a smattering of historic material does exist on the good ol’ Internet. The TV Party site has a sizeable article on them, as well as a brief memoir by member Francie Mendenhall (where she reveals that being a Golddigger was an incredibly exciting experience). The Dean Martin Fan Center has a nice selection of photos. Even better, the entire “We Need A Little Christmas” album is available for download over at FaLaLaLaLa.com.
As to the other two albums in the Golddiggers canon — well, that’s where Bostworld comes in.
Both records, “The Golddiggers” and “The Golddiggers Today!” are just the kind of nuggets one prays for when planning an afternoon thrift store safari. Bright, professional, uptempo and thoroughly “now,” both albums are appallingly delightful anachronisms from a time when such showbiz detritous was the rule rather than the exception. In the liner notes, fatherly Dean “writes” about how these rebellious “kids” would stage a “cry-in” when confronted with career frustration. Dean’s solution is to furnish them with coloring books and crayons. Crisis averted.
Though I have no reason to believe that their efforts were any better than the average high school chorus, the Golddiggers’ performances are undeniably endearing. Running the gamut from golden mouldies such as “Shuffle Off To Buffalo” and “Come Rain Or Come Shine,” to “uplifting” throwaways like “Nobody Else Like You” and “It’s Fun To Be Young,” the “kids” put their shtick over with wide-eyed enthusiasm and the crack pacing of a well-rehearsed lounge show.
Laffs are provided by “Something Special” (“Look out world, I’m something special/Since I’m something special to him”) and my personal favorite, “One Person” (“It isn’t the size of the fist/It’s the size of the dream”). Throw in a few contemporary classics for good measure (“Feelin’ Groovy,” “Save The County”) and you’ve got a couple of well-rounded albums that anyone not living under the glass ceiling can enjoy.
Download “The Golddiggers” and “The Golddiggers Today!” today!.
Alternate Link
As you know, I am in fact a ‘Dino-Head.’ I attribute that to the fact that I used to tune into his show STRICTLY to.. er… enjoy The Golddiggers. Absolutely part of my early sex education, but along the way they turned me onto Godhead, Dino hisself.
I can hear them crooning and glittering now.
When I finally did see the guy in Vegas in 1979, I was grossly disappointed he did not appear with them. somehow on raw personal talent and charisma, he pulled it off solo.
I loved their version of “Montage from How Sweet It Is”, a great Jimmy Webb tune that hasn’t been covered enough. Thanks for sharing these!
Yes. The Golddiggers version was in fact my first exposure to this great song. So I’ll always view it through the lens of female disempowerment.
I greatly appreciate your providing links to these sound recordings. I was already the proud owner of the “Today” album, having purchased it as a teenager when it first came out in 1971, having been enthralled by the sight of these gorgeus lasses on the tube.
I’ve long been aware of the other two albums, but never purchased them because they were recorded by an earlier set of girls (with three exceptions) than the ones with which I was most familiar from the early ’70s. But after downloading the cuts, I now know what I was missing, so I thank you again for the posts.
As was the case with a previous commenter on this page, I, too, discovered Dean Martin by way of The Golddiggers, catching my first glimpse of them shimmying in their white-and-blue fringe-bikini costumes and white boots just as I was entering puberty. The intersection was, needless to add, serendipitous.
As someone who admittedly still carries the torch for these girls more than 35 years after first enjoying their original appearances on television, I just wanted to correct a couple of errors in your description of them. First, no female performers actually appeared on Dean’s series under the name The Golddiggers until the 1968-69 season; prior to that, from 1965 to 1968, the regular female singer-dancers on the show were simply known as “Dean’s Girls”.
Second, you are quite correct in stating that several of the girls from the 1970-71 season (7, to be exact) were spun off into their own syndicated series, but only two from that larger group stayed with the show as part of the revamped lineup of the Ding-a-Ling Sisters (who were originally introduced during the 1970-71 season as a subset of The Golddiggers).
Comprising the Ding-a-Lings during the 1971-72 season of Dean’s program were Michelle Della Fave and Tara Leigh, who had both been Golddiggers and inaugural members of the Ding-a-Lings, joined by Lynn Latham (who had been an occasional dancer with the series a few years earlier) and newcomer Taffy Jones.
(I realize that I know way more about all of this than I should, but hey, SOMEBODY’s gotta keep track of this stuff!)
As for the vocal abilities of these girls, that is, of course, a subjective determination, but I’ve always felt that they received a bum rap on that score. Perhaps, had they come along in the ’80s, their motto could have been a paraphrase of the Kelly LeBrock commercial slogan — “Don’t hate our singing because we’re beautiful.”
In any event, I salute you for your salute to The Golddiggers, and for helping to keep their music alive.
Should you ever come across anyone who has access to any episodes of their syndicated series, by all means, drop me a line; I’d pay dearly to acquire those.
Yikes. Thanks for the additional background material to add to my own windowdressing of an essay! (BTW — I don’t think the Christmas album link is good any more. Guess it’s back to the hunt.)
You know, it’s funny. A lot of hay is made over the group’s shimmering loveliness. Yet all that really concerns me is their material. It seems that whenever music is not the main event and any old song will do, that’s when they pull out the songs I really like!
The link that you provide to the Christmas album does not lead directly to the page on which it’s currently housed, but it does point very much in the right direction.
For indeed, the album, and both streaming AND downloadable tracks from its content, are still available on the same Website. A quick search with Google brought up the new location: http://falalalala.com/?p=11.
I’m sure that you’ll want to change that URL to a hot link, which is something that I can’t do on my end, but I just wanted you to know that the source is still available…and I certainly never would have found it without your guidance, so thanks again.
Guys, You are wonderful to remember all the great gals that worked on the Dean Martin Show… I agree we had a sound that is refreshing compared to some things out today. We sang, and danced and loved it! Our harmony was 4 part and for girls young and some very new to show business we were dedicated. Imagine 12 girls coming together from all over the country and having to blend and live atotally new lives at rocket speed. The show was fun and entertaining. We were protected as if we were a family. I think the powers that be should get those albums out as CDs and sell them again, I think there are many people who would love to hear it. By the way this ol’ Dingaling Sister and Golddigger thinks there are still some fans who might be interested in hearing me on my self produced CD called “Cool Burn”… songs that will bring back some memories and some new tunes we all love… You can find it on CDBaby darlings… and love and kisses and blessings to all who love and remember…PEACE
Hi, Let me know about anything you want to know about the Dean Martin Girls, I was one for 7years… as a Golddigger and a Ding-a-ling Sister. Dean was the greatest to work with and the whole organization was wonderful to work for as well, contact me at michdol@cox.net… happy holidays, Michelle
Thanks Michelle!
The Golddiggers have achieved such iconic status in peoples’ minds, it’s sometimes easy to forget the flesh beneath the myth! It’s a shame you all can’t effect a reunion and do some shows with your old compadre, Frank Sinatra Junior!
Taffy Jones (Former Ding-a-ling with Michelle DellaFave)
December 13, 2006
I stumbled on this sight late this evening. I would love to hear from you Michelle. It has been so long. I was a Ding-a-ling sister in 1970-71. You, Tara, Lynn and I were the second set of girls. You and Tara being the originals. Wow this is great. I can see by your entry it has only been a few days. I tried your e-mail address but it didn’t work for me. I bet we could arrange to talk through the Dean Martin Fan Center. There’s still a picture of us in those oh so not flattering bathing suits! Do you know that was the first Sports Illustrated bathing suit issue? Amazing.
What a performer you were. Incredible voice and stage presence. I would love to hear from you.
Taffy
Taffy Jones (former Ding-a-ling with Michelle Dellafave)
December 13, 2006
I have been searching for Michelle Dellafave’s “Cool Burn” CD on the websight suggested but can’t find it. Can anyone help? As Michelle would say “stranger than fiction”.
Thanks
Taffy Jones
Hi Taffy, I can not believe I am hearing or actually reading notes from a fellow Ding-a-Ling Sister, How are you and I hope you are well and happy, yes I finally did a CD . When we got that surprise check from AFTRA from the Dean Martin Variety Show tapes I decided to do something I wanted to do since 1974. I want to make a web site and have all the old pictures and reminisce about the old days as well. I hope to do a Gospel CD soon,do you mind if I include some old pictures of us backstage? Please write me at michdol@cox.net, remember when we were on the road and you said I was singing too loud? I laugh when I think about that, I do believe you were right, I was singing too loud, LOL I was like a trumpet!!!I think I got out of the loud stage, ooh, thank goodness, are you singing? I thought you were a beautiful asset to our group, I wish you peace and blessings, Michelle DellaFave I think my CD should be ready to sell, try again
Wow…the spambots get more sophisticated every day!
Taffy Jones (Former Ding-a-ling Sister)
I just heard Michelle DellaFave’s new CD COOL BURN on CD Baby. This girl can sing. Great selections and arrangements.
Congratulations, Michelle!
Taffy
The internet never ceases to amaze me. I lost my vinyl copy of “We Need A Little Christmas” years ago. I’ve been wanting to hear it again, and now I can, thanks to all the info here. “I Sing Noel” can still bring a tear to this grown man’s eye after all these years. I’ve never seen this song covered on any other Christmas record. Was it written for “The Golddiggers”? Michelle and Taffy, it’s great that both of you are sharing your thoughts and memories here. I hope to read more. I’ll mark this site in my favorites.
Almost twenty years ago “Beautiful Music” radio stations were flying off the face of this Earth. Even Christmas music is not what it used to be. I never had a copy of the Golddiggers’ “We Need A Little Christmas” because I could never find one! All copies in the stores were sold out as soon as they arrived. So it’s good that I discovered this website – and other related sites – just in time for the holidays.
With Christmas coming in three days I’d like to give Michelle and Taffy a very sincere Thank You for their presence as Golddiggers and Ding-A-Ling Sisters on the Dean Martin shows. The troops en masse were a joy to watch…and I wish I could bring it all back so today’s generation can see what entertainment looked like and sounded like without the “hyperjolt” that younger viewers want nowadays.
To Michelle: I’ll be looking for your new CD as soon as the holidays pass. ‘Til then…
“Don’t touch that dial, keep it right where it’s set!
There’s something big coming up on your screen!”
-With a further Thank You to the divine Tara Leigh, Merry Christmas to all!!
Ralph, You made my day when I read your beautiful letter, and thanks to you I have been in touch with Taffy. I hope Lynn and Tara are well and happy, where ever they are, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you and all who remember, I thank you all , Big Kiss and peace to all, Michelle DellaFave, Golddigger and Ding-a-ling Sister, Dean Martin Show
To Ray Acardo who posted here on December 19th,
In 1968 the vocal duo Sandler & Young recorded “I Sing Noel” for Capitol Records. The song was issued on a 45 backed with “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”, issued as Capitol 2333. The complete album – in Full Dimensional Stereo – was issued as Capitol ST 2967, “The Christmas World of Sandler and Young”. Their recording was reissued 3 times in later years, all in Capitol’s Creative Products Division.
SL 6627 Happy Holidays, Volume 5
SL 6659 Zenith Presents Christmas, Volume 3
SL 6679 Christmas, The Season Of Music
There were a few instrumental versions but these were strictly limited to radio station airplay, never sold in consumer markets. Boston Public Library, 1991.
TrueValue Hardware Stores sold the album as TV1 and TV2 in 1975 and 1976, respectively.
As I write this letter tonight I’m recovering from an unexpected surprise. Just past 12 noon yesterday, between gift opening and a mid-afternoon Christmas dinner, I fired up my eMachines and returned to this website to show my posted letter to a friend of the family. We saw something that I was totally unprepared for: a personal acknowledgement by Michelle DellaFave. I can’t speak for the other writers to this column, but I am just one among millions of American males who must bear the grind of everyday life. Since giving in to the world of computers almost 2 years ago, I am duly convinced that we are all neighbors now…and for better or worse, we will get along with each other as decently as we can.
To Michelle, I sincerely thank you for accepting my appreciative memory. If I made your day, then believe me, you’ve made mine, too.
HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR 2007, EVERYONE !! DRIVE SAFE, Y’HEAR? *Ralph!*
There is a Sandler & Young track on the “A Different Kind Of Christmas” album. Probably from The Christmas World of Sandler and Young.”
http://derrickbostrom.com/bostrom/2006/12/19/a-different-kind-of-christmas/
Thanks Ralph and Derrick for the info on “I Sing Noel”. I think it’s a great Christmas song with an even greater message. I enjoyed listening to it this year, thanks to this site. I’m actually enjoying The Golddigger’s debut and Today albums which I had never heard before. I wish all of you reading this a safe and Happy New Year. May 2007 be a great year for everyone.
Funny, but if you look a little further back on the timeline of this blog, I think you’ll see that I’m the one who first praised the Ding-a-Lings by name, thereby enabling them to be linked to this site via Google, and thus facilitating the mini-reunion. I respect all those who’ve contributed herein, but do feel that credit should be given where credit is due.
Gather ’round, everyone…I think I found Lynne Latham!
She lists as Lynne Morris and she has a near-current photo of herself on a website commentary page. The complete typeline reads:
http://jeff.zaadz.com/blog/tags/lynne%20morris
Does anyone favor asking the 3rd Ding-A-Ling Sister to join us for a comment or two?
Holy crap! She worked with Up With People and is the great great grand daughter of John Humphrey Noyes. Not bad!
Some, if not most, of Dean’s Girls are discussed at:
http://www.womwam.net/rl/tv/60s/Dean_Martin/index.htm
Don’t think Michelle likes it, tho, as she has never written back when written to about it…
Here’s another recent sighting of a present-day Lynne Latham, this one showing the onetime Ding-a-Ling Sister beaming as she proudly displays her residuals check from Greg Garrison Productions — one of dozens that were belatedly issued to performers who had worked on The Dean Martin Show and who apparently were never initially compensated when highlights of the series were released by Guthy-Renker on DVD and VHS under the rubric “The Best of The Dean Martin Variety Show” in the early 2000s:
http://aftra.com/member/dean.htm
The one remaining Ding-a-Ling Sister whose whereabouts are still, and have been, a mystery for years is the ultra-lovely Tara Leigh. Perhaps this blog, which seems to be serving as a magnet for drawing these gals out of the woodwork, will bring her at last back into the limelight.
By the way, I first discovered the Website assembled by Womwam, the URL for which is given just above, several years ago, and both commend him for his superb verbal and visual salute to The Golddiggers and Ding-a-Ling Sisters (as well as numerous other screen and TV sirens of the ’60s and ’70s) and heartily recommend his site to anyone interested in learning more about the fabulous babes of that era.
Unlike the section of the TV Party Website devoted to The Golddiggers, which is good but marred by inaccuracies about the lineups of the girls through the years, all of the commentary on Womwam’s site is thoroughly researched and contains info available nowhere else (in fact, his site was the first one that I ever encountered to mention Ding-a-Ling Taffy Jones’ last name). And if you write to him, as I once did, he WILL write back.
Perhaps the best feature of the TV Party tribute is a wonderful letter authored by Francie Mendenhall, one of the most talented of the Golddiggers (she is the lead singer on most of the songs on the Golddiggers’ “Today” album, the other lead being Michelle DellaFave’s sister, Tanya), who contributed a very amusing, entertaining and well-written piece about her experiences with the group and working with Dean. Along with Womwam’s site, it’s definitely worth a look.
Happy New Year 2007, everybody!
1st letter goes to Michael tonight. Hello, Mike!
For all of your knowledge about the Golddiggers & Ding-A-Ling Sisters, I may not add anything here because I’m just getting started. But let me try…
During the last 3 nights I visited several websites looking for questions regarding Tara Leigh. Didn’t find much, but…from SWEDEN, of all places, there is a website covering everything from PCs to astronomy: from religion to zoology, etc., and among this merry mixup I found one solitary page where someone asked for the Sisters’ real names. A “Paul Husband” (huh??) replied that Tara’s original birthright is Renee Smith. Here in the USA, the Dean Martin Fan Center has a section full of message boards. One letter referred to Michelle DellaFave and Tara King!! Hmm… There are many Tara Leigh websites at present but none involve our princess from the Dean Martin shows. Perhaps we should go fishing!
Yesterday I sent 2 emails: One to the Intuition Network where Lynne Latham Morris is an Associate Director, and the other to SuperHair which recently interviewed Michelle. It seems the Supers are looking for former Golddigger Paula Cinko, and that site wants reports of “Cinko sightings!” (..don’t we ALL?) Also, Michelle desired to see a reunion of her DMS colleagues. I don’t know about you, Mike, but I’m ready to go out there and awaken a sleeping giant. Will report here Friday. See ‘ya!
Well, now…the giant still sleeps.
As of this hour I haven’t heard anything from SuperHair or from the Intuition Network. Taffy Jones’ website page isn’t displaying, either. At least not from her name (shown in blue) on this column. Guess I’ll scout around the Dean Martin Fan Center for a while.
The girls haven’t been heard from since Christmas Eve. Are they still with us?
Ralph, you’ve certainly performed a yeoman piece of detective work in tracking down Lynne Latham and should be applauded for your efforts. Ferreting out the elusive Tara Leigh, however, may prove a tougher nut to crack.
Indeed, I’ve been told by a number of folks closely involved with Dean Martin fan organizations that there was some guy who, a few years ago, set out with fierce determination (perhaps a little too fierce) to trawl the Internet in the hopes of finding Tara, but to to no avail. In point of fact, some of these same sources have told me that it’s their understanding that she doesn’t want to be found. Whether that’s true or not, I have no idea — I’m only repeating what I’ve heard.
Interestingly, there actually was a formal Golddiggers reunion held in Las Vegas in 2000, which was covered by the Dean Martin Fan Center magazine. Here’s the link to that issue’s cover:
http://www.deanmartinfancenter.com/index/rightframe/33news/issue30target.html
I don’t know whether Tara or any of the other Ding-a-Lings were present at that event, but certainly if Tara wanted to surface, she could have done so at that time.
There are, of course, those who, once they retire from show business, prefer to remain out of the spotlight (that was famously true of Greta Garbo, Cary Grant and Johnny Carson, and has its contemporary examples in people like Agnetha Fältskog, the beautiful blonde who was one-fourth of what was once one of the most visible pop groups in the world, ABBA, and who now guards her privacy with the utmost care).
As for someone’s reference to a “Tara King” on the DMFC message boards, I’ve seen that, and I can tell you that that’s just some fan with no special knowledge simply getting her last name wrong!
To be honest, what’s really of particular interest to me in regard to both the Dean’s Girls and the man himself is seeing the full release on DVD of complete, uncut episodes of The Dean Martin Show (1965-74), the Golddiggers summer replacement series (1968-70) and the Golddiggers syndicated series (1971-73).
The 28-volume Guthy-Renker series yielded a modicum of highlights featuring Dean and his guest stars and just a pittance of appearances by the Golddiggers and the Ding-a-Lings; but there is a huge quantity of this material that remains locked away in the vault, presumably because of issues pertaining to problematic music rights clearances, but likely owing more to the indolence of those who would have to do the drudge work necessary to obtain those clearances.
Hardcore fans such as myself look under every rock to seek out every scrap of relevant content we can be find — and to be sure, some of it is out there for those willing to dig hard enough — but the only way that this golden material will ever be properly and officially reissued is if those fans interested in seeing it happen make their voices heard.
If you’re one such person, a good place to start would be by writing to Neil Daniels at the Dean Martin Fan Center (he doesn’t actually own the shows — they’re the property of the estate of Greg Garrison — but has substantial influence with those who could make this project happen). Every voice added to the chorus strengthens the call for these gems of television history to be unleashed from their moorings and rescued from oblivion.
Hello again, Mike!
I looked at that link to DMFC issue #30, counted 14 Golddiggers on the cover…and if that is NOT Michelle in the blue dress at the rear of the group, then I’m thinking of another Golddigger wearing shorter hair (almost tom-boyish) in her years on the Dean Martin shows. Every name list, along with the group photos, doesn’t match name to face…and with the exception of Paula Cinko and redhead Jackie Chidsey, I wouldn’t know them unless they wore ID badges. This will change soon, as I am going to join the growing membership of the Dean Martin Fan Club.
DERRICK! – since Michael and I are writing the lion’s share of commentary here, I took the liberty of posting a message on the DMFCenter bulletin board inviting their members to read our letters. Time will tell, but you should have more visitors before the month is out. Here’s hoping!
To all the dedicated fans on this sight….THANK YOU! I have been searching for my fellow “Dings” for many years. Now I am in touch with Michelle and hopefully Lynn my former roomate on the road. She was very patient with her naive 18yr. old roomie. I have also been in touch with AFTRA who informed me they had a nice check waiting for me. What a wonderful surprise that was. What a way to start out 2007! This whole experience has been nothing short of miraculous for me. I am truely grateful to all of you who have taken an interest. Please accept this heartfelt thank you!
Taffy Jones
Ding-a-ling Sisters
You’re very welcome, Taffy! Please let us know if you heard – or when you hear – from Lynne. Happy New Year 2007!
I hope Michelle returns soon to read our letters. We’ve done a blizzard of writing since Christmas Day, and it looks like our efforts are WORKING! Two found, one pending. Fasten your seatbelts, folks…the search is ON!
Somewhere in Hollywoodland there is Tara Leigh, princess of the Golddiggers and Ding-A-Ling Sisters. Spread the word!…that she is invited to join us for a brief hello and a comment or two. And we’ll have some help in our search.
MIKE – about the fellow trawling the Internet a few years ago…I FOUND him! We may have Jim Dailey on this column pretty soon. Stay tuned!
The sleeping giant is about to get nudged…let’s go round up some Golddiggers!
The Vietnam Veterans of America have been searching for the Ding-A-Lings. We wanted to honor them at our National Convention for what they did in Vietnam,Korea and other places in the 70’s. We have honored others that traveled with Bob Hope, to included Raquel Welch, Connie Stevens who attended a convention. Nancy Sinatra is scheduled this year also.
I still remember the Ding-A-Ling singing and dancing to “The Funky Chicken” with Michelle Della Fave doing the lead vocals on stage in Korea and Vietnam. I hope to be able to make contact with them. I have been in touch with Liz Kelly, Golddigger, and I understand was a Ding-a-ling for a while and part of the USO tour but not part of the Ding-A-Lings of 1970 tour.
Michelle and Taffy I would like to give you details of the Convention. But this blog doesn’t have a way to contact you by email.
Just to set the record straight: Liz Kelly was definitely a Golddigger (and a stunning one, at that), having joined the troupe in the fall of 1970 for the start of the 6th season of The Dean Martin Show. However, she was never part of the Ding-a-Ling Sisters.
The original lineup for the latter group consisted of: Michelle DellaFave, Tara Leigh, Susie Lund and Wanda Bailey. Those are the four Ding-a-Lings that soldiers would have seen on stage during Bob Hope’s 1970 USO tour. But The Golddiggers, with Liz Kelly in tow, also performed in their own separate act as a part of that tour, and this is, no doubt, what our veteran contributor is thinking of.
When the Golddiggers were spun off into their own series in the fall of 1971, seven of them, including Susie, went with the new syndicated show (joined by two new additions), and Michelle and Tara remained with The Dean Martin Show as Ding-A-Ling Sisters for the 1971-72 season, joined by Lynne Latham and Taffy Jones.
For the first half of the 8th season of Dean’s series (1972), Lynne and Tara stayed with the Ding-a-Lings, and two new ladies were brought in: Helen Funai (the first Asian to be one of Dean’s girls) and Jayne Kennedy (the first African-American to be one of Dean’s girls), the latter later going on to greater renown as one-third of the triumvirate that hosted the NFL Today on CBS in the late ’70s and early ’80s, along with Brent Musberger and Jimmy The Greek.
For the second half of Dean’s 8th season (1973), Tara and Lynne left the Ding-a-Lings, Michelle came back and another blonde was added, as well (I don’t remember her name, but perhaps one of the other members of the group does and can so enlighten us).
Taffy, if it were up to the millions of fans worldwide who remember and loved The Dean Martin Show and not only Dean himself, but also all of the talented gals who appeared with him each week, you and all of your fellow performers from that series would be receiving many additional checks from AFTRA…Because if we had our way, every episode from all nine years of the show’s run — as well as every episode from The Golddiggers summer and syndicated series — would be made available for purchase on DVD.
As well as the 28 Dean Martin Variety compilations issued by Guthy-Renker have sold, and as hot as the TV-on-DVD genre currently is, the demand is clearly there; what’s missing is the will on the part of those who hold the rights to get the job done.
It is therefore incumbent upon those of us who’d like to see this happen that we bang on every door and shout from every rooftop to make it abundantly clear that we want full season sets of this classic series released on DVD.
Besides just obvious forums such at The Dean Martin Fan Center, there are a number of Websites and blogs where dedicated fans are actively lobbying to achieve this goal (and many thanks should go to Derrick for generously allowing this portion of his blog to be a part of that movement).
So make your voice heard, and encourage others to do the same.
Years ago, I was told that even a series of highlights from The Dean Martin Show was impossible to bring about and would never see the light of day. And yet, the Guthy-Renker volumes WERE eventually produced, and were a crowning success.
If the owners of this material sense that there is enough money to be made from finally tackling this project in toto, that should be sufficient motivation to them to once and for all get off their duffs and do it. What say we all give them a little push…
Glad you kids are enjoying yourselves. Frankly, I’m much more interested in seeing the rest of the “Adam 12″ and color “Dragnet” episodes reissued.
I do, however, have a Dean volume on VHS (a gift from someone), which has a great routine featuring Dean and Phil Harris, drinking tea and singing a ridiculous song about how genteel they both are. If this and the terrific “Frankie And Johnny” routine by Joey Heatherton (once, but now no longer, available on YouTube) are any indication, I’d have to say a reissue is definitely in order.
Indeed, Derrick, there are literally hundreds of hours of priceless footage (including even more of Joey Heatherton from both The Dean Martin Show and the 1968 and 1969 Golddiggers summer series which she co-hosted with Frank Sinatra, Jr.) that never made it into the Guthy-Renker highlight reels such as the one that you have. Over the last couple of years, I’ve had the privilege of watching some of these gems, and trust me, what you’ve tasted is just the appetizer.
I second that motion! Pushing. . .pushing. . .count me in, Mike.
Today I emailed the Dean Martin Fan Center to alert that my membership fee is on the way: Asked Mr. Neil Daniels to visit our site and read our many letters, noting visits by Michelle and Taffy,. . .and asked him to move the idea of releasing the entire run of Dean Martin shows from 1965 and earlier on through 1973/4 PLUS all Golddiggers programs on DVD in complete UNCUT form.
To Mr. Guidry: Michelle’s e-mail address is listed in her letters here. Scroll up to December 6th to find it. Taffy’s name appears in URL bluelink but the webpage won’t show. Either she’s well hidden in the confines of the DMFC or she’s using an Australian site called Ceder. That site’s owner – Vic Ceder – lives in California. The Ceder.net site is about squaredancing: a female Taffy Jones there is a registered dancecaller.
We’d like to hear from all of the girls, however briefly. Can you ask Liz Kelley to visit with us? Sincere thanks!
Hello Everyone, It is Michelle Della Fave here!!! I’m over joyed guys, I’ll have to give you each a great big hug!! a man by the name of Wes Guidry, who is in charge of the Vietnam Vets, wants me to perform and sign autographs for their annual convention!!! It will be in July in Springfield, Ill. I am going to see if I can get the music for the “Funky Chicken”… my requested song at this time, ha,what fun. I know that Susie Lund is doing a lot with the Golddiggers now but I have no idea where Tara or Wanda are. They would like all 4 girls but they said that if not just me would be fine… he wants the original group… any way I think it will be lot of fun!!! Taffy, I will e-mail you soon, and by the way the other blonde Ding-a-ling was Lindsay Bloom. She was a regular on the detective series “Mike Hammer”…with Stacey Keach, oh boy I’m bad with the spelling of names… hope you are all well, love and peace, Michelle Ding-a-ling 2007
We are ready to relive 1970 again this year. With Michelle working with us to bring back the memories of the Dingalings on stage with Bob Hope. We are in hopes of reuniting the four that gave their time to entertain the troops. “The Funky Chicken” can you believe that was a popular song at that time? Sounds kinda lame these days. We have our fingers crossed that the other 3 can be located. I am in touch with Bob Hope company and working on getting some pictures from stage to sign and film of their performance.
Ralph, my conversation with Liz has been minimumal. She was very gratious and offered to help, but her husband is undergoing treatment for brain cancer at the present time so her time is streached very thin. Plus running a dance studio along with everything else. I will mention this website the next time we have a conversation. I know we wish him and her the best.
Hello everyone. Taffy, here. I just wanted to clear up a few things. I don’t have a web site. I don’t know a thing about square dancing, either! Sorry! Michelle mentioned she was considering doing a site, but it takes a lot of work and she is a busy lady. She’s the gal to do it, tho. I bet she’s got lots of pictures and memories to share. Maybe she should write a book….? Lee Hale did, and that has been a tremendous success.
Thank you for your interest!
Taffy
Michelle, if it would help, I have a copy of the COMPLETE, UNCUT telecast of the 1970 Bob Hope Christmas Special, which includes not only you and the other Ding-a-Ling Sisters performing “Funky Chicken”, but also the Golddiggers performing “Something Special”. As you probably know, both of those numbers were cut out of the edited version of the special that’s sold commercially by R2 Entertainment.
If you would like a copy of the whole program on DVD, I would be more than happy to send it to you. I can send it directly to you, or your agent or your record company or a P.O. Box — wherever you like. Just drop me an email letting me know, and I’ll make a copy and send it right out.
An thanks for identifying the name of the fourth Ding-a-Ling Sister during the second half of the 1972-73 season.
And Ralph, thanks to you for making a pitch to the DMFC in regard to releasing all of this bottled-up material. Every additional voice helps the cause.
To Mr. Guidry – Thank you for the message about Liz and her husband. I join you in wishing them the best, further hoping that he survives the ordeal and comes through with flying colors.
To Taffy – hmm . .alright, I won’t bring up that matter any more but I must defend my curiosity. As owner, Derrick’s name is in bluelink and his comments are whiteboxed. All of our letters are linkdated, and the only other bluelinked name is that of Matthew whose single comment was the second responder after Truccoli. Click on Matt and you’ll get http://www.snubbles.com.
So if you’re truly not connected to or hiding behind any website, well . . SOMEBODY pulled off a neat trick on your behalf . . .
I just don’t want you mad at me over it. Thanks!
You’re welcome, Mike! DMFC should have my membership fee next Monday. Any more voices out there?
You must have “submitted” on your screen while I was typing on mine. My letter went right under Taffy’s, then I X’d out for some more web browsing. Returned a half hour later and found that I got bumped! Gee, thanks!
Do you guys not have each others’ email addresses? Is that the situation?
Hi Ralph
How could I be mad about anything I have found on this site…? Lots of happy surprises… Old friends who I had almost given up trying to find,& new friends who have an appreciation of the “old” days as much as I do! I really appreciate all of the effort you guys have put into this. I went to the site Snubbles) as you suggested, but didn’t have any luck. Even my 19yr.old son (who is very computer savy)tried. Still no luck.
I was inspired to take a peek into a very large box of souvenirs I had saved from the DMS. I have every script from every show I was involved with. I don’t know if there is any interest, but I could make a copy of a few. They’re fun, and really bring back the memories. It’s not ADAM 12 or DRAGNET but all of the greatest entertainers of our time are involved. Just let me know.
Taffy Ding-a-ling
Don’t worry about the “bumping”. It happens! I get a good laugh, too.
Here’s my email address: skipcuber@surfglobal.net
During one season Dean Martin introduced the Ding-A-Ling Sisters directly to the audience and to the home viewers. Each week he would start with “Folks, I’d like you to meet the Ding-A-Ling Sisters. People write in asking…” . The descriptions were corny, but he lightened things up before the girls began their songs. Let me give you my favorite: “…People write in asking if the girls really are sisters. Well, no they’re not. They’re really BROTHERS!!”. On one end of the lineup our princess Tara broke up and laughed along with the audience, proving that the performers’ human side is always there.
The Golddiggers and Ding-A-Ling Sisters were brothers indeed . . a unique brotherhood of young ladies unknown to each other but unexpectedly summoned forth to dance and entertain America, united as Sisters in Song!
If anyone beats THAT description, I’ll torture myself with a thousand wet noodles for the rest of 2007!
On this Saturday afternoon I found a link to a former Golddigger listed as possibly the 13th Golddigger on the StreetSwing website. She is SHERYL ULLMAN, and I’ve invited her to come see our letters here. I mentioned Michelle, Taffy, Lynne and Liz, so we’ll see if Sheryl can add something to our column. Here’s hoping!
Michael, Yes I could use the that taping of the Ding-a-lings on the Bob Hope special. I will let you know how to get it to me. E-mail me at michdol@cox.net… thanks a million, and Sheryl was a great girl and I hope she is happy and well, I have a picture of her and I on the Bob Hope tour. Hi Ralph!!! Peace and I’ll tell you all about the Vietnam Vet show when I know more. I think it will be a real blessing. Hi Taffy!!!
I get the impression that our up-till-now gracious host, Derrick, may be growing a tad weary of the increasingly off-topic nature of the conversation, so I’m a bit hesitant to stray any further into that realm, but at the risk of moving too far off base, I’ll tread just a little bit further and see if I’m still operating within safe territory…
Taffy, I don’t know if I speak for anyone else who’s contributed hereto, but I simply wanted to express my wonderment at where all the years have gone when I read that you have a 19-year-old son. My hunch is that you couldn’t have been much more than that yourself in those wonderful moments when you were joined by your fellow Dings for “Records Round And Round”, “Ding-a-Ling World” and the “It Makes Us Feel So Nice And Warm” medleys with Dean.
It’s especially jarring when I think of a very specific image that I have of you from a sketch featuring Dean and guest star Peter Graves, in which you entered the room wearing an orange top and a pair of black hot pants and (I hope that I’m neither embarrassing you nor being too forward) displaying one of the shapeliest sets of gams that I’ve ever seen.
Fortunately, even though that scene never made it into the Guthy-Renker “Best of Dean Martin” collection, I have it forever preserved on video as a result of it having been included on an A&E Biography of Dean that was shown back in 1995.
Looking back on those episodes from the 1971-72 season, what’s particularly striking is how contemporary all four of you ladies look — the hair, the make-up, even the outfits — they all appear remarkably fresh, unlike some styles of that era, and indeed seem virtually interchangeable with the fashions sported by today’s stars like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, et al.. A major difference, of course, is that all of you had talent, while the current crop…well…
Anyway, speaking of that talent, another glaring omission from the Guthy-Renker volumes was the exclusion of any numbers by the Ding-a-Lings performing on their own (or, for that matter, the Golddiggers doing the same). Every episode gave you gals a chance to show off your singing and dancing chops, and my hope is that one day those numbers will resurface on DVD. But in the meantime, as you can see from this blog, they continue to burn bright in the memories of all of your fans.
Good news, Mike . . my letter of last week went from web director Peter Ruffini to Neil’s assistant, out to Neil Daniels (out of town on business) then back to the assistant and back to Mr. Ruffini again, and back to me by email. Neil got the messages. .SOLIDLY!!
Mr. Ruffini gave me details about the shows’ ownership status, legal matters, labor and copyrights. Neil is in contact with most of the Golddiggers and is doing all he can, also will have MORE good news – hopefully – in a few months.
The giant isn’t sleeping anymore!
Hey everyone. This is Liz Kelley in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s nice to see that we’re not forgotten. Michelle, would love to hear from you. I think your the only one I haven’t been in touch with for all these years. We couldn’t find you for the reunions.
The war vet convention sounds like a blast. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.
This thread continues at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GoldsandDings/
and here:
http://thegolddiggers.wordpress.com/
Hi how are you ? does anybody know about goldigger and ding a ling danielle mardi ? write eferrucci@aol.com
To all readers who see a 1-year + 8-month gap in the most recent postings, I am thankful that Derrick has re-opened this column for further messages.
There has been a lot of activity taking place since Michael and I wrote so much of this blog line. We, as well as eight members of The Golddiggers, achieved the first step toward our goal of releasing the nine years worth of The Dean Martin Show and all of The Golddiggers’ TV series to the Public Domain. Court proceedings were set in motion to sort out the tangled web of program and copyright ownership, lawsuits were subject to lengthy hearings and testimony was given as to who owned what. Everything was fair game as the trial commenced to a first legal decree. The final issues are not yet resolved at this time, so we are looking forward to the next chapter in what may well be a very long battle.
In the meantime…Wes Guidry, Ralph and Mike started a Yahoo group with the moniker ‘GoldsandDings’. I invited Michelle DellaFave to join us there, Derrick soon followed and Taffy Jones eventually caught up. Michelle was reunited with former Golddigger Nancy Bonetti, Nancy gave us a few names to start with, and I became an unofficial Scoutmaster in search of lost Golddiggers. I found several of the ladies, and there were cheers all around as the reunitees became many again.
But the biggest achievement so far was the creation of the Golddiggers Super Site. Written and produced single-handedly by Michael B. Schnitzer of New York City (yes, HE is Michael of this blog line), the Super Site is a Super Work-Of-Art, listing every known member of Dean’s Girls plus The Golddiggers plus The Ding-A-Ling Sisters. The site has many divisions, with one available for letters from readers around the country and the world.
The Yahoo group ‘GoldsandDings’ has carried on since February of 2007, focusing almost entirely on the ladies of the Dean Martin Show. Mike is the moderator of that group, and I – Ralph Baker of Cumberland RI. – started a seperate group to talk about Dean Martin’s television history. At the Yahoo ‘DeanMartinTVShow’ you’ll find more than 250 listed episodes of Dean’s No.1 variety program over a 9-year stretch, with plenty of references to the Golddiggers and the Ding-A-Ling Sisters.
Derrick is – or rather, WAS – there (until recently)….so I hope he’ll return soon. If not, well…thank you, Derrick, for being with us through all of the discussions about the show, the girls, and especially about the Super Site. I still have some surprises coming. PLEASE don’t miss out on them.
Thanks, cheers, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to ALL!!!
I have a great story to tell you about Tara Leigh. At the age of 19, I was working for a Jaguar dealer in los Angeles. The year was 1969. I had moved up from the parts department to sales. The owner wanted me to represent his dealership at the LA Auto show. I had to dress in a suit and tie. I remember getting to the Pan Pacific on friday, the day the show was to start. My girlfriend dumped me a week prior, so I was feeling pretty worthless. I was there for about an hour when this beautiful girl came up to me in a full lenth Mink coat and introduced herself as Tara. She said she was working the Jaguar display as a model and asked if I could watch her coat! My mouth fell open when she handed me the coat from the revolving car display. Tara had on this sexy bathing suit under the mink. Over the next few days I got to know her somewhat well. Saturday of the show was very busy. There were several men drooling over Tara standing next to the Jag Conv. Some older guy kept coming back to the display to asking her out. I went over to see if she was ok and she introduced me to this guy as her boyfriend. She came down from the revolving display and said ” lets get something to eat” I felt so good walking away with Tara.
We kept in touch over the next year. I moved from LA to Newport Beach (1970) and lost touch with Tara. A few years later, my dad and I were watching the Dean Martin show and I said to myself, thats Tara! Sure enough, the credits listed Tara Leigh! I mentioned to my dad, I went out with one of the Ding-a-ling sisters and he said sure you did son.
Tara had such a good heart. I will never forget 1969. I can remember it like it was yesterday. oh yes, I can’t remember the girl that dumped me. Tara made sure of that.
Ron Henaghan
Hello, Derrick! As we head for Thanksgiving 2009, I just popped in here to say that YOU’VE BEEN HONORED with a front-page mention of yourself at this column plus an inside-the-site link to ‘Golddiggers At Bostworld’. I’m now at Wordpress running my own blog titled “Wanted – The Dean Martin Show!”. In the midst of creating the new blog I discovered that the WOm!WAm! site is no longer operating as it once did. Click on that link from Michael and you’ll find a request for help from the Web Mistress.
Anyway, you and your readers are certainly invited to see what I’m doing at:
http://draaiorgelfan.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/in-living-color/...
…and you’ll find that it is incomplete. I allowed the blog to go immediately to search engines while I continue filling in the pages. The blog should be half completed by Thanksgiving and FULLY completed by New Year’s Day.
By the way, Derrick, – this unpredictable Economy affects everyone, even at the Executive service level. Near summer’s end Tara Leigh finally came out of hiding, and I inquired to her most recent business office address. That office responded quite favorably, and so – much to Michael Schnitzer’s chagrin – I am one very happy man! You’ll read all about it on my blog before Christmas. BE there!! With regards to Mr. Henaghan who wrote the previous letter, Happy Thanksgiving to all!
What a fascinating saga. Yes, I am the Paul Husband who revealed Tara Leigh’s name in high school days.
I sang with Tara in a high school choir. What a beautiful voice she has. I did run into her post-Golddiggers days and we had dinner together one time and reminisced, but I have lost touch with her again.
One Tara story that I will share is that in high school, she always dressed so modestly, with her hair pulled up neatly but severely, with her trademark one small curl over her forehead — to the point that she was clearly attempting (not entirely successfully) to hide her beauty. At our one dinner, I asked her why she dressed that way, and she told me that she wanted a career as a singer so much that she did not want to get sidetracked with a serious boyfriend in high school. So she had not only talent and beauty, but determination to reach her goal.
She is a very nice, sweet lady.