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.
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.
I just tried to download the albums and the link doesn’t work. Has it been taken down? I have them on vinyl but downloading would be easier.
Ouch — looks like both links are gone.
Well, maybe some day I’ll find the time to upload and entire blog’s worth of files…
Taffy Jones, I’m an ex-Doodletown Piper who remembers you from the group and also when you left to go to the Golddiggers. I’m working in the music industry writing and singing on commercials and TV and Movies. I sing the theme to Goodtimes and a bunch of cartoons like Tale Spin and Pup Named Scooby Doo. I’m the piano player in Naked Gun 2&1/2 and you can see me in Wag The Dog in the studio scene with Willie Nelson and Pops Staples. I’m in touch with a lot of the Pipers like Mike Campbell and his wife Elaine, Tommy Webb, Patrice Banks, Karen and Larry Puma. I would love to know how you’re doing today. I’m married with children and grandchildren. Hope all is well with you and your family. Jim
Interesting stuff about Tara Leigh who I only know as Renee Anderson who so beautifully portrayed the character of Alexandria Quatermaine on General Hospital. She’s a marvelous actress but it seems she fell off the face of the earth subsequent to General Hospital. Does anyone have any current information on her? I’d love to know what she’s doing now and I’m disappointed in the lack of info on her.