David Hartnell's Hollywood Gossip - Win Prizes

No-one is recognised as knowing more about Hollywood and celebrities than David Hartnell. He's not only spent a lifetime reporting on Hollywood's trivia, gossip and scandals, but he counts many celebrities among his personal friends. Every Monday morning David will give you an exclusive weekly update on the gossip, scandals and trivia of Hollywood's elite. David is an award winning broadcaster and columnist he’s also the patron of The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc.

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by David Hartnell

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Read David Hartnell's Best & Worst Dressed List for 2009/10!

See David interviewed on the Good Morning Show about his Best & Worst Dressed List

Monday 8th March 2010

I'm not one to gossip but......I’m delighted to announce that HAIRSPRAY: THE SMASH HIT MUSICAL IS COMING TO MELBOURNE THIS OCTOBER

“SO MANY NUMBERS BRING DOWN THE HOUSE, IT’S A WONDER THE THEATER IS STILL STANDING,” New York Magazine

“IF LIFE WERE EVERYTHING IT SHOULD BE, IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE ‘HAIRSPRAY.” The New York Times

“THE MOST HAPPY, FUNNY AND SUNNY SHOW IN TOWN” Sunday Express

“A GREAT BIG FAT GORGEOUS HIT” The New York Post

“BIG HAIR, BIG HEART, BIG HIT” Daily Telegraph

If you’d ever wanted to star in the smash hit award winning Broadway musical “Hairspray” now is your once in a life time chance! The show open’s for the first time in Australia in October at the stunning Princess Theatre in Melbourne.

A production team from the Australian show headed by expat kiwi theatre legion publicists JP Bolton (who I think is one of the best publicists in the business) will be in New Zealand in early May, casting for the lead role of Tracy Turnblad among others. It is 1962 - the ‘50s are out and change is in the air. Baltimore’s Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion, to DANCE! She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show” and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a plus-size trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program’s reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her ‘do? Only in HAIRSPRAY! Welcome to the ‘60s!

The Australian production of HAIRSPRAY is produced by entertainment impresarios Dainty Consolidated Entertainment, who were the original producer of Mamma Mia! currently delighting Melbourne audiences. One of Australia’s most celebrated theatrical directors, David Atkins will direct the Australian production of HAIRSPRAY following on from his role as Executive Producer of the Opening, Closing and Victory Ceremonies, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Atkins has produced, directed, choreographed and created stadium events, musicals, arena spectaculars, television special events, films and video clips in Australia, Asia, Great Britain, America and Canada.

Jason Coleman, who is currently Judge and Choreographer on the successful Australian TV show So You Think You Can Dance will choreograph this production of HAIRSPRAY. Jason has covered more show business territory than most with credits including Choreographer on the film Happy Feet, Little Shop of Horrors, Sweet Charity, Fame, Hair, The Man From Snowy River, Chicago, A Chorus Line, Saturday Night Fever, Dancin’ Man and more.

HAIRSPRAY first opened on Broadway on 18th July 2002, and played for a fabulous 6 and 1/2 years until January 2009. Hairspray is now a global phenomenon, with productions all around the world. A Canadian production opened at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, Ontario in May 2004. A Finnish production also played in Helsinki in 2005. In the summer of 2007 Hairspray opened in Tokyo, Osaka, Korea and South Africa, and of course London!

HAIRSPRAY the stage production is based upon the original 1988 New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, with a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Grammy Award winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Whittman.

HAIRSPRAY – THE TIMELINE

• 1988 – Original New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, starring Divine, Deborah Harry and Ricki Lake is released

• 2002 – Stage production based on the original film opens on Broadway

• 2007 – New Line Cinema film starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Zac Efron is released

• 2010 – Australian stage production of Hairspray premieres in October at the Princess Theatre.

Caption: JP Bolton handling the publicity for Billy Elliott opening in Australia with Sir Elton John and David Ferness.







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Over the weekend I listened to a CD of David Niven reading from his biography “The Moons A Balloon” he’s remembered as one of Britain's best-loved actors. The archetypal English gentleman, he starred in over ninety films. He is equally remembered as the author of this classic autobiography. In his first volume, he remembers his childhood and school days, his time at Sandhurst and his early army service. He recalls America during the prohibition era and days in Hollywood before the Second World War. Of the war itself, he tells of family life back in Britain and his time on the front line in France and Germany. THE MOON'S A BALLOON is a wonderful record of a truly remarkable and warm-hearted man, told in his inimitable style. It’s now available now on CD – Hachette - at just $39.99 it’s worth every cent and I would thoroughly recommend it, it’s so entertaining and made all the more special by David reading it.

Reviews

• 'An immensely enjoyable, witty and racy memoir' Sunday Times

• 'Forthright, bawdy and often hilarious, zany and zestful, his anecdotes should keep you entertained for hours' Sunday




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Kiwi iconic magician and all round Mr Nice Guy Alan Watson tells me that this June will see Auckland becoming very magical, with the greatest line-up of magic talent ever assembled here. It will all happen at the 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention, the 5th through till the 7th June at Auckland’s Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre.

Iconic world-class English entertainer and master of magic Paul Daniels will be guest of honour. He has starred in his own hugely successful West End theatre show, headlined in Las Vegas and Broadway, as well as performing more unique magic on TV than any other magician in history.

From the moment he burst onto the TV networks his magic shows topped the ratings. A recent book on TV facts calls him the most successful TV magician of the 20th century. His creative genius enabled him to produce consistently stunning shows covering small, close-up effects to enormous outside broadcast illusions. The BBC One series "The Paul Daniels Magic Show" ran from 1979 to 1994 and regularly attracted audiences of 15 million in the UK, as well as being sold to 43 countries.







Caption: Alan Watson and his daughter doing one of his many illusions.





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I have just read a book called Men Alone – Men Together  which combines photography and oral history to document the lives of 45 gay men living in New Zealand — 14 couples, 14 single men and one trio — and how their journeys have, for the moment, led them towards or away from relationships.

OK so I’m a gay man and of course it interest’s me, however, this book is not only geared to a gay market. If your not gay and know a gay man who has just come out it would make a great gift. The book it beautifully produced and extremely well written and is in no way a sleazy publication.

In their own words they recount defining moments in their lives, as well as touching on significant events in New Zealand’s social history. Many of the men grew up in a world that condemned homosexuality, and in which the expression of their love for each other carried the risk of imprisonment. In contrast, it is now nearly 25 years since homosexual law reform, gay men’s and women’s civil rights are protected and the Civil Union Act provides legal recognition of their relationships.

Men Alone – Men Together reflects the immense diversity of the gay world. These men are our workmates and neighbours. They are gardeners and jewellers, teachers and builders, priests and fathers, each with a story to tell of remarkable determination and courage.

Mark Beehre initially trained as a specialist physician, working for several years before studying photography at the Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland and Massey University in Wellington. He graduated with a BFA in 2004, and completed a post-graduate Diploma in Fine Arts in 2009.

Mark’s passion for photography allows creative and personal expression, and is a perfect complement to the discipline of medicine. He is particularly interested in the documentation of people and places, and is a member of the Wellington-based collective exposed, with whom he has exhibited in New Zealand and overseas.

Mark currently lives in Wellington. Men Alone – Men Together is his first book. As I have already said it’s beautifully produced in a coffee table format 232 pages at $39.99, published by Steele Roberts Publishers in Wellington and retailing at just $39.99 and worth every cent. This would be a great gift to a man who has just come out gay.

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Remember the hit TV show The Beverly Hillbillies? Well they’ve just been released in a four DVD set by Umbrella Entertainment.

It’s great to rejoin the feistiest Granny of them all, wise Uncle Jed, his critter-loving daughter Elly May and love-crazy Cousin Jethro in their unrefined, legendary quest for an idyllic Beverly Hills existence. Welllll, Doggies! This hilarious collection features 26 newly-restored and unedited episodes with the classic opening and closing theme songs, rare cast commercials and other special material from the private archive of Paul Henning.

Now, "set a spell...take your shoes off. Y'all come back now, y’hear?" This show is a sheer delight when TV was family friendly entertaining, don’t miss this DVD collection gem!








Caption: How Donna Douglas looks today.








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HOLLYWOOD TRIVIA TO GO!

The Doctor and the Devils (1985) took 31 years to get to the screen after completion of the script. This is still a record.

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Lily Tomlin wanted sell-out ticket sales for her movie The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, which opened for an ‘exclusive engagement’ on Friday, 27 September 1991 at a Manhattan theatre. So she sold tickets in the theatre’s box-office for all six showings; the movie was a complete sell-out.

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In the mid 1950s, Universal Studios would not renew the contracts of Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds because they thought neither actor showed any promise.

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Like clockwork every day on an Alfred Hitchcock movie, at 4 p.m. tea would be served, no matter what. lt was something Alfred insisted on with all his movies.

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Eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes was a fan of Sean Connery, and felt that Sean was his look-alike. He once said if they made a movie about his life he wanted Sean to play him......but my lips are sealed!

Also - if you'd like to read about David Hartnell's house in the NZ Woman's weekly, please either scroll down here or click in the left hand column.

Copyright David Hartnell 2009


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WIN...

Next of Kin (Series 1)

Penelope Keith and William Guant star as reluctant grandparents Maggie and Andrew Prentice in the astringent, six-part comedy series, Next of Kin.

Maggie and Andrew have spent all their married lives doing exactly what they want and pleasing no-one but themselves. They have a plan for their retirement, the good life, a house in France, excellent food and wine, and the occasional company of a few select friends. Then fate crashes in.

Upon returning from a house hunting trip in the South of France, they arrive to the terrible news that their son and his politically correct wife, to whom they refer as “Bootface”, have died in a car crash. Which wouldn't be so bad - except that they are the only next of kin to their three bratish grandchildren – one’s a vegetarian, one only eats Spam and one won’t eat anything. As the days turn into months, it begins to dawn on Maggie and Andrew that their plans are well and truly scuppered. The three horrors - and their numerous and varied pets - are here to stay.

This week's question: Who played Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies?

Please send your answer, along with your name and address details to us here. [Please also note that you must be a GrownUps member to enter the draw - please register Free here if you are not currently a member]

Click here for recent winners.

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Monday 22nd February 2010

I'm not one to gossip but......Over the weekend I read the unauthorized biography by Alice Montgomery titles  “Susan Boyle Dreams can come true” published by Penguin.

'My advice to those who dare to dream is don't give up. If I can do it, anyone else can too.'

On 11 April 2009, forty-eight-year-old spinster Susan Magdalane Boyle stepped out on to the stage of Britain's Got Talent to jeers and sniggers. As she announced she was going to sing 'I Dreamed a Dream', the judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan didn't bother to hide their amusement. One minute later, they, and very soon the world, were giving Susan a standing ovation. She had the voice of an angel and her story was to become a modern-day fairytale, a dream come true.

In this book, the first to explore Susan's amazing rags-to-riches story, we follow her from her humble West Lothian background to topping the charts and performing for millions worldwide on TV. Whether it was bullying or nearly not entering Britain's Got Talent because 'it was a young person's game', when faced with the toughest challenges, Susan never gave up. The memory of her mother inspired her to give her dream one last chance.

OK you have to be a Susan Boyle fan to enjoy the book; I was amazed at how large the type face was in the book. It was an easy read a little disjointed in parts, but over all well cobbled together from newspaper and magazine editorials and hear say from people with a great selection of family photo’s.

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We're going to Disneyland!

A six year old goes to the hospital with her grandmother to visit her Grandpa.

When they get to the hospital, she runs ahead of her Grandma and bursts into her Grandpa's room....

"Grandpa, Grandpa," she says excitedly, "As soon as Grandma comes into the room, make a noise like a frog!"

"What?" said her Grandpa.

"Make a noise like a frog - because Grandma said that as soon as you croak, we're all going to Disneyland !!!"

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Alain Chamfort's rock album has been turned into a stage musical, about the life and times of the great French fashion designer Yves St. Laurent. Now I hear that the talented Malcolm McLaren is also working on a musical based on the life and times of French fashion designer Christian Dior.

I guess the big question is, would you go to the theatre and see a musical about Christian Dior? Looking back at the long run the Broadway stage musical (1969) had about the French fashion designer Coco Chanel played by Katharine Hepburn, I’m certain there would be a market for a new French Fashion designer musical.

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Wilde Kiwi Divas take to the stage in Auckland. Elizabeth Hawthorne and Lisa Chappell star in Oscar Wilde’s THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST at Auckland’s Maidment Theatre from March 11. Appearing together on stage for the first time, Hawthorne and Chappell play Wilde’s glorious theatrical creations, Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen Fairfax. Blessed with a timeless sense of mischief, daring and wit, Wilde delights in parodying the aristocracy behaving badly. Taking propriety to the point of absurdity and well beyond, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST presents a world where serious matters are treated with much less insignificance than matters of decorum, respectability and breeding.

“Endlessly funny comedy about deliciously superficial people” New York Time

One-hundred-odd years on from its spectacular debut, Oscar Wilde’s “trivial comedy for serious people” is as fresh and scintillating and subversive as ever.

“The most perfect high comedy in the English language” Telegraph

A big congratulations to the lovely Elizabeth Hawthorne who’s making her 83rd professional theatre appearance, Elizabeth is relishing the authoritarian outrageousness of Lady Bracknell, Wilde’s monstrous paragon of patrician British matron hood.  THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST promises theatergoers a night of wit, wisdom and utterly fabulous and fashionable aristocrats behaving badly. Very badly indeed.

The Importance of Being Earnest
By Oscar Wilde

Auckland’s Maidment Theatre
11 March – 3 April

Opening Night: 13 March

















Photo caption: Elizabeth Hawthorne as Lady Bracknell

















Photo caption: Lisa Chappell as Gwendolen Fairfax

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June will see Auckland becoming very magical, with the greatest line-up of magic talent ever assembled here. It will all happen at the 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention, the 5th through till the 7th June at Auckland’s Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre.

World-class English entertainer and master of magic Paul Daniels will be guest of honour. He has starred in his own hugely successful West End theatre show, headlined in Las Vegas and Broadway, as well as performing more unique magic on TV than any other magician in history.

From the moment he burst onto the TV networks his magic shows topped the ratings. A recent book on TV facts calls him the most successful TV magician of the 20th century. His creative genius enabled him to produce consistently stunning shows covering small, close-up effects to enormous outside broadcast illusions. The BBC One series "The Paul Daniels Magic Show" ran from 1979 to 1994 and regularly attracted audiences of 15 million in the UK, as well as being sold to 43 countries.

His TV career has not been limited to performing magic. As a presenter, he has hosted some of the most enjoyable game shows on TV. "Odd One Out," "Every Second Counts" and the highly rated "Wipe Out" have all had great success in the battle for viewers. There was also the wonderful "Wizbit" children's series, which featured a world of magic and wonder for the younger viewer. On radio, he was a BBC Radio 2 DJ for six months and for years presented a game show called "Dealing with Daniels." Always in high-demand as a celebrity guest on talk-shows, Paul's vibrant personality, love for magic and endless supply of stories and anecdotes from a lifetime in show-business make for riveting viewing.


















With a reputation as one of the most popular society and show-business entertainers, Paul has appeared before The Royal Family, The Sultan of Brunei, The Sultan of Oman, Prince Rainier of Monaco, Barry White, John Major, The Duke and Duchess of Wessex, and countless others.

Visit their website for more information about this exclusive event.
For full details visit the convention website here.

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Looks like Gracie Fields CBE is going to become immortal. Thirty years after her death, previously unreleased tracks have been found in a garage in England. Who knows these unreleased recordings could create a new generation of Gracie admirers. The recent huge success of Dame Vera Lynn in her 90’s just goes to show you are never too old to please the young.

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If you love Frank Sinatra, Sammy David Jr and Dean Martin go get yourself the DVD The Rat Pack London’s Smash-Hit West End Show!

This live stage show from London’s Strand Theatre that recreates the Rat Pack’s famous evenings in the Copa Room at the Sands Hotel in Vegas, where Frank, Sammy and Dean presided with effortless chic and flair.

“The finest tribute show EVER…” THE DAILY MIRROR (UK)

The DVD is out by Umbrella & Vendetta Films, it’s a very entertaining and well produced DVD.

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HOLLYWOOD TRIVIA TO GO!

When Johnny Weissmuller was given the part of Tarzan, he was under contract to model BVD underwear and swimming trunks. MGM wanted Johnny so badly that they had to agree to let their top stars like Jean Harlow, Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo and Marie Dressler model BVD swimwear for advertisements in order to get Johnny for the role.

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At one time there was talk about making the movie The African Queen into a musical starring Doris Day and Lee Marvin. Bette Davis and John Mills were up to star in a British production a couple of years before the 1951 version with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.

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In 1964, auditions were held right across America and Europe for seven young actors to play the Von Trapp children in the movie version of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Broadway hit, The Sound of Music. Some 300 child actors auditioned, including an 18-year-old called Mia Farrow, who was rejected. For the movie’s 25th anniversary, all the children turned up in America, except for Nicholas Hammond-Friedrich, who was working on a movie in Australia......but my lips are sealed!

Copyright David Hartnell 2009

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Let's face it, we all love a good gossip! If you're interested in a present for family or friends, please scroll down for a GrownUps special book price for David Hartnell's book.

David Hartnell's Best & Worst Dressed List of 2007, published in the NZ Women's Weekly November 2007, can be viewed by clicking in the left hand column (attached files) - Enjoy!

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Here are a few intresting facts about Mae West, who's still impersonated by drag queens around the world.
By DAVID HARTNELL

Mae West, 1930s sex siren, still holds the record for a Hollywood star living the longest in the same apartment. She lived in Unit 611 of the Ravenswood Apartments in LA from 1932 until she died in 1980.I visited her their many time's, on first meeting her I was so surprised how short and dumpy she was. Her apartment was totally white-on-white, it was like stepping back in into the 1920'. Even today her penthouse is pointed out on just about every Hollywood tour. For many years it was thought that she owned the whole block of apartments, but after her death it was found that she only owned her own. I visited her a number of times at her Ravenswood apartment, it was like going back to the 20's and 30's when glamour was at it's best. "As long as the building stands, I will never leave", she told me. Over the years, an occupant of the apartment believes Mae's spirit is still there. The TV works everywhere, except the bedroom, which Mae always felt should be kept for reading, sleeping and making whoopee. On numerous occasions, the phone in the apartment will ring when no one's calling, and the chandelier in the foyer flashes when someone Mae dislikes is present. A photo taken in the lounge showed a bosomy apparition in a mirror. Many psychics have visited the apartment and all believe there is a strong spirit of Mae West there.

Tom Selleck first came to the notice of the Hollywood talent scouts as the model in the billboard adverts for Salem cigarettes. As a teenager he won a four-year basketball scholarship to USC. He also had a lead speaking role with Mae West in Myra Breckinridge (1970), a role he would like to forget. If you haven't seen the movie your missing a treat, It's now out on DVD.

The movie She Done Him Wrong, starring Mae West, was made for $260,000 and grossed $3 million. It was the biggest box-office attraction in 1933.

'Mae West' was the name given by the British RAF to their inflatable life jackets during World War II. Even today, it's recognised by compilers of dictionaries. This makes Mae West the only movie star ever to be listed in a dictionary, something she was always very proud of.

Hollywood sex siren Mae West (the Madonna of yesteryear) had the best one liners in the business, she accrued for herself a kind of negative, self trivialising allure. The following are some of her most memorable one liners: When she signed a contract with Paramount studios she told the Hollywood press:

'I'm the girl that works at Paramount all day and Fox all night.'

'Good sex is like playing a good game of bridge. If you don't have a good partner you had better have a good hand.'

'Give a man a free hand and he will run it all over you.'

'I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.'

'I feel like a million tonight - but one at a time please.'

'It's better to be looked over than overlooked.'

'When a girl goes wrong, men go right after her.'

'Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?'

'Between two evils, I always pick the one I haven't tried before.'

'It's not the men in my life that counts; it's the life in my men.'

'I always say, keep a diary and one day it will keep you.'

'When I'm good I'm very very good, and when I'm bad I'm never better.'

'A little hush money can do a lot of talking.'

'I've been on more laps than a table napkin.'

'I don't know a lot about politics but I'd recognize a good party man when I see one.'

'A curve is the loveliest distance between two points.'

'You must get out of those wet clothes and into a dry martini.'

'Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.'

During the movie slump of 1938, Hollywood's most outrageous sex siren Mae West commented, 'The only picture to make money recently was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and that would have made twice as much if they had let me play Snow White.' Mae West left the silver screen after starring in The Heat's On (1943), and did not appear in another movie until Myra Breckenridge (1970).

She holds the record for the longest gap in a career. Her last movie was in a 1978 romp called Sextette (now on DVD) a version of one of her old plays from the 1930s, which has become a camp classic. She played the starring role of a bride trying to consumate her sixth marriage-to a much younger man played by Timothy Dalton. At the time she was in her late 80s and had trouble remembering her lines. The director came up with the idea of having someone off camera reading her lines to her through an earpiece. If you watch the movie you can often see her hesitate before speaking her lines, waiting for them to be relayed to her. In the middle of a take, and to everyone's astonishment she blurted out an LA traffic report. Her earpiece had picked up the frequency of an LA police traffic report. Oblivious to what she had said she carried on acting as if nothing had happened, of course that take never got to the screen. Mae West was one of the few stars listed in the LA phone directory. It was one of her little quirks; she believed her fans should always be able to contact her.

A picture of Mae West will fetch around $2,500 (US) if it's in good condition. I would never sell the one she signed for me it has pride of place on my office wall. Believe me. Mae West was one of a kind.

An exclusive look at David Hartnell's Home. (From NZ Woman's Weekly)

Celebrity gossip guru David Hartnell has lunched with film director Alfred Hitchcock along with some of the most glamorous movie legend's of all time like Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, Dame Edna Everage, Princess Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Mr. T and Joan Collins to name drop but a few. He's busier these days than he's ever been, recently shedding 21 kilograms in last eight months, front's his own weekly celebrity TV show, writes a gossip column for NZ Truth, presents a daily Hollywood gossip spots on NewsTalkZB, Style Consultant to Citizen Watch's in New Zealand, his own web page on www.grownups.co.nz and still causes a stir with his kiwi Best and Worst Dressed lists which he's been doing for the past 26 years.

He's a celebrity in his own right, but when he relaxes in his lounge, drinking from fine English bone china, he knows, only his long-term partner Somboon could love living in their eclectic Auckland house.

"The house doesn't have a theme but a Thai flavour," David says, glancing around. "People say our house is like a dramatic museum. We don't think so because we live in it."

David and his Thai partner met 16 years ago a year after David bought the inner-Auckland city house.

"I knew the chap who owned the house and said if he was ever going to sell to let me know," David remembers. "About six months later he said he was selling and I responded, 'I'll buy it'. I didn't need to do any renovating except put a new roof on." The house had a very grand opening by David's cousin The Earl of Mt. Edgcumbe, with a guest list of the who's who.

From the first day they moved in, David and Somboon felt a strong connection to their inner-city sanctuary.

"I've been here for 15 years and have great memories," David says. "We have good neighbours and have watched the families grow up and get married. We all do our own thing but we're very supportive for security reasons."

Their favourite room in the house is the deck they made into an enclosed terrace.

"We have had some wonderful dinner parties out there," David says. "Somboon is an excellent cook and I'm an excellent washer. I don't mind how many pots and pans I have to clean because the meals are always magnificent."

Nearly every room in the house is decorated with photographs of famous friends, which David could never bring himself to throw out.

"The pictures in the lounge are special ones of people we love and like," David says. "Everyone likes them but they are dust catchers. We recently moved a lot of the signed Hollywood pictures, memorabilia and my awards into the toilet because there were so many of them. We decided everyone stands or sits in there and now has something to read. It's become quite a talking point," David laughs.

The house is character filled with Buddha statues and mementos of the couple's world travels hanging from its walls.

David and Somboon, who owns an organic rice cracker business, work from their Westmere home office. But while many couples would feel pressured both living and working together, the duo have devised out a winning formula.

"We have one golden rule that no work comes out of that office," Somboon says, "We don't seem to get on each others nerves."

The most dramatic thing the couple bought recently is a beautiful poster embellished with a huge golden frame. David believes the stories behind how furnishings came to be are some times more interesting than the objects themselves.

"We have a house in Thailand we visit a few times a year," David explains. "Earlier this year we went to stay and ended up at a Chinese restaurant. Magnificent posters lined the wall, which I loved so much I photographed. I thought nothing of it until I bought a poster from a Chinese emporium in Auckland about six months later. I felt like I'd see the poster before, so got my camera out - I'd bought exactly the same poster I'd loved in Thailand. Funnily enough, the poster cost next to nothing but the frame cost a bomb."

The entertainment reporter is as flamboyant in character as he is in his décor taste. Pictures of Somboon and himself have been transformed onto canvas using an Andy Warhol pop art theme.

"Everything has to be over the top, otherwise feature pieces just look like a pea on a drum," he says.

One of David's most prized possessions is an oil painting by his comedian friend of 40 years Phyllis Diller. The couple were gifted the original piece of art to hang proudly on their wall. To this day, David visits Phyllis, 91, in America and reminds her his beloved painting is hanging pride of place.

The pair also values a special Buddha statue in their pretty back garden among their special treasures.

"This Buddha was erected in memory of Somboon's mother who passed away," David says. "Her photograph is also on a beautiful hand-carved Thai table with our collection of other Buddha's. An interesting fact is Buddha's have to be higher than people's heads, which is why they are all placed high in our house."

David admits their house isn't for everybody but neither Somboon or he care. Just like fashion and interior trends come and go there a firm believer one has to be happy and confident in their surroundings.

"I absolutely adore our home," David gushes. "I couldn't imagine living any where else. It's a perfect haven for Somboon, me and our dog Miss Cele."

Story and pictures courtsey of NZ Woman's Weekly.

Steal David and Somboon's style

David and Somboon's five favourite things:

Their house in Thailand which the built from scratch 40 minutes out of Chang Mai in Northern Thailand.







David was stoked to find this oriental poster at a Chinese emporium in Auckland.











Not everyone can be a firm friend with famous comedian Phyllis Diller. David and Somboon love their dear friend's oil painting.







Somboon's Thailand-based sister Sudarat spends hours rolling, folding and linking the pages from the New Zealand Woman's Weekly into beautiful origami-like swans.







David loves this Freda Stark doll made by Hamilton doll marker Marshal Watt. Freda picked the fabric for the doll from one of her dressers.










David was gifted this Baker Light Mickey Mouse antique toy. When the string is pulled Walt Disney does Mickey's voice. "I love this toy because Mickey Mouse never turned into a rat ,like so many Hollywood actors," David says. "He is a Hollywood survivor."









The Buddha statue was decorated in memory of Somboon's mother.

Would you like to purchase David Hartnell's Book?

Let's face it, we all love a good gossip! Within it's 308 pages and 28 chapters you'll find juicy facts and fascinating, outrageous trivia about international movie and TV stars. David covers everything from Celebrity Good Luck Charms, Law Suits and scandals surrounding the Rich and Famous, Sex, Nudity and Drugs to Marriage and Divorce Hollywood-style and everything in between. Plus over 2,500 celebrity birthdays.

Give yourself or a friend a personalised gift.

Here's what some of the stars say about his book.

"I love gossip! Especially David's style."
Jacqueline Stallone

"You can 'dine out' on this stuff for months! Great inside scoops, from one of Tinseltown's truest fans."
Leeza Gibbons.

"David Hartnell's Hollywood trivia is outrageous fun!"
Jackie Collins.

"Probably the truest collection of Hollywood foibles ever assembled."
John Austin Columnist, Hollywood Inside.

"A Kiwi I admire."
Dame Edna Everage.


Forward by America's number on funny lady, the legendary Phyllis Diller.

My old friend, David Hartnell, is known as the 'Hollywood Scribe'. We first met in Sydney, Australia, many years ago, where he used to pop around with his celebrity radio show. He's informed the world of the machinations of the Tinseltown greats and semi-greats for decades. I see him often in La La Land, as he is a world-travelling jet-setter with bags packed, pen and laptop at the ready. He has the energy of a three-year-old. This man speaks one language-Hollywoodese Trash!

And it's all true!

Read him and weep … laughing!

Phyllis Diller
Los Angeles, California,


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To receive a personally signed copy of David Hartnell's Trivia, send a cheque to P.O.Box 78042 Grey Lynn Auckland New Zealand. Please send the name of the personal you'd like David to autographed too.

About David Hartnell

You can contact David Hartnell on dhpromo@ihug.co.nz If you want more Hollywood gossip, please see his column in NZ Truth magazine, out every Thursday.

Read about David Hartnell here.

You can also hear David Live on BIG 106.2 in Auckland every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 8.20am.

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