99 Updates

1999 UPDATES

November - July - April - February

NOVEMBER 1999 UPDATE Good'ay Everyone,
I have tried to get to the computer to write but I'm afraid October got away from me. These last months have been unbelievably busy, and I still fell like I'm on a runaway train.
First came an invitation to attend the Film Festival in Sitges, Spain. Veronica was asked to introduce a 70mm copy of the film 'ALIEN' to a very excited audience of film fanatics. I think the festival ran 14 days in all, and we were invited for seven days to enjoy the city of Sitges and attend the festival, and we had the time of our lives. What a lovely place Spain is. The people were warm, the food outstanding, and the city...well I had a field day with my camera. Look for new photos of doors that I took around Barcelona and Sitges www.RUBBERBOOTS.com/cartwrig.htm. We are two sisters that enjoyed ourselves every minute and I was particularly struck by the Catalonians love of life. There was a lesson to be learned from these lovely people. Seny and rauxa - solid common sense and creative chaos. I just love that.
A KOALA AND I VISIT AT THE 'FEATHERDALE WILDLIFE RESERVE'
Upon my return to the states I received an invitation to the grand opening of the new 20th Century Fox Studios opening in Sydney, Australia. Nicholas Hammond (who played Frederich in the movie) and I were asked to talk about "The Sound of Music" and how it came into the hands of Darrel F. Zanuck who was the head of Fox Studios at that time. Then we introduced Shirley Jones who went on to speak about "Carousel" in which she starred. She sang with Hugh Jackman who hosted the show and they both sounded great. There were hundreds of dancers, big production numbers with fireworks and Australian singers and actresses like Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett. We all had a blast. Perhaps you saw the broadcast, it was shown around the world and I was honored to be a part of it. I was gone for two wonderful weeks, participating in the studio event as well as the opening night of "The Sound of Music" play which was at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney. That was fun and I got to meet all the kids in the show. It's a wonderful production and as always it brought back terrific memories of the movie. Which sometimes feels like I just filmed it yesterday.
SOME OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAST OF KIDS IN THE SOUND OF MUSIC.
It was great visiting with Nicholas who has lived in Sydney for ten years. I don't get to see him as often as I'd like to.
NICHOLAS HAMMOND AND ME AT THE FOX OPENING EVENT.
I was especially thrilled because my daughter Becca took time from college and was able to go on the trip with me. We took in as much sightseeing, exploring and theatre as we could. Sydney harbor is the most beautiful harbor I have ever seen and we were blessed with fabulous weather. The people were warm and hospitable and I can't wait to go back. Becca's always wanted to go to Australia, as I had, and it was a trip worth waiting for.
BECCA AND I VISIT 'THE SIMPSONS DOWN UNDER' AT FOX STUDIOS.
On the business side of my life I have been writing a fantasy adventure book with Bill Mumy. We're in the editing stages now and it's coming along quite well. I'm feeling the break was good for me but we're getting back to it right away. Also it looks like the film 'OVERLOAD" that Bill wrote will be underway in the new century. I'll be working in front of the camera again and I'm looking forward to that.I'm constantly updating www.RUBBERBOOTS.com and I hope you'll keep us in mind for your holiday shopping.
Well I'll sign off for now but hope to get to another update as the new century dawns. Keep happy and healthy,

JULY 1999 UPDATE
Hello friends:
I cannot believe it was a year ago in July 1998 that I sat with my son Jesse and we put this website together over the holiday break, and we published it for the first time on July 4th. A year has gone by, how quickly it has passed. I thought time went a little slower as you got older...I guess I was wrong. In March, April and May we were engulfed in the end of the year activities that surrounded the graduation of my daughter, Becca, from High School. Now that seems like only yesterday since she was born, and here she was graduating. Now she is looking towards college and is well on her way to what awaits her come August.
Once she graduated, I was able to concentrate on a myriad of new things. My photography has taken up a life of its own. In a year, I have really taken to this computer thing and I've been snapping away with a digital camera and keeping www.RUBBERBOOTS.com on the Internet updated with new merchandise. I'm learning more every day, and it helps to have an in-house webmaster to answer my questions.
With my regular camera I was asked by Bill Mumy if I would photograph him for his new CD cover and pamphlet. The album is called "In The Current" and it has just been released. It's available on his website which you can get to by going to my LINKS page. It was fun working with Bill again. There's also a picture we included that I took of him back in the 70's. Now I'm working on another CD he has ready for release hopefully by the end of the year. This one is a little more photographically complicated and I'm on a digitally challenged adventure but I'm enjoying every minute. We have a few other things in the works too, I'll keep you updated.
I was asked the other day to write the liner notes on a new CD that is going to be released soon with music from "Lost In Space." This was original music written by John Williams and one side is basically 'Penny' music. You can hear a lot of it in "My Friend, Mr. Nobody". It's really beautiful and Kevin Burns salvaged it from being destroyed.
I'm going to be attending the big convention they have planned in Boston, MA on July 23 - 25th at the Bayside Expo Center. Most of the "Lost In Space" gang will be there...Bill's going to be there, and Marta Kristen too...and my sister Veronica is going also. With "Alien" and "The Birds" just released on DVD she's quite in demand these days. Hope you can join us if you're from that neck of the woods.
Guess that's it for now. Smile and be good to one another.

APRIL 1999 UPDATE

I cannot believe it is spring and two months have past since I last sat down to write. As I had said in February’s update the new year had begun with flurry. There were the holidays, and the closing of Rubber Boots and the beginning of a new website business called ‘OLIOS’. It began innocently enough. I would put the Artists who used to supply my store on the Internet. So I talked to the jewelry makers, the handcrafters, the creators of the goods and they all agreed. We set out on our new adventure. I decided I would make the website with a little help from my son Jesse. Over the next two months I would learn a new language…html, shop carts and uploading. I shot the pictures of the items, hundreds of them, scanned and inserted. I would set up the shipping and how to fill the orders. In short, create this new business ‘Olios’ from beginning to end. I was excited, discouraged, elated and disgruntled. I bugged Jesse no end when I got stuck, and he showed enormous patience…after all, at thirteen some things just seem easier to grasp. I got enormous support from my closest friends, although most of the time they had no idea what I was talking about. The Artists were patient too, wondering when on earth this project would get off the ground. I could have hired someone to do it for me…but part of the fun of it all was taking on the challenge. So its done…and I’ll keep adding and subtracting as new things are created. If you get a chance, take a look around www.RUBBERBOOTS.com . I find shopping on the Internet can relieve a lot of headaches in a fast paced world. I also like the idea that these items can’t be found everywhere.

I was also asked by Bill Mumy if I would photograph the cover and inside sleeves of his NEW CD, "In the Current" to be released on June 18^th. Bill had a vision of what he wanted and we were both happy with the results. I’ve had the pleasure of listening to the tracks of his CD and it’s really great. He’s so talented, playing all the instruments and writing all the songs and music.

Now to answer some questions: There are no more ‘lost’ episodes that I am aware of. The ‘unaired’ pilot has been aired now and I think it’s available on tape. It was really wonderful working with Guy Williams and the ‘great’ Jonathan Harris. Guy was bigger then life and always very kind to me. Of Jonathan I have many endearing memories. He was very funny and always made me laugh. His outgoing personality made it fun to be in scenes with him. We had many inside jokes, and I still enjoy his stories that he still tells to this day. What a masterful storyteller he is. Many we have heard over and over, but he tells them so skillfully it’s like hearing them for the first time. He’s a terrific person. Every day at 4:00 PM he’d go up into the rafters on the set and throw down Tootsie Roll Pops to everyone on the cast and crew. You can’t help but love him.

I have found a tape of "Lad: A Dog". It was something I’ve been looking for and I found it on the Amazon website. So thanks to everyone who searched for me. I also notice "Linda Williams" dolls have been showing up on Ebay. They also have released a new "Brigitta Von Trapp doll. The first one was in a dirndl some 30 years ago, this one is in a sailor suit and I picked one up in New York on my last visit there.

Now here are a few more answers to questions: I started "Lost In Space" when I was 13.

Mark Goddard was a very nice guy…but crazy. I remember Marta Kristen and Mark Goddard flirted on the set, but what they did off the set you’ll have to ask one of them.

My hair was way down my back to my waist. Word came down from the powers that be…that my hair was ‘too long’. They wanted me to cut it…but I loved my long hair, so they compromised and said I could wear a wig. I thought it looked stupid…but, it was a compromise.

My getting into show business was truly an accident. It was not something my parents had planned. I think they have enjoyed having their daughters in acting. They were always there to take us to the set and help us with our lines. When your child is in show business it takes a tremendous amount of commitment from the parents of that child. I think their involvement was done the right way. They were never trying to fulfill a dream they had…so they were accepting of our dreams.

There were plenty of bloopers from "Lost In Space." I don’t think they are out on a video. You can see some of them if you go to the LINKS page and click on the Irwin Allen link and then click on the Lost in Space section… they have some hilarious bloopers they show in still pictures.

That’s it for this time. Hope you’ll keep visiting me and my new Rubber Boots website.

FEBRUARY 1999 UPDATE
I'll say one thing for 1998...it was a year of change. The New Year has flown in with a purpose. From the end of 1998 to now it has been a flurry of holidays, projects, cleaning out and big decisions. I did a great deal of soul searching and made a major decision. I decided to close the physical location of my gift store 'Rubber Boots'. I opened the store in 1977 and it has been a wonderful and creative outlet for me during the years I was raising my children. Now after 22 years I felt it was time to do something else. I decided to open a new door...the door to having 'Rubber Boots' on the Internet. So I've been working feverously to bring this new creation to life. I've been meeting with my favorite artists, photographing their creations, designing the pages to make it just as easy to shop on the web as it was to walk through the door of the store in Toluca Lake. I have received hundreds of e-mails and letters from my loyal customers who are sad to see the store leave Toluca Lake, but they are excited for me because it was time for this change in my life. I'm learning a lot along the way...I know this decision was the right one. Change can be scary, but I'm ready. You can click on to www.RubberBoots.com and leave your name on the e-mail list...this will let you know when the website is up and running so you can come in for a visit.
Hopefully, when this gets underway it will leave me some time to start some other projects that I have in mind.
I wanted to let you know about two shows that will be on your television soon. The first one is "SCREEN TESTS 1" which I've been told is airing February 16th. They dug around the archives on the 20th Century Fox Studios lot and found old screen tests featuring many of your favorite actors. They dug deep to find a screen test I had done when I was 15 years old for a movie called "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie." I thought it was hilarious to watch this screen test I performed complete with English accent. I think you'll enjoy the show if you can tune in. The second one is "SCREEN TESTS 2", which will air later in the year. It will include my screen test for "The Sound of Music" where I tested for two parts. The part of 'Brigitta' and the part of 'Louisa,' for which they put me in a blonde wig. I'm glad Robert Wise cast me as 'Brigitta', it just felt more like me, and I think I look dreadful in the blonde wig. You be the judge. The genius of Kevin Burns put these together.
I also wanted to tell you that my sister Veronica's two part 'X-Files' will be airing on February 7th and February 14th...Perhaps you saw her several times on the Super Bowl spewing out the words "There will be no stopping them"...on the promo for the show. She was abducted by aliens you know. If you want answers, this is the show to watch...after all...'the truth is out there.'
For a 'flash from the past' check out the new combo picture in the PHOTO SHOP. Now there's an interesting group for you.
Thank you for all the wonderful e-mails and the many notes you have left in my guest book. I do enjoy reading them. I am gathering the questions you ask and will answer them when I find another moment to sit down... right now I have a job to do... I must get back to the 'Rubber Boots' website so I can get the adventure online...If you are in the Florida area...Marta Kristen, Veronica Cartwright and I will be attending MEGA CON at the Orlando Expo
Centre in Orlando, Florida on March 5th, 6th and 7th.
Hope to see you there! Till next time,

For the most recent updates go to my AC BLOG

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