It Girls, Boys Next Door, Scream Queens, & Dorothy: An Alternate Pop Culture Timeline

[markedward]

A&E BIOGRAPHY, EPISODE "SHARON TATE" (1998)

“Sharon Tate started out as a 1960’s “It Girl” in Eye Of The Devil. Despite a few bumps along the way, she became one of the brightest stars of her era…”

FROM THE DOCUMENTARY FILM SAM WESTWOOD'S HOLLYWOOD (2016)

DISCLAIMER: Between 1965 to 1983, there was an actor who seemed to be everywhere. Then his career suddenly went down in flames. His name? Sam Westwood. This is his story. [1]

A few clips of celebrities talking about Sam are shown

TAB HUNTER: Sam really overcame a lot of obstacles to prove himself as an actor.

ROBERT OSBORNE: You have to realize that Sam came into the business with no training. He learned from other actors and directors. There's a stark difference between his earlier work and the films he made in the 1970's.

HAYLEY MILLS: Sam got into show business by accident. Dean Jones decided he was going to become a Baptist minister. He was done with Hollywood and refused to even do Disney movies. Production was to start on That Darn Cat! Disney visited the park one day and spotted Sam.

The screen fades to archival footage of a rather good looking All American boy next door type. A dark haired cross between Tab Hunter and 1940’s actor Lon McAllister, Westwood also bears a strong resemblance to actor Kent McCord. There are clips from several of his earlier movies: Never Give An Inch, The Grifters, Coogan's Bluff, Traffic Jam, The Kill-Off, and The Reincarnation Of Peter Proud.

The screen cuts to current footage of Westwood. He’s much older now but has aged well.

SAM WESTWOOD: I moved out to California in 1963, when I was eighteen years old. I had added a couple years onto my age and was passing as twenty. Eventually, I landed a job at Disneyland as maitenance. I had no life goals, really. I was just getting by. One day, at the end of 1964, I was told Walt Disney wanted to see me. So, I went to the studios for a meeting, not knowing what he wanted. I thought I was going to lose my job at the park. There was no reason to think that, but I had absolutely no clue why Walt Disney wanted to see me. I walked into his office--I'm not going to lie, it was terrifying and he said to me “I want to put you in pictures!”

I had no acting experience, not even plays. I was absolutely horrified but agreed to a screen test. I would ask experienced actors on the sets of the three movies I made for Disney for help. Those were my teachers. When Disney died at the end of '66, Dick Clayton, who had been Tab Hunter's agent, helped me get out of my contract. But before and after that I did two more really, really terrible movies for them. After the third, Disney decided they were done with me and started to focus on Kurt Russell and John Davidson. I was happy but decided to keep trying my luck in the movies. I remember the day Dick called and told me Hitchcock wanted to screen test me for a picture he was doing at Universal with Sharon Tate. She'd just got out of her contract with that guy, Ransohoff. I had seen her in Eye Of The Devil and the idea of working with her and Hitchcock sounded intriguing. [2]

Sharon had some contract issues, so it was only her second picture. I got to know her fairly well..."

BETTY ABERLIN, FANGORIA, 1990

“Fred Rogers did not want me working with George on Night Of The Living Dead. If I’d backed down I’d probably still be playing Lady Aberlin…”

FOOTAGE OF JUDY GARLAND ON THE RED CARPET AT A FILM PREMIERE, 1973

Judy is there dressed elegantly alongside oldest child Liza Minnelli, fresh off the success of Cabaret. Minnelli is wearing a Halston gown. Daughter Lorna and son Joey are also with the duo. Judy looks much healthier than she did four years back in her previous movie, having made a conscious effort to kick drugs and alcohol.

“This is the first movie in years I am truly proud of having made. I hope you all enjoy watching it tonight as much as we all enjoyed making it. And I am happy to have my family by my side tonight with me” [4]

NOTES

[1] Sam Westwood is one of (possibly) two fictitious actors who will play in some OTL movies as well as ones that were left unproduced IOTL.

[2] Sharon Tate is still alive as of 2016 here

[3] Judy gets some extra time ITTL. Her first few films will be awful, but it will get much better after 1969. You’ll have to wait to find out what her 1973 film is.

[4] Betty Aberlin defies Fred Rogers and goes onto some interesting cult film success here. IOTL Romero wanted to cast her in Night Of The Living Dead.

This is my first attempt on my own at a timeline. I had four half-written ideas kicking around, the major one being Sharon Tate. The other three were:

-The concept of two unknown actors being plucked out of nowhere and struggling with their sexuality in the social climate (as well as Hollywood) of the 1960’s-1980’s.

-Judy Garland surviving her overdose and attempting to revive her career in the 1970’s.

- Betty Aberlin of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood fame becoming a cult film actress. These four plot lines will frame a few smaller ones.

Enjoy!

 

[markedward]

So, when I first typed this up earlier, there were no reformatting options available for some reason. Was able to fix some things so it's more readable.

 

[Miss Teri]

So, does Sam Westwood take Kurt Russell's place as "Former Disney Child Actor turned action hero", or does he do more dramatic roles?

Also, does Aberlin play the lead female in Night of the Living Dead?

 

[markedward]

Westwood aspires to be more of a dramatic actor. He's the type who would rather be auditioning for Benjamin Braddock in "The Graduate" than filming a Disney production. Russell's career will probably have the same trajectory as OTL. He'll most likely go from Disney to something like Elvis to action films.

And indeed, she does play Barbara. Aberlin will have a brief dry spell but might somehow wind up working for a famous English horror film studio.

 

[markedward]

Before we jump too far ahead though it's back to 1965 and Judy Garland's latest film appearance:

Harlow (Magna, May 14, 1965)

Directed by Alex Segal

CAST

Carol Lynley as Jean Harlow

Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as William Mansfield

Judy Garland as Mama Jean Bello [1]

Barry Sullivan as Marino Bello

Hurd Hatfield as Paul Bern

Carol Lynley:

"To this day, I don’t know what led them to cast me. I only agreed to do the film because Judy Garland was already signed to play my mother. After rehearsing for about three weeks, Judy came to me and said ‘Carol, this is going to be a piece of s---. I’m quitting. I know the press will write that I was drunk and couldn’t handle it but I don’t care.’ I became frantic and begged her not to quit."

Judy Garland on The Dick Cavett Show, 1974:

"After rehearsing for about three weeks, I said to Carol Lynley 'Carol, this is going to be a piece of...trash. I’m quitting.-"

Cavett: You didn't say "trash" though, did you?"

Judy: (Laughing): You rat! Anyway, after I promised Carol I would stick around, we learned of the other Harlow with Carroll Baker. Then both of us tried to quit. Of course, they threatened to sue so we finished the picture. It was a lousy movie".

[1] Judy Garland doesn't drop out here. Lynley's quote is based on this.

 

[Miss Teri]

Westwood aspires to be more of a dramatic actor. He's the type who would rather be auditioning for Benjamin Braddock in "The Graduate" than filming a Disney production. Russell's career will probably have the same trajectory as OTL. He'll most likely go from Disney to something like Elvis to action films.

And indeed, she does play Barbara. Aberlin will have a brief dry spell but might somehow wind up working for a famous English horror film studio.

So, Russell might still work with Carpenter.

So, how many Dracula movies will she be forced to do?

 

[markedward]

So, Russell might still work with Carpenter.

So, how many Dracula movies will she be forced to do?

Just one planned so far and not until 1972. She'll appear in another cult classic before that.

Kurt Russell will definitely work with Carpenter here, but there will also be some more comedies along the lines of Used Cars. The only thing that might affect him during the 60's is a very early major film role lined up for Goldie Hawn. Which means she won't have her bit role in "The One And Only Genuine Original Family Band" ITTL. They'll still work together later on though.

 

[markedward]

FROM SAM WESTWOOD'S HOLLYWOOD (2016):

Sam Westwood: When I did tests for That Darn Cat! I was completely inexperienced and knew I was far too young to be playing an FBI agent. Disney finally brought Dick Van Dyke in to play it. For some reason though, Disney still really wanted me in this movie. I ended up playing a smaller role of this surfer guy who is the love interest for Haley Mills' character. Walt really thought he had a big discovery with me. Roddy McDowell was also in the film. It was through Roddy that I met Sal Mineo. Sal was kind of washed up at the time, he'd just done that movie Who Killed Teddy Bear, but he became my first "Hollywood" friend and I was starstruck...”

From A September, 1965 issue of Variety:

“Sources say Kim Novak has narrowly escaped a horse riding injury on the set of the J. Lee Thompson directed film Eye Of The Devil...” [2]

[2] IOTL, with two weeks left to shoot, Kim Novak was replaced with Deborah Kerr and her scenes were reshot. Here, this doesn't happen and Novak stays in the picture.

 

[markedward]

From a December, 1965 issue of Variety:

“Filming has been completed on Eye Of The Devil. The J. Lee Thompson directed film stars Kim Novak, David Niven, David Hemmings, and a newcomer named Sharon Tate. The John Calley and Martin Ranshoff production is set for a July, 1966 release.”

From Sam Westwood's Hollywood (2016):

We cut to a clip of Hayley Mills talking about Sam

HAYLEY MILLS: So the film came out and Disney decided to really promote Sam. He seemed rather lost. Disney kind of just picked him out and said "I want you in movies!". He was a kid from Arizona working odd jobs before this. It was scary for him.

The film then cuts to Sam in his livingroom going through a scrapbook

SAM WESTWOOD: Acting was great once I got into it, but I realized the roles could be better. And I had this idea that being hyped by Disney could kill my chances for better roles.

The reviews were mixed. It had just sort of evolved into a Dick Van Dyke comedy. But I was more comfortable at that time with the role they gave me. Disney also had me doing the odd TV gig so I was getting steady work.

I got rushed into The Ugly Daschund with Michele Lee right away, which was released rather quickly...Walt tried me out in a lead that time. I feel like I was far too young to be playing a married man, but Disney thought I was 23. And he cast me alongside Michele Lee who was 24. I liked Michele, she's talented. After that he loaned me out to AIP for Fireball 500 which was basically a beach picture. It had Frankie, Annette and Fabian in it and I played a guy who died in a racing accident. The reviews were slightly better that time.

From an earlier Sam Westwood interview with Cult Movie Blog, 2010:

SW: My second picture was an even bigger pile of crap. Do you remember that movie Matinee where there’s that film within a film called The Shook Up Shopping Cart?

Cult Movie Blog: That's a great comparison! [2]

SW: Well, the films I did over at Disney were exactly like that. And it was like a machine. One after the other. They weren't thrilled when I started turning scripts down...

Shopping Cart Movie.

 

[Miss Teri]

Just one planned so far and not until 1972. She'll appear in another cult classic before that.

I'm guessing it's a science fiction-horror film based on a television serial that I rather enjoyed. Though I won't speculate until we get there.

 

[markedward]

I'm guessing it's a science fiction-horror film based on a television serial that I rather enjoyed. Though I won't speculate until we get there.

That one never actually crossed my mind! She might land a guest spot on the serial during lean times now. The film she will appear in is more of a psychological horror film.

 

[markedward]

So...when we get to 1967 after this entry, there will be a lot of really long, detailed posts. I'm trying hard not to make this like a really good TL I read on here a while back called Straight Out Of Development Hell so there might be a slow day or two while I go about making some minor casting changes.

Eye Of The Devil (MGM, July 1966)

Kim Novak and Sharon Tate in Eye Of The Devil (1966)

Eye Of The Devil would finally hit cinemas during July 1966. The film was a hit at the box office. Sharon Tate received positive reviews for her film debut as the villainous Odile de Caray. Tate's previous credits had consisted of either bit parts or roles on TV shows such as Mister Ed and The Beverly Hillbillies. Tate donned a black wig for the latter. Most of these early TV roles had been part of a seven-year contract Tate had signed with Filmways in 1963 under Martin Ransohoff. Despite rumors that her voice had been dubbed by a British actress, the film got Sharon Tate noticed. Ransohoff set about planning follow-up films for his new star. However, someone else in Hollywood saw Eye Of The Devil and wanted to use Tate as well.

Prior to the film's release, Alfred Hitchcock asked to view a print of the film. Hitchcock was interested in using Kim Novak, who he had previously worked with in the 1958 classic Vertigo, for his latest film production over at Universal. Following the mixed reviews coming in for his latest effort Torn Curtain, the studio was less than thrilled with Hitchcock's decision to film an adaptation of the J.M. Barrie stage play Mary Rose. Legend has it that by the time Hitchcock had finished viewing Eye Of The Devil, it was now Sharon Tate he was interested in casting. Upon learning that Tate was under exclusive contract to Filmways, Universal Pictures tried to talk the film legend into making a different film. However, Hitchcock was determined that he would do whatever he could to get Mary Rose off the ground with Sharon Tate as his star. [1]

[1] Mary Rose is a project Hitchcock was never able to get made OTL.

 

[zert]

I am enjoying your changes and twists from OTL. Please keep updating when you can.

 

[Miss Teri]

That one never actually crossed my mind! She might land a guest spot on the serial during lean times now. The film she will appear in is more of a psychological horror film.

Oh, okay, I'm not too familiar with Hammer's filmography, so I've probably have never heard of it. Just a correction, the original Quatermass TV serials ended in 1957, and another didn't come around until 1974.

 

[markedward]

I am enjoying your changes and twists from OTL. Please keep updating when you can.

Thanks Zert! I'm going to post a small update with a few clues for the 1967 posts.

Oh, okay, I'm not too familiar with Hammer's filmography, so I've probably have never heard of it. Just a correction, the original Quatermass TV serials ended in 1957, and another didn't come around until 1974.

For some reason, I was actually thinking of Dark Shadows and the two movies. Will look into Quartermass because it does fit into what I have planned for her around 1972. The TL I am working off of only went that far, but this one will go much further. I see her as the type of actress to do better in England than Hollywood. Although OTL Aberlin was very funny in her deleted bit part in "Zach and Miri" which is what inspired me to think "What if she'd had the chance to do more projects outside the neighborhood?"

Also, I have read a bit on the 50's series. Things like television wiping and lost fllms have always fascinated me.

 

[markedward]

Snippets from various Hollywood trade magazines circa late 1966:

"Connery announces On Her Majesty's Secret Service to be his last James Bond Movie" [1]

"Sharon Tate, star of the recent hit Eye Of The Devil, has had her contract with Martin Ransohoff bought out by Universal Pictures. After some initial contract disputes with Ransohoff, Tate is set to star in Mary Rose with none other than Alfred Hitchcock directing. Tate was scheduled to film Don't Make Waves next as part of her contract with Ransohoff. The film will now feature newcomer Goldie Hawn opposite Tony Curtis" [2]

"Repulsion director Roman Polanski has started work on his latest film. Fearless Vampire Killers. The Martin Ransohoff production will star actress Jill St. John" [3]

[1] The follow-up here will be a completely different You Only Live Twice starring an OTL Bond villain as 007.

[2] She'll still do Laugh-In and Cactus Flower here, but this will kind of set the stage for her 1960's persona. I had originally thought of using Goldie for Rosemary's Baby but it will be another actress. Mia Farrow ITTL will be stuck only in movies featuring either her husband Frank Sinatra or other Rat Pack Members.

[3] I will give you a heads up, this may not end well.

 

[zert]

Hints that Jill may be a victim of some late night mayhem.

The changes keep coming and how much they may deviate is to be seen.

 

[markedward]

Hints that Jill may be a victim of some late night mayhem.

It might also hit Hollywood harder ITTL.

 

[markedward]

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (United Artists, June 14, 1967)

Directed by Lewis Gilbert

Written by Richard Maibaum

Music by John Barry. “The World Is Not Enough” performed by Dusty Springfield [3]*

*The title for the theme song stems from the scene where 007 visits the College of Arms. Bond finds that the family motto of Sir Thomas Bond is "The World Is Not Enough", and that he might be (though unlikely) Bond's ancestor.

CAST

Sean Connery as James Bond 007

Catherine Deneuve as Tracy Di Vincenzo

Donald Pleasance as Blofeld

Charles Boyer as Marc-Andre Draco

Ilse Steppat as Irma Bunt

Bernard Lee as M – Head of the British Secret Service.

Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny.

George Baker as Sir Hilary Bray – Herald in the London College of Arms, who Bond impersonates in Piz Gloria. Baker also provided the voice of Bond imitating Bray. [4]

Yuri Borienko as Grunther – Blofeld's brutish chief of security at Piz Gloria.

Bernard Horsfall as Shaun Campbell – 007's colleague who tries to aid Bond in Switzerland as part of Operation Bedlam.

Desmond Llewelyn as Q.

Britt Ekland as Olympe – Draco's female assistant.

Blofeld's Angels Of Death:

Julie Ege as Helen, a Scandinavian girl.

Jenny Hanley as an Irish girl.

Anouska Hempel as an Australian girl.

Wendy Richard as an English girl. (She’ll still do Are You Being Served? ITTL)

Catherina Von Schell as Nancy, a Hungarian girl at the clinic whom Bond seduces.

Angela Scoular as Ruby Bartlett, an English girl at the clinic suffering from an allergy to chickens.

Mona Chong as a Chinese girl.

Sylvana Henriques as a Jamaican girl

Lana Wood as an American girl.

Zara as an Indian girl.

Karin Dor as a German girl.

Helena Ronee as an Israeli girl.

Despite the much darker tone and tragic ending, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service still received good reviews and did brisk box office. However, it would prove to be Connery’s final James Bond film.

The theme by Dusty Springfield also did well, placing in the UK Top 5 and US Top 20 charts respectively.

Brigitte Bardot was considered for the role of Tracy before Catherine Deneuve was cast.

Boyer appeared in 1967's "Casino Royale" OTL. That film is not made ITTL and he has the role of Draco here instead.

[1] Maibaum, who had written all the Bond scripts up to this point OTL (Roald Dahl wrote You Only Live Twice) continues ITTL.

[2] One of the OTL Angels Of Death (The OTL English Girl) was still modeling in 1967 and had just had a son. She will have a small part in the 1969's You Only Live Twice. Hint: She will be Absolutely Fabulous in it. Karin Dor had a role in You Only Live Twice here so it seemed logical for her to play the German Girl. Lana Wood famously appeared in Diamonds Are Forever. She’s in this film instead as her part in the later film will go to someone else. Scoular appeared in Casino Royale in 1967 OTL as well as the OTL version of this film. I’ve kept the rest of The Angels Of Death as is.

[3] No relation to the 1999 OTL James Bond theme by Garbage. This might also butterfly that film. The Dusty Springfield theme is along the lines of “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me”. Unfortunately, the earlier production date butterflies “We Have All The Time In The World”.

[4] Baker had a bit role in You Only Live Twice OTL, which this film replaces so his role remains unchanged.

You Only Live Twice (1969) will be the next James Bond film. ITTL, it will have a completely different plot (similar to that of the novel) and will be a direct sequel to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It will also star an actor who would play a Bond villain OTL as 007.

 

[markedward]

LEAVING DISNEY

After turning down several scripts, something that did not impress Walt Disney, Sam Westwood finally appeared in his third film, The Happiest Millionaire (Disney, June 23, 1967).

"The people at Disney did not like that I was turning scripts down, hanging out at Sal Mineo's place, generally seeming ungrateful. I only agreed to The Happiest Millionaire so I could work with Greer Garson and Geraldine Page."

"Sam Westwood at that time seemed really unhappy on set" co star Lesley Ann Warren would tell People Magazine in 1982 "We got along, he was courteous, but it was obvious he hated the material. He spent a lot of time asking Geraldine Page for advice".

The Happiest Millionaire was in production when Walt Disney passed away in late 1966. Since Westwood's vocals turned out to be less than stellar, a young singer who was signed to Columbia Records named John Davidson was brought in at Disney's request to dub Westwood's singing voice. [1]. The studio, which was already pushing their other male star Kurt Russell, decided Davidson's leading man looks and singing ability would be perfect for future projects. Westwood was let go.

"Dick Clayton was worried that there would be no work for me, but right away I landed an audition with Mike Nichols for The Graduate. I was dying to read for Benjamin Braddock. My screen test was opposite Goldie Hawn and we kept giggling the whole time. It was a disaster. So the coveted role didn't happen."

"Oh my God. The Graduate. I tested for that you know. With Sam Westwood. Mike Nichols got really mad at us because we kept laughing"- Goldie Hawn, The Tonight Show, 1971. [2]

With his hoped for role no-go, Westwood was shocked when he got an offer to screen test for Alfred Hitchcock. "Dick told me it was for a film called Mary Rose and not to screw up this time. I managed to get through the screen test with the great Fay Compton, figured I'd bombed and started to make plans to leave town. That's when I got the call saying I had the part if I would do three additional films for Universal". [3]

John Davidson would go on to star in The One And Only Genuine Original Family Band during 1968 opposite Warren and Russell. That film would be notable for a small appearance by future TV star Sandy Duncan who had just appeared on the sitcom Good Morning, World for CBS during the 1967-1968 season. Davidson's biggest film success for Disney would come that same year with The Love Bug opposite Michele Lee who had just scored a 1967 success with the film adaptation of the musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

John Davidson


MAKING WAVES

Goldie Hawn

Goldie Hawn meanwhile, had a not particularly enjoyable experience making her debut film Don't Make Waves (MGM, June 20, 1967) opposite Tony Curtis. According to Hawn years later, she would remember the atmosphere as already tense and that things became worse when an uncredited stunt man drowned to death attempting to parachute into the Pacific Ocean. [5]

Since Don't Make Waves was the film debut for the previously unknown Hawn, MGM went ahead with an extensive publicity campaign upon its release that was based largely on Hawn and her character, Malibu. Life-sized cardboard cutouts of Hawn wearing a bikini were placed in cinema foyers throughout the United States. Hawn also took part in an advertising campaign for Coppertone. [6]

The title song, "Don't Make Waves", performed by The Byrds would do very well on the Billboard Hot 100 that Summer, peaking within the Top 20 at #15.

Sadly, despite the heavy promotion and hit title track, Don't Make Waves fell flat at the box office, earning 1.25 million.

"It was a beach picture. And by then nobody wanted to see that"- Tony Curtis.

However, Hawn would get rave reviews for her performance. Unfortunately, it didn't translate into other film roles right away. She got one offer to test for Elaine in The Graduate and as mentioned, promptly bombed her screen test. It wouldn't be until January, 1968 when Hawn became a regular on TV's Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In that her career truly took off.

[1] OTL Davidson actually had his role. As mentioned in my first post, Sam Westwood was made up for this timeline, which was initially going to be called "Sam Westwood's Hollywood".

[2] She did audition OTL. Highly doubt it went this badly though.

[3] Universal was one of the last studios to have actors under long term contracts OTL. Wanted to keep Sam Westwood from being tied down again though.

[4] Sandy Duncan replaces Goldie Hawn in both roles ITTL.

[5] Based on experiences OTL star Sharon Tate told Roman Polanski.

[6] Again, Tate did all of this for "Don't Make Waves" OTL.

[7] I haven't deviated far from Goldie Hawn's early career ITTL. As stated, she will still do Laugh-In, Cactus Flower. and There's A Girl In My Soup.