Classic Rock 'n' TV History is a tribute to a bygone era of classic rock music and television, featuring stories and interviews with many of those artists and personalities we loved watching and listening to growing up, from the 1950s, '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s. It's also a reflection and a celebration of the classic rock music and television shows that for us, will live on forever in our hearts and memories.
The Lovely Holly: A One-of-a-Kind Gal
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By Jason C. Klose
If you grew up in the late '70s and through the '80s as I did, or even through the first half of the '90s, then you more than likely watched CBS's The Price Is Right on occasion, or as often as you could when home from school during holidays and summer vacation. Did any of you ever pretend to be sick, just so you could stay home and watch the show in the morning? I may have done it once or twice. But did you want to watch it for the games and prizes or to see the beautiful models - or maybe a little of both? I think that many male viewers who watched the show would be willing to admit that they had a crush on at least one of the classic models at one time or another. I most certainly had mine.
My personal favorite is 'The Lovely' Holly Hallstrom (as she was known), the beautiful, charming, perky, blue-eyed redhead and sometimes klutzy 'girl-next-door,' who appeared on The Price Is Right from 1977-1995. A longtime fan favorite, Holly was known for her accidents, mishaps, and blunders on the
show, but she was also known for her quirkiness and comedic side, which showed her talent as more than a game show hostess and spokesmodel.
Holly had a fun-loving personality and always seemed genuinely excited and happy for contestants when they would win. She also had a gift for making something out of nothing when showing certain products and prizes, with her lovely smile, cute gestures and facial expressions. Of course, Holly became famous for her bloopers on stage, particularly with kitchen appliances.
Here is the gorgeous Holly in September 1982 and again in January 1983, having a little trouble with Gibson refrigerators. I imagine Holly may not want to be reminded of this, but I think she's cute and handled it very well. She's so adorable and funny!
Holly had other talents – the
mannequins, the mime, the mechanical fortune teller, and so many characters she played in the hilarious showcase skits throughout her nearly two decades on the show. She was always entertaining and so good at her job, and she always looked like she was having a blast! She was a cool, hip, and fun gal, and I imagine she still is!
Here she is in December 1993 playing a mannequin while modeling a sweater, with model Kathleen Bradley. Watch out Kathleen...she bites!
Holly is playing a mechanical fortune teller in this showcase from October 1993. She does this so incredibly well. Such a talented and fun girl!
At 5'11" tall, Holly is an incredibly stunning natural beauty! Her sweet face, amazing smile, and delightful charm always brought a smile to my face and lifted my spirits whenever I needed cheering up. I wish I could've given her a big hug and a kiss!
Whether she was showing products and modeling prizes or gracing the stage and our TV screens in the showcases, Holly always looked fantastic!
Of course, we can't forget her cute figure in those sexy swimsuits, bikinis and exercise outfits can we?!!
All of the models on The Price Is Right through the years have been very special in their own way, but in my opinion, Holly was the best model the show ever had or ever will have. She was a breath of fresh air, and she is simply a gem in the history of television and always will be. I hope she knows just how dearly loved and missed she still is by her fans - and I am most certainly one of them.
Holly added something to The Price Is Right that has been missing ever since she was very cruelly and unfairly dismissed by host and executive producer Bob Barker in the summer of 1995, after nearly 19 years on the show. Holly's last episodes aired at the beginning of The Price Is Right's 24th season. Her last appearance on the show was October 27, 1995.
It
was first reported that Holly's dismissal was due to weight gain she had
experienced from taking a prescription medication. However, Holly later
revealed to the press that she was forced into retirement and eventually fired
by Barker because she refused to support him in a sexual harassment lawsuit
brought against him by former Price model Dian Parkinson in 1994. After receiving angry letters from fans after Holly's dismissal, Barker sued Holly for libel and slander, claiming that she was lying; but he dropped the suit 48 hours before the trial began. The court then declared Holly the prevailing party and ordered Barker to pay her legal fees. In retaliation, Holly countersued Barker for
age, weight and medical discrimination, wrongful termination and malicious
prosecution.
Lawsuits and litigation lingered on; and after spending all of her resources and savings, having to sell her home, filing for bankruptcy, and even having to live out of her car temporarily, Holly ultimately received a multi-million dollar settlement in October 2005, after a 10-year battle in the courts. Fierce determination, tremendous courage and strength of spirit on her part won out in the end, and for that she has my deepest admiration and respect. Way to go Holly! You are an amazing woman!
To me, Holly is a one-of-a-kind gal! She always possessed a perfect blend of purity, grace and sensuality with every appearance. I thought she was the classiest, sweetest, and most beautiful of the three longest-running models on The Price Is Right (along with Janice Pennington and Dian Parkinson, who were later joined by Kathleen Bradley in 1990), and without a doubt one of the most beautiful women in television history. Even more importantly, Holly always came across to me as a very kind, sincere, intelligent, fun-loving, and down-to-earth person, in various talk show interviews and whenever Barker would talk with the girls on The Price Is Right.
Here are a few chats with the ladies, the first from December 1986 and two from 1987. Holly has such a sweet, bubbly personality!
I grew up watching The Price Is Right as a kid, vaguely remembering it in the late '70s but definitely through the '80s and into the '90s, right up to Holly's last show in 1995. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to be a contestant on The Price Is Right, nor have I ever met Holly. Although I wish I had!
But I am hoping to speak with Holly in the near future and interview her for a story, which I would like to post here on my blog. It would be even more wonderful to meet Holly in person someday. It would be a thrill, and it's a dream that I hope and pray with all of my heart will come true.
So this my tribute to you Holly. Even though it's been several years since we last saw you on TV, I want you to know that you are very special and will always be remembered for the smiles, laughter and joy you brought to me and so many people. Your inner beauty and humbleness always showed, and you always brightened my day with your charm and by just being yourself. I know, and I'm sure that most people feel the same way, that your career in entertainment was cut short, and that you had so much more to offer us that unfortunately we didn't get a chance to see. You were such a sweetheart and so beautiful inside and out, still are, and always will be. I hope you are doing well and staying safe and healthy. We miss you and we love you! 💖 Peace! ☮
Photo Credit: Jim Hatten
Here are a couple more clips of Holly being adorable as ever, plus another wonderful tribute video of Holly through the years from a fan. 💘
I reposted this for today, Valentine's Day (February 14, 2021). This is for you Holly! If by any chance you are able to read this, I want you to know that I am thinking of you. I hope you are staying safe and healthy during these difficult times. You are a very special lady and will forever be in my heart. Peace and Love to you! Take care!
By Jason C. Klose Best known to television audiences as a model on the CBS daytime game show The Price Is Right from 1990-2000, Kathleen Bradley has an impressive resume in the entertainment industry that includes not only modeling, but acting on television and film and music. But this beautiful, groundbreaking woman didn't achieve her success without plenty of hard work, determination, and remembering where she came from. Born January 10, 1951 in Girard, Ohio, just two miles east of Youngstown, Bradley was the only girl to four brothers. For Bradley it was a wonderful upbringing - living in a rural area in a nice, small community and not in a big city. "Family life was great, and everybody was going to each other's homes every now and then," Bradley recalls. "You didn’t have to lock the doors, and you could go home before the streetlights came on." Bradley was brought up in a community that at the time was still segregated. The neighborhood was made up of...
By Jason C. Klose For my first post on this blog, I thought I would share an interview I did with legendary singer Linda Ronstadt in May 2015. The interview was for an article I wrote for the Centre Daily Times (State College, PA), prior to Linda's appearance at The Grand Opera House in Wilmington, Delaware. She was still on a book tour promoting her autobiography, Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir , which was released in September 2013. While Linda was no longer able to sing due to Parkinson's disease, she made speaking appearances using a PowerPoint presentation with pictures, videos and audio clips of her amazing life and music career. Linda was entertaining, humorous, witty, and her usual modest self, as always. Her wonderful, down-to-earth personality certainly shines through in my conversation with her, as she was so gracious with her time, which was just over an hour. Not only did we talk about her career, but we even connected on a more personal level, as we discussed...
I reposted this for today, Valentine's Day (February 14, 2021). This is for you Holly! If by any chance you are able to read this, I want you to know that I am thinking of you. I hope you are staying safe and healthy during these difficult times. You are a very special lady and will forever be in my heart. Peace and Love to you! Take care!
ReplyDeleteShe should make a surprise appearance on The Price is Right.
ReplyDeleteThat would be wonderful to see. I don't know if she would, but only time will tell. She was a fan favorite and so loved by everyone.
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