June 1st, 2012
Disclaimer: As a society, we put way too much emphasis on the size of a woman’s breasts when it’s the size of her brain and heart that matters. End of disclaimer. You’re now going to read a tale of Big Tits.
I grew up in a near circus environment of comics, entertainers, bohemians and one stunning Playboy Playmate. She was also an alluring actress on the big screen — she had co-starred with Louis Prima in my father’s 1961 movie “Twist All Night” –- and she was gorgeous beyond belief — and to add insult to injury—NICE. I loved everything about her, especially the big breasts and British accent. I’m kidding, the accent was fine, but it was those tits that I looked up to! Literally. I looked up to them. My dad talked about them so frequently and openly that I started to think of them as not an appendage but as another whole personality. “Her tits have got tits,” he would say. My own mother didn’t have tits that had tits. She barely had them at all. And, unfortunately, I would never end up that endowed myself, but dream on as a child I would. (Again, not important. See disclaimer above.) People would ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up, Fredde?” And I would answer proudly (as if this were a normal, Leave-it-to-Beaver fantasy): “I want to be a Playboy bunny, just like June (not Cleaver)!!!”
My idol, June lying by my father’s pool, 60’s
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Tags: breast cancer site, breasts, fredde duke, Freddy Duke, Hugh Hefner, idol's, June Wilkenson, June Wilkinson, large breasts, Maurice Duke, Smoky Martini recipe
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May 22nd, 2012
No, it’s not a band. But, it is a group. They call themselves THE POLIO’S. Here is how my not-so-unlikely friendship with them began.
Here I go again. Another story that starts with my dad. After he died and I just wasn’t coping that well with the loss, I found an article in the L.A. Times about post-polio syndrome. It talked about this painful late-in-life condition of those who’d been afflicted with infantile paralysis, and how some of them formed a group that would meet at UCLA. My dad did not suffer from this syndrome, at least not that I was aware of. Still, I found the phone number, left a message and received a call back.
Friendliest, loveliest voice on the other end. Ruth Ross introduced herself. She asked me why I called and what could she do for me. I told her about my dad, that he had polio and recently died — and how much I missed him. Told her we did everything for him all the time. Duke always had someone helping him, and my brother and I were very good at fetching him things. We were trained early. He would point at something, let’s say a box of Kleenex, and without any words exchanged, we would stand and bring it to him. Now on the phone, Ruth, a stranger, was a therapist hearing me out about the love I had for my dad. When the conversation was about to end, I remembered why I called. “Listen,” I said, “anytime you need something, groceries, whatever, please call me and I will run errands for you.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: best Chinese restaurants los angeles, Chinese Restaurants, fredde duke, Freddie Duke, Fu's Palace B.H., Joss Cuisine in Beverly Hills, Maurice Duke, Mr Chow's Chinese Restaurant, post polio syndrome, Ruth Ross, Shun Lee Cafe, Shun Lee Palace
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May 15th, 2012
I wonder how I can write any story about this time without the sex and drugs, but let me try. I first moved into an apartment on Old Malibu Road with my boyfriend. When we split, I moved girlfriend roommates (Wendy, Diana) in and out so I could stay on the beach, but still be able to afford the pad. We partied a lot. But in our own homes. You see, several of us that were friends were scattered across the beach in different places. And we would float from one house to another. A lot.
Friends that would come visit me would wander to one of the boys’ homes and then might not come back until the following day. I’m not saying who or with whom. And I won’t implicate myself except to say– the name Heidi Fleiss comes to mind. Don’t get the wrong idea, I was never paid for my “matchmaking.”
The other friends who had apartments on the same beach I will name. At least, I will give you first names. Billy, Ricci and John. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Beecher's Cafe, Beecher's Cafe at Cross Creek, fredde duke, Freddy Duke, fun times before aids, John's Garden, John's Garden at Cross Creek Malibu, Old Malibu Road, Old Malibu Road in the 70's, pecan pie recipe, sex and drugs and rock and roll
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May 12th, 2012
I once went to the most spectacular Hollywood funeral ever. And the love that poured out was well deserved. We knew her by one name, kind of like Cher or Madonna. Kaye. Do you all know whom I’m talking about? You do if you were lucky enough to grow up in Beverly Hills at that time. It’s Kaye Coleman, beloved Nate n’ Al’s waitress and star of our collective childhoods.
Although Kaye had her own daughter and son (and grandchildren), she was the unofficial surrogate mother to some of the biggest mothers in Hollywood. And her “sons” looked after her well. I’d run into Kaye at the priciest restaurants, dining with her posse of waitress friends, the tab picked up by Lew Wasserman or Bernie Brillstein. Those two moguls would also send her on European vacations and ocean cruises. At times, Kaye lived a fancier life than many of her Beverly Hills customers.
Larry King was the emcee of Kaye’s funeral, the only funeral I can think of that had one. His two Nate n’ Al’s buddies, the ones he eats with everyday, Sid and Bob, gave their own hilarious eulogies. So funny, that I overheard Suzanne Pleshette — with that happy newlywed look on her face after her surprise marriage to Tom Poston — leaving the funeral saying, “Who knew? Guess we have to get those two to speak at my funeral.” Sadly, that day would come too soon (not fair). Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Beverly Hills, deli's, fredde duke, Freddy Duke, great waitresses, Maurice Duke, Nate's
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May 6th, 2012
I have a very good friend and we have done everything at exactly the same time. Three kids. Divorce. New Marriage. Always within a year of each other and always there for each other. When we were in our single lives, raising kids alone, we would often have family meals at one of our homes with all the kids. We had each other’s back.
Our first-born sons were the best of friends. They were artists and did not necessarily fit in with the other sporty boys. My husband once said about them, “Are you sure they didn’t once walk through a toxic fog together?” We still laugh about that. Sometimes we would think it was a brilliant idea to “mainstream” the boys by sending them on YMCA camping trips to the mountains. They would come back coated black from dirt, stunned, as if we had sent them off to an inmate labor program. Unlike all of our other kids who would return from these excursions so happy, laughing with a pack of new friends they’d made, these two were miserable. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Chez Puce, childhood best friends, childhood best friends with mothers that are best friends, crepe recipes, Friends- Elton Johns song, great mushroom crepes, photo's courtesy of Cathy Mogull, story courtesy of Cathy Mogull, Third Street Promenade
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April 25th, 2012
It’s entirely possible I had some learning problems. Or did I? I got by in school, barely. School was never inspiring except during recess and lunch. For me, it was all about being social. In fact, I don’t think I ever stopped talking while in my classes. Math and Science really threw me. They both still do. They are like a foreign language. I got by though and my report cards usually were all B’s, C’s, or even some D’s, and always an A in PE. I almost got an F once in Dunker the Flunker’s second grade math class and that is when my mom when into full-blown protect-her-child-mode. She showed up at school with the results of my IQ test to prove… not sure what? But, it worked. Then in high school, I actually did get an F and it was in a filmmaking class. Again, my mother showed up at school to fight that grade. This time, she lost. You get the idea; I maintained a strong C-plus average. Hey, I didn’t know I was there to learn. I assumed I was there to sharpen my already A-plus social skills. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Beverly Hills teachers, Emanuel Lombard, favorite teachers, fredde duke, growing up in the 60's, Harbison Poole, New Jersey Diner's, Roland Hutchinson, Saddle River Inn New Jersey, To Sir with Love
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April 18th, 2012
Some days are just harder than others.
Today I’m listening to my favorite Bruce Springsteen songs.
I had the Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town album’s in the 70’s and I would play them over and over in my dad’s apartment. I would watch his foot, the one that was attached to his brace start to move to the beat of the music. One day, he said “Who is this guy, he’s very talented”. “Bruce Springsteen Dad, isn’t he great?”
Some days are just harder for me.
I miss sharing the love of music. I miss sharing the love of food. I miss sharing the love of people. I miss my dad! Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, CBS music special, fredde duke, Freddie Duke, Fried Chicken, harmonica players, House of Blues, Larry Adler, Maurice Duke, missing my dad
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April 11th, 2012
From left: Billy Vera, Alan and Kris Duke, Rita Coolidge
I cannot trace the exact moment, but somehow we started off on the wrong foot. And like a big wave, our discontent swelled over time, neither of us knowing the origin of it. We had both dug our heels in the sand.
When my sister-in-law, Kris, turned the big 4-0, my brother threw her a party. A really big one. Kris had always been a fan of Rita Coolidge, so naturally, Alan booked Rita for a private concert to honor his wife. He went all out.
As the big day approached, my one-day-to-be-husband urged, “You should really get along with Kris.” I agreed. I thought it was time to bury the hatchet.
So I did.
I went to a hardware store and bought a hatchet. I also purchased a beautiful gift bag that I filled with sand. Actually, cat litter. Where else can you get sand? And I buried that hatchet. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 40'th birthday parties, Alan Duke, Billy Vera, cats that we love, fredde duke, Freddie Duke, Freddy Duke, Kris Duke, Maurice and Evelyn Duke, Michael and Erica Duke, Pumpkin Bread Recipe, Rita Coolidge
Posted in Recipes | 15 Comments »
April 10th, 2012
When I first met my husband, I told him that I’m part Native American. I’m also half Jewish. This is when he said to me “ You don’t live on a reservation…you make them”.
I’m sorry, you will not be able to make a reservation at Wolf in Sheeps Clothing, a new pop up restaurant on Abbott Kinney. Well, I mean you can if you are a party of 6 or more. Since I am a huge micro-manager, my suggestion is to go, leave your name if there is a wait and walk around going in and out of the great stores. They will even call you when your table is ready.
Sign on for Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
It’s rare that I’m blown away by a restaurant. And I have become the town crier about this one. Which is funny because the woman who once coined me the town crier since I just like to share all my finds– is the one that called me late one night, sated, having to tell me every detail of her experience. She mentioned that they only serve beer, wine and water and I chose to ignore hearing this. So, the very next evening when I dragged my husband to an early dinner there, I tried, but failed in ordering my iced tea. The waitress informed us that once they get their permanent location, they will serve tea and coffee. I asked if anyone would object to me running out to fetch a drink. I came back quickly with my iced tea. I was already in love with the whole casual atmosphere and attitude of the place and of the staff. Nothing like the snooty wait staff at some of the other restaurants on the block. No, I’m not naming which one (you know who you are). Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: best kale salad in Los Angeles, best sand dabs in Los Angeles, fredde duke, Freddie Duke, Freddy Duke, new great pop up restaurant on Abbott Kinney, Wolf in Sheep's Clothing Restaurant
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April 4th, 2012
This is the eulogy that I wrote for my friend Laurie. I don’t love public speaking and in the end, I chickened out. At the time, I did send it to Laurie’s parents. I am sharing it here on my blog with you in honor of my old friend’s birthday, April 4’th. And because I know Laurie Susan would have really enjoyed and been supportive of my blog.
Hello, I’m Fredde Duke. Laurie called me her B.F. Best Friend. I first laid eyes on Laurie in High School, the year was 1970 and she and her then B.F., Carrie Fisher had just gotten these disastrous haircuts. They were profoundly ashamed, and actually spent some days not even bothering to come to school to save face. Those haircuts were in fact, probably the very first shags. Since both Carrie and Laurie couldn’t bear to be “seen”, they went out and bought these very sort of Ali MacGraw-Love Story knit hats to cover their heads and I thought they were just the most stunning, stylish girls, so I just had to get to know them.
the infamous shag
I went out to breakfast with them one school morning at Nibblers. They were only 14 years old and already ditching school. I was impressed. I myself hadn’t starting doing this until at least 15. I was a senior and our paths didn’t cross again for some years.
I had the “happening” pad on the beach. Laurie Sue (what she liked to be called) would often come to visit. Sometimes she would be gone for hours, she had wandered down the road to Ricci’s (Martin) and she would usually reappear. But, not always. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Ali MacGraw knit style hats in 1970, Beverly Hills high school, buying the best meat at Owens Market, Cowboy Club Sedona Arizona, first shag haircut in 1970, fredde duke, Freddie Duke, Freddy Duke, Laurie Sue, Laurie Susan White, Owens Market Beverly Hiills, Sedona Arizona, shag haircut, steak and baked potato
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