The Wonderful Pearl Bailey
As a Classic Film, Music, and TV fanatic (a raging, out of controlled, unbridled one at that), I spend a LOT of time watching old movies/tv classics, listening to “oldies” and old radio shows, and reading all I can about the men and women who brought the magic to life.
It’s as though I have entered myself in lifetime courses in film history and music study. I don’t have to pay anyone any tuition (not that the books come free, mind you) and I never have to take any exams or write any papers.
The only way to be a film and music historian… on your own terms.
One of my favorite stars to read about and spend time with (what I call researching someone… makes it seem more personal) is Pearl Bailey. I can’t help but believe we would have gotten along famously in real life.
While Pearl was obviously a very good looking lady and extremely talented (singing and acting), she was also very charismatic and colorful – making her even more fascinating to me. Quite frankly some stars can be a little on the dull side, and since my attention span can often be as short as a grasshopper’s nose, I have zero tolerance for “dull.”
In fact, if there is someone you don’t see often on Hollywood Yesterday or see me talk about much on Twitter – odds are they bore me! Sorry, but it is what it is. If someone lacks enough personality, pop, or pizzazz, they lose me.
I highly doubt Pearl Bailey ever bored anyone in her life. She was the sort of person who… even if you happened to disagree with something they said… you absolutely LOVE that they said it!
I also love that she had interests outside of music and acting. One of my favorite books in my collection is Pearl’s Kitchen: An Extraordinary Cookbook (Amazon link). She was an avid cook and a darn good one, at that. Her personality comes through each page, too, which is an extraordinary thing.