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- inactive, on 12/25/2008, -0/+66RIP. I will never forget her as Catwoman.
- badwithcomputer, on 12/25/2008, -0/+37http://i44.tinypic.com/289zioi.jpg
photographed at gordon parks in june of 1952. rest in peace and condolences to her family. - axelgrease, on 12/25/2008, -0/+29Puts a damper on my day...
- MacBookForMe, on 12/25/2008, -0/+29I loved her performances and her amazing ability to pronounce correctly in so many foreign languages and dialects...
- kismetropolis, on 12/25/2008, -0/+26She was an incredible sexy singer, and a great Catwoman. She was even fun as Yzma in Emperor's New Groove.
She will be missed.
Why you always gotta snatch some of the most loved people on Christmas, universe? Not cool. - geofffox, on 12/26/2008, -2/+24Four years ago when Eartha Kitt was in a car accident I posted this in my blog (no trolling, but if you care it's my name dot com). She had quite an impact on me when I was 16.
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I first ran into Eartha Kitt in 1967 at CBS on West 57th Street in New York. Since I was in high school at the time, you might be wondering how I got there? It was not where most 16 year olds got to hang out.
In high school, I was a radio actor. My junior and senior year, instead of taking English in the conventional way, I was a member of the New York All City Radio Workshop. The workshop members, drawn from high schools across the city, were cast in radio plays which ran on WNYE-FM, the Board of Education's station.
Even in the late 60s this was an anachronism. Drama on radio had been dead for a decade or more. On the other hand FM radio was a underdeveloped technology that few people listened to. We were the worst of both worlds!
At the same time, somehow, the Board of Education 'sponsored' a weekly public affairs program, "Dial M for Music," which ran on WCBS - TV. Why the Board of Education would care about this was, and still is, beyond me. It seemed then, as it does now, like a weasel deal for Channel 2 to get some sort of FCC Brownie points.
"Dial M" brought jazz acts into the Broadcast Center and then taped their performances in front of high school kids. That's where I came in. Instead of rounding up random kids and then letting them roam free through the CBS studio complex (which is what we did, as the show taped 2-3 episodes on a Saturday afternoon), they called on members of the All City Workshop. I guess the idea was, we already knew a little about broadcasting and would be less troublesome.
I got to see some jazz legends - people like Lionel Hampton, Mongo Santamaria and Hazel Scott. And, I got to spend 6-7 Saturdays a year at CBS, poking around the studios and signing for food in the cafeteria. I remember visiting "The Treasure House" set from Captain Kangaroo, some soap opera studios, and an elaborate set-up for a Barbra Streisand special. The center core of the Broadcast Center was a circular ramp, loaded with props and sets.
One Saturday we came in to see Eartha Kitt. I knew the name and recognized the voice, but wasn't a fan. Her core audience was around my parent's age.
Before the show started, the director (as I remember a laid back man with a Southern accent) came and gave us the drill. Don't look at the cameras. Applaud with your hands cupped to sound a little louder. Pay attention to the artists.
So as Eartha Kitt started to sing, I watched with rapt attention. The studio was small and there weren't more than 15 or 16 of us in the audience, sitting on low stools.
Eartha looked at me. She looked at me deeply.
The more she sang, the more intently she looked into my eyes. I was 16 - and a young 16 at that - what did I know? But she was mentally undressing me! Though it may have been enjoyable for her, it was unnerving to me.
I remember her performance was great. I also remember being as uncomfortable as is humanly possible. I should have been flattered, but it totally weirded me out.
If she's 77 now, she was about 40 then and overtly sexy. She was a catwoman before she played Catwoman on TV. I'd like to think I helped her performance.
She probably forgot about me as she left the studio. I'll never forget her. - eyesmell, on 12/26/2008, -2/+23http://www.hulu.com/watch/11742/family-guy-stewie- ...
- TNsmokyjoe, on 12/25/2008, -0/+17By far my favorite "catwoman" and was overjoyed to see her in the "holes" movie.
- alanocu, on 12/26/2008, -0/+15Here's a photo of Eartha Kitt the way I like to remember her - smiling and looking purfect: http://i42.tinypic.com/2ytv3mb.jpg
The woman she's hugging is her daughter (I think her name is Kitt) - taken on January 05, 1999 in New York - timbococ, on 12/26/2008, -0/+12This is not to be cute or joking, I loved her in Ernest Scared Stupid, and The Emperor's New Groove. Both classic movies, in my (young) mind. What a voice we've lost!
- OnAsideNote, on 12/25/2008, -2/+11A video of Eartha Kitt doing Santa baby with three friends helping her out
http://2.0web.tv/index.php?option=com_seyret&t ... - badwithcomputer, on 12/25/2008, -0/+8great call with the song (which is now probably going to feel spooky whenever i hear it on the radio around the holidays) but the video's aspect ratio is warped in that player: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOMmSbxB_Sg
- timbococ, on 12/26/2008, -1/+8Concise writing, that's all I want. I bookmarked your blog (maybe I'll even read it once in a while).
- ThunderKitty, on 12/26/2008, -0/+7RIP
- homerang, on 12/26/2008, -0/+6I had the joy of seeing her in a small venue in Seattle last year. She just turned 80, and some of the songs she sang obviously put a strain on her aging voice, but she loved every second of it, teased the audience, sang her heart out, flirted with the 20 year old waiters, and still wore a dress with a slit up the side all the way to her waist.
One of the best performances I've ever seen. Older than my grandmother, and STILL sexy as all hell. - MacBookForMe, on 12/26/2008, -1/+7Wow, she was cute!
- superterrorizer, on 12/26/2008, -0/+6She was indeed the cat's meow. RIP. So sad.
- bradcrc, on 12/26/2008, -2/+8PULL THE LEVER KRONK!
- amoirae, on 12/26/2008, -0/+6She was an amazing singer(I love her take on 'My Heart Belongs to Daddy'). She was everything Halle Berry failed to emulate in being Catwoman.
She was a bold opinionated intelligent woman in an era which women were expected to be quiet.
Her line in Boomerang where she stage whispered "I'm not wearing any panties" was the only funny moment in that movie.
Rest in peace, Eartha. - lohphat, on 12/26/2008, -0/+6All class.
- RenegadeRoy, on 12/26/2008, -0/+6very true, both of you.
- kizzyle0508, on 12/26/2008, -0/+6Santa Baby just went gold last week too...
Very sad - mehtheinfernal, on 12/26/2008, -0/+6http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ5VaBgXzuM
Awesome song, and I love that smile at the end.
I think she enjoyed her life as much as possible and we can't really ask for any more than that. - alecsputnik, on 12/26/2008, -0/+5for those that don't know, look her up, she was badass. RIP & condolences to her family.
- tonberryqueen, on 12/26/2008, -0/+5Goddamn, I don't think that woman ever stopped looking fabulous.
- yepme02, on 12/26/2008, -0/+5I've spent thousands and thousands of hours in the studio as an engineer in music and audio post and still can count on one hand how many voices I've heard come even close to the uniqueness of hers. She was born with a wonderful gift nd used it to it's potential. Congrats MS Kitt on a wonderful life.
- ancientdinko, on 12/26/2008, -1/+6another pic of "cat woman"
http://www.shorpy.com/node/5176?size=_original - ancientdinko, on 12/26/2008, -0/+4...but I guess he died on another holiday.....
- slingr, on 12/26/2008, -1/+5postvivace...
how do i say thing in a way you will understand...
uhhh.. STFU? - ancientdinko, on 12/26/2008, -0/+4I know someone who was born on this day!
- inactive, on 12/27/2008, -0/+4Well, he didn't articulate it well, but it's a back-handed compliment.
Marilyn Monroe isn't my favorite white icon. Just just an icon, period.
Earth deserves as much. - spectecjr, on 12/26/2008, -0/+4She was the sexiest woman I've ever seen perform live in concert. And that was last year, when she was 80.
I'll miss her. She was a fantastic woman - intelligent, funny, well-travelled, well educated, and a hell of a performer. - spectecjr, on 12/26/2008, -4/+8Theoretically - and this is just a hunch - she was born that way.
Grow up. - Goodanswer, on 12/26/2008, -0/+3Wow,
Well she did have a wondrous life. The great Cat Woman and Yzma in the Emperor's New Groove..
She is moving on to a better place ..
"Can you feel that Cronk?..Oh YA,..I can Feel it."
Shame to lose one so talented. - inactive, on 12/26/2008, -0/+3she had a really strange voice, it's very cool
- inactive, on 12/26/2008, -1/+4My mom passed on Christmas 6 years ago, too. :(
- PumpItUp, on 12/26/2008, -5/+8She was one of my favorite black women in the entertainment industry to look up to. RIP.
- MazdaEric, on 12/26/2008, -0/+3Class personified
- pinchduck, on 12/26/2008, -0/+3An elegant and fantastic star, and a role model in many ways. RIP Eartha.
- OutlawAdidas, on 12/26/2008, -0/+3why is everyone dying on holidays? I knew someone who died exactly on thanksgiving this year.
I'm sad - slingr, on 12/26/2008, -0/+3this is pretty much a useless comment.... a pat on the back if you will....
but applause for blaze9606, timbococ, and RenegadeRoy...
I will never forget her in "Ernest Scared Stupid"....
I'm going to get some miak now... *tear* - chronically420, on 12/26/2008, -0/+3not trying to be a downer but that pic reminds me of condosleeza rice
- theghoul, on 12/26/2008, -0/+3Classic video from a lady who secreted class.
So long Eartha. - Kidddrunkadelic, on 12/26/2008, -0/+3Classy lady.
RIP - inactive, on 12/27/2008, -0/+3She was hilarious in Boomerang.
- Paranor01, on 12/26/2008, -1/+4Her version of "Santa Baby" is the best!
Especially next to Madonna's version which she tried to copy Eartha Kitt's style to a major fail. - chipwar, on 12/26/2008, -0/+3Eartha Kitt was one cool lady.
- 7m7uf, on 12/26/2008, -0/+3Why can't class like her be in entertainment today? She will be missed greatly. *puts on "i wanna be evil"*
- 7m7uf, on 12/26/2008, -1/+4Yes, it is sad. Think of it like this - we loss some class today - while trash is breeding and multiplying.
- rynsa, on 12/26/2008, -4/+6Next time I recommend just posting a link. None the less, it's a good story. Dugg for sentimentality.
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