One of the regular advertisers in Archie comics in the 60s was “Jeri of Hollywood.” “Hi! I’m Jeri Lawrence—Jeri of Hollywood!” the ads read. “Let me be your photo scout! I’ll send direct from Hollywood to you!—Free Star Photos! Not just one, but TWO DIFFERENT PHOTOS of each star you select! NO LIMIT! Pick as many stars as you like!” “Choose from these 100 TOP STARS, or any others! See instructions below.” Underneath the list of 100 Top Stars, the instructions were: “1.Print the names of your favorite stars (even if not listed above) on a sheet of paper. 2.For each name you select, enclose 10c to cover mailing and handling costs; for extra-quick special service, please enclose 25c extra. 3.Print your own name and address clearly.” The interesting thing to me, though, is the list of 100 Top Stars, and how it changed as time went by, with some stars (or “stars”) falling out of favor as others reach the ranks of the top 100. The list as it appears in Archie’s Pals ‘n’ Gals #33, Summer 1965, is:
Nick Adams, Paul Anka, Ann-Margret, Frankie Avalon, Max Baer Jr., Lucille Ball, Brigitte Bardot, Gene Barry, Beatles together, Ringo alone, George alone, John alone, Paul alone, Dan Blocker, Pat Boone, Peter Brown, Edd Byrnes, Angela Cartwright, George Chakiris, Dick Chamberlain, Gary Clarke, Chuck Connors, Robert Conrad, Gary Conway, Bobby Crawford, Johnny Crawford, Tony Curtis, James Darren, Doris Day, James Dean, Sandra Dee, Troy Donahue, Dion, Donna Douglas, James Drury, Patty Duke, Clint Eastwood, Vincent Edwards, Everly Brothers, Shelley Fabares, Fabian Forte, Connie Francis, James Franciscus, Robert Fuller, James Garner, John Gavin, Lorne Greene, Clu Gulager, Ty Hardin, Robert Horton, Rock Hudson, Jeff Hunter, Tab Hunter, Will Hutchins, David Janssen, Rick Jason, Danny Kaye, Linda Kaye, Michael Landon, Jerry Lewis, Gary Lockwood, Robert Logan, Carol Lynley, Sue Lyon, George Maharis, Jayne Mansfield, Doug McClure, Peter McEnery, Gardner McKay, Steve McQueen, Scott Miller, Hayley Mills, Sal Mineo, Marilyn Monroe, Mary Tyler Moore, Vic Morrow, Rick Nelson, Paul Newman, Paul Petersen, Suzanne Pleshette, Elvis Presley, Debbie Reynolds, Cliff Richard, Jeannine Riley, Pernell Roberts, Bobby Rydell, John Smith, Roger Smith, Connie Stevens, Inger Stevens, Elizabeth Taylor, Dick Van Dyke, Clint Walker, Deborah Walley, John Wayne, Guy Williams, Natalie Wood, Pat Woodell, Loretta Young, Efrem Zimbalist.
Several of these people I had to look up. Peter Brown had been the sidekick on a show called “Lawman” from 1958-62, made some movies and some TV guest appearances for a few years, and was about to star in “Laredo” from 1965-67. Gary Clarke had been a regular on “The Virginian” from 1962-64. Bobby Crawford was the older brother of Johnny Crawford and had had a recurring role on “Laramie” (not to be confused with “Laredo” or “Lawman”) from 1959-61, with some TV guest spots after that. Ty Hardin had starred in “Bronco” from 1958-62, then made some movies. Rick Jason was one of the stars of “Combat” from 1962-67. Linda Kaye, later known as Linda Kaye Henning, was the original Betty Jo on “Petticoat Junction.” Robert Logan had replaced Edd “Kookie” Byrnes as the parking lot attendant on “77 Sunset Strip,” ending in 1963. Peter McEnery was a British actor who hadn’t done much; he was probably best known to Archie readers from the Hayley Mills movie “The Moon-Spinners.” Gardner McKay had been the star of “Adventures in Paradise” from 1959-62, but did very little afterward. Scott Miller was sometimes known as Denny Miller and had played Tarzan in 1959; from 1961-64 he had been a regular on “Wagon Train.” John Smith (not his real name) had had a lot of credits in the 50s, then had been a regular on “Laramie” from 1959-63. And Pat Woodell was the original Bobbie Jo on “Petticoat Junction,” and was married to Gary Clarke.
Our next version of the ad comes from Reggie and Me #23, April 1967. The following have dropped out of the 100 Top Stars list (which is now a Top 93 Stars list): Nick Adams, Paul Anka, Max Baer Jr., Gene Barry, Edd Byrnes, Gary Clarke, Bobby Crawford, Troy Donahue, Dion, Clint Eastwood [a flash in the pan], Vincent Edwards, Everly Brothers, Shelley Fabares, Connie Francis, James Franciscus, James Garner, John Gavin, Clu Gulager, Ty Hardin, Jeff Hunter, Tab Hunter, Will Hutchins, Rick Jason, Linda Kaye, Robert Logan, Carol Lynley, Sue Lyon, George Maharis, Jayne Mansfield, Steve McQueen, Scott Miller, Sal Mineo, Suzanne Pleshette, Pernell Roberts, Bobby Rydell, John Smith, Roger Smith, Deborah Walley and Loretta Young.
Replacing them on the list are Julie Andrews, Richard Basehart, Batman (Adam West), Randy Boone, Sean Connery, John Erickson, Linda Evans, Mia Farrow, Sally Field, Anne Francis, Annette Funicello, Mark Goddard, Robert Goulet, Luke Halpin, David Hedison, Chris Jones, Marta Kristen, Jeri Lawrence [nice attempt at self-promotion there, Jeri—I wonder if anyone ever actually ordered her pictures? I mean, that’s like an autograph dealer trying to sell people his own autograph], Brenda Lee, June Lockhart, Richard Long, Lee Majors, Roger Mobley, Elizabeth Montgomery, David McCallum, Ryan O’Neal, Robin (Burt Ward), Bill Smith, Elke Sommer, Shirley Temple [hot new star], Robert Vaughn and Debbie Watson. Randy Boone had been a regular on “The Virginian” from 1963-66, and was about to become a regular on “Cimarron Strip,” which would last just one season. Mark Goddard was on “Lost in Space,” as was Marta Kristen. Roger Mobley was starring in a recurring segment of “Wonderful World of Disney” as Gallagher the teenage detective. And Bill Smith was just finishing up two years as a regular on “Laredo.”
The next version of the ad comes from Archie and Me #19, Feb 1968 (and appeared again in the June 1968 Betty and Veronica Spectacular). Now gone are Frankie Avalon, Pat Boone, George Chakiris, Chuck Connors, Gary Conway, Johnny Crawford, Tony Curtis, James Dean, Sandra Dee, Fabian Forte, Robert Horton, Rock Hudson, Danny Kaye, Gary Lockwood, Gardner McKay, Marilyn Monroe, Mary Tyler Moore, Paul Petersen, Debbie Reynolds, Cliff Richard, Jeannine Riley, Inger Stevens, Elizabeth Taylor, Dick Van Dyke, Natalie Wood, Pat Woodell, Randy Boone, Mia Farrow, Mark Goddard, Brenda Lee and Debbie Watson.
Troy Donahue and Will Hutchins, both of whom had been on the 1965 list but not the 1967 list, made comebacks. And new this time are: Bill Cosby, Robert Culp, Phyllis Diller, Dino, Desi & Billy, Barbara Eden, Ron Ely, Roger Ewing, Noel Harrison, Herman’s Hermits [being added in 1968?!], Steven Hill, Martin Landau, John Leyton, Trini Lopez, Cheryl Miller [a big crush of mine, from “Daktari”], Monkees together, David alone, Micky alone, Mike alone, Peter alone, Leonard Nimoy, Stefanie Powers, Bob Random, William Shatner, Nancy Sinatra, Barbara Stanwyck, Yale Summers [also from “Daktari”], Roy Thinnes, Van Williams and Robert Wolders. Roger Ewing had a recurring role on “Gunsmoke” from 1965-67. Steven Hill was a regular on “Mission: Impossible” in 1966-67, then left acting for several years. John Leyton was a British singer/actor who had had several hit records in the UK from 1961-64, then was a regular on a short-lived (half a season) US TV series called “Jericho” in 1966-67. Bob Random had been making TV guest appearances and occasional movies since 1964; I’m not sure what got him into this list. And Robert Wolders had been a regular on “Laredo” in 1966-67.
The final version I have appeared in Archie and Me #26, February 1969, and again in Archie’s Pals ‘n’ Gals #53, August 1969. Dropped from the list are Brigitte Bardot, Dan Blocker, Peter Brown, Dick Chamberlain, Doris Day, Troy Donahue [for the second time], Donna Douglas, Robert Fuller, Will Hutchins [for the second time], Vic Morrow, Rick Nelson, Connie Stevens, Clint Walker, John Erickson, Anne Francis, Robert Goulet, Roger Mobley, Bill Smith, Shirley Temple, Roger Ewing, Steven Hill and Trini Lopez. Debuting are Brendon Boone, Chris Cary, Larry Casey, Cesare Danova, Henry Darrow, James Doohan, Chris George, Ron Harper, Jonathan Harris, Sajid Khan, Deforest Kelly, Walter Koenig, Cameron Mitchell, Billy Mumy, Tom Nardini, Nichelle Nichols, Jay North, Gary Raymond, Mark Slade, Rudi Solari, Justin Tarr and Robert Wagner. Brendon Boone, Chris Cary, Cesare Danova, Ron Harper and Rudi Solari had been the cast of “Garrison’s Gorillas,” a TV series that lasted just one season, 1967-68—their presumed popularity among young people buying photos apparently didn’t translate into ratings high enough to keep the show on the air. Henry Darrow was a regular on “High Chaparral” from 1967-71. Tom Nardini was another Bob Random; he had been making TV guest appearances and occasional movies since 1964 and I don’t know what got him onto the list. Gary Raymond had been a regular on “The Rat Patrol” from 1966-68, as had been Justin Tarr. And Mark Slade was a regular on “High Chaparral” from 1967-70.
I don’t know if the Jeri ads continued after 1969, or if there had been other versions in between these ones or before 1965—these are all the ones I was able to find.
Posts
