From the forthcoming book: Click SEE MORE to read the Chapter “Ann-Margret: Screen Goddess, Behind the Scenes” By Neal Peters and David Smith (c) 2014 Ann-Margret: Screen Goddess, Behind the Scenes By Neal Peters and David Smith The Blackglama Photo Session Oct. 1985 Neal had always wanted to be present during one of Ann-Margrets photo sessions. It had been a dream of his for many years to watch her transform from the quiet reserved person that she was in her everyday life to the wild, uninhibited Star she became in front of the camera. Then in Sept. 1985 she was chosen to be the woman to represent Blackglama in their What Becomes a Legend Most campaign.. Bill King was the photographer, as he had been for many of the beautiful Legends through the years. Bill was based in New York City and Neal was very good friends with him. He had kindly helped by letting us use photos he had taken in both of our books. Having photographed Ann-Margret in 1973 and Peter Allen for his I am not the Boy Next Door album. He allowed us to use outtakes from that session for the front and back covers of our Peter Allen book, a session that Neal had been at and Bill liked having him there as he felt it put Peter at ease. Bills photo sessions were like a big party with a huge buffet table and great music blasting and Neal had been to many of them in the days when he worked in the album art department of CBS Records. When Ann-Margret was chosen to do the campaign, it was going to happen in Hollywood and Bill got in touch with Neal and he said “of course you are going to come out for this…you had better”. Well Neal was immediately on the phone to Roger asking permission to come to L.A. for this special occasion. Ann-Margret knew that Bill and Neal were friends and was pleased at the idea that he would come out and see the photo shoot. Well that was all he needed to hear. All the arrangements were made and he was set to go and stay with the Smiths at their guest house for a few days (since he was out there he would make a nice visit of it). After arriving he was told that the studio that they were using was closer to their Malibu house so they were going there for the weekend along with their dog, “Sugar” and a couple of cats which included, “Melba” and “Bubber”. The night before the session after spending several hours on the deck Roger ordered a couple of Pizzas, for an early dinner and then they sat up in the bedroom and watched TV for awhile. Neal’s adrenalin was already racing and wondered if he would ever fall asleep. When it was time to go to bed (with sweet good night kisses and “have a good sleep”) off he went to the adjoining guest room and was still stunned that she was going to let him be present for this. Well before he knew it, what seemed like minutes, it was morning and she was knocking on the door “rise and shine… time to get up” and after Neal replied she opened the door wearing her oversized Raiders sweatshirt with a big smile. She was going to do the prep for her hair and make-up and the rest would be done at the studio by the famed hairstylist Jose Eber (this would be the first time that they worked together) and the incredible make-up artist Wayne Masserrelli. None of them were really hungry, but had some toast and juice…she just had juice. Driving through Malibu with the Smiths for this very important photo session was exhilarating, with beautiful weather, windows open…even hers, the wind tossing her hair around (great to see it didn’t only happen in the movies). Bill and his staff greeted them at the Studio and the session began. Here is Neals description of this exciting day. She was wearing her Tiffany “Diamonds by the Yard” necklace over her bare shoulders with a big pair of diamond earrings that used to be a bracelet until she decided to have them cut in two and made into earrings. And of course that incredible Blackglama Mink. All of a sudden there were people all around her with light meters and reflectors for the Polaroid tests to check that all was good, hair was being touched up by Jose (who did it all earlier) and make-up done and touched up Wayne, everything being done at once. Now I saw why she was often hesitant about doing a new photo shoot to have new images, it was a lot of work. I could not believe squatting there and watching her. It was like a performance and very intense. Sitting there on the floor atop a lovely cushy pillow she would sometimes turn away from the camera and go somewhere else and oh boy, when she came back looking straight at Bill it was dynamite! Hearing the camera click I would just say to myself “Oh yes, he got it, a great shot”. Bill was jumping around all over the place with cameras being re-loaded and literally tossed to him back and forth by his staff who were also constantly changing the angles of the reflectors. Sometimes she would look down and come back up and again I could not believe the total change, her transformation into the brilliant classic look of the one and only… Ann-Margret! Bill was very kind and generous to me and let me move around (many photographer’s do not appreciate that) so I got to watch her from different angles. At times she got so wild she almost rolled over backwards, yes, almost rolled over backwards and laughing! Roger was thrilled and was having a bite to eat of the incredible spread that Bill had arranged for the afternoon (of everything you could imagine) and in between bites taking 3D photos of his truly glamorous wife. At the end of several hours of shooting and many, many rolls of B/W film Bill said “Hey, how about a photo of you and Neal”…..Gulp…What…Did I rub a lamp and a Genie with one wish came out to bestow upon me… “Sure, that would be just fine” she said. Posing us Bill said how about a nice hug as I stood behind her…(maybe it was 2 wishes from the genie) …That done he said ”OK, now a real BIG hug” …(well, those genies always give you 3 no matter what) as I went in for the big squeeze which made us both break out in laughter. (That Christmas I received two perfectly printed 11 x14 images of the 2 shots, Thanks Bill!)
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 19:48:21 +0000
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