Something Old...

Oh, the weddings of Dallas! They were always super-exciting. Of course, the press  - even in Finland - had usually revealed something about the upcoming event, so it wasn't a total surprise. Nevertheless, I was always beyond happy when they decided to have big, lavish weddings. Therefore, I felt betrayed if someone "eloped" or just went to the "city hall". This was before I understood anything about show business and budgets and stuff.

However, what fun times they were!

I used to love finding out what kind of wedding dresses the ladies of Southfork had chosen. More often than not I was bitterly disappointed. I have to say, out of all the weddings Dallas had, this dress was one of  my favorites:

The text says: "During her nightmare, Pam was remarried. However, when audience demanded Bobby back, the guy who played Pam's fiancé, John Beck, had to go." 

So sad. Naturally, Bobby was the king of stud muffins back then and I was ecstatic to see him back, but I liked Mark as well. I mean, who could resist his mustache-ious gorgeousness?

Pam's dress is tasteful and beautiful, unlike the true, spiky nightmare she was sporting when she married Bobby one year later. Yikes. *Shudder*

Another what-was-she-thinking -dress was this one:

(The mag also features the "famous Mayo-diet". Now what on earth is that?)

I had seen the pics of Sue Ellen's dress before the episode aired, but I was still surprised to find out the dress was actually long. And the eighties mullet didn't help one bit. However, Linda Gray is still gorgeous and the episode itself was amazing and memorable, classic Dallas.

Next, some clips of real-life Dallas weddings, Charlene Tilton's and Victoria Principal's second marriages from 1985 (not to each other, though):

We learn that "Charlene Tilton was married to scottish musician Dominique (?) "Nicky" Allen on Holy Thursday. Charlene says she and ex-beau Johnny Lee had totally different views of life.

Victoria Principal has been visiting italian designer Elvira Gramano in Rome. She is searching for the right dress for her wedding to Harry Glassman."

I like Charlene's dress, I think she looks radiant. Victoria's dress in this photo is not - thankfully - the one she chose to wear eventually. This is:

"The mid-summer bride of the whole world was Victoria Principal." The text also states rather cynically that "Victoria is not a newbie at the wedding game, she has also had time to drive Andy Gibb into mental break down." Now that's not nice. Victoria looks happy and beautiful regardless.

Ken Kercheval, a.k.a Cliff Barnes, was one of the stars who rarely was on the headlines. Here's one from 1984, however, featuring his wedding bliss:

His wife's name was Ava Fox, and they were married finally after all kinds of obstacles, including Ken's mother's illness.

Let's dive into the 90s. At the time there were only occasional stories of Dallas on Finnish magazines, which was sad. Dallas wasn't red-hot anymore. Here's something blue with lovely Sheree Wilson's wedding picture with her fiancé and their son, Luke. Her husband's name is Paul Derobbio: 

"From a funeral to a wedding. Now that we have said tearful goodbyes to Dallas' April, we are happy to learn that in real life Sheree Wilson is doing better than ever." Story goes on to state that "By the way, they are going to end Dallas. This is no surprise, since April was the only one of the show's current female stars to possess real charisma." This sounds about right. 

That's all for now. Take care, my dear readers! :)

Dallas vs. Dynasty

The most famous cold war in the 80s was not the one between the Soviet Union and the United States. It was between Dallas and Dynasty. Everybody was talking about it. 

Well, maybe not everybody, but, you know… me.

Dynasty began in 1984 in Finland, and the press wasted no time creating headlines about the bitter rivalry between the two super soaps. I personally preferred Dallas, of course. However, Dynasty was also one of my favorites at the time.

Here’s a bold article from 1984 ”Apu”-magazine about the rivalry. ”Which Pamela do you watch?” and (loosely translated) ”Battle of the breast size: Dallas vs. Dynasty”. Oh my. 

I remember being totally in shock after seeing this cover. It wasn't usual to a family-oriented magazine such as Apu to have bare-chested women on the cover, let alone mega-stars like Pamela Bellwood. Wow!

”Dallas leads over Dynasty! Two shows are fighting for the viewers wearing less and less clothes.”

Dynasty’s Pamela Bellwood (Claudia) is the one who has showcased her talents the most generously of them all. These pictures have been taken by her husband in Kenya. 

”First they were fighting over the best clothes. Now they are fighting without them. Priscilla Presley is pursuing a career as an actress quite diligently. She is the new attraction of Dallas. "

"Victoria Principal is following Jane Fonda’s footsteps. Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) gets a young lover on Dallas, while Alexis and Krystle (Joan Collins and Linda Evans) keep on fighting on Dynasty, although they are best friends in real life."(ß Really?)

"Originally Audrey Landers had only a small part in Dallas, but as her role grew, so did her singing career. Charlene Tilton has been having troubles in her personal life."

"JR wanted to have her own mother Mary Martin to play Miss Ellie after Barbara Bel Geddes left the show. Doris Day was also interested in the part. However, Donna Reed got it eventually. "