INTRODUCTION
After forty years in the movie business, I still love movies. They have taken me places I could never have gone on my own. What comes to mind at the moment are the waterfalls in Greystroke, the South America of The Mission, the Africa of Out of Africa, the civil war of Gone with the Wind the Merchant Ivory films filled with exquisite beauty, the first Star Wars that took me beyond the earth. I loved working on films. It was wonderful to be acquainted with the actors, actresses and the crews. My life has been full of fun and wonder, excitement and adventure - like a film in many ways. This is a memoir of my forty years in the movie business. I share my experience of what it was like to live and work in the company of fabulous entrepreneurs and studio builders. There was glamour and charm. The filmmakers were visionaries. My experience far exceeded my imagination. I was fortunate to have been there. I came in at the end of the golden age and reaped the benefits of a time that no longer exists.
In the words of Willie Nelson, "Making movies sure beats working for a living." That about sums it up.
Movies have great influence on our lives. The stars are the only royalty we have in this country. Films inspire, teach, educate and entertain us. They also help us to escape. A living art form, they are important to our lives. Art nourishes us. I am proud to have been a part of this business.
My story gives a glimpse into the wonder, talent and excitement that was present at the time I began making movies. My story begins before the television changed the industry. At that time, the industry was creative beyond belief. You only have to look at those wonderful old videos for that. After television arrived, it was never the same. In the beginning, television was also very creative. What happened? There was live television, Playhouse 90, Naked City. That kind of television fare no longer exists. The sponsors are necessary, but their taste is not always worthy.
I share with you a history, a view of show business at its most exciting times, just before everything changed and the times after that. It is an insider's view of Hollywood, my personal adventures behind the scenes and what it was like to be a crewmember. The opportunities I had, afforded me a fascinating life many people only dream about. It is the warm, intimate picture of people I worked with, places I traveled.
It is also my story. I began my show business career at MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) in 1954 as a messenger. I grew up, raised a family and had fantastic adventures during my career in the movie business. Sharing that experience is a pleasure and I give you a picture of what it was like to be a hairstylist to the stars. Exciting and addictive, life behind the scenes was not always simple or easy. It is my wish that my memoirs will inspire women and men to take a chance and follow their dreams. Life works out best that way.
Chapter 1
MEETING NATALIE WOOD
Paramount Studios, Hollywood 1964
"Natalie Wood's looking for a hairstylist and I suggest you to try out for the job," Nellie Manley, head hairstylist at Paramount, said excitedly as I walked into her office. My heart began to pound. My mind began to race. I was a young hairstylist with few films under my belt. I had never worked with anyone of Natalie's caliber. All my doubts began to surface. I'd grown up watching her films and loved her ever since Miracle on 34th Street. Natalie had just finished filming Splendor in the Grass with Warren Beatty. Her next film was to be Love with a Proper Stranger with Steve McQueen. Was I interested? Interested! I was ecstatic.
Nervous as could be on the day of Natalie's arrival, I was ready for anything. My brushes, combs, pins and hair spray were all set out; an electric stove heating for the curling iron was on the table. Our hairdressing room wasn't fancy. It had light green walls and small dressing tables with mirrors set in rows.
I was in awe of Natalie, I couldn't imagine being good enough to get the job yet I still hoped I would be. I sat there, desperately praying that she'd like my work. I heard some voices in the hall. It was Natalie arriving with her entourage. She walked into Nellie's office. A few moments later, Nellie called me in and introduced us. Upon meeting Natalie, I was surprised at how small and petite she actually was. Her face was as beautiful as I'd imagined. She had the biggest dark-brown eyes I'd ever seen and her mouth turned up so sweetly. I liked her right away and hoped it was mutual.
She sat at my table and described how her hair might be done to best express the character she was playing in the film. I listened carefully. I had not read the script. Although I'd been taught by the best at MGM, I was nervous, and my sweaty hands shook as I began to heat the curling iron. I began talking to myself through it silently. "Just imagine working with Natalie Wood, a really big star." I was praying, hoping I wouldn't blow this opportunity. I wondered if Natalie was used to people being so nervous around her. She probably didn't think of herself as special, but to me she was. In any case she was patient, kind, and friendly. While I was working on her hair, Natalie remarked that she was thinking of using a rinse to darken her hair. I told her I thought it was perfect as it was, and she agreed with me. When I finished, I stepped back and took a look at the results. It looked great to me.
Everyone stood up and she thanked me and left. Did I get the job? Nobody knew yet. It hadn't been offered to anyone else so far. If someone from our studio were going to do Natalie's hair, it would have to be me. Driving home that night, my imagination ran wild. What if the job was mine? My reputation would skyrocket. I'd never before imagined someone this famous wanting me to do her hair. Being chosen by a big star like Natalie (who was reputed to be difficult, but was anything but) people would think Sugar was a great hairstylist. I reveled in the possibility.
Yep! I got the job and no, I didn't faint, but I was shaky for a while. Always in my mind was the question, "Could I come up to her standards?" Natalie's entrance into my life and her subsequent support of me over the next seventeen years was a true gift and the highlight of my career. I will always be grateful to her.
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