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Robert Blake
| Monday, May 14, 2001
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal COLUMN: NORM! Blake's troubles latest among hardships of 'Our Gang' cast
It didn't escape George Sidney's attention that the curse of "Our Gang" struck again. Robert Blake, who played Mickey, joins a long list of former "Our Gang" cast members who befell headline-making hardships or early deaths. In another bizarre case, Blake's wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, was mysteriously slain May 4 in Studio City, Calif. "So many weird things keep happening," said Sidney, who directed Blake in the "Our Gang" TV comedy series. He recalls Blake with fondness. "He was the most serious juvenile actor I ever worked with, and that includes Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, Roddy McDowall and Mickey Rooney." The "Our Gang" roster of tragedies include: • Alfalfa (Carl Switzer), the cast clown, had numerous run-ins with the law and was shot to death by an associate at age 31. • Chubby (Norman Chaney) died at age 22 after his weight ballooned to more than 300 pounds and an operation for a glandular ailment caused his weight fall to 136 pounds. • Buckwheat (William Thomas) died of a heart attack at age 49. • Darla Hood, the female star, had a minor operation, contracted hepatitis and died at age 47. • Brisbane (Kendall McComas) was known as Breezy Brisbane. He committed suicide at age 64. • Froggy (William Robert Laughlin) died in a motor scooter accident at age 16. • Mickey Daniels died at age 55 of cirrhosis of the liver. • Stymie (Matthew Beard) led a troubled adult life of crime and drugs. • Scotty Beckett died at age 38 two days after a vicious beating. • Wheezer (Robert Hutchins) died in a military airplane accident at age 19. • Pete the Pup was poisoned by an unknown assailant. The Scene and Heard Silent auction items at Wednesday's Alzheimer's benefit at Postrio (The Venetian) include: two tickets in Andre Agassi's private box at the U.S. Open, plus airfare, and four tickets to the premiere of "Ocean's Eleven" with Angie Dickinson serving as host. ... Las Vegas' exploding nightclub scene has another potential addition: The Key Club, one of L.A.'s hottest nightclubs, has been checking out the space at The Rio that formerly housed the Titanic exhibition. Must mean they're not superstitious. ... Hot spots and cool places: The lines at Studio 54 (MGM Grand) just keep getting longer, with waits up to two hours. ... I happen to be a fan of Olio! at the MGM Grand. Best restaurant room in town and terrific food. But this was a first: I asked for a house chardonnay Saturday and the bill was a jarring $12. ... Freddie G's, the well-done but short-lived deli at Howard Hughes Center, is being transformed into Piero's Trattoria, a less pricey version of the parent eatery. Charlie and Evan Skinner, stepsons of Piero's owner Freddie Glusman, are shooting for a Sept. 1 opening. ... Bahama Breeze, the new Caribbean concept at the corner of Flamingo and Paradise, has a soft opening this week. Paella and steel drum music on the patio figure to be hits. ... I hear Emeril Lagasse's NBC pilot got picked up. The sitcom, written by the "Designing Women" staff, begins airing this fall. ... That was one ugly scene backstage at X-treme Radio's concert featuring Blink-182 on Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium. That guy with a toddler in hand -- and swinging at a cop -- was a member of one of the featured acts' management teams. Sightings Oscar winner Helen Hunt and singer Melissa Etheridge, adding to rumors that they're an item, checked out the nightclub scene at rumjungle (Mandalay Bay) early Sunday. ... Three-time world ice-skating champion Michelle Kwan, lunching at Spago on Saturday. ... Actress Justine Bateman, at Prime Steakhouse (Bellagio) on Friday night. ... KVBC-Channel 3 birthday girls Chera Kimiko (30), Rachel Boesing (36), and Allison Mendoza (25), being serenaded with Happy Birthday by 4Now at a mass B-Day party at Olio! on Saturday night. And late arrival Gerard Rhamalo -- hey, somebody had to work -- showed up in time for the cake. The hot topic: Kimiko's navel ring. The Punch Line "The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you're hungry again." -- George Miller Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can reach him at 383-0244 or norm_clarke@lasvegas.com.
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