ELIOT: Looking back at the thousands of hopefuls who came to Broadway,
Hollywood…
and never made it? Have you ever thought WHY ME???
SHIRLEY: I will never know why.
I was born with a gift. A God given gift to sing.
Perhaps when I went in front of producers they realized that I was using that gift.
Who knows???
I really don't know the answer.
ELIOT: What are your most memorable thoughts about "Elmer Gantry?"
SHIRLEY: Working with Burt Lancaster was incredible!!!.
I'll never forget that. To be given a role of that stature.
The writing was phenomenal. When I read the script I knew that it
was going to be a very important motion picture!
ELIOT: Are there any roles you turned down that now you
think “I should have gone for it?�
SHIRLEY: Not really..I turned down "the Brady Bunch" TV show!!.
Then I got "The Partridge Family" so there's not many regrets about that!
ELIOT: Is Hollywood only a state of mind these days?
Please comment on how the studio system has changed!
SHIRLEY: We don't have a studio system. No more moguls. No contract players.
Very few people are under contract to a studio.
TV has made such an imprint on the industry. The studio system is long forgotten.
Movies are vying again for their position out there. It's a real business now than
ever.
ELIOT: What was it like being the mom of two of the biggest teen idols
ever to come through the pop music business?
SHIRLEY: David is my step-son.
As wonderful as it was for him at the time, it did him in.
A bout with drugs.Went into seclusion. It's a big high and a very big low!!!
Shaun learned from David's mistakes.
He is writing and producing now of course.
Probably because he started so young.
The up was great .. but the down was greater!
ELIOT: Which is your favorite musical that you did?
SHIRLEY: Carousel.
It wasn't the best film, but the music was the best ever!
ELIOT: How have you viewed Hollywood over the years?
SHIRLEY: It's a business.
There are sharks in every business.
Slimy people .But I have worked with some WONDERFUL people!.
I've worked with fine human beings. Jimmy Stewart.
But there is treachery in this business like in any other.
I have met some wonderful decent actors and directors!