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Famous In Hollywood Magazine
The only place where you'll find all exclusive personal Hollywood interviews & celebrity stories of the past and today.
In this online magazine, you'll find classic Hollywood celebrity human interest stories directly from the stars. Word for word, you'll enjoy reading what the greatest Hollywood actors, actresses and recording artists in the world personally thought and wanted to share, as well as issues that they believed in. With these original interviews, they shared their lives in a very personal way to renowned Hollywood interviewer and journalist Jay Christian.
There will also be new celebrity stories from famous legends to current celebrities of today!
We are thrilled to have you join our Famous In Hollywood community!
Issue #22 October 2023
Welcome!
Every month, you'll read stories that I've written from my interviews with Hollywood celebrities of the past and present. Each star has expressed to me in conversation, their thoughts and wisdom, that I've put together in a wonderful story to share with you, as I have always done throughout my entire career.
I hope you enjoy all these intriguing stories.
Visit me each month to find out what the Hollywood celebrities have to say and share, right here at:
Famous In Hollywood Magazine!
My best to you-
Jay Christian
LA TOYA JACKSON
Her Medical Mystery From The Past
Written by Jay Christian
I've known La Toya for many years and when she had this condition, we talked about it quite a bit. Little did anyone know at the time, that her brother Michael had the same problem, but he didn't reveal it to anyone. She worked hard to find a cure for herself, but unfortunately, Michael didn't.
Here is the story when La Toya lived at the Jackson mansion years ago.
LaToya Jackson stared wide-eyed at hundreds of dark ceilings during a four-year nightmare battle with a medical condition, that she kept a secret.
Years ago, the singer would be so tired by day that she feared she’d collapse while on tour. Eventually, she suffered temporary paralysis for almost a year.
But now, after visits to countless doctors and many hospitals, LaToya, has finally won her battle without resorting to pills or alcohol.
“It was one of the worst experiences of my life,” she says. “I’d lie in bed and toss and turn until 4 a.m. and awaken at 7 a.m. The nights were very long and I did a lot of reading, watching TV and listening to music."
She continued, “I’d try to sleep because I felt very tired from the stress of tours and performances, but I couldn’t. I actually thought I didn’t know how to sleep anymore. It was terrifying.”
La Toya, whose struggle was known only by her family and a few close friends, now wants to share her story, hoping that others who have insomnia might be able to conquer it.
“My body was tired and worn out with no sleep,” she confessed. “Small symptoms started, and I found myself very tense all the time. I would think about my problems too much. I can’t say it was my career. I still don’t know what the true problem was."
She explained, “I was definitely a more tense person, that’s one of the reasons why I couldn’t relax. I never considered myself a night person, and I’m not the kind who likes to stay up all night."
“I went to six doctors. Some were specialists. They checked me out to find the cause and the problem. They wanted to know, and so did I! None were psychiatrists. I never felt a psychiatrist was necessary," she said.
La Toya continued, “Sleeplessness affected the breakdown of my body. I had to visit more doctors because I found myself getting ill. My blood was not circulating properly. My legs would go to sleep all the time. The minute I crossed my legs, they’d fall asleep and feel numb."
“But the attacks didn’t stop, and soon my hands, fingers and arms were numb and cramped all the time and became almost paralyzed. The numbness from the neck down lasted about eight months. It would happen any time I was sitting or standing, and would last about four hours," she said with concern.
“Hospitals all over America treated me. I was always being rushed to the emergency room while traveling. Doctors would run a series of tests all the time, but they all said the same thing. They couldn’t find the answer or treatment,” she confided.
Dr. David Velkoff, medical director of the Drake Institute of Behavioral Medicine in Santa Monica, Calif., says: “Many insomniacs suffer from anxiety and depression. About 10 million Americans have chronic insomnia and stress plays a dominant role.” He continued, “People have problems and often get overwhelmed. Pressures mount upon pressures, and the people don’t know how to cope. Victims lose their ability to relax, and they continue to have insomnia.”
Desperate La Toya finally took an unconventional route and visited a doctor who treats patients naturally. “I went to see a doctor who treated me with mega-vitamins and herbs. It took about three weeks and the numbness stopped,” she noted.
La Toya explained that lack of sleep had drained her body of vitamins and energy, and it never had a chance to replenish itself.
Her new doctor took a bottle of vitamins and told her to hold it in her hand. Then she would resist his pressure as he tried to pull down her hand. If she didn’t need that particular vitamin, he couldn't lower her hand and if he could, then she lacked the vitamin in her body.
“It may sound strange, but it worked,” says La Toya. “I believe there is a cure for everything. It’s just a matter of finding that cure. I would be fine one day, but the insomnia persisted.”
Then La Toya found the answer at last. The final doctor she visited, suggested that instead of doing exercises in the morning when she first got up, she should do them at night.
“Now I walk for two hours at nighttime and really exert myself, and I’m just exhausted,” she revealed. “I’m really ready for a long night’s sleep now, and that’s exactly what I have!”
She continued, “The answer was so simple. I’m so happy that I beat insomnia after four long years! Right now, I’m so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open. It’s amazing to think it’s only nine at night.”
“I slept 10 hours last night. I’m so happy and proud of myself. My insomnia is gone forever!” La Toya said happily.
While La Toya found the answer and cure for her medical condition the proper way, her brother Michael, who shared the same condition, unfortunately didn’t. *
Lou Ferrigno
Photo by Carla Ferrigno
LOU FERRIGNO
His Tips For Raising Kids
Written by Jay Christian
I met Lou at a swanky party, at the beautiful and ornate Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Hollywood. We talked a quite a bit over their scrumptious buffet. Here is his story from the past, which still holds good advice today.
He gained a big reputation for being green and mean as TV’s Incredible Hulk, but in real life Lou Ferrigno is a gentle giant.
There is one thing, however, that gets the kindly father of three really riled... parents who are guilty of hitting their kids too often, ignoring the damage that goes beyond physical abuse.
“When a parent hits a child, sometimes through their anger they’re not aware of how hard they’re hitting them. There is an awful chance of hurting someone you love,” said Lou.
He also points out that it’s emotionally degrading to the child. “People don’t seem to realize that if you’re too hard on the kids, it can affect their self-esteem and that’s something they will carry with them for their whole lives,” Lou said with empathy.
He continued, “Kids need to be understood and not put down or humiliated. They’ll listen to you even more if you talk to them honestly and give them love."
“I listen to my kids when they speak,” says Lou. “Kids are telling you their opinions and feelings about life and situations. And we must listen to what they are trying to tell us.”
Lou who has been married for nine years to actress Carla Ferrigno. Their three children are Shanna, 9, Louie, 5 and baby Brent, 8 months.
“My kids are not afraid of me because they’re allowed to express themselves,” says Ferrigno, whose warm, tender manner contradicts his fearsome TV character. “We have good communication in our home and we discuss things openly,” he said.
“When I get upset with the kids, I never hit them. Hitting children should never happen because it does too much damage to them both physically and emotionally,” he adds.
Lou and Carla, both in their late 30s, believe that one way to communicate better with children is simply by being with them and the best way is at dinner time.
“Every night, it’s like a ritual,” Lou says. “We always eat at 6:30. We discuss problems, but everything is upbeat."
“I don’t want a stressful atmosphere at home. My kids are very sensitive, so I like to have some fun and excitement around the house. This way, there’s much more of a relaxed atmosphere around the place,” he said proudly.
The Ferrignos stress that they are careful not to spoil their children.
Lou explained, “We live in a fairly average neighborhood and the kids go to public school. They are not given or handed anything. They have to do chores around the house and they are given an allowance to teach them to budget and to give them independence.”
Carla, Lou’s wife adds: “We let our kids be who they want to be, at their own speed and we let them express themselves within a respectable limit, so it’s not abusive to us parents or anyone else.”
Lou, who grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., says his parents did the best they could raising him, but he points out that child-raising techniques need to change with the times.
“When I was growing up, there were many parents around who were way too strict,” he recalls. “That was just the way things were back in those days."
“Today, a good parent is someone kind, sweet and giving to their children. It takes a lot of patience raising kids. Parenting is a something you have to work on every day."
“Our first house rule is to be honest without guilt. This way everything is out in the open and when problems arise, they are resolved quickly.”
Lou concludes: “I give my kids a lot of love and affection- this is most important. Just being there when they need you is more important than we realize.” *
Doris Roberts
Photo credit: David Weininger
DORIS ROBERTS
The Age of Unreason
Written by Jay Christian
When I met Doris for the first time, she was a bit edgy and seemed to have a lot on her mind. I learned later in the interview that she had the flu, yet she didn't cancel our meeting and felt that this story was of great importance and needed to be brought to the attention of others. I promised a good article and she was very grateful .
Her story at the time-
Everybody Loves Raymond actress Doris Roberts, 74, is lashing out at Hollywood, revealing all about the injustices she claims go on behind the scenes. She is taking a stance to try to prevent ageism in Hollywood.
“According to Hollywood, 40 is getting old. And if you are a woman in Hollywood who is 40 and fat, you’re finished!" Doris says angrily.
“There are writers in their 40s and Hollywood doesn’t think they can write about youth. Directors, producers and actors are feeling the discrimination also, but would you tell Einstein to stop what he was doing because he was too old? It’s insanity," she said with concern.
“Most of the decisions that are made in Hollywood are from younger people. The youth market has taken over. When you don’t see in any media a woman over the age of 40, unless she is selling Depend undergarments or Viagra, you know there’s a problem.”
Doris stresses that anyone over the age of 40 is regarded by executives and casting directors as useless.
“I want the word “old” struck from our vocabulary. I’m not an “old” woman, I’m an older woman. My brain is functioning perfectly- better than it ever has in my life. I’m healthy and I have wisdom. I’ve lived 74 years. Why should I be stopped?" she asks.
Last year Doris won her fourth best supporting actress Emmy Award, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, continued getting acting roles and wrote a book of her memoirs, called Are You Hungry, Dear?
“I’m functioning better than I ever have in my life,” she says, “Why should I be stopped or denied the ability to continue living my life? When you’re over 40 you are at your best. You’ve lived, you’ve experienced, you have choices. But Hollywood doesn’t see it that way. They want to airbrush us right out of society."
“There are no parts in Hollywood for women over 40. They don’t feel mothers or grandmothers are worth looking at- like we have no influence on people.”
Doris says there are so many older actors desperately seeking work that more than 100 tried out for Doris’ role as Marie on Everybody Loves Raymond.
“I know a lot of great actors over the age of 40 who are out of work and going through age discrimination. They complain of no jobs. Many older actors are scrounging for work- and no one should have to do that,” she said with concern.
Doris explains that because of the increased rejection, most become depressed and just give up. “A lot of people in this world, when they get older they give up, they give in, and they settle. They have to be taught not to do that,” she said.
“I’m at a place in my life where I am courageous. I know who I am, I know how good I am, I’m on a hit show, I’m vital, I’m very involved with a lot of things. And just look at what I’m doing at my age! I have more energy than anyone on the Raymond set," Doris said proudly.
Her words of wisdom to everyone, "People can learn from older actors. And I learn something new every day of my life!" *
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🎃 CELEBRITY RECIPES THIS MONTH 🎃
ELVIRA'S TRANSYLVANIAN GHOULASH
Ingredients:
2 pounds grass-fed round steak or flank steak
¼ cup unsaturated oil
1 medium chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup flour
3 teaspoons paprika
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground peppercorns
¼ teaspoon crushed thyme
2 bay leaves
28 ounce can stewed tomatoes
1 cup sour cream
1 package noodles
2 carrots, sliced
½ cup chopped mushrooms
{ After a hard day of burning down castles, digging up corpses and stealing brains from the university.... it's ghoul-ash time. Almost any kind of meat- or anyone you meet- can be hacked, whacked, chopped or impaled to make this hearty meal. The essential ingredient is garlic. Lots of garlic! Enough to make everyone in the Borgo Pass know you're on the way before-hand. Or before foot, depending on how you travel. Simply remove the garlic from around your windows at dawn. Then fire up the old cookstove with peat, turn on the Air Wick®.....and simmer until your guests break in. Enough to feed six hungry peasants, with something left over to throw to the wolves.}
Directions:
Cut beef into ½ inch cubes. Heat oil in large heavy skillet, dredge beef in flour and brown meat. Reduce heat, add onion, garlic, carrots and mushrooms. Cook until onion is transparent (not brown).
Blend in remainder of flour and spices. Add tomatoes, cover and simmer for 60 to 90 minutes or until meat is tender. Stir occasionally, being careful to prevent sticking. As mixture thickens, blend in sour cream.
Approximately 20 minutes before meat is finished, begin cooking noodles according to package directions. Pour ghoulash over hot noodles and serve.
ELVIRA'S TRANSYLVANIAN GHOULASH
Photo credit: Lori-Michele
VINCENT PRICE'S CHOCOLATE POT DE CRÈME
Ingredients:
8 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate bits
5 tablespoons cold water
1 tablespoon instant coffee
5 large eggs
2 tablespoons light rum
½ cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons ground almonds
2 teaspoons coffee liqueur
Directions:
In the top of a double boiler, heat chocolate bits over simmering water just until melted. Stir in cold water and instant coffee. Separate eggs, placing whites in a bowl; let them warm to room temperature. Stir egg yolks into the melted chocolate mixture, then beat in rum and allow mixture to cool slightly. Beat egg whites with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold whites into chocolate mixture. Pour into six cups with lids. Refrigerate 24 hours.
Just before serving- in a small bowl, with mixer, whip the cream until thick. Add sugar, ground almonds and coffee liqueur. Beat until cream holds its shape; spoon into serving bowl. Serve alongside the pot de crème. Serves 6.
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VINCENT PRICE'S CHOCOLATE POT DE CRÈME
Image By http://www.freepik.com
Recipes from the book Jay Christian's Hollywood Celebrity Recipes
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Celebrities who have been or will soon be in this online magazine are:
Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Brad Pitt, Hailey Bieber, Nicole Kidman, Owen Wilson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Barbara Eden, LaToya Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Harrison Ford, Jamie Lee Curtis, Donny Osmond, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Evans, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Rihanna, Tom Cruise, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Vanna White, Katherine Heigl, Katie Holmes, Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Lenny Kravitz, Marie Osmond, etc.
To purchase these books or eBooks click here: Hollywood Diet & Exercise Secrets Jay Christian's Hollywood Celebrity Recipes
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Jay Christian: Publisher/ Interviewer/ Writer/ Executive Editor
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