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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 #20 August 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

MARIE OSMOND 

Her Personal Secrets For Parenting

Written By Jay Christian

With all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Marie Osmond has been the envy of many. When she was only 15 years old, she was known as America's Sweetheart and was as popular as today's megastar Taylor Swift. Now, after five decades of success, Marie is still truly admired by all demographics. 

While in her twenties, Marie focused on having a good marriage and a family. Initially, she did meet her knight and shining armor and then another marriage was to follow, but she took the time out of her busy and demanding career to raise her family as a sensible, understanding and loving mother of eight children- three maternal and five adopted.

How did a petite, talented beauty raise eight children and keep a normal household with an active musical career? Marie tells it all in this exclusive most personal interview on just how she raised her lovely family.

With plenty of knowledge and advice to share for others, she said, “I think raising all of my children has been a lot of trial and error. I have raised eight beautiful children. They all couldn’t be more different if you tried.”

Marie expressed, “I don’t know if I’m a good parent. I don’t know that anybody does. I think we try, but I know that my children are just the best and I couldn’t love them anymore!”

Although her kids come from an affluent background, Marie believes in common basics like everyone else,” I don’t believe in spoiling them. I believe that there’s a time to be a friend, but it isn’t when they’re children. You have to be their parent,” Marie explained.

When asked why she chose to have a large family Marie said, “Well I think they chose me, I’m not necessarily sure that I chose them. I had a very difficult time having children [with pregnancy] and so I felt blessed to have one. But you know, I came from a big family and I see the benefits of it. I don’t think you’re as selfish, you’re not as self-centered, you learn to share and serve. I think you learn a lot from having siblings.”

She continued, “I think the key to a successful family are the parents. I had great parents, I was just so blessed. I believe that in a world where we have so many single parent homes and I know because I’ve been a single parent, there’s just something about having not [only] just a great mom, but to have a great dad in the home is so important for children. My children just adore my husband.  I think they appreciate having a dad." [ Marie remarried her first husband Steve Craig in 2011.]

Marie feels that if anything there was one rule for parenting that she followed. “I think be consistent. I was raised that if you promised them a reward, you better give it to them. If you promised them a punishment, then do it. For example, I hear parents say, ‘I’m warning you, I’m going to put you on the stairs,’ and then they keep saying it, ‘you’re gonna take a time out and you’re going to go to your room’ and they never do and I'm thinking, ‘Well, what is that teaching the kids?! They have absolutely no value to your word,’” Marie said wisely.

She continued, “You can give them choices like, ‘okay you can either watch this movie, but you have to finish your homework first’ or whatever it is, but help them, so they learn through choices.  You teach your children to make wise choices.”

Marie believes all children are different and depending on their personality, each has to be treated and understood individually.

“All of my children are different, there's not one solution. I don't believe there is with any child. Some children are strong-headed, some are kind of pushovers, some are pleasers, some are achievers and I think you have to be proactive to understand how you can best help your child. I really believe that we are given these children to help us be better people. I look at my children and think that's the greatest gift I ever received,” she said with appreciation.

When asked why she chose adoption, Marie said, “Well honestly, I don't know that I did. I just know that I really felt God's hand in it. And the people I know who have adopted, they feel the same way. It's not like, ‘oh, I just want to go have a baby,’ no. It was… there is a child and they need you and this is how you're gonna find them. You feel very prompted. Every one of my children was a very different, unique situation and they're mine. I have adopted kids, but I don't know which ones. And I mean that sincerely, they are my kids. And I love them ferociously!”

Marie believes that teaching a child to stand on their own two feet can sometimes be painful for a parent, but it might be the only way a child can grow up to be independent.

“As a parent I can honestly say I think you're only as happy, as your least happy child. And there are times as a parent where you have to step back and you have to let them even fail at times because they have to find that strength. You can't fix stuff for them, you have let them learn and that's the hardest part of being a parent,” she said with concern.

Marie feels having an upfront approach in parenting and being honest with your child is very important. She confided, "You just have to be willing to admit your faults. It's like I said to my kids, ‘You know I may not be a perfect mother, but I could not love you more perfectly, so let's figure this out and have communication.' Did I do everything right, no, but I don't know that every parent does. I think this is part of the journey.”

She continued, “You know there’s a saying that, ‘If you train a child, he will not depart,’ but that doesn't mean what he'll do in-between. Children will explore, there's so many avenues and so many things that we need to teach them to protect themselves. A lot of times people think that these rules or commandments or whatever they believe in are stifling, when in actuality the way I explained it to my children is: they are fences that protect you from becoming a wild horse that's unusable. In order to give back to society, you want to be a usable person, not a creature that's out of control,” Marie said tactfully.

“As they become teenagers, you have to remember they're going to make choices and they're going to do stupid things and you can either point your finger and say, ‘I told you so’ or you can be the kind of parent that's like, ‘what did you learn from this?’ You can't enable, you have to help them learn to understand the consequences. I may not be happy with some of their choices but that's never changed my love for them. My children know I love them unconditionally.”

Marie continued, “If I have done anything to help my children, I hopefully have taught them that there is no failure because the real success is getting back up on your feet. My children get back up on their feet and I'm proud of them for that.”

Marie also feels that demonstrating a strong work ethic is very important. She said, “I think they've seen that from me. There have been times when I've been very, very sick and I'll just say ‘no, these people flew in to see the show tonight and I can certainly pull it together for two hours.’  I would never have felt sorry for myself,” she said with determination. “I sincerely love people! I hope I've taught that to my children as well. They're kind to people, they're good kids.” 

Marie feels that a tranquil home is very important for the children. “My 24 year old came to the house the other day and he said, ‘Mom I love coming here and seeing you and Dad, there's just great spirit in this house of peace.’ And that was just like the best compliment I could ever have!” she said proudly.

MARIE OSMOND WITH SOME OF HER GRANDCHILDREN

Marie reminisced, “Years ago, both my parents said to me, ‘Honey, you will know that you've been successful in life, when you can honestly say that you are a happy Grandma." And I use to think, ‘What on earth does that mean?!’ And what they meant by that is: I live my life, where my children love me and they love me enough that they trust me to be around their children.”

Marie concluded, “Today, I love being a Grandma! I think that’s the reward for being a mother because you get to love ‘em and spoil them and give them back!” she laughed.*

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Her story-
When Barbara Eden first came to Hollywood, a studio exec told her to go back home- saying she’d never make it as a star!
​
“I was told that I was ugly and I wasn't well-endowed,” the perky actress told in my exclusive interview.

“The man told me I just didn’t have what it took. He was rude and mean!”

Barbara, still beautiful as ever, was just a teenager when she got her chilly reception at a major Hollywood studio.

“I went to audition for a casting director,” she said. “He told me I wasn’t pretty enough. Then he showed me a picture of his daughter- who was well-endowed- and said Hollywood wanted types like her!"

“I went back to my room and cried for hours and I thought about what he had said and
then I came to realize he was wrong! Talented people come in all sizes and shapes."

​But Barbara refused to give up and she became a living example of the power of perseverance.

“So I didn’t go home. I got a job working nights at a bank and went to auditions during the day. I kept working hard and eventually got roles.”

Finally she landed the role of a gorgeous genie in TV’s “I Dream of Jeannie” – and magically soared to stardom!
​
The lesson she learned, says Barbara, is this: “Be true to yourself. Don’t get discouraged by others. If you listen to them more than yourself, they may ruin your life.”

“To all readers, I’d like to say: Believe in yourself and never give up your dreams, no matter what age you are,” said the beloved “I Dream of Jeannie” star.*

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TONY CURTIS

The Most Embarrassing Moment of His Life

Written by Jay Christian

At the height of his career in the 1950s, Tony Curtis was Hollywood’s biggest superstar. Women all over the world were enthralled with his good looks and charm. In this exclusive interview that I had with him many years ago, Tony told me the most embarrassing thing that happened to him in his entire career! Here in his own words, from our conversation, Tony tells the whole story.

“The most embarrassing moment of my life came when a woman wanted a washer and dryer instead of me!

It happened years ago when a movie magazine ran a national “win a weekend with Tony Curtis” contest. Contestants had to write in and say in 50 words or less why they wanted me as their guest. The first prize was me. The second prize was a new washer and dryer.

I was “won” by a family in Walla Walla, Washington and I had a great time at their house. I went out for dinner and dancing with the husband, wife and their teenage daughter.

But I noticed the wife didn’t seem very content. Finally, on the second day, I asked her: “I feel something is wrong. Please tell me.” And she said: “I didn’t want to win you, I wanted the washer and dryer! I could have used that much more than a visit from you.”

As I stood there embarrassed, she added: “…..although having you with me was a great pleasure and a great honor.”

I called the magazine and said: “Listen, guys, this woman wants the washer and dryer.” They said, “But you’re the first prize.” And I told them: “To this woman, I’m the second prize!”

The magazine told me they’d also give her a washer and dryer. She got me AND the appliances, so it all worked out fine!” *

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BARBARA EDEN'S LEMON ICE CREAM PIE

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons butter

Grated peel of one lemon

⅓ cup lemon juice

Dash of salt

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 large egg yolks

2 pints of good quality vanilla ice cream

1 baked 9 inch pie shell

½ pint heavy cream, whipped

Directions:

To make a lemon sauce, melt butter in top of a double boiler, over simmering water. Add grated lemon peel and juice. Stir in salt and sugar until well mixed. In a cup, beat together whole eggs and yolks; stir into lemon mixture in pan. Cook over boiling water, stirring constantly, until thick and smooth. Transfer sauce to bowl; cover and chill until cold.

Let one pint of ice cream soften until it can be easily spooned. Spread ice cream in pie shell and freeze until the ice cream becomes firm again. Cover ice cream in pie shell with half of the lemon sauce and freeze until sauce is stiff. Soften remaining one pint of ice cream and spread over lemon layer; freeze until firm. Spread remaining lemon sauce over ice cream. Freeze with whipped cream on top. Let pie stand for 10 minutes before serving for easier cutting. Serves 8.

Image By timolina http://www.freepik.com

BEAU BRIDGES’ GUACAMOLE DIP

Ingredients:

2 ripe avocados
½ cup fresh tomato salsa (make your own or purchase from the deli or refrigerated section of your supermarket)
½ cup sour cream
2 scallions, thinly sliced
⅓ cup canned chopped green chiles, preferably jalapeno
⅓ cup chopped ripe olives
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 small garlic clove, minced

Directions:

Cut avocados around middle lengthwise, then twist to separate into halves. Remove pit and scoop out avocado from skins into a medium bowl with a large spoon. Mash coarsely with a fork.  If salsa has a lot of liquid, drain so it doesn't thin out dip. Add salsa, sour cream, scallions, jalapenos, olives, lemon juice, and garlic to mashed avocados. Mix well. Cover with plastic wrap directly on surface of guacamole and refrigerate until serving time. Because of all the goodies I add to this guacamole, the dip holds its color well, even if you prepare it in advance. This recipe makes 3 cups of guacamole. I also make my own fresh tortilla chips by cutting corn tortillas into wedges and baking them in a 325-degree oven for about 10 minutes, until crisp.

***

Image by Racool_studio 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, Jenny McCarthy, 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.​