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Sylvia Lewis
Gallery
Art and Camera...
Photos by "Bernard," one of Hollywood's most famous glamour photographers...
"One thing Bernard's daughter claims in his book which she edited, is that he took great pride, as well he might, that he never retouched any of his photographs. He picked women he thought were attractive, he knew how to light them (the main trick) and he knew how to pose them and shoot them. He was really a director. I can just see most of today's actresses going before a camera without benefit of retouching or airbrushing....HA."
By David Mills... Santa Monica Beach
At Universal Studios "More and more jobs were coming available and it was a definitive launch into the Hollywood professional scene. I was hired to be an assistant choreographer at Universal Studios for Hal Belfer (behind the pole). In truth, I did all the tough work, like teaching dance class every day to all of the contractees, including Mamie Van Doren, Dennis Weaver, Hugh O'Brien and a slew of actors who were, or became famous. One sweet memory which comes to mind is Hal staged a number for a glorious actress of her time, Ann Sheridan. She knew she couldn't dance at all, so she wouldn't make a move without me by her side or when cameras were rolling; she made me do the dance right beside the camera so she could see me. She was terrified. She also took a liking to me and included me in her weekend bashes at her beautiful home in Encino. Friends gathered in her sprawling gardens by the pool and we partied into the night. She loved talented people around her, so there was never a shortage of talent to amuse. That's where we all met a very young and just being discovered Sammy Davis Jr. He and I used to jam (ad lib dance) to some drummers who were always playing. I, no longer the ballerina, but a dancer who had expanded my capability to wider range of dance, was thrilled when Sammy said to me 'You know, you're the first white / black dancer I've ever seen.' What a compliment."
From a 1954 magazine article...
By Keith Bernard...
By David Kovar...
By Bud Fraker...
Cover of Sunday L.A. Times
magazine
By Don Lewis...
"Don came to the house for the shoot, our tiny house above the Sunset Strip. It had a panoramic view from LA to the ocean... spectacular. Of course it's long gone.... replaced by several hideous condos."
"From the period when everyone was in to wearing Indian gear... headbands, etc. I loved that look because most people assumed I was Native American because of my appearance."
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