They Called Me NATURE BOY! Part 6

My Second Blogg Contest ends March 15, 2010.

Anyone who gets a correct answer and mails it to me with a post mark prior to 3/15/2010 will win.

HINT Number 2, for Nature Boy Celebrity Number 1: He was in the 1924 Olympics and picked up four medals, including three gold. He won 2 gold medals in 1928 Olympics.

HINT Number 1, for Nature Boy Celebrity Number 2: He was of Mexican descent and he appeared in many silent films, as well as "talkies".

Remember...use a postcard...or write your answers on a sheet of paper and place it in an envelope...then mail to:

Chuck Liddell P O Box 1533 Avalon CA 90704

They Called Me NATURE BOY! Part 5

First, let me say that I'm still having some trouble juggling family, work and blogging...that said, I have extended the date for entries in my Second Blogg Contest to March 15, 2010. Anyone who gets a correct answer and mails it to me with a post mark prior to 3/15/2010 will win.

HINT Number 1, for Nature Boy Celebrity Number 1: Who carried me on his shoulders...He was
born in Romania in 1904, died 1984.

HINT Number 1, for Nature Boy Celebrity Number 2: He held me on his lap...He was
born in Los Angeles, 1880, died in 1961.

Keep those cards and letters pouring in!

They Called Me NATURE BOY! Part 4

Now Celebrity #2:

This same year, 1950, later in the summer, there was an actor, who had been in silent films as well as "talkies", but hadn't been doing much for a while. He was from a famous California family which was a prominent part of the History of Los Angeles and the surrounding area, there are even had locations named after the family. He, like Celebrity #1, found it difficult to attract the attention of the ladies. This is where "Nature Boy" came in.




In the late afternoon, I was permitted to venture down to the beach alone (no crime then, and VERY LITTLE now). This actor would sit on the bench, outside of one of our most popular bars, the "Hurricane Cove" at the "Waikiki Restaurant". When I saw him sitting there, I would automatically jump up on his lap (I remember doing this a number of times) and simply act "cute" (I really wasn't "acting", that was simply the way God made me).

Young women (most of them young enough to be his daughter, or even grand daughter) who were entering or leaving the bar, would see this distinguished looking man with his adorable child on his lap. He used me, as some men do by walking their dogs in the park, in hopes bringing attention to himself, as well as showing his love for animals. This actor was using me as his "Chick Bait". These unassuming young things would come up to him and ask if I was his "grandson". During the conversation he would change the subject to the fact that he was a famous actor and that he had just started a new career in television in a new "Western" series. This was enough to "hook" at least one interested female every evening. He would then give me five cents which I quickly spent for an ice cream at "Lloyds" candy and ice cream shop (its still there on Crescent and Sumner)!

At least I got paid for my services!


Who were either/both of these manipulative (or should I say "inventive") actors.

To enter you will need to mail a postcard (any post card will do or place a small sheet of paper in an envelope), to:

Chuck Liddell
P. O. Box 1533
Avalon, CA 90704-1533

Please include your name, mailing address, and e-mail address, be sure to include your answers, and I will then contact you to find out which DVDs you want, IF you are correct.

You have until March 1, 2010 (postmark must be no later than date) to enter.

**More clues to follow up to the contest deadline date.

GOOD LUCK and thanks for reading my BLOGs!

They Called Me NATURE BOY! Part 3

This picture of me was taken at the St. Catherine Hotel, with BeBe Shopp, who was, "Miss America", 1948 (I'm the cute one!). I was only one year old. She was on Catalina because all of the "Miss America" beauty pageant contestants were required to wear "Catalina Swim Wear" for the bathing suit competition. As part of the promotion for the swim wear, especially because it was named for Catalina Island, the contestants would assembly on the Island and be photographed on the beach in front of our most famous hotel, the "St. Catherine".

My career of, "au natural", posing with celebrities pretty much started here (I’m willing to continue this tradition but ONLY for really big bucks). The next two stories will hopefully keep you guessing, because:

IF you can figure out who one of these two were, then you will WIN one of my DVDs. You can choose from:

"HOLLYWOOD'S MAGICAL ISLAND, CATALINA", "SPOTLIGHT CATALINA", or "WINGS OVER THE CHANNEL" (Catalina Island in the Air War of WWII).

If you guess both of them correctly, then you can have two movies of your choice. To enter you will need to mail a postcard (any post card will do or place a small sheet of paper in an envelope), to:

Chuck Liddell
P. O. Box 1533
Avalon, CA 90704-1533

Please include your name, mailing address, and e-mail address, be sure to include your answers, and I will then contact you to find out which DVDs you want, IF you are correct.

You have until March 1, 2010 (postmark must be no later than date) to enter.

Now for celebrity #1:

The world famous golfer, Bobbie Jones, started the "Bobbie Jones Golf Tournament" on Catalina in 1931 and it became a yearly event into the 1950's. The "Bobbie Jones Golf Tournament" was held in the spring. At the 1950 tournament, when I was only three, me and my family were up at the Club House, near the first green, where the golfers were teeing off. This was where the most of the fans were located because the course was pretty difficult to traverse (people dressed up for these events at this time). This "unnamed celebrity" had recently found himself "single" and wanted to female companionship. Unfortunately, his movie career was pretty much over (he was big in the 30's and 40's) and he was doing only a little television. He knew that he needed a “hook” to "assist" the women in recognizing him or at least in find him interesting. So he went over to my mother and said, "Betty, do you mind if I borrow 'Nature Boy'?" Mom, showing no concern at all, as times were MUCH simpler then, my good old (should I say BEAUTIFUL) mother naturally agreed. This "swinging" bachelor and leading man took off his shirt, put me on his shoulders, and walked through the crowd. He was tall so I was totally visible, even when surrounded by numerous golf enthusiasts. The women would be attracted to me (the adorable one) and after seeing me riding on this gentleman's shoulders would look down and IMMEDIATELY recognize his face. Once he found the women that he felt worthy of his time, he would send me back to my mother. The CHEAP SKATE, never gave me so much as a nickel for my playing his boy!


(see...They Called Me Nature Boy! Part 4

They Called Me NATURE BOY! Part 2

(They Called Me Nature Boy! Part 2)

Because my father was Mr. Wrigley's "Chief Engineer", Mom and Dad often hosted many of these notable people. Mom explained that there weren't many kids on the Island after the war, as many families had to leave to make a living, and so I was a bit of an "oddity" (I still am, unfortunately). When people came to the Island, in those days, they expected to see "natives", in the full sense of the word and were disappointed that everyone seemed, "normal", and looked and acted like they were on the Mainland. Consequently, the onus was placed on me, to happily "play" the role that many expected and being a "bit of a ham", (O. K., THE WHOLE HOG), I took the role without any complaints. My job then was to sit on celebrities' laps, or anyone else who wanted to pose with "Nature Boy" and, I in turn, became a "celebrity" of sorts on the Island. In other words, I was FORCED to live out every child's fantasy, to run around an Island paradise completely naked, and act "cute". Boy did this "duck" take to water!

In those days the tour buses used to go down the ocean front street, Crescent St, which has now been converted to a pedestrian walk way for quite some time. I soon realized that if I acted "out of the ordinary" (type casting I’m sure), in addition to being nude, I would get even MORE ATTENTION. I would sit under a tree, on the East side of the Pleasure Pier entrance, and eat sand!! Don't ask me why, as I really didn't like eating it, but I knew that if I did, the tour buses would always stop and point me out for the tourists with their cameras. I don't know if this strange behavior explained my kidney stone attacks for over 20 years, starting at age 20, but it certainly couldn't have helped my insides. Other than that, I simply did a lot of posing and exposing!!!

This "freedom" allowed me to get "close" to many movie stars of the time. In my next BLOG, I will tell two such stories and for those who can figure out who these celebrities were, I will give them some of my new DVDs. YES, IT IS CONTEST TIME AGAIN!

Keep watch for the stories and rules of the game and be ready to play:...

"GUESS WHO POSED WITH THE CUTE NUDE 'NATURE BOY'?"

I don't think the TV world is ready for a quiz show like this,……or maybe it is!

(See: They Called Me Nature Boy! Part 3)

They Called Me NATURE BOY!

There comes a time in every man's and women's life when they have to explain some very embarrassing past experiences. This is my time!!!

Yes, I am reminded quite often, that I didn't wear clothes until I was three years old! THERE, I SAID IT!!! Of course, many of the "old timers" still remind me of this and have even offered to show me photos (I WANT THOSE NEGATIVES!). Luckily there are fewer of these paparazzi around and many can't remember (anymore) who the adorable "nature boy" was.

Okay, Okay…There were times when I HAD to put on clothes. When I visited Grandma and Grandpa on the mainland, or when they visited us on the Island. Easter Sun Rise Service and Church in general was certainly a time to cover myself!

Other than that, Mom generally just splashed on the baby oil and sent me out to the beach. Back then, there was no "crime" and everyone looked out for "Nature Boy". I learned to swim like a fish at 18 months so being near the ocean wasn't a concern. I turned out to be as dark as a berry ALL OVER (yes…even there!). With my curly brown hair, I was really a "native".

Believe it or not, it took me almost 60 years before I confronted Mom and this issue. Why did she allow me to go around in the buff and why did she force me to pose with so many celebrities who often frequented the Island? Mom's response was very surprising and enlightening, to say the least!













(see...They Called Me Nature Boy! Part 2)

MLK "Take that stand, because it is "right""!

On February 6, 1968, I had the honor of attending the "Second Annual Clergy and Laymen Conference Concerned about Vietnam", in Washington, D.C. I represented California State College (it is now a University), Fullerton, California.

Just before we started our silent march and vigil at "Arlington National Cemetery", we assembled at the "Church of The Presidents" (the official name of the church is "St. John's Episcopal Church") and heard an inspirational speech by Dr. King, one of his last, and this following statement, which is rarely, if ever quoted, was spoken at this conference, and heard by a very impressionable college student:

"On some positions, cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?'

Expedience asks the question, 'Is it politic?'

Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?'

But conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?'

And...there comes a time, when a true follower of Jesus Christ, must take a stand that's neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take that stand, because it is 'right'!"

Whatever you might have thought about Martin Luther King, Jr., as a man, I can't see how any of us can deny these words.

Let's start doing what's RIGHT!!!