#294 Behind the Scenes with Ann Moses: A Tiger Beat Tell-All

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Jeff Dwoskin 0:28

All right, Marie, thank you so much for that amazing introduction. You get this show going each and every week, and this week was no exception. Welcome, everybody to Episode 294 of classic conversations. As always, I am your host, Jeff Dwoskin. Great to have you back for what's sure to be the grooviest episode of All Time, we're heading back to the late 60s early 70s When teen idols ruled the scene. My guest today is Ann Moses editor of Tiger Beat magazine and author of meow my groovy life with Tiger beats teen idols. This episode has stories on top of the stories and that's coming up in just a few seconds. And in these few seconds. Mena star Zack Hawk was here last week. Don't miss that episode. We're talking good bones. We're talking very Brady renovation. So many great stories. Do not miss that episode. But right now do not miss our deep dive into teen idol culture courtesy of Ann Moses Tiger beats editor at age 21. We're talking monkees Dino Desi, Billy David Cassidy, Bobby Sherman, Michael Gray, you went all the gossip? Well, you've come to the right place because it's coming up right now. All right, everyone, I am so excited to introduce my next guest. She has so many secrets. And we're going to tap into all of them from all of your favorite stars of the 70s and stuff like that. Oh, I'm so excited. Ann Moses is here. She's the author of meow, my groovy life with Tiger beat's teen idols. Welcome to the show. So

Ann Moses 2:11

good to have you. Thanks for having me, Jeff.

Jeff Dwoskin 2:14

So I will say that one of my favorite things to do when I interview people from this era, is try and find Tiger Beat headlines. Like Michael Gray, I had Michael Gray on TVs, Michael Gray Shazam, Billy Batson. And so I think there was like a comparison between him and Bobby Sherman. And it was it's just it's always fun to just find these headlines and then get their reactions to that. Yes,

Ann Moses 2:45

it was it was a genre unique to the time

Jeff Dwoskin 2:50

so fun. So let me ask you an important question from October 1970. Why does Barry Williams date fans? Why does

Ann Moses 3:03

Oh, you're you're putting me on the spot. If you're gonna quote articles, that's there's too many.

Jeff Dwoskin 3:11

Oh, no, I just like bounced fun headlines. That's all you know, as I

Ann Moses 3:15

put up things on Facebook and Instagram, it kind of blows my mind.

Jeff Dwoskin 3:20

Hunger beat is like so fun. And the fun thing of it is the headlines. You know, it's just like, I know like in the book, you talk about how like, that's like the whole salacious, fun way to kind of tweak and bring people in. Oh, you know what, before we start, just lay the groundwork tell everyone what Tiger Beat is. And then because we're gonna be just diving in left and right and Sharon stories, so Okay,

Ann Moses 3:44

yeah, well, Tiger Beat their animal girl issue was September 1960. Pot, and the publisher and editorial director and feature editor had all been with teen magazine. Chuck Laufer had been the publisher at teen magazine. And that summer of 65. He had produced you know, he saw all the things that were happening with the Beatles, and teen magazine, they had a small entertainment section, but it was predominantly girl models and how to beat acne, whatever. It was more like Teen Vogue or something than a fan magazine. So he he had seen what was going on the Beatles. And he put out a one shot magazine. I have no idea how many copies but it was all Beatles, you know, the whole magazine and it's sold out immediately, whatever he had produced. So that of course sparked the idea that man, this is a good market to get into. So basically, they left Teen Magazine and started up Tiger Beat and many people have asked me how to Tiger Beat kid's name, and I had no idea and so I contacted Lottie who was one of the original three that were that got the magazine going? And she just said, I have no idea why she said, it's what Chuck wanted. And he wouldn't even talk about it. He wouldn't talk about other ideas, or that's what he wanted. And, you know, unfortunately, I wish I'd gotten to him back in the day and said, Well, why, why did you choose Tiger Beat? I don't have an answer. But they really stuck.

Jeff Dwoskin 5:27

It's a great name. Sometimes. It's just, it's just it is right. It's just,

Ann Moses 5:31

I know, I know.

Jeff Dwoskin 5:34

It's funny because I started kind of going down a little bit of rabbit hole on Pinterest and stuff and finding all these covers from because like, it was one of the things it's so iconic about it just the way you guys did your covers with the headshots and kind of like collage II. But I started thinking it was like the popularity of it. I mean, because it was huge. It's almost like the 1970s version of what would be social media today, it was the only way to connect on the level that you guys were connecting your fans and readers with these teen idols of the day?

Ann Moses 6:08

Absolutely. I mean, daily, I get people who say, I saved up my, you know, my babysitting money, or, you know, however, they earned money, and they would go down on the day it went on sale. And I mean, subscriptions were only I think $4 a year, but when they started out, but $4 would almost buy you 33 RPM album at the time. So I don't know, but it just grew and grew and grew. And it was it was our link to them. And vice versa.

Jeff Dwoskin 6:45

It's funny because it was it's probably was almost too successful, right? Because a lot of these folks just couldn't go anywhere.

Ann Moses 6:52

Well, you know, if you talked to Donny Osmond, he would for a number of years, he was so bitter about Tiger B, and the fact that he was branded at it as a teen idol, and couldn't work in any other way, shape or form. But he's come back around since he's filling the arenas at Harrah's. And in Las Vegas, a friend of mine was talking with Maria Osman, you know, of course, they had their show together for years and years in Vegas a few years back, and she says, Everybody brings Tiger Beat for them to sign. And then it's not being published anymore. And so it really it was just in my mind, it was really the best magazine. Even though 16 magazine sold more, we were the magazine that was in Hollywood. So we were constantly going out to the monkees set going out to care coming, the bride set to see Bobby Sherman going out to the Partridge Family set, we really felt like we had that kind of intimate relationship with these different stars. And the ones just coming up. And we literally, you know, we had the ability, once our publisher Chuck heads theme, how he contracted for certain monthly columns written by the monkees, basically, they were written by, by me or by dad, but they were always based on a real interview. And so maybe we'd take a one sentence answer to an interview question and turn it into a discuss that subject in you know, six paragraphs, but it's like we were providing the real deal, you know, along with the made up stories about you know, the girl that I marry or whatever like that we were journalists, certainly at the time, we weren't viewed that way. But I think today, what I didn't realize at the time was that there were so many boys reading Tiger Beat. And we were never aware of that, you know, Chuck was convinced that we were selling to preteen and teenage girls period. And now I guess about a third of my audience on social media is men. And they said, Oh, yeah, I would go grab, you know, it's still my sister's copy, or I'd buy a copy or it just blew my mind. And and even though they were looking for, you know, more details about the music or this than that. I mean, we weren't providing that so much as what Davey had for breakfast. It's like we were putting out the real deal. And I was very proud of that.

Jeff Dwoskin 9:42

That's what I'm saving like Davey for breakfast. That's Instagram in the early days right. Now, even though here's what I Right.

Ann Moses 9:51

Yeah, exactly, exactly. So it just it was really right for the time, you know, because prior to that there had been Movie magazines. But there weren't very many magazines aimed at teenagers and pre teenagers. Because I mean, when Donnie became popular, I mean, I'm talking 789 year olds read Tiger Beat, right?

Jeff Dwoskin 10:14

Because they looked up to him and like that was what they wanted to be. And that

Ann Moses 10:19

was their first love at nine years old or whatever. And those are those right,

Jeff Dwoskin 10:23

so they're not I'm not ashamed to admit my first crush, Marie Osmond, and the Donny and Marie show. Yes, loved Marie, and look

Ann Moses 10:31

at her just today. I mean, I put up a post the other day, and it was from it, you know, it was from talking with her. And she wanted them when she was like, 10 years old. You know, it was like, Well, what do you want to be when you grew up? And she told me, I want to be a nurse. I was like, Well, how'd that work out for you? Because, you know, she became a superstar. So it just tickles me to find out that so many people, the memories of those days were so clear in their minds. And the four there was the internet and all that I never dreamed anybody cared, gave a who it was like, but I come to found out I was like, Oh, thank you for taking me back to my when I was 12 years old, or thank you for writing about those days. But my my first love was, you know, Mickey Dolan's or whatever. It just certainly, I couldn't have guessed that my work from the 60s and 70s would be so appreciated. It's just mind blowing. And it continues. You know, when people respond to things that I put up from Tiger B, kind of astounds me too. When I go back through and read in detail, I wrote the meow column when Lottie stopped writing it. So I think it was in like March of 67, I began writing the meow column. And that was kind of the last paid two pages of the magazine. And it was basically like, I'm going to tell you all the gossip, and of course, gossiping Tiger Beat is is nice gossip. It's not, it's not nasty. Bill has or anything like that. And I was just astounded at some of the things that I put in there that I totally weren't in my mind. I mean, I posted one the other day, and it was, oh, I went over to Mark Lindsay's house for breakfast. And he asked me if I wanted him to play the Paul Revere and the Raiders new single. And I said, Yeah, that'd be great. And so while we're eating breakfast, he plays the song and and I go, Well, why is there that beeping sound in the background? And turns out, he said, Oh, we put that in it's Morse code for something or other I can't remember the end of the punch line. But all kinds of people respondents said, I've always wondered what that noise was on that record. And I mean, there I was with the answer. It just, it's constantly amazes me the way that every year but he appreciates those times. And they were they were gentle or times they were kinder times. And they were much more innocent times. Because even though I've toured with several of the groups of the day, I mean, there was no cocaine. There was no hair or when Yeah, they smoke pot, big deal. It was just like, wasn't what the acid brockers would turn into their, you know, Tarik tearing apart, hotel rooms, et cetera, et cetera, and getting hooked on heroin for you know, half of their life. I mean, it was crazy, but it was still innocent in those days. I mean, Timothy Leary was telling us to drop in and, and anyway, he was, you know, he was pushing his LSD. And yes, some people were trying it, but I mean, compared to today, or even the late 70s. It was, it was a pretty innocent time.

Jeff Dwoskin 13:57

Well, yeah. I mean, I think it was so cool about it. It's like a time capsule. It's like you're uncovering a time capsule. And so show right. Today whenever get upset. Or did they just understand that? Because at some point, I'm sure Tiger be just became part of the machine that the industry use to help promote push and propel someone to fame and stardom. So did they just Are they fine with like, the spins you take with the headline? Did anyone ever get upset with something you guys wrote? Well,

Ann Moses 14:27

it's funny because No, I would say 99% of the time. No. I mean, they got it. Because we were writing about 19 year old young men and 21 year old men, and they understood it was part of the whole package. I remember one time I took a copy of monkees spectacular out to the monkees set. And Peter was looking at it and he said, Well, this interview that you did with me, you misspelled is it Tao? I think it's stout, you know, the been spilled? What ta Oh, anyway, I misspelled that word. And it was like, got it. I won't misspell it again. That's great. And of course, he wasn't doing it in a mean way in the slightest. It was just, you know, it was kind of like a courtesy, hey, it's almost like I found a typo. But that was the extent to anybody ever caring about what were you we were the headline. I mean, because they weren't offensive. Sorry

Jeff Dwoskin 15:29

to interrupt, I needed to take this moment to point out a couple other typos to add, I'm getting, I do want to thank all of you for your support of the sponsors. When you support the sponsors. You're supporting us here at Classic conversations. And that's how we keep the lights on. And now back to my conversation with Ann Moses, how did people react when their time was over? You know, I mean, like, you know, like, the monkees were huge, right? For two years, put your feet on the map is that you mentioned in the book, and then, but then the time of the monkees ended? It did people kind of like, because this has been a drug to to them, like it, you know, such a boost in their popularity and all that kind of stuff. And then just oh, I'm the Bobby Sherman or whatever. Right?

Ann Moses 16:11

Well, yes, which is the way it went. And it's kind of the way the audience went to, but because we had been so involved, and because the monkees had been so popular, we would do updates on the monkees lives and make us doing this. And Mike's doing that, and we would keep them caught up. But it would be a page or two per issue. Once their time had passed, which was more like 6869. And by the 70s, they really weren't in there much at all, that that the monkees kind of came back in 85. And then they had other iterations up until their tours in the 2000s. And I mean, they filled these places up, I mean, instead of 10,000 seat stadiums, or even larger, you know, when they the period, a sports stadium, you know, they were playing to three to 5000 Audience venues. But every one in the place with thing along with every song. I mean, it was a neat experience to have to be with them. I flew to San Francisco with the monkees for the very first concert. And then there I was in 2014. And I was near my home in Arizona, and they were appearing. And I had a reunion with Peter. And it was like no time had passed. And yet, you know, you ask about well, what did they do when they weren't idols anymore. And that story is as varied as each of the individual idols. But Peter, for example, he taught school for a while, you know, private school, and he taught music, but he also got very messed up in his life with drugs. And I don't know who was alcohol too. And so in 2014, I reminded him at our union, I said, Do you remember when you just would try so hard to get me to try LSD? You'd say, I'll be there, I'll take care of you. You don't have to? And you know, I'd say, Oh, I'm afraid I'll have a bad trip. And I, you know, I was just basically chicken. And I said, Do you remember that? He said, Well, I do. But he said, I'm also here to tell you, you didn't miss a thing. And you know, he was sober, the, I don't know, last 15 years of his life or something like that. And so to see that perspective, all those years later, of course, I never thought I'd see any of them again. So these things are just they're really something else. And then, you know, the Osmonds had their struggles. They were huge hit, they were traveling around the world, but then they fell on hard times and, and they kind of pick themselves up and all accomplish things on their own. And I think they perform for quite a few years in Branson. Now David Cassidy, he wanted to lose the teen idol label more than anybody, but he was also the one that was so alone. He was a kid when he started with the Partridge Family. And he was taking advantage of so horribly, not only merchandising, which he got nothing of, but that was true the monkees sue because then nobody knew you could make these deals where they got paid something. I mean, you know, you think of endorsements and products now, I mean, the stars are producing those themselves. There's nobody else getting a piece of their pie. And back then it was the studio. You know, they were getting all the toy money and the lunchbox money and of course, Tiger Beat would contract with them. We contracted with the Partridge Family producers to produce Tiger beats Partridge Family magazine and Tiger pizza. Official monkees spectacular. It's like, I have no idea what those contracts cost, because I just wasn't involved in that in. But it's like, everybody got a piece of them except them. So when it was over, like David Cassidy just really wanted to lose that teen idol thing and be perceived as a good musician and a really good singer and all that. And he wanted to be an actor, because he idolized his father. And it turned out he wasn't that successful at anything else. And then when, you know, we went back to Turing, later on, the fans were still there. And I hope it was fulfilling for him because it's like, he still had all this love going on. And it really wasn't enough for him. And of course, he he died of alcoholism. So it's rough. You were talking about Michael Gray, though, Michael Gray, he went on. But when he stopped hearing things, I don't know if it was after shoes them or whatever. He just worked with his wife at a floral store in Beverly Hills for the next, I don't know, 30 years, some years, then they moved to Northern California. And now they're back in Hollywood. He's doing comic cons and just, you know, having a blast, but it's kind of the cards are stacked against them to have a normal or productive life and some other way Bobby Sherman became an EMT, and then he was the EMT, the main teacher of the Los Angeles Police Department's EMT unit. And who would have thought of that some people figured out a way to go forward in their life. And it's

Jeff Dwoskin 21:44

got to be hard because you're thrust into this hive. Yes. And if you're like a David Cassidy, like you were saying, where you had a different path in mind, and now you know, it seemed back then various now it seems you can get around things. Oh, yeah. Robert Downey Jr. Can be Iron Man and then go on and do something else. People can accept that. Yes.

Ann Moses 22:04

Or Justin Timberlake, you know, look at him. He was in a boy band, basically a teen idol wall. So and then he got into movies and on and on and on. Certainly, I think people are more aware today. Back then it was just so easy for the managers to steal your money. You know, I mean, the monkees, they were all broke, except Mike, who had inherited a good chunk of money from his mother who invented liquid paper,

Jeff Dwoskin 22:33

one of the greatest stories ever. Oh, isn't it though. And

Ann Moses 22:37

then the others, they learned how to kind of just make a living, I would say and take care of their families and so on, but it's really harder for some of the other ones.

Jeff Dwoskin 22:48

And one of the things that blew my mind when I was reading your book. Now I'm sure this doesn't even scratch the surface in terms of the concerts because I'm sure anyone you toured with you probably saw him in concert, but some of the ones that were like oh my god, Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl. Elton John's debut at The Troubadour Elvis is 68. Comeback special, and others the doors at the LA Forum. The Monkees. You mentioned Jefferson Airplane opening for the Rolling Stones.

Ann Moses 23:16

Oh, yeah. And then standing under the stage when the songs finally went on. And the stage was like six feet tall. I'm five, two, and I had my camera. And the police was keeping the audience probably five or 10 feet back, you know, they were blocked up with the barricade. And there I stood basically, all by myself taking these pictures in July 1966 of the stones, and there's some great pictures. I mean, you know, they're not perfect, photography wise. But I mean, some of the shots I got were just incredible. And to think about that now. I mean, I could no more afford to go to a Rolling Stones concert. Well, I suppose I could, if I gave up our annual trip to Italy, but that's what it would take to go to a Rolling Stones concert in this day and age. I also wrote for The New Musical Express, which is a pop music newspaper in the UK. And I wrote in one because I wrote a weekly column for them called Hollywood calling. And I wrote one time I said the song stones didn't sell out the arena in Los Angeles. Maybe it was because the tickets were oops. $7.

Jeff Dwoskin 24:27

I know, as you may know, I liked the ability to sell tickets in Madison Square. They were like $1,500 apiece.

Ann Moses 24:34

I mean, who can afford this stuff? Unless you're a rich person? I don't know. And I mean, Taylor Swift forget about it. So the fact that I did get to see these people, and I mean, the doors have so many fans, and it was such a horrible night. It was just the worst Jim Morrison. I mean, he was so out of it on what I don't know. He sat down on the stage, you know, and said, you don't want to hear the songs again, do you? He goes, I'm gonna recite my poetry. And he sat down on the stage and started reciting poetry. And nobody liked it. And it was just like, No, Jim, that's not what they came here for, you know, this is not, you know, a little house party where you're sitting around where everybody else is stoned, and, and they're treating you like an idol. I mean, it was just And yet, it was so fascinating of an experience. I mean, who would ever thought that adores concert would Penny end up like that? It was really something and of course, touring with Paul Revere and the Raiders, they're still at stage shows, or just a riot. They just goofed around so much, you know, while they're playing really good music and danced, and it was just those were fantastic.

Jeff Dwoskin 25:57

So and you don't have people that can call the Rolling Stone people and go, Hey, tell maquettes and Moses. You know, at one point, he was skipping out on Joan Baez to talk to you. So there's gotta be

Ann Moses 26:11

I know. And he was telling me I want to go to Disneyland. And I told him I can I can get you in because one time the Dave Clark Five, one to go to Disneyland. And because I had worked there, and I, you know, my manager still worked there. And they weren't letting longhairs in. I don't know what date they started that but they wouldn't let you in if you had long hair. And so I went through my manager, I said, the Dave Clark Five, they're really clean cut, guys, their hair really isn't that long. You know, they're not rowdy guys, can they go to Disneyland? And he, he got us tickets and we went was there were so many strange things. It was in a unique position. Well,

Jeff Dwoskin 26:52

and this is what this is your opportunity called the stones. People go, Hey, tell Meg. Remember that time that got him into Disney land with time payoff and the payoff? Because animals? Yes, you have the stones? That's right.

Ann Moses 27:04

Or, you know, The Beach Boys. You know, Derek Taylor used to beg me to write stories about the Beach Boys. Because even though they were making awesome music, and they were selling records, and they were everybody loved their music. They weren't really teen idol material, if you know what I mean. And I would do it as a favor knowing that that favor, he would scratch my back for the next time. And I had fascinating interviews with them, you know, just the same. So it was an interesting deal. But yeah, I wish I could call up. And who would I want to go see? Well, I'd love to see Brian Wilson, you know, just because his music is so amazing. I'd love to see the stones. Now, after seeing them. I you know, I I think I saw him one time after 66. One other time while I was with Tiger Beat, and the like the who, you know, the who, when they were first coming out again, it was an will you do us this favor? And it was like, Yeah, sure, no big deal. And all we did was I didn't really interview them. We went to Griffith Park and took pictures on the swings and the slides and all that and we said kids for a day or something was the photo shoot. And I also of course I talked to Roger Daltrey at a premiere party for one of their albums, probably their second album, and then in their latest like compilation, I guess it was from a year ago. Here's my picture with Keith Moon eating my hair from that photoshoot. And it's like, Hey, guys, you think you could send me a copy of your album you use my picture in your house. But I don't have the same connections anymore.

Jeff Dwoskin 28:47

You just reach out you could reconnect everyone what from what I gathered everyone loves you very much. That was everyone always Yeah, doesn't think and then you like make would be like, Oh, I can't do an accent. But like, oh, you know, he'd probably like be so into it. But if that works, you're taking me. Okay,

Ann Moses 29:05

I got ya

Jeff Dwoskin 29:12

man, you mentioned the Partridge Family and the cow cells let's talk about them first. So it's interesting I was on I interviewed Louise polenka Who did a documentary on the cow cells and I I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know who they were until just recently I know it's I don't know how I didn't know I mean even like if I can't name some of the songs from people that were in your book least I'd heard of them you know what I mean? Like any probably just if I heard the song you know that is that like okay, but for some reason I don't know why I never knew who the cow sales were and especially since I was a fan of the Partridge Family. And the connection there is so interesting that the Partridge Family was based on them are inspired

Ann Moses 29:55

right but did but did you dabble in things before It's the Partridge Family. I mean, were you around when the monkees came out are

Jeff Dwoskin 30:03

wearing a monkees shirt? In honor view. The monkees are by far one of my favorite groups ever. I've seen my very first concert and was by mice while I have to first concerts. You have the first concert with your parents, Barry Manilow. The second one, which was by myself with my friends was the 1985 concert of the monkees. And then I saw them probably multiple times. And I said that was a 20th anniversary thing. And then I saw the 30th I took my wife to 50th. I then saw Mike and I have assigned Mike and Mickey. I've seen Mike solo. Yeah, I love the the show when MTV brought it back. I never watched him. But I would sit there with VHS tapes and tape every episode of so yeah, I'm obsessed with

Ann Moses 30:51

them. That was a whole nother like generation that they got when they did the reruns on MTV. And when you go to one of their shows now Well, there's only Mickey left. But literally, there'll be three generations of people. There'll be grandparents, parents taking their grandkids. I always enjoyed them. It always annoyed me that, oh, they don't play their instruments. Oh, they're not this. They're not that. It's like they were unique unto themselves. I mean, yes, they were trying to copy Hard Day's Night. But I mean, those shows were just again, they were innocent. And they were fun and funny. And you got to see him every week. That was the thing with the teen idols coming along. The ones that were on TV, every week, they had the biggest following. And the castles are an example of having hit records kind of making a certain splash on the scene. I mean, it was so unique, the mom and, and Little Susie and everything, but they were never huge as like teen idols, because it was that repetition of seeing them every week. And of course, in those days, you had to be in front of the TV or too bad. You missed it, you know, wait till they show reruns in the spring. So you had to be kind of a devoted fan? Yeah, the council's Of course, I haven't seen that documentary. And I really want to, and the, you know, the fact that three of them are still on the road today. And there's Estelle jitters. I think it's really neat. But they're another group that had a hard goal that quite a while for many years of their lives.

Jeff Dwoskin 32:34

How did they feel about the Partridge Family? Wow, the Partridge Family is becoming huge, but they never had that type of, like you said, repetitive viewing or, you know, where people could glob on to them as and elevate them even more? Well,

Ann Moses 32:48

I'm not the person to answer that question. Because basically, they had fallen off and popularity by the time the Partridge Family was really once it aired. That was it they were hit. And I never had the opportunity to pose that question to them. You know, and we were aware of that at the time that it was based on the council's and also it's like, you know, the producers first posed it to the councils and their manager. But the father, you know, who was the manager, he insisted that the lead in the show be his wife, the council's mom, you know, they called her many mom that she was real short. You know, there was no way that TV producers were going to go for that. Shirley Jones proved, you know, she was the right casting choice.

Jeff Dwoskin 33:40

Just curious how all right. Talk to me about Sally Field. Oh,

Ann Moses 33:45

she was she was a doll. Just the nicest Southern California girl I would occasionally go out on by this time it was applying then set. And I would do interviews mainly because we had a monthly column, we you know, we bought the rights to be my friend by Sally Field. So to get the subject matter, in her words and her feelings about things, I would do interviews, then we would craft the story, you know, she did not sit at home and type up her column. Needless to say, but again, it was based on really being there. And we didn't do a tremendous amount on females, you know, but she was just so nice. And I felt a personal connection because her first husband was a fraternity brother of my brothers about the time he was getting married. So it was that connection there. But you know, she was just always just very on starlight. She was one of your down to earth. Just nice people. I mean, I have the impression that she continued that way her whole life loved her autobiography.

Jeff Dwoskin 34:51

Davy Jones dated her. That was in your book, a bombshell revelation.

Ann Moses 34:56

It was really dating Sally was basically up publicity deal because by the time they were dating, you seem like, quote marks. He was going with his be you know what a woman that would become his wife and they got married. And the same thing with Lulu. And there was a big thing. Oh, Davey and Lulu are having this affair. And it's like, not really. And I mean, I was the one who went to the Coconut Grove, Devi and I drove over to the Coconut Grove because she was appearing there. And I took pictures of them smooching on the front lawn. I knew better than anybody that it was just it was just showbiz.

Jeff Dwoskin 35:37

Yeah, one question about the photographs real quick, do you have all these photos? It sounds like there's a coffee table book just waiting.

Ann Moses 35:45

Oh, if only the majority of the pictures were not taken by me and Tiger Beat, it was kind of impressed upon me early on that we wanted to prove that we were the magazine in Hollywood, we could drive to any of the stars, homes, whatever. And so whenever I went out on interviews will oftentimes, you know, our photographer Kenny Liu, sometimes Henry Dilts, would go along to get pictures of me with them just for that authentication. That man, we're really we're the ones who are really telling you the real deal, because we're right here in Hollywood, I have those pictures, because the photographer would always print me out of five by seven or an eight by 10. The majority were in black and white. And I always kept them. So I have those now to publish on social media, and in my book, but some of them I didn't get copies of and of course, then I'm taking, you know, screenshots of something from the newsprint right on that kind of what is now Browning paper.

Jeff Dwoskin 36:54

Sorry to interrupt, but we have to take a quick break. And we're back for one of the juiciest stories of the mall. One of the biggest stories in the book. Let me let me come at it this way. When BG song comes on the radio, what's your reaction? Ah,

Ann Moses 37:11

you know, well, if if it's the BG song words, I was at that recording session. So that always comes to my mind about that. I just, it's always upon memory, because I spent time with them. And so it is just it's a really fun memory. Even though the story was one of heartbreak. These days, I look back with great fondness. But I always think when I hear any song, you know, when I hear a daydream believer, and my head goes, will you clapped on that song, and I can hear myself clapping on it. You know, their producer came and got me but it was a special clap. It wasn't just clap, clap, clap. And so he had to teach me how to clap right for that song. But yeah, when it comes on, and I'm in the supermarket, it's like, oh, that's the song I clapped on. I can't help those memories from just they're in there for good. I guess the

Jeff Dwoskin 38:06

whole love affair story between you and Maurice Gibb is just it's crazy. Because it also involves Lulu who were just talking about oh, it

Ann Moses 38:14

sure sure did.

Jeff Dwoskin 38:15

She was a bit of a b and then to you when you first Mater. True that I love that in the book, you kind of threaded it. Because like at the beginning of the book, you're like, it's about to be your birthday. And you're about to break up with this tremendously huge star. And I'm like, Who? Who?

Ann Moses 38:36

And then I'm like, saying that?

Jeff Dwoskin 38:38

And then you're like, it just goes on? I'm like, Oh, it's just one of these books where she's not gonna tell me who it is. Yeah, so as I know, this is a trick to make sure I read the book. So the you know, then you find out later. And then you find out later. Oh, Maurice. Good.

Ann Moses 38:56

It's pronounced Morris Morris.

Jeff Dwoskin 38:58

Oh, well, I've been saying it wrong my whole life.

Ann Moses 39:00

I know. It's okay. Just so you know. Quit defending

Jeff Dwoskin 39:04

him after what he did you

Ann Moses 39:09

not defending him. That's just

Jeff Dwoskin 39:10

how his name was more Morris Morris

Ann Moses 39:12

Morris. Why they called him mo Morris. Well,

Jeff Dwoskin 39:16

they spelled it wrong. And then the

Ann Moses 39:21

it's spelled like Murray's. Yeah, it sounds but I imagine that's a French pronunciation.

Jeff Dwoskin 39:26

Well, I guess when you're famous, you could do whatever you want. There. That is so true. But the crazy thing about the story is, is when he's like, You guys are together and he's like, married to Lulu and like and then you find out that's what the whole thing was at the beginning of the book. But then you find out later, he wasn't even married to her. It was just a whole his publicity person just didn't want him dating you or anyone was like, but

Ann Moses 39:52

to this day, I can't believe I mean, I was so shocked. This was after a Week of him sleeping at my house for the week while the Bee Gees were in town filming the Smothers Brothers show. And so I mean, I was so shocked. I couldn't talk. I mean today I'd say, Wait a second. Well, if you're married, why have you spent the last week with me? Well, if you're Mary, what the hell's going on? But I didn't, I didn't confront him. You know, I couldn't say anything I just said, I'm taking you back to the Beverly Hills Hotel, and you better show up for my 21st birthday party tonight. I want roses and and I want you to take me in a limousine because we were going to a cocktail party that the publisher was having for me after my kind of family when he first birthday party at my house in Hollywood. And so he did. And I was pretty mean to him that night. Did

Jeff Dwoskin 40:51

you call him Maurice?

Ann Moses 40:54

I should ask. No, but it was weird. It just shows you how young and inexperienced I was the way I handled it, that I didn't confront him. And I didn't say well, you're You're a bastard. You know, it would it would be a few days later, before I would find out he wasn't really married. That was another shocker. It's like it was just an excuse. But then I came to understand that Robert Stigwood was dictating who he would date. And he had it all worked out that he was going to date Lou Lou, and he thought they would be a superstar couple. And you know, in his mind, I was pretty much a nobody. And so I was out and she was in and then he had he was married to her for a few years. And from what I understand they were both kind of miserable.

Jeff Dwoskin 41:48

They deserve that. hurting you.

Ann Moses 41:51

I agree. It was in fact, it was kind of funny how that phone reunion with one of Herman's Hermits, this was about five years ago. And he told me that toward the end of their marriage that he lived by where this other person live. And the two of them would go out drinking all the time. And that was when Morris started to really drink to excess was while they were still married, and this person called her a B also. And I concurred. It's like, so this so called arranged marriage didn't work out for me or anybody else. But by that time, I'd figured out you know, it didn't take too long for me to figure out that being the wife of an international superstar has its ups and downs and I I really don't think I was meant to boat through any downs have turned out I wanted a normal life. It's

Jeff Dwoskin 42:53

a lot I can imagine it would be that kind of lifestyle. I mean, as much as I mean, in the time you were a tiger be I mean, you lived enough of this for probably 10 times, right? The other cool thing in the book is you got to hang out with Lucille Ball. And you are Dean Martin's house when covering Dino Desi and Billy. Yes, Lucille Ball. Very cool. Oh,

Ann Moses 43:13

that was one of the just most amazing days of my life, the way she treated me, just with such utter respect, spent hours with me. I mean, I went to her office at like 10 in the morning, shortly after she greeted me and that her office was still out at what was Desi Lou it had been sold to Paramount, I believe by Ben but it was her office that she had those years of I Love Lucy. And I mean, like every kid in America, I not only watch, I Love Lucy, but I'd watch the reruns because we had five channels in, you know, I grew up in Anaheim. We had five channels, and reruns were running. You know, by the time I was in my preteens, you know when I would sit and do handwork for my mom, because she was an amazing tailor and a seamstress. I would have I love this. And so here I am in her presence, and she's just this, you know, stunning woman. And so together the things I've seen now, you know what was happening in the I Love Lucy days, and that the huge part she played and it was just it was such an honor to be there. And then the thing that just shocked me so much was after we would have been talking for like two hours and of course I was taping everything and don't even ask I didn't save any of these tapes. Oh my god. You know, I tape over them to save money. And and I know I tell me about it. And I didn't get a picture with her which breaks my heart. But she said oh would you like to have lunch with me? And I said Oh, that'd be wonderful, you know, and then her chef brings in this fabulous it was a chop salad but nobody had ever seen In a chop salad at that time, and it was just it was outstanding. And when we sat down to lunch, it was in her office and there was a nice dining table with a white tablecloth and the whole thing and we sat down and she said, Okay, no more questions until after lunch. I want to hear about you. And I mean, you could have knocked me over at that point. It was like, Oh, my God, Lucille Ball is asking me to tell her about my life. And I told her about living in Anaheim and being there when they built Disneyland and how I got to work at Disneyland as a teenager. And I mean, her eyes would get big like, wow, and I'm just going no, Lucille Ball. Are you really impressed? I, you know, it was like, it was almost too much for me. She was just Oh, that was just one of the absolute highlights of my time with with Tiger Beat. I was very fortunate to get spend that time with her. And then it surprised me too, when I was over at Dino's house. And the guys were we were going to do an interview and and shoot pictures. And but before Dino could come downstairs Dino senior walked into the bar where they had me waiting. And he said would you like? And so I said, Yeah, Coke will be fun. And then my coke is even in one of the pictures, you know, so it helped me remember that whole thing. But to have Dean Martin asking you if you'd like a trip? And I mean, that's all he said. He said, Can I get you a drink

Jeff Dwoskin 46:30

and your your stories have stories? I mean, it's just like, it's, it's incredible. Just

Ann Moses 46:36

to see people when they were so at ease, and not on stage. Those were some of the absolute best moments, you know, the Lucille Ball. And just some of the other times, you know, when when I'd be in Davey's home, and he'd just be so relaxed, and we joke and laugh, and, you know, do what we needed to do, whether it was an interview, or a photo session, or whatever it was, it gave me a different perspective. And I'm sure it helped what I wrote, in the long run. It's hard to realize that at the time, but I don't have regrets because they're wasted time. But it was like, Well, why didn't I do this? Why didn't I? Why didn't I save that jewel? I mean, when I was first the monkees were popular. And that's kind of when Buffalo Springfield was getting started. And Neil Young was about a part of Buffalo Springfield. So I went down to their house in Malibu. So I took pictures in the house. And they're not great because I didn't have a spot meter yet. So the pictures of their faces are dark, because it's bright light coming in from the beach, but I took a picture of Neil Young with his Rolls Royce. And lo and behold, some website is selling that for like 35 bucks sprayed. And it's like, how do they get that? It's like, after I did a story on Buffalo Springfield, and Tiger Beat, he wrote me a thank you note. And it was on like, yellow legal paper. And he wrote, thank you, it was so great, blah, blah, blah. And then as if you were writing a song he wrote, now this is the bridge, and he drew a picture of a bridge, and I had it for so many years, I would look you know, I would get in the box every five years or whatever. And now I can't find it. And I can't believe I would let that go. I just So little things like that. It was like, Well, if I knew then what I know now. Well, I would have had a storage garage full of goodies. But

Jeff Dwoskin 48:38

that's the problem with life. We never know now we

Ann Moses 48:42

never know now do we? You know

Jeff Dwoskin 48:45

no than what we said? No

Ann Moses 48:47

one No one would have believed you if they told you in 67 or 68 that someday everybody could look at these pictures anytime they wanted. It's

Jeff Dwoskin 48:58

crazy. It is you got some great Elvis stories to just being at this comeback concert. And

Ann Moses 49:04

yes, have you seen the documentary on the making of the comeback special?

Jeff Dwoskin 49:08

I haven't. But I did see the Elvis movie that came out

Ann Moses 49:11

well, it's on Paramount plus it's so amazing because it Steve Bender who was the producer and I learned so many things from it because like yes, I was in the audience. Yes. I was at the taping where he had the leather suit. And then I was chosen to sit sit down on the stage. Oh my gosh, you know my me my first revelation after that awesome experience because two rows of people sitting around this little 10 foot by 10 foot stage. I mean you were five feet away from Elvis sometimes you were only three feet away from him when he was singing pound dog and will always songs you know in that black leather suit. Oh my god. It was just was such a remarkable experience. But then when it aired in November, you know the singer Christmas special. I was in the final cut, they superimposed my face with Elvis's as he's thinking, my favorite Elvis song can help falling in love. And I'm sitting there watching the TV. And I mean, I'm going, Oh my God, that's me. I took screenshots of it later on when it was rerun, I don't think I didn't know at the time, you know that that I was going to be seen. And you could see me sitting there clapping and all that well in the documentary, where they give you all the nuts and bolts about how they produced it, how they got around the Colonel's insane demands, and it's really quite fascinating, but they recut so much of it, and they show you new scenes, and I'm even in it even more shows more of me. And so I've got news screenshots from that night. I mean, I remember everything so vividly. I wouldn't need those. But it's really neat to have a picture of yourself when you were, I don't know. 21 years old. Yeah, I was 21 and a moving picture, let alone a still shot. You know, I have a lot of dough shots with with all these celebs. But oh, man, I was really, really fortunate to be at that it was something else. And then on the 50th anniversary, I was invited to Graceland as a guest speaker. And not only was Steve Bender there to celebrate the 50th anniversary and they showed it in the Elvis Presley theater, but they had when he was singing with the with the Gospel Choir, which is you know, one of the segments the Memphis Scott gospel choir was in their lives singing along to it at Graceland. So I had another just unique, wonderful experience at the 50th anniversary. It's like, that's awesome. That's

Jeff Dwoskin 51:54

amazing. And like I said, your stories have stories of stories. You are fascinating. I could pick any one of these to be jealous of it's just an incredible life. i And there's tons for everyone listening go to annmoses.com You can buy I think you get an autographed copy there as well. Yes,

Ann Moses 52:12

that is correct. Also available@amazon.com

Jeff Dwoskin 52:16

The name of the book is Morris my groovy knows getting meow meow my groovy life with Tiger beats teen idols. And there's tons tons tons more stories in the book. Oh, and this is amazing. Yeah,

Ann Moses 52:31

you are awesome. Thank you. No fun. Good. Whenever you want to do it again. Just give me a jingle. All right.

Jeff Dwoskin 52:38

How amazing was Ann Moses Tiger Beat is a constant thread through a lot of my interviews. So it was so fun to talk to and definitely check out ads book me out my groovy life with teen beats teen idols, tons of more great stories. We dove into a lot with the monkees and Elvis and ah, David Cassidy, the cow cells so many more great stories awaits you. links in the show notes. Well, with the interview over I can only mean one thing. I know another episode has come to an end. I can't believe it either. One more huge thank you to Ann Moses for hanging out with me, Sharon, so many great stories. And of course, a huge thank you to all of you for coming back week after week. It means the world to me, and I'll see you next time.

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