Robert Romanus

When Fast Times at Ridgemont High hit the movie houses in 1982, the biggest star in the film was television actor, Ray Walston. Little did anyone know at the time that three members of that talented ensemble, Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Judge Reinhold would end up having long Hollywood careers.

That movie has aged well and so has the performance of Robert Romanus as the shifty ticket scalper, Mike Damone. In fact it's his character that helps create the innocent charm, wit and overall nostalgic mood this movie generates. And after several recent viewings one can't help but scratch their head in wondering why this actor didn't land more mainstream projects.

It's not that Robert Romanus hasn't worked. He's had guest starring roles in the television shows, Fame, The Facts of Life, St. Elsewhere and 21 Jump Street just to name a few, as well as a slew of low budget independent movies like Mojave Phone Booth. It's just that big Hollywood break never happened for him.

Today, he still acts, but puts most of his creative energy into his band, Papa's Kitchen, that regularly plays in the LA area. If you've never heard of this actor, then you've never seen Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Watch the movie then you will understand why Robert Romanus is Not Very Famous...but should be.

Renee Adoree

If you are not a fan of silent movies then you have never seen one that features Renee Adoree. If you catch her in one film, I promise that you will search her out in others. She was that good. And had she not been stricken with Tuberculosis at the beginning of the sound era, one can't help but wonder how far this wonderful actress could have gone.

From the side-show performer who prefers her men to be decapitated in Tod Browning's, The Show, to Mr. Wu where she managed to steal the movie from the great Lon Chaney, Renee Adoree proved role after role that she was the real deal.

However, it was her performance as Melisande, the French love interest of star John Gilbert in the World War I drama, The Big Parade, that will steal your heart forever. Even today, almost ninety years later, that film brings home the horrors of war as good if not better then its modern-day counter parts. And her character will seduce you with her innocent charm, which is just as fresh today as I'm sure it was in 1925.

Sadly, this incredible talent lost her two year battle with Tuberculosis at the very young age of thirty-five, robbing the world of one of its most promising stars. Check out The Blackbird, Mr Wu, The Big Parade, The Show or anything that features this talented beauty and you will see why Renee Adoree is Not Very Famous...but should be.

NEW BLOG ON SILENT MOVIES

If you like this post, then check out my new blog When Voices Were Silent about the films and stars that made up the greatest era of motion picture history - the silent era.

http://whenvoicesweresilent.blogspot.com/