This is RONA BARRETT for those who don't know who she is... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ireneparalegal · 02-13-2006, 07:14 PM

When James referred to Willona as the RONA BARRETT OF THE PROJECTS, this is the woman he was referring to:

bansogirl · 02-13-2006, 10:02 PM

What was her profession?

Ireneparalegal · 02-13-2006, 10:13 PM

She was THE GOSSIP LADY OF THE WORLD. She appeared on various shows talking abt the latest Hollywood/Celebrity gossip. She was known around the world and she basically was the only person who did what she did. Nowadays, it seems there are many gossipers (sp?).

Here is something I copied and pasted from her website. She resides in Santa Ynez Valley. Abt an hour North from my city. The same place Michael Jackson has Neverland Ranch.
______________________________________________
In 1986, Rona Barrett bought her first ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley and commuted back and forth to Los Angeles until 1991. It was then that she decided to retire to her ranch full time. Miss Rona had spent three decades of her life on television, starting her career on the local Los Angeles station, KABC, graduating to their five owned and operated stations around the country and finally to the network in 1975 where she inaugurated GOOD MORNING AMERICA.

Miss Rona wrote books, had a series of Miss Rona magazines that were top-rated at newsstands, and started the first in-depth personal TV specials on the difference between the real and "reel" celebrities who graced the silver screen, TV, music, sports and politics. Her very private dream was to one day be able to pay back to all the people who had helped her when she didn't have two dimes to rub together to make a nickel!

One day, as a friend was walking around her ranch, she asked Rona if she had ever thought of growing lavender, the herb and flower, as a commercial crop. The idea hit her like the proverbial ton of bricks and 1 1/2 years later, after learning as much as she could about lavender, she began planting her first lavender fields. Marketing lavender flowers was not easy, so she decided to take a page from Paul Newman's successful Newman's Own and develop a line of Lavender Personal Care, Home and Food Products all using the healthy and healing herb lavender. Thus began the Rona Barrett Lavender Company, marketing products on the Internet, and giving 2% of the retail price of all the company's products to a non-profit foundation for Saving Our Seniors, the Rona Barrett Foundation for Seniors In Need.

Although Miss Rona has not reached her goal of being able to build senior centers where caregivers for the elderly can get a few hours a day off from their duties of caring for the elderly who can no longer care for themselves, the Foundation has been able to support several other non-profits who assist in housing, feeding and care giving for those people who helped make this country what it is today.

Rona Barrett, aside from being the Founder and CEO of RBLC, also spends her time talking to groups around the country about aging and caring for the elderly, as well as sitting on the Board of her local community hospital whose doors were once threatened by closure for lack of funding. Today, that threat no longer exists.

She still continues to reside in Central California with her 3 dogs and 2 cats, and is planning new products that will hopefully bring a Good Life to those who want to grab the brass ring.

seventies_sitcoms · 02-13-2006, 11:06 PM

She looks gossipy. Sort of the Hedda and Louella of the 70's.

jenjen · 02-14-2006, 02:51 PM

Also, a little trivia for you, when my friend and I visited Palm Springs last year we took a bus tour to look at celebrity homes, and when we went by Elvis Presley's house the guide told us that his wedding to Priscilla was supposed to have been held there. The evening before the ceremony Rona Barrett who lived a few houses down at the time, was out walking her dogs. She saw the catering trucks in front of Elvis's house and asked one of the men what the celebration is for. Well, the guy told her that Elvis is getting married here tomorrow! Well....she went back home and called her affiliates in NY told them she has ONE BIG STORY FOR THEM, and the rest is history! It was blabbed all over the world, and in the middle of the night Elvis, Priscilla and crew were whisked away in Frank Sinatra's private jet to Vegas where of course they were married in private! The guide showed us the alley in back of the house where they escaped since, by now the front of the house was filled with reporters. See what this woman caused!

TMC · 05-16-2016, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bansogirl

What was her profession?

Rona Barrett could be considered the one woman TMZ during her heyday:
Fifty years ago, Rona Barrett forged a Hollywood gossip empire. Then she left it all behind, her innovations attributed to others, her legacy almost entirely overlooked. But as she nears 80, there’s very little Miss Rona regrets.

biffbronson · 05-16-2016, 06:40 PM

I remember Rona's work very well, and in fact I own a copy of her autobiography.

Just to give an idea of how "big" she was, Superman comic books used a "Lola Barnett" character who was obviously based on Rona...!

TMC · 05-18-2016, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbronson

I remember Rona's work very well, and in fact I own a copy of her autobiography.

Just to give an idea of how "big" she was, Superman comic books used a "Lola Barnett" character who was obviously based on Rona...!

Rona Barrett unfortunately, probably became obsolete once the internet came around.

Bonniegirl · 05-18-2016, 05:34 PM

I just saw her on old eps. of Tattle Tales on BUZZR channel with her husband Bill! Pretty Lady! Here's a recent pic. She's still pretty !

02-13-2006, 07:14 PM	#1
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	This is RONA BARRETT for those who don't know who she is... When James referred to Willona as the RONA BARRETT OF THE PROJECTS, this is the woman he was referring to: Attached Images
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

05-16-2016, 06:40 PM	#7
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,502	I remember Rona's work very well, and in fact I own a copy of her autobiography. Just to give an idea of how "big" she was, Superman comic books used a "Lola Barnett" character who was obviously based on Rona...!
	__________________ In memory of lovely Erin Moran 1960-2017 ~ Missing you "For you are beautiful ~ And I have loved you dearly ~ More dearly than the spoken word can tell..." "What's the word?" (Paul Martin) ~~ "I don't want money for nothing." (Timmy Martin) -- Lassie ROCKS! WORD UP "It's just a dugout that my dad built... In case the reds* decide to push the button down..."*

02-13-2006, 10:02 PM	#2
bansogirl Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Posts: 231	What was her profession?

02-13-2006, 10:13 PM	#3
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	She was THE GOSSIP LADY OF THE WORLD. She appeared on various shows talking abt the latest Hollywood/Celebrity gossip. She was known around the world and she basically was the only person who did what she did. Nowadays, it seems there are many gossipers (sp?). Here is something I copied and pasted from her website. She resides in Santa Ynez Valley. Abt an hour North from my city. The same place Michael Jackson has Neverland Ranch. ______________________________________________ In 1986, Rona Barrett bought her first ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley and commuted back and forth to Los Angeles until 1991. It was then that she decided to retire to her ranch full time. Miss Rona had spent three decades of her life on television, starting her career on the local Los Angeles station, KABC, graduating to their five owned and operated stations around the country and finally to the network in 1975 where she inaugurated GOOD MORNING AMERICA. Miss Rona wrote books, had a series of Miss Rona magazines that were top-rated at newsstands, and started the first in-depth personal TV specials on the difference between the real and "reel" celebrities who graced the silver screen, TV, music, sports and politics. Her very private dream was to one day be able to pay back to all the people who had helped her when she didn't have two dimes to rub together to make a nickel! One day, as a friend was walking around her ranch, she asked Rona if she had ever thought of growing lavender, the herb and flower, as a commercial crop. The idea hit her like the proverbial ton of bricks and 1 1/2 years later, after learning as much as she could about lavender, she began planting her first lavender fields. Marketing lavender flowers was not easy, so she decided to take a page from Paul Newman's successful Newman's Own and develop a line of Lavender Personal Care, Home and Food Products all using the healthy and healing herb lavender. Thus began the Rona Barrett Lavender Company, marketing products on the Internet, and giving 2% of the retail price of all the company's products to a non-profit foundation for Saving Our Seniors, the Rona Barrett Foundation for Seniors In Need. Although Miss Rona has not reached her goal of being able to build senior centers where caregivers for the elderly can get a few hours a day off from their duties of caring for the elderly who can no longer care for themselves, the Foundation has been able to support several other non-profits who assist in housing, feeding and care giving for those people who helped make this country what it is today. Rona Barrett, aside from being the Founder and CEO of RBLC, also spends her time talking to groups around the country about aging and caring for the elderly, as well as sitting on the Board of her local community hospital whose doors were once threatened by closure for lack of funding. Today, that threat no longer exists. She still continues to reside in Central California with her 3 dogs and 2 cats, and is planning new products that will hopefully bring a Good Life to those who want to grab the brass ring.

02-13-2006, 11:06 PM	#4
seventies_sitcoms * Senior Member Join Date: Jan 09, 2005 Posts: 2,244	She looks gossipy. Sort of the Hedda and Louella of the 70's.

02-14-2006, 02:51 PM	#5
jenjen Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 12, 2005 Posts: 111	Also, a little trivia for you, when my friend and I visited Palm Springs last year we took a bus tour to look at celebrity homes, and when we went by Elvis Presley's house the guide told us that his wedding to Priscilla was supposed to have been held there. The evening before the ceremony Rona Barrett who lived a few houses down at the time, was out walking her dogs. She saw the catering trucks in front of Elvis's house and asked one of the men what the celebration is for. Well, the guy told her that Elvis is getting married here tomorrow! Well....she went back home and called her affiliates in NY told them she has ONE BIG STORY FOR THEM, and the rest is history! It was blabbed all over the world, and in the middle of the night Elvis, Priscilla and crew were whisked away in Frank Sinatra's private jet to Vegas where of course they were married in private! The guide showed us the alley in back of the house where they escaped since, by now the front of the house was filled with reporters. See what this woman caused!

05-18-2016, 05:34 PM	#9
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,789	I just saw her on old eps. of Tattle Tales on BUZZR channel with her husband Bill! Pretty Lady! Here's a recent pic. She's still pretty !