From the WAI! vault

 

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Monette Dinay

[These daily posts will cover little known actors or people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can add would be appreciated.]

Monette Dinay' was a French actress known for her supporting roles in French cinema from the 1930s to the 1950s. She appeared in numerous films, often portraying secondary characters that added depth to classic productions of the era.

Born Simone Elise Dinet on September 20, 1906, in Le Petit-Quévilly, France, Dinay began her screen career in the early 1930s and became a recognizable presence in French films. Her notable works include “Madame Bovary” (1934) directed by Jean Renoir, Vidocq (1939), and “La Traversée de Paris” (1956) directed by Claude Autant-Lara, where she contributed to some of the most memorable French films of the period. She continued acting until the late 1950s. Dinay passed away on November 19, 1986, in Le Pradet, France at the age of 80.

Monette Dinay appeared in one Euro-western,“La terreur de pampa” (The Terror of the Pampas) as Nelly in 1932.

DINAY, Monette (Simone Elise Dinet)) [9/20/1906, Le Petit-Quévilly, Seine-Inférieure, France - 11/19/1986, Le Pradet, Var, France] – film actress, married to Robert Allard (Robert Jules Serge Allard) [1893-1989] (1980-1986).

The Terror of the Pampas – 1932 (Nelly)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ José María Elorrieta

José María Elorrieta was a Spanish film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his prolific and versatile career in Spanish cinema, spanning multiple popular genres including fantasy comedies, adventure films, international co-productions such as Spaghetti Westerns, and later horror pictures. Born in Madrid on February 1, 1921, he initially studied law under family pressure before entering filmmaking, starting with the self-produced children's puppet film “La ciudad de los muñecos” in 1946 and building a body of work that adapted to evolving commercial trends and censorship constraints.

He directed and wrote numerous films across the 1950s and 1960s, ranging from folkloric dramas and religious stories to light-hearted fantasy comedies like “Mi adorable esclava” (1961) and “Una bruja sin escoba” (1967), the latter a time-travel comedy co-produced with the United States. His international projects included adventure and western titles such as “Los 7 de Pancho Villa” (1967), “El tesoro de Makuba” (1967), and “Apache Fury” (1964), often released under alternative credits like Joe De Lacy.

In the early 1970s, Elorrieta shifted toward more explicit horror, directing key entries in Spanish fantastic-terror cinema such as “Las amantes del diablo” (1971), “La llamada del vampire” (1972), and “El espectro del terror” (1973), contributing to the genre's growth as commercial viability improved. He died suddenly on February 22, 1974, in Madrid at age 53 while shooting the comedy “Las alegres vampiras de Vögel”, which was completed by another director. He was the father of actress Beatriz Elorrieta and director-composer Javier Elorrieta, passing his passion for cinema to the next generation.

José María Elorrieta directed five Spaghetti westerns: “El hombre de la diligencia” (Apache Fury) in 1963, “Fuerte perdido” (Massacte at Fort Grant) in 1964, “Dos mil dolares por Coyote” (Ballad of a Bounty Hunter) with León Klimovsky in 1965, “Los siete de Pancho Villa” (Vengeance of Pancho Villa” in 1967, “Si quieres vivir... dispara” (If You Shoot... You Live) in 1974

ELORRIETA, José María (aka Joe De Lacy, Joseph De Lacy, Joseph de Lacy, J. Douglas, Elorrieta, J.M. Elorrieta, Jose M. Elorrieta, Jose Mª Elorrieta, José Mª Elorriet, José María Elorrieta, J.E. Lacy, Joe Lacy) (José María Elorrieta de Lacy) [2/1/1921, Madrid, Madrid, Spain – 2/22/1974, Madrid, Madrid, Spain] – producer, director, composer, married to ? father of director, writer, composer, actor, Javier Elorrieta (Javier Elorrieta Pérez de Diego) [1950-    ], actress Beatriz Elorrieta, grandfather of actress Bárbara Elorrieta [1978-    ], founded Alesanco Producciones Cinematograficas.

Apache Fury – 1963 [as Joe Lacy/Joseph de Lacy]

Massacre at Fort Grant – 1964 [as J. Douglas]

Ballad of A Bounty Hunter – 1965 (co)

Vengeance of Pancho Villa - 1967 [as Joe Lacy]

If You Shoot... You Live – 1974 [as J. Lacy]

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Luciano B. Carlos

Luciano Balares Carlos was born in Sampaguita, Philippines in 1925. Known by his nickname "Chaning", Carlos began as a writer for Sampaguita Pictures and then ventured into directing. He directed 101 films between 1964 and 1997. He also wrote stories and screenplays for films 127 films between 1954 and 1991. During his film career he also acted and appeared in 9 films between 1954 and 2003.

His works were characterized by strong satirical and cynically humorous tones, which led him to be considered one of the most important exponents of Filipino comedy. Nevertheless, he was also able to be appreciated in several other genres, such as drama.

Carlos died of complications of pneumonia on November 21, 2002, at the age of 77, during a visit to his daughter in Fullerton, California. He was 77.

Lucien B. Carlos co-wrote one Spaghetti western 1970’s “I fratelli di Arizona” {The Arizona Kid) with Lino Brocka.

CARLOS, Luciano B. (aka Chaning Carlos, Luciano Carlos Luciano ‘Channing’ Carlos) (Luciano Balares Carlos) [1925, Sampaguita, Philippines – 11/21/2002, Fullerton, California, U.S.A. (pneumonia)] – director, assistant director, writer, songwriter, actor, married to Chet Carlos father of seven children.

The Arizona Kid – 1970 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Maurice Guillemin

Maurice Guillemin was an early French filmmaker who was a cameraman on two films produced another but his main career was as a cinematographer where he worked on thirty-three films between 1925-1937

Very little is known about the man and I can find no biographical information on him.

Maurice Guillemin was the cinematographer on one Euro-western, “Construire un feu” (The Origin of Fire) with Henri Barreyre in 1929.

GUILLEMIN, Maurice (aka Guillemin) [French] – producer, cinematographer, cameraman.

The Origin of Fire – 1929 (co)

New U.S.A. book release - You Thought I Was Dead: My Life of Celebrities, Sex, and Champagne

 

You Thought I Was Dead: My Life of Celebrities, Sex, and Champagne

Author: Mamie Van Doren

 

Country: U.S.A.

Publisher: Permuted Press

Language: English

Pages: 320

ISBN-13: ‎979-8895653234

Release date: May 6, 2026

 

A candid, no-holds-barred memoir in which Hollywood icon Mamie Van Doren busts myths, settles old scores, and unveils untold stories from a life lived at the glittering and gritty edges of the Golden Age.

You Thought I Was Dead is Mamie Van Doren as you’ve never seen her: unguarded, unapologetic, and gloriously unfiltered.

From a South Dakota farm to Hollywood soundstages, Mamie’s life has been anything but ordinary. In this tell-all memoir, the platinum-blonde legend shatters the polished myths of Old Hollywood, sharing the wild, poignant, and often shocking truths behind the glamour. She takes you inside the studios, onto the sets, and behind closed doors with movie idols, music legends, and power brokers—from Clark Gable and Tony Curtis to Howard Hughes and Quincy Jones.

With her trademark wit and candor, Mamie recounts friendships and feuds, headline-making romances, brushes with danger, and the fierce independence that kept her career and spirit alive long after the credits rolled. Alongside the dazzling stories are moments of raw honesty about the loneliness, loss, and resilience that shaped the woman behind the bombshell image.

Illustrated with original cartoons by acclaimed artist Stephen B. Whatley, You Thought I Was Dead is part memoir, part Hollywood history, and wholly Mamie—bold, sexy, defiant, and unforgettable.

Whether you’re a devotee of the Golden Age, a rock and roll nostalgist, or simply a lover of great, unvarnished storytelling, this is more than a memoir—it’s a front-row seat to a life lived without a script.

Available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/You-Thought-Was-Dead-Celebrities/dp/B0FST533SJ

Who Are Those Singers & Musicians? ~ Mamie Van Doren

 

Mamie Van Doren was born Joan Lucille Olander on February 6, 1931 in Rowena South Dakota. She is an American actress, singer, model, and sex symbol who achieved fame in the 1950s and 1960s through roles in B-movies and exploitation films, embodying the blonde bombshell archetype with her platinum hair, curvaceous figure, and on-screen persona of vivacious rebellion. Her parents were of Swedish and Scottish descent, Van Doren began her career as a beauty queen, winning titles like Miss Palm Springs in 1950 before signing a contract with Universal Pictures, where she appeared in over 40 films including “Teacher's Pet” (1958), “High School Confidential!” (1958), and “Untamed Youth” (1957). Her performances often featured in teen dramas, rock 'n' roll musicals, and low-budget sci-fi, capitalizing on the era's youth culture and her physical allure to draw audiences despite limited critical acclaim for the productions. Van Doren received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1987 and remains active into her 90s, contributing to a 2025 documentary on her life and career and recently releasing an autobiography You Thought I Was Dead: My Life of Celebrities, Sex, and Champagne in 2026.

Van DOREN, Mamie (aka Joan Olander) (Joan Lucille Olander)[2/6/1931, Rowena, South Dakota, U.S.A. -     ] – model, singer, dancer, film, TV actress, married to Jack Newman (1950-1950), married to producer, production manager, musician, actor Ray Anthony (Raymond Antonioni) [1922-    ] (1955-1961) mother of Perry Ray Anthony [1956-    ], married to Lee Meyers (1966-1969), married to Ross McClintock (1972-1973), married to Thomas Dixon (1979-    ).

The Sheriff was a Lady – 1964 [sings: “I’m Here to Stay”]

The Arizona Kid – 1971 [sings “San Francisco”]

Special Birthdays

Harry Carey Jr. (actor) would have been 105 today but died in 2012.

Nick Jordan (actor) would have been 85 today but died in 1990.

Spaghetti Western Trivia - Palace of Canto del Pico

Ever wonder what that building in the background you can see to the right of the Baxter house in 1964’s “A Fistful of Dollars”? It’s called Palace of Canto del Pico and it’s located in Torrelodones, Spain and was built in 1920-1921. The Count used the palace to store all his treasures. He accumulated these and there are rumors that many had been stolen from cathedrals. Financial difficulties forced him to sell the treasures for 2 million pesetas to a US buyer.

It was used as the headquarters for the Republican Army during the Spanish Civil War. Indalecio Prieto and Jose Miaja used it as their base to organize the Battle of Brunete. After the war Franco lived there for many years

The prime minister Antonio Maura died there by falling down a flight of steps

The palace has suffered heavily from looting and vandalism over the years, and a fire destroyed many of the remaining artworks in 1998. This led to it receiving a reduced classification in 2004. A hotel company bought it in 1988 intending to convert it into a luxury hotel. Planning permission was refused for the hotel in 2013 due to the building's value as a cultural monument.