Angelyne | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ronia Tamar Goldberg (1950-10-02)October 2, 1950 (age 75) |
| Other names | Renee Goldberg, Angelyne L'Lyne |
| Citizenship | Poland, Israel, United States |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1974–present |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
Musical artist | |
| Website | angelyne |
| Signature | |
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Angelyne (bornRonia Tamar Goldberg, October 2, 1950)[1] is an American singer, actress, media personality, and model who came to prominence in 1984 after the appearance of a series of billboards in and around Los Angeles, California, with only one word, "Angelyne", picturing her posing suggestively.[2] These caught the attention of local media outlets, and soon she received several offers for film roles, magazine interviews, and television show appearances.
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Her billboards have been featured in a number of movies and television series, including the opening credits ofMoonlighting and atop the building occupied by producer Harry Zimm (played byGene Hackman inGet Shorty), and have been spoofed in shows such asThe Simpsons,Futurama, andBoJack Horseman. Another distinctive feature of Angelyne's celebrity persona is her pinkCorvette. She was noted for concealing her real name, age, and identity, which did not become public knowledge until 2017.
In 1978, she joined her then-boyfriend'spunk rock band Baby Blue, which performed in clubs aroundLos Angeles, but never became financially successful. In 1982, she released herself-titled debut album and her first posters began appearing as a part of the album's promotion. After the launch of a massive billboard campaign in February 1984, she began working on her second album.Driven to Fantasy was released in 1986. Angelyne then appeared in small parts in films such asEarth Girls Are Easy (1988),Dangerous Love (1988), andHomer and Eddie (1989).
Angelyne is also an artist; she began painting in 1998 and has had several art shows in Los Angeles.[3] She has run forGovernor of California twice, during therecall elections ofGray Davis in2003 andGavin Newsom in2021.
Angelyne's previous names and origins became publicly known in a 2017 article by Gary Baum forThe Hollywood Reporter.[1] The article cited public records revealing that Angelyne was born in Poland as Ronia Tamar Goldberg toHolocaust survivors who werePolish Jewish. After being liberated from German Nazi concentration camps, includingSkarżysko-Kamienna,Bergen-Belsen, andBuchenwald, her parents were married in theFöhrenwald DP camp, and then returned to post-war Poland. The family later settled inBnei Brak,Israel, before immigrating to the United States in 1959. They moved to theFairfax District of Los Angeles, where she went by the name Renee Tami Goldberg. Goldberg attendedJames Monroe High School and was married briefly to Michael Strauss in the late 1960s.[1]
In 1978, Angelyne joined her then-boyfriend's band Baby Blue. They performed in local clubs in L.A. and once opened along withRubber City Rebels forthe Screamers' show at theWhisky a Go Go.[4] The punk rock clubThe Masque served as a rehearsal place for the band. They released a single "Rock n' Roll Rebel" with a B-side, "Fantasy Man". Only 1,000 copies of the record were made and distributed in England.[3]
The band did not receive much attention, so they decided to promote it by posting her picture around town. In 1979, the single "Too Much to Touch" was released under the name Angelyne, also promoted by posters and flyers.
In 1982, she released a self-titled debut album on an independent label, Erika Records.[5] The 12"picture disc contained 11 songs, including two versions of "Sexy Stranger", a cover ofElvis Presley's hit "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear", and the main single "Kiss Me L.A.". Another series of bus-shelter posters promoted the album. In July 1983, Erika Records released another Angelyne single, "My List", accompanied by a music video.[6]
According to Angelyne, she met wealthy adhesive-free-tape entrepreneur Hugo Maisnik (inventor of Hugo's Amazing Tape)[7] in 1982. Maisnik had a display-printing business in Los Angeles. Described as "very eccentric" and a "bored prankster", Maisnik reportedly saw potential in using Angelyne's image and understood the "intricacies of the outdoor-advertising game".[8] In February 1984, Angelyne's first billboard proclaiming "Angelyne Rocks" went up onSunset Boulevard.[2]
In 1986, she released her second album,Driven to Fantasy, on her label, Pink Kitten. An enhanced pink vinyl reissue of the album was later released in Italy;[9] in 2024, it was re-released on "Pink Corvette vinyl" by Dark Entries.[10] In June 1987, an 85 feet high mural depicting Angelyne was painted on the side of a building onHollywood and Vine. Her manager allegedly financed the $22,000 painting.[11]
That same year, her friendNina Hagen got her recording with Michael "Doc" Dosco, who had previously worked with Hagen on her albumNina Hagen in Ekstasy. He wrote and produced several songs for Angelyne, including "Animal Attraction," which was later featured inJulien Temple's movieEarth Girls Are Easy, where Angelyne had a cameo.[3] The single was released in 1988 with remixes by Italian producer Pino Toma. Hagen mentioned Angelyne in her song "Super Freak Family," and her voice can be heard in "Pillow Talk".
By 1995, she had over 200 billboards up all over Los Angeles.[12]
In 1997, Angelyne launched her website where she offered tours aroundSunset Boulevard and Hollywood.[13] In 1998, Angelyne pursued another artistic venture and began painting self-portraits. Since then she has had several successful art exhibitions.
In July 2013, Angelyne signed a contract with designerMichael Kuluva to be a face of a limited edition T-shirt for his clothing lineTumbler and Tipsy.[14]
Angelyne was a candidate for Hollywood city council in 2002, if it were to secede from Los Angeles.[clarification needed] She ran for office againin 2003, this time forgovernor of California. Her slogan during the campaign was "We've hadGray, we've hadBrown, now it's time for some blond and pink." Her mascot was a pinkMaltese named Budda.[15] She finished29th in a field of 135 candidates, garnering 2,536 votes.
In April 2021, Angelyne announced plans to run in the2021 California gubernatorial recall election ofGavin Newsom. She ran without a party preference.[16] The 50% threshold to recall the incumbent governor was not reached. She received 0.5% of the vote[17] and finished 18th out of 46, the highest candidate without a party preference.[18]
In 1995, a black-and-white short documentary byRobinson Devor,Angelyne, was released.
The Angelyne Dream Experience, anexperimental film by Dan Kapelovitz, who also worked on her EPBeauty & the Pink, was released in 1998. The short film with elements ofpsychedelia features Angelyne driving in the streets of Los Angeles, greeting her fans and talking aboutout-of-body experience.[19]
Hugo Maisnik's daughter,Katherine Saltzberg, wrote and performed in the 2009 one-woman playLos Angelyne about her experience growing up in the shadow of the Angelyne billboards.[20]
A miniseries based on the life of Angelyne,Angelyne, starringEmmy Rossum, created byNancy Oliver, was ordered byPeacock in 2020. The series was executive produced bySam Esmail and Angelyne.[21] Production of the series was delayed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. The first trailer was released in April 2020.[22] The series premiered on Peacock in May 2022.[23][24]
Films[edit]
Television and documentaries[edit]
| Music videos[edit]
Billboard appearances[edit]
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The women (the daughters of Hugo Maisnik) buy a roll of tape for $1.27 and sell it for $12.99.
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| People | |
