Welcome To My Book Blog

A place to update and discuss facts surrounding the controversial, tragic death of legendary Hollywood film actress, wife and mother, Natalie Wood who drowned mysteriously Nov. 29, 1981 off Catalina Island. Thank you for visiting.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Trish Silver Spotlights Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour

Spotlight on New Authors | When I Remember Love

Here you will find 5 interesting books in several genres, spotlighted by Author Trish Silver. "When I Remember Love" is Trish's latest. Visit her interesting web site (click on headline of this post)
http://trishsilver.com/about-the-author/spotlight-on-new-authors/

You can listen to orignal music from Trish's new book.
I thank Trish Silver for recognizing Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Remembering Natalie Wood Today

She was iconic in her lifetime and is still iconic. Natalie could take your breath away, such a beautiful, talented actress who left this world too soon. Natalie was a people person. She adored her fans, her friends, her peers, her family, and her daughters. She had a laugh that was "like a song."
She gave her very all in everything she undertook. Natalie will always be synonymous with the holiday season, not only because we lost her on Thanksgiving weekend, but because she is the original Susan Walker of the film that first immortialized her, Miracle on 34th Street. She will always be remembered as one of Hollywood's finest, a true legend in her lifetime and a legend forever beyond. May she rest in peace as we remember her on this date of her untimely death, 28 years ago today, Sunday, November 29, 1981. Goodbye Natalie.

Sunday Morning, Nov. 29, 1981

Natalie Wood, wearing her red down jacket, a nightgown and wool socks, was found floating face down in the ocean near Blue Cavern Point. Her body (especially legs and arms) was filled with dozens of superficial bruises, some as large as four inches long. A facial abrasion and several other scratches were obvious. The dinghy was found near day break, unused, floating in a cove not far from where Natalie's body was spotted shortly after. Coast Guard Lieutenant, Roger Smith, immediately thought homicide and told Doug Bombard, the restaurant owner who first reached Natalie, to not touch the body. Roger Smith brought Natalie's body to shore. He removed her jewelry and closed her eyes. Authorities immediately summoned a private helicopter to remove celebrities Robert Wagner and Christopher Walken from the tragic scene. They were allowed to go home. Dennis Davern remained to identify Natalie Wood.  

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Natalie Wood's Saturday, 28 Years Ago Today.

Natalie woke up early, tried to call her sister, Lana, but could not reach her. She left the Pavilion Lodge with Dennis and returned to Splendour. Dennis was not happy about having to take the boat to the Isthmus, but it's what RJ and Natalie asked for. Natalie wanted to salvage the cruise. She went ashore with Christopher in the afternoon. In the early evening, RJ and Dennis joined Natalie and Chris at Doug's Harbor Reef Restaurant for dinner. About 10:30 PM when the four returned to Splendour, RJ lost it. He picked up a wine bottle, smashed it on the coffee table in the main salon and accused Chris of wanting to have sex with Natalie.

Natalie was mortified. She went to her master stateroom and prepared for bed. RJ followed her. A huge argument broke out in the master staterrom, and the fight soon carried over to the back deck. Within minutes after 11 PM, Natalie found herself in the water she had feared her entire life. She cried out for help. RJ refused to allow Dennis to search for Natalie. RJ tried to convince Dennis that Natalie was in the dinghy. Dennis could only hope that she was. Over two hours later, RJ got on the radio and said "someone is missing from our boat." Another two full hours later, the harbormaster pleaded with RJ to be allowed to call the Coast Guard. While this bizarre behavior took place on and near the Splendour, Natalie was suffering fear, terror, hypothermia, and drowning at sea.   

Friday, November 27, 2009

Natalie Wood's Black Friday, 28 Years Ago Today

Natalie was up early, preparing for her planned weekend cruise aboard Splendour. She was on a Thanksgiving weekend break from filming a few last scenes of Brainstorm with co-star Christopher Walken.
Near noon she, husband RJ, and Christopher boarded Splendour and Captain Dennis Davern started the engines and headed to Avalon on Catalina Island, about 22 miles away from Marina del Rey, Splendour's homeport.
Natalie was cheery, ready to kick off the holiday weekend with some shopping and good company. She looked beautiful and radiant, and her red down jacket highlighted her rosy cheeks. But RJ didn't take too well to Natalie's cruise guest. Christopher sensed the tension and stayed close by the person he knew best--Natalie, who was determined to over-compensate for RJ's open dislike for the situation. Although many of Natalie's and RJ's co-stars were frequent guests for Splednour outings, Christopher was not a welcomed one by RJ. Natalie worked her social charm to try to prove to Christopher that he was welcomed.

It was a bad start to a cruise and Dennis recognized this. After anchoring at Avalon, Natalie, RJ, and Chris went shopping in Avalon and Dennis stayed behind to prepare a late dinner. Natalie, Chris and RJ spent the afternoon and early evening browsing the quaint Avalon shops and stopped in at the El Galleon for cocktails.  RJ bought Natalie an expensive piece of diamond jewlery, and Natalie bought herself a pair of earrings called Pieces-of-Eight. She also bought a matching medallion with chain for Dennis, called "Pirate's Gold." Later that night, soon after dinner, Natalie gave Dennis the early Christmas present. He immediately put the Pirate's Gold around his neck, to wear forever.

Chris went to his forward cabin after dinner, and as Natalie was going to prepare for bed, RJ came up with a plan to move the 60 foot yacht to the other end of the Island. Dennis tried to convince RJ that it was a bad idea, and Natalie became upset because there was no need to move the boat in dark to the secluded part of the Island twelve miles away. Dennis went to Chris's cabin to ask if Chris might help convince RJ to stay put, but Chris told Dennis to stay out of any martial spat. That's what Dennis saw -- a marital spat. Although he recognized that this spat was more serious than any he had ever witnessed between Natalie and RJ, Dennis just wanted it to blow over. But RJ was determined to wake up Saturday morning at the Isthmus and not in Avalon. RJ was relentless about his late night plan, so Natalie packed a bag and left the Splendour with Dennis. She and Dennis stayed at the Pavilion Lodge in Avalon while RJ and Christopher remained aboard Splendour.

Natalie expressed her anger at the situation to Dennis and claimed she was going to catch a sea plane in the morning because she "couldn't wait to fly her body out of there," away from the tense situation. Consumed  with confusion and embarrassment over why RJ had behaved the way he had to her co-star guest, she realized that her intentions for a pleasuable holiday weekend were ruined. Instead, she had a huge mess on her hands. She had left Christopher, who she had promised a fun weekend getaway, aboard the Splendour with her angry and obviously jealous husband, and she now had to find a way off the Island come morning.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Petition

Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition thus far. Every voice counts. We're nearing Nov. 29th that will mark 28 years since Natalie Wood lost her life during what was supposed to be a fun start to the holiday season for her. No one deserves to die the way Natalie died, or deserves to be forgotten by those obligated by our justice system to defend and answer for such a bizarre death. Thank you for your signatures and for your comments.

http://www.gopetition.com/online/31812.html

Friday, November 20, 2009

A Reader's Letter

Yesterday, while working, I received a phone call but by the time I reached the phone the voice mail cut off. I looked at caller I.D., returned the call, and a woman on the other end sounded so relieved to have reached me that I at first became concerned, but she quickly explained she is a complete stranger who lives in Canada, and that she had just finished reading "Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour." I listened as she explained how the final chapter compelled her to call me, to ask me questions, and to let me know how she can't stop thinking about Natalie Wood's final moments. I spoke with "Corrie" for over 20 minutes, and then I emailed her to thank her for her concern and outrage over all the circumstances surrounding Natalie's death. Following is Corrie's return mail to me (she gave me permission to post it): (Thank you again, Corrie)

Hi Marti...I am so glad I got to talk to you. I didn't really think I'd get thru and was really happily surprised. You are easy to talk to and I know I like you.

I have been upset about Natalie for quite awhile, have the other books about her and the R.J. Wagner one also. I keep thinking of her and your last line keeps me thinking about how she must have felt when she realized she'd never see her daughters again. I put myself in her place and almost felt how she must have, disbelief this was happening and very frightened. I am so disillusioned with Robert Wagner I could scream, long and loud, also in disbelief. I so thought he loved her beyond anything but alas, ego is the big issue. I always Google about her daughters Natasha and Courtney; Natasha was broken up by her Mother's death and Courtney never had a chance at being mothered and can't remember her too well; she turned to Willie Mae the housekeeper for comfort. To think of robbing Natalie of her wonderful life and her dear children is unacceptable.

I've been thinking of our conversation Marti and I am so happy you called me back; you are such a dear and down to earth. I keep thinking "What if"...if only that woman Marilyn had dived in and tried to save her or if Dennis had overuled Wagner, punched him out, turned the light on and woke Walken and did SOMETHING...but then again I think of what drink can do to your mind and if you think someone like a celebrity can mentally overpower you, whammo, your defeated. I can, in a way, understand his confusion and he was drunk also.
I signed the petition just a few moments ago and proud to do it. If only something could be done to get thru their thick, tunnel-vision minds all the mistakes they made ...why, why can't something be done?? If Wagner passes we won't be any further ahead...it seems unbelievable he let her die..I can't digest it. Been thinking about it in depth since I read your book and talked to you.


Keep up the good work. You wrote a powerful book and God Bless you Marti.
Your friend,
Corrie
Good-Night

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Amazon Tags

Please assist the tagging process for GNGS by going to Amazon and clicking on the tags you agree with, but it will be helpful if you click on the two categories GNGS is most popular in (TRUE CRIME and BIOGRAPHIES) as both tags already exist for those two categories. All you need to do is click the box. You can also add a tag if you like.

If you scroll down at the Amazon page the link below will take you to, you'll see a heading titled
"TAGS CUSTOMERS ASSOCIATE WITH THIS PRODUCT"

Please take a minute to click the tags you agree with.  This will be most helpful! Thank you for your support.

Amazon.com: Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour (9781597776394): Marti Rulli, Dennis Davern: Books

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Kristy Rulli's Facebook Natalie Wood Page

Facebook | Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour - Natalie Wood's final weekend

GoodbyeNatalie Twitter

GoodbyeNatalie is now available at Twitter for updates.  I'm not an experienced "tweeter" but if you are and would like to follow brief updates, please use the link to sign on as a follower (or add important followers you believe can help Natalie to have a voice). Thank you

Marti Rulli (GoodbyeNatalie) on Twitter

Friday, November 13, 2009

Questions about Natalie Wood and Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour

Please use this new post for any new questions or comments. All the other posts with comments will stay, and I will check them periodically.

Thank you to our Polygraphist for signing Natalie Wood Petition

Thank you to our Polygraphist, Howard Temple, a dedicated man to his profession, for signing the Reopen Wood Case Petition (signer #142).

Thank you to Natalie Wood #1 Fan Site

http://www.myspace.com/nataliewood81

This is a wonderful place to read about Natalie and to see a wonderful collection of Natalie photos.

Thank you to M. Hill for this Amazon review

Amazon.com: M. Hill's review of Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour

Greatest Fear Realized, November 12, 2009

By M. Hill (Colorado) - See all my reviews

For some of us, the explanation of Natalie Wood's death raised more questions than it answered. Rumors of an argument circulated early on which cast doubt on the convenient "...don't know what happened" explanation that both Wagner and Walken provided authorities. Theories have been promulgated but nothing of substance has come to light until this book's release.

There were only four people on the ship the night of Natalie Wood's death - Wood, Robert Wagner, Christopher Walken and Dennis Davern the Captain. Now we have the painful account from Davern, the tortured soul whose life was almost ruined by the secrets he kept for his employer and friend, Robert Wagner. He sat for two lie detector tests and was hypnotized because he realized the skepticism that would face him when he finally revealed what he saw the night of Wood's death. He also realized that the only way to quell his conscience so he could live with himself was to tell the truth, all of it, and without embellishment. He contacted his old friend Marti Rulli and began to ever so slowly tell the story.

A profoundly disturbing book, Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour documents celebrity privilege with crystal clarity. The special treatment that Wagner and Walken received appears to have rolled right over the living and the dead. If nothing else comes from this perhaps it is time to examine this ridiculous habit the public has of placing people on pedestals because of the work they perform. The extreme deference afforded celebrities, here is taken to a truly frightening place. Evidence ignored, interrogations not given and clear discrepancies overlooked. Wagner didn't want the bad publicity and there were plenty of people around willing to accommodate him.

The story is now haunting me and I can't seem to shake it. I am struggling with the injustice and the lack of publicity regarding the new information. Will this compelling story which quietly slipped into view without much fanfare, soon slip away without any serious investigation? This book contains one of the most chilling examples in Hollywood history of apparent celebrity misconduct along with one of the clearest examples of what happens to us when we ignore our moral compass. I sincerely hope this isn't where the story ends.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Original Book Cover Idea


This cover was an original idea for GNGS cover, showing Natalie in her yacht "perch" doing her needlework. The publisher felt she wasn't as easily recognized in this photo, and I agreed. But wanted to post this so you could see this wonderful photo of Natalie. This is what she loved doing: relaxing upon her yacht, her getaway. We used this photo as a full color page in the book.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Natalie Wood Petition Video

It's perfectly ok to sign anonymously, but if you sign your name it will not be used in any way other than a number. Thank you to all who've signed thus far. For those of you who signed early on, please visit the link again. The person who started the petition has included a Natalie Wood video at the petition site that is a beautiful reminder of her.

Mike Cortson Interview

"Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendor" interview with Marti Rulli.
Program airs 11-10-09 at 10 am ET and repeats the following day
at 6 pm ET on WRHC-FM streaming live
http://www.radioharborcountry.org/
 It can be downloaded now FREE from web site http://www.mikecortson.com/ 
or by going to http://www.radio.mikecortson.com/  .

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Book Signing Today

Nov. 7 (Today) Dennis Davern  - 11am to 4 pm -  Barnes and Noble
1930 U.S. 1 South - St. Augustine, FL 32086

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Natalie Wood's Odyssey for Justice

CNN iReport -- Please take a moment to comment on this report at CNN website.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-350161

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

There's something about Natalie

November is the month she died, 28 years ago. Fans from around the world still follow her. We watch her movies, we buy her movies, we still read about her, wonder about her, and we are saddened and troubled by the tragic end she encountered. She was, is, and will always be mesmerizing. Yes, those eyes, but also, her smile, her laugh, and her spunk. Unmatchable is synonymous with Natalie Wood. I will be thinking about Natalie a lot this coming Thanksgiving weekend, where the dates fall on the same days of the week (Sunday is Nov. 29th) as the year she left us in 1981. Here's to Natalie.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Petition to reopen the Natalie Wood death case.

A petition has been started to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to officially reopen the case of Natalie Wood. Here is the link:   http://www.gopetition.com/online/31812.html