Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year.

AJ Hammer is a good Interviewer

Watch this video on VideoSurf or see more Natalie Wood Videos or A. J. Hammer Videos

Auld Lang Syne - from 'It's A Wonderful Life'

Clarence Clemons Tribute.m4v

Merry Christmas One and All

Wishing Everyone all the joys of the season!

My Visit to New Egypt High School

Attending New Egypt High School to talk about Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being an invited guest to an audience of approximately 100 students from English, History, French, and Forensics classes of New Egypt High School in my town. The audience  listened as I explained the long journey of writing and publishing "Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour." 

Only a handful of the students had known of Natalie Wood before the project began for them weeks ago, but now have an understanding of Natalie Wood's importance in history. Several of the attending students had made an interesting video of the Natalie case reopening as part of the study.

I think it is wonderful that many young people worldwide are realizing the impact Natalie Wood had in our history. Those in yesterday's audience realize how huge a celebrity Natalie was, and we talked about her classic movies, at which point most had realized they've seen her in "Miracle on 34th Street" and in "West Side Story," a play that had been produced at the very school we discussed Natalie.

I was so impressed with the perceptive questions many of the students had for me, and it was such a comfortable atmosphere in the media center area of the high school library. The teachers, as well, are all fascinated with the legend of Natalie Wood. It was a wonderful experience and I believe the majority of the students found it to be an interesting afternoon.

My granddaughter, Jessica West, who is an alumni of the high school, attended with me, and she served as a graphic, living example of how long I had worked on GNGS, as she hadn't even been born yet when I started.

Lynn M. Pryzbylkowski, the Structured Learning Experience Coordinator of New Egypt High School, oversaw the afternoon project, and I can't thank her and all involved enough for having me as a guest speaker, and I appreciate everyone's interest and hospitality.

Happy Hanukkah

Tonight marks the start of Hanukkah and I'd like to wish everyone celebrating the holiday a joyous eight days of Hanukkah celebration. Enjoy.

Newsweek

The Real Tragedy of Natalie Wood - The Daily Beast

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Asbury Park Press Article published today on Reopening of Natalie Wood case.

Natalie Wood death probed again after Plumsted author writes book | The Asbury Park Press | APP.com

Amanda, my interviewer, was very interested in Natalie Wood.

In today's NY Post...Macy's and Natalie Wood

Page 30 of today's NY Post recommends visiting Santa at Macy's if visiting Manhattan this holiday season, and suggests sitting on Santa's lap, claiming it's a holiday tradition started by Natalie Wood in 1947's "Miracle on 34th Street".

With the remake of "Miracle" in the 1990's, Macy's had refused to participate, claiming some things remain classic and you don't mess with them...mainly, Macy's and Natalie in the ORIGINAL "Miracle on 34th Street". I still want to research whose idea it ever was to remake such a classic movie. Imagine another actor other than Jimmy Stewart playing George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life" -- it just can't work.

Natalie Wood Death: Extra Interview from 2009

At this link, at the bottom is a video interview (has Robert Wagner showing first) that Dennis and I gave to Extra in Sept. 2009 to producer named Joe, who was an excellent interviewer. The interview never aired, but now is being posted.

Natalie Wood Death: Boat Captain Blames Robert Wagner

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Marti Rulli - On The Grid Internet Talk Radio-Nov. 26, 10:00 am EST

Many questions have been sent to me through email, and I've tried to answer as many as time allows, and I will personally get to each and every one of you, but in the meantime, I will answer some of the questions being asked here.

Why I requested a polygraph test for Dennis Davern is because I realized many people might think that because I am his friend that I would believe him unconditionally, but that was never the case. I always asked Dennis dozens of questions for every piece of his account. I never once caught him in a situation where his claims didn't add up. But, because I was his friend, I especially wanted to remain as objective as possible. I wanted a professional to hear his account, to judge by reaction and machine if the professional believed him. I hired a man of experience in criminal law, a man who knew his work in polygraphing. It wasn't only to verify the contents of Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour -- it meant a lot to me as well. By asking Dennis to take a polygraph, I feel I had requested what any other author would've requested while writing a story that had little support. One person believed in Dennis and that one person was me. I knew it would take a lot to get others to realize Dennis's regrets for the mistakes he had made, but to also understand how Dennis had been manipulated.

Why I told about my and Dennis's relationship in GNGS was only to help readers to understand my relationship with Dennis and to impress the fact that I had and have a personal life "on the side" of working on GNGS. I gave a good percentage of my spare time to a mission that always seemed to go nowhere. I also tried to not take time from my own family in the process, but it was not easy. I worked mostly late at night, and sometimes the story was so compelling, it became eerie. I would get chills while writing some parts. But, I forged ahead. I made calls. I researched. I did what I could do to substantiate what I had come to believe.

When the online petition was started in 2009, after GNGS's release, I thought it was a great idea, but I honestly did not believe it was enough to get the case reopened. I sure hoped it would be enough, but I had talked with the lead detectives of the 1981 case. I had been led to believe I would have to go through them, or at least to have their approval before proceeding. I was always nice to them, and they were polite to me as well, even though they knew how badly I wanted them to agree Natalie's case deserved another look. In fact, it was Frank Salerno, who had been in charge of Natalie's 1981 case, who had suggested to me in 2009 that I write a summary to present to the LASD. At that point, knowing I would not have his help, I figured GNGS was the only justice Natalie might ever receive so I sought publication, and figured GNGS could be the summary, and I did have a copy of the book sent to the LASD. I heard nothing.

We had hoped for 1,000 signatures on the petition, and when I saw how long it took to get to 500, that's when I decided to rally the witnesses I had interviewed who had been overlooked in the 1981 investigation. It took a while, but I gathered their testimonial statements and informed the attorney who had started the "Reopen Natalie Wood Case Petition" that I would like to include the statements when the petition would be submitted. He had suggested long ago that Dennis send a testimonial statement to the LASD, but after talking with Frank Salerno, I doubted it would help. So, he completely agreed it was a good idea to submit testimonial statements. We were going to send in June or July 2011, despite we had only near 800 signatures, but a couple of statements were still being worked on at that time. As soon as I gathered all of the statements, I submitted them to accompany the petition, and then we heard from the LASD a little over a month later. I do not know who later made the statements public, but it was not me. I had promised I would never do that, and I am not sure how the statements were distributed to the media. In any case, at least the information has given the public something they've deserved for a long time: answers to a 30 year-old mystery, a case that deserved more than it received in 1981.

Whatever comes of the new reinvestigation, Natalie is getting what any citizen deserves upon such a mysterious death: an investigation.

I appreciate shows like "On The Grid" that offer me the time to explain the many varied aspects of the story behind my involvement and to proclaim that I still stand behind everything I put in the book I wrote. I feel GNGS has succeeded because now the case is in good hands. I thank everyone who has written to me, and will do my best to answer the questions I can answer.

Natalie Wood - "What the World Needs Now, Is Love, Sweet Love"

Matt Belloni Goes on 'Entertainment Tonight' to Discuss the Natalie Wood...

Real Men Make Christmas Wreaths

Lost L.A.: Boys Republic and the Della Robbia wreath - latimes.com

Link to article above

From FishbowlLA on Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour

Last week, a reporter from the National Enquirer knocked on my back door. He asked about a "secret diary" of Natalie's. I explained to him that there is no such thing as a "secret diary". What Natalie had been working on was a memoir in conjunction with a magazine working with her on an article about her. Natalie had been contemplating writing an autobiography, but did not finish one. This was several years before her death. Suzanne Finstad even used an excerpt from Natalie's memoir in her Warren Beatty book. These "lost secret papers" are not secret.  The greater media had seemed to forget about Natalie until the recent new development, and Natalie still deserves the investigation she was denied 30 years ago. Read this important link: it's TRUE.

Splendour Captain Recalls Early National Enquirer Tactics - FishbowlLA

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The Inn at Laurita Winery

The inn at Laurita Winery

The room where the interview was conducted at the inn.

The media reps from NY for the France TV Network came to my area today to interview me about Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour. The French show is called "Inside 50 Minutes" but is blocked in America. I hope to acquire a CD of the airing that I can download here. The interviewer, Anne Cecile, and her assistant, Batiste, were very interested in Natalie, and equally interested in Lana. Anne Cecile's questions were pointed and sensitive. I wore the beautiful bracelet "Splendor in the Grass" handmade for me by artist Julie of Julie Ann Smith Designs to the interview.

The owners of the Inn at Laurita Winery were kind enough to allow us a front parlor to hold the interview, and I thank them for their hospitality. For anyone visiting New Jersey, I highly recommend stopping by the impressive Laurita Winery, their nearby Equestrian Riding Stables, and the Inn at Laurita Winery which is a welcoming and charming bed and breakfast.  Anne Cecile and Batiste enjoyed getting out of the city for the day and spending the day in the country atmosphere. Most of all, they were interested in the life of Natalie Wood. Most all taped interviews get edited, but I hope the talk about Natalie remains in this piece when it airs. Natalie loved Le Grand Pari, and its people loved her.

http://www.innatlauritawinery.com/         http://www.lauritawinery.com/

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