L. A. Knockers

LA Knockers: Marilyn, Jennifer, Yana

June 22, 2010

Miracles of the Internet age!

Yesterday, I searched Google for LA Knockers and found 4 wonderful videos on You Tube, of this amazing dance group, lovingly edited by Marilyn Corwin, the curly hair blond bombshell I fondly remember.

I logged on to Facebook and found her email, I wrote her a message and she CALLED ME!

Not only that, but she put me in touch with LA Knockers creator and choreographer, my old friend Jennifer Stace.  She is now living in Baja California, close to the other stunning dancer, Yana Nirvana!

I used to photograph these wonderful girls in all kinds of fantastic attires and dance poses, when I was a photo-journalist living in Hollywood, starting from 1976 until 1984.

I will now edit all these images, select my favorites and post them on this blog.

I hope lots of old and new fans will find this and leave their comments.

Thanks!

Elisa Leonelli, photographer (see About LA Knockers page for more info)

And now enjoy the first LA Knockers video (more to come as  you scroll down)

L. A. Knockers first photo session

Yana, Jennifer, Marilyn

June 24, 2010

I first saw the LA Knockers perform live at the Starwood in 1976, and I was – literally – knocked out by their exciting dance energy.

So I immediately asked Jennifer if we could do a photo sessions, because I had just started working as a photo-journalist and I was contributing to the theater section of the Italian magazines TEMPO and ESPRESSO. They wanted me to send photographs and text about visually interesting and risqué performers.

I didn’t even have a studio yet at the time, so a borrowed the space from my photographer friend Ave Pildas, and we did various set-ups for the layout: red tutus against a huge dark grey backdrop, white leotards against white, black costumes on red, also, in an outdoor location by the fire-escape, a cheerleaders theme, with football helmet and pom-pons.

Jennifer, Marilyn, Yana

Jennifer, Marilyn, Yana

Yana, Jennifer, Marilyn

Jennifer, Marilyn and Yana even posed for me in the costumes for their movie CINDERELLA, as the stepmother and stepsisters Marbella and Drucella.

We want to know if you’re checking us out, log on to our blog, so leave a comment with your email and we’ll send you the Cinderella photo!

L.A. Knockers 1979

Marilyn, Patti, Jennifer, Kimberlee, Becky

July 4, 2010

Another photo session, for the purpose of advertising the LA Knockers new line-up, took place in my studio in 1979, I shot mostly B& W and some 4×5 slides as well.  I was learning to use different techniques and the big view camera was my next challenge; I used blue gels for the background light on white seamless, and red gels for the rim light.  Here’s a 35 conversion of one of those 4x5s and a B&W print.

Kimberlee, Marilyn, Jennifer, Patti, Becky

L.A. Knockers dance

Kimberlee, Becky, jennifer

July 7, 2010

It’s frustrating to look at photos of dancers, without being able to see them move and sing.

For this experience we recommend watching the L. A. Knockers videos edited by Marilyn Corwin on You Tube.

As the next best thing, we show here a sequence, of this dance number called “Choice”, created for the show at the Playboy Club in late 1979.

First Jennifer, as the fiery Spanish man with a moustache, dances with hot Kimberlee, as a flamenco dancer in a red dress with a rose between her teeth.

Then Jennifer dances with another sexy girl in a read dress.

Finally, the first girl is upset that the man’s attention has shifted to the second girl.  Jealousy!

Please leave your comments, we’ll post them here.

Kimberlee, Jennifer, Becky

Kimberlee, Jennifer

Becky, Jennifer

L. A. Knockers spoof movies

Jennifer and Becky

Kimberlee and Kim (Kimberley)

July 7, 2010

As a recurring theme of the Playboy Club show in late 1979, the L. A. Knockers spoof Hollywood movies.

Jennifer Stace as John Travolta from “Saturday Night Fever” dances with Becky Jordan, as a sexy Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz”.

Kimberlee Carlson as Dracula is about to dig her fangs into the neck of Kim Blank, as the lady in distress in a white nightgown.

And here’s another video, to see the exciting LA Knockers dance: Part 3

L. A. Knockers 8 dancers

Kimberlee, Becky, Jennifer, Patti

July 7, 2010

Another Hollywood movie spoof, the 1939 classic “Wizard of Oz”

Kimberlee Carlson as Tin Man, Becky Jordan as Dorothy, Jennifer Stace as Scarecrow, Patti Nelson as the cowardly Lion.

The L.A. Knockers have gone from 3 to 5 to 8 dancers.  Here’s the new line-up in a publicity photo.  Debbie Petersen, Leticia Ibarra, Jennifer Stace, Kimberlee Carlson, Jolli Neal, Kim Blank, (front) Becky Jordan, Patti Nelson.

Debbie, Leticia, Jennifer, Kimberlee, Jolli, Kim, Becky, Patti

L. A. Knockers new dancers

Debbie, Jolli, Leticia

July 7, 2010

Here’s 3 new dancers added to the line-up in late 1979.

Debbie Petersen, Jolli Neal, Leticia Ibarra.

We have lost track of them, if anyone knows how to contact them, please send us their email.  Thanks!

Kim

Leticia, Kim, Debbie

The fourth dancer, Kim Blank, hidden by a mask in the photo below, in the middle between Leticia Ibarra and Debbie Petersen, dancing the number “Have a Cigar”, is very much around, an accomplished choreographer.  You may want to take a dance class from her! Take a look at her website.

And here is Kim (Kimberly) Blank again in her boxer outfit.

Pop Quiz!  But you had seen her face before, although upside down, as the lady in white threatened by Dracula, in a previous post.  Go back and take a look!