L. A. Knockers Japan

Japan postcard

July 15, 2010

The LA Knockers performed in Japan for 3 years in a row (1980, 1981, 1982), at the Latin Quarter club in Tokyo, and became very popular.  Here are 2 postcards we found, thanks to DeeDee, about their last engagement in October 1982.

Jennifer remembers: “We were booked in Japan for six weeks over a three year period. What a treat. We had a magnificent stage at the Latin Quarter in Akasaka, fabulous lighting and great audiences. The Japanese men were crazy about us, big goofey girls, and they understood our comedy. We stayed in darling tiny rooms at the Akasaka Hotel and were showered with huge bouquets of exotic flowers.  Those photos from the postcards hung on the wall of the Latin Quarter advertising our show. It was trippy!  It was a sensational booking!  We fell in love with the country and the people.” read more under comments…

Some of the regular dancers were not able to travel.  DeeDee wrote to us about her very good reason to stay home: she had been cast as Sally Bowles in CABARET!  Jennifer was very understanding and sent her these postcards, that she framed.  Read her amusing story under comments.

Japan postcard

L.A. Knockers Lhasa Club

Lhasa club

July 15, 2010

In January 1983, I was having an exhibit of my photographs at the Lhasa Club (see here the invitation, designed by my friend Ave Pildas).  We were planning a big party for opening night, so I asked Jennifer if the LA Knockers could perform.  She graciously agreed and organized a special show for the occasion, in the cast, along with Kim Blank and Suzi Lonergan, as regulars, were some of the replacement dancers who had just returned from their 8 weeks engagement in Japan.

It was a big success, more that 200 people attended, watched the printed images on the walls and a slide show in the theater, then were exhilarated by the amazing performance of the L.A Knockers.

I took some snapshots, so here they are.

Lhasa Club

Lhasa Club

Cinderella

Yana, Jennifer, Marilyn

August 7, 2010

Well, nobody sent us a request to see this old photo, so here it is, a blast from the past (1976).  Jennifer Doyle as Stepmother, Marilyn Corwin as Marbella, Yana Nirvana as Drucella, the wicked stepsisters in this X rated movie version of the classic fairytale, where Cinderella gets help from her “fairy” godmother to become sexier and win over Prince Charming.
You can actually purchase the DVD from Flixster if you’re curious.

The L.A. Knockers appeared in several film and television projects, separately and together.  Marilyn Corwin sent us a funny video, Dancers on John Paragon of Comedy Show, where Marilyn, Yana Nirvana, Becky Jordan, Kimberlee Carlson, Lisa LeCover (Kessler), Liz Brody are dancing in a number about “boobs”, “jugs” “knockers”.

Many former Knockers still work as professional actresses, dancers and choreographers. Others wrote books and started businesses.

Yana Nirvana is creating art sculptures, see slideshow at yananirvana.com

Joan Wulfshon runs a Cellular Recall Healing Center in the Pacific Palisades. Take a look at the website cellularrecalltherapy.com
She has written a book “The Child is not Dead”, read about it on this website: thechildisnotdead.com

Dee Dee Rescher still works as an actress, she has recently started a Chili Pepper sauce business with her husband George. Enjoy their fun website: organicoriginals.org

Suzi Lonergan teaches Pilates. She has made a video, that you can order on her website suzilonergan.com

Kim Blank teaches dance and fitness classes in Los Angeles. Find a description of classes and schedule on her website kimblank.com

Please, all of you Knockers out there, send us your news, tells us what you’re up to now!

Love and thanks
Elisa Leonelli

P.S. I have written a book about Robert Redford. robertredfordamericanwest.com

Black on Pink

Marilyn, Kimberlee, Becky

July 23, 2015
For this photo session in my studio, August 1982, I put a red gel on the background strobe light to make the white backdrop go slightly pink, contrast the black of the romantic retro costumes, for the dance number “Rapture.” See earlier post
Photo above: Marilyn Corwin, Kimberlee Carlson, Becky Jordan.
Look at the lovely Suzi Lonergan and DeeDee Rescher! See post on DeeDee.

Suzi, Dee Dee

DeeDee

Square format

Lisa, Kimberlee, Dee Dee, Marilyn, Kim, Suzi, Becky.

July 24, 2015
At that same photo session of August 1982, besides using my Nikon 35mm cameras, I also shot a roll of Ektachrome 120mm film, larger square format, with my Hasselblad.  So you can see the dancers’ full figures above: Lisa Le Cover (Kessler), Kimberlee Carlson, Dee Dee Rescher, Marilyn Corwin, Kim Blank, Suzi Lonergan, Becky Jordan. And below another pose with the same dancers and costumes, on 35mm, smaller size film, rectangular format. See earlier post. And how these photos were printed on postcards to advertise the LA Knockers performances in Tokyo, Japan.

Kimberlee, Dee Dee, Kim, Lisa, Marilyn, Suzi, Becky.

Let’s Twist Again

Lisa, Suzi, Becky, Kim.

July 25, 2015
Photo session in my studio, August 1982. 1960s mini-skirts for the Twist dance routine: Lisa Le Cover (Kessler), Suzi Lonergan, Becky Jordan, Kim Blank.
Above a 35mm photo, smaller rectangular format, with my Nikon FE2 camera.
Below a 120mm square format photo, shot with my Hasselblad camera. See earlier post

Lisa, Suzi, Becky, Kim