Finocchio Star Lavern Cummings in "Golden Gate Murders" TV Movie 1979

Famous female impersonator, Lavern Cummings in a segment from the TV movie, "The Golden Gate Murders", broadcast October 3, 1979, by Universal Studios CBS TV. The film stars David Janssen and Susannah York. In this segment, Lavern Cummings plays a nightclub singer named Lavern Smith, a name that Paul Cummings used for this film. Lavern sings, "This Is All I Ask" and "The Way We Were". The producers saw Lavern perform at the Finocchio Club in San Francisco and wanted him for this part. The cabaret scene was filmed on the ship, The Queen Mary and real live musicians backed the performance. Paul had to fly back to L.A. for a second take in the wig reveal as Paul had all his own hair and the scene wasn't shocking enough. So the makeup department created a bald wig for Paul to wear for a more interesting effect. This is a rare copy of the TV movie in which Lavern Cummings did his acting debut. Lavern Cummings performed at the Finocchio Club in San Francisco for over 21 years and is a current resident of Las Vegas.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Finocchio's
• Finocchio Club
• Lavern Cummings
• female impersonator
• The Golden Gate Murders
• TV movies
• David Janssen
• Susannah York
• Paul Cummings

[chula8030]

From Entertainer David de Alba:

When this TV movie was aired my partner and I were vacationing in Key West, Florida (on our way to Miami for a week's theatrical gig that I was booked)...anyway, at the motel/spa we were statying we went to the TV room and watched Lavern's cameo appearance.

A month later I was asked by Eve Finocchio to emcee at her club for two weeks and when I introduced Lavern on stage I mentioned to the audience about this movie role he just did, and he was so happy!