The Passing of Another Blonde Bombshell

 

by Pa Rock

TV Junkie

There was word out of Los Angeles early this morning that film and television star Loni Anderson passed away yesterday in the City of Angels.  She was seventy-nine.  Those of us of a certain age remember Ms. Anderson primarily for her role as the radio station receptionist, Jennifer Marlowe, in the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati which aired from 1978-1982.  In that role Ms. Anderson played a character who was witty, acerbic, and often seen as the brains of the radio station's staff.  She was also known and remembered for being statuesque and very, very blonde, but she was certainly not a "dumb" blonde.

After playing in that comedy for four years, Loni Anderson went on to become the real life wife of actor Burt Reynolds for several years, a union that kept the tabloids hopping.

Loni Anderson was the second alluring television blonde from that era to die within the last three months.  Loretta Swit, better known as "Hot Lips Houlihan" on M*A*S*H from 1972-1983, passed away on May 30th in New York City at the age of eighty-seven.  

I noted one social media poster this morning referring to Loni Anderson as a "blonde bombshell," and while she was blonde - and quite memorable - I wasn't sure "bombshell" was the best descriptor of this unique actress, so I did a little digging into the term.  A "bombshell" sounds as though it could be the casing around a bomb, but it's connection to hair, or the adjective "blonde," is unclear - but they both begin with the letter "b," which adds an element of alliteration and sounds exciting when the two words, "blonde" and "bombshell," are placed next to one another.

The term originally seems to have been used to describe Jean Harlowe, a film actress from the 1930's who was a very striking platinum blonde, and again in the 1950's an 60's to refer to the best known film actress of that time, Marilyn Monroe. 

So, if Loni Anderson is being hailed as a blonde bombshell, then I must insist that Loretta Swit be included on that very exclusive list as well.  They were both significant roadside distractions in my wild and wasted youth.  Loni and Loretta were smart, independent, and very, very blonde - and they both did much to put the term "dumb blonde" to rest.

Be at peace, ladies.