Although today’s pop culture is without a doubt far too obsessed with celebrities and their sometimes sordid, often over-indulgent and occasionally nearly interesting lives, there’s no denying that once in a while most of us enjoy a little Hollywood dirt.  Let’s hope not as much as you get nowadays on a regular basis–and don’t get me started on my pet theory that celebrity news is showing up as a greater percentage of stories these days because it’s an easy default, not vexing in any important way, not subject to annoying partisan viewer reaction which might have to be justified.  Celebrity gossip seems to be the perfect dodge to keep the populace from getting a real grip on what’s ails them.  But, really, that’s not the fault of today’s talented birthday girl, Miss Rona Barrett, who was born on October 8th, in 1936. 

Though Rona Barrett became as much a celebrity herself as the Hollywood personalities she made a living covering, her real life (chronicled in her best-selling autobiography Miss Rona) is much more inspirational than your average overstuffed cinematic biopic. Rona Burstein grew up in NYC, a smart and determined child, and although diagnosed at nine with a form of muscular dystrophy, she was unstoppable.  At the age of thirteen the precocious she headed the national Eddie Fisher fan club (and this was when he really needed one; he was one of the nation’s top singers).  After a brief foray into pre-law studies at college, she switched her major to journalism, and a career–and an industry–was born.

Starting out in print journalism in the late 1950s for the Bell-McClure newspaper syndicate, which placed her entertainment news column in newspapers around the country, by 1966 Rona moved into TV.  She began her broadcast career at the local Los Angeles ABC station, close to the celebrities she covered, and soon was featured on all five ABC owned-and-operated stations (New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Detroit, in addition to L.A.).  Not always welcomed with open arms–this was back in the days when some on-air news readers actually preferred newscasts to be serious–she nevertheless garnered a huge following which soon propelled her into national prominence.

She became the modern-day equivalent of Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper, although instead of Hopper’s hats Rona had her trademark silvery-blonde hairdo.  Barrett soon was hosting her own primetime TV specials and series, guesting on shows like the then-smash hit TV show Moonlighting, and publishing three successful magazines, including Rona Barrett’s Hollywood, Rona Barrett’s Gossip, and one about daytime TV.  In 1972 she authored The Lovo-maniacs, an erotically-charged novel blowing the lid off contemporary sexual excesses, drawing from the more scandalous knowledge and insights that she couldn’t include in her regular gossip outlets.  Rona published her autobiography called Miss Rona two years later, and it, like The Lovo-maniacs, was a tremendous success.  Rona also made a cameo appearance in Mae West’s last movie, the certainly curious Sextette, from 1978, where Rona played herself. 

The name Rona Barrett was synonymous with entertainment gossip during these years, thanks to her incredible publishing output and regular appearances on Good Morning America starting in 1975.  A 1980 attempt to pair her up with the late Tom Snyder on the Tomorrow show fell apart due to personality conflicts, and though she continued with her fingers in many pies, in the mid-eighties she started her slow backing away from the Hollywood milieu, buying a ranch in Santa Barbara county, north of Los Angeles and commuting to work.  In 1990 she showed up at Wrestlemania VI in Toronto to interview wrestler’s valet (the late) Miss Elizabeth, but soon afterwards Rona Barrett would officially retire from show business and retire to her Santa Ynez ranch.

However, retire is hardly what she’s done since.  Rona started a successful business called Miss Rona’s Lavender selling products using lavender, which she grows on her own ranch, Luvland Farms.  Teas, bath oils, mustards, soaps and other soothing lavender-based items are for sale, and the company is unique and successful.  Another of her interests is the plight of seniors in our society, which she addresses through the efforts of the Rona Barrett Foundation to Save Our Seniors.  Aware firsthand of the challenges facing our elderly–she cared for her aging father who lived with her for the last years of his life–Rona donates a portion of her company’s earnings to this important cause, and is an all-around advocate for senior issues.

For a woman who lived for so many years in a make-believe world, Rona Barrett came away from Hollywood with a full and good heart and a firm grasp on the truly important and lasting.  We wish her the happiest of birthdays!