Media Path Podcast Interviewing Legendary Teen Idols & A Trailblazer In 60s Music Journalism with Ann Moses!
Before celebrity culture was manufactured and media-trained, Ann Moses was right in the middle of it, capturing a generation of hot, young stars just as they were becoming icons.
In 1966, an 18-year-old Ann Moses landed a position as the editor of Tiger Beat Magazine where she worked until ’72!
Ann remembers serving Walt Disney a refreshing orange juice, at the Sunkist booth where she worked at Disneyland and telling him she had written two articles for the employee newsletter. His sage words? “You never know where that will take you.”
Armed with a pad, a pen, a tape recorder, a camera and relentless curiosity, she began chasing stories and opportunities.
Ann shares how she talked her way into an interview with the Dave Clark Five when they performed at Melodyland Theater in Anaheim. She asked their road manager for just five minutes with the band. They gave her 35 minutes and her career was in gear.
Joining Tiger Beat as an intern when it was just five issues deep with a staff of just four, Ann made herself indispensable. Her bosses sent her to clubs, sets, recording studios, and concert halls. She returned with loads of great photos and interviews and got to work writing, editing and creating contests, experiences and content that took readers right along with her.
While covering Dino, Desi and Billy, Ann was offered a drink by Dean Martin. She requested a coke. She then sat down with Lucille Ball, for several hours, to talk about her son, Desi Jr. The interview spilled into a lunch where Lucy said, “Enough about me and Desi. Tell me about you.”
Tiger Beat’s exclusive access to The Monkees and The Partridge Family found Ann regularly visiting their sets for hours of personal time that led to fascinating stories. Spoiler: Monkee Talk was not actually written by The Monkees and Mike Nesmith spent an entire year avoiding Ann who was more than happy to talk, instead, with his wife, Phyllis. Bobby Sherman could not have been more friendly and amenable. While David Cassidy was also difficult to pin down until a note went home to his dad, Jack Cassidy.
Ann opens up about her whirlwind romance with The Bee Gees’ Maurice Gibb, including a European adventure and a shocking revelation at the end of their time together. What’s the last thing you want to hear a man tell you in bed? She heard it!
She also reflects on the Tiger Beat vs. 16 Magazine rivalry and she recalls the first time she saw the Osmonds open for Nancy Sinatra and the full-circle moment when she reconnected with Donny last year in Vegas!
It’s a joyful, fascinating conversation about a time when fame was more personal, access was real, and one young reporter armed with a camera and a tape recorder, could find herself at the center of it all.
In current media, Weezy is ’recommending the documentary Paul McCartney: Man on the Run on Prime.
Path Points of Interest:
Ann Moses/Donny Osmond Reunion