In our recent four-part podcast series The Secret Life of Dolly Sharp, we followed Ashley West’s search for the enigmatic Deep Throat actor with the mysterious past, his discovery of her successful career on stage and in movies as Helen Wood, and what happened after Dolly left the film industry for good.
As a coda, we’re pleased to present a teaser film of Dolly’s story, showing extracts of her from the Ed Sullivan show, as well as rare photographs and interview extracts.
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The Secret Life of Dolly Sharp
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Related Posts
The Secret Life of Dolly Sharp, Part 1: Who Is Dolly Sharp? - Podcast 109
The Secret Life of Dolly Sharp, Part 2: Who Is Helen Wood? - Podcast 110- The Secret Life of Dolly Sharp, Part 3: Whatever Happened to Dolly Sharp? - Podcast 111
- The Secret Life of Dolly Sharp, Part 4: Whatever Happened to Helen Wood? - Podcast 112
Impressive! Are you still working on a documentary of the 70s porn industry?
Whatever anyone’s opinion of Helen/Dolly may be she was by far the best thing about Deep Throat. Even in that environment, she had a way with a line and a spark about her.
Thanks Jim – we’ve got a lot more projects in the works!
Sensational – and amazing to see these images after having been an avid follower of the mini-series.
May there be many more Rialto films in the future!!!
Thank you Paul!
I love it, and does this mean that you filmed all of the interviews that featured in the podcast series?
Amazing to see this.
Thanks so much Kelvin!
CONGRATULATIONS ON AN IMPRESSIVE PIECE OF WORK. FIRST CLASS.
Thanks Ira!
Wow! She sure was comfortable in front of the camera.
While I understand it was a very repressive time, the boyfriend comes off badly by portraying himself as some kind of victim. She had an amazing life and he is hurt because he didn’t like all her choices? Unfortunate.
I love the podcast by the way. If you make a documentary, I’m sure it will be amazing as well.
I don’t think he portrays himself as a victim. He is being honest about his emotions and it’s quite clear it impacted him deeply. He is not a product of the 21st century. I would wager his response was the same as most men of his era would have reacted.
Thank you David!
Awesome Article and Short Video Keep Up Good Work
Thanks so much Jeff!
The best line ever spoken in porn!
For me the podcast is the artistic backbone of these reports and I wait for them because with a double whammy of dyslexia and ADHD reading takes an effort. This piece on Helen Wood is the best definitely a masterpiece. I hope you continue with adding video to future reports. You done very well taking something no one wants to admit and actually make it interesting. Again, congrats on, your masterpiece.
This took me sometime to write.
Thank you so much for taking the time to do it Mike!
There has to be an award…somewhere, that should be given to the Rialto Report for putting together this series. To say this production is excellent is an understatement.
We so appreciate that Andrew!
Hi got another question here, what about the red head nurse?
Oh and thanks for what you do, I only have interest in the classic stuff like cry for Cindy and so on.
Cheers Andrew
Thanks Andrew!
Thank you for giving Helen Wood the tribute she has long deserved. Your Podcasts gave us a greater understanding into this mysterious triple-threat artist. You even managed to make us feel empathy for Helen’s partner, who held her as she died. It is too bad most of the Hollywood stars that Helen worked with in the 1950s and 1960s have passed away. It would have been great to hear what Debbie Reynolds, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Fosse, Ed Sullivan, etc etc. thought of her. I wonder if Chita Rivera and William Friedkin still remember her? Despite all of the new information, Helen Wood still remains mysterious. Why couldn’t she find employment as a dance, voice, violin or acting coach after her performance career came to an end — or was it all or nothing for her? And if an older and equally talented actress such as Georgina Spelvin could carve a career in 1970s adult film, why didn’t Helen – or was it shame and/or fear of Deep Throat-style federal prosecution? Either way, the world was a much better place because Helen Wood was in it. May she rest in peace.
Thank you JEG!
Thank you Ashley for the tremendous work you’ve put into this piece. It was quite gripping, sad. Every week I come to TheRR and, whether it’s new posts or items I find browsing through the archives, I am never disappointed.
Thanks so much Art!
After listening to the four Dolly Sharp podcasts (several times!) I can’t get the ‘theme song’ at the start of the podcasts (and last 35 seconds of the vid) out of my head. It doesn’t appear to be in the movie ‘Deep Throat’…I listened to the soundtrack album and it isn’t there either. What is the song and who is the artist?
This is the most AWESOME website!! Congrats on the BEST podcasts on the web!
Thanks Russ – the song is ‘Thinking Black’ by Ike Turner!
I’ve been a huge fan of this site and the podcasts for over a year. As a recording engineer, I do have some software that could be used to help clean up and correct some of the noise on old recordings and interviews and I would love to volunteer my services to help preserve the legacy of these amazing people. Please advise, thank you.
Once again, the Rialto has left me breathless! This whole series is incredible. Continually riveting, beautifully researched, and all the while remaining objective. There are points where I feared for Helen while listening to her partner’s intensely psychotic reactions about her past life. Yet, you guys were able to do the thing that so many can’t or just flat out refuse to do and that is portraying humanity. In a world where most see the world in only black and white, the Rialto shows us all the colors and gradients in between. Keep up the consistently great work!
Heather
We so appreciate it Heather – thank you!!
Helen’s story is so complex and spottily documented, but Rialto Report did the work and turned out a gripping piece of storytelling. One of the oddest twists of her life is that she ended up with the man in the video, who was by his own account obsessed and violent. To be honest, I get angry watching him speak, but in the end he is the one who preserved the memory of her multifaceted life.
Excellent work.
There is a lot of great stuff here. Brings back a lot of memories of the old Times Square. Al Goldstein wouldn’t recognize the place today!