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Regis Philbin and Coronado Island

I had the Rachel Ray show on this morning while I was making the kids my world famous-ish pancakes. Regis Philbin was a guest and I was pleasantly surprised to learn of his connection to Coronado.

Regis said he lived on the Amphib. base when he was in the Navy. One night before his release from active duty, and he was talking to two other officers about what he wanted to do with his like after the military. He said he wanted to go into show business but was kind of wishy washy about it. One of the officers really got in his face and gave him a talking to about how "ya gotta WANT it"! He said he drove straight up from Coronado to Hollywood.

He also mentioned Coronado when he was asked about his first car, a Hudson. He said that it would always break down on the Coronado Ferry. The ferry workers would always try to stay far away from him, he said, because they knew he was going to need help pushing it off of the ferry!

He last mentioned Coronado when he was talking about Tony Bennett. He said that he and the others Navy folks were out to sea so much and never knew who the latest singers were. One time when he was home he walked from the Amphib. base to the movie theater in Coronado and it was there that he first heard Tony Bennett's voice.

It would be neat if the Coronado Historical Society or another organization were able to interview him about his time on Coronado Island. He was very nostalgic about it and I bet he'd be willing to do an interview :)

Tags: community, people

7 members like this

Staff Comment by Ashley Jenkins on June 20, 2012 at 9:46am: How cool! I never would've known!

Staff Comment by Kellee Hearther on June 20, 2012 at 11:52am: Amazing how many people have connections to and fond memories of our little island. Glad to be a part of this community, helping my family make memories of our own.

Comment by Surf's Up Studios, Coronado on June 20, 2012 at 12:21pm: Thank you for sharing! Regis is on our list of interviewees as we continue pre-production on the feature documentary about Coronado - it's past, present and future. To all eCoronado members, please feel free to share with us any information you would like to see in this movie. More information about the production is forthcoming this August. Our email: SurfsUpStudios@gmail.com Thanks!

Comment by Ben Hallowell on June 20, 2012 at 2:59pm: Regis was a great friend of the Mexican Village, a relationship which continued after he became famous. On more than one occasion, he would awaken for breakfast at the Forsythes (Bert and Mary Kaye, Mexican Village owners) house having spent the night on their couch after "closing the Mexican Village". They were very special owners who always took care of their customers, especially after too much partying - and Regis was known to enjoy a good time especially back then. Mary Kaye Forsythe is still alive. She or her daughter Liz would be a great interview on Regis and other MexPac celeb visitorss back then like Ava Gardner one famous New Years eve. Oh the stories Coronado could tell (and believe me, the Historical Society knows nothing about these stories)!

Comment by Liz Forsyth-Lovell on June 21, 2012 at 4:33pm: Ben is right the stories we could tell about Regis. I still have the couch that he spent the night on in our old Loma house. Many celebs came to the house after the bar closed to keep the party going, my childhood was never dull. My Dad recalled Regis, and commented he was a "jackass" and thats why he may have been given the couch to sleep on not the bed!!

Comment by Archivist - Coronado Historical on June 27, 2012 at 10:00am: The Coronado Historical Association would love to interview Mr. Philbin. If anyone in the community might have some contact information for him, please call us at 435-7242.

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