On Sunday, October 23rd, legendary performer Barbara Van Orden once again took the stage in her newest cabaret show, Red Hot Mama Returns, at the Catalina Jazz Club Bar & Grill in Hollywood. Among those in attendance for the special night included Hugh O’Brian (Wyatt Earp), Kate Linder (Young & the Restless), Romi Dames, (Hanna Montanna), George Chakiris (Oscar Winner) and writer Gore Vidal.
Romi Dames (Hanna Montana) and Kate Linder (The Young and The Restless) with Red Hot Mama Barbara Van Orden at the Catalina Jazz Club
Barbara Van Orden, a singer and entertainer whose career has spanned decades began as a leading print model gracing the cover of many magazines and eventually segueing into a television commercial career. Eventually Van Orden made a career for herself in the entertainment industry as a singer, comedienne and actress. She became the opening act for many of the industry greats, such as Milton Berle, Don Rickles and Red Buttons, to name a few. Van Orden also performed at all of the Playboy Clubs, working with talents such as Buddy Hackett, Morey Amsterdam and Soupy Sales.
A move to the West Coast was inevitable and Van Orden immediately assumed a recurring role in televisions Welcome Back Kotter while adding many more TV films and series episodes to her resume in a short time. In between the television roles, Van Orden began opening for many Vegas headliners. One show in particular would lead to her ultimate breakout. While opening for Shecky Green, Frank Sinatra took a liking to Van Orden and invited her to open for him at the Persian Room at the Plaza Hotel in New York.
In 1982, Van Orden was unexpectedly hit by a car in Beverly Hills leaving her with a number of serious injuries, resulting in 18 surgeries and years of therapy to learn how to walk again. Not one to give up on her dream, Van Orden recently wrote and produced Red Hot Mama Returns to bring her talent once more to the stage.
Catalina Jazz Club Bar & Grill is located at 6725 West Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. For more information on Barbara Van Orden, please visit her website at www.barbaravanorden.com
