Why Were The Gabors A Thing?

Zsa Zsa's nosejob was just terrible. Way overdone.

Why are the Kardashians a thing?

They were the Paris Hiltons of their time.

They did a little acting, which is more than the Kardashians can claim.

Eva was actually a delightful dingbat comedienne on "Green Acres."

Zsa Zsa was never really anything but Zsa Zsa. She acted in films, but nothing very worthy or memorable. She was more of a personality who appeared on countless talkshows and game shows.

Magda was the less known sister who appeared sporadically in films and television.

Jolie was Mama Gabor.

All were known for their multiple marriages, love of diamonds and material things, and the gift of gab.

They could suck the chrome off a bumper.

[quote]What was their talent, besides the obvious?

Eva starred on a very successful sitcom, which is more than a lot of actresses can say. She actually had a pretty busy acting career and even took over for Vivien Leigh in a Broadway musical.

[quote]Joan Rivers likened them to the Kardashians.

Joan Rivers said a lot of stupid shit.

Which one actually got the attention from the media first?

They just seemed like a bunch of pampered dingbat brats.

Zsa Zsa actually worked very hard to get what she wanted - good or bad. Determination can be quite impressive. She certainly started to derail as she got older, and became bitter once the whole cop slapping thing blew up.

[quote] They did a little acting, which is more than the Kardashians can claim.

They have multiple international hit television series. That’s more than the Gabors could ever claim. The Kardashians are also richer. Both clans were made up of useless tarts.

Reply [6] I love you! I can’t stop laughing. You’re summed them up in one sentence. Wonderful!

But did anyone piss in their mouths, r6?

R12, that’s an old joke. Geez.

[quote] They could suck the chrome off a bumper.

I wouldn’t know anything about that.

Denny Terio and Ryan Seacrest, on the other hand…

Zsa Zsa was a STAH!!!

Why Eva never won an Emmy is beyond belief.

Look at films of the 1950s and 1960s. where the images so often included glamorous jewel heists, European locales, gambling in Monte Carlo, skiing in St. Mortiz, driving in convertibles on precipitous roads along the very edge of the Mediterranean, cocktail parties, smart small talk, cigarette holders on the more absurd characters, tailored clothes, diamonds as big as the RItz, and jewels and lacquered hair everywhere. It was as exotic and European as Betty Draper's Around-the-World dinner party.

That atmosphere certainly must have helped their careers.

More like the Richards sisters Kathy, Kim, and Kyle. And Big Kathy.

Eva and Zsa Zsa had a certain amount of charm. I've seen none among the Kardashians.

r2 Pimp Mama K (how she got that name) saw that underachiever Paris' video led to a reality show and celebrity, and soon all her girls would have one, too.

There's a longstanding history with their clique. They were always the worst kind of nouveau riche... the K girls weren't that interested but PMK was determine to interject personalities into them before the silicone to their butts... they were once normal looking (but hairy and hollywood fat) valley girls.

I wouldn't think where to find the vids from Paris and Nicole trashing them (even Kathy who virtually disowned "the little whore" rolled her eyes at PMK and made a few comments separately to the press when the K.K's vid released and not five seconds later PMK was shopping networks for a reality series like The Simple Life. They also had choice words for Brit-Brit, Firecrotch Lohan and a number of other troubled, top dollar, former child stars (and other tragic little wannabes) of the era. Of course, now all that is likely sacrilege to say (especially about Britney Spears.), so hardly a wonder it's virtually scrubbed. But you'll find references here and there.

[quote]Joan Rivers likened them to the Kardashians.

[quote]Joan Rivers said a lot of stupid shit.

Hardly. For the era, the Gabors WERE the original Kartrashians. While they occasionally made movies and did tv appearances, the main source of their celebrity was their "glamorous" personal lives and oh -so-many marriages.

Does that sound like Kim, Khloe, Kourtney?

Because they had charming Hungarian accents in a world that craved such comforts.

Unlike the Kardashians they had wit and conversation. Something was going on upstairs. 300 years they would have been successful courtesans and held salons with great minds and mover shakers in attendance. The Cuntrashians would have been down on the docks

^^^movers and shakers. Get an edit button already.

The Gabors had a skill-set that's missing from today's super-controlled media presentations.

Given the existence of social media, I'm sure the following is hard to agree with, but still, I would argue that TV talk shows of the 60s and 70s were way more subversive, uncontrolled and spontaneous than anything on current mainstream TV and streaming.

It took talent and preparing to appear on Merv, Mike Douglas, Carson, and, say what you will about the Gabors, they were professionals, who put in the work to entertain you, and they succeeded at that.

I have nothing against the Kardashians.

And, for example, I have nothing against Jennifer Aniston.

About 15 years ago, however, she appeared on Letterman's show. She had a slammin' body and looked fantastic.

And, that's where it began and ended.

No wonder Letterman became bored and retired ( and yes, he has his #metoo behavior that hurried him along) but for the purposes of discussion, my point is that Aniston sat there, words were coming out of her mouth, and still, she said absolutely nothing that came close to being interesting or compelling.

I noted Letterman while this was happening, and it was very obvious he was bored, not so much by her, but by what was then the super-controlled presence of "A" List stars.

And no wonder. He came of age in the golden age of free-for-all discussion on his hero's (Carson) talk shows and that type of talk was gone and never is to return.

The Gabors always were interesting, funny and put in the work.

R12, I think the old saying may actually be "suck the chrome off a trailer hitch" not "bumber" which seems funnier anyway.

Talk shows of the 60s and 70s were much lively than today. People weren't just selling a project but were interesting in their own way. Also less management by PR reps so lots of people were drunk and/or high. Celebrities are so canned today I wondr why anyone bothers with their interviews. Or maybe they don't which is why late night talk shows are such a bore.

...more...wonder...

Oy

R28 is right. You had to have some witty repartee back then. All the talk show hosts and guests were quite bawdy and full of innuendo and quick on their feet. I wouldn't say they were drunk but pleasantly buzzed. The old Hollywood Squares was hilarious.

Unlike the Kardashians the Gabors were not bores.

It was the goulash jokes.

They had hundreds of 'em!

The Kardashians can barely string words together. That along with vocal fry and generally poor education and vapidity make them a snooze.

"They could suck the chrome off a bumper."

Bitch, please!!!

The Kardashians are worth 10% of what they claim, max. More likely quite possibly 5%. They HAVE to claim a huge number, otherwise, who's going to be impressed? OK, K-kissers, fire away.

Pauline Kael had such a way with words. Never forgot her comparing Anita Morris's character Dido Lament in Absolute Beginners to the "wormy-rose beauty" of the Gabor sisters in their prime.

The perfect Data Lounge thread: It's 2023, but we're still wondering why the Gabor sisters became celebrities.

That pic looks like the Hocus Pocus 2 premiere.

[quote] Something was going on upstairs.

Hardly.

[quote] The Kardashians are worth 10% of what they claim, max.

Link.

I'm the sister they never talked about.

Jolie taught them to make paprikash and suck cock.

Zsa Zsa was considered very beautiful in her day, even though when she first appeared on the national US she was much older than she looked. She was perfect for talk shows because she was affected and amusing and told great stories.

She got a good role as Jane Avril in the original "Moulin-Rouge," but she was awful in it. It's not just that she had a thick accent: she just couldn't act.

Eva, who was just as beautiful, couldn't exactly act, but she had brilliant comic timing. But she wasn't as obsessed with being found eternally fascinating as Zsa Zsa was.

They delivered glamour in an era when glamour was waning.

Eva Gabor was really beautiful, far prettier than her sisters.

She was known to be a lovely person and was allegedly gay. Her unexpected death broke the hearts of her friends, especially her best friend Suzanne Pleshette.

Zsa Zsa's real name was Sari.

Eva was much prettier than Zsa Zsa.

[quote]R9 Which one actually got the attention from the media first?

I think Eva. She was a legitimate actress for a time.

[quote]r36 Never forgot Pauline Kael comparing Anita Morris's character in Absolute Beginners to the "wormy-rose beauty" of the Gabor sisters in their prime.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such white skin in my life!

[quote]I don’t think I’ve ever seen such white skin in my life!

But was she white white?

The three Gabors had 20 (!) spouses among them (including George Sanders, who had the ill fortune to marry both Zsa Zsa and Magda). Are the Kardashians on track to eventually beat that record?

They were ornamental and fascinated people while creeping them out a little as "modern courtesans."

Next!

Zsa Zsa could be a hoot and a holler with the right talk show host. Eva was fantastic on Green Acres.

R50, and out of those 20 spouses, only 1 Gabor spawn -- Francesca Hilton, who left behind no further Gabor progeny.

The gals probably didn't want the bother of childbirth or raising kids. Wonder if Francesca was an accident.

I assume it was smart to provide Mr. Hilton with progeny, r54.

OP - the Gabors were amusing personalities. They behaved and looked in ways that touched on a lot of themes in show biz and popular culture, without excelling in anything in particular EXCEPT being diverting personalities. I think their talent was being ERSATZ.

R39 a lot more going on than the vapid kuntrashians.

Yes the Gabors could be witty conversationalists. A skill never demonstrated by a Kardashian Jenner.

I trained them as well as I could.

Alas, I was born too early and too late for myself, in many ways.

[quote]including George Sanders, who had the ill fortune to marry both Zsa Zsa and Magda

No wonder he committed suicide.

Interesting obituary for Zsa Zsa

It was pretty shocking when Zsa Zsa slapped a cop.

Wasn't Zsa Zsa's zsagine useless after Rubirosa destroyed it?

Their mother Jolie Gabor lived to be 100 years old. Not bad for someone born in 1896.

They were a classier and more subtle version of the Kartrashians.

[quote]They were a classier and more subtle version of the Kartrashians.

I don't think it takes much to be either classier or more subtle than the Kardashians.