Steel Kaleidoscopes

Whatever Happened To...

Adam West?

Best known for his role as Bruce Wayne in the '60s TV series "Batman," West now plays Cat Man on the Nick cartoon show "Fairly Odd Parents."

But West is probably best known these days for his recurring role as Mayor Adam West on "Family Guy."

West, who turns 80 in September, has hardly faded away. While he's appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows over the last 40 years, it was his Batman role in the late '60s that still pads his pocket. In fact, you can get Bat Greetings and ring tones for your cell phone through West's web site, which opens with the theme from "Batman."

West was born William West Anderson but changed his name when he moved to Hollywood in 1959.

Whatever Happened To...

Billy Gilman?

Once considered the Next Big Thing, the young singer is actively involved in fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy. He's playing a fundraiser next month in Norfolk, Va., titled "The Crystal Ball."

Gilman recently performed at the Jerry Lewis Telethon in Las Vegas, and for conferences held by the DECA high school marketing education club.

Gilman, now 19, lives with his parents in Hope Valley, R.I.

He's appeared on various talk shows, including "Oprah," and released his sixth album last year.

Gilman had a manager when he was 8 years old. He achieved stardom at 11, when his first single, "One Voice," rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart. When he was 12, Gilman released his first album, also called "One Voice" and it was soon certified double-platinum. He was the youngest country star to accomplish this.

He received a Grammy nomination for "One Voice" and holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the youngest singer to have a number one single on the Billboard Country Singles chart, edging out Brenda Lee who accomplished this in 1960.

Whatever Happened To...

Erik Estrada?

Estrada, whose claim to fame came via the role of Francis "Ponch" Poncherello in the hit TV series "CHIPs" from 1977-83, was in Muncie, Ind., last week, training to keep up the reserve police officer status he earned as part of the canceled CBS reality show "Armed & Famous."

Estrada is also helping with the Muncie Police Department's annual "Shop with a Cop" charity event at local retail stores. On Saturday, he was in the local Target signing autographs.

Estrada, 58, served as the grand marshall for the Krewe of Rio Mardi Gras earlier this year and in April received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In July, he threw out the first pitch at a Seattle Mariners game, entering the ballpark on a motorcycle.

Estrada is married to Nanette Mirkowich and has a daughter, Francesca.

Since making his acting debut in the 1970 movie "The Cross and the Switchblade," Estrada has appeared in more than 40 movies, but is most recognized for his TV work.

Besides "CHIPs," Estrada did some part-time work on "Hawaii Five-O," "Emergency!," Kojak," "Mannix," Medical Center," "Police Woman," The Six Million Dollar Man," Barretta" and "Barnaby Jones," among others.

In 2004, Estrada joined the cast of VH1's reality series "The Surreal Life," which included former evangelist Tammy Faye, rapper Vanilla Ice and porn star Ron Jeremy.

Whatever Happened To...

Manute Bol?

Bol, at one point the tallest player to ever compete in the NBA, turns 45 tomorrow.

Bol, who lives in Olathe, Kan., is 7 feet, 7 inches. Most recently, he was involved in the Sudan Freedom Walk, a three-week march from the United Nations building in New York to the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.

In the NBA, Bol was known primarily for his shot-blocking ability. In his rookie season with the Washington Bullets, Bol blocked 397 shots, a rookie record.

In 1987, the Bullets drafted the 5-foot-3 Muggsy Bogues (with Bol, in photo), pairing the tallest and shortest players in the league for one season.

Bol is the only NBA player to have more blocked shots than points scored in his career.

Whatever Happened To...

Lorena Bobbitt?

She's now Lorena Gallo and is a hairstylist in Ashburn, Va., reverting to her maiden name after she and her husband, John Wayne, divorced in 1995.

Gallo's "claim to fame" was severing her husband's penis with a kitchen knife while he lay sleeping in June, 1993.

According to the Internet Movie Database (IMD), Gallo and John Wayne Bobbitt reunited last year to star in a made-for-TV documentary called "Chopped Off: The Man Who Lost His Penis." The documentary, which also features porn star Ron Jeremy, was released in the UK.

Gallo is 37.

Whatever Happened to...

Pete Best?

Best, the original drummer for the Beatles, will be kicking off a fall tour on Sept. 28 at the Point Breeze in Webster, Mass.  If you live in the Boston area, Best will be playing the Sit 'n Bull Pub in Maynard on Oct. 8.

The band, which has been together since 1988 and changes lineups from time to time, is available for bookings through Splash Management, based in Liverpool, London.

Best and his band play a 90-minute set of early Beatles songs, reflective of the early '60s club sound of Liverpool and Hamburg, Germany.

Best, now 65, is married to Kathy with two daughters, Buba and Bonita.

In 1962, producer George Martin told Beatles manager Brian Epstein that the Beatles were good enough to earn a recording contract, but only if Best was replaced. Martin simply did not like Best's drumming. Ringo Starr joined the band and the Beatles went on to legendary status.

Whatever Happened To...

Tommy Tutone?

During the summer of 1982, you couldn't go anywhere without hearing "867-5309/Jenny," the single from the band Tommy Tutone. Because they were mostly a one-hit wonder, most people thought Tommy Tutone was the name of a solo artist.

The band's lead singer, Tommy Heath, 51, has gotten the band back together and they've recently signed a recording contract with Spectra Records. Heath has been gainfully employed as a software engineer and is a father of three daughters.

The band is playing a blend of corporate shows and outdoor festivals this summer, with a gig in Las Vegas next up on Aug. 27. A new album, the band's first in 24 years, is due out sometime this summer.

Whatever Happened to...

Don Kirshner?

The former pop publisher and rock producer is living in Boca Raton, Fla.

Last month he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and received the Abe Olman Publisher Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Music Industry.

In 2002, Kirshner started an Internet music project after nearly 20 years of retirement. The result was a small cap company called Kirshner International, which quietly went public. Kirshner is currently looking at a Las Vegas hotel branding proposition.

Kirshner, 73, is known for providing the hit-worthy songs for the Monkees, which led to the success of the TV series, and the Archies. He also discovered and produced the '70s rock band Kansas.

But perhaps Kirshner's greatest accomplishment was the creation of "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert," which was a weekly staple on national TV from 1972-1983. Many in the music industry consider Kirshner's efforts to be the predecessor to MTV.

According to a published report, Kirshner was upset about his exclusion in "Beyond the Sea," the Bobby Darin biography starring Kevin Spacey. Kirshner, after all, helped Darin get his first recording contract and even hosted Darin's wedding to Sandra Dee in his New Jersey apartment.

Besides Darin,  Kirshner was influential in the careers of Neil Diamond and Carole King.

What Ever Happened To...

Donnie Most?

Best known for his role as Ralph Malph on the '70s TV show "Happy Days," Most lives outside of Los Angeles with his wife, actress Morgan Hart, and two daughters.

Most met Hart on the "Happy Days" set in 1980. They recently celebrated their silver wedding anniversary.

Most is currently in production with a film called "The Great Buck Howard," starring Tom Hanks and John Malkovich. Most plays a TV producer. The shooting is taking place in Las Vegas.

Most recently had a film role in "Planting Melvin," released in 2005. He also appeared in 1999's "Edtv."

TV appearances include "CHiPs," "The Love Boat," "Sliders" "Charles in Charge," "Baywatch" and "Star Trek: Voyager," among others. He also made an animated appearance on "Family Guy."

Most, 53, attended Lehigh University but decided to spend the summer before his senior year in Los Angeles, where he earned a bit part on TV shows "Emergency!" and "Room 222." He didn't return to college.

Whatever Happened To...

Tammy Faye Bakker?

Well, now she's simply Tammy Faye, after divorcing convicted felon Jim Bakker in 1992.

Faye was a guest by phone on "Larry King Live"  in December and said she was receiving hospice care in her home. Her son,  Jay, revealed that his mother's weight was down to 68 pounds. Most recently, last month, she posted a letter on her web site that briefly discusses her current state.

In 2005, she appeared in an infomercial for controversial medicinal advice author Kevin Trudeau, an appearance she later admitted she regretted.

In 2004, she appeared on the reality show "The Surreal Life" with porn star Ron Jeremy, rapper Vanilla Ice and "CHIPs" actor Erik Estrada.

Faye, 65, is best known for being the wife of disgraced televangelist Bakker. Heavy mascara and false eyelashes were her trademark.