Thank you, Alex, for the video link today!

It’s nice to have a new article show up of something that Bea has currently done, two years after her passing. With help from her son, Matthew Saks, Bea has donated $25,000 gift to an AIDS organization in California. To read more, click here.
Update :: Click here to read about even more gifts from Bea that you may not have known about!

A nice find by Bea fan Alex… thought I would share it with the rest of you too!

Kev!
KevinBuckstiegel.com

In remembering the good that Bea did throughout her life, The Art Attack Foundation has an auction with items from Bea and many others. Dan Watt, Bea’s personal assistant, has also donated some Holiday Cards that were sent to him from Bea, Betty, and Rue along with other items.

Check it out and help out!

www.artattackfoundation.org

Thanks as always!
Kev!
KevinBuckstiegel.com

This isn’t much of a surprise to people that have followed Bea’s life closely, but understandably so, most people haven’t beyond The Golden Girls. So, when this news broke today, it was quite the talk of the town (interwebs). What is fascinating about this article is the new images of Bea and documents from the era. A definite must see and keeper!

Visit here and enjoy! The Smoking Gun :: Bea Arthur Was A Truck-Driving Marine

Until next time!
Kev!
KevinBuckstiegel.com

I don’t know about you, but in addition to collecting Bea Arthur anythings, I also collect comic books. Who would have guessed that one day both would come together!

“PETA has joined forces with Bluewater Productions to give fans an eerie surprise on the back cover of Betty White’s comic book debut, ‘Female Force: Betty White.’ White’s late ‘Golden Girls’ co-star Bea Arthur glares disapprovingly from a controversial PSA warning readers about the slaughter practices of McDonald’s.” (source PopEater)

Additional reads on this :: DigitalSpy, BlueWater

Pre-order today! ::
Female Force: Betty White

Until next time,
Kev!
KevinBuckstiegel.com

Sad news today, Rue McClanahan, whom I knew had been sick recently, passed away from a massive stroke. I was really hoping just a year ago that I would be seeing her in her own one woman show right here in Chicago! She was talking about this event of her book, My First Five Husbands being turned into a theatre show at a Chicago Theatre gala that I was lucky enough to attend last year in May. Everyone was speculating that she would play herself, if all the contracts agreed, that is.

I was then lucky enough to kneel by her chair where she was sitting and talk with her for a while. She asked more questions about me then I could of her which I felt was very sweet and kind. I had met her 2 years prior at a book signing, but failed to mention that as I was so tongue tied at the time, all I said was ‘it is such a pleasure to meet you’. So, getting the chance to meet her a second time and talk in a more intimate space was a dream!

We’ve been missing Estelle and Bea for quite some time, now we have to add Rue to that lineup. I’ve been watching more Maude lately then anything and Rue’s participation in that show made it the one of a kind that it is known for. Rue and Bea had a special connection in life and we get to enjoy it on screen!

Miss you all.

Kev!
BeatriceArthur.com

We approach what would have been Bea’s 88th birthday tomorrow. However, just by clicking through the television Bea is still celebrated daily… hourly even! Just within the past 24 hours I saw, Maude on MeTV (yes shows outside of season 1), Biography channel’s 2006 biography of Bea, Golden Girls on multiple channels, and with a little given time random showings of Malcam in the Middle and Futurama to name just a few will be showing shortly.

Thanks to Betty White’s recent resurge into pop culture, Bea has also been more on the people’s minds lately. I’m personally so excited for Betty and I’m sure Bea would be too. Win Win.

Happy Birthday Bea! May 13 will always be sketched into our minds forever!

Kev!

Alaina Reed Hall and Bea Arthur were honored posthumously with Infinity Awards at the A Women’s Theatre Festival. Hall’s husband and Arthur’s son were on hand to accept. Read more here!

Happy New Year!

It’s weird thinking about 2010. I already know that there won’t be any chance that I will get to surprise all of you with a new date, time and venue that Bea would be appearing at. Though I haven’t had the fortune of doing that in a while, she always managed to surprise us and every year I never gave up hope. That being said, we now have many years of her materials to sift through. Therefore, I declare, 2010 is the year to review the legacy of Bea Arthur.

I can’t think of a better way to start reviewing her life other then reading the words from a lucky guy that got to spend the last 6 years of his life with Bea. Not just for an occasional event here and there, but as her everyday personal assistant and eventual close friend. Click here, to read some of Dan Watt’s personal stories and what exciting project he has been working on (which he kicked off with Bea, herself!).

On another note, this web site turns 10 years old next month! I never would have imagined all that would have come out of this web site back then, but am so thankful for all the fans that I have met and special opportunities that I have received from it.

As always, keep your fingers crossed in hopes of some new media releases this year. ie. Maude Season 2 – 6 and Bea Arthur on Broadway on DVD or 3-D Blu-ray

Until next time!
Kev!
{ Kevin Buckstiegel }