October 4, 2025 • 31 mins
In this very special Golden Spotlight edition of Christmas MuVies Spotlight, we are honored to sit down with the legendary Ellen Travolta. From her unforgettable roles in film and television to her recent work in heartfelt holiday movies, Ellen shares stories from her extraordinary career, her love for the craft, and what continues to inspire her today. Ellen also talks about her role in the brand-new Hallmark Channel movie, Haul Out the Halloween, premiering Saturday, October 11, 2025. 🎃✨ Join hosts Pam and Dawn for this warm, nostalgic, and joy-filled conversation with one of Hollywood’s most beloved talents. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss!
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Orchestral Funny | Christmas Time by Alex-Productions |
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Hello, and welcome to the special edition of Christmas Sue Spotlight.
And we're hauling out and you're just gonna have to
wait to find out who we're hauling out for this
extra special episode. I'm your host, Don Mac and I'm
(00:41):
here with my friend and colleague and co host Pam. Hey, Pam,
how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
I am so beyond excited. I can't even stand myself.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
How are you great?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
I've got a pretty good idea why you're so excited,
but just to humor me. Is it about what I
think it's about? Or is it are you excited for
something else and I'm not aware? Oh, hold on before
you answer, hold on before you answer. You're excited because
the holiday season is right around the corner, and you
(01:17):
were over your need to say, by humbug it every
turn right? Did I get it right? Did I get
it right? Do I get a prize?
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Do I need to pinch you and wake you up?
Or something?
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Well? You could always send me those Grinch pajamas that
you told me about, or two again.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
The day one of these days is gonna be on
your O.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
I know I'm gonna go to my.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Door and it's gonna be It's not even gonna be Pj's.
It's gonna be a twenty foot by humbug dude.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I mean the Grinch is coming for you.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Okay, I totally am taking it back then, I totally.
I just just forget I said anything, and we'll just
go with the first idea that I had about why
you might be excited for today or just excited in general.
I say, it's for today, and so do we do?
(02:18):
We do? We do? We talk about it? Do we do?
Speaker 4 (02:20):
We?
Speaker 1 (02:21):
I'm excited. Now you've got me excited about I'm so
we're excited about the same thing.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Of course we are, of course, So you better get
to it before these people want to strangle us for
letting well you know.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
It is the Halloween season, right, yes, Well, just to
cut the banter and to get to the point, Pam
and I are very excited today because we had a
once in a lifetime opportunity to interview someone who has
been in show business for probably what sixty years? Pam,
would you say or close to it?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
I we're somewhere were there? Yes?
Speaker 1 (02:59):
He has on her list of credits of work that
she has done between movies, television, and the light is
just unbelievable. And when I tell you who we interviewed
in a second, you're gonna go, oh my gosh, like
we did, it'll be a wow moment. But I am
(03:19):
talking about the incredibly talent, legendary icon Ellen Travolta and
what an interview that was. And if you're wondering why
we kind of started off our show with the whole eeries,
is because she's gonna be in a Halloween movie this year.
And I'm gonna let Pam tell you more about that
in a second. But we are so excited, Like you know,
(03:42):
it's our time of year, folks, as it is for many.
But yes, she's also been in two previous Christmas movies
on homemark and her body of work is just incredible.
But we were just over the moon. I don't think
we've gotten over the idea that we've interviewed her yet.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
It Yeah, if you could see us when we get
a response of yes from somebody as incredible. Don't get
me wrong, We're excited about every guest we bring on here,
every single one of them.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
We always want to bring on our favorites and your favorites.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
But when you have somebody that's been in the business
for as long as Ellen has. There's just something extra
special about that. And when they as busy as they are,
and she's busy all the time, plus they have a
personal life.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
When they commit to do.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
An interview with you, I mean, come on, if you're
not dancing for the room and screaming from the rooftop,
there's something wrong. But yeah, yeah, I'm just like wow.
But Alan starves in Hallmarks holiday movie this year, haul
Out the Halloween.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Now does that sound familiar to you? That's because you
did haul Out the Holly two. So this year they're
doing haul Out the Halloween.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And I believe that errors on October eleventh, wasn't it.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
I think that's correct.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yes, yes, So you guys are gonna love this.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
And you know October is just right around the corner, folks.
I mean it's just a mere short couple of week
week or so away, and so you know what that
means when we get into October. Bring it on, Bring
it on. But we're gonna bring this to you now.
We are so excited and incredibly honored to bring you
our interview with Ellen Travalta.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Enjoy the show.
Speaker 5 (05:58):
Hi, This is Ellen for Bolta and you're listening to
Pam and Don.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
So Ellen, and thank you so much for calling in
to speak with us today. We truly, truly are honored
and we appreciate it so much.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Well, you are very very welcome.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
I'm going to go ahead and start with this first
question and the rest will come. An answer you get
worth reducing or will it be? Oh well, that was nice.
Having grown up in a family so connected to the
entertainment industry, did that help you decide whether or not
you wanted to be an actress.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
My mom was an acting teacher and she was part
of the community's theater world, so we She would read
us plays at nighttime rather than bedtime stories, so we
were involved in the theater world. From Bertha on. I
kicked it off, I did you know. All through high
(07:03):
school and junior I did plays. I went to Carnegie Mellon,
and then I got out of there and I started
in New York and I did musicals, and then that
developed later into time off with my kids, and then television.
John came along also, I mean the last one, he's
the baby. They all followed suit. Everybody kind of followed
(07:26):
my lead, and they all ended up in the business
John being the baby.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
That is just remarkable, and you know your career really
speaks to.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
That as well.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
And you know, and having said that, if you could
go back and give your younger self one piece of
advice before your first big audition, what would it be?
Speaker 5 (07:53):
Take your time and think.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
That's very advice.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
That is I think that could that could be advice
in anything, not just an audition, but in any way
part of life where you're making decisions.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Right, I believe that you need to stay in prison
time and that's hard to do because you're worried about
what happened yesterday and you're hoping that this will be
a better time, a better audition, or for whatever reason.
And then that kind of takes you off the mark
and you're not really concentrating and you're not listening. And
that's that's the biggest thing that all that anxiety are getting,
(08:34):
you know, upset or nervous. You stop thinking and you
stop listening.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Yeah, that's tructly Well.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
You know, we spoke, you know, a couple of days
ago in Sack, and I mentioned to you that we're
big fans and you have a huge fan base for
your role as Gloria on General Hospital. All just had
roll come about and what message would you like to
give the General Hospital fans.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
Well, I'm going to tell you what's interesting is I
did what they call a back door pilot for Charles
in Charge. And it was a sister of Charles's mother
and she owned a car wash. Someone from General Hospital
saw that and hired me to play Glorious Crillo opposite
(09:27):
Rina Sofa. That's how I got the job. We did
from ninety four till I think it was ninety four
till ninety six or seven, and then Rena left the
show and then I was off. Thirty five years later,
almost like to the day, Rena called me and said, Ellen,
(09:50):
they want me back on General Hospital. And I said,
I want Ellen to come back. And I said, oh,
that's so lovely of you to say that. What your dog?
A week later they called me and so for the
last two years I've been reoccurring, and so I flied
down and I do a few episodes, but and it
(10:10):
has been great. And when we started, Rena was twenty
five and I was fifty five. Now Rena's fifty five
and I'm eighty five.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Wow, Oh that's amazing.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
And Rena is a lovely, lovely person.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Oh, I love her and I love General Hospital and
the fans. They're really wonderfuy. It was on a cruise
last year and people kept saying, excuse me, do you
play Magen at the Lutheran church in Des Moines. I said, no,
I don't, and then the next one would say, you know,
I know you from Bingo. Well they finally realized that
(10:49):
they knew they knew me from I did all those things,
but not with them I did. I didn't at all.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Well, you definitely need to come back to Tour hospital
and make up what everybody since I know.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Is a little upset.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
I know she is. She was very mean to her
mother and her grandmother. But I don't know what happened.
We'll see, you know, it depends on where the storylines
are and what they want to continue. And uh, you know,
Rina moved to New York State and she and her
husband are are to have a dog refuge and this
(11:34):
is only in the last months that happened, so she'll
have to commute in and then I have to continue
to commute, and so I don't know how that'll all work,
but I you know, if it's what they want girls,
they'll make it work.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Absolutely. You know, Pam and I we have always admired
you no matter what role you're playing. And you've had
had such a rich career across television, film and stage.
And what role do you feel define you the most?
Speaker 3 (12:07):
And why?
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Huh? Well, you know, there's a couple of them. But
you know, I I think when I watch now, when
I watch Charles in Charge and I watch the way
she is with Charles, it's so much of who I am.
Let me do it for you. You know, I'm a
(12:30):
I'm a little bit of it and what's that word, uh,
an enabler that comes out. I'm a lot of fun,
but I am a bit of an enabler. And also
I like to get my hit my finger in things.
I like to you know, I like to know what's
going on. So I think that that and also Glory,
(12:50):
those two roles. You know, there's a little meat of
me and all of them. You know. Back with God,
I did three series with with Star one of the
Happy Days and the spinoff. So I think I used
to tell my kids there are two main types that
I played, the old Fishes instructor or lawyer or the
(13:17):
loving mom who lets everybody get away with everything.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
I mean there's been deviations from that on you know
and other things, but mostly in television. The way they
wanted things at that time. They wanted warm, mother, funny, silly,
uh uh, and and you know, and lots and lots
of fun. So I think I think probably an on
(13:45):
stage Dolly Hello, Dolly wan I did that that was
probably very close to me in life.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Yeah, I love all of those. Every single show that
you've been on of watching and as like Welcome Back
Hotter and that, I think I saw you.
Speaker 5 (14:05):
Well yeah, well but that that and you know the
interesting story about that, and I will tell you how
John and I have our lives even though we're fifteen
years apart. We've come in and run into the people.
At the oddest time he was doing Cotter. I was
(14:26):
at that time. I had been retired having my babies,
and he called me one day. He said, he said,
I want to know Jules and Jerry were now. I said,
I said, oh my gosh, they were in the chorus
of Gypsy years ago when I was with Merman and
they He said, well, they're writing they write Welcome By Cotter.
(14:49):
I said, no, kidding, two weeks later he called me.
He said, do you want to go back to work?
I said, well, he said, they want to write you
in as what's his names or corsehas Mother? I said,
oh my god, I went. I tested three times because
they wanted Doris Roberts, the network and Jimmy at that time,
(15:11):
the producers and the writers. They really went out on
a limb because I had no TVQ, I hadn't done
anything yet, and they went out on a limb and
they held out for me. So that's how I got
on to Cutter. But all those years later, those kids
that were babies you know when we did Gypsy, had
(15:34):
married and now were writers.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Yeah, is what it is.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I was just gonna say. They always said a small world,
and you you get it every single time when you
talk to somebody about something like that in life.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
And here we are again. So I just love that.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Well, as a season actress, what surprised you the most
about being on a soap proper versus that you the
series are a movie?
Speaker 5 (16:03):
Oh have the speed, the speed at which it goes.
You get on there. You gotta know your lines and
you do it in one I thought it was like
a rehearsal. Now we're dumb, We're out of here. We're
moving on. They move They do a show a day
a lot that's an hour. Normally in movies they do
(16:23):
two pages a day, three maybe in a sitcom a
half hour, which is really twenty minutes. They do it
in front of a live audience, and it you know,
it's it's a different it's a different animal. But soap
opera is it's hard. If you can pull it off
(16:46):
in soap opera, you can really do you know a lot.
When I do Hallmark, Now, when I do those movies,
it's more like a movie movie. Well it is a
movie movie and it and they're are quicker because they
put out so many movies. You know, they're faster than
a big studio movie. But they they're compared to compared
(17:11):
to soap opera, it's a day in the I mean,
it's just we have all the time in the world.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Well, speaking of movies and Hallmark, we absolutely loved you
and haul Out the Holly Wanting two. And when we
found out that Hallmark was coming out with Haulout the
Halloween movie, because it's been a while since they put
out a Halloween or a hall Themes movie, and we
were elated and realizing that you were back going to
(17:38):
be in this movie as well. What can you tell
us about this sequel without giving too much away, We'll
not the sequel, but about the Halloween edition of Hauwout
without giving us too much.
Speaker 5 (17:49):
It's well, I can tell you this. It's the same cast,
Melissa Peterman, Lazy Oh, Tabolenski, Uh, what's the same West Brown,
Eliza Mayer. With that group, there's five of us that
(18:09):
have done all the three the three movies, and it's
the same set. I mean, it's in the same cul
de Sac, but decorated for Halloween rather than for Christmas.
So it kind of feels like a series in a
way because we're and I'm very good friends with the
girls and with Stephen and West. But more I see
the girls more, we become like a tiny family. You know,
(18:35):
we're very close, so we stay in touch and then
we get to do We've done three, the third one
and it's it's really it's very colorful, and you know
we have the young girl. Now I'm gonna live now
my age will show. Okay, Halloween Town. Do you remember
(18:55):
Halloween Town? I don't heard about it. Well, there's a
young girl that's from Halloween Towns. It's a huge following.
She was our guests, she and her husband who was
also on Halloween town so it right away it encompassed
(19:16):
a whole other audience. And Halloween has become so huge
that boy is this is a big show with the
incredible decorations. I mean, they always go the limit, but
this one seems to be just really over the top.
Lots of surprises.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
And I can't and we.
Speaker 5 (19:39):
Entertain and we have a show, but it's just and
and and there's a n I could probably say this,
or maybe I shouldn't. I don't know.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
Is it a lazy and West get married at the
way they're married in this episode, and they've taken over.
She's moved out of her folks house into Wes's house
and the folks have moved back. Are there, you know,
for the holiday season. And it's very very funny and
(20:12):
silly and fun to watch.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Oh, absolutely my kind of movie. And Don's as well.
I mean, we're all about the holiday movies. And when
you bring the comedy in on the romance in it's perfect.
And then a little bit of Halloween or a little
bit of Christmas or something. Yeah, we're there.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
Well, now tell me. Let me ask you girls a question. Now,
are you friends for a long time?
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Yeah, yeah, what fifteen years or more?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Fifteen and Ellen. The interesting part of our friendship is
we have never met in person. We met on the
internet years ago. She was doing her own podcast, I
was doing a podcast. I started listening to her podcast.
I'm a fan of what she was doing, and somewhere
along the way we just started talking off air and
became great friends. And so it is blossomed into this
(21:09):
wonderful friendship that we've had. I'm in North Carolina, she's
in Chicago, So.
Speaker 5 (21:14):
I can tell you. Yeah, I could tell your accent
that you were a Southern girl. Yeah, but I didn't
know if you Yeah, I didn't know if you. You know,
just had an accent and lived in Chicago. But you don't.
You do it from north So you're East Coast time,
right exactly. You're a Chicago time and I'm we're three
(21:36):
hours apart, right, is that right?
Speaker 4 (21:41):
So that's three different time zones? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (21:44):
How do you how do you decide what time you
show will go on? When? How do you decide when
to interview people.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
We interview people when they are available to be interviewed,
and we we adapt our schedule accordingly, you know, to comminate,
because we know how busy you all are and we
want to be able to interview you at whenever you're available,
and so far it's worked really well. We're in our
sixth season of the show, so wow.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
Good for you. And do you where does it air?
I know it's hard iHeart Can you put iHeart up?
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Yes? iHeart fotify ituned or Apple podcasts whatever they call
it these days.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
You know, like all of the.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Streaming is so you can pretty much find it anywhere.
All you have to look for it is Christmas Movie
Spotlight or you can also find it Undertake You Radio
because that's like the Christmas movie Spotlight is like the
umbrella of the show.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
So I'll take You Radio. Do you ask for over
twelve years?
Speaker 5 (22:51):
Don't? Do you only do it at Christmas? Yep?
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Oh yeah, we are.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
We are a Christmas podcast that we our episodes.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Our previous episodes.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Are out there or anyone to listen any time of year,
and we we promote this heavily during the holiday season.
But you know, we have done other interviews that are
not seasonal, you know, with other actors and artists and
so forth, and and that's always a lot of fun too,
you know, but we we absolutely love it. But it's
a lot of fun. We've met a lot of people
(23:23):
through the years too, well.
Speaker 5 (23:25):
You you know, I'm a Christmas nut, I am. And
I started watching a Homemark the year my husband passed away.
And there was a black cat outside that he always
used to take care of. It was a you know,
a wildcat. It didn't have a home. It just when
when my husband died, I brought the cat in and
(23:46):
he would sit with me at night and we'd watch Hallmark.
I have never watched I knew Hallmark, but I'd never
watched all the Christmas movies. I watched them night and day.
I got just you know, and my bucket list was
I just I just want to do two lines, that's
all two lines on a Christmas Hallmark. And do you
(24:10):
know it took me eight years or six years. My
agent said, Bobby, I don't know, I can't get I
can't get a hold of Hallmark is very hard to
get onto. It was Johnny's manager, Randy Michelle that called
Hallmark and said Ellen Travolta wants to do your show.
(24:32):
And then that's what started it. And I started with
just a couple of lines and the director and this
is a cute story that I've never told, and this
would be a good one for your Christmas. He called
me and McLain nelson and he said, Hi, my name
is McClain nelson and I'm the director of your show.
He said, I had been a fan of yours with
(24:55):
since I was nine years old. And he said, there's
no way you're just going to do two lines. I
am writing more for you. So he was pumped up
my part, and then I did the next one, and
then they asked me for the next one. So it
has turned out to be a bucket list that's come
(25:16):
true full circle.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
I absolutely love that. I mean, you have more fans
in higher places and lower places and maybe places that
you probably could imagine.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
I know, it's always a surprise. It is always a
surprise for someone to stop me because you know I'm
older now and saya, wait a minute, or didn't you
or aren't you? Or so that's lovely and what a
nice gift to have at this time in my life
doing General Hospital and doing doing the Hallmark And I
(25:52):
appreciate you girls calling me, and I'd love that you.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
All right, Well, between all of your Christmas and Halloween movies,
which character would throw the best holiday party?
Speaker 3 (26:05):
And what would be on the menu?
Speaker 5 (26:08):
So probably she would have I think that she would have, uh,
let's say, for the appetizer, onion dip. You know that's
dating me. That's definitely I would have that, and probably
I would do I would do a turkey and I
would make my my very uh special dressing that is
(26:33):
made with sausage and cornbread. It's wonderful. And I make
really good gravy and I add cream and mushroom soup
to my gravy. I learned about that in North Carolina.
And you put that in your grave and all that stuff,
and and and for dessert, the pilot nothing, you know,
(26:55):
I think I'm pretty traditional. And the or anything that
would dp me would be the onion dip. You put
the sour cream in the onion souping.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
It all sounds absolutely delicious. I would eat it, yes,
for sure. And I love tradition as well. And speaking
of before we wrap, Ellen, we've got one little fun
thing we like to do. It's called the Lightning Round.
There's no wrong answers. It's just kind of a you know,
kind of a one off. It's a question and then
(27:29):
you just give an answer, and it's all Christmas related,
of course. Oh, here we go. So the first one
is your favorite Christmas tradition, singing Christmas carols, Christmas Eve?
Speaker 1 (27:43):
All right?
Speaker 4 (27:44):
What is your favorite Christmas song?
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Oh, chest that's open the Christmas song chess on an
open fire. Oh, and the Christmas Wolfs, both of them.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Oh yeah, that's a great that's a great one. And
what is your favorite Christmas movie?
Speaker 5 (28:03):
Oh? Huh oh oh. I love Santa Clause the movie
and that was the animated Reindeer. And I knew the
man who played I can't think of this name right now,
the star of that movie, but he played Santa, and
I thought that the deer were real. And I remember
(28:24):
David Huddleston plays Santa, calling him and I said, David,
are those reindeer real? He said, do you want them
to be real? I said, yes, They're they're real.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
Okay, all right, say, oh that's a that's wonderful. I'm
gonna have to look that one up and watch it.
It's man, it's Christmas is whatever you want it to be, right,
it's it's it's such a beautiful time of year for
so many reasons. All right, hot Toddie or hot chocolate,
(28:58):
hot Toddy?
Speaker 1 (29:00):
All right?
Speaker 4 (29:01):
And last but not late, white lights are colored.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
Lights, light lights, And I love the white lights. But
then my little grandson said to me, Gigi, don't you
have anything colorful?
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (29:18):
But how I do? I love the but I keep
the white lights outside on my trees. I keep them on,
and then in the summer they come on when wet outside.
And I love the white light, but I like the
colored ones too.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
But white lights, Yeah, the white lights, there's something I guess.
It just reminds you of the stars in the sky
and when you see them, even all you're around. I mean,
just put the smile on your face, you know, true.
So either way you.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Can't go wrong.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
So right, Well, I want to thank you again, John
and I both we enjoyed our time with you. We
willcome you back anytime. We look forward to your Hello,
Alcoholoween movie and everything else that you have coming up. Well, well,
it's hello, Frank. We need Gloria back on General Hospital.
Speaker 5 (30:17):
Just write a lot, write a lot of letters. Just
write a lot of letters. Girls. You you're both lovely
and it was a it was fun and an honor
to be on your show.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
So thank you, thank you.
Speaker 6 (30:31):
All right, have a good one, good day, all right,
bye bye bye bye.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
Thank you so much for tuning in to our latest
episode of Christmas Movie Spotlight. Don't forget. You can find
our podcast on iHeartRadio, Spotify, iTunes, Spreaker, and more. Just
search Christmas Movie Spotlight spelled m U v i e N.
Speaker 7 (31:00):
For even more, visit us online at christmasmoviespotlight dot com.
Follow us on our social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram.
Follow at Christmas Movie Spotlight and on X Follow us
at Christmas Movies, which would be X M A S
m U v i e S. Until next time, stay
merry and we'll see you again real soon
Hello, and welcome to the special edition of Christmas Sue Spotlight.
And we're hauling out and you're just gonna have to
wait to find out who we're hauling out for this
extra special episode. I'm your host, Don Mac and I'm
(00:41):
here with my friend and colleague and co host Pam. Hey, Pam,
how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
I am so beyond excited. I can't even stand myself.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
How are you great?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
I've got a pretty good idea why you're so excited,
but just to humor me. Is it about what I
think it's about? Or is it are you excited for
something else and I'm not aware? Oh, hold on before
you answer, hold on before you answer. You're excited because
the holiday season is right around the corner, and you
(01:17):
were over your need to say, by humbug it every
turn right? Did I get it right? Did I get
it right? Do I get a prize?
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Do I need to pinch you and wake you up?
Or something?
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Well? You could always send me those Grinch pajamas that
you told me about, or two again.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
The day one of these days is gonna be on
your O.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
I know I'm gonna go to my.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Door and it's gonna be It's not even gonna be Pj's.
It's gonna be a twenty foot by humbug dude.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I mean the Grinch is coming for you.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Okay, I totally am taking it back then, I totally.
I just just forget I said anything, and we'll just
go with the first idea that I had about why
you might be excited for today or just excited in general.
I say, it's for today, and so do we do?
(02:18):
We do? We do? We talk about it? Do we do?
Speaker 4 (02:20):
We?
Speaker 1 (02:21):
I'm excited. Now you've got me excited about I'm so
we're excited about the same thing.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Of course we are, of course, So you better get
to it before these people want to strangle us for
letting well you know.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
It is the Halloween season, right, yes, Well, just to
cut the banter and to get to the point, Pam
and I are very excited today because we had a
once in a lifetime opportunity to interview someone who has
been in show business for probably what sixty years? Pam,
would you say or close to it?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
I we're somewhere were there? Yes?
Speaker 1 (02:59):
He has on her list of credits of work that
she has done between movies, television, and the light is
just unbelievable. And when I tell you who we interviewed
in a second, you're gonna go, oh my gosh, like
we did, it'll be a wow moment. But I am
(03:19):
talking about the incredibly talent, legendary icon Ellen Travolta and
what an interview that was. And if you're wondering why
we kind of started off our show with the whole eeries,
is because she's gonna be in a Halloween movie this year.
And I'm gonna let Pam tell you more about that
in a second. But we are so excited, Like you know,
(03:42):
it's our time of year, folks, as it is for many.
But yes, she's also been in two previous Christmas movies
on homemark and her body of work is just incredible.
But we were just over the moon. I don't think
we've gotten over the idea that we've interviewed her yet.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
It Yeah, if you could see us when we get
a response of yes from somebody as incredible. Don't get
me wrong, We're excited about every guest we bring on here,
every single one of them.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
We always want to bring on our favorites and your favorites.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
But when you have somebody that's been in the business
for as long as Ellen has. There's just something extra
special about that. And when they as busy as they are,
and she's busy all the time, plus they have a
personal life.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
When they commit to do.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
An interview with you, I mean, come on, if you're
not dancing for the room and screaming from the rooftop,
there's something wrong. But yeah, yeah, I'm just like wow.
But Alan starves in Hallmarks holiday movie this year, haul
Out the Halloween.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Now does that sound familiar to you? That's because you
did haul Out the Holly two. So this year they're
doing haul Out the Halloween.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And I believe that errors on October eleventh, wasn't it.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
I think that's correct.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yes, yes, So you guys are gonna love this.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
And you know October is just right around the corner, folks.
I mean it's just a mere short couple of week
week or so away, and so you know what that
means when we get into October. Bring it on, Bring
it on. But we're gonna bring this to you now.
We are so excited and incredibly honored to bring you
our interview with Ellen Travalta.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Enjoy the show.
Speaker 5 (05:58):
Hi, This is Ellen for Bolta and you're listening to
Pam and Don.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
So Ellen, and thank you so much for calling in
to speak with us today. We truly, truly are honored
and we appreciate it so much.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Well, you are very very welcome.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
I'm going to go ahead and start with this first
question and the rest will come. An answer you get
worth reducing or will it be? Oh well, that was nice.
Having grown up in a family so connected to the
entertainment industry, did that help you decide whether or not
you wanted to be an actress.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
My mom was an acting teacher and she was part
of the community's theater world, so we She would read
us plays at nighttime rather than bedtime stories, so we
were involved in the theater world. From Bertha on. I
kicked it off, I did you know. All through high
(07:03):
school and junior I did plays. I went to Carnegie Mellon,
and then I got out of there and I started
in New York and I did musicals, and then that
developed later into time off with my kids, and then television.
John came along also, I mean the last one, he's
the baby. They all followed suit. Everybody kind of followed
(07:26):
my lead, and they all ended up in the business
John being the baby.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
That is just remarkable, and you know your career really
speaks to.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
That as well.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
And you know, and having said that, if you could
go back and give your younger self one piece of
advice before your first big audition, what would it be?
Speaker 5 (07:53):
Take your time and think.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
That's very advice.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
That is I think that could that could be advice
in anything, not just an audition, but in any way
part of life where you're making decisions.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Right, I believe that you need to stay in prison
time and that's hard to do because you're worried about
what happened yesterday and you're hoping that this will be
a better time, a better audition, or for whatever reason.
And then that kind of takes you off the mark
and you're not really concentrating and you're not listening. And
that's that's the biggest thing that all that anxiety are getting,
(08:34):
you know, upset or nervous. You stop thinking and you
stop listening.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Yeah, that's tructly Well.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
You know, we spoke, you know, a couple of days
ago in Sack, and I mentioned to you that we're
big fans and you have a huge fan base for
your role as Gloria on General Hospital. All just had
roll come about and what message would you like to
give the General Hospital fans.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
Well, I'm going to tell you what's interesting is I
did what they call a back door pilot for Charles
in Charge. And it was a sister of Charles's mother
and she owned a car wash. Someone from General Hospital
saw that and hired me to play Glorious Crillo opposite
(09:27):
Rina Sofa. That's how I got the job. We did
from ninety four till I think it was ninety four
till ninety six or seven, and then Rena left the
show and then I was off. Thirty five years later,
almost like to the day, Rena called me and said, Ellen,
(09:50):
they want me back on General Hospital. And I said,
I want Ellen to come back. And I said, oh,
that's so lovely of you to say that. What your dog?
A week later they called me and so for the
last two years I've been reoccurring, and so I flied
down and I do a few episodes, but and it
(10:10):
has been great. And when we started, Rena was twenty
five and I was fifty five. Now Rena's fifty five
and I'm eighty five.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Wow, Oh that's amazing.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
And Rena is a lovely, lovely person.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Oh, I love her and I love General Hospital and
the fans. They're really wonderfuy. It was on a cruise
last year and people kept saying, excuse me, do you
play Magen at the Lutheran church in Des Moines. I said, no,
I don't, and then the next one would say, you know,
I know you from Bingo. Well they finally realized that
(10:49):
they knew they knew me from I did all those things,
but not with them I did. I didn't at all.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Well, you definitely need to come back to Tour hospital
and make up what everybody since I know.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Is a little upset.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
I know she is. She was very mean to her
mother and her grandmother. But I don't know what happened.
We'll see, you know, it depends on where the storylines
are and what they want to continue. And uh, you know,
Rina moved to New York State and she and her
husband are are to have a dog refuge and this
(11:34):
is only in the last months that happened, so she'll
have to commute in and then I have to continue
to commute, and so I don't know how that'll all work,
but I you know, if it's what they want girls,
they'll make it work.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Absolutely. You know, Pam and I we have always admired
you no matter what role you're playing. And you've had
had such a rich career across television, film and stage.
And what role do you feel define you the most?
Speaker 3 (12:07):
And why?
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Huh? Well, you know, there's a couple of them. But
you know, I I think when I watch now, when
I watch Charles in Charge and I watch the way
she is with Charles, it's so much of who I am.
Let me do it for you. You know, I'm a
(12:30):
I'm a little bit of it and what's that word, uh,
an enabler that comes out. I'm a lot of fun,
but I am a bit of an enabler. And also
I like to get my hit my finger in things.
I like to you know, I like to know what's
going on. So I think that that and also Glory,
(12:50):
those two roles. You know, there's a little meat of
me and all of them. You know. Back with God,
I did three series with with Star one of the
Happy Days and the spinoff. So I think I used
to tell my kids there are two main types that
I played, the old Fishes instructor or lawyer or the
(13:17):
loving mom who lets everybody get away with everything.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
I mean there's been deviations from that on you know
and other things, but mostly in television. The way they
wanted things at that time. They wanted warm, mother, funny, silly,
uh uh, and and you know, and lots and lots
of fun. So I think I think probably an on
(13:45):
stage Dolly Hello, Dolly wan I did that that was
probably very close to me in life.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Yeah, I love all of those. Every single show that
you've been on of watching and as like Welcome Back
Hotter and that, I think I saw you.
Speaker 5 (14:05):
Well yeah, well but that that and you know the
interesting story about that, and I will tell you how
John and I have our lives even though we're fifteen
years apart. We've come in and run into the people.
At the oddest time he was doing Cotter. I was
(14:26):
at that time. I had been retired having my babies,
and he called me one day. He said, he said,
I want to know Jules and Jerry were now. I said,
I said, oh my gosh, they were in the chorus
of Gypsy years ago when I was with Merman and
they He said, well, they're writing they write Welcome By Cotter.
(14:49):
I said, no, kidding, two weeks later he called me.
He said, do you want to go back to work?
I said, well, he said, they want to write you
in as what's his names or corsehas Mother? I said,
oh my god, I went. I tested three times because
they wanted Doris Roberts, the network and Jimmy at that time,
(15:11):
the producers and the writers. They really went out on
a limb because I had no TVQ, I hadn't done
anything yet, and they went out on a limb and
they held out for me. So that's how I got
on to Cutter. But all those years later, those kids
that were babies you know when we did Gypsy, had
(15:34):
married and now were writers.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Yeah, is what it is.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I was just gonna say. They always said a small world,
and you you get it every single time when you
talk to somebody about something like that in life.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
And here we are again. So I just love that.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Well, as a season actress, what surprised you the most
about being on a soap proper versus that you the
series are a movie?
Speaker 5 (16:03):
Oh have the speed, the speed at which it goes.
You get on there. You gotta know your lines and
you do it in one I thought it was like
a rehearsal. Now we're dumb, We're out of here. We're
moving on. They move They do a show a day
a lot that's an hour. Normally in movies they do
(16:23):
two pages a day, three maybe in a sitcom a
half hour, which is really twenty minutes. They do it
in front of a live audience, and it you know,
it's it's a different it's a different animal. But soap
opera is it's hard. If you can pull it off
(16:46):
in soap opera, you can really do you know a lot.
When I do Hallmark, Now, when I do those movies,
it's more like a movie movie. Well it is a
movie movie and it and they're are quicker because they
put out so many movies. You know, they're faster than
a big studio movie. But they they're compared to compared
(17:11):
to soap opera, it's a day in the I mean,
it's just we have all the time in the world.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Well, speaking of movies and Hallmark, we absolutely loved you
and haul Out the Holly Wanting two. And when we
found out that Hallmark was coming out with Haulout the
Halloween movie, because it's been a while since they put
out a Halloween or a hall Themes movie, and we
were elated and realizing that you were back going to
(17:38):
be in this movie as well. What can you tell
us about this sequel without giving too much away, We'll
not the sequel, but about the Halloween edition of Hauwout
without giving us too much.
Speaker 5 (17:49):
It's well, I can tell you this. It's the same cast,
Melissa Peterman, Lazy Oh, Tabolenski, Uh, what's the same West Brown,
Eliza Mayer. With that group, there's five of us that
(18:09):
have done all the three the three movies, and it's
the same set. I mean, it's in the same cul
de Sac, but decorated for Halloween rather than for Christmas.
So it kind of feels like a series in a
way because we're and I'm very good friends with the
girls and with Stephen and West. But more I see
the girls more, we become like a tiny family. You know,
(18:35):
we're very close, so we stay in touch and then
we get to do We've done three, the third one
and it's it's really it's very colorful, and you know
we have the young girl. Now I'm gonna live now
my age will show. Okay, Halloween Town. Do you remember
(18:55):
Halloween Town? I don't heard about it. Well, there's a
young girl that's from Halloween Towns. It's a huge following.
She was our guests, she and her husband who was
also on Halloween town so it right away it encompassed
(19:16):
a whole other audience. And Halloween has become so huge
that boy is this is a big show with the
incredible decorations. I mean, they always go the limit, but
this one seems to be just really over the top.
Lots of surprises.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
And I can't and we.
Speaker 5 (19:39):
Entertain and we have a show, but it's just and
and and there's a n I could probably say this,
or maybe I shouldn't. I don't know.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
Is it a lazy and West get married at the
way they're married in this episode, and they've taken over.
She's moved out of her folks house into Wes's house
and the folks have moved back. Are there, you know,
for the holiday season. And it's very very funny and
(20:12):
silly and fun to watch.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Oh, absolutely my kind of movie. And Don's as well.
I mean, we're all about the holiday movies. And when
you bring the comedy in on the romance in it's perfect.
And then a little bit of Halloween or a little
bit of Christmas or something. Yeah, we're there.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
Well, now tell me. Let me ask you girls a question. Now,
are you friends for a long time?
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Yeah, yeah, what fifteen years or more?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Fifteen and Ellen. The interesting part of our friendship is
we have never met in person. We met on the
internet years ago. She was doing her own podcast, I
was doing a podcast. I started listening to her podcast.
I'm a fan of what she was doing, and somewhere
along the way we just started talking off air and
became great friends. And so it is blossomed into this
(21:09):
wonderful friendship that we've had. I'm in North Carolina, she's
in Chicago, So.
Speaker 5 (21:14):
I can tell you. Yeah, I could tell your accent
that you were a Southern girl. Yeah, but I didn't
know if you Yeah, I didn't know if you. You know,
just had an accent and lived in Chicago. But you don't.
You do it from north So you're East Coast time,
right exactly. You're a Chicago time and I'm we're three
(21:36):
hours apart, right, is that right?
Speaker 4 (21:41):
So that's three different time zones? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (21:44):
How do you how do you decide what time you
show will go on? When? How do you decide when
to interview people.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
We interview people when they are available to be interviewed,
and we we adapt our schedule accordingly, you know, to comminate,
because we know how busy you all are and we
want to be able to interview you at whenever you're available,
and so far it's worked really well. We're in our
sixth season of the show, so wow.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
Good for you. And do you where does it air?
I know it's hard iHeart Can you put iHeart up?
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Yes? iHeart fotify ituned or Apple podcasts whatever they call
it these days.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
You know, like all of the.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Streaming is so you can pretty much find it anywhere.
All you have to look for it is Christmas Movie
Spotlight or you can also find it Undertake You Radio
because that's like the Christmas movie Spotlight is like the
umbrella of the show.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
So I'll take You Radio. Do you ask for over
twelve years?
Speaker 5 (22:51):
Don't? Do you only do it at Christmas? Yep?
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Oh yeah, we are.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
We are a Christmas podcast that we our episodes.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Our previous episodes.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Are out there or anyone to listen any time of year,
and we we promote this heavily during the holiday season.
But you know, we have done other interviews that are
not seasonal, you know, with other actors and artists and
so forth, and and that's always a lot of fun too,
you know, but we we absolutely love it. But it's
a lot of fun. We've met a lot of people
(23:23):
through the years too, well.
Speaker 5 (23:25):
You you know, I'm a Christmas nut, I am. And
I started watching a Homemark the year my husband passed away.
And there was a black cat outside that he always
used to take care of. It was a you know,
a wildcat. It didn't have a home. It just when
when my husband died, I brought the cat in and
(23:46):
he would sit with me at night and we'd watch Hallmark.
I have never watched I knew Hallmark, but I'd never
watched all the Christmas movies. I watched them night and day.
I got just you know, and my bucket list was
I just I just want to do two lines, that's
all two lines on a Christmas Hallmark. And do you
(24:10):
know it took me eight years or six years. My
agent said, Bobby, I don't know, I can't get I
can't get a hold of Hallmark is very hard to
get onto. It was Johnny's manager, Randy Michelle that called
Hallmark and said Ellen Travolta wants to do your show.
(24:32):
And then that's what started it. And I started with
just a couple of lines and the director and this
is a cute story that I've never told, and this
would be a good one for your Christmas. He called
me and McLain nelson and he said, Hi, my name
is McClain nelson and I'm the director of your show.
He said, I had been a fan of yours with
(24:55):
since I was nine years old. And he said, there's
no way you're just going to do two lines. I
am writing more for you. So he was pumped up
my part, and then I did the next one, and
then they asked me for the next one. So it
has turned out to be a bucket list that's come
(25:16):
true full circle.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
I absolutely love that. I mean, you have more fans
in higher places and lower places and maybe places that
you probably could imagine.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
I know, it's always a surprise. It is always a
surprise for someone to stop me because you know I'm
older now and saya, wait a minute, or didn't you
or aren't you? Or so that's lovely and what a
nice gift to have at this time in my life
doing General Hospital and doing doing the Hallmark And I
(25:52):
appreciate you girls calling me, and I'd love that you.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
All right, Well, between all of your Christmas and Halloween movies,
which character would throw the best holiday party?
Speaker 3 (26:05):
And what would be on the menu?
Speaker 5 (26:08):
So probably she would have I think that she would have, uh,
let's say, for the appetizer, onion dip. You know that's
dating me. That's definitely I would have that, and probably
I would do I would do a turkey and I
would make my my very uh special dressing that is
(26:33):
made with sausage and cornbread. It's wonderful. And I make
really good gravy and I add cream and mushroom soup
to my gravy. I learned about that in North Carolina.
And you put that in your grave and all that stuff,
and and and for dessert, the pilot nothing, you know,
(26:55):
I think I'm pretty traditional. And the or anything that
would dp me would be the onion dip. You put
the sour cream in the onion souping.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
It all sounds absolutely delicious. I would eat it, yes,
for sure. And I love tradition as well. And speaking
of before we wrap, Ellen, we've got one little fun
thing we like to do. It's called the Lightning Round.
There's no wrong answers. It's just kind of a you know,
kind of a one off. It's a question and then
(27:29):
you just give an answer, and it's all Christmas related,
of course. Oh, here we go. So the first one
is your favorite Christmas tradition, singing Christmas carols, Christmas Eve?
Speaker 1 (27:43):
All right?
Speaker 4 (27:44):
What is your favorite Christmas song?
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Oh, chest that's open the Christmas song chess on an
open fire. Oh, and the Christmas Wolfs, both of them.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Oh yeah, that's a great that's a great one. And
what is your favorite Christmas movie?
Speaker 5 (28:03):
Oh? Huh oh oh. I love Santa Clause the movie
and that was the animated Reindeer. And I knew the
man who played I can't think of this name right now,
the star of that movie, but he played Santa, and
I thought that the deer were real. And I remember
(28:24):
David Huddleston plays Santa, calling him and I said, David,
are those reindeer real? He said, do you want them
to be real? I said, yes, They're they're real.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
Okay, all right, say, oh that's a that's wonderful. I'm
gonna have to look that one up and watch it.
It's man, it's Christmas is whatever you want it to be, right,
it's it's it's such a beautiful time of year for
so many reasons. All right, hot Toddie or hot chocolate,
(28:58):
hot Toddy?
Speaker 1 (29:00):
All right?
Speaker 4 (29:01):
And last but not late, white lights are colored.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
Lights, light lights, And I love the white lights. But
then my little grandson said to me, Gigi, don't you
have anything colorful?
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (29:18):
But how I do? I love the but I keep
the white lights outside on my trees. I keep them on,
and then in the summer they come on when wet outside.
And I love the white light, but I like the
colored ones too.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
But white lights, Yeah, the white lights, there's something I guess.
It just reminds you of the stars in the sky
and when you see them, even all you're around. I mean,
just put the smile on your face, you know, true.
So either way you.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Can't go wrong.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
So right, Well, I want to thank you again, John
and I both we enjoyed our time with you. We
willcome you back anytime. We look forward to your Hello,
Alcoholoween movie and everything else that you have coming up. Well, well,
it's hello, Frank. We need Gloria back on General Hospital.
Speaker 5 (30:17):
Just write a lot, write a lot of letters. Just
write a lot of letters. Girls. You you're both lovely
and it was a it was fun and an honor
to be on your show.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
So thank you, thank you.
Speaker 6 (30:31):
All right, have a good one, good day, all right,
bye bye bye bye.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
Thank you so much for tuning in to our latest
episode of Christmas Movie Spotlight. Don't forget. You can find
our podcast on iHeartRadio, Spotify, iTunes, Spreaker, and more. Just
search Christmas Movie Spotlight spelled m U v i e N.
Speaker 7 (31:00):
For even more, visit us online at christmasmoviespotlight dot com.
Follow us on our social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram.
Follow at Christmas Movie Spotlight and on X Follow us
at Christmas Movies, which would be X M A S
m U v i e S. Until next time, stay
merry and we'll see you again real soon
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