“Birds, Blondes & Backbone: The Tippi Hedren Story”

By Gladys Goldbach

Listen up, cool cats — if you think Hollywood dames today are tough cookies, let me take you for a spin back to the swinging ’60s when one bird-wrangling blonde changed the game.

Photo credit: The Birds

I’m talking about the fabulous Tippi Hedren, the OG scream queen of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. And honey, she’s not just a movie star — she’s Hollywood royalty. Mother to Melanie Griffith (Working Girl, anyone?), and grandma to Dakota Johnson (50 Shades of Grey), Tippi is the matriarch of a dynasty that’s been turning heads for three generations. Talk about keeping it in the family!

Diet Soda Made Her Famous

Now, don’t get it twisted — Tippi didn’t just float into fame on a feather. In 1963, The Birds premiered, and folks went bananas. Hitchcock, the master of suspense, spotted Tippi in a diet soda commercial (that’s right, a freakin’ commercial!) and plucked her out of obscurity like a seagull snatching a sandwich. Next thing you know, she’s leading a film where the birds go bonkers and start dive-bombing everyone in Bodega Bay.

I remember watching it on my shag carpet in my avocado-green living room thinking, “Holy mackerel, this chick is fearless!” But what we didn’t see behind the scenes was ol’ Hitch being a real square — obsessing over Tippi like a lovesick teenager. When she gave him the cold shoulder, he treated her like chopped liver and tried to ice her career. Can you believe that jive?

"Toodles Hitch!"

But this bird didn’t get grounded — she spread her wings. After the flick, she flapped right out of that contract and said, “Toodles, Hitch.” Sure, it cost her some roles, but Tippi stood tall and chose her peace of mind. In a town full of yes-men, she was the real McCoy.

The Birds Turns 50

Flash forward to 2013 — The Birds had its 50th anniversary at the Palm Springs Cultural Center (back when it was still the Camelot Theaters), and guess who was there? Yep, the legend herself. Tippi answered questions, spilled the tea, and shared her passion for big cats and her sanctuary, Shambala. Girl had more claws than a tabby in a rainstorm — and she used them to fight for her dignity in an era when women were told to zip it and smile.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Hitch Back On The Big Screen In Palm Springs

And now, dig this — the Palm Springs Cultural Center is bringing Hitchcock back to the big screen this fall for a freaky film Hitchcock retrospective to remember. On Fridays through the season, it's all suspense, all vintage, all the time! Kicking off on October 3rd, the Hitchcock Retrospective debuts with “The Unlocked Window” and “The Jar” — rare TV gems from the Master of Suspense himself. Then on November 14th, it’s a big-screen treat: The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), plus a special meet and greet with author Steve Smith, who’ll be signing his new book, Herman and Hitchcock, celebrating the unforgettable music of Hitchcock’s right-hand man, composer Bernard Herrman. On December 14, the series concludes with "Foreign Correspondent."

So if you’re in town, slap on your bell bottoms and boogie down to the Palm Springs Cultural Center. You might just get goosebumps — and not just from the movie!

About the Author

Meet Gladys Goldbach, the funky grandma who brings her love for writing about pop culture to life while passionately playing bingo! With a colorful personality and a knack for spotting trends, she dives into everything from celebrity news to nostalgic moments. Gladys proves that staying stylish and in-the-know is ageless, all while shouting “Bingo!” with a smile!