A Talk With Kitten Natividad

I first saw my next subject in the 1980 movie Airplane!. Now, I get to interview her.
On
June 05, 2012
For those of you who have read my past work, you know that I like the movie "Airplane!". There's this one scene in there, that I can't find on YouTube, where the plane is shaking and so is a plate of Jello near a very busty woman in a T-shirt. That woman is my newest interview subject, Kitten Natividad.

First coming to fame through her work with filmmaker Russ Meyer, she parlayed her fame into a career that spanned both regular and adult filmmaking. She's still busy to this day, dancing regularly around the country, but she took some time to do an interview with me.

So, without any further ado, here's:

The RetroJunk Interview With Kitten Natividad!

Caps: What were your pop-cultural likes growing up?

Kitten: The pop-cultural likes growing up were the Beatles, Elvis, Motown and James Brown...Great movies of the Sixties...James Bond and I loved Playboy...I loved to go to Sock Hops at school...I loved to dress like Twiggy...and do my eye make-up like her. I was really skinny then.

Caps: What were your school days like?

Kitten: School days were the best of my life...The First Chapter of a life. I was popular, a great dancer and the most in fashion. I was runner up to the Spring Festival Queen and very very liked by the teachers. Vice President of the Senior Class and the main one in the Steering Committee. I decided on the activities going on. I was a fabulous time...I had a boyfriend from another school which helped. That way I had all the freedom to flirt with the other boys for votes and help on the things I wanted to accomplish.

Caps: What inspired you to become an entertainer?

Kitten: I decided I wanted to be a go go dancer I saw one downtown El Paso, Texas and I was hooked. I peeked in the door of the bar. I also did that in Juarez, Chiguagua, Mexico where I was born...I go with my friends like at 10 years old and peek in the strip joints and then take off running...and I thought the women were beautiful and independent and wow weee.

Caps: What are your favorite memories of Russ Meyer?

Kitten: My favorite memories of Russ Meyer are personal and dear to me only...Sorry. But I do have memories I share about his kindness to my Abuelita who he took to the dentist and also to movies and he was so so sweet at times. I had a ball with him and then we had terrible fights over his being jealous of me with my fans. I adore him. He was the kindest to me when I was ill. It is when I needed him most.

Caps: What was the best piece of advice Meyer gave to you during your work together?

Kitten: The best advice I can remember Russ Meyer telling me was when I did a monologue and did not blink once. Only because I did not want to forget a single word...It was like three paragraphs of a long long monologue. He said that is great. Never blink when you do your close-ups, they take away from your acting. All in all he was a man from another generation so it was hard to get along with him and also I was a free spirit. He did love that. I loved him too for who he was and what it took to become Russ Meyer. A perfect man for me. I had other great man before and after Russ. Now I love being single. I love me and my own company too. I live one day at a time.



Caps: Meyer collaborated with Roger Ebert on 2 of your movies together, "Up!" and "Beneath The Valley Of The Ultra-Vixens". What do you recall most about Ebert?

Kitten: The most I remember about Roger Ebert was that he and Russ respected each other and they liked the same things. They both read a lot and like to use words no one else did. They were brilliant and what brains...

Caps: My first exposure to you (forgive the pun) was when I rented the movie "Airplane!". Considering the notability you had acquired through your work with Meyer, and considering that the movies had no problems with goofing around with their closing credits, why weren't you credited in either this movie or "Airplane II: The Sequel"?

Kitten: I have no clue why I did not get credit. I thought I did but it also got me in Playboy...One big photo the whole page and that was worth its weight in gold.

(Author's note: Here's a scene from "Airplane! II: The Sequel". Ms. Natividad is the woman in the Moral Majority shirt):




Caps: You had a small, but memorable part, in "My Tutor". Maybe it's just me, but you don't see many movies like that in theaters today. Why do you think that is?

Kitten: The movies change and life goes on...Glad I was a part of that era where I could be counted in.

Caps: You can be seen in the movie "Another 48 Hours". What do you recall most about your time working on that movie?

Kitten: I never worked on that movie "Another 48 Hours" They took the footage from a porn film...I got paid and so did the company who did that porn.
Caps: Although you had appeared in several adult films in the 80s, it wasn't until the 90s that you started expanding into hardcore material. What led you to doing that?

Kitten: I did porn cuz I wanted to.

Caps: Did you ever encounter any racism in the adult industry?

Kitten: I don't remember encountering racism in adult. I was very high on cocaine during that time....I did have a time I was messed up. I am so glad that is all behind me.



Caps: Who was your most favorite adult film co-star? Conversely, who was the least? You don't have to name names on the last one if you don't feel comfortable.

Kitten: My favorite was John Holmes he was nice and caring. The least I have no clue. It was work...Go in there and do the job and get paid.

Caps: You appeared in the video for Mitch Ryder's cover of Prince's "When You Were Mine". What was your experience in filming that video?

Kitten: Doing the video was a great time cuz I love their music. So happy to be part of that...It was heaven, baby.

(Broken YouTube Link Removed)

Caps: The 80s was the Golden Age of music videos, and video vixens, too. With your looks, how come you didn't do more music videos? I think you would've fit into a Motley Crue or David Lee Roth video.

Kitten: I guess I was booked all over Canada and the US dancing. I was busy and I always have been so I did not do videos cuz I was on the road myself. The contracts kept coming in.

Caps: You've survived a battle with breast cancer. What did defeating such a sickness mean to you?

Kitten: Surviving cancer was another chance to live. I got healthy. I got off drugs and bad boys. Clean living and still at it. I also got myself a couple of apartment buildings and a couple of houses and I am ok .

Caps: What advice do you have for those who are looking to break into the entertainment industry?

Kitten: My advice is follow your dreams they do come true. True passion never fails.



Caps: What roles did you audition for, but didn't get?

Kitten: I do remember not getting many roles and who gives a fuck...

Caps: How do you feel the entertainment industries, both mainstream and adult, have changed from when you began?

Kitten: The industry has changed in a way that is healthy. They love good talent no matter if they had done porn. That is great news. In the old days it was hard to cross over. I did my best to do it and still I get snobs about this. Fuck them.

Caps: Any new projects in the works?

Kitten: Yes I just got back from San Francisco where Tease O Rama was and I performed in a wonderful venue Bimbo's, and lots of great young and beautiful up and coming performers. Next is Burlesque Hall of Fame at the Orleans in Las Vegas, Nevada. I was a stripper before anything else so my heart is still there. I am considered a Legion of Burlesque.I stay busy period whether I like it or not. I do conventions too. Next one is in St. Louis, Missouri with Seka at the Contamination Con.

Caps: If you could go back to your youth with the knowledge that you have now, would you do anything differently?

Kitten: I probably will never know, so I look forward and learned from the mistakes I made not to repeat them. Looking and thinking of doing something different makes you bitter. I loved my journey here. I am glad to have more chances and it is not too bad where I am...Looking forward for tomorrow.

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I would once more like to thank Ms. Natividad for working with me. I hope that you all enjoyed getting to know her better, and I wish you all a good day.
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