{"id":137288,"date":"2026-07-01T12:02:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T17:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=137288"},"modified":"2026-07-01T12:02:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T17:02:42","slug":"1980s-tv-shows-a-trip-down-memory-lane-with-lindsay-bloom-velda-in-mickey-spillanes-the-new-mike-hammer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=137288","title":{"rendered":"1980s TV Shows:   A Trip Down Memory Lane With\u2026  Lindsay Bloom (Velda in \u201cMickey Spillane\u2019s The New Mike Hammer\u201d)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1545664804358300\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1545664804358300\" data-ad-slot=\"8616314829\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=137288\" rel=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=137288\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-137289 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Lindsay-Bloom-300x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Lindsay-Bloom-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Lindsay-Bloom-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Lindsay-Bloom-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Lindsay-Bloom-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Lindsay-Bloom.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Exclusive Interview by Karen Beishuizen<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMickey Spillane&#8217;s Mike Hammer\u201d (later titled \u201cThe New Mike Hammer\u201d) was a crime series that aired on CBS from 1984 to 1987. It ran for 48 episodes and 3 TV movies. Stacy Keach starred as Mike Hammer, a private detective, created by Mickey Spillane. Lindsay Bloom played Mike Hammer\u2019s secretary Velda. <!--more--><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: &#8220;The New Mike Hammer&#8221;: What was the show about?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMickey Spillane\u2019s Mike Hammer\u201d was the name of our show when it came on the air in January 1984! It was based on all the Mike Hammer Novels written by Mickey Spillane! Mike Hammer was a private investigator and I played his secretary \u2018Velda\u2019!<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: How did you get the part as Velda?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>I call it the \u2018Velda Marathon\u2019 because for 2 months I auditioned 9 times, lost 22 pounds, dyed my hair brunette and screen tested with Stacy Keach twice!!! My first audition was in July 1983. The casting director, Tim Flack, liked my reading but asked me to lose 15 pounds. So I fasted all weekend with Protein Shakes and lots of water. Lost 6 pounds. Then started Aerobic classes ever morning. By the time I read again, I had lost 12 pounds! I read again and they still liked my reading, but asked me to lose another 10 pounds!!! I added swimming laps in our swimming pool and got a trainer at Vince\u2019s Gym to work out in the evenings.<\/p>\n<p>Then, the casting director told me that the producers still didn\u2019t see me as the character due to my blond hair but loved my readings. Advised me to dye it dark brunette. Well\u2026 I knew Velda was a brunette in the books but to dye my blond hair during the auditioning process was scary for me. But my husband, Mayf Nutter, encouraged me to go do it! So I did! Wow! What a change that was! My actress friends didn\u2019t even recognize me when I went out for other auditions during this time. When I got to screen test with Stacy Keach, I was a brunette so he never saw my blonde hair. We had a great screen test! Now it was down to 7 girls out of 100\u2019s who had been auditioning all summer with Jay Bernstein, the executive producer. So when I went in to do the last screen test audition, it was between me and Delta Burke. She hadn\u2019t lost the weight and I was now down to a size 6 (from being a size 12 two months ago!) I learned I got the role on August 30th when my agent called me at home with the good news.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: What did you like about the character and how do you make it your own?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>I enjoyed the acting challenges of playing \u2018Velda\u2019, the sexy secretary who pays close attention to details, she\u2019s intelligent and runs Mike Hammer\u2019s Office, knows how to shoot a gun, and helped Mike with ALL his investigations! He was her best friend and viewers often wondered if their was more to their relationship. I made it my own by adding my sense of humor to her character.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: How did a week on the set look like from getting the script to filming?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>The episodic scripts were changed quite often. So it wasn\u2019t surprising to hear my doorbell ring at night with \u2018New Pages\u2019 being delivered before shooting the next day. Our show was filmed weekly but sometimes took 7 days to film an hour long episode. Fridays were always a long day! My call would be at 7am and sometimes I didn\u2019t finish filming till 2am! Normally there is what is called \u201c a \u201812 Hour turn around\u2019 (required by the Screen Actor\u2019s Guild) which means they can\u2019t call you back into work for twelve hours after you finish. But Friday\u2019s were a different story since we didn\u2019t work on Saturdays!<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: Where was the show filmed?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>The Burbank Studios, 3,000 West Alameda. Burbank.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: What was it like to work with Stacy Keach?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Stacy is an excellent actor, very professional, and we got along great working together! To me, he was the Perfect Actor to bring Mike Hammer to life! I really appreciated that he was always there for my close-ups too.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: Are you still in touch with actors from the show?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Stacy and I have exchanged family Christmas cards for decades. Plus my husband and I attended his wedding in Malibu. I was honored when Stacy asked me to accept his Best Actor award in 1984 at the Golden Globes if he won. Don Stroud and I have Facebooked each other over the years too. (he lives in Hawaii with his wife).<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: Do you have a favorite episode from the show and why this one?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>YES! \u201cThe Deadly Prey\u201d episode in 1984 when Velda\u2019s brother returns to visit her and bring her gifts. But their happy reunion turns tragic when he is murdered in a dark alley. She counts<br \/>\non Mike Hammer to find out who murdered her brother.<\/p>\n<p>I picked this episode because it required more of my acting skills when I learn about my brother\u2019s death. My scene with Stacy Keach when I arrive in a taxi to find my brother is some of my best work in this show.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: Looking back now, would you have played \u2018Velda\u2019 differently?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>No, because I had an affinity for this role. Plus her character was well defined in the Mike Hammer novels. In real life I\u2019m a very organized person, pay close attention to details, and have a great sense of humor!<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: Why do you think \u201cThe New Mike Hammer\u201d is still beloved after all these years?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe New Mike Hammer\u201d is still beloved because it is based on some very popular novels by a great writer in the 1950\u2019s. The main characters are classic and very identifiable. \u201cThe Harlem Nocturne\u201d Theme song, written by Earl Hagen, sets the tone. And the script writing was terrific&#8230;kept everyone\u2019s attention and so did the wardrobe that all the girl\u2019s wore. The production designer kept the feel of the 50\u2019s but our show was set in the 80\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #808000;\"><a style=\"color: #808000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.authorhouse.com\/en\/bookstore\/bookdetails\/232300-BOXING-INTERVIEWS-OF-A-LIFETIME\">Click Here to Order Boxing Interviews Of A Lifetime By &#8220;Bad&#8221; Brad Berkwitt<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"wpforms-container wpforms-container-full\" id=\"wpforms-126533\"><form id=\"wpforms-form-126533\" class=\"wpforms-validate wpforms-form wpforms-ajax-form\" data-formid=\"126533\" method=\"post\" enctype=\"multipart\/form-data\" action=\"\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F137288\" data-token=\"d579040417df959ea607b789f0fa15c5\" data-token-time=\"1782934185\"><noscript class=\"wpforms-error-noscript\">Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.<\/noscript><div class=\"wpforms-field-container\"><div id=\"wpforms-126533-field_1-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-name\" data-field-id=\"1\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\">Name <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\">*<\/span><\/label><div class=\"wpforms-field-row wpforms-field-medium\"><div class=\"wpforms-field-row-block wpforms-first wpforms-one-half\"><input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-126533-field_1\" class=\"wpforms-field-name-first wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][1][first]\" required><label for=\"wpforms-126533-field_1\" class=\"wpforms-field-sublabel after\">First<\/label><\/div><div class=\"wpforms-field-row-block wpforms-one-half\"><input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-126533-field_1-last\" class=\"wpforms-field-name-last wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][1][last]\" required><label for=\"wpforms-126533-field_1-last\" class=\"wpforms-field-sublabel after\">Last<\/label><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t<div id=\"wpforms-126533-field_4-container\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-text\"\n\t\t\tdata-field-type=\"text\"\n\t\t\tdata-field-id=\"4\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-126533-field_4\" >Comment Email Name<\/label>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-126533-field_4\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][4]\" >\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"wpforms-126533-field_2-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-email\" data-field-id=\"2\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-126533-field_2\">Email <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\">*<\/span><\/label><input type=\"email\" id=\"wpforms-126533-field_2\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][2]\" spellcheck=\"false\" required><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-126533-field_3-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-textarea\" data-field-id=\"3\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-126533-field_3\">Comment or Message<\/label><textarea id=\"wpforms-126533-field_3\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][3]\" ><\/textarea><\/div><script>\n\t\t\t\t( function() {\n\t\t\t\t\tconst style = document.createElement( 'style' );\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle.appendChild( document.createTextNode( '#wpforms-126533-field_4-container { position: absolute !important; 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It ran for 48 episodes and 3 TV movies. Stacy Keach starred as Mike Hammer, a private detective, created by Mickey Spillane. Lindsay Bloom played Mike Hammer\u2019s secretary [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":137289,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":3,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35042],"tags":[35508],"class_list":["post-137288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1980s-tv-shows-a-trip-down-memory-lane-with","tag-1980s-tv-shows-a-trip-down-memory-lane-with-lindsay-bloom-velda-in-mickey-spillanes-the-new-mike-hammer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=137288"}],"version-history":[{"count":-2,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137288\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/137289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=137288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=137288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=137288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}