For those of you fortunate to grow up in the 1970's will probably remember Karen Valentine who brought a smile to her viewers with her vivacious smile enchanting beauty and charisma.

Karen began by becoming Miss Sonoma County and a top 10 at Miss California state finals to Miss America.
Being a huge fan of Karen since I was a kid,I was inspired to write this Blog after seeing Rick Criddle's Karen fanpage on the web in the late 90's now gone.

Gorgeous candid of Karen taken in the early 80's

 

Karen Valentine was born May 24,1947 on a chicken farm in Sebastopol California and despite popular belief is not of Italian ancestry but Portuguese.

Room 222 Season 1

When Ed Sullivan caught her act where she was comically dancing in a flamboyant outfit lip syncing to Edie Gormet's Blame it on the Bosa Nova he exclaimed ''I want her on my show!''.

In 1969,Karen's breakthrough came when she was to star on ABC's television series Room 222 as teacher Alice Johnson that aired from September 1969 until January 1974. Room 222 was audacious for it's time involving issues of drug abuse,abortion,racism and teen pregnancy. Handsome Afro American actor Lloyd Haynes played principle Mr. Pete Dixon. The show also dealt with contentions of the times like Watergate,The Vietnam War and gay relationships. Karen also starred in several episodes of Love American Style



Autographed photo of Karen sent to me in 2001