Yeah, I know I used this last year! Still good!

"It's Christmas Time In The City"

Surf Greensleeves!

It's that Most Festive Time of Year!

Yes...It is indeed the 205th anniversary of Napoleon's victory at Austerlitz! What could be more festive? Instead of merely stuffing yourself, or having to buy gifts for people, why not celebrate Victory! Find something in your life where you marshal your forces, outflank the slow-witted impediments to your greatness, and emerge Supreme.

Just remember --- you crowned yourself Emperor last year....and now...you deserve nothing less than Absolute Triumph!

And if you're a 'swords-into-plowshares' kind of person....they melted cannons taken at Austerlitz to put into this column in the Place Vendome:

Turkey With Hitch

I suppose we'll let him carve....who better? I might stay away from those cranberries though....

Evening Enchantment

A few years ago a friend bought me a giclee print of this Maxfield Parrish painting Enchantment.

I have hanging on a wall where it looks west out the window of the front of my house....thus giving me the illusion of the fading sunlight mingling with the painting itself....I find this very comforting somehow, as the figure becomes a personalization of the end of the day. If I could I would arrange any and all art in my home this way, even if it were not really possible.

Happy 102nd, Carole Lombard!

I love Carole Lombard a lot...gorgeous, funny, raunchy...an absolute hoot, who left us all, way too soon...

also classy in the formal way as well....


for a great site on Lombard check out Carole & Co.

The World Series of my youth...

1st pitch of Game 1 of the 1968 World Series, Oct 2, 1968, Bob Gibson to Dick McAuliffe, Tigers 2nd baseman. McAuliffe was a childhood favorite due to his unusual batting stance which we would call "foot in the bucket." Plus, the eyebrows from hell! note:


And, Rats, I forgot Groucho's birthday yesterday! A hat tip!

An Anti-Post

I know I haven't posted in a tic...partially because I like seeing the F&G picture I have at the top of the blog! I'm a simple sod; it just makes me happy.

But it's been a rough few weeks...things are not good, and my mood matches the reality of things. It's made worse by being alone way too much of the time, and so my crazy noodle runs around in atomic powered circles.

There are a few of you out there keeping me together (you know who you are!) , so I'm not a total mess, but still pretty close.

I don't like the idea of posting when I'm in a bad way, but I do realize that this a bit too long without something. I will post more when -- or if -- things get a bit rosier.

75 Years Ago Today

Probably the most famous of the 10 dance films made by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Top Hat opened in Radio City Music Hall on Aug 30 1935. Let's let the director Garson Kanin describe this:

I remember going to see Top Hat at the Radio City Music Hall on its opening day. Never before and never since have I seen an audience stand up and cheer at the end of a picture. A standing ovation for a movie? I sat through the picture twice and that evening insisted on going again and taking my brother with me. Twice for him too, which meant four times that day for me. The next evening I was back again. Only once through this time. Then I went back every single evening, each time taking a beloved friend and enjoying it anew through his or her eyes.

Top Hat was, unquestionably, a breakthrough, a milestone. The musical screen was growing up. This was a brand of sophistication new, not only to it, but to most of the musical shows on Broadway.

Top Hat was the first movie specifically written for Fred and Ginger, and it was a huge success for them, the most financially successful of their films. Many stories surround the production of Top Hat, a lot of them around Rogers' feather dress used in Cheek to Cheek:

Rogers' own design and sketch.

One of my favorite pictures of Ginger.


Long shot of the dancing of Cheek to Cheek.

Here I pass along a few of the more interesting photos from Top Hat.

The outlandish bed of Gingers in the "No Strings" section of the film.

This poster is for my friend Victoria! Enjoy, m'dear.

An RKO design sketch of the "Lovely Day" gazebo.


A set picture taken during the shooting of "The Piccolino" production number near the end of the film.

Ginger, donating the "Piccolino" dress to the Smithsonian in the '70's.

A reverse still from the last scene, showing off part of "The Big White Set" of a fantasy Venice.

Dreams point the way

So as it seems to happen all too often, I'm bedeviled by a ton of problems, some of which I can deal with...but a lot which are just too much. Naturally, I dream about this.

1.) All of these life problems swarm on me like bees....and I kind of succumb.

2.) My friends both online and IRL arrive and each of them know how to solve these problems. I have to father a child with this woman that each of them has brought for me, and this action will solve each problem in turn. In classic dream logic fashion, we both understand and know this to be true, and also that I will never see or raise these children. And as they would say in the Old Testament, thus the begatting began.

3.) After this is over, one of my friends - who will remain nameless - shows up to tell me that everyone has deceived me. It is not the production of these children that will solve these life problems; I have to write a book about each child, books that will determine the lives of these children, children I have never seen, and relate each book to each problem which will then be solved in turn. But I can't bring myself to write these books this way. I see it as unfair to my unknown progeny to burden them with solving my problems. I write each book as a biography of a person totally different than myself, wanting them to have a life without the angst and grief...

4.) After having done this...nothing happens for me, but I accept that. Then, slowly, each child, each fully grown at different stages of their lives comes back in time to solve each problem of mine, not knowing either the problem or myself, but knowing that they had to do this....

I haven't even mentioned the soundtrack and visual aspects to this dream...I dream DeMille-like spectacles...

Everybody Conga!

Go here for the moving show!

Trooper York, Capo di tutti Bloggi

Have I mentioned before that I think that Trooper York is probably the best blogger I read out there nowadays? (Well, except for those Project Rungay guys when they write about Mad Men)

He puts up what seems like 10 posts a day, on running a store, old movies, and making fun of commenters who stroll in like barflys who don't want to go home just yet. His recent posts on his cruise made me applaud someone trying to give hat tips to Alan Hale, jr. when the rest of the world could give a flying fig about him. Hell, I give cred to The Skippers dad, still fighting Errol Flynn on a log over a pond somewhere in Heaven. Not bad for a guy who built his fame capturing a thousand Germans with gas or something like that, almost 85 years ago. I give credit to his aging so well to Brooklyn.

He stared daggers at That Blogger Lady for awhile, but they seem to have made up, which gives me hope for the Middle East.

And I have not forgotten that I owe him a trip to The City just to go to Katz's; I lack funds, not will.

Oh, and for no other reason than I thought he'd like it: Angie Dickenson (w Howard Hawks)


When I finally met Joan someday...I'll talk you up!

99? Really?

Happy 99th Birthday, Ginger Rogers!

The Longing for Bad Go-Go Dancing

Is it a just world?

No, it is not! There is a cool charity auction over here to see Joan Holloway on a tour of the Mad Men set...and I should do it! Alas....

We still have the big Christina Love.


PostScript: Final Price $1800!

The '60s are...

...Somewhat trickier for me to pick a favorite car. But I do have fondness for the '63 Vette.

One last photo of the Talbot...

I like this 3/4 angle...plus, oooo, black!

BTW, speaking of cars like the Talbot...

The 1938 Phantom Corsair!

If I wanted a car from the 1950's...

It might very well be this 1958 Packard Hawk... This particular one is actually available here for only $46,500...Automatic transmission, too! So if you have a spare $46,500, you know what to get me for Christmas.

But I also love the 1954 Kaiser Darrin:


Note the doors...they slide into the front of the body! Cool! Not a lot of chrome for a '50's car, a big plus for me...

More cool pics of it...

I love the cool sea green color on this one...

Look what happened 10 years later....

The 1946 Talbot-Lago has put on a few pounds compared to the '30's...

If I wanted a car from the 1930's...

...It would be the 1937 Talbot-Lago.

Mad Wedding?

I know Joanie's hitched...but 'Nam will sort that out quick enough!

Make your own! From this cool website!

Pics for The Little Man

I came across these pics and thought of Camie Vog's son... Enjoy, Little Man!




Lego Dr. Strangelove! "I Haff a plan..."


Live action Plants Vs. Zombies....you could do it on your own lawn!

Warren Spahn

Happy Birthday Warren Spahn! He would have been 89 today. The greatest winning lefthander ever, he didn't win a game by the time he was 25, due to WWII. But once he started...


Good pitch sequence photo of Spahn!


And just by chance, I came across this photo of Spahn in a sidecar Harley scooter, driven by Mr. Davidson himself!

My mind's a whirl...

I'm writing again, fretting over cash flow (which is not!), enjoying the spring weather, the baseball season, enjoying the darkness for sleeping, relieved that the rodents, er, students are soon to be leaving for the summer, dreading Obama-rama coming soon to give the commencement address, filled with ideas for games, movies, and more stuff for the novel....

Man, I need to learn that whole writing thing...

April?!?

Woosh! Here's April! I have been a bit busy, even down to posting on some other blogs! This past month also saw the GingerThon on TCM, so there's been a ton of film watching! Many of these are odder older films, but it's interesting to see the majority of a single actors catalog...A few years ago we had a great kind of "project" of watching the top 100 films of all time as picked by Entertainment Weekly. We learned quite a bit and it was a lot of fun to boot. Maybe another actor to do this with?...

Spring...

The weather was awesome today...and despite my bad mood, I got a lot of stuff done around the house. Now to write!

Cough, Weez

Yes, I know I promised paczki pics here, and I did get two boxes of them(!) at the wonderful Copernicus deli here in Ann Arbor, (link goes to the Kitchen Chick review, as they don't have a web site yet) but my camera died at the moment I went to take the pics of them! I think it's just the battery, but the cam is kaput at the present time!

Things are getting difficult for me, and I'm struggling to not be thrown out of my house. Oddly, I did just do a gig that's good for a month's rent, but it takes a while to get paid...but they have more work coming, hopefully. I had a brief panic attack this afternoon and vented this on...folks I shouldn't have, and I apologize here.

Oh, wait! Kitchen Chick has a review (w/pic!) of the Copernicus paczkis here, and a recipe using them to boot!

No, I haven't forgotten you!

I've been a touch busy...with a bit of work to do, and some minor illnesses...No, I haven't forgotten the birthday pics either, which should be up shortly. Plus, Fat Tuesday is coming soon!

I love her Funny Face!

Well, well, well...Audrey is clearly ready to party...Tomorrow! Yeah, I'm happy too...

It's about time!

Good to see Sandy here... nice shoes!

Nothing subtle from Kristen!

Very nice, Kristen! But it is January...and wouldn't that be a bit cold?

Scarlett's not ready yet...

That's ok...we still have a few days. Happier Herr Dinners?

Staying in England...

Ms. Rigg has inquired as to whether she may join us...of course! It goes without asking.

Oh my goodness!

When you're lookin' good, you're lookin' good! And Nigella, you don't even need to cook for this event...just show up like that!

It's casual...but not that casual!

Geez, Parker could not look like you just left the DQ! Plus, you smell like a vanilla waffle cone... I'll get you Ginger's number, she should have something...

Ms. Lombard will take her time...

She's lazing about in LA now, but I'm hoping she'll make the party...Eh? Sure, bring Clark...

Why do I have to approve the outfits?

Ginger this will be fine...

A week? No, a bit more than that...

But hopefully Christina will be there for the birthday soiree...

We Double Down!

On Drummer Fred!

For my drummer homies!

January Blahs

I have indeed been writing, but just not here very much! It's a slow time and I'm concentrating on book ideas that I've had for awhile. The Birthday is coming up at the end of the month, and I will hopefully get as many people as I can to come to it. If you are reading this and want to know...just email me!

The New Year

Unlike years past, this really does feel like a new year to me. Perhaps almost dying makes you appreciate what you have better; it's funny that when people my age have that first brush with mortality it depresses them, but me its invigorated. Perhaps my natural contrariness will make me happier as all the body parts start falling off...sneaky of me isn't it?

I'm not much of a cook, but if I could drag every blogfriend I have here, we'd cook and chat...and cook some more. Come August, I'll get the chance to do just that! It's exciting!

Somehow I feel good things will happen this year, even though I don't know why I'm as optimistic as I am.

I send much love and hope to everyone who just happens to take a tic or two to sit and read my scribblings.