Just One Day After Cloris Leachman......Cicely Tyson????????????????????????

                                          That is right,  darlings, it was almost too much to bear.

                                          Cicely Tyson was not  just an actress, but a symbol.  The work that she chose always had integrity--like "Sounder," "The Autobiography Of Miss Jane  Pittman,"  and  "The Help," among others--and so did she.

                                                How gifted  was she? She did not need a script.  She acted as much with her face as with words.

                                            On  January 29, Miss Tyson  took her final  bow on  Earth, at 96, after netting an Emmy and TONY Awward, as well as garnering an Oscar nomination, for "Sounder."  I loved  Liza in "Cabaret," but,  to  this day,  I  thought Tyson should have won.

                                              An arts advocate,  humanitarian,  and trailblazer for other actresses of  color, Cicely Tyson was gracious and self-effacing.  Her work  and  humanity will  live on.

                                                Let us all bid her a fond farewell.

                                               But never to be forgotten!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, No! Not Cloris Leachman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Betty White has made it to 99, but Cloris Leachman left  us,  just  four days ago,  January 27, at the age of 94. How she will be missed.

                                     She first  blew  me away as acerbic neighbor Phyllis Lindstrom  on  "The Mary Tyler Show."  Later, she  did the same in  an  Oscar winning performance as Ruth Popper in Peter Bogdanovich's  classic American  film,  "The Last Picture Show."  And who could forget her as the mother of Anthony Fremont, (Billy Mumy) iin the classic  "Twilight Zone" episode, "It's A Good Life," based  on Jerome  Bixby's short  story of the same name.

                                       Cloris never let up.  On Martha Plimpton's wonderful sitcom, "Raising  Hope," she  livened thiings up, as Grandma.  And  when  she  got her own show, "Phyllis," she matched wits with Judith Lowry, as Mother  Dextter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Did  Cloris  Leachman  ever do  the stage?  I cannot recall.   Nevertheless, she  left a legacy of work  behind  her that will continue  to  amaze and delight.

                                             Ninety-four is  a pretty long  run.  But too soon for  us to  lose  you,  Cloris!

                                             Rest In Peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do Not Miss Next Saturday Night, When Svengoolie Presents "The Black Scorpion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                            Svengoolie has restored fun to Saturday night,  girls, and  he is  doing  it  with giant bug movies.  Last night , we had such fun with "Earth VS. The Spider," but "The Black  Scorpion" has something  of  an  iconic  reputation.

                                              It stars  monster veterans  Riichard  Denning and Mara Corday.  Mara was the darlings  of  Fifties giant monster movies, having starred in  1955's "Tarantula!," 1957's "The Giant Claw," and now this.  Monsters went for Mara in a  BIG way!   Check  out the scene where the scropion peers at her through the window.

                                                And the train wreck  sequence is  a  testament to  great special  efffects,  as  this was  the  last film  worked on by the great Willis  O'Brien,  who,  of course broke ground with  1933's "King Kong."  No  wonder the scorpion  here looks  so  realistic.

                                                 But  it is  still  a  hoot!  So, join  me, with  popcorn,  or what you please, and watch "The Black  Scorpion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                  It  will  simply  sting  you,  darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can You Believe, Girls, We Are One Twelfth Through 2021????????????????????

                                              January sure what faster than I thought, darlings.  I managed to at least read ten books, including the mammoth "Ducks, Newburyport."  Biden  got in--Whew!!!!!!!!!!   And now we are having trouble accessing the vaccine.  So, here we go again.  Same shit, different year.

                                                And  yet I am optimistic.  We had fun  last night with "Earth Vs. The  Spider."  I am still  amazaed how Carol was able  to maintain her Fifties  hairstyle  and wardrobe climbing  over  that terrain,  and  skulking  in and out of that cave.  And then to be menaced by a huge spirder while trapped in  its web, which looked like some  kinky rope game  at a  gay bar.  Horrors!

                                                    Next week, girls,--oh, my God!--it  is "The Black Scorpion."  Svengooli is  certainly pulling  out some  choice items to make our Saturday nights memorable.

                                                       What was the highlight of January.  Maybe the awful "Black  Narcissus,  or shopping, or trips  to the pharmacy.  Perhaps my trip  to Three Lives Bookstore.

                                                          February, Blythe Danner celebrates another  birthday, there  is  the  day Bernadette saw the vision, and  Valentine's  Day.   I don't know  what the last will bring,  but let's face it,  girls--

                                                            Today,  fun is where you have  to  find it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                              See you in  February!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Make A Date With Me, This Saturday Night, Darlings, To See Svengoolie Present "Earth VS. The Spider!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                 You have  no excuse girls, because Channel  13 is showing "Yours, Mine, and Ours," which was cute, once, when  we were thirteen, but now.......forget it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Really, this film is a funfest!  The Spider is the coolest; wait  till  you see  it  jive to  the  rock  beat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And Carol's Dad,  and  her  birthday gift!  Not to  mention  the famous  shot,  used on this blog,  and  a recent TV commercial, of  the uncredited actress, dress stuck in  her  car, screaming facing us,  as The Spider descends upon her!  She is  on a par with Janet Leigh in  "Psycho!" Not to mentnion when it goes after a baby!  Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    You cannot afford  to  pass up such fun  and thrills!  Be there,  or  be square!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                              

                                        See you all on Saturday night,  girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Today, To Celia Keenan-Bolger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      First of  all,  girls, I  cannot  believe Celia is 43.   Believe me,  I never looked so  good,  when  I was that age!

                                        Secondly,  it is a  disgrace that  PLAYBILL, the home for all things New York Theatre, and who have sited other luminaries on their natal day, did  not even mentnion Celia.

                                         Not only is she an active memeberr of the Theater Community,  she has won a TONY Award!!!!!!!!!!!!  You hear that,  PlLAYBILL?  Are there no  Theater Queens on  the  staff?   Is it now  populaated  by straights?  God  forbid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           So, it  is  up  to me  to right this grievous  wrong.  Happy Birthday, Celia, and many more.  Celebrate in any way you please; my suggestion would be a chocolate cake  with vanilla  white frosting.  Darlings, on  Celia,  it won't  even show!

                                             Happy Birthday to  Celia Keenan-Bolger!  From  all Theater Queens,  especiall  I,  The Raving!

                                               Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                And  please tell us who does  your hair! It is perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"We're Bringing Back Style To The White House. I'm Painting It Cream, For A Start!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                    God knows how long it must have taken fumigators to erase the vile stench of Trump, but now,  it is up to Jill and Kamala to transform the residence from the "Slutsville" it once was,  to the glamorous, classy dwelling  it  ought to be.

                                     And  fashion!  Oh, my God,  Melania dressed like  a high class  prostitute.  Which she probably was before falling into Trump's clutches.  But  I have to admit,  the  woman  was way in over her head,  and knew it.  I hope, as I have predicted, that now she walks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      So, style and glamour are returning  to 1600 Pensylvania Avenue.  Fashion  designer,  not cheap  K-Mart racks!   Even  the make-up has improved already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       To  think there are  some  out there who  had  not idea,  thanks to the last four years, what style  was.  Or that  it existed.  But  I can tell  you, it does,  and will  continue.  And you always have  me  to  turn  to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       But, really,  girls,  we have been due for an overhaul,  for four years!

                                        Hail  to the new Glamour Power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Can't Believe I Read The Whole Thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Really, darlings.  But let me tell you,  for  good readers,  it  is worth the  investmeent  of  time.  It  took  me  nine  days, which is long for me, to get through it, and I will not deny those last 100 pages were like climbing a mountain.  Nevertheless,  although I am now sick  of the  phrase "the fact that," the novel caught me, and I  could not let go, until  I had finished the entire  text.

                                            " Is there a plot?," most will  ask.   Yes there is. An unnamed woman--borrowing  from  "Rebecca,"  by Daphne  Du Maurier--muses on  everything  imaginable--the  only omissions  I  can think  of are Jennifer Jones and "The Song Of Bernadette"-- while doing  whatever--getting dinner,  or making  pies, which,  as a retired adjunct instructor at  a local Ohio  college, she does  to supplement  the family income.   The novel does have a  climactic moment  that  brings  things  togetther, especially the issues between she and her teenaged daughter, Staci.

                                              The secret to getting  through it is sitting back,  and  letting wash all over you.  Put  it  down  and pick it up at your convenience; do not be pressured by the text.

                                               And,  unlike  Joyce,  who mixes language and words, the text is accessible.  It  is just LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Does it need to be?  Not especially.

                                                There is one surprise I can  reveal,  as  I did not expect  it.  This novel has earned its attentnion from  the stream-of-consciousness style Ellman uses--but only ninety  per cent  of  the time.   There are break  off sections, written conventionally, that parallels the narrator's life  with that of an escaped  mother  cougar, in  search of her cubs.   I actually  found  this device  fascinating, and, truthfully,  more moving.

                                                 Finsihing this book  calls for a celebration. It  is my big reading project of the year.  And now  it  is  done.  I  can recommend this, with reservation,  and,  while it may sound snobby,  it  is the truth--only advanced,  erudite readers should attempt  it.

                                                    Even  more difficult would be having  to teach this,  or assign  it  in some  class.  It  would  take an entire semester.

                                                     But, don't  worry, dears.  That  isn't  likely to happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     And this review never once used the  phrase "the fact that!"

Covid Is Really Causing The Entertainment Industry To Destroy Properties Better Not Tampered With!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Girls,  let me  save you the trouble!  Do not let this gorgeous shot fool you.

                                   Whomever had the  idea to do  a redo of the  1947  film  "Black Narcissus" should not have done so.   First,  the story is drawn  out  to an overly excessive  three-and-a-half hours.  Despite the  gorgeous  visuals,  mostly by computer graphics, they cannot compensate for the lack of subtlety,  nuance, and psychological  exploration,  all of which made  the Powell-Pressburger original so iconic.

                                     This version is  reduced to the level of "The Turning Point,"  which examined tensions  between women, but at least was elevated to the level  of camp,  which is why gays still love it today.   Not to mention there were two pros in the leads,  named Anne Bancroft and Shirley Maclaine.

                                        With the exception  of Diana  Rigg,  as  the Reverend Mother,  who  only gets a  couple of scenes,  since  she does not  go to that Himalyan convent, the acting is  amateurish.

                                            Gemma Arterton plays Sister Clodagh, the Deborah Kerr role.   Kerr was an actress, who did not have to resort to things like self immolation and self  flagellation.  Where is Vanessa Redgrave, when needed?  The tension between her and Aisling Franciosi,  who plays Sister Ruth--the showcase role  in  the '47 version,  and netting  an Oscar nomination for Kathleen Byron--is so overtly ssexual--for each other,  for Mr. Dean,  for ANYONE--and while shots of Deborah Kerr in the '47 film  wearing a one-piece bathing suit, chronicling her past, must have sent the Legion Of Decency into a  tizzy, then,  I doubt anyone would bat an eye over this version, because its excess is executed so badly.

                                             Arterton  has no subtlety or nuance, telegraphing everything before  it happens  to let  viewers know what's  coming,  making  over use  of  her eyes.  Even  worse is Franciosi,  who plays Sister Ruth less like a sexually depraved nun--the best kind,  darlings!--and  more like  a petulant  child.  The big sendoff over the cliff  is what this version builds up to,  whereas it was the  midpoint  of  the  original.  And when Sister  Ruth, maddened,  enters  through those double doors,  there is no  madness or menace,  as  with Byron. All that is left is a  spoiled child who wants attention and power, and when this Sister Ruth finally goes  over the  cliff,  who gives a damn??????

                                                Have  I said  enough,  darlings?   Do you get how bad this is?  I will  say this,  maybe  those having never seen  the 1947 film should look at this.  Those who do will say, "So?" Then sit  down  and  watch the 1947 version,  and see the difference.  Rumer Godden,  who wrote the original,  1939 novel,  must be turning in her grave.

                                                 I have always insisted  that putting an actress, or actor, in a nun's outift, sells  tickets.  This "Black Narcissus" disproves that.  Had this been exhibited commerically  in  the theaters,  it would have flopped.

                                                Because,  with the exception of  Rigg,  no one here can act!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The First Important Death In 2021!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 It had  to happen at some point this month, girls.  I never expected it to be Bob Avian.

                                Now, Theater Queens  on  here know exactly who he  is.  But just in case some  don't, let me  say he  co-choreographed,  with  Michael  Bennett  a little  something called  "A Chorus Line."

                                  Which I expect  everyone  on here  to know.   "A Chorus Line," I  mean.

                                    He was 83, and passed away at the Holy Cross  Hospital,  in  Fort Lauderdale, Flordia.  The cause was cardiac arrest.

                                     Avian graduated from Boston Universisty,  with a degree in Fine Arts.  He also studied with the Boston Ballet.

                                     According  to theatrical legend,  he and Bennett met  when they were touring  in  a production of "West Side  Story."  Neither  of  them  could have imagined  how life changing this would be.

                                       Bob Avian  also danced in the choruses of "Funny Girl" and the underrated classic,  "Henry, Sweet Henry," choreogrpahed by Michael Bennett.   He even performed in--oh,my God!--"Coco,"  with Katherine  Hepburn,  again  choreographed by Bennett. They officially became a team when he  co-choreographed "Promises,  Promises,"  with Bennett.

                                        From that point, there was no  separating  them.   Their work  on "A Chorus Line"  has been  chronicled in  countless books, and  seen  best in  the  documentary "Every Little  Step,"  which was about  the  original, and the 2,006 revival.  

                                          Mr. Avian won a  TONY Award for his work on "A Chorus Line," and another for the underrated musical "Ballroom."  He was nominated  for his work on  "Dreamgirls."

                                          Michael Bennett  died in  1987, at  the age of 44.  But that  did not stop Bob  Avian, who  worked  on  "Miss Saigon," (the original and the  revival) "Sunset  Boulevard,"  the  London  production  of "Follies,"  and the 1999 Sondheim revue,  "Putting  It Together."

                                            It seemed like Bob Avian  never stopped working.  And not because he had  to,  but because he loved  it.

                                            Another member of  the 'Chorus Line' team  has  passed.   My heart goes  out to Baayork, Donna,  Priscilla,  Kelly,  and the surviving members of the  line.  Avian  may not have been on the line, but he made it.

                                             Broadway should  dim  its lights  for  him.  In the  words  of  the  show's  singature  song, "He  did  what  he had  to  do."

                                               Rest  In  Peace, Bob  Avian.   I wish our  paths  had  crossed.

I Want This Question Answered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Now that that education witch, Besty De Voss,  hes flown,  on her broomstick, over the Capitol  roof, like Margaret Hamilton out her catle window, in "The Wizard Of  Oz,"  it is my fervid hope that the educational system in this country will be revamped.

                                       The question I pose is one I have wrestled  with when I was in the midst  of  the educational  sysstem, and that is  going  back over  half a century.

                                          Why are school children who excel  in  math and science, favored over those who don't?  And why should they be?

                                              Because, darlings, before  math  can  be mastered,  reading  and  language has to take precedence.   Yet  no  appreciation for  those who excel  at  this is given.

                                                 Math was never my favorite  subject,  but I did  well  in  it; I was on a "A"  or "B" level.  Even  when  things changed in seventh  grade,  I  was  still  adept, though I never  took  pleasure in  it,  as  I  did  English,  or  French.

                                                     Then, in eighth grade,when  I was  not chosen  to take Algebra,  which I had  wanted  to study,  and was anxious  to,  as far back  as first grade, I was devastated.  It was the beginniing of  the next several  years,  which included high school  in  which I was consistently taught  How To Be Disappointed In  Myself.  

                                                        The irony is that both the eighth grade Algebra teacher, and  the  top eighth grade math  teacher, whom  I had,  were  the same.  And many of  us, in  both sections,  did  not do well  with him; some  I  considered  genuinely bright.  In  ninth grade,  either those had  to repeat Algebra I  again, or take something  called  Pre-Algebra  I,  which covered 2 semesters work in 2 years. I did fine with that,  than, for reasons  I cannot explain,  excelled in  Geometry, then  tanked with Trigonometry.

                                                            I still  feel had  I  better, more  individualized, teaching, when  younger, I might  have developed  my math potential,  which test  scores  indicated I  had,  On  the  PSAT, first time out,  I scored  higher  in math  than  verbal.  I was  shocked.

                                                              Math cannot be learned  without reading.  Stop giving  these math and science  kids  all  the  breaks,  and make  way for  those of us  gifted in  languages and the humanistic  side of  studies.   Not  everyone  is  going  into a math profession,  so why develop every high school or  college program, if  that were  the way. The brighter kids  know  what  they want  to do, and  what they are  wired  for.  So,  let  them excel,  and  grow confident; and if that means a departure from  math  and science,  that  is  the  decision.  I am  not  biased; I feel  the same treatment should be accorded  to those  upper graders who know math and science, not languages or literature, will  be part  of  their career  path.

                                                                 I  doubt I wll see such changes in my lifetime.  I hope  they eventually appear.

                                                                  I forever  regret my inability to  master  Trigonometry. That was  also  due to  faulty  instruction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                     Better skills  come from  better teachers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Sad Story Of Chelsea Martinez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Several yers ago,  I wrote  on here about what I thought, and still  do, to be the most  disturbing  episode in the "Law And Order, Criminal Intent" franchise.  It was called "No Exit," and it concerned an office  worker  who took  her  life,  a coworker who did not know  he was a part of a suicide pact,  and lost  his life,  and a webiste, which was a "suicide-how-to,"  for the NYC area,  giving places,  heights,  and timelines,  for railroad  tracks,  plus  how to enter  buildings or  places  that were coded.

                                   As Kathryn Erbe  said,  as Alexandra Eames, "A suicide website--it  was  bound to happen."

                                    Well, darlings, fiction is  truth.  

                                      Chelsea Martinez, a pretty girl from Ohio,  in  her twenties, and raising some adorable children, suffered from  deep depression.  At her  lowest point, she latched  onto a webiste  called "The Experience  Project," putting out there, that she wanted  to end her life,  and have someone  do  it  for  her. She wished  to be  tied down, and have her throat slashed.

                                       She  found an  obliging--yeah,right!--soul in  Jason Nisbit,  who lived  in  Minnesota.  He agreed  to  Chelsea's request,  and  the 26-year-old drove  to Minnestoa,  where they met.  They agreed to meet the  following  evening  in  Shager Park,  and did.  As per her  request, Chelsea was tied  down,  and had her throat slit.  She  got what she wanted,  maybe,  but that Jason did not walk away from  this, says much  about him,  as well  as  the person or persons running this webiste,  which I hope, by now,  is shut down.

                                           Chelsea's body was found in  another,  more  rural, area, called Rice County. After finding her  abandoned  car,  and a screen name, "Dark Ryd3r," it  was easy to trace  things to Nisbit.   He was convicted and sentenced to  42 years in  prison.  Hopefully,  he will  stay there for life.

                                             What I want  to  know  is  what happened to the person or persons who ran this abominable  website.  Because  they,  too, should have been charged with Chelsea's  murder, as  it  led  to her connecting  with Jason.

                                              It  is  awful  when  fiction  and  reality  clash.  And who  know, there may be more  ominous webistes  out  there!

                                                 Remember,  darlings,  freedom of specch does not  grant  one the freedom to  kill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Is A Meganulon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Back in the day, whenever the 1959 Japanese monster classic, "Rodan," was aired, these were called "Chi-Chi-Bugs," because that is exactly the  sound  they make.  "Rodan" made it fashionable for one's fan tan home to  be invaded  by these  creatures,  who would smash  into the  living  room, sounding  away.

                                  Now,  today, Dr. Fauci,  among others, has  taught  us  the value of  science,  so these creatures are  now called  Meganulons.  I don't know  how many are  left, because,  in  the  film, after Rodan  hatches out of the  egg,  the monster is  seen eating  some  of them.

                                    But Japan is a mysterious  country.  They may be out there; they may even be served chopped up  in a salad, or  meal.

                                     Which is a  problem.  Because if the question of what is for  dinner gets  asked,  and  the answer is "Meganulon," it is hard to tell if it will be as a guest,  or  a part of the meal.

                                        Much better served  on  the  big screen, where  they belong,  darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Hope Is This Will Soon Come To An End!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                With the Trumps packing up,  leaving for Mar-a-Lago in Florida, to lick  their  wounds, I  think the Karen  epidemic will  come  to a screeching halt.  I certainly  hope so,  because I  believe they were connected to  Trump.

                                   But before we bid these losers farewell,  I want to share with you my favorite Karen of  all.  This is Lisa  Platt, of Hawaii.  When you tune in to  the video  series "Karens  In The  Wild," there is this shot of her emerging  from the car,  screaming "Fuck yoU!" at  the  cop, and everyone in sight.

If I were the  cop,  I  would  have  given  her a  good smack across  the face, which is exactly what they all deserve.  What makes her stand out is  that the  "Fuck  you!" delivered,  which  I thought came froma sound mix, is actually  her  own voice!  I could not  fathom  anyone  able to scream  at such a high pitch.  Hey, if  she put her talent--if you can call it that -- to  good use, she might have  been able to  sing  Brunhilde  at  the MET, when  it  eventually opens.

                                   Girls,  just tune in,  and  listen to  this  loud harridan.

                                    Besides her voice, the other surprise is this was shot in Hawaii. Most  of  the  Karen  videos  I have  seen,  judging by the  palm trees  in  the background,  come  from  either  California,  or  Florida.  In the  latter, such behavior is  typical.

                                      Good riddance,  all you Karen losers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let Me Introduce You To Justin Michael Weinberger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    It is my displeasure introducing you to this piece of sickness.  When I relate what he did, I  am  sure you  will  agree  with me.

                                    If there is something  sad about Justin,  it is not only what happened, but whether it had to,  or if it could have been prevented.

                                     Justin was the product of a well  to do family in El Dorado Hills, in El Dorado County, California, an affluent suburb  in the area of Sacramento.  His father was a court prosecutor,  and his mother was an educated woman. And,  from Justin's  photo,  he appears affable,  with,  if not stunning, than average, youthful good looks.

                                        Justin was fine with all this.  The problem was his sexual outlet was not  just pornography,  but the most  heinous kind  of all--kiddy porn!!!!!!!!!!   Sick, sick,  sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On November 6, 2000, the FBI came to his home, and, because they had detected the porn on it, seized the computer, and took it away.

                                            I have  to wonder what his parents must have thought.  Or did they care?  Did they  bother  to question  what  their son was  into, on the  computer?  Did something happen  in  his past that brought him  around to this?  Was he abused?  And what kind  of  relationship did his parents have,  or not,  with him,  that they could see signs  along the  way.

                                               It makes me  wonder. Because, two days later,  on November 8,  2,000, Justin lost  impulse control.  Without the  computer,  he wanted to take it  up a notch.   He wanted to go out on his own, and actually kill a child,  especially a little girl, as,  among  other things,  he wanted to find out what it was like to have  sex with a virgin!!!!!!!!!!! Nice,  huh????????????????????

                                                  So, on that day, Justin drove around, and  spotted 12-year-old Courtney Scance, a  sweet innocent,  walking  home from school.  He approached her, lured  her into his car, and  drove  to Feather River Lake, near  Nicolaus, where he raped  and  killed her.  Just because he wanted to.

                                                   Now in  his  thirties,  he had to have been in  his teens  when he killed  Courtney. Her poor family, and  what that  poor child was  forced to endure. Today,  he  is serving  a life sentence at The R.J. Donovan State Prison, in San Diego County, California.  

                                                   A good thing  he was caught in time. I don't  know what  transformed  him--I wish I did--but he was clearly a budding serial  killer  caught early!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    "The wicked very old,  the wicked very young,"  as Lillian  Hellman  wrote in her classic play,  "The Children's  Hour."

                                                     

Was Bill Sykes A Pedophile?????????????????????????

                                      Like Tennessee Williams, Dickens had a way of glossing  over characters, revealing  what  they actually are, without  naming it  by word.

                                      In "David Copperfield," the words "alcoholic" and "enabler" are never mentioned.  Yet,  that is  clearly what Mr. Wickfield, and his daughter, Agnes,  respectively are.  Likewise,  the word  prostitution is never mentioned, but  in "David Copperfield,"  that is what Martha Endell and  Little Em'ly fall  into.

                                       Same with Nancy in "Oliver  Twist."

                                        Which brings  me  to Bill  Sykes.   Though  the 1968 film version  of the stage  musical,"Oliver!" sanitized the darker elements of  Dickens' story, Oliver Reed's Bill Sykes one of film's most chilling  portraits of evil,  surpassing  even Robert Newton in the 1948 David Lean gold standard versionof the  story.

                                             The  way  he  comes  across,  the  way he treats Nancy, even  his dog,  it  is would  not  surprise  me,  with all those boys hanging around  in  Fagin's  lair,  that  some  were not abused sexually.  And Sykes  would certainly be  the  one  to  do  it.  But,  while  such  things most likely went on,  Dickens  did  not  set  out  to explore it. I am sure  he was aware of it,  but  if  the  publishers of  the day could not  deal  outright  with alcoholism or prostitution,  it  certainly  could  not handle  pedophilia.

                                                Think about this,  the next  time  you read "Oliver  Twist." It makes an odd kind of sense.

                                                Of such ideas are nightmares made!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Were The Old Lady Of Odo Island, And Malla In "The Leech Woman," Related??????????????????????????????

                                    Talk about sisters under  the skin, hons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    The  Old  Lady of Odo Island  comes from  1954's "Gojira," and  is said  to be  the only islander  Gojira  was afraid of. With  a  face like  that, who could blame  him?

                                      But how about Malla?  In  the  opening  shot  of "The Leech Woman"  she is seen  walking down  a hall  to a  doctor's  office.  She  looks  like  a survivor of the  bombing of  Hiroshima!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Revlon can't help these  gals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         I  think they are sisters, but where were they  born  and  raised,  and how did each come to end  up  on  remote islands  on  different  parts of  the  globe?

                                           The old  lady is just plain ugly,  with that face. Malla is a bit more sinsiter.  Because of the secret she harbors.  You have to see "The  Leech Woman" to find out what that is; besides which,  it is a hoot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Two reasons never  to skip your beauty regimen,  dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seperated At Birth???????????????????????

                               There just aren't actresses around like  these, anymore, nor  with names like  these.   The one  on top  is  Rafaella  Ottiano, best known  for  the 1936 MGM horror film,  "The Devil  Doll," which also featured Lionel Barrymore and  Maureen  O'Sullivan.  The  one  underneath her is Frieda Inescourt, whom I recently saw give her  all, along with Beverly Garland,  in "The Alligator People" (1959), and who was in Metro's 1940  version of  "Pride And Prejudice" (which I  think  Maureen was also  in,  playing the beautiful Jane Bennett.)  Frieda's  signature film,  with her stern, clipped tones, and imperial  walk and  manner, were highlighted in 1943's "The Return  Of The Vampire,"  with Bela  Lugoisi, and, in her screen debut, Nina Foch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  She played--another great name--Lady  Jane Ainsley.  Again, you cannot  make  these names up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   But such names!  They just roll  off  the  tongue. And they are just as exotic on screen  as suggested.  Pity there are  none such performers around  today as these,  but then  elegance, darlings, has gone  a bit of the  wayside,  hasn't it???????????????????????????????

                                     I just LOVE Rafaella  and  Frieda.   They could be sisters.   Too bad  they weren't cast as such.

                                       They have to be seen, to be  believed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

A Great "Bully Revenge" Novel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Interconnected characters figure in Lucy Foley's novel "The Guest List," which is loads of fun,  if not as satisfying  on a literary level. It is just plain "fun."

                                           Foley follows a classic Agatha Christie conceit.  A group of folk in  their mid-thirties, or thereabouts, are invited  to a private,  remote island, off  the coast  of  Ireland,  to  a couple's wedding.   What  becomes apparent,  as the novel progresses, is that many of the characters have past connections to one  another, and when things congeal, blood literally boils over.

                                             I  will  say both those  who  turned  out to  be  the murderer  and  the  victim  surprised me.  Though, in  retrospect, I personally would call it justifiable homicide.

                                               Foley delivers.  Her characters are wonderfully likable or despicable, she is great with conjuring up the macabre atmosphere of  the island, and  contrasting it with the romantic goings  on  inside the mansion,  regarding the wedding.

                                                It was actually better than expected,  and I look  forward to reading the next  Lucy Foley as avidly as  I do the next Shari Lapena novel.

                                                 "The Guest List"  may not reach the iconic status as Stephen King's "Carrie," which was as much a "bully revenge"  novel, as it was  horror,  but it is exhilirating  the way it delivers  reader satisfaction.

                                                      This  is one  wedding, darlings,  I was  glad  not to have been  invited  to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When You Start With A Gold Standard, The Reading Bar Is Raised Higher, For The Rest Of The Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      As 2020 was winding  down, and it was still the Christmas Holidays, I thought about  reading  something  Christmas-y!!!!!!!!!!  My first  thought was  of  Dickens' "A Christmas  Carol," which I have read,  but when  I perused my shelf,  I disovered that,  while,  as of  this year,  I  have read the entire Dickens canon, I do not own certain works.  And 'Carol' was one of those.

                                         Then  I recalled  the  opening of "Great  Expectations" takes place at Christmas  time.   Since that, and  "David Copperfield," are my two favorite Dickens works,  I decided  to give  it  another reading.   This one was, at least, the fourth; and  I am only guessing here;  there are probabably  several more. The hardbacked edition,  picutred  above,  is the  one  I read.  As  always,  the novel never  ceases  to amaze me,  but it caused me  to wonder about some  aspects of myself.

                                            Of course, I love  the whole  Gothic elements  of Satis  House,  Miss  Havisham,  and  Estella. I  love  how all connected threads come together.  When  I first  read  the  novel,  which was in my high school  sophomore year  of English class,  the  connective  device  was new,  and  amazed me.   I have read many novels since  that used it,  but none  so  skillfully as  Dickens.

                                              It stirred guilt  in me. Have  I,  at any time,  been Pip,  acting like an  entitled  snob, ashamed  of  my origins?   I  know I  have gone on  about how I felt  my early education was  mishandled,  but was it?  Did  I  ever  treat anyone  the way Pip treated Joe Gargery and Biddy?  I have no  remebrance  of such,  and,  like  Pip,  I am certain  if  I had  I would have asked forgiveness, as Pip asked  theirs.

                                                Loneliness....isolation....love,  or  the  lack of it...all  are thought provoking topics brought  out in the  novel.  Is anyone here truly content?  In the end,  it seems only Joe Gargery and Biddy are.  And possibly Herbert Pocket.

                                                  This time  around, characters  who may  hitherto go unnoticed  stood out  for me.  Wemmick,  and  his Aged  Parent, (which I always forget is  in THIS novel,  not "David Copperfield") the imposing figure of that most rigid upholder of  the  law, Jaggers, whose manner  conceals  a humanity indicated by his treatment of  his housekeeper, Molly, who  turns  out  to be important for  special reasons.  Not to mention  Abel Magwitch, the convict.

  

                                                  The sadness of  Miss  Havisham  getting  a comeuppance she really did not deserve resonated emotionally, with me. In raising to Estella  to be  heartless, to avenge  what she felt was done  to her by the  male sex,  she  still  wanted real  love from Estella, a mother  to  daughter  kind.  All Estella  could do was follow  Miss  Havisham's  teachings,  so how could  she end  up otherwise?

                                                       Which is  why the ending  is best  left ambiguous.  The  romanitc  in  me  wants  Pip and  Estella  to  end  up with one  another.  But,  just  like Bud  and  Deanie (Warren Beatty  and Natalie  Wood)  in  1961's "Splendor In The Grass," which turns  60  this year, I do not think the alliance would work.  Better  to  leave Pip and Estella  separate,  with outlying possibilities.

                                                           Laughter,  tears, Dickesn gives it his all  in  this book,  considered by many his  greatest.   Every time  I read it, I learn  someting  illuminating.  If  you haven't read it in awhile,  you owe it to yourself  to  do so.  If you have never read it, what is  wrong?  Get busy,  right away.

                                                          "Life  Begins  At 8:40," was a musical revue, which opened on Broadway in  1934.  For at least one  character in this novel,  life  stopped at 8:40.

                                                             Beware rigid  embitterment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                               

Happy Belated Birthday To Joan Baez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Hard for  so many,  especially those of us who grew up listening  to her music,  to realize that Joan Baez turned 80, yesterday.  She may not look  like  this anymore,  but she does look wonderful for her  age, her  voice  is in  amazing  shape,  and  she still  gets out there,  and  performs.

                                          I never saw Joan  in  concert, but as long  as she is out there,  I feel there is  still  a chance.

                                           Joan  Baez, at 80!  Talk  about making  us Baby Boomers  feel  older than we actually are!!!!!!!!!!!!!  If youth does  not last,  artistry  does!  

                                              So, let's  wish Joan a belated  Happy 80th  birthday!

               

                             Of course I  have to  close,  with one of her  favorites.  Listen to her, on the haunting  guitar melody,  and  poignant delivery of the Child  Ballad,  "House Carpenter."

                              Happy  Birthday,  Joan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Just LOVE The Vicks Ny Quil "Honey" Commercial!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I Felt I Owed You A "Fun" Post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Girls,  I am telling you,  you have to see it, because it is  just too much.  A husband and wife  are in  bed.  The wife  clearly has  a cold.  Her spouse leans over, and  whispers to her, coquettishly, "Hooooooney?," to  which she gives  him  a dirty look  and, too  ill  to  do  anyting  else,  snarls  back, sharply, "Honey?"

                                        The  scene  is priceless.  But,  dolls,  I am telling you, how many of us  have  gone  through  this scene  ourselves at some  point in  our lives?   There is a humorous  universality that endears this commercial to me,  which is why  I think  to be  one  of more  recently effective  ones.

                                          I  am  telling you,  if  anyone tried  to "Honey" me, during an illness,  Baby Gojira  would  bite them  on  the ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Was Not An Outtake From "Les Miserables," Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           Let me  start by stating  that January 6, for the Christian community, is a generally peaceful  day.   It  signals the  official end  of  the Holiday season.  It is collectively known  as the  Epiphany, Three Kings  Day, Little Christmas,  or the  Feast Of The  Three  Kings.   It  is  not  a time for violence.

                             Which makes what happened  this week at the Capitol tragically ironic.  That  one of  the most  violent acts in our  history--my lifetime--should happen on such a peaceful meaning  day.  And  you can thank the outgoing Presidient  for  that,  as  he engineered the whole  thing,  and I am  sure,  if not  he, someone understood  the meaning of  this particular day, and chose it.

                                I  am  no political activist,  but it  broke  my heart to see such an  iconic structure broken  into,  and damaged.  I was  saddened that several,  even one of "their own" died.   No  one  deserved to.  I began to  fear worse--setting fire to rooms,  burning down or  blowing  up the structure,  in which case hundreds,  maybe  even  top  delegates,  would  have  died.

                               Let me say.  I have relatives  out there who I know to be right-wing.  But even  so, I do not believe  they would condone what happened this week at the Capitol.  The extremists, though many in  number,  even  those not there,  are a representation, not a majority.   If  they were, things  might not have  imploded on  them, as they had.  Trump was  finally trumped.

                               Now, cries ring  out  for "resignation," and "impeachment."  Why weren't such declarations  heeded sooner?  And  speaking of sooner,  what  is  this  about the National Guard not  being called out when it should have been?  Joe Biden  was  right.  If  this had been a  different  organization--say,  Black  Lives Matter,  or the LGQBT--things  would  have been handled  differently--and that  is  not  a  compliment.

                                Now, almost  too  late,  delegates, to  cover ass,  as well  as  others  deceived  until  now,  are crying  out  for justice, against Trump.  I  have  for anything proposed,  but  I have  my own  insidious  brand  of  justice for  him.

                                  Two  options.   Tie him  to  a  chair, funnel  force  feed  him  fast food, till  he chokes, similar to  how  Robert Morely was fed his poodles baked in pies, in  the 1973 film,"Theatre  Of  Blood."  Or,  take  him  to  the San Quentin  gas  chamber, and instead of execution by gas, have him gassed from  the  vile stench of  his own  fart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      That  is how to handle  a  White  Trash Dictator!  And  his extremist followers,  all  of whom  are domestic  terrorists!

                                     As a cry for  peace,  and an inspiration for  now, I shall  close with  "The Flesh  Failures.," from "HAIR."  As  in  1968, same  as  today--the  title  represents  every  one  of us.

                                      "Let The  Sunshine  In," darlings!!!!!!!!!!  It is  about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let This Be The Symbol Of 2021!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               Now, girls,  in  light of what happened earlier this week,  (which you will  hear  me on,  shortly) I  am  not  advocating a  display of the Confederate flag.  Hardly.  But let us not forget that this image, and the story it comes from-- "Gone  With The  Wind" -- is a universal one about  survival,  and for those of us  fortunate  enough  to  make  it through  2020, we must  keep  forging  ahead through 2021, and  that is  why  Scarlett's stance registers  so powerfully with me.

                                Even getting  through the  first  week has been one  of  survival.  Emotional  for  most,   and, tragically for some,  physically,  who did not survive, otherwise, we must persevere in the wake of such extremism.

                                  So, take a cue from Scarlett.  Do  not be defeated by  these domestic  terrorists.

                                    Or,  as Blanche Du Bois  (also played  by Vivien Leigh)  might have said, Don't hang back  with  the brutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Listen, girls,  and learn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!