Farewell To February!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           I have to confess the first two months of the year are the toughest for me.  The weather, the uncertainty, the anniversary of my father's passing on the 12th of February, all conspire to make these two winter months hard to bear.

                                                But there were some good things to this month.  The 164th Anniversary Of The Apparition Of Our Lady Of Lourdes on the 11th, David and I seeing "COMPANY" on the 23rd, all the "Svengoolie" films, "Dancing On The Moon," books read, and the slowly lengthening days.

                                                   Not to mention my sister's 82nd--yes, 82nd--birthday today!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  March promises more longer days, the return to Earth from Hell of Proserpina, Spring, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, meatless Fridays (not necessarily a bad thing), more books, and more "Svengoolie."  So hang in there, girls, March will eventually brighten things up.

                                                       Though, who knows if it will come in like a lion, or a lamb??????????

Get Well, Patti!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Quelle catastrophe, darlings!

                                           Just five days ago, David and I saw the revival of "COMPANY" at last Wednesday's matinee.  Second row center.  I will do a critical post eventually, but will say it was enjoyed, for the most part.

                                            Now, TODAY, I hear Patti LuPone has tested positive for Covid-19!  Covid!  And just three days after we saw her in the show--masked to the max!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               What should we do, darlings?  Should we get tested?  Quarantine? Or what?

                                               I have a feeling we will be OK, but, as fortune would have it, I am seeing a doctor tomorrow, so I will sound him out!

                                                Meanwhile, get well, Patti!  Your costars need you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Shelley Plimpton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                Darlings, believe me, I know, us baby boomers are getting up there in age, but how is this for feeling old?  Today, Shelley Plimpton turns 75.  That is right, her Silver, Diamond, Jubilee, Whatever Anniversary.  So, the first thing I want to do is wish her a very happy birthday.

                                                   Shelley will always be important to us for two reasons--her daughter, Martha, and for introducing the song "Frank Mills" in "HAIR."  It is my favorite song in the show, one of my all-time favorite songs, and her rendition is the gold standard.

                                                        So, celebrate however you choose Shelley.  You could still step out tonight and do "Frank Mills," as far as all on here are concerned!

                                               So, why not give it a listen now?

                                                 Happy Birthday, Shelley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, What About Those 'Puppet People??????????????????'

                                       I forgot to write about last week's Svengoolie feature, "Attack Of The People."  One reason was it has been a busy week, while the other is the film was not that good.

                                        It was funny seeing John Agar reduced to miniature.  His ex-wife, Shirley Temple (yes, darlings, THE Shirley Temple!) must have laughed her head off, when she saw this, wishing she could smash him between her hands!

                                         Despite this, the film was really not campy, and it tried to humanize the antagonist as in the case of "How To Make A Monster" (also made in 1958), but it didn't work.  'Monster' has a well thought out screenplay; 'Puppet People' seemed to be making it up as they went along.  A case of improvisation NOT working. The dog, pictured above, was the film's best moment, and performer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              John Hoyt plays a lonely former European puppeteer named Mr. Franz.  He now runs a doll shop in a large city (I think the film references St. Louis, but this is a LONG way from 1944's "Meet Me In St. Louis," darlings!  Instead of Margaret O'Brien, here one gets Susan Gordon, the producer's daughter, and it is a good thing she was, as can be seen by her career not going anywhere.  But then, neither did anyone else in this film!) called "Dolls Incorporated."  Attractive secretaries keep going missing, because the traumatized Franz, after his wife walked out on him years before, was beset with chronic loneliness--here is where the viewer should be sympathetic--but then, in addition to running a doll shop, he manages to become a physical scientist where he can electronically shrink people to small size, and play with them at will, so he will always have "company."  It is amazing how some wardrobes shrink, and others don't.

                                                 The only real "attack" in the film is when John Agar tosses some objects at Franz, and he and June Kenney (mature looking her as secretary Sally Reynolds, who is, like Agar, victimized by Franz, as well as four others, and who (Kenney) played teenaged Carol in "Earth Vs. The Spider."  She did a better job there.)  By the way, Sally's puppet dress is the best one in the film.  A forerunner of Dorothy Collins' 1971 dress in "Follies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                   Agar and Kenney escape, face off with the dog, and manage to get back to Franz' factory, and, while neither are trained scientists, not to mention small sized, are able to operate the mechanism that brings them back to their true size.  Franz bursts in on them, a fight ensues, but he is turned over to the authorities.  As for the other four shrunken dupes?  It's like no one cares, because this is how the film ends.  To hell with them!

                                                     I told you it was made up as it went along.  But there is a minor quality character performance by actor Michael Mark (best known as the father of drowned Maria in the original, 1931 "Frankenstein") as Franz' friend, Emil.  I have to confess there were several moments where I thought Emil would either be turned into a puppet.  Or knocked off.  Fortunately, he lives.

                                                        As did all of us, who stayed awake during this viewing.  I have talked about films where the poster is better.  Well, this is one where the title was better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                          If it is puppetry you want, darlings, stick to "The Lonely Goatherd," from "The Sound Of Music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" 

                                              

                                              

Here Is Nicholas, The Wonder Cat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    That is my good friend, Nicholas, leaping over that fence like a true professional.  As my personal trainer, who sees I get in a couple of stair runs each time I visit, I am sure Nicholas, in his own, sweet way, is pushing for me to be able to do this!  Darlings, I couldn't even do this, when I was in high school, but with Nicholas coaching me, I have complete trust in him.

                                      There is just no limit to what Nicholas can do.  And so loving and protective, besides.

                                       This is currently my favorite picture of Nicholas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Isn't he just the greatest????????????????????????????????????? 

"We'll Meet Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                    No, loves, this blog is not ending.  But now that Russia has invaded Ukraine, I can't help thinking of the end of "Dr. Strangelove."  I fear that this is embarking on World War III, and, if it does, Trump will ride the bomb for Putin, and destroy us all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      I certainly don't hope this will become an actuality.  But having lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis, The Kennedy and King Assassinations, AIDS, 9/11, and Covid, what the hell is next??????????????????????

                                        Better not to know.  But mark my words, if these pics become reality, you heard it here, first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Ahead, Attack Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Oh, my God, I know it is not fashionable to even mention "Gone With The Wind" these days, but you know what?  I don't care!  Fifty-four years ago, on this very day, I saw the 1939 classic for the first time, and it made quite an impression on me.  And once seen on the screen, well, there is just no other way.

                                   Hey, "12 Years A Slave" is just the other side of the coin.  But both have their place.  If you want to go see '12 Years,' by all means, do.  Me, I will stick to what I was raised on, the David O. Selznick film classic.  Not to mention Scarlett's vow at the end of the first half.  "As God is my witness...."It taught me when Life kicks you, you kick it back, and that has stood me in good stead up to the current age of 67.

                                   So, don't get on my case about "Gone With The Wind."  Or else I will say to you--

                                    "Get off these steps, you trashy wench!  Get off this land!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Girls, Can You Believe It??????????? After Almost A Year To The Saturday, Svengoolie Is Going To Show The 1964 "Devil Doll" Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Don't ask me why, darlings, because it is not that great of a movie; the standard ventriloquist and his dummy trope, with some British eroticism and maybe some bosoms thrown in.

                                       For some reason, this movie excites Baby Gojira; he was so psyched for it last year, and now he is again.  As for the rest of us, we are looking forward to seeing Svengoolie, Kerwyn, and, hopefully, Toonie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        If you have not seen it, darlings, join us; it does have some elements of camp.  Unfortunately, it seems when Svengoolie reaches for the repeats, he picks some duds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Will he ever show "|Curucu, Beast Of The Amazon?"

Happy Birthday, Jessie Mueller!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Theater Queens and cultural connoisseurs have reason to celebrate.  Today is Jessie Mueller's birthday, and the actress with the most glorious voice on Broadway of this era is--can you believe it, girls? --39!!!!!!!!!!!!   It seems like Jessie only recently arrived, and that she has been part of the theater scene forever, both at once.

                                                 I will go out on a limb and say Jessie, not Sutton Foster, should be the current Marian in "The Music Man," or she, not Beanie Feldstein, should be playing Fanny Brice in the forthcoming "Funny Girl."  Jessie played Marian at Kennedy Center in D.C., (with Norm Lewis as Harold Hill) and I know she is anxious to reveal her dramatic chops in the Tracy Letts play "The Minutes," which I actually want to see.

                                                    But Jessie will always be dear to us lovers of musical theater.  Have a happy day, do what you want, and we look forward to many more years of that glorious voice.

                                                      Jessie is a true Broadway treasure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      I have posted this before, but listen to Jessie sing "Goodnight, My Someone.

                                       THIS is how Marian should sound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Introducing Chris Via And Russell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Let's get this over with first.  Girls, they are cute, but they are married, so off limits!  Just like me!

                                      Remember when I used to post book reviews on here?  I so want to get back to that, but not doing so has been a byproduct of the pandemic.  With David working from home, which I am still glad about, I have less time for the computer, naturally, so not as much time to write.  And some things--like books and Bitch Of The Week--have gone by the wayside.

                                        So, I have been scrolling YouTube looking at book vloggers.  The best of the best is Chris Via, and Russell, who are my Ying and Yang.  That's two sides of the same coin to you, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Chris Via does a vlog called "Leaf By Leaf."  He specializes in books some of us are afraid to read--like "Gravity's Rainbow," which even I haven't tackled.  I related to him because I just recently finished a massive tome called "Abel And Cain," by Gregor Von Rizzori, and it almost did me in.  Well written, panoramic, but let me tell you--and I may be repeating myself, here--though half the length of Uwe Johnson's book "Anniversaries," I found Johnson's book to be preferable. But that's me.

                                             Chris really got my attention when he started talking about William Gaddis' 1955 novel, "The Recognitions," which has been staring at me on bookstore shelves for years, calling out to me to read it.  Now, I really want to, but I am so backed up with what I have in this apartment, I may not get to it till next year.  Every so often I get in the mood for a challenge--that is what reading "Abel And Cain" was all about.  My suggestion to you, darlings, is that, when overcome by this feeling, check with Chris.  I guarantee he will find you something challenging.

                                                Now, for Russell.

                                                His vlog is called "Ink and Paper Blog."  He makes videos too.  Both Chris and Russell, by the way, are Californians. Chris is in San Francisco, while Russell is somewhere in Northern California, whatever that means.  Hey, I am New York, here!

                                                    Rusell is gay, and proves that, yes, gay men actually read books, and take them seriously.  Thanks for that, Russell.  He is passionate, personable, and spot on with his ability to talk about books.  The only problem I have, and it may be geographical, is that while he does hit on some books I have read, or want to read, most of the time he talks about books I have never heard of.  Some he gets from publishers, or organizations like the National Book Awards.  Others are things I have never seen on the shelf in NYC.   Is it a California thing,  Russelll?  Because, while some of these books seem very intriguing, I am hard pressed to have heard of them or seen them in the bookstores of NYC which I frequent.

                                                       Nevertheless, both gentlemen are charming and informative, and I urge you to give each of them a try.  Meanwhile, I've got a lot of reading to do!

                                                         And I promise--PROMISE--to fully input my 2021 list.  I am past the halfway point, so I am getting there.

                                                          Stay tuned, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Raving Queen Is Returning To Broadway, After A Two-Year Absence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           That is right, darlings!  On Wednesday, February 23, David and I will be attending the matinee performance of "COMPANY," with Patti and the Gang!  So, cast members, take note, not only will I be there, but in the first row!!!!!!!!!!!!  Which wasn't planned.  I promise to behave myself, so as not to get Patti Lupone-d, but I am excited about seeing something on Broadway.  The score to this show alone...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             It will be quite an event, girls!  I am expecting media coverage, and I will wear my best matinee outfit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                Any readers wishing to join us, just come along.  I am sure the cast would love to have you!  Performers need audiences!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And I need to be in an audience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   See you at 2PM, when the Wednesday curtain goes up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, What Was It About The Fifties?????????????? Nice Girls Just Did Not Behave This Way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Hons, if I had done something like this, even dressed like this, my parents would have had it in for me.  Nice girls of the Fifties, and even those of us growing up in the Sixties, did not behave this way, unless one wanted a besmirched reputation.  Of course, if you were a girl brought up in Goat Alley, then this was how you were destined to turn out. Till forty years past and you end up looking like an obese harridan.

                                              Nice girls do what Mama says.  Nice girls wear nice things and marry nice men.  None of this tawdry, two-bit ho' business for us, girls, especially when we have goals in sight.

                                                The woman who graced this cover is most likely now picking spuds out of ash cans on the Sunset Strip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     Not us, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     And this was before the Sexual Revolution of the Sixties!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               

Girls, Join Us Tomorrow Night, As Svengoolie Presents "Attack Of The Puppet People!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                           This should be the cutest, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            The trouble with these growth-shrinkage sci-fi films is that they all revolve around the world's food supply.  In the 1936 "The Devil Doll," from MGM, with Frank Lawton and Maureen O'Sullivan, (who played the adult David and Dora, in 1935's "David Copperfield") the mad scientist, played by Lionel Barrymore had the mad dream of increasing the world's food supply by decreasing the size of people.  However, the whole thing was upstaged by Rafaella Ottiano.  I mean, just that name alone............

                                                 In 1940's "Dr. Cyclops," the shrinkage of people was due to environmental protection.  Oh, really?????????????????   Then came Universal's "Tarantula" in 1955 where Leo G. Carroll thought growth was the answer to increased food production.  Having not seen 'Puppet People' since I was a child, I cannot hazard a guess about it.

                                                  But I can tell you one thing, darlings.  John Agar's career here was starting to hit the skids.  Having been the king of Universal giant monster movies, now he winds up at AIP doing this camp thing???????????  Oh, well, a girl has to work!

                                                     Also in the film is June Kenney, who played daughter Carol in the 1958 classic, "Earth Vs. The Spider," which was Svengoolie's 2021 Christmas movie.  She must have made these back-to-back, as both were released in 1958.

                                                         So, join us all tomorrow night.  Baby Gojira and Kerwyn are especially excited.

                                                          But don't expect Kukla, Fran and Ollie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                "Hi, Nancy!

                                                  Hi, Ursula!

                                                  What's the story, morning glory?

                                                   What's the tale, nightingale?

                                                    Have you heard about Hugo and Kim?"

                                                     --Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, "Bye, Bye, Birdie"

                                                   

        

"Oh, We Got Trouble! Right At The Winter Garden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                        Once upon a time, darling, critics reviewed the show they saw before them.  As the reviews of "The Music Man" demonstrated, now they are reviewing shows not for what they are, but what they wish them to be.

                                             I admit I am worried about Sutton Foster.  I have not seen the show yet but having grown up with Barbara Cook's soaring voice on the Cast Album, and Shirley Jones' lyric soprano in the 1962 film, I have to wonder how Sutton's Marian songs will soar.

                                                Never have I thought of Winthrop of being anything more than Marian's kid brother.  I am a Winthrop, too; my sister and I are fourteen years apart; she is older.  So, all this implicit talk about Marian being knocked up, and Winthrop actually her illegitimate son is the New York critical cognoscenti projecting "Hamilton-ian" standards onto a musical set in 1912 Iowa, where if a girl got knocked up, well, she was sent away, pronto.  Give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   Now, Robert Preston may own the role, but Hugh Jackman is the best thing there is today!  I think his stardom is resented; all that is wanted onstage today is ethnicity, unknowns, and material verging on what used to be called Guerilla Theatre.

                                                        It has its place.  But not in "The Music Man."  Who knows; maybe I will have reservations about the production, when I eventually see it.  But judge the show on its own merits, because it is what it is, and not what Millennials wish it was today.

                                                           And the Winter Garden happens to be my favorite theater.  I have always wanted to play there, many classics have, so it is the perfect house for this show.

                                                              The trouble may not be on stage.  It may rest with overly politicized critics.  In which case they should not review, as they have no objectivity.

                                                                Read my post, once I see it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reservations About "Revenge Of The Creature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                      As I feared, girls, the poster was better than the actual film.  Not that there were moments lacking, but I had forgotten The Creature was a limited monster.  He cannot ramble through cities, weaving a path of destruction, because he cannot be out of water for long periods of time.  He is a "Gill Man," after all.  So, whatever vengeance he wreaks has to be close enough to the water.

                                       My favorite moment is when he tosses a car over a cliff onto the beach.  True to form, he also carries the helpless, barefoot heroine, played by Lori Nelson, who, in 1956 would be menaced the hideous three-eyed mutant in AIP's "The Day The World Ended."  Here she plays Helen Dobson, "the pretty young scientist."  This description is used on her throughout the film.  Do I detect a note of sexism here?  Of course, the year is 1955. 

                                          I felt sorry for The Creature, until he went after Helen's dog, a lovable German Shepard, named Chris.  Chris was just trying to protect his mistress, but ends up being killed by the Gill Man.  Anyone who kills a dog is on my hate list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            But the moment where The Creature crashes the Florida waterside bar, "Lobster House," is really camp.  He wants to have a good time, dance to the beat, and the people just flee in terror.  This is the highlight of the film.

                                               His design is original, and it is too bad color was not used to heighten his green.

                                               Still, The Creature's revenge was really not enough to justify this sequel.

Isn't He Cute??????????????????? NOT, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        I thought nothing was worse than a pit bull, until I saw the 1959 film, "The Killer Shrews," which David and I watched one night last week on a non-Svengoolie weeknight.

                                        These creatures were actually coon dogs with monster masks over their faces, and puppets in others, especially when breaking through doors, walls, or fences.

                                         And let me tell you something, girls!  They livened up the show!  They deserved more screen time than they got!  Who cares about the actors?  Who cares about the plot--the usual trapped victims on a remote island, victimized by a mad scientist's experiments on growth, involving shrews, who grow to tremendous size.

                                           This 1959 work had a small influence on 1972's "Night Of The Lepus," though its last, with really cute bunny rabbits and an all-star cast is far superior.

                                              "The Killer Shrews" will have you cheering them on, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 And there is nothing wrong with that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   "Dancing On The Moon,                                                                                                                                     Holding you in my arms,                                                                                                                                   Far away above the crowds,                                                                                                                        Far away among the clouds."--                                                                                                                         --1935 Song Lyric

                                         The Fleischers--Max and Dave--created this titular 1935 classic cartoon, which enchanted me as a small child, and whose song I never forgot.  When David and I got together, it became what couples call "our song," and we hold each other, and dance to it often.

                                           What more appropriate day for this song than Valentine's Day?  The only thing that might surpass it is the Original Cast Album of "She Loves Me!," but, fond as we are of that most romantic of musicals, it does not have the sentimental pull for us as "Dancing On The Moon."

                                              So, I want to wish everyone on here a Happy Valentine's Day.  Celebrate however you will, to whatever song is yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is a day of Love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Here is the cartoon classic that enchanted me when young.  I had strong emotions, even then, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                             

This Should Be As Big A Hoot As "Reefer Madness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                               Oh, darlings, the good old days of "public service films."  Like "Boys Beware," and my personal favorite, "The Snob."  Where are their like today??????????

                                                  I have to admit this poster caught my eye!  The consequences of carrying--oh, my!--sexual freedom too far!  I just love the billing---"Test Tube Babies," followed by |Guilty Parents.  Maybe the parents are guilty about the test tube babies!

                                                     What they should be guilty of is middle class morality--but hell, that is still around now; even more so.  Also, hypocrisy: if William Inge were still alive, he would find plenty to write about.  Remember, in "Splendor In The Grass," it is the struggling Deanie who has a breakdown, while the free-spirited Ginny gets killed in a car accident.  And this is still the moral standard today.

                                                      So, as campy as this film package may look, especially in its visual outdatedness, I am not so sure it is as outdated philosophically as I wished.

                                                       Funny, I started this as a humorous post.  Sorry it ended up a little sad!

                                                       But I will return, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Join Us Tomorrow Night, Dolls, As Svengoolie Presents "Revenge Of The Creature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                This is, of course, a sequel to Universal's 1954 hit "The Creature From The Black Lagoon," in which Julie Adams, in the second most famous white bathing suit, next to Elizabeth Taylor in |Suddenly Last Summer," writhed before the title character.  I have not seen that film since I was a child, and while I recall scenes, I cannot tell you how it ends, so I don't know what or whom the Creature is unleashing his revenge on, in this film.

                                     John Agar is on hand; this was his big period, doing this and "Tarantula" in the same year, 1955, followed by "The Mole People," in 1956.

                                       My suspicion is this may be another film, like "The Deadly Mantis," where the poster is actually better than the movie.  Said poster raises an interesting question--why in all these posters, are the victimized women drawn barefoot?  Was there a foot fetish going on among artists at the time?  OK, Fay Wray lost her shoes in the jungle in "King Kong," so that makes sense, but couldn't any woman in the Universal monster posters keep on a pair of designer heels???????????????????

                                           The answer will have to be found out tomorrow, as we all gather around the set to watch!

                                              Join us, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Darlings, Why Can't Our Lives Be An MGM Musical???????????????????????????????

                                                                                 

                                  The songs, the clothing, the dancing, the feeling of life being a festival of colors and pleasurable excitement.  I certainly have had my share of MGM moments.

                                    The problem is when Life is not so MGM, I always wish it could be.  That may not be realistic, but, as Blanche Du Bois once said, "I don't want realism; I want magic!" And not the Joan Didion brand of magic either.

                                       Don't mind me, kids, I am just musing.  Maybe because of David's recent, albeit successful surgery, the certainty of the future has me wondering--with uncertainty.

Girls, Remember When We Pretended To Be Like This??????????????????????

                                                  Highly influenced by Marlene Dietrich in "The Blue Angel," and Liza Minnelli doing "Mein Herr" standing on a chair, I can still recall those carefree days of youth, when I would curl up on the floor--if only I'd had that outfit--and pretended to be 50's sexy, which, when one thinks about it, is still pretty sexy, even by the standards of today.

                                                    It is rather like the song "Doatsy Mae" in "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas."  Fantasizing has its advantages; fulfilling them can often lead to trouble.  

                                                      Keep those fantasies confined to one's bedroom, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                I wanted to get you Susan Mansur, from the original, 1978 Broadway production. Here is Andrea McArdle--hey, she can sing!!!!!!!!--at an Actors Fund Benefit performance, in 2007.  Oh, my God, that is fifteen years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   We are all "Doasty Mae," girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"On February 11, 1858......."

                                                   Yes, darlings, this is the day that Bernadette Soubirous--not Jennifer Jones--saw her first apparition of the Virgin Mary.  That experience was brilliantly depicted in the 1943 film, "The Song Of Bernadette," in which Jones played the lead, to Oscar perfection.  But today is the REAL thing, no monkey business.

                                                       So, on this day, take some time to reflect.  And just because Jones received a fur coat as a gift from David O. Selznick on the first day of filming, don't go high fashion on this day of days.

                                   Here is the wonderful filmic recreation of this special day.

                                    Watch it and be moved, darlings.

                                     And remember what Bernadette did for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Finished It--But Was It Worth It?????????????????????????

                                                    I am about to violate my New Year's Resolution.  Which was to clean out my vertical bookshelves by reading what remains on them, some of which have been sitting there for years.  Many are NYRB Classics.  This recent read was helped by listening to book bloggers like Chris Via, and this guy named Russell on Ink and Paper Blog.  Chris is the real thing, and serious; Russell is more down to earth and fun.

                                                    And, after reading "Abel And Cain," fun is what I am looking for.  Now, let me tell you, yes, it was worth reading, but, at half the length, I did not find it as enjoyable as Uwe Johnson's blockbuster "Anniversaries," which had more going for it, like a cohesive narrative, and did not wander all over the place with references as disparate as Little Red Riding Hood and "Better Homes And Gardens," not to mention philosophical and rhetorical posturing, some written as monologues and letters, and all centered around two brothers whose lives are both dissatisfying.

                                                       Did this book need to be this long?  Not at all!  But it was good enough that I did not put down, even though I have put down shorter works; most recently, Richard Powers' "The Overstory."

                                                        Not only do I need fun for mental palate cleansing, but David is having prostate surgery on Wednesday, so nothing too heavy in content, until afterward.

                                                           Any suggestions, darlings???????????????

Darlings, Why Wasn't Candace Hilligoss Nominated For An Academy Award For Her Performance In "Carnival Of Souls????????????"

                                                   When it first appeared, in 1962--exactly sixty years ago, darlings--this film must have crept under the radar, so that is part of the reason.  When first shown on television in the late Sixties--I saw it on New York's Channel 9 "Supernatural Theater," in 1967, at age 12, and it freaked me out so much, for years I would not look at it.  This film destroys any illusion of death being an abstraction.

                                                      David had never seen the film, when he asked me to watch it with him, the other night, and I agreed.  This film improves with each viewing; it was truly artistically ahead of its time.  And the influences--Rod Serling, "Hitchcock's "Psycho," Romero's "Night Of The Living Dead," John Carpenter, David Lynch, even the Prince-Sondheim musical, "Follies"--are almost too numerous to mention.

                                                      Now, girls, don't let this disappoint you, but I am afraid the film is about spinsterhood and death.  And that spinsterhood can lead to death.  Mary Henry (Hilligoss) aspires to be a church organist in Utah, near Salt Lake City, where the haunting Saltair Pavillion seems to await her.  Before all this, she is in a car accident, and hanging out with a rather butch crowd.  Is she a repressed lesbian?  Lipstick?  Or just repressed, in general?  My guess is the last, because, as she goes through the rest of the film, it seems Mary is on the edge, like your average spinster.  Set in the Midwest, this is kind of like "Rod Serling Meets William Inge."

                                                        Along with Hilligoss' stunning work, are fine turns by Frances Feist as the typical landlady, and Sidney Berger, then head of the Drama Department at the University Of Kansas, as Mary's neighbor, John Linden, the sleaziest of the sleaze.

                                                           But the film's best assets are its imagery and use of sound, and lack thereof.   Let me show you some photos, so you can see what I mean.

                                                                                   

 

                                                                                   

                                                                            

                                                                                  

                                                                                   

                          If only someone would rebuild the pavilion in all its glory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          The world needs more haunting and beguiling architecture like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

                           And don't let spinsterhood get you down, girls!  My mother always said there is someone for everyone.  And boy was she right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

Girls, Join Us Tomorrow Evening, As Svengoolie Presents "It! The Terror From Beyond Space!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                   I remember this 1958 film from childhood showings Saturday night on |Chiller Theater," on New York's Channel 11, during the early Sixties, when I was between eight and ten years old.

                                                    Even with my youthful precocity, darlings, I could not imagine this film would become the template of an even better one.  And when I first saw Ridley Scott's "Alien," when it first appeared, in 1980, this earlier film was not at all on my mental radar.

                                                     So, it will be interesting to view this, decades later, knowing this was the template for "Alien."  This film must have fascinated Ridley Scott, who saw it when he was young; obviously before me, and it jump started something in him.  The film did absolutely nothing for me, except be remotely entertaining.  And I thought the monster was so-so.

                                                      From such minutiae can film history be made.   So, join us on this nostalgic journey tomorrow, as we revisit this otherwise forgotten film.

                                                       I am telling you, right now, girls, Kerwyn is so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Happy Birthday, Blythe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        I mean, after Groundhog Day, we have Blythe Danner's birthday!  February is quite a month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Blythe turns 79 today, and, darlings, we should all look this good.  I have been trying for years to find out where she gets her hair done, so I can go, but have not yet been successful.

                                             Even if one is Blythe Danner, plans in these times are limited.  So, join me in wishing her a very happy day, doing exactly what she pleases--as one should, on their birthday!

                                               Happy Birthday, Blythe!  You are probably the last remnant of CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, "The Haunted Strangler" Was Simply Haunting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Too bad that Elizabeth Allan gets it halfway through the film.  After her heartbreaking performance as Clara Copperfield in Selznick's 1935 adaptation of the Dickens novel, she deserved better from Hollywood.  This 1958 film turned out to be her last.  What a way to end a career!

                                        The film is better than expected.  With the MGM budget, and more money from Eros Films, a U.K. company, this could have been another "Gaslight;" the direction, by Robert Day offered superb work by everyone involved, especially for a picture of this type.

                                         I was expecting another "She-Wolf Of London."  Someone is pretending to be Edward Styles, executed in 1860 as the Haymarket Strangler.  Now, in 1880, strangler-like murders are taking place, at lurid locales like The Judas Hole (great name for a gay bar!) where dancing can-can chorines, looking as if about to sing the Shop-Rite song, practically show their cooches!!!!!!!!!!!!  The U. S. censors must have had a field day with this one.

                                          Turns out things are more contrived than that, and while the ending is satisfying, the contrivances to getting there discredit the quality the film might have had.

                                             So, not quite a Svengoolie gem, but an unexpected surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Hey, girls, I'd like to dance at The Judas Hole, myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn! The Groundhog Saw Its Shadow! Six More Weeks Of Winter!

                                         That's right, girls; Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so we get six more weeks of Winter.

                                          Too bad, because, as far as I am concerned, this has been an especially cold Winter.  Or maybe it is my age feeling the cold more.  But don't worry.  Neither David nor I have any intention of moving to Florida!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Still, an early Spring would have been nice.  And the thought of Summer even nicer.

                                              I want to see Dexter!  I want to visit Nicholas.  I have so much to tell Nicholas, and I know he has lots to tell me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                But Nicholas is a very practical cat.  I know I will see him soon, and I will keep you girls posted!