Farewell, October!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Doctor appointments, Broadway shows, a book by Thomas Pynchon......October has been quite a month.  Five sixths of the year gone!  While it did not speed through our lives, as did Summer and September, it offered its share of events, surprises and delights.  And some sadness, with the loss of people we have known.

                                       Still, things were pretty mellow during October, which was perfect, but November is a month that is anything but mellow.  Excitement and surprises await in November, and I cannot wait to share them with you.

                                         So, a mild-mannered farewell to October, which did well by us, this month!

The First Play Of The Season, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     The current theater season for me, was initiated by "Little Bear Ridge Road," a play by Samuel D. Hunter, who wrote "The Whale" From this production it appears Hunter, like me longs for the golden age type of play that used to be written by the likes of Tennessee Williams, William Inge, and Carson McCullers.  He makes a game effort of it, but there are bumps along the roadway that make this play less than I think what it aspired to.

                                      It is like a master class in acting.  Laurie Metcalf, as Sarah, and Micah Stock as nephew Ethan, go back and forth masterfully in an almost '' 'Night, Mother' " kind of way.  They are thankfully directed by Joe Mantello, who knows a thing or two about blocking and rhythms.  I haven't seen such masterwork like this in a long time, and it was a welcome sight, indeed.

                                       When it veers into gay areas, the play is interesting, because Micah Stock's Ethan is what I would call a real gay.  Someone attractive enough, but who would never make the cover of GQ.  And he is not afraid to show his body, as in an extended scene, which he plays with his shirt open, exposing a not so tight chest.  Yet, if he would just let go of his uptight issues, he might have a chance.  I sympathized with him.

                                          Now, Jonathan Dea, who plays prospective partner, James, is as buttoned up, as Ethan is open.  He is like a petit Jonathan Franzen, and while one may wonder what is underneath, one never knows.  James, though, has an open, caring personality; at one point, his aunt, again played by Metcalf, delivers one of the best lines when she says to Ethan, "You are throwing away the best thing that has ever been offered you.," or words to that effect.  She is right, but Ethan's constant life of abandonment, to which Sarah has also contributed, prevents Ethan from attaining such happiness.

                                            The play is sad, not depressing, and has an apt ending.  The only problem is it has all been done before, and by better writers.  Mantello and Company get all the credit for making this otherwise lackluster drama as compelling as it is.  With this and "The Whale," Hunter demonstrates he is on the verge of something but has yet to reach it yet.  It is my hope that with his next effort, which I would like to see, he reaches that goal.

                                              But go see "Little Bear Ridge Road" for the acting, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah, How I Mourn The Loss Of Culture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            This was the popular attraction known as Castle Dracula, which lasted at Wildwood, New Jersey's boardwalk from 1977, when it was built, to January 10, 2022, when it was destroyed in a fire.  How sad.  I never got to see this attraction, which was described as "a dark walk-through ride," and I am sure played off the Dracula myth.  How I wish I could have seen this, but I was only at Wildwood once, when I was 8, and never went there again.  I was always told it was a low-class place.

                             Now, darlings, I know a thing or two about class myself, and I see nothing wrong with Wildwood or this castle.  New Jersey used to be filled with attractions like these, but, alas, the way of so-called progress has led to the loss of such dream-like delights.

                             Still, I thought Halloween was the most appropriate day to display this glorious monument to the past. 

                               Don't forget to play the "Monster Mash" today, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Halloween, Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           This year, I wanted to do something different for the holiday, even though tonight David and I will probably watch the 1978 Jamie Lee Curtis classic, "Halloween."  I love when the little clown costumed boy is unmasked, knife taken from him, and turns out to be a child killer!!!!!!!!!!!!  We get our kicks when we can get them, right, girls????????????????

                            Now, for those having lived under rocks for decades, this is Margaret O'Brien in one of two scenes from 1944's "Meet Me In St. Louis" that won her a special Juvenile Academy Award For "An Outstanding Performance By A Child Actress."  The other is the Christmas sequence.  Now, if you have seen the film, you know what I am talking about, and why I put Margaret on here, for Halloween.

                              Those having no idea need to remedy themselves quickly, and the only way to do it is to see "Meet Me In St. Louis."  Its plot covers all seasons, and if any film comes close to perfection this does.

                                So, whether you are a child, like Margaret, here, or an adult I wish you a Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 And watch out, girls!  Some of those treats may turn out to be tricks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I Read It!!!!!!!!!!!!! But You Have To Keep Telling Yourself, "It's Thomas Pynchon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                        I had hoped this might be the literary event of the year, and it is an event, but not one I had hoped for.  To be sure, "Shadow Ticket" is a play on Doctorow and noir authors, giving the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin a noir setting I had never imagined it having.

                                        But mixed in with a simple tale of gangster Hicks McTaggart trying to track down a cheese heiress-yes!!!!!!!--named Daphne, are the other Pynchonian mixes--cultural and movie references, language variations, conspiracy theories, long sentences, and ramblings all over the pace.  Readers, as long as you stay with the story you will find it almost fun.  Don't get bogged down in Pynchon's world.

                                           The man is 88, so this could be his last book.  I applaud him for writing it.  And those readers never having read Pynchon out of fear may find this to be his most accessible book yet.

                                             It is short at 293 pages, but it is a dense 293 pages.

                                            Good of kind, but not what I had hoped for, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Book Lists Season Is Coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         We are not there yet, darlings, but we soon will be.  And I have no idea what I am going to do.

                          I am in the early seventies of books read this year, so I think it possible that I may make it to my customary goal of 100.  But what about my top five contenders in fiction?  Right now, I have only three definite contenders, which means two books out there had better blow me away before this year gets away from us.

                            Girls, I am hysterical!!!!!!!!!!!!!  What am I going to do????????????  What author will spring a surprise on me.  Zadie Smith?  Somehow, I doubt it.

                             As we ease into late November, I should have a better idea and have a list of five.

                             Till then..........oh, my God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Episode Should Have Been Called "Tracking," Not "Hothouse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                            I get why it was called "Hothouse."  It was about the intense competition between students at Norwood, a private school for the gifted, where from Sarah Hyland's Emmy caliber performance, even they are made to feel dumb.

                               

                            I don't know if this goes on in public schooling today, but in the lower grades one was put into reading and math groups.  I was always in the high groups, even in math, which I was weaker in than reading.  No surprise there, considering how things turned out.

                            But when junior high began, in the seventh grade, I naturally thought I would go in the high group.  By the second day I found I was in the second highest; friends I had known all my life were even lower.  I think it had to do with socioeconomic factors, and even though my family was not blue- collar, I came from the school where the children of the blue-collar workers went.

                             I was humiliated for the next two years.   It was sadistic. It was like the administration then was saying, "OK, you are in puberty now, so we have got to reign you in, until things calm down."  I resented every day of my two years in middle school.

                              Things improved in high school and went better for me, as I was more recognized then.  But Hyland's performance took me back to that time in middle school, and while I never killed anyone over it, as she did, or wanted to, I wanted to tell the administration exactly what I thought.   But I lacked the self-confidence then to do so.

                                  Of course, it does not matter now, as I showed up most of the so-called high group kids.  If administrations are still doing this, STOP!  Or watch Hyland's performance and see what it can do to a student.

                                   I did not condone her actions, but I completely understood how she felt!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, Girls, I Did It Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                         Actually, darlings, I survived two doctor visits this week.

                                       Monday, I had to go see my heart rhythm cardiologist.  During the Spring and Summer seasons I had two nights where I awoke from an unpleasant dream, and my heart was beating rapidly.  It stopped after several seconds, and I went back to sleep.  During a night in Summer, the same thing happened, only it did not stop. So, I decided to get up, go into the living room, and read for half an hour. Voila!  Things stopped.  And I had no more episodes after that.

                                       But David suggested that since it had been five years since my heart ablation, I should go and pay a visit to Dr. Aizer, and see what he thinks, I was terrified; would I have to wear s stent, have a bypass, or a valve replacement?

                                        On the first visit, Dr. Aizer suggested I wear a heart monitor for two weeks, and then, when done, send it back to where it came from, and on another visit the results would be discussed.

                                          That visit was on Monday, and I am happy to say the results were fine!  I breathed a sigh of relief.  We decided that six months from now, I would receive a new monitor, again wear it for two weeks, and then on June 1 of 2026, return to see the results.  If OK, then I am good for another several years.

                                            Which gets me off the cardiac hook--for now.

                                             As for the dentist, everything went as usual.  No cavities or problems, though the upper left of my mouth is problematic to clean.  It always has been, And Dr. Sokel's son, Jacob, was running things while his parents are in India, and let me tell you, what a fine young man, and such healing hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am sure business will increase thanks to him.

                                               I always dread the dentist and yet come out all right.  Thank God!

                                               Because, in just 20 days, I will turn 71!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              But my professional age is still 24, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        

Fifty Years Ago, Exactly On This Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Half a century ago, my father and I boarded a Suburban Transit bus in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to go to New York, and see the new smash musical "A Chorus Line", playing at the Shubert Theatre.

                               It was a life changing experience.  To his dying day, my father always talked about us going to see that show, and how good it was.  It introduced me to Donna McKechnie.  Need I say more?

                              The show also cemented in me a desire, which four years later, due to my mother's death, became a necessity, to get myself into New York and live the life of a New Yorker.  Which I did.  And "A Chorus Line" helped along the way.

                                Over these decades, I have seen many stagings of this show, even a return engagement for Donna.  And of course I have seen Donna in other shows, and concerts.

                                 But nothing will ever top that first viewing of "A Chorus Line," with my father, exactly fifty years ago today.

                                  As the song says it motivated me into doing "what I had to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

This Was 20th Century Fox's Technicolor Smash Hit For 1958!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         As a queen, darlings, I can certainly say it is far from "Gigi," but "The Fly" racked up enormous box-office grosses.

                                         I have never seen it, so the screening at 8PM tonight on "Svengoolie" offers me, and others, an opportunity to view a film long overdue to be seen.  I don't think it will be as fun as "The Wasp Woman," but it has Vincent Price, Kathleen Freeman, and a Fifties beauty who screams her lungs off!  What more could one ask?

                                            Isn't it funny that, barely a month after "THEM," "Svengoolie" is showing another bug movie?  The programming must be on some kind of a role; if "The Deadly Mantis," which we all love, turns up in November, I will know bugs are being showcased.

                                               This film was considered terrifying at the time, so sensitive viewers might want to think twice before viewing.

                                                 As for me, I think it will be a hoot!  Go, Vincent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Cannot Wait For This Film In January!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       The holiday season is not yet upon us, and already I am anticipating January.  That is because on January 2, everything stops, and I develop Seasonal Affect Disorder.  But something is coming along that may remedy that--a trash horror film called "Primate."

                                         I was even more excited when I heard the plot--a possessed monkey!  Would its head turn?  Would it spew green vomit?  Would it be the voice of Linda Blair?  Mercedes McCambridge?

                                          The potential for hilarity was unlimited.  But this morning, while researching this post, I found the film to be no more than a simian "Cujo."  A family adopts a chimpanzee that is rabid and begins attacking them.  Now, even though this is not as fun as the first plot, this could help relieve those January doldrums.

                                               I just know that the monkey will steal the show!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              But how I long for the days of "The Monkey's Uncle," with Annette Funicello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Day Of The Opening Night For "CHESS" Is A Very Prophetic One!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       The musician's strike has been averted, which is good news for all Theater Queens.  On the news last night, I saw people pouring out of the Imperial Theatre, where "CHESS" is playing,  I understand the show has taken in $12 million, which is impressive for one week.

                                          However, having seen the original production, I have my qualms.  

                                         Having heard Aaron Tveit on "One Night In Bangkok," I cannot wait to hear him on "Pity The Child."

                                           Lea Michele (why her?) does not approach the emotionality of Judy Kuhn on "Someone Else's Story."

                                           As for Nicholas Christopher, who the hell is he??????????  He is expected to sing the haunting "Anthem."  Can his voice do it?  How I wish Ruthie Ann Miles and Josh Groban were playing these roles.  I have heard Josh sing "Anthem," and it is the most perfect rendering since the late, great David Carroll.

                                           The passion in my post reveals a cultist's love for "CHESS."  It is considered a cult musical, which means, like me, people have high expectations for it.  If it is anything less than expected, the show will tank, and so will Lea Michele's career.

                                             Remember, it was not she who saved "Funny Girl," but Julie Benko.

                                            As for the prophetic date, the opening will be on November 16, 2025.  Do you know that means in musical theater history????????????????

                                            It is the birthday of Donna McKechnie.

                                           It is also the birthday of Martha Plimpton.

                                           Two iconic musicals opened on this date, decades apart.  The first was "The Sound Of Music," which opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.  The second was the original production of the musical "Merrily We Roll Along," which opened at the Alvin Theatre.  So "CHESS" is opening on a very important date that might foretell its luck, one way or the other.

                                            You will get my report on "CHESS" when I see it, girls.

                                            I would like to be pleasantly surprised.  Alas.............

                                              

                                    

Girls, It Is My Obligation To Save You From The Trouble Of These Two Awful Books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                   

                                First of all, darlings, like last year this has been a bad one for contemporary literary fiction.  Though my current read, "Culpability," by Bruce Holsinger, has some potential.

                                But the two books mentioned here are awful.  I am telling you, if "What A Time To Be Alive" was more than its 294 pages, I do not think I would have finished it.  It concerns an Asian woman who becomes an "influencer," who is concerned with morbid deaths, stemming from the passing of a friend of hers who tried to skateboard across two building roofs.  The first is ghastly, the other deaths are just redundant.  If the author is trying to make the reader aware of grief, she succeeds in doing the opposite.  By the last death, I could not care less.

                                   Stay away from this one, girls.  It is depressing and not worth your time.

                                     Now, I had high hopes for "The Loneliness of Sonia And Sunny," by Kiran Desai.  Almost twenty years ago, the author wrote the novel "The Inheritance Of Loss," which I just loved.  So, when I heard a new novel was coming out, I was excited.

                                       To its credit, the book has all the ingredients that press my buttons--two family sagas, social class differences, India versus New York City.  It is 698 pages, which in really not THAT long.  However, I could not get past page 245, because the writing here is so clunky, with too much exposition and description, and not enough character and narrative.  One critic had the nerve to call this novel "Dickensian."  When I heard that, I was excited, but the writing couldn't be more removed from Dickens than if Joan Didion had written it.  At least, she would have been brief.

                                          I kept thinking of longer novels I have read with similar settings, like "A Suitable Boy," by Vikram Seth and "The Far Pavilions," by M.M. Kaye.  They had driving, pulsating narratives so compelling I have read them more than once.  This current novel is like a car that never gets started.

                                             Like I said, save your time, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Better to tend to those fluffy white curtains, like Aunt Cordelia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, Be A 1950's Coffee Wife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Girls, where would I be without my coffee?  Instead of writing this blog I would probably be institutionalized.  Now, a coffee wife is not the same thing as a trophy wife.  The latter eventually begins to wear, developing lines and wrinkles and other things too grotesque to mention here on this blog.  They lose their trophy value.

                                          Coffee wives always keep theirs, because all they have to do is make and serve coffee.  That's right and look great.  Let someone else clean the house and cook the meals. Girls, cast off that mantle of medieval domesticity and take your rightful place as a coffee wife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It's better than Linda Richman!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Like the picture says, do NOT come near me until I have had my coffee!  I think I inherited this trait from my mother, who was more than a coffee wife.

                                             But that was then, and this is NOW.  Girls, make and serve that coffee, get dressed, and go out and live your lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               A toast and a sip to coffee wives everywhere!

                                               Excuse me, dears, I have to get more coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              

There Is No Specific "Orgy In Hell" Painting. However, If You Look At All The Imagery In Bosch's "The Garden Of Earthly Delights," It All Comes Together!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                This AWFUL novel I am currently reading, What A Time To Be Alive," by Jade Chang--skip it, girls!!!!!!!!!!!--makes reference to a painting entitled "Orgy In Hell."  Curious about such a thing, I looked for it and discovered there is no such thing.

                                 But, Hieronymus Bosch, in his iconic painting "The Garden Of Earthly Delights," has enough imagery therein to put together in your head, the perfect image of a painting with such a title.  How about this image here?  Copulating with a nun pig?  Pretty nasty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Chang had no idea what she was talking about, not just here, but throughout her novel.  I have 37 pages to complete it, and it is going to be a slog.  Stay away, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    But take a look at Bosch's entire painting, because his imagery will simply fascinate.

                                    Remember, dears, Hell may be fascinating, but we all want to go to Heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Svengoolie" Is Showing Mel Brooks! However.................

                              Tonight at 8PM, girls, "Svengoolie" is showing the 1974 Mel Brooks classic "Young Frankenstein."  Followed by "House Of Svengoolie" showing James Whale's 1931 original Karloff classic.  It should be the other way around.

                               I am not sure that the low-end humor of the Sven Squad will jive with that of the more professional Mel Brooks.  And it certainly will not work with the Karloff classic, which is an iconic gem.  How does one get jokes out of that?

                               However, I have an idea--

                            

                                    With all the tributes pouring in this week about Diane Keaton, and a promise that "Annie Hall" will be shown on theater screens, but with no further specific announcements thereof, I propose that tonight we will watch my DVD of it tonight.  I can't wait to see the scene where they are in line for a film with a pontificating idiot--I have been in that situation SO many times, darlings!--and he pulls out Marshall McLuhan, who, being in college during the mid to late Seventies, his writings were part of almost every communications course I took.  And I took a lot of them because that was my major.  I became attuned to McLuhan.  So this scene has great meaning for me.  It also was the reason I stopped eating lobster, because I never realized till this film how lobsters are cooked.

                                    But the film is actually funny, it elevated Keaton to icon status, and she is absolutely charming.  So, I think this is going to be our viewing choice tonight.

                                    Those who have "Annie Hall" on DVD--and I know I am not the only one!--honor Diane Keaton tonight by watching this iconic classic.  Probably the best comedy film since "Bringing Up Bably."  That is almost forty years apart.

                                      Diane Keaton will live forever through this film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       See you at 8PM, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ha Bruce Goldstein Been At The Film Forum Too Long?????????????????

                           I mean, girls, really!  Wait till you hear this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          I was scanning schedules there the other day, and discovered that on December 7 of this year, at 11am, Film Forum, Jr. is going to show "The Wizard Of Oz."  Now, you know I RUN to any screening of that, so I was completely flabbergasted when the ad said audiences have a choice between the original or a 3D version????????????????

                             What?  Is this some ersatz attempt to cash in on the Las Vegas travesty???????  The film was made in 1939, before there was 3D!  How can such a thing be possible? If someone out there has an answer, please explain it to me.

                                Of course, I will go with the ORIGINAL version.  But when I went to buy tickets, there was no way for me too.  I want the movie I know and love!   Sell me those tickets NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Hey, Bruce, get off my stage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today Is A Very Special Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday, Sister Camile D'Arienzo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  How I miss Sister Camille's Sunday radio broadcasts.  But everyone is entitled to a retirement, and Sister Camille has earned that, and more.

                                     Today happens to be her birthday.  Now, I know it is not polite to tell a lady's age, and I don't intend to, but my sources tell me she is somewhere in the 90+ range!!!!!!!!!!!  Doesn't she look fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        So, I, and all my readers on here, wish Sister Camille a very happy special day.  Enjoy what you want, indulge a little, because today is your day.

                                           Even minus the broadcasts, we still love you, Sister Camille!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Mommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!"

                            Oh, girls, Diana Scarwid in "Mommie Dearest" is just too much.  Playing an overaged pubescent schoolgirl in attire that is embarrassing to an adult actress, Scarwid and Faye Dunaway, when they both go at each other during the fight scene is camp at its highest.

                            Everyone remembers the famous line "No wire hangers!"  But the fight scene tops it all.

                             It starts with Faye saying "Why...can't...you...give...me...the...respect....that...I... am....entitled to?"  Why...can't...you....treat....me....as ...I... would....be...treated...by...any...stranger...on.... the...STREET??????????????"

                              Diana/Christina's answer is priceless..."Because...I... am..... not...one...of...your...FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                Then they tussle on the floor, with Faye trying to choke Diana, whose dress goes up, exposing those overaged panties!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh, girls, I am telling you, it is just too much!!!!!!!!!!  How much embarrassment can an actress endure, at the cost of so-called art???????????????

                                   The scene culminates with overweight Jocelyn Brando (Marlon's sister, so it is not surprising he ended up just like her.) as Carol Ann trying to stop Faye as Joan.  I bet it was for real.

                                   And Scarwid's cries for "Moooooooooommmmmmmmmmmy!" are priceless.  You almost have to laugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Has camp vanished from our culture?  Films with scenes like this are just not made anymore.

                                     What a pity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, Even In The 1940's Prostitutes Dressed Better Than People Today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Forget what profession you are in, girls, prostitutes, and everyone else in the 1940's, dressed better than the pros and nons today.

                                        I think it has to do with taste, girls.  During the 1940's men sought class, especially in the prostitutes they hired.  So, the ladies dressed for it.

                                           Today, despite the term "slut shaming" being bantered about, men who hire prostitutes want them to look as slutty as possible.  Which accounts for their popularity and appearance at truck and rest stops.  I can tell you from personal experience, having seen, but not hired, many ladies of the evening.  

                                                Even a term like "lady of the evening" is out of fashion.  "Whore," 'slut" and "ho" are still standard vernacular today.

                                                  While I don't approve of the "dress code," I am not above saying these girls should be given a break.  Everyone has a story, and one does not know what each is going through. I doubt any of them are "experimental housewives" like Catherine Deneuve in "Belle De Jour."

                                                      These girls should not be faulted for the situation they are in.  But society today should be blamed for lowest cultural standards I have seen in my almost 71 years.

                                                       Let's get standards back on track.  Maybe then prostitution would not be a mark of shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Two Sides Of Diane Keaton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Long before Meryl Streep showed up on the scene, Diane Keaton demonstrated that she, too, could do just about anything.  If you listen to the Original Broadway Cast album of "HAIR," she can be plainly heard soloing on the song "Black Boys."

                                Then she became Woody Allen's muse, an image that would never leave her, and where she did her best work, in films like "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan."

                                But she had range.  The same year as 'Annie,' she starred as Theresa Dunn in the film version of Judith Rossner's harrowing novel "Looking For Mr. Goodbar," based on the tragic real-life murder of teacher Roseann Quinn who, based on past childhood issues, chose to live a life of promiscuity.  Keaton gave the performance of her life in this and should have been awarded the Oscar as "Best Actress Of 1977."  And she was--but for "Annie Hall."  She was great in that, but the always conservative Academy could not accept this deeper, darker performance.  So, she got the award for one film, when it was really for the other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Diane Keaton, mostly, was an enjoyable presence in any film appearance she made.

                                The announcement of her death was unexpectedly shocking to me.  At 79, she had more to go, more to give.  But in the time she had, she certainly gave her most.

                                   Rest In Peace, Diane Keaton.

                                  "La-dee-dah.  La-dee-dah."

The Saddest Movie Ever Made!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            There are certain movies I will never sit through again.  Some are obvious--"Sophie's Choice," "Schindler's List," and "Boys Don't Cry." But the saddest movie ever, and I saw it very young, was Leo McCarey's 1937 drama "Make Way For Tomorrow."

                              Based on Josephine Lawrence's 1937 novel, "The Years Are So Long,' the movie tells the story of an elderly couple, played brilliantly by Victor Moore and Beulah Bondi.  Not wanting to worry their grown children, they wait to tell them, over a family dinner, that the house they are living in is being foreclosed and they have nowhere to go.  The children are horrified but come through--sort of.  When it becomes apparent that the couple's presence imposes on the children's lifestyles, tensions erupt, and a solution is found, with tragic consequences.  A daughter living in California has agreed to take her father, but her mother will have to stay with one of the children on the East coast, thus separating them permanently.

                               But not before they both get a little of their own back.  On the last day together, the children have planned a huge dinner for them.  The father makes a pay call in a phone booth, saying they will not be there for dinner, they would rather be by themselves, and what a rotten bunch of no-good kids he and his wife raised!

                                   Which brings us to the most heartbreaking part of the film.  The couple decide to revisit the hotel where they had their honeymoon fifty years ago.  When the management and staff see the couple, and hear their story, they are treated like royalty, culminating in a dance sequence to what was once their song, "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."  I shall never think of that song in the same way again.  As time closes in, the heartbreak of the couple having to live apart becomes more real.

                                    The farewell at the train station is too much.  They act bravely, believing they will see each other again, knowing they will not.  As the train leaves the station and Beaulah Bondi waves, with the strains of 'Sweetheart' on the soundtrack, I broke down and sobbed for about 15 minutes.  Most people would.  Beautiful as this film is, I could never see it again.

                                       However--Variations on this film have been made twice.  The first was in 1950, with a renowned Japanese film called "Tokyo Story."  When I found out what it was, I refused to see it. Then, in 2014, in a gay context, Alfred Molina and John Lithgow played the couple in a film called "Love Is Strange," which ends in both separation and death.  I could not bear to see it.

                                        "Make Way For Tomorrow," in 1937 was made the same year Leo McCarey made the comedy "The Awful Truth."  He was awarded the Oscar for the latter, but in his speech said he felt he was given it for "the wrong movie."

                                          If you haven't seen "Make Way For Tomorrow," I strongly urge you to.  But I can guarantee you will not want to see it again.

                                            This film is just too painful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rest In Peace, Pebbles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           Pebbles, who lived on the other side of our building, was the most adorable little pug.  She was the mascot of our building, and you can bet that at tenant meetings, she was the one who behaved most sensibly.

                              She was another one of my animal friends, who made my day, just by coming over to me, so I could pet and scratch her.  She was always happy to see me, or anyone; she was a real people dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 David and I just found out about her passing yesterday, from her owner, whom we ran into.  He is saddened by her passing, and so are all who knew and loved Pebbles.

                                    I wanted to give Pebbles a loving farewell.  She will always live in the hearts of those who knew her.

                                     Rest In Peace, Pebbles.  You were a friend to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, It Will BUG The Hell Out Of You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Finally, darlings, "Svengoolie" is showing a gem tonight.  Of all the giant bug movies made during the Fifties, "THEM," made in my birth year, 1954, was the best of the lot.

                               It has a spectacular cast--James Whitmore, James Arness and Fess Parker! Imagine---three iconic TV hunks in one film!  The special effects are superb; the giant ants seem genuinely real.

                               Then there is Sandy Descher.  She does not get much screen time, but her tragedy sets the film in motion.  And her 30 second hysterical scene was the gold standard of its day, not outdone until Nancy Kelly put her stage performance on film in "The Bad Seed," in 1956.

                              Come to think of it, dears, whenever one talks about America in the Fifties, it all seems to come back to "The Bad Seed."

                               As for "Them!," it has nothing to do with Joyce Carol Oates, who wrote a novel with that title in 1969.

                                "Them!" is certainly worth viewing, even if having seen it before, it is one of those films worth watching again.

                                   And how about those opening credits, with the title flashed on the screen, in flaming red??????????????

                                      Just fabulous, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     See you all at 8PM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    

Darlings, You Simply HAVE To See This Wonderful Independent Gem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        I had never heard of this 2024 film, until David and I watched it one Saturday night as a "Svengoolie" alternate.  The writing, direction and acting all made for a simply captivating experience.

                                         Girls, I am telling you, the way writer/director Nicholas Coila, and actor Everett Blunck made Griffin come alive, it was the closest film I have ever seen that depicts exactly what I was like at that stage of life.

                                             Which is to say Griffin takes things SO seriously.  He is setting out to be the greatest playwright of his generation--move over, Ibsen and Chekhov.  He corrals his friends into doing a work he describes as " 'Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf' Meets 'American Beauty."  I mean, this was EXACTLY the kind of thing I might have done at 14, and probably did, albeit with music, since I have always been devoted to musicals.

                                                 But other things come into Griffin's life that happen to him long before they ever did to me.  I have to give him credit for running to NYC, something I could not bring myself to do, at the age of 14.

                                                    Life lessons are learned all around.  And there are two superb adult performances by Melanie Lynskey and Owen Teague.

                                                       But 'Griffin' is Everet Blunck's show all the way.

                                                        He deserves some kind of award!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                         And, oh, my God, that is really ME up there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"The Home" Is Anything But Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Several weeks ago, as a "Svengoolie" alternate, David and I watched the 2025 horror thriller, "The Home."  Now, I had heard in advance that Pete Davidson, of SNL, was making a horror film, and I thought, "You have got to be kidding."  Well, I was surprised.

                                          Davidson uses his quirkiness to give a genuinely serious performance in a way that makes the viewer take the film more seriously than might be merited.

                                            He plays a troubled, rootless, and drug ridden young man, who is assigned work duty at his local nursing home--as they were called back in the day.  This was actually an abandoned Catholic school or convent used as such, and shot in Denville, New Jersey.  As a Jersey native, this film is not an endorsement for visiting the Garden State!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             The first thing Davidson's character, Max, is told is to avoid the fourth floor.  So, of course, his and the viewer's curiosity is aroused, and what he uncovers are a group of elderly people, presumably with Alzheimer's, and being catatonic.  But wait, the other patients on the lower floors are lively, and vital.  Is something going on?  You better believe it!

                                                 I will not reveal what, as the whole thing is convoluted anyway.  But let me say that the eye scene, as depicted in the poster, did not make me, facing cataract surgery in the future, any more comfortable about the prospect.  In fact, it made it worse.

                                                   Some fine character actors, including John Glover and Jessica Hecht give more than their all to their roles in what is just a generic genre film.  They, and some truly artistic and shocking atmosphere, set the film a bit apart from the rest.

                                                       No, darlings, it is not an artistic masterpiece, but who knew Pete Davidson could act seriously??????????????

                                                           He is the best surprise given to a film in many a long time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, Now, Am I Expected To Own This????????????????????

                           There was a time, especially in my youth, when if I did not own something everyone else did, I thought I was nothing.  Now, the ones who are nothing are those who don't own what I do!!!!!!!!!!!! How times change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Which brings me to Taylor Swift.  As I have said before, I have nothing against her, I just cannot name any of her songs.  So, after the ruckus last weekend over the release of her current album, and subsequent film, which I still do not understand is a documentary or a narrative, I am starting to wonder if I am behind the times.  Is it actually necessary for me to own Taylor Swift's latest creation???????????????

                                    I give Miss Swift all the credit in the world.  She is certainly one of the hardest working women in show biz, now that Barbra has taken a rest.  Still, I would run to anything BARBRA, but I do not feel the need to own this recording.  Maybe it is a generational thing.

                                     Still, Swifties are flocking to stores and theaters in record numbers.  I don't like crowds, and neither does David, so I will just stay away and tend to my enormous reading pile.

                                        A nice, comfortable home evening is better than status seeking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What A Week It Has Been, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Girls, I am telling you, none of this was planned.  Last Sunday, David and I went to Walgreen's to get our vaccinations.  David was just getting the flu shot, as he had had gotten the Covid vaccine at his doctor's.  I was going to get both.  I did and was glad to have been able to do so.

                               I got my first Covid shot in 2021, and I had a bad reaction then.  Nothing since.  Until this past Sunday evening.

                                  While getting ready for bed, I started aching, shaking, teeth chattering, and feeling uncomfortably cold, which is unusual for me, who prefers the cold.  I got into bed and felt achy, only realizing this was not an illness but a reaction to the shot.  But which one?  David seems to think Covid, but while I agree with him, I cannot be certain.

                                         I spent Monday in bed, not doing anything, or feeling like it.  Tuesday I was back to my true self, reading up a storm, and knowing I had things to write.  Because--

                                          Yesterday, David's workers gave him a spectacular Retirement Party, and I have never seen such an outpouring of appreciation.  Of course, being prejudice, David deserves it, one and all.  The food and cake were scrumptious, the drinks plenty, and the decorations were so tastefully arranged.  David said he was overwhelmed, and I get it, but I know he enjoyed it.

                                               Tomorrow is his last day of work.  Then a new chapter begins.  But, darlings, I am telling you, it has been quite a week.

                                                    But worth it, getting both health and happiness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't Rodan Cute? It's Like He Just Flew In!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Gojira will always be King Of The Monsters, but Rodan has his own distinction, too.  His was the first TOHO monster movie, shot in color, back in 1957.

                                               He and Gojira are very good friends, and when Baby sometimes misbehaves, Gojira has to call upon Rodan to help him straighten things out.

                                               However, I do not think Baby or Gojira would appreciate having Rodan in our house.  Baby would be riled, and Gojira might feel he is being upstaged.  And NO ONE upstages Gojira!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  How is that even possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               But for Rodan fans out there, this is an adorable doll, and if you want to add it to your collection, go right ahead.

                                                Be sure to act soon, before Rodan flies back to Monster Island!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Oh, Not Again, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                  

                                   This month, darlings, "Svengoolie" is offering a double feature each week.  Tonight's selections are so incongruous they defy logic.

                                     If I had to pick the worst movie "Svengoolie" ever showed or shows, it would be "The Ghost And Mr. Chicken."  Those who have not seen it are welcome to take a look.  But those having viewed it know Don Knotts cannot carry a vehicle by himself, and the film is just so plain boring I could not wait for it to end.  Why David and I watched it a second time is beyond me, but I swore never to watch it again.  And I won't.  Now, as for what we will watch, I will let you know.

                                       Now, the second feature I feel is nervy of the Sven Squad to show.  Just like his showing of "The Bad Seed" did not work, because, though it has campy elements, it is a rather serious film, and the network, or the show, made the mistake of breaking for commercials in the middle of big, dramatic scenes, instead of allowing them to conclude to the end.  I have the film on DVD, so it can be watched whenever, and while I enjoyed seeing it for its own sake, it did not fit into the "Svengoolie" rubric.

                                          "The same can be said for tonight's second feature, "What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?"  Sure, us gays know all the lines, and yes there is more than an element of camp to it, but this is an A-lister and won't get the respect it merits from "Svengoolie."  At its heart is a very sad story, going back several generations, of how show business destroys an entire family.  And the ending, while campy of sorts, I find unbearably poignant. I think showing this film is a mistake; they might have done better with something like "Die!  Die! My Darling."

                                                So, once again, we are refraining from "Svengoolie" this week.  As for the alternative, I did not share on last week's, alternate, so I may combine both into one post.

                                                   But take tonight off, girls!  Watch something else, or go to a night club!

                                                    You will have a better time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!