"Fryin' 'Mother's Oats' In Grease!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                 Darlings, speaking of closet cases, I happen to be a closet Plantation Princess.

                                 Oh, the South is too warm and politically out of touch for me to live there, but that does not mean I can't relate to Vivien Leigh as Scarlett or Rue McClanhan as Blanche.  That is Blanche Devereux, darlings, not DuBois.

                                      A real Southun' breakfast is frying "Mother's Oats," or "Quakers'" in grease.  It will make you feel like you are dining at Tara in your best frock.  Thank God I have David who would have to help lace me up in that corset.

                                         What a Southun' way to start the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            And since now I do eat my oatmeal close to raw, I am halfway there anyway.

                                            Maybe I will be elected Magnolia Queen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is Norman Bates Filmdom's Most Notorious Closet Case?????????????????????????????

                                    Alfred Hitchcock made a smart decision in casting good looking Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates.  Serial killers hide in plain sight, and if Norman were to venture in public among a crowd, heads might turn, but no one would suspect this young man to be a serial killer.

                                     Those having seen "Psycho" know Norman is a serial killer, because, while he is seen murdering Marion (Janet Leigh) and Pendergast (Martin Balsam) it is revealed he has killed other girls and tossed their bodies into the swamp, which is a landkill.

                                          But I am here to write about Norman as a closet case.  From my experience, I have found them to be the most dangerous gays alive. Now, Norman was raised in isolation with his mother, Norma.  That does not necessarily make one homosexual, but she instilled in him a hatred for other women, and if he found himself attracted, well, after her death, we know what happened.

                                           And how about that bedroom, with the messy bed, teddy bears, dolls and other antiquities?  This is the bedroom of a deranged child, and one can only guess what Norman fantasizes about when in bed.

                                               Norman has never had a sexual experience in his life.  Now, take a good look when he and Sam Loomis (John Gavin) are chatting at the hotel front desk, while Lila (Vera Miles) goes on to search the house.  As Loomis talks to Norman, he becomes more and more nervous, and Perkins as an actor does this thing with his one hand where he is continually tapping the hotel desk while he talks, almost as if he was doing this unconsciously.  I maintain his suppressed homosexuality is looming, because, I mean, John Gavin, hubba hubba!  And the idea of he and Perkins, hubba hubba.

                                                  I think this scene shows Norman nursing and trying to fight off a hidden attraction to men.  This ends when he realizes Lila is gone, and cleverly figures out where, and knocks Gavin out to look for her.

                                                    The next time you watch "Psycho," darlings, pay close attention to this scene.  Not only does it reveal Norman as a closet case, but I maintain it demonstrates that if Norman was not caught and institutionalized he, as "Mother," would not only go on to kill  more young girls, or, if that supply should run out, then attractive young men would suddenly vanish.

                                                        Yes, Norman is a closet case.  And if I had been that fly at the end, I would have gotten off that hand fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Ash Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         Remember, no meat today.  This is a time for reflection as Lent begins.  More important than giving up chocolate bars is what is in your heart.  Take some time to examine such, each and every day during this forty day period.

                         Whether or not getting ashes, one can still recall what Jesus did for us, and be thankful that because of such we are here.

                             Happy Ash Wednesday, girls!!!!!!!!!!  May you have a blessed Lent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The First Two Important Deaths Of The Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Back in the Fall of 1968, when "To Kill A Mockingbird" was first shown on national television, I had no idea who this guy was playing the reclusive Boo Radley.

                                  Several years later, I was at a screening of "The Godfather," and was struck by not only how good looking Al Pacino was back then, but how striking an actor the performer playing Tom Hagen was.  That actor I later learned was Robert Duvall, and I was astonished to learn that he was the same actor who, ten years before, had played Boo Radley in "To Kill A Mockingbird."

                                     While working at The Library Of The Performing Arts, I recall one of my older coworkers saying how he was auditioning for some stage show that Duvall was in, and that the actor read with him.  He said Duvall, unlike many actors, was exceptionally gracious to him.

                                        So, I was saddened to hear of his passing yesterday, though 95 is a good run.  Hey, it is an "A" on a test.  Duvall, no relation to Shelly, is the last of a dying breed, the craft trained working actor, caring more about art then commerce.

                                        Would you believe, darlings, I have never seen "Tender Mercies?"  Duvall won the Best Actor Of 1983 Oscar for that.  Betty Buckley was in it, too.  I must make an effort to see this film.

                                         As stated, Duvall was one of a dying breed.  May he rest in peace.

                                                                             

                               Now, the Reverend Jesse Jackson was a much different figure.  A reverend, political activist, and all-around personality, I cannot say I was into him, but I knew who he was and respected him.  But he absolutely captivated me when he read "Green Eggs And Ham" aloud on "Saturday Night Live!!!!!!!!!!!!"  How many of us recall that??????????????????????????????

                               I just found out about his passing at 84, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               May both of these world contributors rest in peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             

                                              

Take A Good Look, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This Is The Face Of Grief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           Yes, mon petits, it is time to write about the Nancy Guthrie case again.  I am maintaining my promise by not revealing any of my theories, except to say some of those have changed.  And I am sadly beginning to have some doubts.

                           But, first, let me say my heart goes out to Savannah and her siblings.  And I am so happy that all have been dismissed as suspects.

                            Now, that sheriff Chris Namos, of Pima County, which is probably some Podunk place, has no business handling this case.  Once it was established that Nancy was the mother of media personality Savannah Guthrie, he should have stepped down, because he has absolutely no idea how to handle so high a profile case as this, and has made so many mistakes along the way that I am beginning to have doubts.

                                Will the torment ever end for the Guthrie children?  Not if Chris Nanos can help it.  The FBI should have stepped into this as soon as Savannah's name came up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Each day I worry along with America.  My biggest worry now, which I have begun having doubts about, is whether Nancy is still alive.  I fervently hope so, but, whatever the outcome, and one must be found, the Guthrie children deserve some kind of closure.

                                      So here we are.  I promise if all is resolved I will give my complete thoughts on this case.  Meanwhile, girls, pray for Nancy, her children and grandchildren!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Shrove Tuesday, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Yes, girls, it is here.  Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday when all the fat has to be used up in the house, as the season of fasting begins.

                                             The tradition for many, including all at this house, is that one eats pancakes on this day.  Come to think of it, this is probably the only day of the year that I actually do eat pancakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                For others, it is apple strudel, or some form of carb.  The idea is to get in something good before Ash Wednesday, because, for the next 40 days, forget it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                But then there is Easter to look forward to, which means not only the resurrection of Jesus, but the annual screening of "The Song Of Bernadette!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                  So, I want to wish everyone a Happy Shrove Tuesday, and a safe and easy season of fasting during Lent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    You can still have tea at The Pierre, darlings!  But no tempting edibles!!!!!!!!!!!

Vincente Minnelli Was An Underrated Genius Of Design!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Just look at this drawing, his color palate and the shot of Judy Holliday in the 1960 film version of "Bells Are Ringing," wherein she repeats her original Broadway role.

                             Of course, most people, when they think of Vincente Minnelli, recall his "confectionary films" like "An American In Paris," and "Gigi."  Those more sophisticated might consider 1944's "Meet Me In St. Louis," where his work going deeper into his genius is exemplified.

                               He was a master of the art of color composition.  But some may forget that among his best work were films like 1945's "The Clock," 1952's "The Bad And The Beautiful," and 1955's "The Cobweb."  All shot in black-and-white.

                                 Even more may have forgotten he started out as a window designer, first for Marshall Field, and then in New York. which is how he eventually found his way to Hollywood.  Was Marshall Field also in New York, then?  Can someone let me know?

                                 There was also his Broadway work as a scenic designer, which helped get him to Hollywood also.  His shows included "At Home Abroad" (1935), "The Show Is On" (1936) and "Ziegfeld Folies Of 1936."

                                    Liza Minnelli herself, darlings, said her father never got the credit he merited, and I am here to say I agree.  I so wanted to include some of Minnelli's store and window designs but could not find any online.

                                     Has anyone ever done an exhibition, here New York, on Vincente Minnelli????????  If not, it is about time!!!!!!!!!!!  How about The Museum Of Broadway?  Or The New York Public Library Of The Performing Arts?  Hey, ANNA and Chloe, how about The MET's Costume Institute?????????

                                     This year, July 25 will mark the 40th anniversary of his passing.  I know this is short notice, and, darlings, I would be happy to help work on it, but I think some sort of exhibition should be done this year on Vincente Minnelli.  And it would be SO fitting because this year Liza turns 80.

                                      Give this genius the credit he deserves.  It is long past due.