Darlings, Who Needs A Haunted House Attraction, When It Is Always Halloween On 42nd Street?????????????????????????

                              Girls, I am telling you! Last night--Saturday, the hottest in NYC--we went to see the play "Yellow Face," which happened to be playing on 42nd Street.  Enroute, we passed a space featuring, for the time, a haunted house attraction called "True Haunted House."  I was all for coming back another Saturday night, and going to it, but David seemed reluctant.  He was right.

                              Because, darlings, 42nd Street, especially on Saturday night, is a freakin' freak show!  Who needs goblins and ghosties, when the real thing that is out there turns out to be even more frightening than these made-up facsimiles pictured???????????

                                 Skip Halloween, dolls!  If you want a show, just observed the fabled throughfare on any Saturday night.  That is, if you are not crushed by encroaching crowds.  The costumes, or what passes these days as actual clothing, is a sight to behold.  Much more grotesque than what is pictured above.

                                   Once upon a time, Saturday night on 42nd Street meant getting elegantly all dressed up, dashing sophisticatedly to the theater, and dashing back into a car or taxi, back home to your house or apartment.  Today, it is a free-for-all, with people garishly dressed, dashing about in all directions, people bringing drinks--yes! --into the theater, breaching so many forms of theater etiquette, because it does not seem to exist anymore, and giving every single thing seen, no matter how bad, a standing ovation.  Are people that starved for culture?  Or are they simply brainwashed with the idea that because the vehicle in question made it to Broadway, it must be high quality?  Au contraire, dears!  Go back and reread my post on "The Hills Of California."

                                     The street has changed, and so have audiences, and not for the better.  I may sound foolish, but it seems when the street was Porn Palace, and all the theaters were on the side streets, people knew their boundaries and behaved accordingly!  But not now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         "Hear the beat of dancing feet?"  Yes, but what are those feet actually doing??????????

                                       

This Is The Film's 80th Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So Why Isn't It Being Shown Anywhere????????????????????

                             Have people forgotten about art????????  1944's "Meet Me In St. Louis," from MGM, is not only one of the best period musicals, but one of Garland's best, with the perfect ensemble cast, and a stunning child performance by Margaret O'Brien, who won a special juvenile Oscar for this film.  The Christmas sequence--oh, my God!--will have you in tears, what with the dance Esther (Garland) and Grandpa (Harry Davenport, who played Doctor Meade in "Gone With The Wind") do, leading to a proposal, leading to Garland consoling Margaret with "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," and then....oh, God, get those hankies out if you have not started crying yet.

                               So, on its 80th anniversary, why is it being ignored?  If I had it on DVD, I would watch it, but why can't the Film Forum or WNET, or Fantom Events recognize it.  It is as deserving as "The Wizard Of Oz," which we have celebrated.

                                Get wise, programmers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   This film deserves a special showing.

                                 If viewers are denied, may you get a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking!!!!!!!!!!!!!.  

Girls, Join Us Tonight As "Svengoolie," In A Special Halloween Double Feature, Presents Two Very Special Gems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Actually, you won't be joining us, girls, because we are going to the theater tonight.  We are attending a performance of "Yellow Face," by David Henry Hwang, in Manhattan.  So, it is up to you to watch these gems tonight.

                              The first gem is 1939's "Son Of Frankenstein."  This was the final entry in the Universal "Frankenstein" trilogy, and the last time Boris Karloff played the Monster.  And Bela Lugosi as Ygor--what fun!  I believe Dwight Frye makes a cameo, which would be in keeping with the trilogy.  Its set design is very expressionistic, so if you have never seen this one before I urge you to tune in, darlings.

                                                                    

                          The other gem is 1957's campy "The Monster That Challenged The World."  Are you kidding, dolls?  This is nothing more than a giant mollusk.  It could barely conquer anything.  

                            Though, I am telling you, it has to be seen.  I mean, the scene where the guard is watching at his post turns, and there is the monster--who knew a mollusk could walk on two legs? Or whatever two things it walks on?  That is my favorite sequence in the entire film.  But if those of you having not seeing it are expecting some creature to take over the world......forget it!

                              Let us hope, especially with the second film that Nostalgiaferatu joins us for the fun.

                              Have a blast, dears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                            

Darlings, Don't You Just Hate People Walking In Front Of You, Blocking The Way???????????????

                            Not that I am being bitchy--well, maybe--but I am used to this happening in Manhattan, where it is inevitable.  But in beautiful, quiet downtown Bay Ridge?

                              It seemed to me like everywhere we walked yesterday, people were blocking our way.  The worst are these moms with oversized baby carriages, toting kids who are obviously too old to be riding in these carriages, even though they may still fit in them.  How many times have I wanted to scream my frustration but don't, simply walking around them and speeding up the pace?  When the person in front is elderly, there is a little compassion for them, but these entitled moms with their oversized brats, and gangs of teens or whatever group is trolling all feel as though they are the only ones in the world, and that really gets my goat, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 The sidewalk is for everyone, thus the name.  So, people if you are out walking, be aware of those in front of you, and behind you.

                                  It is not a race.  But others besides the you-know-who-you-are's- may have places to get to, or exercise to do.

                                  Watch it, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, Girls, I Made It Through Another Visit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           You know, I hate the dentist, darlings, though I take as good care of my teeth as possible.  But there is the discomfort, and then the bill--which causes more discomfort!

                                             And I have to go back on Monday, because I have--oh, my God-a small cavity!  I can't tell you the last time I had one, darlings, and my very first one did not appear until I was 35 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So, now I have this to look forward to.  And premedication.

                                              On a more spiritual level, dolls, did you know that yesterday was the Feast Of The Guardian Angels?  In Roman Catholicism, it is believed that each child born is assigned a Guardian Angel to watch over that child during life on Earth.  I really have to thank and pity mine, who has had to do so much watching, and seen things those in the angelic realms never expected to see.  I am sure when this angel was assigned to me, he/she said, "This kid will be a tough one to watch over."  But I guess the angel is still with me, as I have gotten myself, with the help of God and the angel, out of some precarious situations, especially in my youth.

                                                 All in all, it turned out to be a very good day.

                                                Tend to your teeth, darlings.  Even with insurance, dentistry is not cheap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  And watch it with that candy, at month's end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               

                                                  

"Master, Please Let Me Mash!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll Take Those Chains From You Now, Frankie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                           What a perfect way to open October, darlings!  No, this is not an invite or reference to an S and M party.  The days when I would even consider attending one are long gone, but when the song you are going to hear is played, it will all make sense.

                            That song is "Monster Mash Party," which was on the flip side of "Monster Mash."  I used to play this song at top volume, with our front door open, when I was a child, and every time it got to "the Transylvania twist," and there would be a scream, I would echo that scream!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Such fun I had!  It drove my mother crazy!  But she loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              It is all about fun, darlings, not pain, so if pain is your thing, what the hell are you doing here?

                            This is a season to party, girls, so let's party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          Here is the song, girls!   Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can You Believe We Are Into The Tenth Month Of The Year?????????????

                              A little bit of charm, a touch of John Carpenter.  I used to love October, but as I grow older, I feel more like another year winding down.  Nevertheless, I am going focus on the positive, so that this will be positive October both for David and myself.

                               This should be "Svengoolie's " peak month.  But I am sorry to say, the second Saturday he is showing the worst film in his rep--"The Ghost And Mr. Chicken," with Don Knotts.  So, make plans for that Saturday, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 I have some shows planned for October.  And maybe some exciting, not upsetting, surprises.

                                 All you ghosties and ghoulies have a good October, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!