Girls, Join Us Tonight At 8PM, As "Svengoolie" Presents A Real Gem--1943's "The Return Of The Vampire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                            I have a special attachment to this film, as it was the first horror movie I ever saw.  I was six years old, and saw it on TV, and the scene where Lugosi comes into the children's nursery, as the French doors opened, creeped me out, I was afraid something or someone was going to creep into the bedroom where I slept.

                             To think this was released the same year as "The Song Of Bernadette!"  And two actresses both made their debuts in these respective films--Jennifer Jones, of course, in 'Bernadette,' and Nina Foch in 'Vampire!!!!!!!!!!!'

                             I mean, look at her hair!  Girls, get me to Sally at once; I want that hair style.  It is one of two main reasons to see this film.  The other is Frieda Inescourt, with her stern, clipped tones, in her signature role as Lady Jane Ainsley.  Oh, honey, she is the greatest!!!!!!!!!!!  She walks off with the film.

                             As for Bela Lugosi, he was caught between two studios.  This was supposed to have been released as "The Return Of Dracula," but Universal told Columbia no, because Universal owned the "Dracula" copyright.  So, it was retitled "The Return Of The Vampire," with Lugosi, for all intents, playing Dracula, but under the name "Armand Tesla."

                               The set design and art direction are pretty impressive for Columbia.  They almost beat Universal at their own game.

                                 Now, David and I are going to a post-Fourth party, so will not be able to watch it with you, girls, but we will shortly after, and I also own it on DVD!!!!!!!!!!!  As stated, it made a vivid impression on me.

                                  And when Nina Foch walks on screen, one cannot keep her eyes of her hair!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Could she have been foreshadowing Blythe Danner???????????????

"Waiting For The Chirp, Chirp, Chirp Of An Eagle To Be Born!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                          Happy Fourth Of July everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Today is our nation's 249th birthday, and we are all proud to be here to celebrate.  And what better way to do so than to listen to the Original Broadway Cast Album of "1776."  Those who have the DVD should watch the movie, which, by the way, marked the movie debut of Blythe Danner!  That is right, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Blythe alone is enough to watch!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Today is the pinnacle day for cookouts and fireworks.  And, as I have said on here before, it brings back memories of happy days when my parents were here and we would visit our friends, The Lammers, each July 4th.  I always think of them on this particular day.

                               I think ours will be a quiet one, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We will watch the fireworks from our apartment, and I may do Little Edie's Fourth Of July Sparkler Dance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               Am I that "Yankee Doodle Boy?"  Maybe not, but I do enjoy celebrating this day, and what it means!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               Set off your own sparklers, darlings!  And have a Happy Fourth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Continuing With Our Algonquin Weekend, We Had Dinner, Then Went To The Gay And Lesbian Synagogue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              David had his heart set on going to this for a long time.  So, the weekend of June 20, we checked in at the Algonquin, had dinner at Friedman's with an old friend of ours, Larry, and went to the service.

                             As a sort of outsider, I found it interesting.  Just like when David comes with me to Catholic mass.  Architecually, I thought the place was small; at least more so than I expected.  Ruth Messinger was the guest speaker, and she was truly inspiring.  The congregation were very participatory, and the choir was huge and exceptional, with some good cantorial voices.

                             There was an old friend of David's, whom I had not seen in years.  She used to be a cute little thing but has morphed into a spinster with a hump.  Maybe, poor thing she has osteoporosis, If so, I wish her well, and free of pain so she can have comfort.

                                 People seem to find their way to this place, and it becomes their life.  David, unfortunately did not seem to have that experience, as he kept quoting the title of one of Thomas Wolfe's famous novels, "You Can't Go Home Again."  And, yes, I have read it.

                                    Both of us were glad we did this.  And I was especially glad for David.  For me, it was ironic, being at the same time the Catholic church I have been going to for the past three years is doing away with their Saturday 5PM mass, and the congregation there is like a community.  Yes, there is Sunday mass at !0AM, but that does not always work for us.  We can go to OLA for Saturday 5PM mass, but it is a bigger church with less chance to interact with congregants, and while the priests are the same, they tend to cater to the older congregants--older than I, even--who are very Old School, which I am not.  They would probably damn us both to Hell.

                                        A bit of religious quandary, one might say.  I will let you know how things turn out, but our night on the town at the Gay and Lesbian Synagogue was a learning experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        "Would a convent take a Jewish girl????????????"

Great News, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!! Joey Chestnut Is Returning To The Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest This Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            And I, for one am certainly glad!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The contest just was not the same last year, without Joey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           He is sure to be back on top, winning this year!  As for David and I, we will be far away from Coney Island, but may catch the event on New York 1, or the CBS News.

                           I have not been to Coney Island in years, but the Fourth Of July is certainly not the day to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I do miss riding the carousel, and the spook house ride.

                            But rest assured, Joey will be back in his usual place tomorrow, and will regain his crown as contest winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              I would hate to be his internist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"And Just Like That," There We Were, Back At The Algonquin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Forgive me, girls, for using that phrase, but I could not resist.

                             It's not like I am trying to be Carrie Bradshaw, or anything.  In the first place, I AM the gay Carrie Bradshaw, and I do not have a horse face like Sarah Jessica Parker, who is not aging well, is she, darlings????????  Plus, my adventures are lots more interesting than hers!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               As for The Algonquin, it was fabulous, as always.  And I was granted not one, but two, private audiences with Hamlet.  I was led to his chamber, where he seemed to be waiting for me, and as I began petting and scratching him, he was so delighted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Each time we would get off the elevator to the lobby, it seemed like Hamlet was always there, waiting for me!  And I never failed to stop and give him the love and attention he deserves.

                                   It was so kind to have the hotel's CEO take time out of his busy schedule to greet me.  Hamlet is a gentleman and a loving cat.  But he is also running a business, and he does it with pride!

                                    Make sure you greet Hamlet if you go here, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    He will add so much to your stay!

                                    I just LOVE him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Is NOT Your Grandparents' "Pirates Of Penzance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                           The score and characters are the same, even if both seem to have a rockish beat.  And yet this reworked version of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates Of Penzance" is more enjoyable than expected.  So sick am I of video gimmicks after "Sunset Boulevard," that it was a pleasure to see creative set design here, created by David Rockwell, who wonderfully replicates 19th century New Orleans, giving it a Mardi Gras sort of flair.  How nice to see real creativity at work, instead of some guys hauling around a camera!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             The other surprise in this 'Pirates' is that the trio of Ramin Kairmloo as the Pirate King, Jinx Monsoon as Ruth, and David Hyde Pierce as General Stanley do better than expected with their toles.  The one exception is Samantha Williams as Mabel, the most attractive of the general's daughters, who here has been tarted up like some slut; what's that all about?????????

                                                  Except for the mistake made with Williams, Scott Ellis works his usual directorial skill on the proceedings, and as soon as I saw Warren Carlyle was the choreographer, I knew the show was in good hands.  He is the best choreographer working today on Broadway, and I would love to work with him, darlings.

                                                  This show has proved popular with audiences, to my surprise.  It has been through several extensions of its run, with a definite closing date on July 27.  So, hurry and run to see real color and creativity on Broadway--for a change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     See creativity while it lasts, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Belated Welcome To July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                I know it is the most of American months, girls, but this Victorian pic was so lovely I thought it would make a beautiful difference, for a change.  I had an appointment with my podiatrist yesterday and things turned out OK, and I managed to avoid the storms forecast for our area, so I am posting this today.

                                 As I said, it is the most American of months, what with Friday, July 4, being our nation's 249th birthday.  July is the time for fireworks, cookouts, and celebrations.  It is also a time of remembrance for me; on the Fourth of July, my parents and I always went to the Lammers' home, where we had a celebration.  They had a son, Marc, who was my age, and with whom I was friends.  I always think of them every July 4th.

                                   At some point in July, midsummer arrives, meaning before we know it, Proserpina will be going back to Hell soon.

                                  July is a month for celebrating all you can!  Welcome it with excitement, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!