Girls, Join Us Tomorrow Night, As "Svengoolie" Prresents A Real Gem, The 1932 Classic, "The Old Dark House!" But There Are Complications!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    The complication, darlings, is that we will not be able to watch this with you--at least in real time--because the vigil mass usually held on Saturdays at 5PM is now, because of Easter, being held at 8PM.  So, we will have to either watch it later, or another time, as David will record it.

                                         This is one film I have not seen, and have looked forward to viewing.  Why couldn't they have shown this last week.  But I guess "Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy" was thought apt for April Fools Day.  

                                           So, darlings, you may end up seeing this film before me.  And what a cast!  Boris Karloff, Charles Laughton, Melvin Douglas, Robert Morley, and Gloria Stuart, as the virginal Thirties movie heroine, a staple through that decade, with the gold standard set by Fay Wray as Ann Darrow in "King Kong," back in 1933.  Two years later, Bette Davis shattered it all with her scorching portrayal of the venal waitress Mildred Rogers, in 1935's "Of Human Bondage," and, from then, all bets were off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               If you see the film before I do, let me know what you think.  I will be discussing it sometime next week.

                                                I just don't know when!

                                                Stay tuned, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet Sixteen, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                       No, not me.  I wish; though, looking back, my adolescence wasn't exactly the one I thought I wanted.  But then, whose is?

                        I am talking about this blog.  Today, The Raving Queen turns 16, and I am proud to say I have been at it, since 2007, when boredom, anxiety, and maybe a touch of "Julie and Julia," resulted in the creation of this blog, which has delighted many, and which I have kept at as rapid a pace as I can.

                          Really, where else would you find someone able to connect the film "Blood Of Dracula" with "The Sound Of Music?"  And that's just for starters.

                           Baby Gojira is so happy for me, and I want to share that happiness with all you readers who have endured over the years.  Thank you for supporting me.

                             Here is to sixteen more years of The Raving Queen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           And what better way to cap this off than "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," from "The Sound Of Music?"

Today Is Good Friday, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    I know, I know, why is it called "Good" Friday?

                                    Jesus endured suffering, death and burial, so that the glory of the Easter resurrection could take place.  Something good comes out of Good Friday, which is why it is considered good.

                                  Still, we fast and abstain, and then comes Holy Saturday, and then,,,,WOW!  Though a day of sorrow, Good Friday promises hope, and Jesus knows that is something we all need.  So, He brings it.  Just ask Sister Camille.  I bet she would say pretty much the same thing.

                                   But I am no nun.  Just a struggling human like the rest of us.

                                    May your Good Friday be as holy and celebratory as you make it!

                                    No chocolates, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Were A Bat And Giant Lizard Really Necessary For "Abbott And Costello Meet The Mummy?????????????????????????"

                            Universal must have been desperate when it filmed this 1955 knock off, which looks like it has been knocked off.  Everything--sets, effects, mummies (yes, there are three!) look cheap, and the veteran comedians don't even play characters, calling each other by their first names.  Only Marie Windsor, as Madame Montru, livens things up.  And this was just two years after she did the 1953 sci-fi classic "Cat- Women Of The Moon," which we would all love to see, wouldn't we, darlings???????

                               Still, this is not the worst film shown by "Svengoolie" in our time watching him.  That distinction still belongs to the 1966 film, "The Ghost And Mr. Chicken," with Don Knotts.

                              But "Abbott And Costello Meet The Mummy" is a close second.   May we never see it again.

                              And wait till you hear about the real gem "Svengoolie" has for this week.   But it is Holy Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laudy, Laudy, It's Maundy Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       "Monday, Monday, so good to me."--The Mamas And The Papas

                                        No, darlings, it is NOT about The Mamas And The Papas!

                                        Maundy Thursday, often called Holy Thursday, is a big deal, because a lot of things happened.  The Last Supper was held that night, where, according to legend, Jesus said, "Everyone get behind the table, for the picture."  Then he went to pray in the Garden Of Gethsemane. Judas came along and betrayed him, Jesus was arrested, and Judas went on to take his life.

                                           Yes, a lot happened tonight.

                                            But the idea of "Maundy Thursday" comes from Jesus, at The Last Supper, washing the feet of each of his Apostles.  That is some mob for a wash and possible pedicure!

                                             So, think about this night and what it means.

                                             And for God's sake, keep your feet clean, today, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        

And Now, Some Promotion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

               As Mrs. Lovett says, "Bright ideas just pop into my head!"

             When "Sweeney Todd" was on Broadway in 1979, I saw it seven times, not only because I was blown away by the work and actors, but because it got me through a sad period of my life--my mother's passing.  Each time I went up the elevator of the Uris (now the Gershwin) I felt like I was escaping into another world.  I got Sweeney's torment.  And at only $20 a pop, it was easy for me to get in.  At the tender age of 24.

                If I see this production, I know I will weep copiously when Josh Grogan sings, "If only angels could prevail, we'd be the way we were!"  Because it will take me back to that time in my life.

                Now, getting a ticket to "Sweeney Todd" is ten times that, and nigh impossible to get into.  Partly because Josh Groban in the title role is making as big an impact here as Ronee Blakley did in Altman's "Nashville," back in 1975, playing Barbara Jean.  And all my readers and I on here just love Ronee Blakley as Barbara Jean!  Right?????????????????

                I have an idea.  Pre-Covid, David and I always made a tradition of seeing a Broadway show on Gay Pride Sunday, which this year is June 25.  I would like that show to be "Sweeney Todd," provided everyone is still in it.  Which could be problematic, as it is after the TONY Awards!

                 We shall see.  And I confess I have always wanted to play Sweeney.  I think I could sing it. Or the Beggar Woman!!!!!!!!!!!  What fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                    Now, I know Josh has been around for over 25 years, but what a voice, and, darlings, with those eyes and that beard, what a fine young man!  Girls, he is a dreamboat, so go for him!

                     But I have bigger ideas.  If Josh is the greatest male voice extant, why not combine him with the greatest female singer extant--Jessie Mueller???????????

                       Look what Patti Lu Pone and Mandy Patinkin did, I think the same might work teaming up Josh and Jessie!  

                       At least, give them a spot at 54 Below, to see how it goes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                       Every Theater Queen in town will be there!

                       Including yours truly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                    

Let's Hear It For Pope Francis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               When I heard about Pope Francis' hospitalization, I was scared.  Not just for myself, but for the Catholic Church in general.  If this most forward thinking of Popes was to pass, I dread whom we might get in his place.  Not NYC's Cardinal Dolan, that hypocrite!  And not Father Guido Sarducci, whom we are badly in need of now.

                                   Just think, 86 years old, a bronchial infection, and he was still able to say Mass on Palm Sunday.  If that is not something of a miracle, then I don't know what is.

                                      Stay well, Pope Francis.  You and Sister Camille D'Arienzo are the only hope offered for us forward thinking Catholics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!