| Femmes Fatales | Jul 3 2022 |
*yawn* What a refreshing nap. Oh, hello. How long have you been standing there and why do you have a banana in your pocket?
Above: a nice photo of Marilyn Monroe in bed, shot in 1953. That was arguably her pivotal year. It was when her massive hits Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How To Marry a Millionaire came out, and she made two appearances on The Jack Benny Show. No wonder she was tired.
| Femmes Fatales | Apr 23 2021 |
We wonder if anyone warned her she was running out of sidewalk?
Because we're always seeing the ridiculous in even the most innocuous situations we can't stop imagining U.S. actress Leigh Snowden continuing to walk looking over her shoulder until she falls off the end of the sidewalk. Which would be ironic because she was famous for her graceful walk. These three promo images were originally made in 1956 as a single triptych to demonstrate precisely that grace. We've helpfully broken the original composite down to its constituent elements. Does Snowden look unusually graceful? Sure, we guess so—right up until the faceplant.
The full story is on the rear: Leigh Snowden demonstrates the walk which started her on the road to movie stardom. Jack Benny gave the first slight shove to the young actress who not long ago was singing in the choir in Covington, Tenn. He took her along as feminine interest for a performance of his tv show at the naval base in San Diego, early in 1955. All she did was walk on. Twenty thousand sailors let out with whistles and wolf calls which were heard in Hollywood. Leigh, unknown a few days earlier, had her choice of 11 studios and independent producers.
| Hollywoodland | Dec 26 2018 |
Good weather, excellent visibility, with a 100% chance of Santa.
What says Christmas more than 72 degrees and mostly clear? These photos were made at the 1950 Santa Claus Lane Parade, a decades long Los Angeles tradition, which we bet was never cancelled due to weather. Actually, it was cancelled several times—during World War II due to blackout restrictions. Otherwise, smooth sailing. At some point the name of the event was changed to the Hollywood Christmas Parade, but it still takes place today. The extravaganza's route begins on Hollywood Boulevard and turns onto Sunset. The above shots feature, from top to bottom, show business luminaries Eddie Cantor, Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante, Peggy Lee, Leo Carrillo, Phil Harris, Alice Faye, Red Skelton, and William Bendix.
Los AngelesSunset BoulevardHollywood BoulevardEddie CantorJack BennyJimmy DurantePeggy LeeLeo CarrilloPhil HarrisAlice FayeRed SkeltonWilliam Bendix
| Vintage Pulp | Dec 16 2015 |
Too bad the character’s good fortune didn’t extend into the CBS executive suite.
Mr. Lucky by Albert Conroy, aka Marvin H. Albert, has nice wraparound art, and the back cover, featuring an unlucky black cat, completes an excellent illustration by Mort Engle. This was actually the novelization of a 1959 Blake Edwards television series of the same name about a gambler who runs a casino on his yacht the Fortuna II, which is anchored off Los Angeles, but beyond the three-mile limit in international waters. In the book he’s framed for murder; in the series he and his sidekick Andamo have assorted wacky adventures, both on the boat and on land, often involving mobsters. The show starred John Vinyan and Ross Martin, and ran for thirty-four episodes—just one season. It was actually quite popular with viewers, but CBS cancelled it anyway. Vinyan said he thought it was done as a favor to Jack Benny to free the time slot for Checkmate, which was made by Benny’s production company. After the axe fell Blake Edwards tried to develop Mr. Lucky as a movie, and it’s possible Conroy’s 1960 novel had something to do with that. That part of the story is murky, but we’ll see if we can dig up a bit more. Los AngelesCBSAlbert ConroyMarvin H. AlbertMort EngleJohn VinyanRoss MartinBlake EdwardsJack Bennycover artliteraturetelevision
| Vintage Pulp | Jun 30 2012 |
Who’s the fairest of them all?
The boys at Goodtime Weekly are finally finished with marriage as a topic for their quips. Unfortunately, their more eclectic fare leaves a lot to be desired. But we’ve faithfully transcribed their wisdom below. The photo this week, which for some reason brings wedding cakes to our minds, is by Tom Kelley, who provided a similarly dreamy photo earlier this month. The model is unidentified.
June 30: More diets start in front of a mirror than a doctor’s order.
July 1: “If you like to go around with girls—take them on the Ferris wheel.”—Sam Cowling
July 2: Small dolls love to yell “Mommy,” bigger ones, “Money.”
July 3: “She who says ‘Stop, and/or I’ll slap your face!’ must be a lawyer’s daughter.”—He-who Who-he
July 4: Independence Day. American still ends in “I can.”
July 5: “Interpreting dance: The police interpret it in one way and her lawyer interprets it another.”—Jack Benny
July 6: Summer is the time for flies to make their screen tests.
