Sometimes, having no information about a photograph can make it more interesting. Are the boys watching a race? Most probably. But, then could they have all eyes for the blonde (s) passing by? Hmmm. Or both? Or a combination? Are long-time marrieds Bob and Basil being good boys and bachelor Jimmy enjoying whatever the evening brings? Most probably.
Watching the rich and famous go about their lives has been a fun pastime for the rest of us for a couple centuries now. They are different from the rest of us. Their lives are different. They entertain us.
In the photo below, we have two wealthy men who are also famous, for being actors. Raymond Massey and wife Dorothy have decided to go out for a drink at, I believe, the Stork Club (based on Bob's preference). Perhaps they've come from seeing a Broadway play. There isn't anything special about their being out on the town, that is just what one does. And it is an opportunity to see other rich and famous people. Like our Mr. Montgomery.
I'm guessing the photo was taken mid-late 1940s which makes Bob more famous than rich. He may well be checking in with the Masseys to see if they would like to invest in his struggling production company. And Mr. Massey would have been a good target for an investment. His grandfather started the family business in the early 1900s. The world needed tractors and Massey decided to provide them. Today, Massey-Ferguson is the world's largest producer of agricultural vehicles. As a farm girl, I'm rather impressed by all that wealth.
Anyway, I kinda wish the photo was in color. It's Dorothy's hat. As is, it looks like she is just having a really bad hair day, all frizzed up. Seeing it in color would surely help. And the baubles on her arm ... are they gold or silver? America needs to know!
"This is an ill-tempered book, but not, I hope one the reader will think merely polemic. The anger which inspires it is not an end in itself. It is intended to awaken in the television viewer some conception of the dangers inherent in the free-wheeling oligopoly which dominates the mass entertainment and information given to us nearly twenty-four hours a day by network television. I am especially angry and concerned about the threat this oligopoly holds for a free society."
The above quote is from the forward to "Open Letter from a Television Viewer", written by Robert Montgomery in 1968. I have tried several times to read it but just haven't been successful in doing so. It is only 152 pages long and a paperback Mr. Montgomery does talk briefly about his experiences at the White House, and that's a fun read. Anyway, think I'll try one more time ...
Bob's autograph rather adds to the joy of having his book.
Just love the hat ... simply gorgeous. As is Mr. Montgomery with it on. It appears at the beginning of The Mystery of Mr. X (1934) when Bob (as Nick) is with his lady friend Jane, as portrayed by Elizabeth Allan. My, how could one say no to that look on Bob's face!
Mystery is a surprisingly good movie. It's seldom included as one of Bob's better movies so you don't expect it to be all that good. Granted it's no great drama, but it is a pleasing mystery with a particularly good action sequence with Nick chasing Mr. X at night. And Bob's wardrobe is superb, the perfect hat for each attire. A top hat is included of course.
"Robert Montgomery hitch-hikes his way into trouble as Allan Squier, down-and-out-dreamer in Robert E. Sherwood's powerhouse of drama, "The Petrified Forest," seen on "Robert Montgomery Presents -- Your Lucky Strike Theatre, Monday, October 23 ... "
The NBC news release is dated 10/17/50, six days before the show was aired. However, according to the Classic TV Archive (CTVA) listing of Anthology Series (which lists all RM Presents shows with casts and crews) Bob is not listed in the cast. Brian Aherne has filled in for Mr. Montgomery. I'm assuming Bob was ill. Three cheers for Aherne being able to fill in on live television with such short notice. Oh, and IMDB does not list Aherne as being on the show. Ah, sweet mystery of life ...
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