More than 200 of their Hollywood friends ... Friends, really?

Bob and Elizabeth I were married April 14, 1928.  A mere 200 guests at the Beverly Hills Hotel, not a shabby party.  Looks like Elizabeth, Jr. needs some more time to know which camera to look at. 

Happy Birthday, Mr. Powell!

TCM is showing a 7-movie birthday salute today to our good friend William Horatio Powell, born July 29th, 1892 in Pittsburgh PA.  Hope you have time to watch one. What better way to celebrate an actor's life than to watch one of his performances. 

This quite nice photo of Mr. Powell was taken for the advertising campaign for 1948's Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid.  In Living Color - too good.

Prepare to be Startled!

This article appeared in the December, 1934 issue of New Movie.  The author tries to justify the stars big salaries, but that was a difficult challenge in the midst of the Great Depression.  Meanwhile ... it's a fun article. 

One Classic Car and One Classy Gent

Aren't they a great couple ... handsome and elegant Bob, along with his 1931 Cadillac, one classic automobile.  Dressed impeccably with his jacket and slacks flowing over his body, the flouncy handkerchief and leather banded watch, the polka dot tie and white shoes ... perfection.  The huge car with the impressive emblem, large headlights and fancy grill, and one impressive horn.  Just imagine seeing them drive by on a sunny day, your mouth agape as he taps the horn to say hi to another crazed fan.  Oh, just sweep me off the sidewalk after he's gone.  It'll take a while to recuperate. 

A Lot of Pool Time Ahead for Me ...

Earthquakes.  Power outages.  Life in Bakersfield CA can just be too exciting at times!  My excuse for not having done my regular blog this time is a power outage that started at 8:30 p.m. and finally ended about 30 mins. ago.  I think our power company was saving up power for the week of 105-110 degrees temps ahead of us.  Meanwhile, I am headed back to bed with the reassurance that the A/C is indeed working again.  And later, hopefully, I will finally get today's post completed.  After which, it's straight to the pool!

Hey, It's Still Thursday....

"Just a couple of great guys ... thinking about a couple of great gals ... Meet Brick ... he's the guy on the right.  He's in love with a PT boat.  He's got a date with a Diesel ..." 

Let's see ... Bob goes from marrying Irene Dunne in Unfinished Business (1941) to having a date with a Diesel in They Were Expendable (1945).  Hang in there, Bob.  It was rough for you adjusting to civilian life, and it will take several years to find your new successful career in television, but you'll come through it all in style (...no more Diesel dates). 

Happy Birthday, Mr. Cagney!

                                   James Francis Cagney
                       b. July 17, 1899 and d. March 30, 1986

Have You Ever Crawled into a Haystack? --- I Don't Recommend it!

Fast and Loose (1939) was the last picture Bob and Rosalind Russell made together.  Kinda wish they could have continued pairing up as they grew older, watching the relationship change with Roz developing into the more dominant figure.  Anyway, it has been some time since I saw the movie so I am looking forward to seeing it tomorrow, July 12th at 10:30 PST on TCM.  TCM is also showing The Divorcee (1930) on demand until July 18th.  A double feature, maybe!  Let's see, I have popcorn and Pepsi ... yeah, I'm ready! 

                          Bob and Roz in Fast and Loose (1939)

Is Copying Really the Best Compliment?

I have always admired Bob's autograph, the one he developed in the early 1930s.  This 1933 version is a little sloppy compared to the one you see later in the 1930s, it is not written in a perfectly straight line.  It was also written in a book from his library, so perhaps he just did not feel it had to be all that neat.  He does use the line he always draws under his name.  It can vary a little, but the consistent part of the line is the two short marks cutting through the middle of the line.  At one point, I thought it might stand for "H", or Henry, his real first name.  But then I realized it was a somewhat common mark, so had to toss the Henry theory, although I prefer it. 

The actor Louis Mann (Sins of the Children, 1930), had a similar autograph. 

And Chester Morris, a good buddy of Bob's during the time he was developing his autograph, happened to underline his name in a very similar way.  Hmm...

Happy Fourth of July!! Have a Great One!

Guess what movie I'll be watching Thursday ... patriotic, true Americana, a great musical and a dancing Jim Cagney.  Only thing missing is the barbecue.  (Guess I'll have to provide that!)