Happy Thanksgiving!!

This is exactly how our meal will look this afternoon ... in my dreams!   I am so unaccustomed to fixing special meals that harried me is just happy to get the food on the table, too tired to worry about how it looks.  It's just my husband and me, but I prepare a full Turkey Day meal.  Until this year, I have gotten the biggest bird I could find, in the 20-23lb. range.  We love turkey sandwiches, so none of it goes to waste, just frozen in small baggies for another day.  Hubby, who has been doing the grocery shopping this year, came home with a 14-lb. bird.  Insisted it was the biggest bird in the store.  Rather guessing it was his way of not having to tell me I wasn't up to hassling with a 21-pounder.  He's a treasure.  Do hope your Day hasn't been disrupted too much by all the interfering politicians.  Enjoy your Day to the fullest.  I will once I have that glass of champagne in hand!!

One Elegant Gent, And Not Bob or Bill!

 Just to appreciate a gorgeous photo of a dapper and exceptionally talented actor named Claude Rains.  Love the boutonniere.  A three-piece suit with a hanky displayed just so, the perfectly knotted tie.  Ah, but how life has changed ...

 

Wonder Who Drove Whom Home

 Edward J. (Eddie) Nugent was tall, dark and handsome; born in 1904 in New York.  Wow, I could be describing Mr. Montgomery!  He was in four movies with Bob playing small and sometimes uncredited roles.  The movies are in a three-year span, 1929 to 1931, a period of partying and high times for Bob.  I can imagine Bob saying a good word for Eddie to get those parts, always nice to have a good pal on the set and available at night to join in the partying. 

Eddie was one of those actors who almost made it big in Hollywood.  Almost.  Had lead roles in a few low budget movies, worked often between 1929 and 1936, but never got the big contract or role.  Did some stage work in the 1940s and had a contract with ABC to direct TV in the early 1950s.  Eddie lived to be 90, certainly beating out Bob (77) on that one!  And died in New York City, same as Bob.   

I have photos of Bob and Eddie together in three of the movies they made together.  Don't have any for Strangers May Kiss (1931), don't have many photos from that movie at all, darn it. 

 

   Bob, Joan Crawford, Director Jack Conway, Gwen Lee and Eddie Nugent in Untamed (1929)
 

  Bob, June Walker, Eddie Nugent and unknown in War Nurse (1930)                                                        

           Hedda Hopper, Bob and Eddie Nugent in Shipmates (1931)
                                                            
 Can you just imagine the attention those two handsome gents got when they entered a nightclub in full tuxedo regalia.  Rrrff!

P.S. Edward J. Nugent was not related to Elliott Nugent.  Elliott co-starred with Bob in So This is College (1929) and remained a life-long friend and often business associate. 

Benny Rubin was in 208 movies and TV shows

 I'm sure this 'bit' was hilarious 90 years ago.  Maybe it still is funny, it's me surviving in this awful year 2020 that prevents me from appreciating it.  Yeah, that's it.  Boo, 2020! 

                Benny Rubin and Bob in Love in the Rough (1930)

Interesting look on Bob's face.  Looks like he's suffering from a hangover.  

This is rather nifty ... Benny has autographed the backside of the photo for Mike (or Milie!) dated Aug. 18, 1980.  Hey, I bet you don't have a Benny Rubin autograph! 

Bob at 49. Handsome Dude.

 Oh, my.  Another portrait of Bob joining my all-time favorites.  That big smile doesn't appear that often, particularly not in his older portraits.  I'll take a wild guess that Buffy is off-camera.  That's a happy man. 

The photo below is from the same session, and it was the one used on the 1953 ad campaign for Robert Montgomery Presents.  It is much more of a public version of Mr. Montgomery, only the tiniest hint of a smile.  Love the hands.

 

Happy Veterans Day, Nov. 11th

 If you love seeing this flag waving high against the sky ...

                                 Thank a Veteran!

Happy Birthday, Mr. McCrea!

 Rrrrff!  What an incredibly handsome man you were, Joel.  And a nice guy, too.  Made his fortune in real estate.  6' 2-1/2" of perfection.  Married to Frances Dee for 57 years.  Lucky lady. 

                          Joel McCrea in Bed of Roses (1933)
 

A Pleasant Distraction on a Hectic Day

     Maureen O'Sullivan & Norman Foster in Skyscraper Souls (1932)

 And do note there are several classic movies on TCM (Watch Live) that would provide a great break from 'counting chads':  Mrs. & Mrs. Smith (1941) (Comedy) with Bob and Carole; One Way Passage (1932) (Tearjerker) with William Powell and Kay Francis; She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) (Western) with John Wayne; Gunga Din (1939) (Adventure) with Cary Grant; and Top Hat (1935) (Musical) with Astaire & Rogers.  Something for everyone!