Small and Classy

 Trading cards are just nifty.  Most are 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" but can be both smaller and larger.  Small is the key thought.  Many are colored, like Bob the sailor with the great coat and scarf.  

The German company "Ross" cards, both postcard and trading cards, are all in the elite category.  

Have always admired the photographs of Bob and Ann Harding taken for The Biography of a Bachelor Girl (1935) using a clear white backdrop.  The trading cards are much more affordable to collect than the 8"x10" format!

Another nice colored card of Bob in But the Flesh is Weak (1932).  

Most cards are solo shots of stars and film couples.  Have not run across many scenes from movies.  The production needs to be good enough for the scenes to be legible.  Keeping in mind trading cards are give-a-ways, the print company had to keep costs down as much as possible.  This scene from Night Must Fall (1937) is definitely one of the better cards.  

Yes, small and classy.

What an Odd Occupation Movie Acting Is

So, you're doing a scene along with five other performers and six crew members all crowded together with sound booms, camera and lights ... and you're supposed to deliver some inane lines while wearing a towel wrapped around your head.  And somehow, it all looks so real on the big screen.  Rather amazing when you think about it.  

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A slightly larger look at Bob and Marion Davies so you can see them "in action" on the set of Ever Since Eve (1937).

  

Ever Since Eve is available for streaming on TCM until February 13th.  Also showing is No More Ladies (1935) until February 1st.  

Alfred Jones or Reginald Truscott-Jones or ... Ta-Ta, it's Ray Milland!

 Wow ... I really am late remembering Mr. Milland.  Forgive me, please, kind sir.  Anyway, such a stern look from the young man.  I'm guessing the photo was taken in 1934 when Ray signed up with Paramount.  That would make him 27 at the time.  Such a handsome dude.  

                             Ray Milland, born January 3, 1907

My, but those eyes ...

Ran across this photograph on eBay just this past year.  There is no identifying studio or photographer's stamp, so I am guessing Ruth Harriet Louise took it.  Looks like her work and she was in charge of MGM's photography unit (1925 to 1930) when young Mr. Montgomery first entered the movies.  It was in a small group of Bob's more recent portraits, and I can only assume it was overlooked since no one else bid on them.  Definitely my "find" for the year.  It is my wallpaper at present.  Yes, it is great to get lost in those blue eyes.  

Hoping 2026 will be Mucho better than 2025!

                            Sydney, Australia, January 1, 2026
 

Embarrassingly enough, the City of Bakersfield CA, sponsors a Polar Bear event on News Years Day.  Yes, ever so brave hungover citizens of this desert community line up for the opportunity to jump or slide into a city pool.  Brace yourselves denizens of the Mid-West, for the mid-day temperature this year was 67 degrees!  Oh, my, brrrrrr...  Granted the low temp for the day was 44 degrees so I can imagine the water was refreshing, but ...  Let's see, it got up to 35 in Indianapolis, IN ... above freezing at least.  And in Milwaukee, poor Milwaukee, it topped out at 16 degrees!!!  Ouch.  

The Aussies know how to throw a party.  Another spectacular fireworks display presented in Sydney.  Nifty.  

My computer problem(s) has finally been resolved, and I will return to my regularly scheduled programming next Tuesday ... or I certainly hope so!