Old School AMC vs. TCM

The movie-related blogosphere is all abuzz this week over the 15th anniversary of our dear TCM. But I want to buck the trend and talk about my first love: the old AMC . . . American Movie Classics.

Back in my high school days, I'd often whip out my dreaded literature homework, park my butt in front of the TV and switch on AMC. Deep down inside, I think I was attempting to channel Cary Grant to help me with an impossible reading assignment. It never worked.

I even subscribed to their monthly programming magazine, whatever the name of it was.

Back then, AMC played movies without commercials. Boy, what a concept. That got lost somewhere along the line.

And then there was Bob Dorian. I guess he was what you would consider the "Robert Osborne" of AMC. There was another older fellow which I can't remember his name. Whatever happened to Bob? Oh, and Nick Clooney - I think he was a host on the network as well. Nowadays, I just think of him as George's dad.

Yeah, these days I guess AMC is good for one thing: Mad Men. I've never watched the show myself, but half the free world has told me I need to.

Water Boarding (Minus the CIA)

In the 2009 Bob calendar, July's photo has been somewhat of a mystery: who is the lady with Bob? Carrie Liz dropped me a note thinking it's Dorothy Jordan. I think she's right.

I did some digging - something about the background all of a sudden clicked when she said Dorothy. They're water boarding on Lake Norconian. I dug out my copy of The Norconian Resort by Arcadia Publishing and sure enough, there's a photo that has the same background angle and water board (p. 90). 1930s Love in the Rough starred the two and was filmed at The Norconian.

Heh, then again, I suppose it could be Norma Shearer since they also filmed Their Own Desire at that resort. But I can't picture Norma skimming along a lake . . .

Youngsters

The planets must have been lining up this week or something. Out of the blue, I received two emails from Robert Young fans. Sure, you may say "big deal," but come on . . . it's 2009 - you're lucky if you can find someone under 80 who even recognizes the name (no offense to those over 80!).

Thanks to the awesome Carrie Liz (her new, unofficial title) , she passed along a few photos to share with everyone:

The Bride Comes Home - Larger image

The Bride Walks Out - Larger image

Maria also dropped me a note about a Leonard Maltin interview with Robert Young. Looks like the interview is available in back issues of his newsletter. Does anyone subcribe to his newsletter currently? Sounds interesting.

Update: I posted above about Leonard Maltin's newsletter - the interview is available in the book of the same title, Movie Crazy.

A Couples of Two

Some picspam to break up your week. And here's something to think about. Bob always on the left-hand side of photos? Smith is the only one below that seems to break the pattern. Ok, enough useless observation.

Biography of a Bachelor Girl - Ann Harding

Blondie of the Follies - Marion Davies

Fast and Loose - Rosalind Russell

Inspiration - Greta Garbo

Letty Lynton - Joan Crawford (and her dress)

Mr. and Mrs. Smith - Carole Lombard

When Ladies Meet - Myrna Loy

Photo (Advertising) Friday: A Free Soul

In support of Norma Shearer week over on Out of the Past...

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