Have a Wonder Bar Year!

May I join Ricardo Cortez, Dolores del Rio, Al Jolson, Kay Francis and Dick Powell, in wishing you the best for 2013!

 If you ever get a chance to watch this movie, Wonder Bar (1934), do.  It's a typical night at a pre-code Paris nightclub ... everybody wanting someone they can't or shouldn't have, Busby Berkeley dancers on the world's largest stage, Dick Powell at his warbling best, and Hugh Herbert and Guy Kibbee chewing up the scenery as two drunken lechers.  A real hoot.  You might want to fast forward through the amazingly offensive Al Jolson backface number.  Society does change over 80 years, sometimes even for the better. 

2012 Has Not Been One of My Better Years

I've always liked this portrait.  Bob is 36, the gorgeous young face has been replaced by one that's fuller and quite handsome.  He has begun to look a little more...er...human?  Anyway, I was rather excited when the following portraits came up for sale on eBay...I'd have a trio from the same photo session...even had a place chosen to display them.

Well, I won both on bids and sent off a message to the vendor asking for an invoice reflecting combined shipping.  Life was great.  But...I did not receive an updated invoice.  I followed up with numerous messages to the vendor, even contacted eBay and they sent a message as well.  I just could not get myself to put out $9.02 for shipping.  Then, after three weeks, I discovered the vendor had been removed as a seller on eBay and I was simply out of luck.  DRATS!!

This isn't the worse thing by far that happened to me this year, but normally my interest in all things Bob and classic movies in general, brings me only happiness and other good vibes.  It's just the pits when reality worms it's way into "Bob's World."  DOUBLE DRATS!!

Three days to go...

A Little Warmth on a Cold Winter's Day

                                              Clark and Joan

                                      Dick and Joan (Blondell)

                         And Robert Taylor all by his lonesome...

A Warm Merry Christmas to All!

From Dennis Day, Raymond Scott, Clifton Fadiman, Robert Montgomery, Don Wilson, Dorothy Collins, Eileen Wilson, Snooky Lanson, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Phil Harris, Mary Livingstone, Jack Benny, Carrie and Kathy. 

And What Was Bob Up To 81 Years Ago Today?

"LET'S GO TO THE POLO GAME WITH THE CANDID CAMERAMAN.  Here he is girls ... the candid cameraman made this unposed picture of Robert Montgomery when he stopped by to have a little chat with Clark Gable at the International Polo Match at the Riviera Country Club."  (All I can say is, where's Clark?)