A Political Campaign Without TV ... How Wonderful!

 "Republican Presidential nominee Wendell Willkie went Hollywood tonight at the Hollywood Bowl."

The 1940 Republican convention was held the last week of June, giving the nominee, Wendell Willkie, four months to campaign before the November 5th election.  There were no primaries then, so no never-ending campaigning of today.  And no television!  Willkie had to travel to as many cities as he could to be seen by the voting public.  

He is in Hollywood on Sept. 19th still going full throttle, along with his wife and two Republican party stalwarts Bob Montgomery and George Murphy.  They all seem to be enjoying themselves. I wonder what they are singing? 

    Left to right:  Wendell Willkie, Republican Presidential nominee; 

          Robert Montgomery; Mrs. Willkie; and George Murphy

 

Bob is definitely into his singing.  Good set of choppers.

A Funny Lady, For Sure

 TCM is showing seven Carole Lombard movies in celebration of her birthday, today, Oct. 6th.  So, if you need a good laugh (don't we all!), check out a Lombard film or two.  Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) we know is a no miss, Bob and Carole were an excellent pair on screen.  It is showing at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.  (And again on Oct. 19th)

Was there anything he couldn't do?

I had not heard of "Nifty", a humor magazine loaded with cartoons of the time, when I ran across this issue from the early 1940's.  It was the unusual cartoon on the cover that caught my eye.  Eye-catching, isn't it.  But what got me to buy the magazine was the drawings on the back.

There are several drawings, one of special interest to you and me.

Not bad, for an actor.  But, of course, our Bob was a multi-talented man.  Very much so.  And Edward Everett Horton proves he had a good sense of humor!  (Hope Clark did, too...) 

 

MGM's Bob Returns to Films

"After four years of combat duty in South Pacific and European war zones, Lieutenant Commander Robert Montgomery has been placed on the Navy's inactive service list and is resuming his screen career."

Not exactly a "Wow, glad to have you back, Bob" kind of welcome.  Nor does Bob look joyous to be back.  Sad, yes.  Tired, yes.  Scared, probably.  He has gone through four tough years.  He has changed, his work environment has changed.  Having to figure out a new career at 41 can be scary.  Hang in there, Bob.  You'll have a few tough years, but you'll do just fine.  

Thank You, Mr. Montgomery

 Robert Montgomery, b. May 21, 1904, d. Sept. 27, 1981

View of the estate from the terrace of Bob's final home,            Hollow Brook in the Canaan Valley, CT

 

"He had played many roles in his lifetime, off-camera and on-; the slender playboy of Our Blushing Brides had become a no-longer-slender country squire, but the grace of the performer remained what it had always been:  a prompting to merriment, an occasion for applause."  **

You are missed, Mr. Montgomery.  The smile.  Ah, yes, the smile.  Thanks for sharing. 

 ** From an article by Brendan Gill appearing in the April, 1982 issue of  "Architectural Digest".