Friday, October 30, 2009

My first Hallowe'en

Probably 1960. Kid sister Paula is creeped out by the...the...uh, the...well, let's call it a Goblin.

My mother bundled me up in every warm item of clothing I had, topped it with a nightgown and gave me a mask. I don't think there was a plan other than that I shouldn't catch cold. We went trick or treating from our Nana Nolan's house, and all of the neighbours pretended they didn't know who I was. Behind that mask I thought they were being rather silly at first. As houses went by though I was quite taken with the thought that perhaps they really didn't know it was me. I was forgetting that Mommy was waiting for me on the sidewalk.

Nowadays I love handing out the candies and pretending to be frightened of the small, confused children and complimenting the more gory big kids. I'll be disappointed if we have too much candy left.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Hollywood to Broadway to Hollywood trivia

JANIS PAIGE
Donna Mae Tjaden, born September 16, 1922

Talented and lovely Janis Paige has starred in film (One Sunday Afternoon, Silk Stockings), Broadway (Remains to be Seen, The Pajama Game), television (Wagon Train, All in the Family) and toured (Gypsy, Mame). Did you see her on the Tony's a couple of years ago? Still a looker!

DORIS DAY
Doris Mary Ann Von Kapplehoff, born April 3, 1922

Talented and lovely Doris Day is a recording star (Sentimental Journey, Que Sera Sera), a movie star (Calamity Jane, Pillow Talk) and a television star (The Doris Day Show). Happy in retirement she devotes her time to animal protection.

It's been a while since we've traversed the twisted trivia trail.

In 1948 Janis Paige was the leading lady in a fun bit of fluff for Warner Brothers entitled Romance on the High Seas. The movie marked big band singing sensation Doris Day's introduction to movie goers. The girl was a hit.



JANIS PAIGE and JOHN RAITT

In 1954 Janis Paige had a major hit starring as Babe Williams in The Pajama Game on Broadway. T'was ever thus that Hollywood studios were always afeared that a "name" in the theatre would not translate into box office.



DORIS DAY & JOHN RAITT

So, the casting round went around. If Frank Sinatra had said "yes" to The Pajama Game then Janis would be brought back to Hollywood. Frank said "no". Box office gold Doris said "yes" and Broadway leading man Raitt, and most of the original cast, appeared in the appealing 1957 film.


It's 1960 and Doris is still filmgoers favourite leading lady. In Please Don't Eat the Daisies Doris is married to theatre critic David Niven and their lives are turned upside down by a move to the suburbs and a wiley and attractive stage star. Who else could play that scene stealing part, but lovely and talented Janis Paige?

So goes the merry-go-round of entertainment.










Wednesday, October 7, 2009

PERRY MASON: THE CASE OF THE SAUSALITO SUNRISE

Terence Towles Canote at A Shroud of Thoughts is hosting The 8th Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon . The popular blogathon is runn...