Straight people love a good charity case. They love to put on their finest buckles, armor, and smug expressions and spend all afternoon feeling sorry for those they deem less fortunate than themselves. Never mind that the Native Americans—like the homosexuals before them—were doing pretty well in the first place, without the help of a bunch of straight, white people zooming around Plymouth Rock in their gas-guzzling buggies and building thatched-roof McMansions as far as the eye can see. “Oh, if I could only help them in some way,” Sally Farthington thinks to herself, “If only my fried chicken were good enough—maybe they’d learn to be more like us…” Thanks but no thanks, Dear Breeder.

Oh please, painter of group nationalistic portraits foregrounded by fuzzy buildings and trees: We know this representation is a bold-faced lie. We know, for instance, that chocolate chip cookies were not served to a seated crowd of Native Americans by a Jane Austen character. We know that it would not become fashionable to wear electric blue stockings with green velvet pants (and to cross your legs in such a manner) until 1885, the year of Boy George’s birth. And we also know that Shirley Temple and her dog Sparky most certainly were not the guests of honor at what you so artlessly hail as “The First Thanksgiving.”

I will, however, compliment you, Painter of a Thousand Inaccurate Details, on your fine rendering of male facial hair. The drag kings who read our blog are going to be ecstatic.

And isn’t that, after all, what Thanksgiving is really about?

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson

Bill "Bojangles"Robinson

Best Known As “Bojangles,” Robinson Was Born In Richmond, Virginia, And With Him, A New Word Was Added To The English Language. He Coined The Term, “Copacetic,” Which Meant Okay Or Fine.

Bojangles Began His Career In Vaudeville. His Tap Dancing (Considered An Original African American Art), Took Him To Broadway And Hollywood In The 1920’s.

He Starred In Several Films, “Stormy Weather” (1943), And Three With Child Actress, Shirley Temple: “The Little Colonel” (1935), “The Littlest Rebel” (1936) And “Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm” (1938). With These Films He Became An American Dance Legend And Inspired Generations Of Young Dancers, Including: Sammy Davis, Jr., Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire And Michael Jackson.

Robinson Said His Nickname, Bojangles, Means “Easygoing And Happy-Go-Lucky.” Sammy Davis ,Jr. Revived The Bojangles Legacy With His 1969, Hit Song, “Mr. Bojangles.”

BILL ROBINSON IN “STORMY WEATHER”

“In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It.” — Hubert Gaddy, Jr.

Hugh Gaddy

Create Your Badge

Robert Pattinson on David Letterman – young, sweet, cute, diplomatic.  His reply on the question of his relationship with Kristen Stewart– a mumbled something about his having given cryptic answers to that question all tour–seemed eminently NOT cryptic, but politic, dutiful, even gentlemanly.   It also seemed a definite ‘yes’, especially when combined with what a wistful glance at the magazine cover, shown by Letterman, of himself and Kristen.    I say all that it my own politic and dutiful way as a fan.  There did seem to be a genuinely gentlemanly aspect to Rob’s answer, but I’m also guessing Summit, the studio in charge of the Twilight franchise, has a stake in keeping the controversy alight  (Team Jacob plus the hype of speculation).

Ah.

The pleasures of pop culture in difficult times:  Robsten now makes me think of my mom in the 30’s, deeply loving Shirley Temple, Gone With the Wind, Errol Flynn.

Okay, that’s an excuse.  It’s not just the difficult times that explains the fascination–how about charisma?  Good looks?  Charm?  The love of fantasy?

Ah again.

Other seeming proof of Robsten relation (sorry, non-fans), Rob says, not on Letterman, that Kristen cooks a mean spam.   Come on!

All photos by Martina Olsson

I’m proud to say that tomorrow, I’ll be working with the very talented fashion photographer responsible for the stunning photos above. I can’t wait!

So a few hours ago, my dad, mom and I go to Applebee’s. We open the door and out comes 2 guys wear LA Kings shirts, must have been in mid 20’s. But who cares? I was proudly wearing my brother’s old Coyotes shirt. Yeah dudes, Kings beat the Coyotes but that was soooo last month! Or whatever.

I caught myself watching those HILARIOUS reactions to those disugsting viral videos. Let me rephrase that- I WAS WATCHING THE REACTIONS NOT THE REAL, GROSS VIDEOS! That’s something my friend doesn’t get.

This day feels like a Sunday. Don’t know why..

Yesterday, I was watching Shirley Temple’s “Animal Crackers In My Soup”. It’s so cute:) And yes, I once had those curls. I still do, but I straighten my hair. I need to remind myself to get it cut.

ANDDDDD!! My advance photography class & the other advance kids are going to San Diego!! March 4th through 6th. Ironically, my brother’s birthday is on the 4th.

His voicemail- Me talking- “Hey Eddie, uh, happy birthday. Oh and sorry my phone isn’t waterproof.. I’M HITTIN THE BEACHHH!! Bye.”

Tonight’s the Anaheim Ducks and Coyotes. So far the Ducks are at the lowest I believe. Ha! SITTING DUCKS!! Wisniewski, or however you spell it is gonna be back! So watch yo back Doan!

If there shall be any problem what so ever, let’s let Marty handle it. Afterall he is the Czech destroyer!

I’m gonna take a hit out of this and say that if we win, the score will be 3-1 or 3-2. I’m predicting that we won’t have as many penalties- FYI: IF HE HITS YOU, LET HIM GO IN THE BOX. DON’T HIT HIM BACK! Why is it always a good player taken into the box?

I’m hoping we go to the Canadiens’ and Flyers’ game. DUDEEE I can totally make a sign in French! But it might be off cause I learned French French last year, not Canadian French. They’re slightly different, but it’ll be cool.

I would tell you how it’ll look but who wants to show up with the same signs?!

Shirley Temple em tempos de Baby Take a Bow (Harry Lachman, 1934)

It must be cool to grow up from the age of 3 being a movie star and celebrity.

In Shirley Temple’s case, she helped set Hollywood on the map through one of the hardest times in history.

The Depression Era was in the early 1930’s and as a little girl danced into our hearts, she gave us smiles and delight.

Now we have a depression facing us, and Swine Flu, so I thought it would be great to remind all of you that we have it 100 times better than they did years ago, so let’s not complain too much and be thankful for the things that we do have.

shirley-temple-fairy god mother

shirley Temple 80 years old

You know what I like about Christmas Music?

It makes me happy!

So I’m listening to a few good songs, and looking for something hilarious to post here.

Did you ever see those cartoons with the yellow bouncing ball?

They would put the words on the TV so you could sing along, like when they do some Christmas Carols.

GaylaPeeveyIwantAHippopotamusForChristmasLPFront 1953

Picture a Yellow Ball here…

Words and Music by John Rox
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
Don’t want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
I don’t think Santa Claus will mind, do you?
He won’t have to use our dirty chimney flue
Just bring him through the front door,
that’s the easy thing to do

I can see me now on Christmas morning,
creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and what surprise
when I open up my eyes
to see a hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses
I only like hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me too

Mom says the hippo would eat me up, but then
Teacher says a hippo is a vegeterian.
(Short Music Interlude)
There’s lots of room for him in our two-car garage
I’d feed him there and wash him there and give him his massage

I can see me now on Christmas morning,
creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and what surprise
when I open up my eyes
to see a hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles or rhinoceroseses
I only like hippopotamuseses
And hippopotamuses like me too!

P.S  - This song is great after a few drinks, beers or other things (can’t think of them, not my thing but just in case you are one of those people that see’s Pink Elephant’s dancing instead of Hippo’s.)

gayla-peevey-small-2 hippo

I am quite bad at telling ghost stories. I tried to tell La Llorona, but the little girl I was telling it to told it better. But it was a fun way to spend the day before Halloween–a nice, innocent day, probably directly opposed to the parade I’m going to tomorrow.

I’m going to be Shirley Temple.

…And then I’m spending the night at a stranger’s house! Fun!!! Take that sarcastically or not–I mean it both ways: it will be “fun”, but it will probably also be really fun.

What’s not fun is the fact that the dining hall is closed for Fall Break. Not cool.

As you know, I’m ill. Never one to let an opportunity for sloth pass me by, I used my sore throat and sniffles as a reason to stay in bed this morning and watch Tarantula, which as you may recall from one of my earlier posts is only the greatest movie ever made in the history of film.

In case you need further convincing of this fact, I offer the following as evidence.

1. Tarantula has memorable dialogue, including:

“I knew it would happen–give women the vote and what do you get–lady scientists.”

– Dr. Matt Hastings to Stephanie Clayton, upon learning that she has come to town to do graduate work in biology

“Science is science, but a girl must get her hair done.”

– Stephanie Clayton to her employer, Professor Gerald Deemer

“Freaks of any kind give me the willies.”

– Dr. Matt Hastings

2. Tarantula stars John Agar, a handsome leading man who starred in such classic B movies as Revenge of the Creature, The Mole People, The Brain from Planet Arous, Attack of the Puppet People, Zontar: The Thing from Venus, and Women of the Prehistoric Planet.

That’s him on the left. No, not in the middle. That’s well-known character actor Leo G. Carroll, whose Professor Deemer has been injected with the “super nutrient” that causes the whole mess. (But he makes his own fantastic addition to this list. See #6 below.)

As if this weren’t enough, Agar also happened to be Shirley Temple’s first husband, marrying her when she was just 17. It didn’t last long, due in part to the fact that Agar apparently disliked being referred to as “Mr. Shirley Temple.” Still, as Agar and Temple met when she was 15 (at a tea party at the home of ZaSu Pitts, no less), and as she was reportedly a virgin on her wedding night, when you watch Tarantula it’s entirely possible that you’re looking at the man who took America’s sweetheart for her first ride on the good ship lollipop. If you know what I mean.

Oh, I almost forgot this. Agar had a small part in the 1976 remake of King Kong. When a friend of his bought a run-down dinosaur-themed amusement park in Arkansas, Agar allowed him to change the name to John Agar’s Land of Kong. It was later changed to Dinosaur World, and is now sadly closed. Lots of fun pics of it can be found here.

3. Tarantula co-stars Mara Corday.

Like John Agar, Mara Corday became something of a fixture in B movies. In addition to her fine acting in Tarantula, she graced the screen in The Giant Claw, Undersea Girl, The Black Scorpion, and the girl gang spectacular Girls on the Loose.

Corday was a popular pin-up girl as well, and was Playboy magazine’s centerfold for the October 1958 issue.

4. Tarantula features the first film appearance (uncredited) of Clint Eastwood.

Eastwood plays a fighter pilot who, in the last seconds of the film, attacks the giant spider as it’s about to lay waste to the town of Desert Rock. He has one line: “The rockets didn’t work. Switch to napalm.”

The napalm, by the way, works beautifully.

In an interesting twist, Eastwood would later cast co-star Mara Corday in bit parts in his movies, including The Gauntlet, Sudden Impact, Pink Cadillac, and The Rookie.

5. Tarantula features spectacular special effects.

Like this giant guinea pig.

6. Tarantula inspired a line in the song “Science Fiction/Double Feature” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

“I knew Leo G. Carroll
was over a barrel
when Tarantula took to the hills.”

To recap: snappy dialogue, Shirley Temple’s first husband, a Playboy centerfold, Clint Eastwood dropping napalm, a giant guinea pig, and an inspiration for The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

If these arguments still don’t persuade you to run out and see Tarantula then I don’t know what else I could possibly say to convince you. But I know that you will run out to see it, and that you will thank me for introducing you to this forgotten cinematic gem.

You’re welcome.

I live about six blocks or so from my neighborhood Kroger store so it is only logical that I do most of my grocery shopping at that location. For some reason only known to Kroger’s upper management I suppose, they stopped stocking my favorite breakfast cereal, ‘puffed wheat’, a couple of months ago. They continued to stock puffed rice which is sort of a sister to puffed wheat, but no puffed wheat.

It should go without saying what a crisis this presented. Who doesn’t have their favorite cereal? When I asked my local store’s management as to why this had occurred, they were pretty much clueless. That struck me as somewhat odd but nevertheless, that seemed to be the way it was.

I then proceeded to visit a couple of other Kroger stores and it was the same story – they had removed it from their shelves. I then began looking for other stores that might stock my cereal and came to the stark realization that there aren’t near the number of grocery stores there used to be. In fact, within twenty miles of my home there was only Kroger, Wal-Mart and a Knight’s Food Store. None of which carried Puffed Wheat, name brand or otherwise. They all still had the ‘sugar/honey coated’ versions of the cereal but no one had the original or a facsimile. There did not seem to be any of my beloved puffed wheat in the entire town….or surrounding suburbs!

I guess this is the kind of crap you have to deal with if you live too long!

I eventually went on-line and sent Kroger’s customer service a complaint expressing my bewilderment and disappointment over their decision to discontinue the product. I’m sure after receiving that complaint they will respond expeditiously by having puffed wheat back on their shelves immediately!

So, how much would you pay for your favorite cereal? Well, I ultimately resolved my crisis to a degree by going to the Quaker Oats company’s on-line store and purchasing several boxes of puffed wheat and having them shipped to my home. After shipping costs, that averaged out to be right at $6.76 a box. That’s probably just about double but I’ll say one thing, it was fresh!

As sometimes happens in these exercises we are sometimes forced to go through and endure, I did find out an interesting fact or two. Quite coincidentally, 2009 is the 100th anniversary of the introduction of puffed wheat as a breakfast cereal. It was April 25th of 1909 to be exact. Now who would discontinue stocking a cereal with that kind of heritage? Well who else – KROGER!

Check out these ads….

(Click on image to enlarge)

(Click on image to enlarge)

Then there were all those Saturday morning radio programs that were supported by Quaker Puffed Wheat to include Dick Tracy, Little Orphan Annie, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Sgt. Preston and his dog King who tamed the Yukon, most of which ultimately ended up on television. And of course with the advent of television, we got those classic commercials….

And now after all that history regarding the greatest cereal of all time, stores have opted to not stock it? The only cereal “Shot From Guns”? It’s not just a breakfast cereal – it’s part of our heritage!

Obviously few others, if any, will be concerned with my trials and tribulations regarding my beloved puffed wheat ordeal but nevertheless, it always feels better when you release your frustrations out into Cyberspace. For those of you however who are on the edge of your seats, I will certainly add a postscript to this post if and when Kroger ever responds to my complaint! I’m sure no one would want to miss that.

La Belle Verte

si:

Hm. V-am mai spus vreodata ca o iubesc pe Tinkerbell!?

Si imi place si Loreena McKennitt. Loreena McKennitt + Tinkerbell = Major win!

My father was a bank examiner, examining banks all over New York State. Because my mother didn’t like being left behind, I developed a love of travel and adventure. Sometimes I was packed up and sent to my grandparents and but often I was packed up and taken along when the trips were more extended. Albany, Syracuse, Ithaca and Oneida were towns I knew like the towns at home.
Evenings when we were traveling were often spent at local bowling alleys and bars with other examiners. I drank “Shirley Temples” and learned to play shuffleboard (table type) and bowl duck pins.

We lived this partially vagabond life for my “formative” years. When my sister, Anne, was born we continued to travel. We had a folding buggy which we took with us for Anne. During a winter trip, Anne became known as Blizzard Liz because every afternoon my mother and I would bundle up and get Anne and the buggy ready for a walk. When we’d gotten about a block from the hotel it would start to snow. We would dash (as fast as a five year old and a buggy could dash) back to the hotel where I would hold Anne while my mother collapsed the buggy. Then we’d dash inside to the warmth and safety of the hotel lobby. The next year my sister Linda was born and we gave up our nomadic ways.

Kristen Dunst’s fan crush on Oscar winning Kiwi director, Jane Campion, saw Dunst gate crashing Campion’s party this week.

TV3 News of New Zealand is reporting that Dunst stunned partygoers in The Big Apple celebrating, Jane Campion, the famed director of The Piano. Dunst gate-crashing fun antics occurred at The Plaza Hotel’s Oak Room, where she did an impromptu audition for Campion.

Let’s just call it a Hollywood singing telegram from an American to a Kiwi. Cute story.

Dunst, the star of the Spider-Man film franchise, is vying for a lead role in Campion’s latest film project, Runaway, based on a collection of quirky short stories of Canadian author Alice Munroe’s talented writings. Campion is all about, a female book author, plus a female script, plus a female lead star, plus a female director.

That’s so rare in Hollywood. No wonder why Dunst is going bonkers. Dunst  been in show biz as long as Campion has. Perhaps Kirsten can see what Campion has done for once, child actress, Anna Paquin’s career in Hollywood now, and she wants a piece of Jane Campion’s magic touch. A pretty smart move for Dunst on the Hollywood chess board.

How did Kirsten Dunst audition? She did it old school Hollywood styles, by tap dancing Shirley Temple styles. Classy. How respectfully cute. I hope the Kiwi gives Dunst the job! Go on Janey!

September, 1944
Hollywood Gossip

SPT = St. Petersburg Times
TM = Time Magazine

Carrie Jacobs Bond, sugary sweet, old-time song writer (A Perfect Day, I Love You Truly) was treated to a Sand-birthday party by the ham-&-eggs eating Los Angeles Breakfast Club. White-haired, ailing Mrs. Bond brushed aside the protests of her nurse, made a speech, next day was back in bed. One of ASCAP’s top-ranking members (A Perfect Day alone has sold over 8,000,000 copies), she has grown rich on her royalties, still turned out songs until six months ago, when she became a semi-invalid. Her latest is called Because. Said she: “My songs have brought me everything I could want.”  –TM: 09-11-1944

"Charlie McCarthy Profile" - Click image to see all available merchandise with this design!

Ever since Edgar Bergen appeared on Rudy Vallee’s show, Rudy has been interested in ventriloquism.  Bergen taught him some of his tricks, and Vallee, through persistent practice, has perfected his technique.  He has three dummies in his family—Sally Ann, a girl talking doll; Linoleum, a negro character, and Ezra Snerd, Mortimer’s brother.  –SPT: 09-17-1944

Garry Moore, Jimmy Durante’s laugh partner, is being considered for some of Harold Lloyd’s greatest film comedies, soon to be readapted for filming.  –SPT: 09-17-1944

Gene Krupa and divorced wife Ethel are set to tie the knot again.  The event will take place sometime in November when Krupa retruns to Los Angeles to make a film for MGM.  Incidentally, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey and Xavier Cugat are in Hollywood making pictures.  –SPT: 09-17-1944

Georges (“Georgeous Georges”) Carpentier, dapper light-heavyweight boxing hero of the ’20s and a French air-force veteran of World Wars I & II, was met in Paris by sight-seeing U.S. soldiers who questioned him in schoolboy French, mobbed him when he wisecracked in English: “Why the hell don’t you speak your own language? Don’t you recognize me?” Carpentier said that his Paris nightclub had been taken over by the Nazis, declared that he had cooperated with the enemy only once, and then under pressure, when he refereed a fight in Berlin. His only question: where was his one-time conqueror, Jack Dempsey —”a grand guy.”  –TM: 09-11-1944

Gertrude Stein was discovered by CBS War-caster Eric Sevareid at a chateau in the mountains of southeast France. Over the radio she expressed her feelings: “What a day is today, that is, what a day it was day before yesterday. What a day!” Sevareid reported that the 70-year-old, iron-haired, literary experimentalist was fit but thinner, because she walked seven-and-a-half miles a day for food, chopped wood all winter. She has finished a new book, All Wars I Remember, which Sevareid said “appears to be about the human race always destroying its century. Hitler, it explains, is essentially a 19th-Century creature.” Gertrude Stein told him: “This war is far more logical than the last war, and much more interesting.” She wanted to go to Paris, but had no thought of returning to the U.S.  Said she: “I was never happier than during the last four years, because I came so close to the French people.”  –TM: 09-11-1944

Glenn Miller, who is overseas with an AAF outfit, was recently promoted to major.  Glenn and his swingsters are making music at American Army camps in England.  –SPT: 09-17-1944

Screen Actress Lola Lane won a divorce yesterday from Henry Clay Dunham, aircraft executive, but her suit took a different course than most Hollywood divorce settlements. . . . . Miss Lane declared that she wanted neither alimony nor property from Dunham after testifying that her husband started “showing quite a lot of indifference” toward her a year ago, than began staying out late at night until they finally separated last Feb. 15.  –SPT: 09-16-1944

Paulette Goddard, who likes to wear her own jewelry in pictures, dazzled her co-workers recently when she appeared on the set wearing a diamond necklace valued at $175,000.  –SPT: 09-17-1944

Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, bald, bespectacled British humorist (Thank You, Jeeves; Quick Service, etc.) captured in France by the Nazis in 1940, was found alive & well in Paris’ Hotel Bristol, eager to return to London to dispel the rumors that he had been a Nazi sympathizer.* He called his five broadcasts on the German radio in 1941 “a terrible mistake,” explained that he intended them “in the spirit of the British soldier who spoke on the radio to get messages back home.” Wodehouse said he was released from prison camp “mainly because I had reached the age of 60,” then arranged for the talks describing life in the camps. “I suppose it sounds idiotic,” he declared, “but it never occurred to me that it would be held against me. . . . I guess all authors must be half-witted.”  –TM: 09-11-1944

Actresses sometimes have an awful time with movie fog.  Rita Hayworth can’t stand the smelly stuff, so she dumps in a bottle of her favorite perfume. . . . . And whenever Vivian Blaine works in fog scenes when she has a cold, she puts in tincture of benzoin and eucalyptus, which not only smells good but has a medicinal value, too.  –SPT: 09-17-1944

Shirley Temple, 16, in Manhattan on a bond-selling tour, revived memories of her youth on her first trip to the city in six years. Said she: “New York looked different then. I think the buildings looked taller, but maybe it’s because I was shorter.” She teamed up with her old-time dancing partner Bill (“Bojangles”) Robinson to do a shim-sham-shimmy before 50,000 in Central Park. Exclaimed modest Miss Temple: “I haven’t done this since I was seven, so excuse me if I’m not so hot.” Said Robinson: “Honey, you haven’t done this since you were four. So it’s going to be sensational.”  –TM: 09-11-1944

Tallulah Bankhead, coming back to the screen in “Czarina,” is defying the old stage superstition against the color green in selecting her film wardrobe.  Eight of her 20 costumes will be in Erin’s favorite hue. . . . . But Rene Hubert, the designer, is taking no chances.  He had the wardrobe workers embroider four-leaf clovers inside all the garments.  –SPT: 09-17-1944

Died:  Mrs. Julia Columbo, 78, mother of the late famed Bing Crosby-style crooner, Russ Columbo; in Los Angeles. When Russ Columbo was killed in 1934 by the accidental discharge of an antique dueling pistol, his mother was too ill with heart trouble to be told of his death, soon after began losing her eyesight. For ten years the family kept Russ’s death secret from her, explained he was having great success in England, read her affectionate weekly letters signed “Russ,” inclosing the monthly $398 insurance annuity he had taken out in her favor.  –TM: 09-11-1944

* In London, British authorities said no legal charges would be pressed against Wodehouse, announced that facilities for repatriation were based on “physical conditions,” with no priority allowed Wodehouse.

Hello again!  So part 2 of the last baking adventure I had and here it goes…  Earlier I posted up the recipe to the soft snickerdoodles so that everyone can enjoy a good (and delicious) recipe.  It wasn’t too complicated and I made sure each step was easy to understand.  Like I said before, the recipes are very kid-friendly.

The cupcakes were part of a surprise for a friend’s birthday because Shirley Temples are one of the favorite drinks when we go out to eat on the town.  It’s also a classic non-alcoholic drink using Sprite (or 7-up) mixed with maraschino cherry juice, or sometimes even with grenadine.  Thus, I am so glad to have come across such an exquisite recipe that is pretty unknown except for a small number of people.  I had actually thought of making the Cherry Limeade cupcake, but because my friend is allergic to certain types of foods, I thought I would keep it simple.

Shirley Temple cupcakes

Shirley Temple Cupcakes
adapted from: http://www.therepressedpastrychef.com

Yields 12-18 cupcakes, depending on size of muffin pan

1 cup Sprite Zero (I used regular Sprite; just a little more sugar)
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/3 cup flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder

1. Preheat the oven at 350 degrees F.
2. Combine the flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
3. Combine the Sprite, sugar, and oil, and whisk vigorously.
4. Combine both wet and dry ingredients well, but don’t overbeat.
5. Pour mixture halfway into cupcake liners.  They will rise, so 1/2-3/4 of the way is good.
6. Bake for 10-15 mins, give or take a few minutes depending on the altitude and oven ranges.

For the frosting:
a little grenadine
your favorite buttercream frosting (I used mine from a recipe I found online with Magnolia Bakery)
dry Maraschino cherries, chopped (I squeezed most of the juice out with a towel)
optional: Maraschino cherries & cut-down straws, for garnishing

1. Let your cupcakes cool for 10mins or longer so the frosting won’t melt.
2. Mix in the chopped cherry bits into your buttercream frosting, and frost your cupcakes.
3. Top with garnishings if you prefer.  I cut a few bendy straws as well as topped the cupcakes off with a Maraschino cherry to give the look of a Shirley Temple drink.

I had done the cupcakes the night before and frosted the morning after so that the flavors would mellow together.  I have heard the flavors will intensify overnight.  You can also add in grated lemon zest for more flavor, but I omitted them because I didn’t have any lemons with me.  The icing was literally the perfect topping on the cake.  The lemony-lime flavor of the cake (“sour” portion) and the sweetness of the frosting balanced out; plus, the cake was very moist.

Needless to say, those who were able to enjoy, or got a chance to grab, some of the cupcakes, really enjoyed devouring them.  It was something different than most, not only for the flavor but for the ingredients and cherries mixed into the frosting.  The chopped cherries gave the frosting a little more texture and spiced up the would-be mundane regular frosting on most store-bought cupcakes.  All in all, the cupcake was rather enjoyable.  Also I have heard from one of my cousins that he also used the extra frosting I gave him with the snickerdoodles, and “they were heavenly” (direct quoting here).  Until the next posting, happy eatings!

September 14, 1934

Hollywood Gossip

EI = Evening Independent
LDN = Ludington Daily News
PPG = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
TM = Time Magazine

Al Jolson, Ruby Keeler and Paul Whiteman are getting together for a one-night tour this season, similar to the Whiteman-Jack Pearl-Boswell Sisters enterprise early last year.  It’ll be arranged so that Whiteman and Jolson can get back to New York each Thursday night for their radio program. –PPG: 09-14-1934

If you remember Alan Hale driving down the road singing a nonsensical song which had little rhyme or reason, “It Happened One Night,” it may amuse you to know how the song was born.  When that particular sequence was being shot, Frank Capra, the director, told Hale to sing some old song.  Hale obediently started to sing, and selected a familiar tune. . . . . Capra said, “You can’t sing that, it’s copyrighted.  Don’t sing anything we’ll have to buy.”  Whereupon Hale started again, and each time they discovered that the song he was lustily rendering was something they couldn’t use without buying the rights for its use in the picture. . . . . Finally, at his wits’ end, Capra said:  “Sing anything—just make it up as you go along—but watch my hand.  When I raise it, sing high—when I lower it, sing low.” . . . . . Thus the origin of the crazy words and tune you heard as Hale drove his rickety Ford along that country road!   –PPG: 09-15-1934 (Virginia Helene)

Babe Ruth, having announced his retirement at the end of this season because he had reached the age of 40, received a birth certificate from his sister, learned that he was not 40 but 39.  –TM: 09-17-1934

Carole Lombard, the bravest lady we know, [has been] sending back encouraging messages to her worried friends.*   –PPG: 09-15-1934 (Louella Parsons)

Claudette Colbert, Eddie Cantor, the Gene Markeys, James Cagney, Bruce Cabot and Sally Blane [have been] getting writer’s cramp from obliging the youngsters.  –PPG: 09-15-1934 (Louella Parsons)

Newsreel audiences are snickering over that British accent brought back by Douglas Fairbanks.  –EI: 09-15-1935

The busiest brain in Hollywood belongs to Eddie Cantor.  Every time I talk with him I get dizzy keeping up with him.  Most of his ideas are good, too.  Next time I’ll take my typewriter along and borrow a few.  Eddie leaves Hollywood in 10 days for a radio engagement and a trip to Europe with Lynn Farnol, to be there when “Kid Millions” opens.  And while Eddie is getting the big hand from England and keeping his place in the radio sun he will invent a few gags for “Waiting at the Church,” his next musical for Samuel Goldwyn.  Meanwhile, Arthur Sheekman and Nat Perrin are getting the idea into shape.  –PPG: 09-15-1934 (Louella Parsons)

Fay Wray spends a lot of her spare time making sketches in charcoal and weaving tapestries.  She also collects rare perfumes.  –EI: 09-15-1934

Gayle Talbot, in a dispatch from London, points out the attitude at Elstree studios toward the “personal publicity” that is desired by most of Hollywood.  The studios there, the dispatch says, “Don’t think it is anybody’s business if their high salaried leading lady is going places with the latest juvenile importation from Hollywood.  Neither is it any concern of the public how much money little Sarah Twinkletoes, late of the ribbon counter, is making.” –LDN: 09-15-1934

Greta Garbo, reputedly so fond of seclusion, whould work in the English studios.  There, perhaps, she would find that freedom from publicity she so desires in Hollywood. –LDN: 09-15-1934

Harold Lloyd is one of the best of amateur magicians. . . And Clifton Webb paints in oils almost as well as he dances.  –EI: 09-15-1934

Hollywood’s most famous pair of “acting hands” belongs to Zasu Pitts.  An almost equally noted pair are at the disposal of Lee Tracy.  And not to be over-looked in the discussion is Helen Hayes, whose “talkative hands” helped her win an academy prize for acting. –LDN: 09-15-1934

Jane Wyatt, who made her screen debut recently in “One More River”—she played Diana Wynyard’s sister—is returning to Broadway next week for a role in Harry Segall’s “Lost Horizons.”  Rowland Stebbings in producing it. –PPG: 09-14-1934

Joe Penner [was recently seen] feeding his pals (40 of them) duck!   –PPG: 09-15-1934 (Louella Parsons)

On the rocky northern coast of Corsica sat Playwright Noel Coward, sipping a drink, waiting for his chartered yacht Mairi to pick him up. Two days before a Mediterranean squall had sent him scurrying ashore to shelter. As the storm abated he saw Mairi nose in toward shallow water, buckle up on a rock, spill her crew into the sea. Yachtsman Coward started to hike. Twenty miles down the coast he walked into the village of Ile Rousse, told his plight to a skeptical hotelkeeper, who cabled London. When Coward got back to the wreck he waded in to salvage what he could, then sailed to Nice, reporting: “All of the crew were saved. I went up to my neck in bilgewater on the wreck and managed to save my passport and the manuscript of my autobiography. I lost 14 suits of clothes. However, I saved my typewriter so I don’t have to worry about making a living.”   –TM: 09-17-1934

Walter Huston and Nan Sunderland frequently dine in quickie restaurants and chop suey palaces to escape the growing horde of autograph collectors.  –EI: 09-15-1934

William Seiter, director of “The Richest Girl in the World”, is an expert billiard player and can make a 5-cushion shot!  –EI: 09-15-1934

Hollywood is circus mad.  Film celebs, believe it or not, who visited Ringlings’ here are actually following the big show to Long Beach and Pasadena.  Wally Beery, the best patron of them all and by his own admittance a former elephant trainer, should get his fill of the big tent.  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has just bought a circus yarn, “O’Shaughnessy’s Boy,” by Mike Boylan and Harvey Gates for him and his boy friend, Jackie Cooper. . . . . It’s a natural for both of them.  Jackie plays the heir to an enormous fortune who runs away and joins up with the circus, while Wally is the elephant trainer.  First, of course, there is Beery’s “The Mighty Barnum” for Darryl Zanuck.  –PPG: 09-15-1934 (Louella Parsons)

There’s more ballyhooing these days about the child actors and actresses than there is about the grownup stars.  They declare on the RKO lot that Frankie Thomas, 13-year-old star of “Wednesday’s Child,” is second to none, and that when he is seen on the screen Shirley Temple and David Holt will meet their hottest competition.  Frankie is on the train now choo-chooing back to New York for a stage play; then he returns to make a picture for RKO.  His contract gives him permission to divide his time between New York and Hollywood so he must be good.  –PPG: 09-15-1934 (Louella Parsons)

One of the nicest things ever done by picture people was the marvelous co-operation they gave the Los Angeles Junior League in raising money for charity.  They agreed to play a pole game, and afterward arrange a barbecue under the trees near the pole field. . . . . Frank Borzage, the director; “Big Boy” Williams, Johnny Mack Brown and James Gleason made up one team, which was called the “Romancers,” while Walt and Roy Disney, Hal Roach and Raymond Griffith composed the “Funsters.” . . . . . Later Jack Warner substituted for Jimmy Gleason.  Spencer Tracy was to have played, but he was engaged in an important picture, and the Fox studio refused to let him participate in the game, as he held up production on a film not long ago due to an accident he suffered in a practice game. . . . . Eddie Cantor acted as master of ceremonies, and Jack Holt was referee.  Hundreds of tickets were sold and the day was a greater success than the Junior League had even hoped.  –PPG: 09-15-1934 (Virginia Helene)

Waiting on sets is tiresome for actors.  Even more so than the actual work they do.  It is so difficult to know just how long it is going to take to shoot a sequence, that all actors are required to be present most of the time, made up, and are sometimes not used for hours, or perhaps all day. . . . . Each time a new scene is photographed there must be rehearsals, the camera must be moved, and the lights arranged differently.  All of this takes so long that most players bring books, or knitting, or hook rugs to while away the hours.  Joan Crawford furnished her private theater with rugs she made between scenes on the set.  –PPG: 09-15-1934 (Virginia Helene)

Cemeteries are conspicuous by their absence in Hollywood.  It would almost seem that no one ever died here.  Someone said that the people who should have died long ago are still walking around, and that’s what is the matter with Hollywood!  –PPG: 09-15-1934 (Virginia Helene)

Four relatives of well-known stage people will dance in the chorus of “College Rhythm,” featuring Lanny Ross, Jack Oakie and Joe Penner.  They are Sally Rand’s brother, Harold; Russell Ash, son of Sam Ash, New York singer; Lee Middleton, daughter of Charles Middleton, Hollywood actor, and Jimmy Aye, brother of Marion, musical comedy star.  –PPG: 09-15-1934

*A Note from Vicki:  I can only assume that this bit of gossip is in reference to Carole Lombard’s recent loss of her fiance’, Russ Columbo.

ABC CHANGES THREE TITLES

NEW YORK, Sept. 4—ABC-TV is changing the titles of three of its upcoming fall shows. . . . . It’s Jimmy Nelson comedy-quiz stanza, up to now called “Take My Word” has been re-named “Come Closer.”  The Sterling Drug Friday night mystery film series, “Action” has been re-dubbed “The Vise.”  No final decision has been reached on a new name for “Postal Inspector,” the Thursday night Prockter package.  (Billboard, Sep. 11, 1954)

AMOS ‘N’ ANDY SIGNED FOR TV COLOR COMMERCIALS

The Amos ‘n’ Andy television package, starring Alvin Childress, Spencer Williams and Tim Moore, was signed by CBS television to help showcase a new line of color TV sets.  The show will be used on alternate weeks in Columbia’s $2 million program to push color TV.  (Jet Magazine, September, 1954)

MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN MERCHANDISING PROMOTION

NEW YORK, Sept. 4—Magic tricks will make their way into the TV film merchandising field as part of the array of promotion material being lined up by ABC Film Syndication for its new “Mandrake, the Magician” series.  The firm’s merchandising-promotion chief, Lee Francis, is preparing merchandising material to offer sponsors of the series. . . . . Among the items being set are Mandrake comic books, which can be imprinted with the sponsor’s name.  King Features reportedly has offered to help sponsors of the series tie in with newspapers carrying the Mandrake strip.  Envisioned is a cross-plug tie-in whereby the sponsor and station carrying the show get a “Watch Mandrake” line over the comic strip in return for a “Read Mandrake” plug on the air.  (Billboard, Sep. 11, 1954)

Mandrake the Magician Comic Strip - September 12, 1954

NAT KING COLE TO STAR ON SUMMER COMEDY HOUR

Singer Nat (King) Cole will guest star on NBC-TV’s Colgate Summer Comedy Hour (Sun., September 5, 8 p.m. EDT).  It will be Cole’s last television appearance before he begins a 30-stop one-nighter tour.  Cole has also signed to sing the theme song in the 20th Century Fox CinemaScope movie, The Adventures of Hajai Baba.  (Jet Magazine, September, 1954)

THE WHISTLER

NEW YORK, Sept. 4—Lindsley Parsons Productions, Inc., will produce 26 half hours of “The Whistler” for CBS-TV Film Sales.  Producing the show for Parsons will be Joel Malone.  Parsons produced “Files of Jeffrey Jones” for CBS-TV Film Sales. . . . . The show has been sold to Signal Oil on an alternate week basis on the West Coast.  Lipton Tea has bought the property in some markets on alternate weeks.  (Billboard, Sep. 11, 1954)

ROY ROGERS AND DALE EVANS will present Trigger Jr. in his stage debut when the two NBC Western stars appear at the 76th Annual Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto August 27 to September 11  (Billboard, Sep. 11, 1954)

Bobby Jones vs. Jimmy Martinez in 10-round middleweight bout (Mon., September 13, 10 p.m. EDT) on Dumont TV.  (Jet Magazine, September, 1954)

Eartha Kitt on Person to Person (Fri., September 10, 10:30 p.m. EDT) on CBS-TV  (Jet Magazine, September, 1954)

Louis Armstrong’s “half-fast” remark on the Tommy Dorsey TV show caused station officials to warn him to cut out jokes and just play his horn on future appearances.  (Jet Magazine, September, 1954)

P. Jay Sidney on U.S. Steel Hour in “Notebook Warrior” (Tues., September 14, 9:30 p.m. EDT) on ABC-TV  (Jet Magazine, September, 1954)

Today’s TV Highlights
(Sep. 12, 1954)

Preston Foster and Patricia Ellis are starred in the 11 a.m. movie today over WCAN-TV, “Lady in the Morgue.”

Secretary of Labor James P. Mitchell is the “Man of the Week” on the program of the same name on WCAN-TV at 3 p.m.

“Lassie” debuts on WCAN-TV at 5 p.m.  The famous Hollywood canine will be featured in a series of dramatic stories starring Tommy Rettig as his master.

Betty Hutton stars in an original musical comedy, “Satins and Spurs,” at 5:30 tonight over WTMJ-TV, Gene Raymond is also cast.

At 6 p.m. Ed Sullivan will present “live” from Hollywood the “Darryl F. Zanuck Story,” and among the stars to salute the veteran producer will be Jack Benny, Tyrone Power, Clifton Webb, Dick Powell, Tony Martin, Shirley Temple, Dan Dailey and others.

The riddle of the Andrews Sisters’ recording contract is still unsolved.  The girls have split professionally, but Decca has a contract binding them individually as well as in the trio form.  Patti Andrews, currently crooning on her own, is a valuable property, but no word from Decca on whether they’ll record her by herself.    (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Bette Davis and family were in the path of hurricane Carol as it swept through New England and with trees falling and home threatened, they had to vacate in a hurry.  We don’t have hurricanes in California—just earthquakes.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Life stories of famous singers on LP records probably will be the next disc trend thanks to the fabulous reception Bing’s album—at $27.50 a copy—is getting.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Cecil B. De Mille escorted his daughter, Cecilia, to the premiere, and she goes with him to Egypt September 19 for his new picture, “The Ten Commandments.”  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Claudette Colbert’s eagle-eyeing of the scripts on her TV debut shows is giving the ad lads headaches.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Dana Andrews won an oscar for his radio show, “I Was a Communist for the FBI.”  The American Legion auxiliary presented him with a gold mike for his public service.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Gloria De Haven is peeved at Marilyn Maxwell for being a copy cat, she says.  Both gals divest themselves of their dresses during their nitery acts.  The only excuse for either is the hot weather.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Elaine Stewart is reported in love with this guy and that, but her heart belongs to textile tycoon Bob Evans, who was visiting here recently from New York.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Sam McDaniels, brother of late actress Hattie McDaniels, is hiring lawyers to determine what happened to over $250,000 she made in the movies that was reduced to nothing at the time of her death.  (Jet Magazine, 09-09-1954)

Caught Jack Webb waiting to go on TV.  He said he wasn’t thinking of marriage to Dorothy Towne—”until my divorce is final in November.”  But the way he read the line and looked at Dorothy, he didn’t fool me, let alone Sergeant Friday.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Janet Leigh must have been poured into her white Venetian lace fishskin-tight, high neck gown.  She bought it from her last picture, “Rouge Cop.”  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

My boy, Jerry Lewis, is financing bandleader Buddy Rich, in his solo P.A. tour  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Joe Di Maggio has a definite date in the East for the World Series.  But as of now, the guy going with Marilyn Monroe to New York, for location with her movie, is Roy Kraft in the Twentieth Century-Fox publicity department.  Someone has to keep the New York wolves away.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Not that Johnny Desmond has been guaranteed the starring role in the screen biography of Russ Columbo, the only remaining mystery about the picture is how the drumbeaters are going to explain to the vast army of moviegoers under 45 who Russ Columbo was and why they should be fascinated with his life story.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Katy Jurado wore a matador’s heavily embroidered coat, complete with crucifix, for the flashy premiere of “The Egyptian.”  She bought it in Spain . . . And Bella Darvi, the Babylonian menace in the film, twoed with Brad Dexter, who was married for a short spat to Peggy Lee.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Lester Young, the sax king, is superstitious.  He will not make a recording date on Friday, the 13th, which was the reason he quit Count Basie’s band 16 years ago.  (Jet Magazine, 09-16-1954)

Lillian Gish, who returns to the screen in “Night of the Hunter,” says picture making is not so different from the old days, except then every director wanted to act, and now every actor wants to direct.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Lucky Millinder’s estranged wife, Clara, and Bob Turner, the fabulous merchant seaman who returns from trips with perfumes and silks, are past the hand-holding stage.  (Jet Magazine, 09-16-1954)

Night Club Gossipers:  Actress Louise Beavers appears to be sharing friendly gossip at Hollywood’s Trocadero with an old friend, wealthy ex Ziegfeld Follies girl Mrs. Ethel Weiss (l.) and blues singer Dana Leslie, protege of pianist-composer Eddie Beal.  Trio attended club debut of band leader Louis Jordan.  (Jet Magazine, 09-09-1954)

Nat King Cole may co-star in a spy movie.  In Hollywood, producer Walter Wanger revealed that he is “considering” co-starring famed crooner-pianist Nat (King) Cole in a forthcoming movie opposite either Humphrey Bogart or James Cagney in a spy thriller.  (Jet Magazine, 09-16-1954)

The Rev. E. J. Cole of Chicago will pay his first visit to a night club Oct. 28 when he occupies a table of honor at the Copacabana when his son, Nat King, stars in the floor show.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)
 

Kissed by night club singer Billy Daniels, Hollywood glamour queen Marlene Dietrich blissfully closes eyes to return buss.  The singer’s torrid rendition of Old Black Magic is actress’ favorite tune.  Billy is currently at Hollywood club.  (Jet Magazine, 09-16-1954)

Pals are urging Martha Raye to take an extensive rest.  Her collapse during the Atlantic City night-club engagement has them worried, and so has her incessant offstage go-go-go.  They feel she’s ebullient enough as a performer, should coast when there isn’t an audience.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Pearl Bailey is training for her big role in “House of Flowers” harder than Marciano is training for Charles.  She’s dropped 22 pounds in three months and expects to shed eight more by opening night.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Shirley Temple can return to pictures any time she wants to.  She received the biggest hand from the bleacher fans.  Her husband, Charlie Black, is handsome enough to be a movie star.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Almost overlooked at the star-studded premiere was Simone Silva, escorted by Chuck McArthur.  “I start my first picture in Hollywood, ‘The Sicilian,’ next month,” she told me.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

“How d’ye like my guy?” Sonja Henie asked.  I did a double take and there was Superman—George Reeves—on her arm.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Imagine Ty Power’s astonishment, not to mention chagrin, when he was asked to grow a beard for his latest picture, “The Untamed,” and the hair on his chinny chin chin came out snow white!  The makeup department took care of nature.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Yul Brynner left “The King and I” in Denver to return to Colorado for more plastic surgery on the nose he injured last year.  He hopes to rejoin the company in Iowa.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Yul Brynner, after that operation on his nose, phoned to say he looks like a Mongolian Rocky Marciano.  He’ll probably still be wearing the bandages when he opens in “The King and I” in Des Moines this week.  . . . plans for next year, Yul said, “When I finish ‘The Ten Commandments,’ I would like to go back to directing and leave the acting to others.”  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)