FROM THE VAULTS

Anyone remember this National Lampoon treasure? Yes, it was juvenile, yes it was racist, homophobic, totally un-PC, but back then, we laughed. Some of it still holds up....."Swillmart, Where Quality is a Slogan" "Swillcrest Farms" "Sammy Swill Swill-Pro Golf Clubs"......I think I laughed even harder once I moved to Toledo and realized that the city I was living in was a part of the joke.

Swillmart & Miz Lottie

Food Clown

And you know we never ever called Food Town Supermarket Food Town. It was always Food Clown.

Yes, it is a burden.

NY Times, Sunday, March 14, 2010

Peggy, Clytie and Ethel: 1926

Grabbed this photo from a great site. I'm just a bit surprised by #2's name. It is what I think it is, right?

We're getting close to the dregs!

Here's three more who are they?

This is all Felix's fault!

That's right, the Felix who just regaled us with yummy snapshots at Cadillac Corner in the Valley. Sigh. I've been remiss in mentioning my love for old cars here at mitten d. and I suppose it's time I do something about that.

I won't beat around the bush...if I win the lottery, I will make it a point to own many cars. The collection will initially be comprised of the cars that were in my family, the ones that meant the most. The first car to have made a lasting impression on me was a 1955 Buick Century Convertible.

My grandfather's car. It was black & white and had a red interior (and FOUR Ventiports/Portholes!) . I recall sliding across the smooth leather seat. I also recall the horrible reoccurring nightmare I had for years that took place in THAT Buick.

1960 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible

This was Sam's first of three Caddies, following a five year run with that Buick. When I see these at car shows today, I'm overwhelmed by their enormity. Just too big. But back in 1961, I had no aversion to that car's size....My joy was on select Sundays, when Sam was feeling generous, he would take me out for a ride and let me sit on his lap & steer. What a guy.



You can see the car behind Carmela Soprano and her mother. It was silver, black top & interior.

Most notable obsession

1954 DeSoto Firedome Two-Door

A rare-ish car, mostly one sees four door models. This is the car I spent as much time in as I could. I begged Mum to save it for me. It was a lousy car, would never start, but I adored it. I still fantasize about having one, but as you will learn, I fantasize about many cars. Still, I adore DeSotos. Aunt Lee had a '56 and it was sweet. SO much more modern than our old one.

1960 Plymouth Fury Convertible

This replaced the DeSoto and I quickly came to love this insane looking car. It was so ugly, Chrysler/Plymouth gone mad! In this photo (with my brother), you can see the arm rest on the passenger door. I split my knee open on the cheap (and sharp) plastic on that arm rest, requiring my very first stitches.

1969 Chrysler Town and Country Wagon

Plain and simple, I want this wagon.





Oh, Heloise lovers....Mum loved to spray gray on her hair just like "H" did.

1967 Mercedes-Benz 200D

I want this one too. These cute fintails are little tanks. They can barely get out of their own way, but deliver decent mileage. I always felt like a million bucks driving this.

Bangs.

If you just happened upon this photo while browsing the internet, wouldn't you feel the need to post it too?

Once again, the results are in.....

Flowerbell's done it again! George Sander's younger brother, Tom Conway was a very busy actor all through the 1940s. My shot of him was probably from either "The People vs. Dr. Kildare" or "Lady Be Good". Pissing through his money coupled with a drinky problem, by the early 60s Tom slipped into obscurity. Near the end of his life, while in the hospital, his former sister-in-law Zsa Zsa Gabor visited him and gave him $200.00, instructing him to, "Tip the nurses a little bit so they'll be good to you." The following day, April 22, 1967, Tom left the hospital with Zsa's tip money, went to his girlfriend's and died in her bed of cirrhosis.





Ever the guesser, I'm gonna have to say that this test shot of Denise Darcel is from "Young Man with Ideas" (1952) (a great title, yes?) where La D played Dorianne Gray. As for cabaret singer Darcel, she came to Hollywood, via Paris, in the late 40s and was basically finished in films by the mid 50s. She busied herself with television, appearing on many popular shows in the 50s, even having her own, "Gamble on Love". Still with us, I read that Denise (in later year) made ends meet dealing in Vegas casinos. It was purported that her career went nowhere because she rebuffed the advances of both Harry Cohn and Howard Hughes.




And yes, FB, you were correct in spotting Arlene Dahl! Here's a photo of her at a more recent birthday celebration (with son Lorenzo) and a page grab from her fabulous 1965 book, "Always Ask A Man: Arlene Dahl's Key to Femininity". Certainly, one for the ages.

Trifecta for the Weekend! Whozat?

Here's a weeny hint....Gentleman #1 had a brother in the business who uttered (among other things), "Well done! I can see your career rise in the east like the sun."