Philip Marlowe irony

The movie Lady in the Lake starred Robert Montgomery as detective Philip Marlowe. In that movie, Gerald Mohr played Derace Kingsby, one of Marlowe's clients. In the radio version of Philip Marlowe, Mohr played the title role.

Gildersleeve's middle name

Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve. The "P" stood for Philharmonic. Really.

Adequate employee

I have not always done this, but I now do not wish to be an outstanding employee. I certainly want to be one that is adequate, one who does what he is hired to so. But it has been my observation that many outstanding employees are sub-par spouses and parents, simply because they allow themselves to become slaves to the company (not merely employees), and thus use that as an "excuse" to neglect their familial responsibilities. I do not want to do that.

Marriage vows and oaths of office

In recent years I have made it a guideline of my voting never knowingly to vote for someone who has violated his marriage vow. I do this on the assumption that someone who cannot be trusted to keep one oath cannot be trusted to keep the other.

My children's bloodlines

From what nationalities did my  children stem? Let's see. In terms of their great-grandparents, they are:
3/8 German (Adams, Geren, Kramer)
1/8 French (Bogue)
1/8 English (Green)
3/8 Welsh (Loyd, Evans, Davis)

Fiat justitia, ruat caelum

One of the advantages of the internet is that when you encounter one of those obscure phrases that P. G. Wodehouse scatters about like rose petals at a wedding, you can quickly ascertain the meaning. This particular one is found in the early pages of The Woman in Blue, and means, "Let justice be done though the heavens fall," signifying the belief that justice must be done regardless of the consequences. But you probably knew that already.

Antihistamines

I appreciate how that night time medicine helps me sleep when my sinuses are in revolt, but I hate the way I feel when I wake up.

Marjorie Weaver in Michael Shayne movies

She made three of them with Lloyd Nolan: "Michael Shayne, Private Detective," "The Man Who Wouldn't Die," and "Just Off Broadway." They had a great rapport on the screen and made a great team. Very entertaining. Not only that, but, in my opinion, Weaver was one of the prettiest actress Hollywood has produced.

Shadow of Suspicion (1944)

This is one of those detective movies with a comic twist that my wife and I love so well. It stars Peter Cookson as detective James Dale and Tim Ryan as his comic sidekick. The romantic lead is Marjorie Weaver, one of our favorites who worked so well with Lloyd Nolan in the Michael Shayne movie series. Tim Ryan was the husband of Irene Ryan - Granny Clampett of Beverly Hillbilly fame.


Peter Cookson


Marjorie Weaver


Tim and Irene Ryan

Relative to retirement

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I just am not sure how long the tunnel is.

"International Lady" movie

Very nice picture. Stars Ilona Massey (see Top Secret radio show post earlier) and George Brent. It has suspense, humor and romance. But most importantly, it has Basil Rathbone in a little different twist as a Scotlant Yard detective.


George Brent

Maverick TV stars

As long as we are on the subject of Maverick, there were four actors who starred in title roles: James Garner as Bret, Jack Kelly as Bart, Roger Moore as Beau and Robert Colbert as Brent.


James Garner


James Kelly


Roger Moore


Robert Colbert

Maverick - a couple of nameless faces

The episode "Burial Ground of the Gods" had as two of the guest stars Claude Akins and Robert Lowery. They were two of those actors who played lots of part and whose faces are very familiar, but whose names are not.


Claude Akins


Robert Lowery

Industrial possibilities for oatmeal?

There are bound to be some uses for oatmeal as a hardening agent. Have you ever let a little oatmeal dry in a bowl?

Fretful porpentine

In the Jeeves and Wooster books, they spend a good bit of time referring to and discussing the expression, "Like quills upon the fretful porpentine." In case anyone wonders about that expression, a porpentine is a porcupine, as one might suspect; and the quote is from Act 1 Scene 5 of Hamlet.

Henry's friend, the assistant principal

In the first Henry Aldrich movie, John Howard plays the assistant principal in his high school, and as it turns out, the only person who believes in him. Howard is perhaps best remembered by some of us old movie fans for his portrayals of Bulldog Drummond.

The Dairy Bar in Booneville, Arkansas

I noticed today that they have partially dismantled the old Dairy Bar building on Highway 10 in Booneville. It has a significant place in my childhood memories. It was the reigning hamburger joint of the time in our community. My father got paid once a month, and usually he would take us out for a "payday treat," which consisted of a 5-cent ice cream cone from the Dairy Bar. Given the fact that we very rarely got store-bought sweets, it was a big deal to us.

The Henry Aldrich movies

There were eleven of them. In the first two, Jackie Cooper starred at Henry. In the remaining ones it was Jimmy Lydon, who pretty much made the role his own. He was always letting his stupidity get him into all sorts of tight spots, plus he was placed in a lot more of them through no fault of his own. Lots of fun.

Jackie Cooper


Jimmy Lydon

Due diligence - auto emergency measures

ALWAYS keep bottled water in the car. If you break down and have to wait for help, you could be in trouble without it, especially in warm weather. In the winter, always keep extra warm clothing in the car, especially if you travel with children.

"I love my job"

You might not recognize that as a falsehood had I not put it in quotes, huh?