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Another 2/4 birthday. In her capacity as fine film director, Ida Lupino

Dave Ketchum

February 4 birthdays: Voice actress Janet Waldo ("Keep jigglin', Peggy")

Thanks for your good wishes. Here are some more 2/3 birthdays: Victor Buono Norman Rockwell

More 2/3 birthdays: Bibi Osterwald Joey Bishop And, Yours truly (wink)

February 3. Today's birthdays: John Fiedler Peggy Ann Garner

> Yes Dolores, He played Bernardo on Disney's Zorro on > T.V. > > vallo As I recall it, Sheldon's character didn't speak, and was a kind of deadpan, Buster Keaton-ish character. Is that your recollection as well?

A shot in the dark. I googled "actress +over 130 films" and she came up, along with Judy Davis and Karen Black. I don't suppose it's either of the other two . . . . . ? Are we talking about an ealier time period than Winters?

My readings indicate that wealthy American men of the late 19th Century wore such garments (of raccoon or beaver fur) to indicate their high station. By the years around WWI, when the "teenager" became a separate phenomenon, youngsters adopted the raccoon coat as well, just another fashion trend. The years just after the turn of the century saw an increase in college attendance, and it seems that the raccoon coat fad started there, and then trickled down to the younger boys as well. Here's an excerpt from a British website on fashions in the 1920s: "For outdoor wear, coats were long and loose. The raccoon coat, so popular for football games, was a short-lived fad that gave way to less bulky coats early in the '20s." The passage identifies the coat itself as "American." It's not hard to imagine that American college men wore the heavy coats for warmth at American football games, and the fad spread quickly. The entire look became iconic of the post-WWI male: plus-fours with argyle socks, saddle shoes, argyle sweater vest, slouch hat with the front brim turned up and, of course, that coat. Gee, that's swell!

Are you Shelley Winters?

I assumed it was a raccoon coat, which was all the rage for young men (and women too, but mostly the men) in the 20s. It was a sign of how prosperous your parents were - a two-seater car, and a raccoon coat for you, courtesy of Mom and Dad.

More born on 2/2: Bonita Granville The 20th Century's greatest violinist (IMO), and occasional movie cameo - Jascha Heifetz

February 2, and the Punxatawney Groundhog did *not* see his shadow! Can Spring be far behind? A 2/2 birthday: S.Z. (Cuddles) Sakall

metsfan, I love that poster of Thief of Baghdad. It captures the film pefectly, doesn't it? MissG - I put a photo of John Ford on the Gallery of Characters thread as well, and I also put one of the animator/fantasy film producer George Pal. His "Puppetoons" kind of creeeped me out when I was young, though.

Have some cake.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Mongo, I saw Ryan on Broadway in "Mr. President" when I was a lass. I remember my parents debating his performance. They thought he looked very uncomfortable onstage, and wondered whether he was really that insecure, or if he was trying to portray the political awkwardness of Dwight Eisenhower. They said that Ryan incorporated many of the mannerisms of several recent presidents (this was in the early 60s, I think), so he may have been consciously trying for awkward. It was a puzzle never solved. I remember not really noticing him at all - he couldn't sing (and we had the cast recording too - everyone bought cast recordings in those days, even if they never saw the show) and I didn't really know who he was at that point. I thought he was overshadowed by Nanette Fabray, who played a rather brassy First Lady.

Time is passing, Dan, and we're not coming up with anything. Got another hint to throw us? I'm intrigued, and would like to know who you are describing.

Born Feb. 1: Gene Sheldon Andrea King

More Feb. 1 birthdays: The great John Ford

February 1. Today's birthdays: Animator, director, producer George Pal

I can't let this busy day pass without a birthday salute to the incomparable Miss Tallulah Bankhead

Another January 31 birthday: Suzanne Pleshette (with her husband, Tom Poston). I hope they are both well.

January 31. Today's birthdays: Eddie Ryder (shown with Roxanne Arlen) Joanne Dru