jdb1

> "Dan, the element of your clues that makes me > pause is that the mystery guest appeared in TV shows > in familiar, comfortable surroundings. What are we to > make of that? Does it mean TV shows taking place in > homes, rather than, say, "on the range?" > > > Judith, you have hit on a very important point. In > fact, that was my very first clue, was it not? > > Dan N. > > http://www.silentfilmguide.com Well now, there's a response I might expect to hear from my congressman. Care to elucidate?

Dan, the element of your clues that makes me pause is that the mystery guest appeared in TV shows in familiar, comfortable surroundings. What are we to make of that? Does it mean TV shows taking place in homes, rather than, say, "on the range?"

Another January 16 birthday: Robert Service Canadian "poet of the goldrush," his poems about Yukon prospectors influenced Hollywood for years. His most famous poem "The Shooting of Dan McGrew," is known also as "Dangerous Dan McGrew" and was the basis for at least one classic Warner Bros. cartoon, not to mention a more contemporary song called "Rocky Raccoon."

January 16. Today's birthday: Harry Carey, Sr.

January 15. Today's birthday: Lloyd Bridges Torin Thatcher

January 14. Today's birthday: Hal Roach

That is correct, Dan. The floor is open.

There is also a silent version of this. I've seen it several times on Classic Arts Showcase - there is the exact same scene in the music shop where an older woman angrily returns sheet music of Foster's songs, and the young shop assistant sadly reads an article in a newspaper telling of Foster's death. I think the silent is dated 1927 or 1928 - I don't see it listed on IMDb. Nothing ever goes to waste in Hollywood, does it?

Hey, gang, I've been singing that Girlfriend of the Whirling Dervish song all my life. I always seem to start humming it when I'm washing the dishes - don't know why --but if you think back (those of you who are old enough) you'll remember that it was featured in a Porky Pig cartoon where Porky was in the Foreign Legion. It was one of those WB cartoons that was aired very often when I was young. Unfortunately, I missed that segment in Garden of the Moon - I only saw about a half hour of it last night.

> Happy Birthday, Anne > > > From one Capricorn to another! Ah, Capricorns. I can see it -- generally not ones to suffer fools gladly. I'm always happy to read what you've written Anne, and Happy Birthday to you. From Judith (Aquarius)

I think the main problem lies in the title of the movie, which is very misleading. I don't know the history of this film -- apparently it started out to be something quite different. Here's a quote from IMDb's "Trivia" on this movie, which is really an explanation of what it's about: "The book titled "The Inner World of Childhood" mentioned by Miss Callahan, Amy's teacher, is a real work written by American psychologist Frances Wickes around 1930. It was admired greatly by Carl Jung, who wrote an introduction for it in 1931." I see the movie as a study of an unhappy child and her fantasy world. I've always liked it. I can envision a remake with lots of CGI.

Need a little more to go on here, Dan. For example "one of my biggest successes." A success of what nature?

> I love Edward Arnold. He was attractive in his own > way. Lovely voice and eyes and a very commanding > presence. > > Miss G How true. Just look at that "Come and get me, if you dare" look on his face. Hubba, hubba. You know, MissG, in a large lawfirm where I used to work there were many 18th and 19th century prints on the wall (the firm owned a large collection of same). Most were of British jurists and the leading businessmen of the day, and all of those gentlemen were uniformly portly (though seldom actually fat), with expansive middles. The curator of the collection told us that back in the day, this was considered a sign of virility, as well as prosperity. I always think of that when I look at Mr. Arnold.

January 12. Today's birthdays: Patsy Kelly Ray Teal

Moira, I've heard Merv Griffin talking about the "big head theory," which he obviously subscribes to. He's said that game show hosts with heads that are oversized in relation to their bodies are the most attractive to audiences (he has produced many game shows). The long-lived popularity of Pat Sajak and Vanna White, on the Merv Griffin conceived Wheel of Fortune, is testament to that. Merv himself has a rather leonine head. I've also heard this mentioned as one of the reasons Betty Boop, and other cartoon characters with big heads, are so enduringly popular. I myself have a rather small head (have trouble finding hats, and even eyeglasses, that fit me properly), and I'm not overly impressed by the Bigheads. Actually, I don't think I mind the big head so much as the big face, which is a different thing. If the head accomodates the big face properly, it can be very striking. I find Burt Lancaster to be in good cranial proportion in that respect. I've never been able to look for too long at Loretta Young, whose face looks enormous to me on the screen. Message was edited by: jdb1

That answer was based on the merest shadow of a memory that The Cisco Kid was filmed in color, even though we didn't have a color TV set until long after that show went off the air. This one shouldn't be too taxing. What do these actors have in common: Freddie Bartholomew James MacArthur Lee Majors

Does it have to do with their programs being broadcast in color? The Cisco Kid was done in color at some point, and Cronyn starred in a very early, live TV series that was broadcast in color. I know Bonanza was in color, but I'm not sure if Lorne Greene was in something even earlier that was in color. ?????

I found this one in my web wanderings. What a handsome devil.

Aw, you're too good. Zero Mostel is right. You're on deck.

Theater, theatre, thee-ay-tur. As long as the curtain goes up. Try this one: Do you know me? My lifelong ambition was to be a painter, and I pursued that craft all my life. As a young person, I gave lectures on art to students, and my clever, funny talks became so well known, that I was asked to appear in a nightclub as a comedian. From there, I was able to get parts in shows, first off-Broadway, and then on Broadway. I appeared as a supporting actor in a few Hollywood films, but was caught in the political turmoil of the late 40s and early 50s. My appearance before Congress is remembered for my ability to give my interrogators a bit of a run for their money, and I took the Fifth when asked to name names. This had the predictable result of putting me out of work for many years. However, I was lucky enough to have some friends who were willing to give me work, and I came back to the stage in some non-traditional plays which made me a star. I rose pretty high in the ranks of Broadway stars, and made more movies as well. Many of my colleagues found me very difficult to work with, and this fact kept me from reprising my most popular Broadway role when a film version came to be made. Who am I?

> > The theater is we we go to view cinema. The theatre > is where we go to view stage plays. :-) > Never heard that one before . . . I thought the "theatre" is where British people go to see plays. In NYC, we go to the theater to see live performances, and the "movies" to see films. Live and learn -- I guess we're just too provincial here. Who's up?

January 11. Today's birthday: Chester Conklin

I also thought of early 50s TV - anthology shows like the US Steel Hour, or other dramas. I distinctly remember Lorne Greene playing Beethoven in "You Are There."

MysteriousM, I'm just too literal-minded. When you said the mystery guest's comedy series were "theatrical," I started searching for Broadway shows. Can't help it - I'm a New Yorker. Here, "theater" means "The Theater." Viva Miss Crabtree!

> > > > You go, Bill. I'll take a level 7-8 or above, > please. > > Well, there *is* the one I submitted before yours. > But if no one wants to deal with it, that's okay. > I'll just sit here in my corner and pout. :-) Sorry about that. It didn't show up on my screen until a few minutes ago.