knitter45

I "echo" Chris's thoughts. Wish there were 2 of you, this thread is so much fun, but with all the work you put into your posts, I'm sure something had to give way. Thanks Joe! Have a great new year, and see you around the boards! Nancy

I really like the movie. If you watch it as a piece of our film history, it is still a lot of fun. I thought it rather brave of John Wayne to take a backseat, so to speak, when he was at a career peak. You know, even though the crew has dismissed him, that he is in control, a sort of father figure to the others. and I believe it's spelled contemporaneous.

Hi Mongo. I know I have posted this before, but I wanted to share this one more time. When I was 9, my family drove to LA to visit relatives, and somehow we got to have lunch at the Universal Studios Commissary. My dad was a salesman, and never met a stranger. He was also starstruck. What better foil than a nine year old skinny little girl with a ponytail and an autograph book? He spotted Mr. Bickford sitting at a table with another gentleman, and marched me over to get his autograph. Now, if someone interrupted MY lunch, I probably wouldn't be too happy about it, but Mr. Bickford was extremely gracious, but seemed a little uncomfortable, too. After signing my book, we went back to our table. Dad looked back over at Mr. Bickford, and said,"Oh,my goodness! come on, Nancy" and back we went. He approached the other gentleman, and said "Oh, please excuse me, Mr. Daniell, I didn't recognize you before. Could you please give my daughter your autograph.?" I still have the book, with "Charles Bickford" on one page and "Henry Daniell" on the opposite. What I remember most about the incident, was the beautiful smile Mr Bickford gave my dad when he came back. He had been uncomfortable to be the only one recognized! What a guy.

Hi Joe! How about a picture of Martita Hunt kicking up her heels in Unsinkable Molly Brown?? She's become one of my favorites Thanks! Nancy

Thanks, guys for all your efforts. The day just didn't seem right without this thread. Nancy

My vote is for Movieman1957's schedule. All the schedules are terrific, and so much work has been put into them. Thanks to all of you for your great efforts! Nancy

ah, Mongo, leave it to you to come up with the perfect picture......I think we can each put our own caption under the Sea Hag.... thanks for all the laughter this morning. and a wet spinach leaf slap to the cranks...... Nancy

Mongo, have you ever spotlighted Phyllis Kirk? She had a great voice, and I always enjoy seeing her. If you haven't, would you put her on the "wish list"? Thanks! Nancy

Larry and Bartlett, thanks for the great wishes. The fire department called and said they were standing by, so I could light the candles on my cake..... So if you see an orange glow in the evening sky tonight, no worries....it's just me!!!!!!

As Mr Van Johnson and I share the same Zodiac sign, I have quoted him for years. So for today, Mr. Johnson, "91 years old, and still a Virgo." Thanks so much, Bartlett, for continuing this thread. I, and many of your readers, truly enjoy starting our day with you and the birthday people. Please don't let cranky posters spoil the best thread on these boards! Nancy

No, I'm sure it was a man. Maybe Dick Cavett?? Sure it wasn't Leno or Letterman, this happened many, many years ago. And I guess this subject should be dropped, didn't mean to stir up a hornets nest...

I'm pretty sure that it was Johnny Carson. I thought he was pretty creepy, and then later all the stories of his power in Hollywood came to light. As I recall, it seems like she was going to discuss her volunteer work, and he just wanted to dish the dirt. I thought she was really the winner in that confrontation, because she simply walked off the stage (apparently NO ONE crossed him.) He tried to laugh it off, but kept coming back to it like worrying a sore tooth. Does anyone out here remember that incident? It also seems like John Payne had just died.

Hi Mongo! Didn't Jane Russell storm off the set of a live, late-night talk show, when the host (can't remember who) questioned her about an affair with John Payne? It seems like he asked if it was true that they had had a child together. I remember her getting up and marching off, and the host was totally flummoxed. Do you have any info on that? Nancy

Larry, a friend once remarked, "The only real dysfunctional families are the so-called normal ones! We are all dysfunctional to some degree." My grandmother's mother-in-law disapproved of her, and literally forced her son (a wimp in my opinion, but different days, different attitudes) to re-locate in Sunny Cal. When my grandmother wrote to tell him she was expecting a child (my dad), the old bat intercepted the letter (we found out 50 yrs later) and claimed it wasn't her son's child. From your previous stories, it looks like Nell was about 12 in 1902? No wonder the old girl had issues! Message was edited by: knitter45

I'll sing alto, someone else can hit the high notes! Why was Nell sent to Russia for "finishing"? Were her parents of Russian ancestry? I always thought (wrong, obviously) that one went to Switzerland, or in a pinch, France, to be finished. Nancy

Geez Louise, Cinemascope, haven't you ever heard someone say "go jump off a bridge!"? I think Larry was more specific, but just as facetious.

I'm sitting in the Land of Oz, frantically waving both hands!!!! Please keep sharing, Larry, and is the "From Russia with Love" thread gone with the wind, or is it still available? I couldn't find it...phooey!!!! I am 3 yrs younger than you, and I firmly believe we are SEASONED, not ruined by age. Think of Robert Duvall telling anyone who would listen in "Lonesome Dove", 'the older the fiddle, the sweeter the tune'. Or something like that. hugs on your birthday! Nancy

Hi Larry. I stumbled onto this forum quite by accident, and have spent the last 2 days reading everything from the beginning post... now I know how Alice felt when she tumbled down the rabbit hole. I have read your posts on "Ask Mongo", and was a little familiar with Lady Nell, but reading about your incredible life with her has left me stunned. Are you sure you aren't really "Patrick Dennis", and your grand-mama was actually "Auntie Mame"? You answered a private msg about the lovely Agnes Moorehead, and now I wonder when did you find the time? It sounds like you are sitting at your computer non-stop! But please don't stop. I almost had a panic attack when I read that post of yours that said you were at the end of your stories....sure glad the other posters talked you out of quitting. My treat for tomorrow is to read the From Russia with Love thread. And whatever became of the Pola Negri documentary? Any chance it will hit Kansas??? Does anyone reading this have the pictures of Nell from the magazine? and could they post them? I would love to see some pictures of Nell, Maizie, Norma Talmadge, Pola Negri. Thanks Larry, for sharing your life with all of us. I'm sure there were some painful memories stirred while writing about the funny ones.

She was wonderful in "Enchanted April", too. To see her go from cross and cranky to kind and accepting of others was the best part of the movie.

What fun! Tell me how, or add my name to your letter. Never even thought about that.

Dear Mr. M. I know you keep very busy, but, in all your travels, have you ever found the name of the extra on "Meet Me in St. Louis"? to refresh your memory, I'm referring to the pretty lady sitting next to Judy Garland in the Trolley Song number. She is wearing a blue hat, and at the end of the number, gives her seat to Tom Drake. Any ideas? We already figured out that it is not Helen Gilbert. Thanks, Mongo, from the land of OZ Nancy

Dear Mr. M. I, too appreciate your thoughtful, informative posts.... Thanks, from the land of Oz Nancy

Mongo, I, too, appreciate all your wonderful posts. Thanks, from the land of Oz Nancy

And we love them all!!!!

Happy Birthday! the pictures are truly wonderful. It's fun to put names to some of the faces I remember from great old movies. Thanks, and have a great day Nancy