Princess of Tap

Kid, if you insist - - I remember seeing the Ricardos in Cuba but I Love Lucy is so confused in my mind. Because I was watching the show in prime time and watching it in syndication at the same time. I think Desi Arnaz was the first person to actually have a show that was in Primetime and in syndication at the same time. He was truly amazing. In fact I think Desi created syndication. Next: Can you identify a TV character named Tagg?

I Love Lucy in Scotland It was a test show for color. They have to wait until more stations had color? Because in the late 1950s only NBC, the peacock Network, had color.???

Clark Gable?

Lawrence, thanks for putting this famous stunt man on the quiz. For decades I have wanted to see what he looks like because he is the man who doubled for Clark Gable in the burning of Atlanta scenes in Gone With the Wind. Because you know that wasn't Clark Gable amongst all those flames! Please Forgive this interruption, but it's been my experience on the quiz that Miles is always right when it comes to Western actors, so I hope I'm not jumping the gun this time. But everybody knows that Miles Archer is quite the board's Western hero.

In Stalag 17 - - at least three of the actors in the movie were also in the play. So I imagine they knew how it ended.

Nobody, no nobody, Is gonna rain on My Parade!

If Ethel Merman was alive today and she looked the way she did in 1960; people would say she was 65 years old. But after all in the theater, you do know that women play men and men play women, the young play the old and the old play the young--again. It's called theatrical conventions - - So I don't think it would be a stretch for Barbra to play Mama Rose in Gypsy. After all, when somebody is as gifted and talented as Barbra Streisand, you more or less have the sense to let her do what she wants to do. Oh, I remember the big stink when Yentl came out-- a woman like her cannot star in the show and direct too. Oh my God she's going to play a man.No woman has ever done all that before--yada, yada, yada. LOL But Yentl did all right and Gypsy will too, if Barbra chooses to do it. Hey, this sounds like 1963 all over again. Oh my God, Barbra Streisand's too ugly to be a famous singer. Oh my God, she's actually recording Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf. Oh my God, she's going to star in a Musical on Broadway about the life of Fanny Brice. She's too young to play Fanny Brice. LOL History does sometimes repeat itself.

Lav, you can have it but the centerpiece of this question is The Revlon Doll. Barbara Britton, of course, being the spokesperson for the Revlon Cosmetic Company on television in the nineteen-fifties, who the doll was modeled after. The Revlon Doll was a beautiful plastic sophisticated woman made by the famous Ideal Company, larger than Barbie--made from exact proportions. She was life-like; I always thought Barbie looked like a mannequin. She had perfect Silk Stockings with seams and garters, bra, pierced teardrop pearl earrings, red nail polish on the fingers and the toes. I can go on and on. The dress I had was a strapless black full-skirted Satin with a see-thru nylon covering. She had ballet strap high heels with the toes out. You can Google it and see how beautiful she was. Particularly the hair was just so real. A few years back, I got quite a good price on her ( and my Ideal Shirley Temple) from a flea market woman. But it was Barbara Britton, indeed-- Lav, your turn--

Hint #2-- This actress was a TV spokesperson for the Cosmetic company that sponsored the high fashion doll.

Keeping Up Appearances is at the top of my list - - but you do have to take Hyacinth with a ton of salt. And I can honestly see how she might really irritate some people. But I just live for her other family - - Onslow, Daisy and Rose. They are unbelievable actors working in an ensemble. Patricia Routledge patterns her character portrayal after 2 legendary American TV comediennes-- Lucille Ball and Gracie Allen. Amazingly she can combine the juiciest qualities of both into this one character. Having spent my childhood watching Lucy and Gracie, I understand how particularly, amazingly talented Patricia Routledge is.

One episode I saw, Jack Klugman's real-life wifr played his ex-wife on the TV show. Brett Somers, a prominent Canadian- American actress, had a marriage with Klugman a lot like the marriage that Oscar Madison had. They stayed married until his death, but they really didn't live together for the last 20 years. Their personalities were very similar and when you saw her on the show, you just thought--that's the kind of wife Oscar Madison would have. In other words, Oscar Madison couldn't pull any punches with her.LOL

Somebody mentioned the TV version Gypsy with Bette Midler. My best tap dance student was in that show. I think he was one of the boys in the Vaudeville Act.

Swithin-' Jane Asher, wow, I bet that was really something! Marsha, you're still up--

Since Ethel Merman was not in the movie Gypsy, I don't believe it's ever been done properly. So this wouldn't be so much of a redo,as maybe finally getting it right.Rosalind Russell was a joke in that part. Of course, Natalie Wood was wonderful! I think it's her most beautiful role. Stripper Gypsy Rose Lee cried after watching her. Second thing is they didn't use Jack Klugman. He's such a great actor and he was in the Broadway show. He showed how great he is with the musical star when he co-starred with Judy Garland and supported her in I Could Go On Singing.

I hardly think Barbra Streisand ever wanted to play Gypsy Rose Lee at any age. Barbra grew up going to Broadway shows watching Ethel Merman. Barbra's long expressed a desire was to record Rose's Turn. She was scheduled to record Rose's Turn for the Broadway album. But for reasons best known to her she decided not to. I have no idea if she wants to play Mama Rose or not now but she would be wonderful in the part; and/or the show would be wonderful if she directed it. There's probably no one alive who understands the musical better than Barbra.

Thanx-- I love Della Street but of course I'm a big fan of the whole family! And thanks for the still photography from Jolson Sings Again. I got a Big Thrill to see her act with her son William Katt in the two hour-long Perry Mason series. What a great lady!

Thelma Ritter

Marsha, when I wrote this question, I knew you would be the one who could answer it. And I'm just betting that you saw either Tom Conti or Mary Tyler Moore in the role. I saw Brian Bedford at the Blackstone in Chicago playing the part. It looked like an exhaustive part even though he never got out of bed. Marsha, well done, your turn--

Leslie Caron

I got to say it too - - - William Holden is one of my favorite actors of all time. I like Bill best in- - Sunset Boulevard, Suzie Wong, Fedora, Network, Towering Inferno and Love is a Many-Splendored Thing. Even Bill Holden's bad movies are good. I should know because I've seen them all.LOL

Miscellany 1940 The Best musical performances Best Tap Dance number - - Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell --The Broadway Melody of 1940-- Begin the Beguine Best Production number-- Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney --Strike Up the Band - - Do the LA Conga tied with Ditto-- Strike Up the Band Honorable mention - - Tap Dance number - - Fred Astaire and George Murphy-- Don't Monkey with Old Broadway Juvenile Performance of the year-- Larry Nunn - - Strike Up the Band Most annoying and obnoxious Juvenile Performance of the year - Scotty Beckett - - My Favorite Wife Best use of models in set design-- Rebecca Best Synergy between a couple-- Cary Grant and Randolph Scott in My Favorite Wife Best Synergy in an ensemble cast - - His Girl Friday Best Feminist Cinematic Image of 1940-- Ginger Rogers in Kitty Foyle Honorable mention films-- The Philadelphia Story Boomtown The Mark of Zorro Films for Fun - - You'll Find Out, Before I Hang, and Black Friday (All starring our Favorite Supporting Actor of 1931)

Great Supporting Performances for 1940 Best Supporting Actor 1)** George Sanders**-- Rebecca 2) George Sanders - - Foreign Correspondent 3) Herbert Marshall-- Foreign Correspondent 4) Albert Bassermann - - Foreign Correspondent 5) Leonard Carey - - Rebecca ( The Beachcomber) Honorable mention - - Ralph Bellamy - - His Girl Friday Best Supporting Actress 1)** Judith Anderson**-- Rebecca ( Mrs. Danvers, AKA Danny) 2) Jane Darwell- - The Grapes of Wrath ( Ma Joad) 3) Ida Lupino-- They Drive by Night( the doors made me do it) 4 Gail Patrick - My Favorite Wife (as far as I'm concerned, you're legally dead 5) Florence Bates - - Rebecca (Monty Carlo) Honorable mention-- Gale Sondergaard - - The Letter

Great performances for 1940 Best Actress 1)** Joan Fontaine**-- Rebecca 2) Rosalind Russell - - His Girl Friday 3) Ginger Rogers - - Kitty Foyle 4) Irene Dunne - - My Favorite Wife 5) Bette Davis - - The Letter Honorable mention-- Laraine Day - - Foreign Correspondent Best Actor 1)** Cary Grant**-- My Favorite Wife 2) Henry Fonda - - The Grapes of Wrath 3) Joel McCrea - - Foreign Correspondent 4) Mickey Rooney - - Strike Up the Band 5) James Stewart - - The Philadelphia Story Honorable mention - - Brian Donlevy--The Great McGinty Outstanding Director of the Year-- Alfred Hitchcock (in his debut year in Hollywood)

Hint-- The doll was manufactured by a famous toy manufacturer and sponsored by a famous Cosmetic Company.

Warner Baxter