Ralph

Hi Larry - Her name was Evelyn Brown - she was appearing in "Babes in Toyland" on Broadway in 1929 when she met my father. She also did "Naughty Marietta" that year. Then she married, had babies, and returned to the theatre in the l950's with the Kenley Players out of Ohio - have you heard of them? They had a big summer stock touring company which presented several different shows (usually musicals, some comedies) every summer. I think they mostly toured the midwest (out of Cleveland, but they held auditions in NYC every spring). Anyway, she toured with them for several years (Gypsy, My Fair Lady, Unsinkable Molly Brown) before she retired for good in the mid '60's. She died in Michigan in 1984. Ralph

People, people, people! No, no, no . . . . My very last clue for this Trivia 101: The answer is the title of a movie (shown not too long ago on TCM). Good luck - I think it's too easy now. Ralph

You have Bravo? I have been trying to get Bravo for years - just to watch the James Lipton and Actor Studio interviews. Do you have any idea if they are available anywhere - such as DVD or tape or anything? Where could I read a transcript? I've tried Bravo.com and they don't have any suggestions except "ask your cable company to get Bravo for you." Sure!

My mother! I know, you probably never heard of her, but she was quite an actress, and I miss her!!! The question I would ask: "Do you see Dad up there, or did he go in the opposite direction?" Ralph

Sorry, it's not Benny Hill. Another Trivia 101 clue: Swashbuckler!

His daughter's pretty good, too!

Hi bmovielover from Louisiana. How are you doing down there? O.K.? You're right. The lady with the tutti-frutti hat! The latin bombshell! Carmen Miranda!!! She brought a lot of fun to the movies during the 40's. Here's today's Trivia 101: Who was "born with a smile on his face and a sense that the world was mad?" Ralph

Hi Mongo - I'm sorry to see you're bowing out of the trivia business - I, for one, will miss your questions. But I sure won't miss you - I'll be reading your Happy Birthday thread and your Ask Mongo (and everything else you post). Question: Who's probably the nicest guy on these boards? We all know the answer to that one, don't we. Take care, Mongo. Ralph

Classicteen - Just when I thought I knew everything . . . (I should have known better). Garson Kanin was married to Marian Seldes? I have followed her career for years and never heard that before. This was after Ruth died, right? I saw Marian in "Death Trap" on Broadway years ago and she was also teaching at Julliard when I was a student at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. She did come and speak to our class at the Academy once. She is always working, isn't she? Always on or off-Broadway or on TV. Her father was a famous Broadway scenic designer and she's been a stage actress all her life (I also saw her in a little thing called "Isadora Duncan Sleeps With the Russian Navy). I was surprised to hear she had been married to Garson Kanin. They both must have been in their 60's or 70's when this happened (although as I recall, Ruth Gordon was older than Garson, right)? Ralph

Nobody? Not even a guess? O.K., here's another clue: . . . from Portugal to Brazil to Broadway to Hollywood to the World . . . Is that too obvious?

Hi Linda - It's always nice to hear when someone enjoys something so much. I also have been a big fan of "Gypsy" for years and have seen many productions of it. Have you read the book? Gypsy's son, Erik Preminger, also wrote a book about traveling with his mother - I forget the exact title, but it was something like "Gypsy was my Mother" - that wasn't it, but it's something like that. Anyway, it's an interesting book and will remind you of "Gypsy," because they were on the road all the time and his mother was always trying to save money (she was a tightwad). Have you seen the Bette Midler TV production? She should be a perfect Gypsy, but I think the production time was too short and it's just not a good as it should be, although I like Bette in just about anything. I saw Angela Lansbury and Tyne Daly both do it on Broadway - and they were both terrific. I like Tyne very much - she won every award going that year, including the Tony - and I like her original cast CD, too. And I liked the movie, too. Not as much as you, but I did like it. And of course, we mustn't forget the first and, some say, the best Gypsy of them all - Ethel Merman. Listen to her cast album. It's a terrific role for a singing actress "of a certain age." I am also from Michigan (upper Michigan) but often stayed with my aunt and uncle in Detroit on Trumbull Avenue near where the old Tiger Stadium used to be. Nice to hear from you and welcome to TCM. Ralph

Gramdc, you beat me to the punch on this one - it's also one of my favorites. I saw the stage production with Nancy Kelly years ago in Chicago (not with Patty McCormack, but with another little girl named Kimberly .... something, I forget). Anyway, I enjoyed it very much and remember when the movie came out and the controversy about Hollywood changing the ending. But's it's still a good movie. Now, answer Mongo's question - who said that? Ralph

Boy, was I wrong! I would have sworn that Howard Koch wrote "Casablanca," but he must have adapted it from the play, right? I knew there was a play about "Rick's" but thought that it had come after "Casablanca." Anyway, I guess the play never made it to Broadway. Garson Kanin (and wife Ruth Gordon) was a terrific writer - remember a movie with Debbie Reynolds called "The Rat Race?" I think Garson wrote that (I hope I'm not wrong again)! Anyway, it was a good movie about trying to make it in show business and I think Kay Medford was in it - so it couldn't be all bad. But I remember Kate Hepburn getting angry at Garson when he wrote a tell-all about Kate and Spencer. Remember that? After Garson and Ruth had written those great comedies for Kate and Spencer.

It was "The Thief," made in 1952 and co-starring Rita Gam.

Today's Trivia 101: "Hollywood, it has treated me so nicely, I am ready to faint! As soon as I see Hollywood, I love it!" Who said it?

Hi Scarlett - You're right. But what if I had asked, "What do they have in common?" Somebody would have come back with "they are all women" or "actresses" or something like that. Anyway, they all married men who were more than twenty years younger than they (not to mention Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Collins (twice), Merle Oberon, etc.). So it's not only the old geezers looking for trophy wives, sometimes the ladies play the same game (not quite as often, I'll admit). Ralph

You did say no musicals, right? Pal Joey is a musical, as is Westside Story, etc. And I don't think Casablanca was ever a play before it was a movie, was it? No, I don't think so (I remember reading about script trouble during the filming). There may be a play based on the movie - something like "They All Come to Rick's," but I'm not sure. Anyway - no musicals: Career The Fugitive Kind All My Sons Night of the Iguana Voice of the Turtle The Pleasure of His Company Pygmalion You Can't Take It With You Edward, My Son Born Yesterday etc., etc., etc. . . .

Thank you Melanie. Unfortunately, I think your suggestions make far too much sense to be taken seriously by the many TCM sycophants on these boards. You should know by now that you are not allowed to have a negative thought re TCM, and you certainly should never put it in writing. The wrath of God will descend (usually in the form of Path40a). Good luck!

Feaito - Where have you been? Of course it's Kundun, directed by Martin Scorcese, a heartbreaking movie. Anyway, nice to hear from you. Today's Trivia 101 question: What did Carol Burnett, Barbara Hershey, Norma Shearer, and Martha Raye do?

What is this? No takers? It's a quote from one of the most beautiful movies ever made, by one of the most gifted (and unrecognized by the Academy) directors: "They've taken away our silence." Ralph

I'm still reeling over that "Krakatoa, East of Java" post - what was that all about? I'm a musical fan and really like "Paint Your Wagon" (I know, I know, the leads can't really sing, but they are very effective in selling their numbers). And Harve Presnell can sing and has the best song. It's too long, but I like it. I also like (a lot) "South Pacific." Mitzi was terrific (as I'm sure Doris would have been). The colored filters are a bit disconcerting at times, but I got over that quickly. It's a musical - it's not supposed to be a slice of life. What about the production with Glenn Close? I haven't seen it but have heard that it's very bad. True? I still think the worst movie musical (that I have ever seen) was "A Chorus Line," followed closely by "Mame." I admit to not having seen the Alice Faye movies or the Vernon and Irene Castle story which someone mentioned earlier, so I can't comment on what I haven't seen. Ralph

Hi Mongo - Thanks for the John Dall information. I really didn't know anything about him at all, except for the two movies I mentioned. I think Larry used the word which describes him best: "smarmy." He always had that look on his face that indicated he knew more than we did (perhaps he did). And I thought he swished all over the place in "Rope," but with Farley Granger as co-star, I can understand why. Remember when the studio was trying to promote a romance between Shelley Winters and Farley (shades of Rock Hudson and Phyllis Gates). I think they were even engaged once. I think Shelley had good taste in men and enjoyed being with a man. I mean, she did marry Vittorio Gassman and Tony Franciosa - both at the top at the time. And Burt Lancaster and William Holden and who knows how many others . . . Shelley took a big bite out of life and always wanted more. Question: I read that just before Shelley died, Sally Kirkland, who is supposedly an ordained minister, performed some sort of ceremony (marriage?) for Shelley and her "long time companion." In the hospital room. Have you heard of this? Who is this guy? I am sorry to hear that John Dall had such a short and (seemingly) unhappy life. Liz Smith, in her column, says that years ago she (Liz) wrote a book in which she said that after Rock and Phyllis' divorce, someone was trying to blackmail Rock - either pay up or this person would spill the beans about that sham marriage. Liz says she couldn't name the blackmailer at the time because the person was still alive. Anyway, in her column a couple of weeks ago, she named the blackmailer: Phyllis Gates! Liz says Phyllis never collected a dime. I'm waiting for the Australian Open final. And also for Rafael Nadal to get well and add to the excitement. Take care, my friend. Ralph

Hi Larry - Nice to hear from you again. I watched a three-hour celebration from the Royal Hall in London last night, honoring Prince Charles, and thought of you often during the show. They did three numbers from The Producers (with Nathan Lane), Liza sang (two numbers: "And The World Goes Round" and, of course, "New York, New York" - both very badly, I'm sorry to say), and talked about her mother (again!), Cliff Richards, Tommy Steele, etc. I kept waiting for Elaine Page or Shirley Bassey to come out and tear the roof off, but it never happened. Not a particularly memorable evening. What about that scandalous affair Miss Astor had with George S. Kaufman - when the newspapers got hold of their torrid love letters and published them? There's really nothing new under the sun, is there? I read two of Miss Astor's books (years ago) and remember enjoying them very much; they were well reviewed by the critics. Take care of yourself and keep on posting. Ralph

You're right, Gramdc. Isn't "Summertime" a terrific David Lean movie? I liked it a lot. And the original cast recording of "Do I Hear a Waltz" is very nice - even though some people say it's not one of Richard Rogers' best (maybe his second-best is good enough for me). And the story of a middle-aged spinster adrift in Venice is always heart-wrenching. O.K., now for today's Trivia 101: "They've taken away our silence." Ralph

The original title was "Orpheus Descending;" I knew that Hollywood had changed the title but I forgot what it was.