Golden Age of Hollywood Book Club discussion

elevator boys

Switchboard operators.

Belboys in those flat hats like you'd see in Philip Morris ads/commercials.

Cars with cigarette lighters.

I still see women in public using compacts. Design hasn't changed. Seems to me that little hand-mirrors for such purpose, goes all the way back to ancient Egypt.

And recently a girl commuter in the seat ahead of me carried out that deft operation to create two separate pony-tails from her shoulder-length hair; then folded them each into one braid, and then folded that braid into a tidy little bun atop the crown of her head. She used just fingertip-feel to get it right; the result stayed put without barrettes or pony-bands.

I could only marvel. How far back in time does that technique go?

bathroom attendants

This next item isn't truly 'quaint' --as in 1930s-1940s quaint --but just rather ...'odd'.

Doing errands today I stopped in a Walgreen's. As I slouched up and down the aisles nabbing this-or-that-product-I-happened-to-require, what suddenly greets my ears over the store audio system?

Who was it --was it The Carpenters? Karen Carpenter? After all this time? You tell me.

Here's the lyric:

"I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation and the only explanation I can find is the love that I found ever since you've been around your love puts me at the top of the world..."

I could scarcely believe my ears.

Does department-store 'muzak' never, ever grow up? Even in today's day and age, this tune is still au courant among programmers? How can such things be?

At least one thing was good about it, in that it was the authentic FM version rather than a synthesized version. It wuz da original. I have a tin ear but a god recall.

Still, I could hardly stand this blast-from-the-part.

Of course --at the same time -- this is naturally not to suggest that newer alternatives are any better. If I'm in a store where the PA system is playing rap or hip-hop, I will immediately exit.

But I honestly could not comprehend I was hearing this --frankly --"worn-out" tune over again.

Who in America still grooves to this style of song lyric?

Ah well. Thankfully, my business at Walgreen's was soon complete and I departed, musing no more about it.

But for a long moment there --while waiting in queue at the checkout counter --I half-expected to hear, "You Don't Have to be a Star (Baby) to Be in My Show" or "You Light Up My Life". Or maybe even "Tie a Yellow Ribbon".

Groan!

I love Karen Carpenter and Marilyn McCoo. Plus that tune has the amazing James Jamerson on bass. One of his last big moments before disco producers all wanted the Larry Graham "slap" and "pop" thing. Nothing against Graham or, say Bootsy. But Jamerson just had a groove. His other early disco hit was "Rock the Boat." Not sure if he played on "Car Wash," but it's a Whitfield production, so maybe. I guess I get why "Top of the World" doesn't sit too well with some folks. But the Carpenters version of "This Masquerade" is haunting. And many other Carpenters tunes.

I think I will take a moment to discuss smoking. Kind of a "hot" topic. All the great ladies did it. Obviously part of the Bacall cool persona. Natalie always wanted to be the rebel with the heart of gold, so I guess it isn't shocking. But Audrey and Grace, too. Everyone just smoked. And they looked cool doing it. Which I guess was a problem. The MadMen cast were forced to smoke herbals because of LA's smoking laws. Lots of Athens scenesters still smoke, though vape is taking over. The ATL laws about smoking indoors were laxer than Athens for years. No idea what it is currently.

New phrase learned. In addition to being a 'penny-pincher', you can also be known as a, 'quarter-hoarder', or a, 'nickel-nurser'.

This applies to anyone who is strange-with-his-change or funny-with-his-money.

"Never kiss a girl in a Ford, with the motor running"

I donno where this comes from

Ice boxes!

The history of ice before refrigeration is always fascinating. 'Ice men', 'Ice tongs', 'Ice picks'.

You've seen the icebox Ralph and Alice had in, 'The Honeymooners'.

Tangential: I wish I could locate --and re-post here --the famous society joke about sugar-tongs. It's a little risque' but I think we could roll with it.

It's elliptical (ellidereal? what's that term ..?) rather than graphic. Nothing stated outright.

[been in Gotham now 15 yrs, I'm tired of cheap/crass/boorish Yawk/Yank lingo; bro-talk, etc.]

Unhappily in real life, I myself am a terrible raconteur. I can never tell a story straight. A poor man's Woody Allen is the best I can do; if a joke is longer than a quip I typically fumble it.

Has anyone ever heard of 'jelly apples'?

Sold in 1930s street carts like hot peanuts, hot chestnuts?

Never heard of those.

I've seen jelly apples but they weren't sold from carts. They were alongside the caramel ones.

Thx. Maybe they're just a different style of candy apple.

new slang term: "owl wagon" --an all-night diner

'Stanley Steamers'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley...

The famous steam-powered line of automobiles between 1904 and 1924. Popular in their way, before being soundly defeated by Model T and other combustion vehicles.

Although not the only one to require them, Steamers were notorious for that difficult manual hand-crank in the front of their engines, which we know from so many slapstick comedies.

Interesting, I always thought of Stanley Steamers as a carpet cleaning company.

That Ohio-based company still exists but spelled Stanley Steemer

"You're faded!"

Can frequently here this phrase in classic movies and radio; something almost unknown today. Of course, it's referring to shooting craps.

As I understand it, it means that one player is putting up his money against another player. 'Covering the bet', as the dice is about to be rolled. Like an 'ante' --'anteing up' --in poker.

In today's world men just don't gather in little groups for cards or dice. So it's no longer familiar to modern ears.

I must say though that shooting craps has always seemed to me the most absurd form of gambling. What can the odds possibly be for rolling 1/3 winning combinations twice in a row?

Like, if the first roll totals a 6, then the next throw must total either another 6, --or a 7, or an 11. As I get it.

I just don't see how the odds can possibly favor the shooter. But numbers are not my strong suit anyway.

"7, come 11"............what does that even mean? I've heard that phrase as well when people are shooting craps.

I believe its because there's three rolls per bet. So let's say you roll a 6, or a 9, or a 3 or whatever number ...the next roll must equate to the same value.

...OR ...you can roll either a 7 or an 11 and still be okay.

Like, in that case you get to keep the die and continue rolling. Sorta like a 'get outta jail free' pass in Monopoly.

But I admit I don't fully understand the game, its the least likely one I'd ever try my hand at.

Blackjack is the only game of chance I'm barely comepetent at (besides rummy) and even then only because a Chinese mah-jong player taught me. Best tutor in da world.

Anyway, it's funny how craps was huge in the world of the 1930s - 1950s. I guess with the Great Depression it was a viable means of side-hustle.

One of the great Goodman/Christian tunes was "Seven Come Eleven." Never thought about it too much. Jazz titles have lots of stuff involved. "Are You Sticking?" is an Ellington title. It's a clarinet feature..."Sticks" (clarinets) were "liquorice sticks...." But...joints were also "sticks." So...triple meaning, if not more.

bit of music history / Americana

Besides the well-known 'Andrews Sisters' in the '40s and '50s, there were rival groups like the Boswell Sisters

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bos...

and the Lennon Sisters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Len...

and the Girls of the Golden West
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls_o...

...perhaps not an immediately fascinating topic --and likely aligned with the musical tastes of very few today.

But what intrigues me are the allegations of vicious backbiting, treachery, and scheming between some of these girl-groups.

Apparently it was all-out for war for supremacy on the charts.

Donald Fagen writes about the Boswells in his memoir. They are pretty amazing. Nothing against the Andrews sisters, but the Boswells are a bit more ambitious with harmonies, subject matter, etc.

The lead singer, Connie Boswell, really had an excellent voice and I think she had some single hits as well.

Donald Fagen?.............isn't that the singer from Steely Dan?

Jill wrote: "The lead singer, Connie Boswell, really had an excellent voice and I think she had some single hits as well.

Donald Fagen?.............isn't that the singer from Steely Dan?"

Yes.

Those ugly rubber bathing caps that women wore even if they never got into the water above their waists.

Good one. Do women today still use shower-caps? I still see them sold in stores

Swim caps do still look good on either a male or female athlete if its a case where like. they're Diana Nyad --remember her? --swimming across the Bering Strait or some crazy feat like that.

Must admit, I donno why exactly people do such things.

Just happened to discover that a town in California has a historic carbon-filament light bulb which has been constantly burning for over 100 years.

Goes to show the difference between American goods manufactured in those times, prior to the 'planned obsolescence' which WWII introduced to keep our economy churning

All our worldly goods today ...designed to last no more than a few years.

Feliks wrote: "Good one. Do women today still use shower-caps? I still see them sold in stores

Swim caps do still look good on either a male or female athlete if its a case where like. they're Diana Nyad --remem..."


I think the swim cap concept came from primarily caucasian women having perms, etc. in their hair, and they couldn't get it wet. I think many people (with a variety of hair types) who still wear them, it is because the water and/or chemicals makes the hair impossible to control or manage, so it's better to keep it dry and unexposed to water.

Thank ya Laura.

Next up: coin-operated "penny" scales !

A common sight outside any drugstore during the Great Depression.

This was before bathroom scales were manufactured cheaply for home use.

Women, can you imagine weighing yourself in public these days? Even at the low, low, low price of just one U.S. cent?



https://www.irememberjfk.com/the-penn...

https://www.farmforum.net/story/news/...

https://blog.phillyhistory.org/index....

And they sometimes gave you your fortune!

The Columbia Eastern Department store in Los Angeles. This incredible structure was simply a department store in the 1930s; though it looks like it belongs in Ancient Thebes.

Browse images of it yourself by doing a keyword search.



It's a reminder of a time when we all looked up at things like the sky or dazzling architecture. I sure miss that sensation.

I mean, really looking at something --not just whipping out a cam, to snap a pic, and 'look at later' via a screen. 'Sharing it later' with faceless minions.

What used to happen --on any random, innocuous city street --you'd be anklin' down some street somewhere and voila! --suddenly transported to some magical vista.

Your jaw would hang open and you'd stop and stare for a while, taking it all in.

Someone conceived and designed this enormous structure before you, and some energetic army of men crafted it into shape. Waiting for you to walk by and notice.

So unlike the cookie-cutter, faux-monoliths today which aren't worth a glance. Newer hi-rises have nothing to say; provide no thrill. They resemble circuit boards. All the same. All automated the same way, all manufactured like Lego pieces; all snapped together as cheaply and as swiftly as possible. Uniform. No time wasted on artistry, or spirit. Every square foot utilized for profit.

But I suppose it doesn't matter, since no one is even 'raising their eyes up' anymore.

"But I suppose it doesn't matter, since no one is even 'raising their eyes up' anymore."

You got that right, one day last fall I was walking to the subway station when a few long lines of honking geese flew overhead and not one person looked up to view their majestic flight.

The Rock Island Line


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago...

interior of one of Britain's Odeon chain of theaters; this one in Leicester Square 1930s

Wow!! That looks like a German expressionist film set.

Feliks wrote: "Good one. Do women today still use shower-caps? I still see them sold in stores

Swim caps do still look good on either a male or female athlete if its a case where like. they're Diana Nyad --remem..."

Is she the one that Esther Williams did a biopic for? And is that the same movie where she has a swim with Tom and Jerry? I may be conflating, but I think that really happened.

I frankly don't know the answer. Could be you're correct (except for Tom n Jerry, which would make it a musical?).

But I would have thought that Diana Nyad's life is material far too serious for someone like Esther Williams

Feliks wrote: "I frankly don't know the answer. Could be you're correct (except for Tom n Jerry, which would make it a musical?).

But I would have thought that Diana Nyad's life is material far too serious for s..."
Esther's character was named Katie Higgins and the film is about swimming the English Channel, but I guess it's fictional. It is the one with Tom and Jerry. It's called Dangerous When Wet. Very original. It IS a little less light-hearted than most of her films other than the Tom and Jerry sequence) and maybe they used a little of Nyad's story?

The Chitlin' CIrcuit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitlin...

another terrific movie palace

Not quite sure where this is, have to determine it later and update

Feliks wrote: "another terrific movie palace

Not quite sure where this is, have to determine it later and update"


That is the Warner Theater in Los Angeles

Indeed! Thank you!