Week in Review

Films of the Week

• Another Man's Poison (1951) - - Bette Davis (Janet Frobisher), Gary Merrill (George Bates), Emlyn Williams (Dr. Henderson), Anthony Steele (Larry Stevens), Barbara Murray (Chris Dale)

Dean Martin Mocked

Dean Martin Roast; 1958

George Jessel roasting Dean Martin, with Jack Benny joining in the laughter at the Friar's Club Roast of Dean Martin in 1958.  How I wish I would have been there, or there was a recording of it.  It looks like they are having a fabulous time, and I could use a good laugh these days.

Curtis Cavorting with his Crew

Life Magazine; 1958

Dean Martin, Tony Curtis, and Milton Berle playing cards with their unidentified cronies.  I imagine this happened a lot during Hollywood's Golden Age.  It must have been really fun.  I would have loved to be a fly on the wall.  What these guys must have talked about!

Milton messing with his Mates

Clowning Around 1958

Milton Berle, Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, and an unidentified man clowning around in 1958.

What's in the Background, Bing and Dean?

Dean Martin and Bing Crosby Prepare for Television; 1958

This "Weird Wednesday" I thought I'd highlight two of my favorite singers - Dean Martin and Bing Crosby.  How cool is it that society was so non-litigious we were as a society that there is clearly photographic evidence of Bing and Dean smoking, in front of a no smoking sign, and it was no big deal?  I wish we could go back to that time.

Dean Martin Beats the Heat

Stars at Home

Dean Martin - 1958

Dean and his Brood; 1958

Martin Family Boxing Match; 1958

Martin Family Feats of Strength; 1958

Dino Hits the Hay; 1958

Stanwyck helps George Gobel

Barbara Stanwyck
Noted for her help to newcomers in Hollywood, has climbed right on the bandwagon for a guy who has never appeared in pictures – he’s George Gobel of television. Right now he’s the most talked about new personality in town and everyone seems to have discovered him at the same time. Finding a movie vehicle for his particular brand of comedy talent might prove to be a difficult task.





George Geobel (May 20, 1919 - Feb 24, 1991) was a hilarious comedian and actor. He started out as a child star on the radio. This only child initially intended to be a country music star, but that didn't quite work out, so he opted for comedy and excelled at it. During WWII he was a flight instructor which he famously made fun of in the fantastic Johnny Carson clip above. It makes me long for the days when late night comedians were actually funny. This clip feels like one big party.



Many people are most familiar with George Gobel's appearances on Hollywood Squares, where he made over 200 appearances. In 1954, he had his own show, The George Gobel Show, which is quite hilarious. The company he helped found, Gomalco, produced the first four years of the beloved TV show, Leave It to Beaver. Unfortunately, his talent did not translate to the movies as Barbara Stanwyck and many others wished. George had a wife, Alice, whom he was married to from December 13, 1942 until his death. They had three children together. Alice was often used as a topic of George's humor, as you can see in the clip from The George Gobel Show below.







Although I didn't realize it, I first encountered George Gobel in the Rankin Bass 1974 classic, Twas The Night Before Christmas. He voiced the lovable Father Mouse in the Christmas classic. Some people might also remember him as Mayor Harper in the 1981 TV series Harper Valley PTA.






A great George Gobel quote: "I've never been drunk, but I've often been overserved"




A bit of trivia, the "Lonesome George" is named after him (Gobel's nickname was "Lonesome George"). There is only 1 of this subspecies of Galapagos Tortoise. The tortoise is anywhere from 60 - 90 years old. There is a $10,000 reward for anyone who can find a female of the same species, so keep your eyes open!

Happy Birthday to one of my favs - Phil Harris!

Happy 106th Birthday to my favorite:

Wonga Phil Harris!

Whenever you need a laugh, Phil Harris always fits the bill

He and Dean Martin always had hilarious encounters

One of my favorite Phil Harris quotes: "I can't die until the government finds a safe place to bury my liver."

I adore Phil Harris on the radio in the Jack Benny Program and of coarse, The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show. You can't be sad after listening to Phil. So full of life, fun, and hilarious. Happy Birthday Phil!

What 100 Stars Want in 1956 - Dean Martin

What can one say about Dean Martin (June 7, 1917 - December 25, 1995) except I love him? One of the all time kings of cool. He just had a swagger about him that was fabulous. Some Dino trivia:

• He was afraid of elevators
• A lot of the time he was thought to be drinking booze, he was really drinking apple juice
• Loved comic books
• He had a nose job
• Was banned from Marilyn Monroe's funeral
• A Dean Martin quote: "I've got seven kids. The three words you hear most around my house are 'hello,' 'goodbye,' and 'I'm pregnant." - So true. As the oldest of 10, this is definitely heard in large families.

"As a person I want to know more about my fellow man. I want to like them and I want them to like me when I'm not in the spotlight". - Cool wish.

"Professionally I hope that Jerry and I can get back to working like we did in the old days as a very close team. There's no reason why we can't get back in there and pitch for fun as we did in the old days. We both want it very much and I believe the public does, too." - I wish they would have worked it out. They played very well off each other.

"Humour knows no borders. Sharing it is something people the world over have in common. As citizens, Jerry and I hope to spend our summer abroad selling Americanism." - Wonder if it worked . . .

What 100 Stars Want in 1956 - Jerry Lewis

What did the forever fun Jerry Lewis want in 1956?

"Without health, professional success is nothing. I learned this the hard way which is why I am determined to raise money for the fight against muscular dystrophy". - Which he still is. For more information check out Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.

"To be a great comedian is my life's ambition. The goal is reached slowly but I hope the coming year will give me another stride toward it with my partner, Dean". - Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were comic gold! They played off themselves so well. Too bad egos got in the way of their partnership.

"In the future I intend to participate more actively in civic functions. America has been very good to me - the least I can do is to be worthy of my country."