Weird Wednesday: Kelpidine - the "Miracle" Diet Candy

(From Movieland: February 1955)

Kelpidine Candy allegedly could help you lose 25 pounds in 25 days. What this ad does not say is that since you are on only a 1,000 calorie a day diet with this "diet plan", you are probably starving and still probably won't lose weight. Lucky for us, this candy made from seaweed did not have a lot of scientific research backing it. Naturally, lawsuits followed this product through the years because of it's wild claims. Since it's mostly made of iodine, the product wasn't safe for people with blood disorders such as diabetes or heart trouble. For a fun take on this ad, check out one of my favorite blogs Kitchen Retro.

Tidbit Tuesday: James Cagney

A few tidbits about iconic actor James Cagney. My favorite Cagney films are Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) and of course, The Public Enemy (1931). I was surprised by several things in this Who's Who. I didn't know he majored in art. And I guess he always seemed shorter than 5'8" to me. Most sources also say his year of birth is 1899. I'm guessing there might have been a bit of fudging about age when this 1941 edition of Hollywood Who's Who was published.

Greer Garson and James Cagney, 1943

Again, I apologize for lack of posting. I've been super busy on my project. So far I've cataloged 4,562 items. I can see the end in sight! Just have two attic corners left :)

Metropolis Monday

I was totally blown away by the restored version of Metropolis (1927) which premiered on TCM last Sunday. Another 30+ minutes of the film were discovered in Argentina in 2008. A fascinating documentary about the find premiered after Metropolis, and it was fascinating to see what goes into changing an official version of a film. I had no idea there were so many people who claim they have a lost film, but really don't.

The visuals were absolutely stunning. A powerful message about class, industrialization, utopias, etc. I could go on and on, but you should see it for yourselves. The restored version including the new footage will be released on DVD tomorrow, November 16, 2010 and the Blu-ray will be released a week later on November 23, 2010. For more info about it check out Kino's site.

To quote Maria, "There can be no understanding between the hand and the brain unless the heart acts as mediator"

Sylvia Sundays: For Grey Complexions Check Your Liver

Madame Sylvia's quote of the week:


"Oh, my complexion is so grey and so muddy!" - you've heard that, too. "I've been using all of Elizabeth Rosenberg's preparations. They should be good. Lord knows they're expensive enough, but they haven't helped me at all. I think maybe I'll try Dotty Woofenpoof's cream." I'd like to ask this gal, "Baby, how about your liver? All clogged up with this and that, no doubt."


(Pull Yourself Together, Baby!, Page 4)

Tidbit Tuesday: Fredric March finds a Fierce Fan

Mrs. E Hunt was quite impassioned about Fredric March, TCM's October Star of the Month. Reading this letter, I'm quite curious which "hair-cut-less boys" she was referring too.


This is what Mrs E. Hunt's house looks like today. She no longer lives there, but I definitely think she earned her $15 prize. What an impassioned letter from a true Fredric March fan.

Matinee Monday: Old Maid (1939)

Watched Old Maid (1939) today in honor of Miriam Hopkins; birthday. I really enjoyed the film. Bette Davis' character has a child out of wedlock and since it was the late 1800s, she went away and had the child, claiming illness. Of course, Delia Ralston (Miriam Hopkins) had to stop Charlotte's (Bette Davis) marriage to another man because of the illegitimate child. When Charlotte becomes widowed, she offers Delia and her illegitimate child a home with her. A touchy relationship between the two women forms based on who really is the mother of Charlotte's child.

Bette Davis was the star, and she did a fabulous job, but I was drawn to Miriam Hopkins. Her portrayal was strong and sympathetic. Miriam gets a bad rap because of her off-screen issues with Bette and other actors, spending her free time with writers instead of Hollywood elite, consulting a psychic before choosing a role, and of course - her suspected communism, but I've loved her in every film I've seen her in from Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde to These Three (when will this film ever come out on DVD?).

Happy 108th Birthday Mims!

Theatrical Thursday: Male Leads - George Brent

A fun George Brent Fact - He was an IRA Guerrilla in the Anglo-Irish War and fled Ireland with a price on his head. Where else but America could someone go from guerrilla to leading man?

George Brent and Ann Sheridan

George Brent and Ginger Rogers in 1935


Bette Davis and George Brent in Jezebel

Weird Wednesday - Creepy Green Giant

I guess I generally think of the Green Giant as a lovable mascot since he was created in my home state, but this ad is totally creepy to me. Jolly Green is just supposed to be the man of the house, coming home to have his paper, slippers, and corncob pipe but instead he looks a creepy devil with an ulterior behind the niblets. What is in the niblets? Are the niblets taking over the world? Why won't the Corn Times tell us what is really going on? Ahhhhhhhh!?!

Tidbit Tuesday - Betty Grable Without Makeup Maybelline Ad

Matinee Monday: Can You Spot Your Favorite Star's Autograph?

Can you find your favorite star's autograph? These signatures were from a page in a 1929 Cosmopolitan. They are pre-printed and not original, of course. I wish I was that lucky! Such greats as Mary Pickford, Clara Bow, Ramon Novarro, Douglas Fairbanks, Loretta Young, and Claudette Colbert are on it. Who can you spot?


from Stirred Blog


My favorite out of this bunch is Norma Shearer. Total goddess.