Pulp Fiction - This is Murder by Erle Stanley Gardner

Every time I read a vintage paperback I find it so much more enjoyable than modern ones. I'm not sure if it's the amazing cover art, the crisp and enhanced vocabulary, the richness of the time, the authors were better, or some other reason. This book was no exception. 

Sam Moraine is in advertising. Through odd circumstances, he becomes the go-between for a kidnapping ransom exchange. Only this kidnapping seems off. Things are definitely not right. After the exchange Sam becomes more immersed in the web of lies when the kidnap victim - whom he had saved and returned home - ends up dead in a prominent political man. The twists and turns and political intrigue kept me on the edge of my seat.

After reading this, I definitely think I will give other Gardner books a try. My only problem with this one - my poor vintage paperback fell apart. I probably should have just saved it and not read it, but what good is a book that isn't read?

Pulp Fiction - Hospital Doctor by Edward Young (1957)

      I'm usually a little reticent to read medical novels or watch medical television shows because of all the medical drama I've had myself.  Bad thoughts abound usually, but I decided to give one of my pulp novels a try,  Hospital Doctor by Edward Young, published in 1952.   Medical novels and romances were all the rage at the time this book was published.  While they may not be bestsellers today, the medically based television shows are still a TV staple.  And surprisingly, I do enjoy The Knick and Ripper Street, which often have medical scenes, but the others are too much for me.  Maybe the historical context helps diminish the trauma.  Or maybe it's because of the lack of all the medical device beeping which seems to amplify anxiety.

DeMille's Debris

I have been obsessed with reading about the amazing Sphinx set piece that has been found and reassembled in a California desert.  The sphinx was rediscovered after being buried for decades.  It was rediscovered and is currently being reassembled with Elmer's Glue no less, and will be on display at the Guadalupe Dunes Center.  I am totally intrigued.  It's definitely another thing to add to my bucket list!  Who knew there was such an important Hollywood set hidden?  Who knows what else could be found out there?

Matinee Monday - Village of the Giants (1965)

Check out those giant . . um . . . teenagers

The other night TCM had a cheesefest-athon of  the films of Bert I Gordon.  He apparently was quite good at making cheesy films about mutating things that grow to become huge.  This addition to his film pantheon seems to be a mix between a 1960's surfer movie and a vehicle for the Ron Howard.  It's almost like the Howards had something against someone at the studio and they were like "Let's make a film starring Ron Howard so they stop blackmailing us - I don't care what it is, just throw in almost naked teens with slow motion gyrations segments, dancing, musical groups, Flubber, little Ronny Howard, Toni Basil with some choreography and strange orange wig, and for some reason Beau Bridges.  

Fashion Friday - Loving Lucy

For Fashion Friday, I thought I'd put up the remaining sketches for I Love Lucy I have saved.  

Cinema Saturday - The First Year (1932)

1932 Ad from a mystery magazine

     This ad was in a mystery cut up group of magazines I purchased a few years ago.  I'm not sure exactly what magazine they are since none of the remaining pages have the title of the magazine nor the date.  The magazines are full of torn out pages and cut out pictures.  At some point someone was trying to create scrapbooks or more than likely it was a recent person trying to make a buck by selling certain cut out images and ads.  Naturally, the probably beautiful covers as well as the table of contents are missing, so I really have no idea as to the actual magazines themselves.  Naturally, they do present some clues.  This ad provides a big clue to the year of this magazine.  The First Year was released 31 July 1932 so I've some to the conclusion that this issue is probably from 1932 and more than likely close to the release date such as June or July.  I also noticed that much of the magazines look quite similar to the features and look of Film Fun magazine or one of the similar magazines published by the same company.  Film Fun really is a fun look into the early film community.  Plus they had amazing cover art, specifically the amazing girl art of Enoch Bolles.

Fashion Friday - Lucy's Looks

Elois Jenssen thumbnail costume sketches for Lucille Ball 

as “Lucy” in I Love Lucy. (Desilu, 1951-1957)

Fashion Friday - Dracula

Not many people think about the fashion involved in horror films.  I personally think the fashion is an integral part of these gems.  They set the mood for the wonderful scenes in the film.  Who doesn't look at the suave Bela Lugosi and think Dracula?  There is conflicting information about who created the iconic look, but Bela Lugosi is largely credited with popularizing the tuxedo and cape look.  While actor Raymond Huntley apparently was the first to use this look in the 1924 London stage adaptation, not many people know it [1].

Fashion Friday - Lucky Lucy

Elois Jenssen black and pink gown costume sketch for Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy (Desilu, 1951-1957)

Creepy Short - Time Out for Trouble (1961)

Shorts are one of my favorite types of film.  They can provide a great musical or dance number, be funny like a Joe McDoakes short, or teach us things.  But in the guise of teaching us, sometimes films can be just darn creepy.  This is a perfect example of an informative film gone horribly creepy.  The premise of the film is to teach us how to be calm and not hurt ourselves through the carelessness that comes from anger or distraction.  While actually having a good lesson and good tips to alleviate these problems, all I could think about was that our clocks are possessed and secretly are plotting our death.