The beautiful man himself- Gene Kelly Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
When I learned that Aurora who has the most fabulous classic film Once upon a screen… and television blogs How Sweet It Was nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award I immediately became overcome with gratitude. PS. Aurora, I agree Gene Kelly is sexier when he dances by himself, actually I’ve always felt that watching that beautiful man dance is truly sexier than anything else on earth!
Lately, I’ve been shown a lot of love and appreciation for this little blog of mine that often just takes on a life of it’s own, because as another wonderfully versatile blogger Dorian’s title would imply, Tales of the Easily Distracted I get so distracted…!!! and there’s just so much goodness out there, it’s hard to stay with one genre, or actor or film without becoming overwhelmed and going off on one of my tangents. In fact, there are too many films, tv shows, actors and characters I consider to be my favorites that it’s often hard for me to put into words how much they touch my life, and so I truly do try to shine a flashlight on the more off the beaten track sort of story.
When I read some of the wonderfully nostalgic tributes to the classic features and stars at Once upon a screen…, and How Sweet It Was, I get this warm glow of electric joy that tingles all over. And I feel like I’ve met old friends for tea or a dance in the rain.
And I agree with my new friend Aurora who I’m showing some much valued fondness here today not only because it is part of the good karma of the award to first thank the person who nominates you, and mention how ‘versatile’ they are, but I genuinely DO appreciate Aurora’s fantastic blogs, the way she looks at things and the way my blog has become such a nice little fit into a community of like minded people who have been absolutely delightful, gracious and completely generous to consider me… “Gooba gabba, gooba gabba, one of us, one of us!
So thank you Aurora Once upon a screen… for giving me this fabulous honor, I’ll do my best to answer 7 things about myself, and pass the torch on to other bloggers deserving of the appreciation, helping to grow this long table of celebration and make it extend outward as we all get to reminisce and learn more about the classics we love and find out more about each other…
7 THINGS ABOUT MYSELF…
1) My mother always said that she married my pop because he looked so much like Gene Kelly, and in fact when he was younger, he really did look a lot like him, although he never danced a lick in his life…
2) I believe in ghosts-
3) My pop would always take me to the local stationary store to get the latest Forrest J. Ackerman’s Famous Monsters of Filmland Magazine. I used to possess every copy when I was a little MonsterGirl, but alas, I gave them away and could now kick myself from here til a month of Sundays…
4) Although I’m often mistaken for having been classically trained, I am completely self taught on piano and can’t read a note of music…
5) I cleaned houses for over a decade to pay the rent, as being a musician fills your soul but not your belly…
6) I started out wanting to become a fine artist before I knew that I had a musical aptitude at age 8. Playing piano resonated with me more than sketching…
7) I love Peter Falk and his portrayal of cigar smoking, Columbo the funny little Lieutenant in the rumpled raincoat and Don Knott’s wiry and lovable deputy Barney Fife, that I had a woman on Etsy make dolls of them for me. I planned on having her do Edith Bunker and Aunt Bee as well, but she stopped making her wonderful creations to go back to school…
And here I go honoring the legacy of passing the Versatile Blogger Award nomination forward to just a few of the blogs I love and feel have that versatile flair, I want to give Aurora and these folks a great big hug…
Joey, BRAVA to your well-deserved kudos for our pal Aurora for the Versatile Blogger Award in particular, and your wonderful roundup of other deserving Versatile Bloggers! Thanks for your charming salute to little old me, too; as always, you’re a sugar bowl with two handles! I absolutely love your pictures; I always enjoy your screen grabs! Congratulations to all of youse, as we said back in our old Bronx neighborhood! :-D
Thanks pal!!!! I was hoping that it was okay to insert a little plug for your wonderful blog within my praise of Aurora’s wonderful blog and generous nomination. It seemed to fit in there so nicely. As snug as two sweet peas in a tiny green pod. If I’m the sugar, then you’re the cream!!! And my pop and mom were from the Bronx….So here’s to the old neighborhood and the folks who raised two charming kids….
#3, you’re not alone… as a kid I had every issue of National Geographic dating back to the mid-’60s stored at my dad’s house. They were my grandpa’s and he gave them all to me because he knew I liked reading the magazine. I stupidly allowed my dad to recycle them when my grandpa’s subscription ran out in the late ’90s, thinking “I’ve read them all, I won’t need them!” Now I collect vintage publications, including Nat Geo and would kill to have those back…
Congrats on the award and thanks for passing it along to me again!
I know you can’t go backward in time, I just wish I had had the clarity and foresight to see how valuable these incredible publications, and my Aurora Models of Universal monsters would be. And like you, there’s also the sentimentality attached to your grandpa, and my pop who would make sure that I always got the newest edition. So here’s to them and it was my pleasure to pass along the Versatile Blogger Award to you, you deserve it, with all the wonderful films and tv shows you post. Your focus on the more obscure work…always such a pleasure to see what you send down the pike
Thanks. This is most unexpected. You made my day :D
Yay, it’s supposed to make you feel all warm and squishy
Congrats on the Versatile Blogger Award! Yay!
You can’t read music? Wow! That is remarkable. I can read it, but just can’t play it.
Peter Falk is a fave of mine, too.