—Gary Cooper
Wooded Path in Autumn, 1902
oil on canvas: 69.8 X 91.4 cm
Forest of Poplars
Caposotto, Sermide, Mantova, Italy, 2018
Coneflower, August 2020
Times Square, New York City, 1963
—Brigitte Bardot
Signs 1961 -1984
—Julie Newmar
Screenplay by William Goldman
Based on the novel, The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Audrey Hepburn, 1956
Nannies, Kennsington Garden, London, 1963
Off topic. Joe Biden has just proclaimed police officers should only shoot miscreants in the leg. Some people believe he is an improvement over Trump, but he is not even an improvement of Trump’s toenails. And I voted for a Democrat or is it DemonRat once but never again. Of course, that was John F. Kennedy; like having Clark Gable as your president.
On Gary Cooper – the first thing that came to mind was that going to “The Ranch” – aka today “Hearst Castle” – was the only time they could relax and be themselves. For some reason I remain fascinated with that area – was it the opulence amidst all of the suffering during the depression? The fact that virtually anybody who was in the news – actor, scientist of politician (world wide) stopped there?
Whatever the reason…
There is a little Catholic church in nearby Cambria – twice when I was going through I have tried to visit and there was either a wedding going on or it was simply closed to visitors.
It has been replaced by a newer church nearby . But there is an organ there that Marion Davies donated. And stars like Bing Crosby and Gary Cooper would go there to attend Mass.
Carole Lombard was supposed to be a terror at billiards there (The “Ranch”).
It was one of the few places stars could be….themselves.
The MG – you profiled the MGA a few weeks ago – the TC was horribly underpowered for America. But it got some hooked on the sports car craze which led to Jaguar, Corvette….
An engineer I worked with had a TC and loved it. Even Porsches were underpowered in those days.
Gary Cooper went to the Mass General to be treated for prostate cancer. The residents who were still there when I was all thought he was a great guy. In his workup, they found blood in his stool and suggested a Barium enema. He declined saying he would get it checked when he got home to California. He never did and died a few years later of what was probably curable colon cancer. Too bad.
I should read a Marion Davies biography.
The Times We Had is a great book, Mike. She details her early days as a Ziegfield Girl, then her life with Hearst. She really got the shaft with the Hearst family. They resented her for being the mistress. Mrs Hearst led her life at the Long Island Estate, but she saved the Hearst Corporation from bankruptcy in the late 40s with a million dollar loan to Hearst.
Hearst died in 51? and the family wouldn’t even allow her to attend the funeral (he is buried up in Colma).
He left her a sizable portion of the Hearst Corp, with a board seat, which she sold back to the family for $1.
If you are ever back in Hollywood a must see, believe it or not, is the Forever Hollywood – Hollywood Forever on Santa Monica – cemetery. I heard for years that a relative of mine was “buried next to Rudolph Valentino”.
Well, they are both in a mausoleum but my relative is maybe 100 yards down the hall 😉
I wanted to see Marion’s grave and was getting frustrated trying to find it.
Clever girl, the crypt was right by me all that time under her real name Duras.
On the TD – in the 80s, like the 55-57 T Bird, they were red-hot and climbing. They have cooled down since then.
Someone had an interesting theory on car valuations. That is, when the generation that was with their introduction gets into middle age, they all want the cars that they couldn’t have when young.
Makes sense but for me a million dollar Cobra or Gullwing?
No thanks.
I turned down a gullwing about 1975 that a friend, who was going through a divorce, offered for $19,000. It was fully restored.
I’ll get that book. I just read a chapter about her in one of Jeanine Bassinger’s books.
Not to be bitter (well, all right, I am), I wonder exactly who or what Newmar thought ended “the America that the rest of the world liked.” I have my cynical suspicions.
There’s a place near my house that looks a bit like that “wooded path” painting. I should go for a long walk and clear my mind.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend.
I agree with Rick’s comment about Julie Newmar, but I would add that Gary Cooper nailed it too.
I love Rick’s photo of the Coneflower. My wife has some planted in our backyard and they are beautiful flowers.
I like the white NOMOS watch with the blue tempered hands. A very modern, Bauhaus design. I appreciate the design, but give me Art Deco any day.
While talking about designs; the staircase in the Reok Palace. It is beautiful, but the smooth, curving design is suddenly broken by the offset at the bottom. . . my anal retentive psyche cringes when I see it.
I watched some professional wrestling when I was young and I never bought into the Andre the Giant as the villain.
I love the looks of the MG and still marvel at Mary Delany’s talents.
Robert, as I scroll back through today’s post and look at the eyes of all of the women in the photos, I am moved. In each photo — from the woman in shock by Kennedy’s assassination, to your lovely granddaughters, the eyes tell the story in each photo. You did an excellent job in selecting your content today.
Finally, and perhaps it is just a reflection of my age — smoking was prevalent when I was young — but there is something incredibly seductive about B.B. smoking that cigarette.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Wow, Julie Newmar really nailed that, didn’t she?