—Tanya Roberts, (born Victoria Leigh Blum, 1955 – 2021) RIP
Murnau, View From the Window of the Griesbrau, 1908
oil on cardboard, 49.8 X 69.6 cm.
Myrna Drive the Painting Not the Drive, 2020
acrylic on canvas: height: 36 in. width: 48 in.
—Clark Gable (born William Clark Gable, 1901 – 1960)
Self-portrait holding a portrait of her sister
Date: 1715 or 1709
pastel on paper
Height: 27.9 in., Width: 22.4 in.
—Ann Sheridan (born Clara Lou Sheridan, 1915 – 1967)
Pall Mall Apartments, 3110-3112 Yonge. St., August, 2020. To see more of Rick’s project, Art Deco Toronto, go here.
Surfers, Malibu,1962
I was pressed for time on Friday, Robert, and I wanted to add some additional comments.
I found Tanya Roberts to be an incredibly sexy redhead, but I never found her to be “believable” as an actress. . . and who told her to become a blonde for the Bond movie? That person should be shot. 🙂
Kandinsky is interesting to me. He moved from Impressionism art form to highly Expressionism art in a remarkably short time. I really like “The Blue Rider” painting of 1903, but compared that to his 1912 work “Garden of Love II”. The difference in styles is almost shocking. Don’t get me wrong, I like some of his abstract works — “Yellow, Red, Blue”, “On White II” and “Circles in a Circle” — but the change is drastic.
I was not familiar with Rosalba Carriera before this. She was quite talented and quite the commercial success in her day. I have heard of The Rococo style, but knew virtually nothing about it. She was another pioneer, but I suspect her gender kept her popularity in check, at least historically-speaking.
Well done, Robert. These Friday posts are increasing my art history education!
On Tanya Roberts – one wonders how she could see herself so negatively. I think that is what drives a lot of people. I like to watch Jay Leno on his YouTube Garage episodes, and he revealed to someone that he had a fear that he “wasn’t good enough” and that is what drove him to work as he did.
I read that when hosting the Tonight Show, he would also do comedy gigs; that supported his car habit while the Tonight episode supported his regular income.
If we could only see ourselves as others see us…
I believe the Jay Leno stuff and Tanya Roberts; neither read as public relation contrivances.
Ann Sheridan was in several favorites of mine: Angels with Dirty Faces (Cagney), They Drive by Night (Bogart), Kings Row (Reagan). But my favorite with her was The Man Who Came to Dinner.
That movie cracks me up every time I see it. Hart & Kaufman: Genius.
Sheridan played a version of Gertrude Lawrence and hammed it up to the max. Durante, playing a version of Harpo Marx crossed with Durante, even called her the Oomph Girl, which definitely did not refer to Gertrude Lawrence. The prank played on her including Reginald Gardiner spoofing Noel Coward remains a classic.
I only saw Tanya Roberts in the Bond film “A View To A Kill” and as the sexy neighbor lady in “That 70s Show.” She always seemed to me to be frightened, as if she knew she wasn’t an actress and was afraid she’d be called out at any moment.
I’m always confusing Ann Sheridan with Ann Sothern, I don’t know why. But anyone who can hold the screen with Cagney, as she did in “Angels With Dirty Faces,” certainly CAN act.
I like that “between takes” Gable photo. I’m not very familiar with his roles, so I wonder what picture he was shooting when that was taken?
That Malibu surfers photo (and wouldn’t I love to own that woody!) reminds me of a Beach Boys bio, “The Nearest Faraway Place,” which spends a lot of time discussing the rise of the surf culture in California. And, as an odd side note, though the Boys did write a number of surf songs, the only one of them who actually could surf was drummer Dennis Wilson.
A lovely weekend to you and yours, Robert.
The BMW 507 reminds me that my wife had a Z4 for years. Eventually, it turned into a Honda CRV as she got older. The gullwing was tough competition. I still mourn my decision not to buy the one from my friend. I had a couple of 450s later but then MB got just too expensive.
I like the Woodie in the surf photo.
Ann Sheridan died of esophageal cancer, the same as Humphrey Bogart. She was only 51.
Two thoughts:
Ann Sheridan left Warners over this idiotic thinking and destroyed her stardom. Gable’s comment makes some sense, and obviously all turns out, if you are Clark Gable, but if a guy is from the Actor’s Theatre in Louisville, it is a lot of hooey.
The BMW is a beautiful car, but only 252 were reportedly made, so it’s out of my price range.
The Bulova watch is a lovely design, but still a little steep at $1,100. I wish it had blue hands.
I like the Myrna Drive painting.
In regard to the House on the Boardwalk, I feel as though a University professor gave his architecture student an assignment to design an asymmetrical building and this is was the winning design.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.