The Ritz Brothers were the poor man's Marx Brothers, or (perhaps) The Three Stooges. They have their fans and their detractors, but they were very popular in their day.
There are eight million gorilla stories in the naked city. This is one of them.
Bela Lugosi. Lionel Atwill, Patsy Kelly, and Jimmy, Harry and Al Ritz are featured in this murder mystery/comedy about a fake gorilla and a real gorilla. I like this one because Lowell-born (as am I) Art Miles played the gorilla (he went on to play a gorilla in at least three other films); IMDB gives Miles 88 film credits, mostly uncredited and mostly in minor roles. Also featured are Anita Louise (perhaps most recognizable by geezers from her work in the My Friend Flicka television show), Joseph Calleia (usually seen in a bad-guy role), hoofer/comic Wally Vernon, recognizable character actor Paul Harvey, and B-movie star Edward Norris.
The Gorilla was directed by Allan Dwan (Sands of Iwo Jima, Heidi, and over 400 other features, starting in 1911). The script was written by Ryan James and Sid Silver from a play by Ralph Spence.
I like cheesy films and I like gorilla suits. The combination is just too much for me to resist. Can you resist this one?
http://www.archive.org/details/the_gorilla
Small House of Everything
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
INCOMING
I need a new computer. This one was in the queue for last Monday, and the computer has been dying five or six times a day. Grrrr.
- Jeff Abbott, Fear. Thriller
- Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason, The Trinity Paradox. SF.
- Chris Baldick, editor, The Oxford Book of Gothic Tales. Anthology with 37 stories (some familiar, others not), from 1773 to 1991.
- Craig Shaw Gardner, A Malady of Magicks. Humorous fantasy, the first in the Ebenezem series.
- Lee Goldberg, Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu. TV tie-in. I'm looking forward to this one.
- Nancy Holder, Heat. A Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel tie-in novel.
- Floyd Mahannah, The Golden Widow. How long has it been since you heard that name?
- Stefan Petrucha, Nancy Drew, Girl Detective #1: The Demon of River Heights. Graphic novel, the first in a long line of them evidently. Art by Sho Murase.
- Al Sarrantonio, Horrorween. Horror. A fix-up of two stories and Orangefield, an earlier novel.
- Bruce Sterling, A Good Old-Fashioned Future. Sf collection of seven stories, one in collaboration with Rudy Rucker.
- Phaedra Weldon, Revenant. Fantasy, the fourth book in the Zoe Martinique Investigation series.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
WHAT'S SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE...
I've been reading a lot of Arthur Machen lately, four books in the past few weeks with two more reaching near the top of Mount TBR. I find this curious because there have been times when I couldn't stand to read a word of his. My inner reading muse has lots of quirks, fits, and starts. Most likely, after the next two books, I won't touch Machen for another year or two. But, who knows? Whatever devious part of me that reaches for one book and spurns another cannot be predicted to any degree of certitude. (Looking back on these few sentences I can see Machen affecting me.)
Whatever. Here, from his 1924 collection of essays Dog and Duck, is a splash of Machen as he begins to discuss roast goose:
"The war, I believe, is over. At all events, I will assume this to be the case, in order that I may speak of Michaelmas goose, and confess that in common with most Englishmen O have certain Teutonic tastes. In 1918 it was dangerous to admit a liking for Bach or Beethovan; now, I think, things are a little calmer, and I might venture to say that I like apple sauce with roast goose. As a matter of fact, I do not think that the goose, a very favourite dish on Germany, is served with apple sauce in that country; but the combination is purely Teutonic. In France, where dwells the true church of cookery, they would shudder at lamb and mint sauce and red current jelly with saddle of mutton and jugged hare. I know that these things are wrong; but I like them all the same; and they are all German in feeling. In Germany, as I have read, they serve raspberry jam with roast veal, and English Travellers have been known to denounce the absurdity of the combination, not seeing that it is on all fours with their own saddle of mutton and current jelly. I say again that these things are wickedness, but I like them very well, and all peoples who have any Teutonic blood in them love such mixtures. There is the 'Mostarda Soffrafina' of northern Italy; it is fruit -- small pears, if I remember -- pickled in hot sweet sauce. This they eat in Lombardy with their boiled beef; and from this circumstance, if all the history books in the world had perished, we might infer that the Lombaris were of Teutonic stock. So, I say, I am for apple sauce with the Michaelmas goose; and, let it be added, for the stuffing of sage and onions, which, so far as I know, is a purely English and a most happy thought. Here again, we must differ from our masters in cookery, the French. Walking once in Touraine with a French friend, I sage a bush of sage growing by the roadside. I told the Frenchman the use to which it was put in England, in relation to the goose, the duck, and the pig. He nibbled a leaf, and then looked at me with a glance which I had met before in French company."
I suppose everyone has their own combinations of food that leave others scratching their respective heads. I know that my wife and children give me that Frenchman glance whenever I make a cheese and jelly sandwich.
Whatever. Here, from his 1924 collection of essays Dog and Duck, is a splash of Machen as he begins to discuss roast goose:
"The war, I believe, is over. At all events, I will assume this to be the case, in order that I may speak of Michaelmas goose, and confess that in common with most Englishmen O have certain Teutonic tastes. In 1918 it was dangerous to admit a liking for Bach or Beethovan; now, I think, things are a little calmer, and I might venture to say that I like apple sauce with roast goose. As a matter of fact, I do not think that the goose, a very favourite dish on Germany, is served with apple sauce in that country; but the combination is purely Teutonic. In France, where dwells the true church of cookery, they would shudder at lamb and mint sauce and red current jelly with saddle of mutton and jugged hare. I know that these things are wrong; but I like them all the same; and they are all German in feeling. In Germany, as I have read, they serve raspberry jam with roast veal, and English Travellers have been known to denounce the absurdity of the combination, not seeing that it is on all fours with their own saddle of mutton and current jelly. I say again that these things are wickedness, but I like them very well, and all peoples who have any Teutonic blood in them love such mixtures. There is the 'Mostarda Soffrafina' of northern Italy; it is fruit -- small pears, if I remember -- pickled in hot sweet sauce. This they eat in Lombardy with their boiled beef; and from this circumstance, if all the history books in the world had perished, we might infer that the Lombaris were of Teutonic stock. So, I say, I am for apple sauce with the Michaelmas goose; and, let it be added, for the stuffing of sage and onions, which, so far as I know, is a purely English and a most happy thought. Here again, we must differ from our masters in cookery, the French. Walking once in Touraine with a French friend, I sage a bush of sage growing by the roadside. I told the Frenchman the use to which it was put in England, in relation to the goose, the duck, and the pig. He nibbled a leaf, and then looked at me with a glance which I had met before in French company."
I suppose everyone has their own combinations of food that leave others scratching their respective heads. I know that my wife and children give me that Frenchman glance whenever I make a cheese and jelly sandwich.
Friday, January 27, 2012
FORGOTTEN BOOKS: THE ANGRY PLANET and THE RED JOURNEY BACK
The Angry Planet (1945) and The Red Journey Back (1954, also published as SOS from Mars) by John Keir Cross
John Keir Cross (1914-1967) made his living writing and producing radio plays for the BBC, first as an employee and later as a free-lance writer. In America he is probably best known for his collection The Other Passenger: 18 Strange Stories; nine of those stories were published by Ballantine as Stories from The Other Passenger in 1961 (when Ballantine was publishing a lot of horror with those great Powers covers).
Cross wrote a couple of novels under the name "Susan Crowley" but the majority of his book work was for juveniles under his own name and that of "Stephen MacFarlane". Cross and his alter ego MacFarlane cross paths in the two juveniles covered here. The conceit is that Stephen MacFarlane and John Keir Cross are cousins, both writers. MacFarlane, in The Angry Planet, is good friends with reclusive scientist Andrew McGillivray. McGillivray has inherited some money and is conducting experiments on a type of fuel needed to push rockets into space. Once the formula is discovered the two make plans for a secret journey to Mars. (Why Mars? you ask. Well -- ahem -- as is explained in the story, Mars is the closest planet to Earth. Why our muddle-headed protagonist believe that, I don't know. Science may not have been a strong suit among scientist in 1945 maybe, or at least not a strong suit to BBC script writers. Of course, Mars may be closer than Venus if the latter planet were one the other side of the sun, but this does not seem to be considered.)
The rocket takes off and soon the two discover three accidental stowaways: MacFarlane's nephew, 11-year-old Mike Malone, and Mike's first cousins Paul (age 14) and Jacqueline (age 12) Adams. Unable to turn back, the five of them go to Mars and land safely. Mars, it turns out, is inhabited by telepathic plants. One race, calling themselves "The Beautiful People" are mobile, using tentacle-like roots to move around. The Earthlings soon make good friends with them and are welcomed into their city. For every yin there's a yang; for The Beautiful People, it is The Terrible Ones -- a race of bloodthirsty [sapthirsty?] plants with an overwhelming desire to eliminate The Beautiful People. The Terrible People discover the rocket ship and a battle ensues. The Earthlings soon discover that bullets will not harm these evil plants. During the battle one of The Terrible Ones captures Mike and makes off with him. Even alien plants should realize that it is unwise to kidnap a plucky 11-year-old boy. After being held captive for a week, Mike escapes in time to warn his friends of an imminent attack designed to wipe out The Beautiful People once and for all. The attack comes and many plants on both sides are killed, then...Oh, did I mention there were volcanoes on Mars?
The five Earthlings escape in their rocket after one of their Martian friends sacrifices himself to save Mike. Unfortunately, they had to leave all evidence of their trip behind them. They land in a field in France and are soon feted for their unprovable adventure.
The Angry Planet sold well in England and Cross wrote a very successful radio play from the novel. In America, the book went through at least four impessions. So a sequel would be a foregone conclusion. Still, it took nine years before it was published. Memory can do funny things over nine years. Now Paul and Jacqueline are "distant cousins" to Mike, rather than first cousins. Mars could well still be the closest planet to Earth, although that's not specified in this sequel.
One year has past and some people are begining to doubt our heroes' veracity. McGillivray and MacFarlane are fed up with this petty carping and decide to return to Mars in the ultimate attempt to gafiate*. Once again, they head into space, this time sans stowaways.
Enter John Keir Cross, who is in Scotland to report on tests being held for a revolutionary airstrip devised by Roderick Mackellar. The airstrip has a special coating that can amplify certain radio signals, specifically radio signals from Mars...Yep, Stephen MacFarlane is sending signals back to Earth from Mars, and, in a stupendous performance of Coincidence Theatre, manages to communicate with his cousin in a code they had invented when they were children! The messages are spotty and come in over a period of weeks. Their rocketship landed near the fabled canals of Mars, but on leaving the ship McGillivray in engulfed by a wide cloud of yellow dust (actually trillions of semi-telepathic seedlings). To the rescue comes Malu, The Beautiful People warrior who had sacrificed himself at the end of the first book. He saves McGillivray, now injured and blind, and he and the two earthmen hole up in the ship.
Most mysterious of all was the final message sent: "The children...There is only one way in which you can save us...Bring the children -- somehow bring the children! Paul and Jacqueline and Michael...Ask no questions -- no time, no time to answer; but bring those three to Mars or we are lost...!"
Well.
The three adventurous youths soon make contact with the American scientist Dr. M. B. Kalkenbrenner, a rival of McGillivray's who is building his own spaceship. Dr. K agrees to go to Mars with the children to rescue the stranded travellers. Also along for the ride are Katey Hogarth (an actress who would act as a chaperone for the children) and Keith Borrowdale (a young engineering assistant to Mackellar [remember him? The airstrip guy?] and Katey's fiance). You can't have a rescue trip to Mars without a stowaway; this time it's Maggie Sherwood, Dr. K's tomboy 12-year-old niece, smuggled aboard by that rascal Mike (purely for impish and non-sexual reasons, mind you).
So the seven of them go to Mars and face such horrors as the Crawling Canals, the Yellow Dust, The Terrible Ones, and the Living Brains. They meet tragedy. They return to Earth. Huzzah!
These are typical SF juveniles of their time, those dark ages before the invention of YA. Yes, you have to abandon your sense of logic. And, yes, stereotypes abound. But if you can manage to release your inner 11-year-old and just go along for the ride, these two books can provide a few enjoyable hours.
*gafia = Getting Away From It All, something akin to taking one's ball and bat and going home.
**********
For more Friday's Forgotten Books, with links, visit Patti Abbott at Pattinase.
John Keir Cross (1914-1967) made his living writing and producing radio plays for the BBC, first as an employee and later as a free-lance writer. In America he is probably best known for his collection The Other Passenger: 18 Strange Stories; nine of those stories were published by Ballantine as Stories from The Other Passenger in 1961 (when Ballantine was publishing a lot of horror with those great Powers covers).
Cross wrote a couple of novels under the name "Susan Crowley" but the majority of his book work was for juveniles under his own name and that of "Stephen MacFarlane". Cross and his alter ego MacFarlane cross paths in the two juveniles covered here. The conceit is that Stephen MacFarlane and John Keir Cross are cousins, both writers. MacFarlane, in The Angry Planet, is good friends with reclusive scientist Andrew McGillivray. McGillivray has inherited some money and is conducting experiments on a type of fuel needed to push rockets into space. Once the formula is discovered the two make plans for a secret journey to Mars. (Why Mars? you ask. Well -- ahem -- as is explained in the story, Mars is the closest planet to Earth. Why our muddle-headed protagonist believe that, I don't know. Science may not have been a strong suit among scientist in 1945 maybe, or at least not a strong suit to BBC script writers. Of course, Mars may be closer than Venus if the latter planet were one the other side of the sun, but this does not seem to be considered.)
The rocket takes off and soon the two discover three accidental stowaways: MacFarlane's nephew, 11-year-old Mike Malone, and Mike's first cousins Paul (age 14) and Jacqueline (age 12) Adams. Unable to turn back, the five of them go to Mars and land safely. Mars, it turns out, is inhabited by telepathic plants. One race, calling themselves "The Beautiful People" are mobile, using tentacle-like roots to move around. The Earthlings soon make good friends with them and are welcomed into their city. For every yin there's a yang; for The Beautiful People, it is The Terrible Ones -- a race of bloodthirsty [sapthirsty?] plants with an overwhelming desire to eliminate The Beautiful People. The Terrible People discover the rocket ship and a battle ensues. The Earthlings soon discover that bullets will not harm these evil plants. During the battle one of The Terrible Ones captures Mike and makes off with him. Even alien plants should realize that it is unwise to kidnap a plucky 11-year-old boy. After being held captive for a week, Mike escapes in time to warn his friends of an imminent attack designed to wipe out The Beautiful People once and for all. The attack comes and many plants on both sides are killed, then...Oh, did I mention there were volcanoes on Mars?
The five Earthlings escape in their rocket after one of their Martian friends sacrifices himself to save Mike. Unfortunately, they had to leave all evidence of their trip behind them. They land in a field in France and are soon feted for their unprovable adventure.
The Angry Planet sold well in England and Cross wrote a very successful radio play from the novel. In America, the book went through at least four impessions. So a sequel would be a foregone conclusion. Still, it took nine years before it was published. Memory can do funny things over nine years. Now Paul and Jacqueline are "distant cousins" to Mike, rather than first cousins. Mars could well still be the closest planet to Earth, although that's not specified in this sequel.
One year has past and some people are begining to doubt our heroes' veracity. McGillivray and MacFarlane are fed up with this petty carping and decide to return to Mars in the ultimate attempt to gafiate*. Once again, they head into space, this time sans stowaways.
Enter John Keir Cross, who is in Scotland to report on tests being held for a revolutionary airstrip devised by Roderick Mackellar. The airstrip has a special coating that can amplify certain radio signals, specifically radio signals from Mars...Yep, Stephen MacFarlane is sending signals back to Earth from Mars, and, in a stupendous performance of Coincidence Theatre, manages to communicate with his cousin in a code they had invented when they were children! The messages are spotty and come in over a period of weeks. Their rocketship landed near the fabled canals of Mars, but on leaving the ship McGillivray in engulfed by a wide cloud of yellow dust (actually trillions of semi-telepathic seedlings). To the rescue comes Malu, The Beautiful People warrior who had sacrificed himself at the end of the first book. He saves McGillivray, now injured and blind, and he and the two earthmen hole up in the ship.
Most mysterious of all was the final message sent: "The children...There is only one way in which you can save us...Bring the children -- somehow bring the children! Paul and Jacqueline and Michael...Ask no questions -- no time, no time to answer; but bring those three to Mars or we are lost...!"
Well.
The three adventurous youths soon make contact with the American scientist Dr. M. B. Kalkenbrenner, a rival of McGillivray's who is building his own spaceship. Dr. K agrees to go to Mars with the children to rescue the stranded travellers. Also along for the ride are Katey Hogarth (an actress who would act as a chaperone for the children) and Keith Borrowdale (a young engineering assistant to Mackellar [remember him? The airstrip guy?] and Katey's fiance). You can't have a rescue trip to Mars without a stowaway; this time it's Maggie Sherwood, Dr. K's tomboy 12-year-old niece, smuggled aboard by that rascal Mike (purely for impish and non-sexual reasons, mind you).
So the seven of them go to Mars and face such horrors as the Crawling Canals, the Yellow Dust, The Terrible Ones, and the Living Brains. They meet tragedy. They return to Earth. Huzzah!
These are typical SF juveniles of their time, those dark ages before the invention of YA. Yes, you have to abandon your sense of logic. And, yes, stereotypes abound. But if you can manage to release your inner 11-year-old and just go along for the ride, these two books can provide a few enjoyable hours.
*gafia = Getting Away From It All, something akin to taking one's ball and bat and going home.
**********
For more Friday's Forgotten Books, with links, visit Patti Abbott at Pattinase.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
FORGOTTEN MUSIC: BESSIE SMITH
Bessie Mae Smith was born in 1894 (or 1892, depending on who you listen to) in Chattanooga. Her early family life is also in question, depending again on who you listen to; we know her father died while Bessie was very young and that her mother died before she was nine. Her older sister then took care of Bessie and her siblings. She began very young (a pre-teen) as a busker, singing and dancing in front of a saloon in the Black section of Chattanooga, while her brother played the guitar. By 1912 she had joined a travelling troupe as a dancer; the troupe already had a star singer in Ma Rainey and Bessie learned much of her stage presence by watching Rainey.
She moved slowly up in her profession, making her first recordings in 1923 in Philadelphia, where she had moved. Her recording "Cemetery Blues" was the first record released by Columbia that was marketed as a "race record." During the 1920s and into the 1930s, Bessie Smith was the most popular female blues singer in the country. Her influence in blues, jazz, and the American scene was be immense.
The Depression and talkies stalled her career until John Hammond signed her in 1933 for his legendary Okeh label. (Hammond's version of the story differed greatly from Smith's.) Nevertheless, Bessie Smith has had a stellar career marred only by personal problems. Smith was a bisexual and her husband left her after one of her affairs was revealed; they never divorced. Smith later entered into a common-law relationship with an old friend. He was driving her car one day in 1937 when he tried to pass a slow moving truck just outside Clarksdale, Mississippi. He misjudged and the car struck the left side of the truck, ripping the top off the automobile. Bessie, riding on the passengers side, suffered internal injuries and had her right arm almost severed. She died at the hospital without regaining consciousness. In a display of her great popularity, seven to ten thousand mourners attended her funeral that Saturday.
In 1970, Janis Joplin and one of Smith's housekeepers purchased a stone for the gravesite. Smith's legal husband had refused to put up a headstone, and had at times pocketed money raised for such a purpose.
She was the Queen of the Blues. Her music still has a strong effect on today's listeners. Not forgotten, but one who should be remembered.
The link will take you 42 of her songs. Enjoy.
http://www.archive.org/details/BessieSmithTunes
For more forgotten music today, go to Scott D. Parker where he will be listing the links.
She moved slowly up in her profession, making her first recordings in 1923 in Philadelphia, where she had moved. Her recording "Cemetery Blues" was the first record released by Columbia that was marketed as a "race record." During the 1920s and into the 1930s, Bessie Smith was the most popular female blues singer in the country. Her influence in blues, jazz, and the American scene was be immense.
The Depression and talkies stalled her career until John Hammond signed her in 1933 for his legendary Okeh label. (Hammond's version of the story differed greatly from Smith's.) Nevertheless, Bessie Smith has had a stellar career marred only by personal problems. Smith was a bisexual and her husband left her after one of her affairs was revealed; they never divorced. Smith later entered into a common-law relationship with an old friend. He was driving her car one day in 1937 when he tried to pass a slow moving truck just outside Clarksdale, Mississippi. He misjudged and the car struck the left side of the truck, ripping the top off the automobile. Bessie, riding on the passengers side, suffered internal injuries and had her right arm almost severed. She died at the hospital without regaining consciousness. In a display of her great popularity, seven to ten thousand mourners attended her funeral that Saturday.
In 1970, Janis Joplin and one of Smith's housekeepers purchased a stone for the gravesite. Smith's legal husband had refused to put up a headstone, and had at times pocketed money raised for such a purpose.
She was the Queen of the Blues. Her music still has a strong effect on today's listeners. Not forgotten, but one who should be remembered.
The link will take you 42 of her songs. Enjoy.
http://www.archive.org/details/BessieSmithTunes
For more forgotten music today, go to Scott D. Parker where he will be listing the links.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
E-MAILS. I GET E-MAILS...
...such as this one, surreptitiously sent by my brother:
SUBJECT LINE: A letter for you from future president NEWT GINGRICH
Dear Newt Gingrich Impersonator --
It has come to our attention that you have frequently been mistaken for Republican candidate for president Newt Gingrich (tm). Indeed, you have proudly mentioned this in your "web log."
Regardless of your intentions, you are trampling on a valued trademark and must immediately cease and desist all likeness to the former Speaker of the House. [Your attempt to mimic that role with your obviously invented surname will be the subject of another memo.]
We believe that many (Thousands? Millions?) women are thrusting themselves on you in an attempt to be wife #4 and First Lady. This must stop! The candidate is getting cranky and, in the true GOP spirit, is unwilling to share.
We also have evidence of campaign donations to line the pockets^W^W^W support the candidacy of Mr. Gingrich (tm) being diverted to you. You must immediately return all donations, bribes, kickbacks and donuts to the campaign.
Yours,
-- The Campaign for Truth, Honesty and Civil Discourse (tm)
p.s. We have heard rumors of people who misguidedly dislike Mr. Gingrich (tm), unbelievable as that soumds. Knowing that you do not have Secret Service protection, we recommend that for personal safety you lay low for a while; at least until this campaign implodes. And no, your family menagerie will not be able to protect you.
-- CTHCD
SUBJECT LINE: A letter for you from future president NEWT GINGRICH
Dear Newt Gingrich Impersonator --
It has come to our attention that you have frequently been mistaken for Republican candidate for president Newt Gingrich (tm). Indeed, you have proudly mentioned this in your "web log."
Regardless of your intentions, you are trampling on a valued trademark and must immediately cease and desist all likeness to the former Speaker of the House. [Your attempt to mimic that role with your obviously invented surname will be the subject of another memo.]
We believe that many (Thousands? Millions?) women are thrusting themselves on you in an attempt to be wife #4 and First Lady. This must stop! The candidate is getting cranky and, in the true GOP spirit, is unwilling to share.
We also have evidence of campaign donations to line the pockets^W^W^W support the candidacy of Mr. Gingrich (tm) being diverted to you. You must immediately return all donations, bribes, kickbacks and donuts to the campaign.
Yours,
-- The Campaign for Truth, Honesty and Civil Discourse (tm)
p.s. We have heard rumors of people who misguidedly dislike Mr. Gingrich (tm), unbelievable as that soumds. Knowing that you do not have Secret Service protection, we recommend that for personal safety you lay low for a while; at least until this campaign implodes. And no, your family menagerie will not be able to protect you.
-- CTHCD
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