What's My Wednesday? #3 - Super Special Friday Edition!

Today we have a whole episode of What's My Line?, because while I have enormous admiration for the Mystery Challenger of the week (which was, for the record, March 29, 1959, and Easter), the wonderful writer and actress Miss Cornelia Otis Skinner (who were she still gracing us with her presence would be an I'm sure still elegant 115), she is in truth quickly guessed and really rather put in the shade by the other competitors.

Memory Lane: The Love We Feel

Ah, the joys of 1990!  It was a remarkable year, for me at least - the first full year in a rather glam job, one that brought with it the first trips abroad, to London and Paris, Berlin (West and East) and Tokyo.  Not to mention a memorable cross-country car trip, New York to San Francisco, as '90 turned into '91.  Whatever the destination, this number was most definitely on the soundtrack...

Aye, Calypso!

A world figure, a towering woman both literally and figuratively; Oprah's mentor and the inaugural poet - but no matter how grand she got, I like that she was always ready to acknowledge the full range of her career, including her stint in cabaret.

Glamour: a Reminder

Hollywood, California, 59 years ago today:  Miss Edith Head revels in her own personal fabulousness - and (as was its wont) Life was there.

Of Bad Brands, Bad Trips, and Bad Moods

Amelia Earhart luggage?  Really?  Isn't that something like trying to sell Sonny Bono ski-poles or Marie Prevost pet treats?

File Under "Sidewalk Curiosities, Viennese"

What is one to make of this?  In Hindu mythology, I've just learned, this is Hayagriva, "an avatar of Vishnu."  How do you suppose he ended up in the Graben, playing wistful Mitteleuropische melodies on his battered accordion?

A Lunch with a View

What fun it is to discover something hidden...

Cathedral Bells

"St. Stephan deliver me to Opera Ring..." sings my inner Gooch, after a long night and day of travel, and lo and behold he has.

I'm a Travelin' Man

Life certainly is full of its little surprises, isn't it?

Birthday Boy: Leading Man

Some actors - like today's birthday boy (he would have been 109) - have images so seemingly immutable that it is simply disconcerting to discover that they didn't spring from the womb square-jawed and craggy.  For example, Henry Fonda started out a juvenile, and a really rather pallid one at that.

What's My Wednesday #2: Now on Thursday!

The birthday celebrations may have thrown me off my rhythm, but I didn't want to deprive you of this week's quick glimpse into a more elegant past...

Birthday Girl: Bea Plus

Somewhere, in some celestial realm, three women are sitting down to some cheesecake in celebration of one of their birthdays.  A fourth, I hope, is raising a glass in her memory.

Meanwhile, at the Hunting Lodge

Sir Edgar paused for a moment, staring out into the rainy garden.

Redux: M is For...

M is for... first appeared on May 10, 2009 and appeared again in 2012 and 2013.  And yes, I'm still getting over the surprise.  Happy Mother's Day, Mother Muscato, wherever you are...

Too Much of a Good Thing...

Now, normally when it comes to muscles, I'm with Janet Weiss...

You May Remove Your Blindfolds, Panel....

And meet our mystery challenger!

Mystery Challenger, Sign in Please!

What's My Line? really has me inspired...

What's My Wednesday? #1: Arlene Gets It

Welcome to a new feature here at the Café:  Yes, it's time for What's My Wednesdays!

"It's the Story...

...of a tubby lady / Who was bringing up three five very tubby girls..."

And not a blonde among them?  I call shenanigans on the whole lot of them.

¡Es una fiesta!

I hope everybody's having a very happy Cinco de Virginia Mayo!

A View to a Month

A very happy May Day to all the Café's Gentle Readers, from Miss Grace and me...