EvRobert

Butterscotch is the best

That's why you only get Oatmeal is with butterscotch. I haven't seen anyone tri to combine raisins with those.

Okay Bands/Artists I would put in my my top 10 and just realized: George Jones. When Frank Sinatra (reportedly) says he is the second best singer in the world, you listen. I know country music from that era (and I'm not a huge C&W fan) has a rep for being "twangy" and what not, but him and Hank Williams Sr had something special. Bands I should like but I don't, The Civil Wars and Mumford and Sons. Sorry they just don't do it for me. Third, raisins DO NOT BELONG IN COLESLAW (I also don't approve of grapes in chicken salad). I get WHY (trying to offset the tanginess of vinegar with a natural sweetner instead of sugar) but no. Fourth, TOTAL LONG SHOT here, but I a short monologue I wrote was accepted for a reading at the Samuel FrenchBookstore in Hollywood (WHOO!) and I had an actor lined up to perform it. Unfortunately, she had to drop out due to a film project running long. Is there anyone around here that is an actor (struggling working, whatever) that would like the chance to perform a 3-minute piece? If so, LET ME KNOW LOL I have reached out to a few others and I'm waiting to hear from and the organizer did say she could help too but I want to help people I know.

I'm a big fan of the Zac Brown Band, and in the song Sweet Annie, they rhyme (iirc) sweet with sweet

I had that happen yesterday once.

I am running around town trying to get a replacement social security card at the moment (don’t ask) so I can’t get into things as deeply on my phone at the moment as I did earlier but I need to weigh in on Kelly vs Astaire. I think I agree that Astaire is more “charming” but Kelly is sexier. Kelly’s Singin’ I’m The Rain twirling around light poles and splashing in the water, etc. is more fun though, I think, then anything in Top Hat.

Interestingly, Astaire never considered Kelly his “successor” but rather Michael Jackson. And I think Jackson reciprocated

I've only rented two movies for Musical Mondays (either they've been streaming for free or I've found...ahem...other ways to watch them) this one and Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. I regret neither rental. In fact, I too wish I would have purchased this.

I LOVE The Thin Man movies

I think that is why the Disney XD reboot of Ducktales (and of course Gravity Falls) works (worked). Ducktales may habe been greenlit due to nostalgia, but it's succeeding because it is telling great stories that can be enjoyed by everyone. (also a good cast helps).

In a way yes, I think it helped train audiences to sit through long form entertainment to a degree. This isn't to say that there weren't full length plays and shows prior to the Princess Theater, because there were, but at the same time, Princess Theater was mostly based (like musical theater today) in NYC, vaudeville was about getting out to the masses in towns in Illinois, and Missouri, and Kansas, and Nebraska. What to me is more interesting about the transition from vaudeville to film is that a lot of the big stars in the Golden and Silver ages of Hollywood didn't come out of the NYC theater scene, but out of the traveling vaudeville scene (Astaire, Arbuckle, Hope, Abbott & Costello, Jean Acker, Jack Albertson, Don Ameche, the Barrymores, Benny, Berle, Cagney, etc etc etc). What I think really contributed to the decline of vaudeville, was the Depression. Films were just cheaper for people to go to and more profitable.

Going into this, I wasn't that familiar with Astaire/Rogers. I knew the names, because EVERYONE knows of Astaire & Rogers, but I had only ever seen clips (mostly from this movie I realized) of them dancing. The name (Top Hat), the dancing sequences, everything looked like something I wouldn't enjoy, so I was pleasantly surprised how much I did and I think that is due NOT to the music and dancing, but to the slapstick comedy in this. What I mean is, if you took out the singing and most of the dancing, you would have a perfectly serviceable early stages screwball comedy. There was an kind of enduring "kookiness" that made this work. It's like the Shakespeare comedies in a way, in that the upper class are morons who are constantly made fun of by the lower class (who may also be idiots, but recognize and call out the upper class). What is also interesting is that this is a interesting example of a "transitional" musical. *puts my teaching glasses on* What I mean is that starting in the early 20th century, Broadway saw the rise of what is called "Princess Theater" shows. Basically they combined light entertainment with catchy songs with a loose continuity between them. 1927's Show Boat is considered by many to be the first of the "book musicals" where the songs and story are full interwoven and 1944's Oklahoma! is where it really soldified, basically all the musicals and musical movies we know today (for the most part). Top Hat doesn't quite fit the mold of revue nor does it quite fit the mold of book musical, it's a light airy comedy where the presence of songs and dance is "needed" (arguably, the only dancing that is really needed is the two tap dancing in the hotel rooms and possibly the feather dress number since it solidifies the relationship between Ginger and Fred.) but where the songs don't directly tie into the narrative. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just interesting to watch how musicals have evolved over time (and in ways they haven't).

i've seen this because of Baldwin and Fonda...

Taking a break from Walking Dead marathon to watch this now...

I had that same experience with the original Planet of the Apes

Oh this is going to be FUN!

Jingle All The Way I think was the first Christmas movie they did but als Reindeer Games Deck The Halls Jack Frost (I think takes place at Christmas...maybe just winter) Star Wars Holiday Special 2016 Christmas was Howdies, 2014 had no Christmas ep

Easily the worst

i'm in

if it falls through, I can probably rent it and host, I think LOL I'm not that familiar with Rabbit

TQ&TD is so weird because everyone is chewing scenery like they are at the Golden Corral EXCEPT for Crowe, who is giving a very quiet, restrained performance. Interesting to note that Sharon Stone fought pretty hard for Crowe, Rami, and DiCaprio to get work on that film.

Cool, I was afraid I was going to be late. I'm in rehearsals for a podcast drama production of Hamlet and was running long.

Do we have a link yet? Start time?

I turned down the chance to see Friday the 13th at my library (with costumes and snacks and prizes) to stay at home and watch this...

*snort of cocaine* It's like those KidzBopz albums but movies. Get Bob Iger on the phone. Stat! (also I seriously fear this is what the Disney Channel Hocus Pocus remake is going to be)