We have a total of FOUR BOOKS to give away — so we will give away one book a week for the next four weeks (now through Friday July 26).
Here’s how the contest will work…
Each week during the 4-week contest period:
1) I will tweet a Qualifying Entry Task on Monday, with some re-tweets of that same Qualifying Entry Task throughout the week. I will include the hashtags #AvaGardner #Giveway #EntryTask on the Qualifying Entry Task tweets.
You will need to successfully complete the Qualifying Entry Task before Friday afternoon at 5PM EST of that week. The Entry Task will be EASY and you can do it at your convenience, but you must complete it by Friday 5PM EST of that week in order to be eligible to win the book (see #3).
3) Then, on Friday night of that week at 10PM EST, I will post a Special Trivia Question. The FIRST PERSON (who already successfully completed the Qualifying Entry Task for that week) to tweet the correct answer to the Special Trivia Question will win the book!
In other words, the first person to successfully complete the Qualifying Entry Task AND correctly answer the Friday night Special Trivia Question wins the book!
I am so excited to be participating in the Funny Lady Blogathon. I just adore comedy, so I was really excited about writing this post! A Big Thank You to the marvelous Movies Silently for hosting this event!
It’s interesting; I thought I’d be torn when trying to decide who to cover for this blogathon — but for whatever reason, the fabulous Kathleen Howard immediately came to mind; I didn’t even have to think twice about it. Perhaps it’s because I ‘grew up’ on W.C. Fields films and so fondly remember her as Fields’ wonderfully shrewish wife, or perhaps it’s simply because of her impeccable comic timing and inimitable cadential voice — so grandly theatrical — as she reprimands, admonishes, and complains. Gosh, I can almost hear her now!
Kathleen Howard (Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division)
Now I will admit that I didn’t know much about Howard’s background, so this was an excellent learning experience for me. And, I’m happy to say that I dug up some very interesting information about her. Here goes…
Kathleen Howard standing on South Michigan Avenue, between Congress and Van Buren, in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinoisca. 1914 Nov. 24. (Courtesy of Chicago History Museum)
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Phase One of Kathleen Howard’s Career — opera singer…
Kathleen Howard was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada on July 17, 1880. She wanted to be a singer ever since she was a young girl, and although she was told she would never ‘make it’, she managed to work her way up through London’s Covent Garden and New York’s Century Opera to finally debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Third Lady in The Magic Flute (Nov 20, 1916). She quickly became the MET’s most popular character contralto, and created the role of Zita for the World Premier of Giacomo Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi at the MET in 1918.
Kathleen Howard as Carmen (Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division)
Being a popular vocalist, Howard recorded numerous arias and songs (for the American branch of Pathé Frères) and also wrote a book about her experiences called “Confessions of an Opera Singer” (published in 1918).
You can hear Kathleen Howard sing via these links:
Phase Two of Kathleen Howard’s Career — fashion editor…
After she retired from her operatic career in 1928, Kathleen Howard moved on to become a fashion editor for Harper’s Bazaar — again, quite famous in her own right.
During her 17-year acting career which spanned from 1934 to 1951, she appeared in 53 roles but is probably best known for her role as W. C. Field’s nagging wife in It’s a Gift (1934) and Man on the Flying Trapeze (1935). She also appeared in a third W.C. Fields film called You’re Telling Me (1934, as Mrs. Murchison). Other notable appearances include Ball of Fire (1941, as Miss Bragg), Deanna Durbin’s First Love (1939; as schoolmistress Wiggins) and One Night in the Tropics (1940, as Judge McCracken).
On a bit of a tangent, but nonetheless… Here’s an interesting piece of news about Ball of Fire that I never knew about…
So now that we covered her basic (but quite phenomenal) background, let’s get to my favorite part — clips and quotes! But before we start, I just have to say:
I just LOVE Howard’s grand ‘operatic’ vocal style 🙂 she’s so dramatic yet I believe every word she says in her frustration with husband W.C. Fields!
Now, for the fun stuff…
First, the Opening Scene from Man on the Flying Trapeze, with Kathleen Howard as Leona Wolfinger (wife of Ambrose/Fields):
And now the infamous Porch Scene from It’s a Gift, with Kathleen Howard as Amelia Bissonette (that’s Bis-son-naye) (wife of Harold/Fields). [Please know that this scene is not ideal for showcasing Howard, but I had a hard time finding suitable clips]:
It’s a Gift with Kathleen Howard as Fields’ wife Amelia…
“Harold, will you pleeeeease keep quiet and let me get some sleeeeep!”
“Who were those women you were talking to?”
“Seems to me you’re getting pretty FAMILIAR with Mrs. Dunk UPSTAIRS.”
And some more Kathleen Howard It’s a Gift quotes from various other scenes…
“I don’t know WHERE you get the idea you could make money raising ORANGES when you can’t even run a corner grocery store.”
“You’re CONSTANTLY doing things behind my back and I know NOTHING about them til you’re in some sort of a SCRAPE and I have to get you out.”
“I don’t know why it is that eveeeeeery time I want to talk to you, you’re off in some other part of the house. I have to SHOUT, SHOUT, SHOUT. No wooooonder the neighbors know all about our private affairs. I get little enough opportunity as it IS to find out what’s going on — without you running away as if I have the smallpox or something eveeeery time I open my mouth…”
“Are you listening to me?!? Wake up! Wake up and go and sleep!”
“I don’t know how you expect anybody to get any sleep, hopping in and out of bed all night, tinkering ‘roooound the house, waiting up for telephone calls. You have absolutely nooooo consideration for anybody but yourself. I have to get up in the morning, get breakfast for you and the children… I have no maid you know, probably never shaaaall have one…”
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Just love it! Pitch Perfect Nagging at its Best! In my humble opinion…
And last but not least, Kathleen Howard’s book is on kindle for FREE 🙂
Hope you enjoyed the post! And please don’t forget to read the other fun Funny Lady Blogathon posts at Movies Silently.
Marie Blake, also known as Blossom Rock (Rock being her married name), was born Edith Marie Blossom MacDonald on August 21, 1895 in Philadelphia to Daniel and Anne MacDonald. Marie was the elder sister of Jeanette MacDonald, who was born Jeanette Anna MacDonald in Philadelphia on June 18, 1903
According to Jeanette MacDonald biographer Sharon Rich (who was also close friends with Marie Blake), Jeanette was happy that her sister Marie finally gained widespread recognition playing Grandmama, and for that reason, Jeanette never missed watching an episode of The Addams Family.
To call Judy Garland a gay icon is something of an understatement. Her life and legacy is more entwined with the gay cultural and gay liberation movement than perhaps any other star in this series.
Garland’s relationship with the gay community began with what has become her signature role, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Her journey from self-persecution to self-acceptance was one that reflected the collective struggle of the gay community. Her heart-felt rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, her dream of a better world where trouble and suffering melted away, resonated with the persecuted minority. The song has since become somewhat of an unofficial National Anthem for the LGBTQ community and has obviously had an influence on the aesthetics of the culture.
I mean, the pride flag IS a rainbow guys.
Of course, Garland’s most influential moment in the gay community had to do with her death. When Garland died of an accidental barbiturate overdose in June of 1969, the gay community was stunned. After her funeral in New York City, a few mourning fans gathered at a small underground gay club called Stonewell Inn. Known by the police to be frequented by the gay community, the tavern faced random police raids and mass arrests. On June 28th, 1969 one such raid happened. However, this night was different. This night, fueled by the loss of an icon, a few cosmos had tired of being persecuted for merely existing, so they fought back. Police soon lost control of the crowd and a full-scale riot broke out. Within weeks the riots lead to protests, and protests lead to mass political organization for the creation of safe spaces for everyone regardless of sexual identity or gender.
Judy Garland, tragic, beautiful, a beacon of hope for for last 50 years.
The Stonewall riots are considered the single most important event leading to the gay liberation movement. And for role as catalyst to this event, as well her influence of all things rainbows, Judy Garland in THE Screen Queen.
Anne Revere appeared in over 45 film and TV roles. She played her share of hard-working and wise mothers, as well as sympathetic and sometimes sharp-tongued friends. She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for National Velvet and was nominated twice more for The Song of Bernadette and Gentleman’s Agreement.
And, my favorite bit of trivia about Anne Revere: she was a direct descendant of American Revolution Hero Paul Revere!
Georgia Hale appeared in 22 films (21 silents and 1 talkie) but is probably best
remembered as Georgia the Dance-Hall Girl (Charlie Chaplin’s ‘crush’) in The Gold Rush…
“If I could only meet someone worthwhile — I’m so tired of this place.” -Georgia Hale in The Gold Rush
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And the wonderful ending!
“Please, please, don’t put him in irons. I’ll pay his fare.”
– Georgia Hale in The Gold Rush
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A little bit of trivia: Chaplin hired Hale to replace Virginia Cherrill as the Blind Girl in City Lights after firing Cherrill for leaving the set for a hair appointment. Chaplin filmed some scenes with Hale, but ultimately decided to rehire Cherrill (at twice the salary) rather than scrap all of his work and re-shoot over 500 days of film.
Of all the classic stars of yesteryear, no one took to the title of “Gay Icon” as much as Elizabeth Taylor.
Elizabeth Taylor, winner of ‘best jewelry’ from now until the end of time
Of course we can’t speak of Elizabeth Taylor, the Gay Icon, without speaking of her surface appeal – her glamour, her glitz, and her over-the-top lifestyle. No one had more jewelry, more rhinestones, or more husbands than the Divine Miss Taylor. I mean, just take a look at her most decadently glamourous role, Cleopatra. The cat-eye make-up, the gold-trimmed hair pieces, the technicolor wardrobe –surely that must have been the envy of every drag performer from New York To Tokyo. Yes, part of Taylor’s legacy within the gay community will always be for her glamour, however, it does not end there.
Of all the people listed in this series, no one has taken to the gay community like Elizabeth Taylor. In the early days of Hollywood, when being gay was something of a career killer, gay stars would go to Taylor for support and friendship. While Montgomery Clift struggled with his gay identity, often succumbing to alcohol as a coping mechanism, Taylor was at his side to the very end, offering support when everyone else had lost patience with the tragic star. And when Rock Hudson fell ill with the ignorantly titled “gay disease” that would later be know as AIDS, Taylor was there, too, helping him through that incredibly trying time. And her support did not end there. In the 1980’s, when AIDS was seen as a degenerate gay disease without support for finding a cure, Elizabeth Taylor became the first prominent celebrity to focus on, and bring attention to, HIV/AIDS charities. Motivated by the death of Rock Hudson, she helped organize the American Foundation for AIDS and her own charity organization, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which has since raised over 12 million dollars for AIDS research.
Glamorous and campy, caring and dedicated – this duality is why Taylor is such a beloved figure in the gay community. Because underneath all the jewels and the cosmos, all the make-up and the tabloids lies a very human, very nurturing heart with the courage to buck the norm and stand up for what is right. And for this, Elizabeth Taylor is Screen Queen.
Born June 22, 1906 Legendary Director Billy Wilder!
There’s really nothing ‘mini’ about this Tribute except for a lack of ‘written’ content — but, really, anything I could say here would be a gross understatement anyway. So, here is a Pictorial Tribute to Billy Wilder ‘at work,’ featuring behind-the-scenes photos from some of his most memorable films.
Classic Movies on the Big Screen and much, much more!
For me, there’s nothing like watching my favorite Classic Movies on the Big Screen with like-minded fans! My only frustration has been in trying to keep track of when and where these classics were playing. That said, I am so happy to announce the official launch of CMH’s Classic Movie Events Calendar!
The CMH Events Calendar is a listing of classic movie screenings, film festivals, lectures, blogathons, TCM Parties and more — essentially any event that is Classic-Era-ish-related (pre-1980). And — the best part is that ANYONE can contribute to it. So if you know of a Classic Movie screening or event in your home town or city (or if you’re running a Classic Movie Blogathon) PLEASE feel free to add it to the schedule so that other fans can learn about it. It’s really simple to do! And it will be much appreciated by me — and other classic movie fans!
Thanks and here’s to Happy Classic Movie Related Outings!
