Thursday, January 30, 2014

To Gary Hill


Here's the info you inquired about hope you can read it.
We left Venice with the first 17 elephants listed above Feb. 3, 1974
The first 8 were from the Billy Smart Circus, remember they always wanted to walk on the left side of the road.

Marilyn Miller (From Dave Price)


In case your readers are too young to recognize the name Marilyn Miller: She was the biggest of Ziegfeld's singing and dancing stars. Starred in many big Broadway productions, died at age thirty-seven in 1936. Here we see her honored by having a cigar named after her.

The 1949 movie Look for the Silver Lining was the story of her life with June Haver playing Marilyn.

In case your readers are too young to recognize the name Marilyn Miller: She was the biggest of Ziegfeld's singing and dancing stars. Starred in many big Broadway productions, died at age thirty-seven in 1936. Here we see her honored by having a cigar named after her.

The 1949 movie Look for the Silver Lining was the story of her life with June Haver playing Marilyn.

From Chic Silber


The coincidence of this story after your mention of Calder caught my eye
The I Miller Building is diagonally across Times Square from my office
The air rights were sold & a skyscraper is going up over it so the
landmarked building has been protected during construction

The Broads Are Back
Four statues by Alexander Stirling Calder, unveiled in 1929, depict America’s “best loved actresses,” as chosen in 1927. The statues have been restored and returned to the I. Miller Building
Who are America’s four best-loved actresses?
If you answered Ethel Barrymore, Marilyn Miller, Mary Pickford and Rosa Ponselle — admittedly, a long shot — you’re going to be delighted to know that four diminutive marble statues of these larger-than-life theatrical figures have returned to their golden niches in the landmark I. Miller Building at Broadway and West 46th Street.
The statues, by Alexander Stirling Calder, were unveiled in 1929 and taken away in 2012 to Forestville, Md., for reconstructive surgery. After I. Miller closed in the 1970s, they were neglected while the once elegant store — “The Show Folks Shoe Shop Dedicated to Beauty in Footwear,” as it says under the cornice — tumbled down market, ending up as a T.G.I. Friday’s chain restaurant.

Physical Fitness! #1


I can't remember when I started walking on a treadmill but it was a 30 minute morning ritual for years. It equaled about a mile, just enough to break a sweat.
But ever since my operation I just haven't felt up it, in fact mulling over the thought of Hillary Clinton in the White House for four years had made the graveyard in Oklahoma look more appealing.
So to revive my interest, my wife came up with this super-duper, streamlined treadmill that took the delivery men almost a half hour to assemble.
Having had only twelve years of schooling I couldn't even figure out how to start it.
Kay and Jamie had to explain everything.
This was the test drive.


(By the way NSA, I was only kidding about Mrs. Clinton.)

Physical Fitness! #2


Fully equipped with air brakes and turn signals!
The screen provides distance traveled, weather report, news flashes and an occasional porn shot for the lusty jogger.


Physical Fitness! #3


Having completed a victory lap around the track I lie in repose.
Even my wife's ratty looking little dog appears to be satisfied.

More Oddities #1


More Oddities #2


More Oddities #3


More Oddities #4


More Oddities #5


More Oddities #6


More Oddities #7


More Oddities #8


Wednesday, January 29, 2014

From Paul Gutheil


   Any idea who this might depict?

From Chic Silber



A higher form of table & chair balance.



Table Acts #1


As a change of pace.....an assortment of furniture acts.
During a life time of loading and unloading bull tubs, planks, spindles, barrels, etc. I always envied acts that traveled light.
I remember two Canadian brothers who did an excellent knockabout act that only required a table. After arriving in their car few hours before show time they would scout around the building to see if they could locate one.
If nothing turned up they would borrow one out of somebodies office.