Greta Lovisa Gustafsson

Sept 18, 1905 - April 15, 1990

"I never said, 'I want to be alone.' I only said, 'I want to be left alone.' There is a whole world of difference." - Greta Garbo

Greta was born  in Stockholm, Sweden, and her given name was Greta Lovisa Gustafsson (she would go on to use that name in her earliest films). When her father passed away, with whom she was very close to, she would quit school and leave home to find work. It is said that her relationship with her mother was "strained, at best."

Greta's first job was not exactly that of a starlet/sex symbol; rather, at the age of fourteen she would find work in a barber shop as a lather-girl (and I'm sure she stirred up quite-a-lather with all the men in the shop). Later, she would work in a department store where she'd do some advertisement modeling, which would eventually spark her interest in motion pictures.

From 1922 to 1924, she attended the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, and would meet a prominent Swedish director, Mauritz Stiller. He would train her (I'm sure he enjoyed every minute of it) in cinema acting, and would give her the stage name of Greta Garbo (he would also cast her in the lead role of his 1924 film Gosta Berlings Saga). Thus, beginning a promising new film career for the beautiful and the voluptuous, Greta Garbo.

However, the team of Stiller/Garbo was not to last very long, and after the shooting of the 1926 MGM movie, The Torrent, Louie B. Mayer realized that he had a potential gold mine with Garbo. But, unfortunately for Mauritz Stiller, his successes were few and soon his services were no longer needed. Louie was right about Garbo, though. She would become MGM's biggest star at that time and be worth her weight in gold. There was some worry (later in her career) about the transition of the silent era to the talkies because of her deep and low voice. But it would prove to have no effect on her popularity. In fact, her voice was found to be downright sexy. 

Garbo would later costar with John Gilbert in the 1927 film, In Flesh and the Devil, and they would soon become an item off and on the screen as well. They went on to make many movies together, and they even lived together for a time. She did agree to marry John, but she ended up leaving him standing at the altar.

It's been reported that Greta had many sexual preferences (and I say who in the hell would turn someone like her down in the first place!?). Anyway. She was and will always be one of the sexiest, talented, and seductive women I've ever seen on the big screen.

 After World War II, Garbo became less popular with the American (fickle) public, and her last film "Two-Faced Woman" was released in 1941, which did not go over well at the box office. She decided to end her career gracefully. On February 9, 1951, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States, and in 1954 she was awarded a special Academy Award for her unforgettable performances.

After her retirement she lived in an apartment in New York City, and was said to stroll the streets (incognito) near her apartment. It is also said that she would jet-set with many of the world's best known personalities (including Aristotle Onassis) until she died of renal failure at the age of 84. Greta has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Three of my favorite Greta Garbo movies are (but not limited to):

 Mata Hari (1931) The censors complained about her revealing outfit shown on the movie poster. I sure didn't. lol!

 Grand Hotel (1932)

 Camille (1936)

Inspired by, Tryin Not to Come Undone

Who's on first?

William Alexander Abbott: October 2, 1897-April 24, 1974

Louis Francis Cristillo: March 6, 1906-March 3, 1959

Without a doubt, Bud Abbott & Lou Costello were one of the greatest comedy teams in the history of show business. They would meet each other while both were performing on the burlesque circut, and would become an official team in 1936. They would soon after become very popular on the circut, and it would land them a gig on the Kate Smith Radio Hour. After performing their classic signature skit "Who's on first" Bud & Lou were on their way to stardom and, on their way to Hollywood!

They would sign to Universal Studios in 1939, and were crowned the new "Kings Of Comedy". Their special comedic style and talents would gain them box office after box office hits, including: "Buck Privates," "In The Navy," "Hold That Ghost," "Naughty Nineties," "Time Of Their Lives," and their 1948 monster classic "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein." Even today, that classic film remains a favorite among fans, as well as an international cult masterpiece.

During the 40's, Bud & Lou did more than their part for the war effort, and raised $89 million in just three days on a War Bond Drive. They even paid for the tour out of their own pockets, and both (deservingly so) would be honored for that gracious effort, on the steps of New York's City Hall by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia.

With the country still settling down from the war in the1950's "The Abbott & Costello Show" debuted in 1952, and would run for two seasons on CBS. One of my all time favorite episodes was a rendition of their classic Susquehanna Hat skit, which was so popular during their days in burlesque. They had so many hilarious skits it's hard for me to pick a favorite from all of them.

Abbott and Costello would split up in 1957, after troubles with the IRS that forced both men to sell off their large homes and the rights to some of their films. In 1991, the United States Postal Service paid homage to them by enlisting them as part of their "Comedy Legends" commemorative stamp booklet.

 Jerry Seinfeld, would have this to say about this great comedy team, "If it weren't for Abbott & Costello, many of the wonderful burlesque routines which are a part of the American fabric would have been lost forever. They were giants of their time, who truly immortalized burlesque forever. Maybe that art form is largely lost, but I try and keep it alive in my own show."

Janis Lyn Joplin

January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970

Mercedes Benz

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a color TV ?
Dialing For Dollars is trying to find me.
I wait for delivery each day until three,
So oh Lord, won’t you buy me a color TV ?

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a night on the town ?
I’m counting on you, Lord, please don’t let me down.
Prove that you love me and buy the next round,
Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a night on the town ?

Everybody!
Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends,
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?

That’s it!

"Don't compromise yourself. You're all you've got." - Janis Joplin

I remember the first time hearing that gal from Port Arthur, Texas, singing Mercedes Benz. Thinking to myself: If I wasn't in love with you before, I'm in love/lust with you now, Janis!  I mean... her singing that song in "a cappella" made the hair stand up on the back of my neck (and I had a lot of hair back then!). I also remember thinking that, Big Brother & the Holding Company, should have kissed (her ass!) the ground she walked on!

Janis, (in my opinion) was among the many elite musicians that were decades ahead of their time. Her stage performances were not only described as being raw, but were considered uninhibited, and intense! Powerful, to say the least (sadly, I never seen her live in concert). Also, there was no mistake in recognizing her voice and vocal style. That rough, gritty, and powerful voice was perfect for belting out the blues... and could she belt out the blues!!!!? No question about it!

It is said that in her school years, she found herself drawn to the beat poet movement, and soon became interested in jazz and blues: influenced by blues singers like Bessie Smith, Odetta, Big Mama Thornton and Leadbelly. Janis received ridicule at school for her tom-boy appearance, and for her unorthodox views (guess they didn't know a genius when they saw one!?).  

Anyway. After college, Janis moved to San Francisco. Her apartment was near the North Beach district (back then, a mecca for beat poets - famous for the City Lights Bookstore, Kerouac, and Ginsberg). It was also there that Janis would begin as a folk singer, and would soon attract attention as the lead singer of the San Francisco band, Big Brother & the Holding Company.

Janis Joplin, undoubtably, could have went on to be so much more successful, credited and revered; sadly, only her legacy remains... but, the hair on the back of my neck still stands up whenever I listen to her sing her songs, especially,  Mercedes Benz.

*There were tons of pictures of Janis to choose from. Is it just me, or can you feel the emotions that pour out of this Joplin photo? 

Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery

April 15, 1933 - May 18, 1995 

Although, she's probably best remembered for her role as Samantha in the situation comedy Bewitched...  Elizabeth's talents went far beyond that of being a nose twitching witch (which she refused to ever do again for her many fans after Bewitched had went off the air).

I loved her as a good natured witch, but I have to admit she had me spellbound when she played the part of Lizzie in The Legend of Lizzie Borden. Another film character that was so unlike her Samantha role was that of a nurse who terrorized her patients in the 1985 film, Amos. Elizabeth was truly a talented actress, whether in a  comedic or a dramatic role. Her show, Bewitched, also featured many other (to name a few) funny and talented actors: Dick York, Dick Sargent, Agnes Moorehead, David White, Alice Ghostley, Marion Lorne, and (one of my favorites) Paul Lynde.

Elizabeth's father, Robert Montgomery, was a fine actor/director in his own right. Elizabeth made her television debut on his show: Robert Montgomery Presents. She would make her film debut in 1955 in the film:  The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell (which is also one of my favorite Gary Cooper flicks). Montgomery died in 1995 at the age of 62, from colorectal cancer. Her father had died of cancer as well. It's still hard to believe she's gone, but I take comfort in watching re-run after re-run of her silly little beautiful twitching nose.