Scaramouch
Yes, I know what you're thinking, and it's exactly what I'm going to do: talk about a few of my favorite character actors. I would like to propose that during the Hollywood studio system, Scaramouch wasn't played by a lot of different actors, but each character actor was his or her own Scaramouch. Yes, this is a geek-out entry.*
Anyone who's anyone knows the best pre-code character was the pansy played by Franklin Pangborn. Of course (aargh!) there's not a decent clip, but, well, hell, this is anti-climactic...look for movies with him in them - he's fantastic!
Another is James Finlayson. You gotta love how he was the guy that started the Homer Simpson "DOH!" that is now international. I'm not real big on the song they use in this, but the 'sband and I love James' facial expressions. So over the top!
And then there's Ned Sparks. He never smiles. This clip will speak for itself.
And Edgar Kennedy - you can see him in action here.
Obviously we'll close with the ever wonderful Marjorie Main. Here she is...with a whip...oh my...
I love those people in old movies. Things have changed so much with TV that we don't have such actors any more. The last one I can think of is Tom Poston (whom I just saw on a rerun of "Coach" a few days ago). If you have favorites, please post them below!!
*Everybody sing: "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, geek out! Le Geek, c'est Chic!"
Friday, August 17, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Maquette
Maquette
Good news for geeks: I did an image search for maquette just now and discovered that just about all the returns were of sci fi/fantasy models. Hardly any buildings at all. I guess that would make sense, since architects use computer renderings now. (Although you'd think the sci fi/fantasy geeks would, too - I guess that's our irony for the day.)
Looking over all the maquettes that are for sale, I feel like I want to get in on this somehow. Obviously there's oodles of bucks to be made or there wouldn't be a maquette of every character from every sci fi movie ever made. All I have to do is get models made of items/people that are in public domain and put them on a pedestal that reads "Touched in the Grey Matter." All of a sudden a maquette (or perhaps a bobble head?) of Millard Fillmore is a souvenir of this blog and I get a few dollars to keep the phone connected. It's the American way! And laugh if you want to, but...
Other ideas for maquettes would be my mom - it may not look like my mom, but that's not the point - how would you even know? You get to have a maquette that has a base on which is printed "Touched in the Grey Matter: BrieDank's mom!" Won't that make for fun office conversation during down times, Monday mornings, and Friday afternoons? You bet it would!
When you get your maquette of a boniface you can explain to your friends that it's not just any boniface, it's the one that runs the Touched in the Grey Matter nightclub. And when you push the button on the base it'll says one of four things -
"Welcome to the Touched in the Grey Matter nightclub. The only cover charge here is that you must click on the ads! HA HA HA HA!"
or
"I learned everything I know about bonicafing at air hostess training school!"
or
"Buy a bucket of beers and get a free Grossehonkinmuelleimerpuffmais!"
or
"Our specials tonight are the tacos and the Resep Gimbal Mi."
Cool maquette and you get to relive some of your favorite TitGM memories! Life is good.
Good news for geeks: I did an image search for maquette just now and discovered that just about all the returns were of sci fi/fantasy models. Hardly any buildings at all. I guess that would make sense, since architects use computer renderings now. (Although you'd think the sci fi/fantasy geeks would, too - I guess that's our irony for the day.)
Looking over all the maquettes that are for sale, I feel like I want to get in on this somehow. Obviously there's oodles of bucks to be made or there wouldn't be a maquette of every character from every sci fi movie ever made. All I have to do is get models made of items/people that are in public domain and put them on a pedestal that reads "Touched in the Grey Matter." All of a sudden a maquette (or perhaps a bobble head?) of Millard Fillmore is a souvenir of this blog and I get a few dollars to keep the phone connected. It's the American way! And laugh if you want to, but...
Other ideas for maquettes would be my mom - it may not look like my mom, but that's not the point - how would you even know? You get to have a maquette that has a base on which is printed "Touched in the Grey Matter: BrieDank's mom!" Won't that make for fun office conversation during down times, Monday mornings, and Friday afternoons? You bet it would!
When you get your maquette of a boniface you can explain to your friends that it's not just any boniface, it's the one that runs the Touched in the Grey Matter nightclub. And when you push the button on the base it'll says one of four things -
"Welcome to the Touched in the Grey Matter nightclub. The only cover charge here is that you must click on the ads! HA HA HA HA!"
or
"I learned everything I know about bonicafing at air hostess training school!"
or
"Buy a bucket of beers and get a free Grossehonkinmuelleimerpuffmais!"
or
"Our specials tonight are the tacos and the Resep Gimbal Mi."
Cool maquette and you get to relive some of your favorite TitGM memories! Life is good.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Bloviate
Bloviate
Well, as I've mentioned in the past, since the only big words I know are odious and Archimedes, no one can claim I'm a bloviate. On the other hand, since I sometimes write like I think I'm a cow, does that make me a boviate? (Get it? No? Eh, yer not missing much.)
But anyway, I wanted to apologize for the last couple of days. Between having a house guest and not getting the WotD email (again!) it completely slipped my mind. And yesterday...well...going out for an early breakfast can take a lot out of you...I can't help it - I needed a nap, so sue me! (Or better yet, find me a job and I'll no longer be able to take morning naps...that'll show me!)
Speaking of bovines, it's August, and that can only mean one thing. That's right: Christmas shopping!! Yeeees, it's time for deck the halls and light the lights and turn the beer green! I started looking to see what I could get for the little ankle-biter nephews and nieces and have come up with the perfect gift. It's both fun and educational! Are you thinking what I'm thinking? You are if you think like I do, and if you do think like I do, then you're thinking...that's right: the perfect gift for kids from two to 102!!*
So excited! Hurry up, trees! Turn your autumnal colors so we know we're on our way! Sleighing and sledding! Cookies and candy! Cinnamon and spice! Mistletoe and Mad Cow Mini Microbes! Oh yea, the holiday spirit is here!
On the other hand, I wish we could all gather together so we could view and discuss this other product they sell. It's so bizarre in so many ways. It's like some weird South Park parody - the description, the ring of beads around the head, the fact that's it's "just plain fun." I hate to sound like a Hyperbolic Harry, but this HAS to be one of the most surreal things I've ever seen for sale to the general public. It's this thing. Yea, I know. I feel like I should write more, but what more is there? I cannot top that.
*Unfortunately in our consumer testing this product was found to be unfun by the average person under the age of two and over the age of 102. Not sure why, but the public doesn't lie, God love 'em!
Well, as I've mentioned in the past, since the only big words I know are odious and Archimedes, no one can claim I'm a bloviate. On the other hand, since I sometimes write like I think I'm a cow, does that make me a boviate? (Get it? No? Eh, yer not missing much.)
But anyway, I wanted to apologize for the last couple of days. Between having a house guest and not getting the WotD email (again!) it completely slipped my mind. And yesterday...well...going out for an early breakfast can take a lot out of you...I can't help it - I needed a nap, so sue me! (Or better yet, find me a job and I'll no longer be able to take morning naps...that'll show me!)
Speaking of bovines, it's August, and that can only mean one thing. That's right: Christmas shopping!! Yeeees, it's time for deck the halls and light the lights and turn the beer green! I started looking to see what I could get for the little ankle-biter nephews and nieces and have come up with the perfect gift. It's both fun and educational! Are you thinking what I'm thinking? You are if you think like I do, and if you do think like I do, then you're thinking...that's right: the perfect gift for kids from two to 102!!*
So excited! Hurry up, trees! Turn your autumnal colors so we know we're on our way! Sleighing and sledding! Cookies and candy! Cinnamon and spice! Mistletoe and Mad Cow Mini Microbes! Oh yea, the holiday spirit is here!
On the other hand, I wish we could all gather together so we could view and discuss this other product they sell. It's so bizarre in so many ways. It's like some weird South Park parody - the description, the ring of beads around the head, the fact that's it's "just plain fun." I hate to sound like a Hyperbolic Harry, but this HAS to be one of the most surreal things I've ever seen for sale to the general public. It's this thing. Yea, I know. I feel like I should write more, but what more is there? I cannot top that.
*Unfortunately in our consumer testing this product was found to be unfun by the average person under the age of two and over the age of 102. Not sure why, but the public doesn't lie, God love 'em!
Monday, August 13, 2012
A-go-go
A-go-go
All that talk about a-go-going and they discuss neither go-go dancing nor George Michael being asked to be awakened before you head out for the dance hall? I've always been rather puzzled, however, how is allowing someone to sleep instead of awakening them to go dancing leaving them "hanging on like a yo-yo"? Which is why I could never be a song writer - I'd have the theme, I'd have the chords, I'd even have the hooks, but there would be two lines with no words where I couldn't think of anything to rhyme and I would never get it published.
"I got this great song, I think it could be a huge hit, but I really want the phrase 'go-go' in it, and can't think of a suitable rhyming phrase."
"Wake me up for you go-go."
"I really wanna see that drag queen Lolo."
"The scene tonight is better than so-so."
"Let's go on down to that club in SoHo."
"Maybe I'll get to dance with Han Solo."
"We'll probably see Curly, Larry and Moe Moe."
"I hope who's not out is the scary clown Koko"
Oops...I gotta go for breakfast (boy talka abouta screwy schedule)
All that talk about a-go-going and they discuss neither go-go dancing nor George Michael being asked to be awakened before you head out for the dance hall? I've always been rather puzzled, however, how is allowing someone to sleep instead of awakening them to go dancing leaving them "hanging on like a yo-yo"? Which is why I could never be a song writer - I'd have the theme, I'd have the chords, I'd even have the hooks, but there would be two lines with no words where I couldn't think of anything to rhyme and I would never get it published.
"I got this great song, I think it could be a huge hit, but I really want the phrase 'go-go' in it, and can't think of a suitable rhyming phrase."
"Wake me up for you go-go."
"I really wanna see that drag queen Lolo."
"The scene tonight is better than so-so."
"Let's go on down to that club in SoHo."
"Maybe I'll get to dance with Han Solo."
"We'll probably see Curly, Larry and Moe Moe."
"I hope who's not out is the scary clown Koko"
Oops...I gotta go for breakfast (boy talka abouta screwy schedule)
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