Movie Review: The Duke is Tops (1938) Duke Davis (Ralph Cooper) is a show producer who has a star act, Ethel Andrews (Lena Horne), who is also his sweetheart. Their current show, “Sepia Scandals” is doing very well in the small Southern cities it’s playing. A big-time East Coast agent wants to put Ethel on… Continue reading Movie Review: The Duke is Tops
Tag: New York
Movie Review: Doll Face (1945)
Movie Review: Doll Face (1945) “Doll Face” Carroll (Vivian Blaine) is a burlesque queen who wants to move into Broadway productions. When slightly snobbish producer Flo Hartman (Reed Hadley) scorns her audition because Doll Face isn’t “cultured”, her manager Mike Hannegan (Dennis O’Keefe) comes up with the idea of making her seem more accomplished by… Continue reading Movie Review: Doll Face (1945)
Comic Strip Review: Shutterbug Follies
Comic Strip Review: Shutterbug Follies by Jason Little It is the 1990s, before the digital photography explosion. Bee works in a one-hour photo shop as a finishing technician. She enjoys her job, not least because she takes copies of the more…interesting pictures shot by the customers home for her own collection. One day, Bee notices… Continue reading Comic Strip Review: Shutterbug Follies
Book Review: Insurrections of the Mind
Book Review: Insurrections of the Mind edited by Franklin Foer Disclaimer: I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it. The copy I read was an uncorrected proof, and changes will be made in the final edition. (Specifically, a second introduction by Leon Wieseltier–an index may also be forthcoming.)… Continue reading Book Review: Insurrections of the Mind
Movie Review: Stage Door Canteen
Movie Review: Stage Door Canteen (1943) A troop train carrying soldiers to a base near New York City has typical troopers California, Dakota, Jersey and Tex on board. Only Jersey has a steady girl, and he’s hoping they have some time before being shipped overseas to see her. California’s never even kissed a girl,… Continue reading Movie Review: Stage Door Canteen
TV Review: Checkmate | Colonel March of Scotland Yard | I’m the Law
TV Review: Checkmate | Colonel March of Scotland Yard | I’m the Law Time for more old-time TV! Checkmate was a 1960-62 series about a detective agency of the same name based in San Francisco. Don Corey (Anthony George ) and Jed Sills (Doug McClure) out of Corey’s plush apartment, and employ Dr. Carl Hyatt… Continue reading TV Review: Checkmate | Colonel March of Scotland Yard | I’m the Law
Book Review: Chasing Jenny
Book Review: Chasing Jenny by Jeff Stage Disclaimer: I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway on the grounds that I would review it. The “inverted Jenny” is a real-life stamp; a misprint where a plane is flying upside-down. Only 100 of them got out to the public before the mistake was discovered, so they… Continue reading Book Review: Chasing Jenny
Book Review: A Curious Man
Book Review: A Curious Man by Neal Thompson Disclaimer: I received this volume free from the Blogging for Books program, on the premise that I would write a review. This is a biography of Robert Ripley (nee LeRoy Robert Ripley), the cartoonist who created the Believe It or Not! feature. I was fascinated by the paperback… Continue reading Book Review: A Curious Man
TV Review: Martin Kane, Private Eye
TV Review: Martin Kane, Private Eye Martin Kane was a fairly standard private eye appearing on radio and television 1949-1951. He was played by four actors on TV, William Gargan, Lloyd Nolan, Lee Tracy and Mark Stevens, each with their own characterization, from mellow cynicism to outright rudeness. The most notable thing about the program… Continue reading TV Review: Martin Kane, Private Eye
Comic Book Review: Showcase Presents Super Friends
Comic Book Review: Showcase Presents Super Friends by Various Back in the 1970s, there was a Saturday morning cartoon titled Superfriends. It featured several superheroes from DC Comics,, plus “Junior Super Friends” Wendy and Marvin, trainee superheroes with their pet Wonderdog. Each episode taught valuable life lessons to kids across America. While reruns of the… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Showcase Presents Super Friends