See Monkey 'Do

Designer Valentino as he appeared on arrival to the Taormina Film Festival, and a 3.5" figurine of a Wizard of Oz Flying Monkey.

So alike, and yet only one is wearing a suit designed by Adrian.


Tullio M. Puglia/WireImage

Chexy's Saturday Matinee

Elvis, in June of 1977, two months before his death at 42.



Judy, early '60s. Live orchestra, no autotune.



Frank, c. 1970.



Jolson, the original tweeter, 1935.

Gowns by Adrian

Joan Crawford as "Letty Lynton" in 1932 in a gown designed by Adrian (Adrian Greenburg), who was married to Janet Gaynor, with whom he had a son. The film became mired in a copyright dispute.





Here are "The Women" in gowns by Adrian; Norma Shearer, Joan, and Rosalind Russell. (click pic to enlarge)





The "ruby slippers" on the feet of Judy Garland, Adrian designed the costumes for "The Wizard of Oz," and over 200 other films.





He even made a monkey look good. Note the detail in Margaret Hamilton's costume.





And Adrian himself, with the signature that became his label.





Adrian died of a heart attack at age 56 in 1959, while designing costumes for "Camelot" on Broadway, for which he won a posthumous Tony.

Chexy's Saturday Matinee

From the Ziegfeld hit show that was turned into 1936's hit film, "Showboat," based on the novel by Edna Ferber. Here's Helen Morgan, Irene Dunne, Hattie McDaniel and Paul Robeson with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man."




And now, a clip that'll make you glad you're alive. The relentless fabulousness of "The Continental," sung by Erik Rhodes and Lillian Miles, it was the first Oscar-winning Original Song -- from 1934's "The Gay Divorcée." Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Art direction by the outrageously great Van Nest Polglase and Carroll Clark.




Mary Wells on "Shindig!" with "My Guy," circa 1964.

And because it's nearly Mother's Day, here's that "Mommie Dearest" mashup with Abba.

Happy Birthday, Beulah Bondi

Character actress Beulah Bondi was born in Chicago on this day in 1888. You likely know her best as Jimmy Stewart's mother, Ma Bailey, in "It's a Wonderful Life." She's terrifying in the "Life without George" sequence as the operator of a run-down boarding house.

She played Jimmy Stewart's mother in four films. (The other three are: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Of Human Hearts, and Vivacious Lady.)

Here she is, singing and dancing in 1948's, "So Dear to My Heart," a Disney country yarn with folksinger Burl Ives.



Beulah made her first Hollywood film "Street Scene" in 1931 -- she was 42, and went on to appear in over 70, with her last role on TV's "The Waltons." She also played Mrs. Greer in "The Snake Pit," who suffered from delusions of grandeur.


Her "Walk of Fame" star is at 1730 N. Vine St. (near Capitol Records).




She died New Year's Day 1981 at age 92 of injuries sustained in her three-story Hollywood Hills home when she fell over her cat.

"What distinguishes the real actor from the pseudo is the passionate desire to know what is going on in the hearts and minds of people."

--Beulah Bondi

Goodbye, Leslie Buck

Auschwitz and Buchenwald survivor Leslie Buck, designer of the "Anthora" coffee cup used by nearly every diner in New York City, has died at age 87 at his home on Long Island.

We are not happy.

Chaz n' Fatty

Transgender celebutot Chaz Bono at the GLAAD Awards on Saturday, and acquitted silent screen star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle.

So alike, and yet only one of them chose to become a fat man.

Chexy's Saturday Matinee

Now here's some entertainment... Ella Fitzgerald and the great Jimmy Durante.



The late Australian screenwriter Ivan Goff was born on this day in 1910. Here are a couple of great scenes from a screenplay he co-authored, "Man of a Thousand Faces," the Lon Chaney story, starring Jimmy Cagney and Dorothy Malone.




Here's Albuquerque's own Vivian Vance, perhaps the best sidekick a girl ever had, showing off her sensational singing chops with "Lily of the Valley."




Big finish! Here's the delicious Lyda Roberti in 1934's "College Rhythm" with "Take a Number from One to Ten." Love the costumes!



In memory of Mary Santiago

Chexy's Saturday Matinee -- In Technicolor!

From 1934's "Kid Millions," here's one of the earliest Technicolor sequences, starring Ethel Merman and Eddie Cantor. "Get me 16 pigtailed milkmaids!"



Here's some more early color process, Dufaycolor. From "Radio Parade of 1935" -- here's American blues singer Alberta Hunter. This really gets good when the drum sequence starts!



More Technicolor fun, from 1950, a film by Chevy. "Miamah!"




Arrrrgh! Pirates! Can't get enough Technicolor! From MGM in 1935, the Fanchonettes.

What the Pluck?!

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, resident reality TV douche, and 1930's era superstar Marlene Dietrich.



The eyebrows are a situation.

Zara in the Rain

That stylish blonde is Zara Phillips, 28, eldest granddaughter of Betty Deuce, seen on day four of the Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival. Her mother is Princess Anne, the Princess Royal.

Zara is in a relationship with rugby player Mike Tindall, who was busted last January for drunk driving.

Zara, an equine physiotherapist, broke a collarbone in a fall from a horse in 2008. The horse broke its neck and had to be put down.

Photo by Indigo/Getty Images

Betty Boop for President

Chexy's Sunday Funnies

From 1933's "International House," here's Cab Calloway with "Reefer Man."



TY Jakey

Flattop and Jackie

Someone wearing a "Flattop" mask from "Dick Tracy," and 88-year-old stage mom Jackie Stallone.

So alike, and both are made of synthetic materials.

Happy Birthday, Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow was born on this day in 1911. She only made it to 26. Her mother, a Christian Scientist, would not allow her to see a doctor after she became seriously ill. Jean died of uremic poisoning.

Here are some excerpts from "Dinner at Eight."

Real Gone Places: The Cocoanut Grove

The Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

Bobby Kennedy was killed in the kitchen there.

Happy Birthday, Tom Mix

Radio and film cowboy Tom Mix was born on this day in 1880. He died in a single-car crash on a lonely Arizona highway in 1940. Here's the memorial in Arizona.


And here's a Tom Mix makeup tin (about the size of a quarter) from my personal collection.

Remembering Mistinguett

On this day in 1956, the light that was Mistinguett left the earth. She was 80.

The former Jeanne Bourgeois began performing in the great French clubs of the day, Casino de Paris, the Folies Bergere and Moulin Rouge. She became the most popular French entertainer of her time, and the highest-paid female performer in the world, with her famous legs insured for half a million francs. Here's a clip of her singing "Oui je suis de Paris."

courtesy le-pere-de-colombe

Among her many suitors was French superstar Maurice Chevalier, who reportedly carried a torch for her his entire life.


Her signature song, "Mon Homme" was recorded in 1916 -- popularized in the US by Fanny Brice as "My Man," now a jazz standard. (The below video will take you to another site to hear an audio recording in the player.)

Mistinguett - My Man mon homme 1920 sélectionné dans Musique et Variété / Chanson

Here's a clip from a nightclub performance, late in her career... check out all those dancers!

Merry Christmas to All

A very Merry Christmas to you!

Thanks for reading Chexydecimal!

Love,

Your Chexy

Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk

Former Madonna stooge Guy Ritchie as he looked at the premiere of his film "Sherlock Holmes" in NYC, and stooge Curly Howard in his heyday.

So alike, and yet only one was born Jerome Lester Horwitz.

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images