deco*boom

I was in Palm Springs, California this past weekend for another event, but have to say the true highlight was a visit to the Palm Springs Air Museum (http://www.air-museum.org/).    

I love having those Suzie Orman moments of making a wise decision, resulting in some sort of financial gain.  My case involves my lovely cable and the recent expansion to my package.  Hello world, I am reborn.  As of now I have full access to ALL History Channels, Discovery Channels, the coveted Turner Classic Movies and the Military Channel.

Ok so let me first apologize for not blogging in months. MONTHS. I of all people should know a blog is only a blog if you keep at it regularly, semi-regularly at best.

Maggie Smith. Pamela Franklin. 1969.  I'd never seen The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie before (gasp, I know), but last night I fell in love with it.  Politics, underage sex, adultery, innocence lost...the movie deals with an avalanche of taboo subjects in quite the in-your-face-way.

Jean

The projector scene, the faculty face-offs and the pivotal scene between Jean and Sandy have got to be my faves.  The acting is insane, words spoken are delivered at bullet speed.

If you know anything about me, you know I'm a fan of historical Los Angeles. I stumbled upon a cool site yesterday called Curating The City: http://www.curatingthecity.org/map.jsp

It spotlights all of the famous buildings along Wilshire Blvd. Not only are there photos, but facts about some of LA's most beloved -- and forgotten buildings.

Great site to check out over coffee, maybe turning up a little Artie Shaw on your iTunes.

Just heard about this awesome bar/resto in downtown LA called The Edison.  

I'm in love with Jack Vettriano's art.  Who would have thought a mining engineer who got a set of water colors from his girlfriend would turn his budding hobby into such a wonderful collection?

His paintings range from the highly detailed to almost impressionist style, but I love every single one of them.  He captures an elegance of the 1930's, 1940's and I feel somewhat guilty as if I'm intruding on magical moments between men and women.

My personal favorites include "Road to Nowhere," "Dance Me to the End of Eternity" and "The Letter."  All have a mystical quality about them; slightly blurry as if the camera is a little out of focus -- if you ...could...just get a little...closer...

Vettriano

Fast quips.  Coiffed hair.  Cigarettes and lipstick.  Katherine.  Ginger.  Lucille.

Stage Door http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029604/ (1937) has quickly become one of my favorite films. 

What is it about Ginger Rogers, dancing around a cane in a top hat? What is it with Katherine Hepburn's amazing accent that trancends time and geography?  What is it about high trousers and fast talking women?  "Stage Door" is a gem and one I'd strongly recommend you watch.

I'd say watch it for all of the above - or at least to see a young Eve Arden petting an adorable white cat.

A must see!

- JLP

Hi Folks,

Currently working on a script about Liberty Ships, what Roosevelt called "an Ugly Duckling" but ultimately the cargo and later troop transport that helped the Allies win the war.

I've done some deep research, but would love it if any of you have stories to share, know family members who worked on them or originate from Richmond, California where one of the largest and most productive shipyards was located.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_ship

Liberty ship

Were your parents/grandparents involved? Grandma a "Wendy the Welder" (equivalent to Rosie the Riveter) or work at Shipyard #3 in Richmond?  Yes, this is the same shipyard that Kaiser (Kaiser-Permanente) helped launch.

All stories and tidbits welcome!!

- JLP

Saw this movie for the first time the other night. Great movie. I don't know who I was more impressed with.  The barely containable Judy Garland, the erie and practically self portrayal of Montgomery Clift, or the cavalcade of amazingly talented actors in leading role including Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich .