From Eleanor Hallowell Abbott's The Sick-A-Bed Lady:
He thought it was a splendid victory, but when he tried to explain it to his friend, he found that “Boo yourself!” seemed a fatuous proof of so startling a truth, and was obliged to compromise on the statement: “Well, of course, it wasn't so much what she said as the way she said it.”
---
“Am I pretty sick?” she whispered deferentially.
“Yes – I think you are very pretty – sick,” said the Young Doctor, and he towered up to a terrible, leggy height and laughed joyously, though there was almost no sound to his laugh.
---
From Hickory Dock, by the same:
When the Man first brought Hickory Dock to the Girl, in a mysteriously pulsating tissue-paper package, the Girl pretended at once that she thought it was a dynamite bomb, and dropped it on the table and sought immediate refuge in the Man's arms, from which propitious haven she ventured forth at last and picked up the package gingerly, and rubbed her cheek against it – after the manner of girls with bombs. Then she began to tug at the string and tear the paper.
“Why, it's a Hickory Dock!” she exclaimed with delight - “A real, live Hickory Dock!” and brandished the gift on high to the imminent peril of time and chance, and then fled back to the Man's arms with no excuse whatsoever. She was a bold little lover.
“But it's a c-l-o-c-k,” remonstrated the Man with whimsical impatience.
---
Glee!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Latest Batch
My Sacramento trip went marvelous well, and the Manzanita Goodwill bore fruit once again!
More gorgeous, gorgeous old books:
Classic German Course in English, published 1887, War Service Library bookplate
inscribed “Belle L Loosely, Independence, Kansas, Oct. 1887”
Davies, Valentine. Miracle on 34th Street, published 1947, 1st edition.
Quick, Herbert. Double Trouble, published 1906.
Smith, F. Hopkinson. The Romance of an Old-Fashioned Gentleman, published 1907.
Bulwer-Lytton, Sir Edward. The Last Days of Pompeii, published 1850.
Abbott, Eleanor Hallowell. The Sick-a-Bed Lady and other stories, published 1911.
inscribed “Della R. Kluig (cousin of Martha Spooner) Nov. 1911, compliments of Mr. Woolf. Awesome illustrations!
Castlemon, Harry. The Boy Trapper, published 1878.
inscribed “To Clarence From Mama and Papa.”
Brooks, Edward. Mental Science and Mental Culture, published 1884.
Eliot, George. Romola, no publication date.
inscribed “Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year, From a Friend, Harry. 12-23-98”
More gorgeous, gorgeous old books:
Classic German Course in English, published 1887, War Service Library bookplate
inscribed “Belle L Loosely, Independence, Kansas, Oct. 1887”
Davies, Valentine. Miracle on 34th Street, published 1947, 1st edition.
Quick, Herbert. Double Trouble, published 1906.
Smith, F. Hopkinson. The Romance of an Old-Fashioned Gentleman, published 1907.
Bulwer-Lytton, Sir Edward. The Last Days of Pompeii, published 1850.
Abbott, Eleanor Hallowell. The Sick-a-Bed Lady and other stories, published 1911.
inscribed “Della R. Kluig (cousin of Martha Spooner) Nov. 1911, compliments of Mr. Woolf. Awesome illustrations!
Castlemon, Harry. The Boy Trapper, published 1878.
inscribed “To Clarence From Mama and Papa.”
Brooks, Edward. Mental Science and Mental Culture, published 1884.
Eliot, George. Romola, no publication date.
inscribed “Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year, From a Friend, Harry. 12-23-98”
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Lady for a Day
(repost from LJ 2/6/07)
The other day I watched the most amazing movie. It was called "Lady for a Day" and was directed by Frank Capra in 1933. It surprised me with how totally funny it was. The gang leader was named Dave the Dude, and he had great gang member names like Shakespeare and Happy, and there was a legless beggar named Shorty, and it was super cool. The gangsters were interacting with society folk and the results cracked me up over and over:
Gangster: “...sock the Weasel? But he’s my brother!”
Judge Eliot: “In your own vernacular: Nertz to you!”
Happy: “That should be a cinch.”
Butler: “I beg your pardon Sir?”
Happy: “I said, that should be a LEAD PIPE CINCH.”
Butler: “If I had choice of weapons with you, Sir, I’d choose grammar.”
Dave the Dude: "You should get your mind off that dizzy dame."
Shakespeare: "Oh her? I never think about her during the DAYtime."
Judge Eliot: “I should not hurry so. It plays havoc with my dignity.”
Dave the Dude: "Hey! Hey! Missouri, that man can't go in there!"
Missouri Mary: "It's all right, Dave...it's all right."
Dave the Dude: "Oh......Pierre."
Judge Eliot: “Would you suggest I fold my tent and silently scram into the night?”
Oh man, good fun. I looked up the phrase "nertz" for etymology, and found out that it first appeared in 1932 as a university slang pronunciation of "nuts." Can you imagine such new slang?
The other day I watched the most amazing movie. It was called "Lady for a Day" and was directed by Frank Capra in 1933. It surprised me with how totally funny it was. The gang leader was named Dave the Dude, and he had great gang member names like Shakespeare and Happy, and there was a legless beggar named Shorty, and it was super cool. The gangsters were interacting with society folk and the results cracked me up over and over:
Gangster: “...sock the Weasel? But he’s my brother!”
Judge Eliot: “In your own vernacular: Nertz to you!”
Happy: “That should be a cinch.”
Butler: “I beg your pardon Sir?”
Happy: “I said, that should be a LEAD PIPE CINCH.”
Butler: “If I had choice of weapons with you, Sir, I’d choose grammar.”
Dave the Dude: "You should get your mind off that dizzy dame."
Shakespeare: "Oh her? I never think about her during the DAYtime."
Judge Eliot: “I should not hurry so. It plays havoc with my dignity.”
Dave the Dude: "Hey! Hey! Missouri, that man can't go in there!"
Missouri Mary: "It's all right, Dave...it's all right."
Dave the Dude: "Oh......Pierre."
Judge Eliot: “Would you suggest I fold my tent and silently scram into the night?”
Oh man, good fun. I looked up the phrase "nertz" for etymology, and found out that it first appeared in 1932 as a university slang pronunciation of "nuts." Can you imagine such new slang?
Saturday, September 13, 2008
My Favorite 78s
Some gotten by hook and crook at the Salvation Army ("last time they were only 45 cents, I don't see why they're more now! Besides, who else would buy them?") some by scavenging that antique store on Hawthorne, and some by bequest of my wonderful grandparents, who sent me home with the most phenomenal set of binders full:
The titles are amazing.
Ed Gallagher/Al Shean: “Positively, Mr. Gallagher?”/”Absolutely, Mr. Shean!” Victor 18941
Moran and Mack: “Two Black Crows Part 1” / “Two Black Crows Part 2” Columbia 935d
This record is pure vintage racist comedy routine. Just...wow.
Charles Ross Taggart: “Uncle Zed buys a Graphophone” / “Uncle Zed and his Fiddle” Columbia a2890
This one's hillbilly racist comedy!
Michael Casey: “Casey as a Doctor” / “Casey at the Dentist’s” Columbia a1886
Oddly hilarious.
Golden and Heins: “Up for Sentence” / “The Colored Recruit” Columbia a2551
Joe Hayman: “Cohen on the Telephone” / Fred Duprez: “Happy tho’ Married” Columbia a1516
"Cohen on the telephone" is Jewish racist comedy...it never ends!
Golden and Marlowe: “Darkey’s Oration on Women” / “The Hospital Patient” Columbia a2235
You have to hear it to believe it.
Margaret Young: “The bad little boys aren’t goody-good (to the goody-good little girls)” / “Counterfeit Bill (from Louisville)” Brunswick 2386
Jesse Crawford: “I wonder what’s become of Sally?” / “The pal that I loved stole the gal that I loved” Victor 19567
Bing Crosby with Fred Waring and the Glee Club: “Whiffenpoof Song” / “Kentucky Babe” Decca 23990
You may (well, I did) remember the Whiffenpoof Song from the Cary Grant/Ginger Rogers comedy "Monkey Business." With Marilyn Monroe in a small roll as a secretary: "Miss Laurel was just showing me her acetates."
Mel Blanc: “Toot, toot, tootsie (good-bye)” / “I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts” Capitol 57-780
Too awesome.
Dick “Two Ton” Baker: “Civilization” / “Dancers in Love” Mercury 5067
"Civilization" is fantastic. From the perspective of a native being convinced by a missonary.
Arthur Godfrey: “For me and my gal” / “Too fat polka (I don’t want her)(you can have her)(she’s too fat for me)” Columbia 37921
LOLOL.
Bing Crosby and the Jesters: “Goodbye, my lover, Goodbye” / “Feudin’ and Fightin’” Decca 23975
If you haven't heard "Feudin' and Fightin'," it's priceless. "Grandma, poor ol' Grandma, why'd they have to shoot ol' Grandma?/She Lies 'neath the clovers/Someone caught her bendin' over/pickin' up a daisy"...and it only gets better from there.
Red Ingle and the Natural Seven: “Temptation” / “Cigarettes, Whuskey, and Wild, Wild Women” Capitol 57-722
Art Lund: “Sleepy-time gal” / “Mam’selle” MGM 10011
"Mam'selle" was the recurring instrumental theme in an old movie...I'll let you know when I remember which one. Damn.
Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians: “It’s easier said than done” / “Bei mir bist du schoen” Victor 25739
When I first got "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" I listened to it on repeat for probably an hour.
Paul Weston and his Orchestra: “Linda” / “Roses in the Rain” Capitol 362
Intro to Linda: "Hello Cutie, what's your name?" "Fresh! I don't talk to strangers!" "I'm no stranger, I've been waiting every night for you to walk by." "Well you keep waiting, I'll keep walking."
Kay Kyser: “Huggin’ and Chalkin’” / “The old lamplighter” Columbia 37095
"Huggin' and Chalkin'" is an ode to the fat girlfriend..you have to make a chalkmark on her to see where you began!
Len Cleary: “Maple Leaf Rag” / “Twelfth Street Rag” Mercury 5013
You know the Maple Leaf Rag, even if you don't think you do.
“Everything’s at Home except your wife” / “You’re my baby” Climax k400
Hee hee!
Jan Garber: “Making love ukelele style” / “Catalina Bounce” Capitol 57-712
Frank Luther and Zora Layman: “The Gay Nineties part 9” / ‘The Gay Nineties part 10” Decca 2461
That's the 1890's, natch.
The titles are amazing.
Ed Gallagher/Al Shean: “Positively, Mr. Gallagher?”/”Absolutely, Mr. Shean!” Victor 18941
Moran and Mack: “Two Black Crows Part 1” / “Two Black Crows Part 2” Columbia 935d
This record is pure vintage racist comedy routine. Just...wow.
Charles Ross Taggart: “Uncle Zed buys a Graphophone” / “Uncle Zed and his Fiddle” Columbia a2890
This one's hillbilly racist comedy!
Michael Casey: “Casey as a Doctor” / “Casey at the Dentist’s” Columbia a1886
Oddly hilarious.
Golden and Heins: “Up for Sentence” / “The Colored Recruit” Columbia a2551
Joe Hayman: “Cohen on the Telephone” / Fred Duprez: “Happy tho’ Married” Columbia a1516
"Cohen on the telephone" is Jewish racist comedy...it never ends!
Golden and Marlowe: “Darkey’s Oration on Women” / “The Hospital Patient” Columbia a2235
You have to hear it to believe it.
Margaret Young: “The bad little boys aren’t goody-good (to the goody-good little girls)” / “Counterfeit Bill (from Louisville)” Brunswick 2386
Jesse Crawford: “I wonder what’s become of Sally?” / “The pal that I loved stole the gal that I loved” Victor 19567
Bing Crosby with Fred Waring and the Glee Club: “Whiffenpoof Song” / “Kentucky Babe” Decca 23990
You may (well, I did) remember the Whiffenpoof Song from the Cary Grant/Ginger Rogers comedy "Monkey Business." With Marilyn Monroe in a small roll as a secretary: "Miss Laurel was just showing me her acetates."
Mel Blanc: “Toot, toot, tootsie (good-bye)” / “I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts” Capitol 57-780
Too awesome.
Dick “Two Ton” Baker: “Civilization” / “Dancers in Love” Mercury 5067
"Civilization" is fantastic. From the perspective of a native being convinced by a missonary.
Arthur Godfrey: “For me and my gal” / “Too fat polka (I don’t want her)(you can have her)(she’s too fat for me)” Columbia 37921
LOLOL.
Bing Crosby and the Jesters: “Goodbye, my lover, Goodbye” / “Feudin’ and Fightin’” Decca 23975
If you haven't heard "Feudin' and Fightin'," it's priceless. "Grandma, poor ol' Grandma, why'd they have to shoot ol' Grandma?/She Lies 'neath the clovers/Someone caught her bendin' over/pickin' up a daisy"...and it only gets better from there.
Red Ingle and the Natural Seven: “Temptation” / “Cigarettes, Whuskey, and Wild, Wild Women” Capitol 57-722
Art Lund: “Sleepy-time gal” / “Mam’selle” MGM 10011
"Mam'selle" was the recurring instrumental theme in an old movie...I'll let you know when I remember which one. Damn.
Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians: “It’s easier said than done” / “Bei mir bist du schoen” Victor 25739
When I first got "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" I listened to it on repeat for probably an hour.
Paul Weston and his Orchestra: “Linda” / “Roses in the Rain” Capitol 362
Intro to Linda: "Hello Cutie, what's your name?" "Fresh! I don't talk to strangers!" "I'm no stranger, I've been waiting every night for you to walk by." "Well you keep waiting, I'll keep walking."
Kay Kyser: “Huggin’ and Chalkin’” / “The old lamplighter” Columbia 37095
"Huggin' and Chalkin'" is an ode to the fat girlfriend..you have to make a chalkmark on her to see where you began!
Len Cleary: “Maple Leaf Rag” / “Twelfth Street Rag” Mercury 5013
You know the Maple Leaf Rag, even if you don't think you do.
“Everything’s at Home except your wife” / “You’re my baby” Climax k400
Hee hee!
Jan Garber: “Making love ukelele style” / “Catalina Bounce” Capitol 57-712
Frank Luther and Zora Layman: “The Gay Nineties part 9” / ‘The Gay Nineties part 10” Decca 2461
That's the 1890's, natch.
By Post out of Kent
A reposting of an earlier book batch, from the Bins in Portland:
Kit of Greenacre Farm, by Izola L. Forrester, published 1919.
The Purple Parasol, by George Barr McCutcheon, published 1905.
My Lady Laughter, by Dwight Tilton, published 1904.
Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck, by Allen Chapman, published 1913.
Coward and Coquette, by Mrs. Fairman Mann, no publication date, circa 1901.
Bonus!! Found as a book marker inside Coward and Coquette - this old-as-hell instruction sheet!
I just love how the era of illustrated covers approached during that time, as on My Lady Laughter's little composite, with the pasted-on face. The colors are so beautiful too, especially the purple and green one.
Kit of Greenacre Farm, by Izola L. Forrester, published 1919.
The Purple Parasol, by George Barr McCutcheon, published 1905.
My Lady Laughter, by Dwight Tilton, published 1904.
Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck, by Allen Chapman, published 1913.
Coward and Coquette, by Mrs. Fairman Mann, no publication date, circa 1901.
Bonus!! Found as a book marker inside Coward and Coquette - this old-as-hell instruction sheet!
I just love how the era of illustrated covers approached during that time, as on My Lady Laughter's little composite, with the pasted-on face. The colors are so beautiful too, especially the purple and green one.
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