COOL MEN IN TUXES...

Wonder what he'd being doing now if he was alive?

Even eating a hot dog, 'Ol Blue Eyes looked cool...

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAP: MARGARET SLAPS THE SNOT OUTTA LUCY; ELI TAKES A BULLET

EPISODE 8: "HOLD ME IN PARADISE"

Sunday's episode of "Boardwalk Empire" was written by Meg Jackson and directed by Brian Kirk. Most of the episode took place in Chicago and had Nucky Thompson wheeling and dealing prior to the 1920 Republican National Convention.

Some key events:

• While visiting Chicago during the Republican National Convention, Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) meets Warren Harding's charming campaign manager Harry Daugherty (Christopher McDonald). Nucky's new acquaintance just may have soured him on the once-promising prospect of backing New Jersey Senator Walter Edge.

• Sheriff Eli Thompson (Shea Whigham) is gravely injured and Nucky goes into panic mode as a result. Out of his element and so far away from his base of operations, Nucky turns to the only two people he can trust -- Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) and Margaret Schoeder (Kelly Macdonald).

• As speculation continues to build around him, gambler and "businessman" Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg) prepares for his testimony in the Black Sox Scandal.

• Straight arrow agent Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon) bristles at his wife's request for an unorthodox child bearing procedure and urges her to follow "God's will."

• Jimmy's mom Gillian Darmody (Gretchen Mol) urges his common-law wife Angela to get a job when the money begins to run out.

But possibly, the water-cooler moment in the show had to be the confrontation between Nucky's former flame Lucy Danziger (Paz de la Huerta) and his new gal pal Margaret Schroeder. In short, it was the bitch-slap heard 'round Atlantic City. And one that was a long time comin'...

For my full annotated recap, historical footnotes, episode videos, tunes from the era and other thoughts, click HERE.

Ep. 8 Clip: Lucy Confronts Margaret

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SURPRISE AT THE COUNTY FAIR (#fridayflash)

Please click play for some mood music

"Bob Wills Boogie" by Bob Wills and The Playboys. It can be downloaded HERE.

Who knew where we were?

Me and Linky had a job in Philly, did the deed, and were on our way back to Chicago by way of Bumblefuck, America.

Shoulda known better than to let Linky drive but I had a little too much hooch in me so I leaned back in the seat as some cat named Bob Wills on the radio sang me to sleep.

A few hours later, I saw we were buried deep in West Virgina. Wills wasn't singing anymore. In fact, the gospel told me we weren't where we were supposed to be.

I rubbed the sand out of my eyes. "Why the fuck aren't we home?"

Linky stared and stumbled. "Shade, I just kept driving..."

" --- YOU JUST KEPT DRIVING. Didn't you see signs for Ohio?"

"Shade -- " he said pleading, "-- The trip down felt like a straight run."

"Straight run my prick, Linky!"

I calmed myself down before I shot the fucking moron. In my brain, all I heard was my wife wanting to know what happened to her stupid brother and me making up some half-assed story she'd see right through.

"Pull into the next flophouse. We'll start fresh in the morning." I said, staring at nothing out the window.

Minutes later, in the pitch black of the roadside night, we pulled into Roy's Motel Cafe and set up camp. At check-in, we found out there was no Roy but for an extra finske, Doogan behind the counter threw in a pint of Jim Beam on account of there being no liquor stores in town.

* * *

The next morning, I woke up to the room's blasting transitor with some yahoo named Spade Cooley crooning a tune. He was no Sinatra, but the guy wasn't bad.

In the corner of the room, Linky was shaving and said that he heard on the radio there was a county fair not five minutes away.

"Link, don't get any ideas. Do you realize how many diamonds we have to deliver? We don't need any distractions," I told him.

"Don't be a crumb-bum, Shade," he snapped. "If you had the sense of a billygoat, you'd win my sister a stuffed bear. I'm getting one for Ingrid."

I burped up some bourbon. I killed that bottle the second we got into the room and passed out in my clothes. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror, it was obvious. We looked like fucking criminals in the middle of America's apple pie and this fucker wants to stroll a county fair like we're on a goddamn date.

"Fine, Link..." I said. "Whatever. We'll win the girls a stuffed toy."

* * *

The fairgrounds were airy and open with all sorts of townfolk trickling in. I was hungover and the cotton candy and hot dog carts weren't doing me any favors.

Linky was like a kid at the candy store and found the amusement stands before the bulk of the children. This is what I was dealing with.

Twenty minutes and three dollars later, we had our stuffed animals. Linky had to settle for an alligator since I took the last teddy bear.

"Happy? Let's get the fuck outta here," I said, knowing it was going to be a chore.

It wasn't that easy. Some little dish at the stand wanted Linky to escort her onto the Ferris wheel because of her fear of heights.

As he bought their tickets, I grabbed his shoulder. "You ride this fucking Ferris wheel and we're outta here. I don't care if she wants to taste you in the back of her throat afterwards, we're gone. Got me?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." was the last thing he said before I saw them. And they were staring at me and Linky like meat.

"What the fuck..." I whispered.
"Whatsa matter, boys?" the dish said. "Don't be scared. We'll be nice..."

My blood ran cold. "Linky?" I asked. "Got your gun on you?"

He shook his head. "It's in my bag." Always an idiot.

"But we ain't colored," he said to the dish who was just laughing.

I looked at her. "We don't have to be. We ain't white to them."

I pulled out my gun from the holster. "Run... "

The stuffed toys were history and by time we got to the entrance gate, a few of the sheets were getting off. Funny, it's hard to run in that ridiculous garb.

The gravel smoke was furious as the Buick dovetailed onto the highway.

Thirty miles out of town, I pulled over and told Linky to get out of the car. This time, I couldn't contain myself and worked him over pretty well.

"Get in that fucking back seat," I ordered. "And don't you say one goddamn word the whole rest of this trip." He was bloody and moaning but I didn't care. He'd live. Linky maybe had a broken nose, if that.

By the time we arrived in Chicago, I had no worries about what I was going to tell the little lady about her idiot brother. And why she doesn't have that stuffed bear...

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MAD MEN MOMENT No. 2

This is a real ad.

So much to say about this one. Don't know where to begin. The ugly ties... The "show her it's a man's world" or the simple fact that she's kneeling in front of her husband serving him his breakfast...

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STERLING'S GOLD: FICTION POSING AS NON-FICTION

Dig it "Mad Men" fans... The book that ad man John Slattery's character Roger Sterling was claiming to pen during this past season on AMC's "Mad Men" is actually coming out.

Yup, Grove Atlantic will release "Sterling’s Gold: Wit and Wisdom of an Ad Man."

In the show's Sterling's books poignantly arrived as the defeated, washed-up ad man lost the coveted Lucky Strike account.

This stroke of genius came about when Grove Atlantic publisher Morgan Entrekin, a fan of "Mad Men," struck a deal directly with creator Matt Weiner.

On the book jacket: Advertising pioneer and visionary Roger Sterling, Jr., served with distinction in the Navy during World War II, and joined Sterling Cooper Advertising as a junior account executive in 1947. He worked his way up to managing partner before leaving to found his own agency, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, in 1963. During his long and illustrious career, Sterling has come into contact with all the luminaries and would-be luminaries of the advertising world, and he has acquired quite a reputation among his colleagues for his quips, barbs, and witticisms. Taken as a whole, Roger Sterling’s pithy comments and observations amount to a unique window on the advertising world—a world that few among us are privileged to witness first—hand—as well as a commentary on life in New York City in the middle of the twentieth century.


From the back cover:

* When a man gets to a point in his life when his name’s on the building, he can get an unnatural sense of entitlement.

* The day you sign a client is the day you start losing him.

* Being with a client is like being in a marriage. Sometimes you get into it for the wrong reasons, and eventually they hit you in the face.

* When God closes a door, he opens a dress.

"Sterling’s Gold" covers it all: business, marriage, and the taste of success made sweeter with a glass of something strong.

Look for "Sterling’s Gold" Nov. 16 which clocks in at a svelte 176 pages for $16.95.




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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAP: MEET RICHARD HARROW - BADASS!

UPDATE: STUPENDOUS piece about Jack Huston, the character actor who took the quirky role of RICHARD HARROW and turned him into a breakout character... (w/ VIDEOS) ----> CLICK HERE

~ ~ ~

Last night's episode of "Boardwalk Empire," -- "Home" -- explored the notion of personal demons both inward and outward -- especially Nucky Thompson's (Steve Buscemi). Seems as though he may have some daddy issues especially after his father Ethan Thompson is injured in a fall. Nucky uses the opportunity to refurbish his childhood home and finds out how he really feels about the place he grew up.

Also:

• Chalky White (Michael Kenneth Williams) may or may not consider a liquor proposition from a mysterious stranger.

• Creepy prohibition Agent Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon) gets a valuable lead on the woods massacre. Uh-oh ... jimmy better watch out.

• Lucky Luciano (Vincent Piazza) and a "new friend" cut a deal with the bumbling D'Alessio brothers from Philly.

• Courtesy of a hot tip from Al Capone (Stephen Graham), Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) eyes payback against one of Sheridan's thugs for the slashing his ex-girlfriend's face.

Jimmy also makes a new acquaintance at a Veteran's Hospital in the form of a disfigured man named Richard Harrow. The two are there for a psychological evaluation and become buddies.

Harrow asks if Jimmy is there for the test.

"The nutcase test? Yeah..." Jimmy answers

"And then they'll tell us if we're normal or not," Harrow says. "They're interested in what's in our heads so next time, we'll fight better."

Harrow turns to his leather duffel and pulls out a German sniper mask. He tells Jimmy that if he doesn't have it on him at all times, he becomes anxious.

A marksman in the war, Harrow says that he watched the same German soldier for three days straight and when he lifted the mask to scratch his nose he put "a bullet one inch below his eye."

The more he talks with the disfigured vet, he realizes that Harrow's sharp eye just may prove invaluable.

Find out how in my full recap HERE chock full of historical footnotes, episode videos, tunes from the era and other thoughts.

Ep. 7: Four Deuces - A War Hero and a Patriot

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LAFFING SAL (#fridayflash)

Please click play for some mood music

To this day, I hate boardwalks.

It was Halloween weekend and the last place I wanted to be was at the shore. It was the year my folks took their sweet time closing up the beach house. Instead of hanging out with friends embarking on more tricks than treat, I was stuck wandering the cold and damp planks of a boardwalk that's seen better days.

And man, nothing creepier than a boardwalk off season. The first thing that struck me was the silence. And God, how everything was so still but the ocean raged more violent than I've ever seen it.

Looking at the amusement stands that were normally so filled with verve, I started to fill in the blanks with the echoes of the summer -- children screaming in the distance, that creepy accordion of the carousel, bells and whistles from the pier and those ding dongs of retro pinball machines.

And then someone whispered my name. It was a woman I think.

I snapped around but no one was there. Was it the wind? I put my Walkman headphones back on and cranked the Bruce that somehow seemed so apropos. Times were good to him on this wooden way but it seemed like such a long time ago.

The buildings were timeworn and weather-beaten and some cried to be condemned. The gyro stands, pizza joints, corn dog shacks and penny arcades (which was false advertising by the way) were lonely now and had to wait another long winter to wake up.

A wind whipped up from behind me and knocked over a trash can as I watched it roll in front of an arcade. Then I heard a maniacal laugh. Almost demented.

The laughing grew louder. She said, "Come in..."

I spun again and noticed this time that the arcade was open but no one was inside. Were the owners trying to drum up off season business? I wandered in and noticed all of the machines were off.

Then in the corner, she blazed on.

'Laffing Sal' taunted me with her uncontrollable and almost demonic cackle.

My blood ran cold when I saw her.

She was made of papier mache over steel coils and frame. She had a detachable head, arms, hands and legs and was held together with fabric, staples, pins, nails, nuts and bolts.

She had a wig of non-human hair with a large gap between her evil front teeth and had to be at least 6 feet, 10 inches high.

The laughing continued and truth be told, she broke me. As I ran out of the arcade, I dropped my Walkman - Bruce tape and all. I didn't turn around until I was down the ramp and on the street of my cozy shore home.

* * *

When I went inside it was warm and I smelled my mother's cooking. She smiled and asked me how my walk I was.

"Fine..." I said not letting on. "But I'm gonna need a new Walkman."

"Anyone on the boardwalk?" she asked.

"Eh, a couple people," I darted back before I went into my bedroom trying to make sense of what just happened.

I never exactly found out. But like I said, to this day, I hate boardwalks.


Photos: ksweatherford and shoregal via Flicker

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MAD MEN MOMENTS...

Nothing like a giddy gal announcing that she's on the make... Any takers?

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I WANT A NEW WRITER NAME ...

... Or at least one as cool-sounding as "Spike Morelli."

How cool, right?

But who in the eff was Spike Morelli? Good luck finding that one out. Little is known about the guy. Was he American? British?

The post-war books are said to be British. The titles are pure pulp with names like "Death for a Doll," "Coffin for a Cutie," "This Way for Hell," "More Than Kisses, Baby," "Deal me Out" and "Take It and Like It."

Fantastic Fiction says Morelli was a pen name for a scribe named William Newton (William Simpson Newton) who also wrote under the names Francis Donaldson, Gilroy Mitcham, Macdonald Newton and Gene Ross.

Can anyone shed light on the mystery? Until then, I'll just savor his cool pen name that just oozes whiskey and sin.

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'SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE': WHAT HAPPENED TO SUPES?

Man, they gotta mess with everything...

Most of the buzz on Superman these days is the recently announced Christopher Nolan-produced David Goyer-written, Zack Snyder-directed tentpole flick, set during Big Blue's "early days" where young reporter Clark Kent walks the Earth to see where he fits in.

This week, though, DC Comics will release "Superman: Earth One," a new graphic novel not related to the upcoming film. That said, it will give new insight into Clark Kent’s transformation into Superman and his first year as The Man of Steel.

Written by J. Michael Straczynski, best known as the creator/writer of "Babylon 5," and the screenwriter of Clint Eastwood’s "Changeling" and James McTeigue’s "Ninja Assassin," he has also written for "He-Man," "She-Ra," "The Twilight Zone," "The Real Ghost Busters," and "Murder She Wrote." So there's a pedigree here. In fact, Straczynski wrote the first screenwriting book I ever owned.

Interestingly, however, this new book is the first in a new wave of original DC Universe graphic novels featuring top writers’ and illustrators’ unique takes on their characters much like Marvel's Ultimate Universe.

But is that good? Do we mess with what's isn't necessarily broken? Unlike Marvel's take on their iconic heroes, it seems that DC is radically altering their mythos.

Maybe it's me but I want my Superman to ...well, look like a man... receding hairline and all (see Chrisphor Reeve, below). I want him to look mature, not like a kid who should have a skateboard scooped under his arm with Green Day on his iPod.

Wikipedia says that Straczymski wanted to retell the beginnings of Clark Kent coming out as Superman, but bring in the thoughts of what-if Clark thought of becoming something else instead of being a superhero. As JMS stated; "he could have been rich as an athlete, researcher, any number of things.

There’s a flashback scene to when Martha Kent finishes his uniform and gives it to him as a gift, hoping he’ll go that way. He looks at it and says, in essence, “Shouldn’t there be a mask?" She says no, that "when people see how powerful you are, all the things you can do, they’re going to be terrified... unless they can see your face, and see there that you mean them no harm. The mask... is that what you’re going to have to wear the rest of your life?"

Among his ideas; the villain featured will be brand new, and have a connection to Krypton to explain its destruction. Artist Shane Davis’s approach was to remove all the stereotypes associate with the design of Clark Kent, both in his civilian and superhero identities. As a 21 year-old male in the book, Davis had Clark wear layers of clothing, showing that he is trying to blend in; “he doesn’t want to stand out” as said by Davis. He also re-imagined Metropolis. Historically depicted as an art-deco expanse, Davis designed it to look and feel like a more realistic place.

From the flap: This is a Superman for the 21st century. With "Superman: Earth One," Straczynski and Davis inject the folk tale and legend that is Superman’s origin with a modern, vital and forward-looking energy that makes for a refreshing, epic and challenging super-hero adventure. In "Superman: Earth One" – the first original graphic novel retelling Superman’s origin — Clark Kent is a man looking for meaning in a new city and an age of failing newspapers, hand-held devices and instant gratification. But when you can fly through the sky and burn objects with a glance – things become a tad more complicated. Doubly so when a fleet of alien ships arrive on your doorstep. "Superman: Earth One" channels the best tales of Superman with a look toward the future, by two of the brightest talents the industry has to offer.

The new 136-page hardcover graphic novel will be released in comic shops tomorrow and bookstores the next Tuesday.

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAP: CAPONE AND JIMMY GET CHICAGO-STYLE REVENGE

Another week of excitement from "Boardwalk Empire." Some key events:

• After the brazen robbery of one of his Ward Bosses, Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) turns up the heat on Lucky Luciano.

• An emboldened Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald) stands up to Lucy at the dress shop, and then accepts an offer from Nucky to change her circumstances.

• In Chicago, Al Capone's (Stephen Graham) frustration over family issues spills over into his relationship with Jimmy.

• Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) scores points with Johnny Torrio for a bold power play involving mob heavy Charlie Sheridan and the neighborhood of Greektown.

For my full recap, historical footnotes, episode videos, tunes from the era and other thoughts, click HERE.

Ep. 6 - Preview

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THE SAD BRIDE (#fridayflash)

Please press play for some mood music

As I vacuumed the hallway at The Hotel Traymore, a gorgeous woman in a wedding dress ascended the stairs to the landing where I was. She was breathtaking but at the same time seemed so sad. I asked her if she was okay.

She sniffed back a few tears. "I'll be fine," she muttered. "I just need to find Franklin. Have you seen him?"

I shook my head. "No one but you..."

"Oh dear, we're set to start soon," she said. She asked me for the time and I thought nothing more of it as I watched her enter the bridal suite.

* * *

When I was finished with my shift, I asked innkeeper Mr. Finley, if he had seen Franklin and he just chuckled.

I felt dumb so I asked him what gives. "Oh that's just Lady Margaret..." he said. "She won't be bugging you anymore."

"Who?" I asked, watching the cozy fireplace crackle.

"She visits all of our new workers" he said matter-of-factly.

My blood ran cold. Was he telling me what I thought he was telling me?

"In 1925, Margaret was all set to be married here. Biggest shindig in three counties. The story went that Franklin got cold feet and flew the coop. Never came back..."

"And..." I said, knowing there was way more to the story.

"And... she was so distraught that she hung herself in the bridal suite."

Old man Finley went on to tell me that ever since, Margaret has been roaming the halls of the Traymore searching for Franklin and asking every new face -- worker or guest -- for the time.

But I wanted to help her. Even ghosts need closure, right?

* * *

The next day, I went up the staircase and stood still on the landing. I called out for the sad bride and said that I had information about Franklin.

In the nicest and most gentle way possible, I told Margaret that her groom was not coming back and that she should just let go.

That's when the weeping started. And then came the violent nudge.

When I hit the bottom of the stairs, I saw Mr. Finley looking down at me, shaking his head.

"What'd you go and do?" he asked.

What was I gonna say? Oh nothing, just antagonize a sad ghost while cracking three ribs and breaking my arm in the process.

He thought it best I give my two weeks notice right there and then.

Last I heard, the sad bride was still roaming those halls.

Photos by Sunnybrook100 and Matt Andrews at Flickr. Music by Curt Siffert, "Dirty Water."

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LET'S WISH DIZZY GILLESPIE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

... Enjoy his tune "Groovy Man" circa 1947.




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WHAT A PIC... CATHY O' DONNELL...

So much to love about this picture of actress Cathy O'Donnell... What a beauty.

In 1945, while under contract with Samuel Goldwyn, she made her debut in an uncredited role as a nightclub extra in "Wonder Man." The next year she had her first major role in "The Best Years of Our Lives," playing Wilma Cameron, the high-school sweetheart of double amputee Homer Parrish, played by real-life World War II veteran/amputee Harold Russell.

She was loaned out to RKO for one of her most memorable films, "They Live by Night" starring with Farley Granger. The two actors later reteamed in 1950, for another movie, Side Street. Later Cathy starred in "The Miniver Story," as Judy Miniver and also had a supporting role in "Detective Story." She appeared as Barbara Waggoman, the love interest of James Stewart's character in the western "The Man from Laramie."
Her final film role was in Ben-Hur, where she played the title character's sister, Tirzah.

O'Donnell died of a cerebral hemorrhage brought on by cancer at the age of 46, on her 22nd wedding anniversary.

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