ROSIE THE RIVETER (GERALDINE DOYLE) - R.I.P.

She was the face of a generation... "Rosie the Riveter" was a American cultural icon representing women who worked in factories during World War II producing munitions and war supplies. These women sometimes took entirely new jobs replacing the male workers who were in the military.As for that famous poster? In 1942, Pittsburgh artist J. Howard Miller was hired by the Westinghouse Company’s War Production Coordinating Committee to create a series...

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MAD MEN MOMENT No. 9

C'mon fellas, it's New Year's Eve. Get your mextrosexual on... circa 1978. Tw...

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WRITING QUOTES FROM WORKING SCRIBES

"The rules are all in a sixty-four-page pamphlet by Aristotle called Poetics. It was written almost three thousand years ago, but I promise you, if something is wrong with what you're writing, you've probably broken one of Aristotle's rules.""You're allowed one fuck in PG-13. The rules are silly. Not all fucks are equal and not all cocksuckers are equal."- Emmy-winning-, Golden-Globe- and WGA-award-winning writer Aaron Sorkin in Esquire."I got so...

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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOGIE!

Merry Christmas to everyone here in The Basement... The above shot of Bogie, Lauren Bacall, and son Stephen was taken on Christmas Eve in their Beverly Hills home.Tw...

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THE HORNY ELF (#fridayflash)

Please press play for some mood music 'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the bar...  ... Snappy the elf annoyed those near and afar. Five minutes into his dinner break from Santa's Workshop, he wormed into the Applebee's bar and climbed up on the stool and cozied up to a blonde in a tight cashmere sweater. "Quite a set of ornaments you've got there, Puddin'," Snappy said. "And I got the keys to the sleigh tonight if you...

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MAD MEN MOMENTS (THE CHRISTMAS EDITION)

These vintage Christmas ads are just simply hilarious and certainly proof positive that things have certainly changed in the country since the golden age of advertising. As always click each pic to enlarge.1) Nothing says stocking stuffer for dear old dad like a Zippo... "G'head kids... Burn that house down. Just be sure to have fun!"2) She really cares about her home and you really care about her... The perfect gift? A Hoover of course!3) Do you...

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MAD MEN MOMENT No. 8

It was 1952 and yup, Santa Claus was able to get away with peddling cigarettes.Tw...

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THE WRITER'S ROUNDTABLE (great video)

Being that it's award season, The Hollywood Reporter has begun posting their series of roundtable discussions with possible contenders. Last month, they posted an one-hour discussion between screenwriters Aaron Sorkin ("The Social Network"), Simon Beaufoy ("127 Hours"), Michael Arndt ("Toy Story 3"), John Wells ("The Company Men"), Todd Phillips ("Due Date") and David Lindsay-Abaire ("Rabbit Hole"). Grab a drink and settle in because this powwow is pretty fantastic for any kind of writer... Tw...

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THE MOVIE MOGUL (#fridayflash)

Press play for some mood music It was around 1970. I was called into Saul Rubik's office on Monday morning.I had a bungalow on the studio backlot and safe money was that the big man wanted to talk about a picture I'd been writing. All weekend I heard him in the back of my head. "Where's my script you pencil-neck little kraut?" or "I paid for a drama, not this weepy soap opera crap!" Whatever the case, I heard his voice and pictured those bloated...

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MAD MEN MOMENT No. 7

This one is just priceless with a capital P. Nothing sells cigarettes like two beloved cartoon characters watching their wives do all the yardwork...Tw...

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JOHN CUSACK AS POE IN 'THE RAVEN'

Here's the first promotional shot of John Cusack as Edgar Allen Poe in the upcoming film "The Raven." It's a fictionalized account of the final five “mysterious” days of the scribe's life. Great idea! Apparently the famous writer joins the hunt for a serial killer whose murders are inspired by his stories.Says director James McTeigue ("V For Vendetta"): “It’s like the poem, 'The Raven,' itself, crossed with 'Se7en.' It should be pretty cool. The...

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NOTHING SELLS CHRISTMAS...

... Like 'The Duke' hawking Christmas seals for almost two minutes. Salt of the Earth dudes... They're all gone. Enjoy this little bit of retro fun.Tw...

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRANK!

His face might as well be printed in the dictionary next to the very definition of "cool."cool /kul/ adjective,-er, -est, adverb, noun, verbSlang .a. great; fine; excellent: a real cool comic.b. characterized by great facility; highly skilled or clever: cool maneuvers on the parallel bars.c. socially adept: It's not cool to arrive at a party too early.He embodied it in every pore of his body and today is his birthday. Happy birthday, Frank!Enjoy...

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PERFECT CHRISTMAS (#fridayflash)

Press play for some mood music We've been doing it for the past 11 or so years.Every Christmas Eve, Samantha and I would drive up North to the cabin and have ourselves a better Christmas than the one prior. They were perfect.I decided to pick her up about noon when most of the office decided enough was enough. Watching my colleagues dart out the door, I couldn't help but wonder when Christmas Eve day became the holiday?Anyway, Sam and I were on...

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MAD MEN MOMENT No. 6

This one is simply hilarious. I must admit that in this crapified age of political correctness in most forms of mass media, I'm shocked this one made it past the pitch stage because it's pure gold. Although, I'm not exactly sure how it's selling soy milk... Nonetheless - genius.Tw...

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAP: JIMMY PLOTS TO GAIN CONTROL OF ATLANTIC CITY

'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAP EPISODE 12 (SEASON ONE FINALE) 'A RETURN TO NORMALCY' Written by series creator Terence Winter and directed by veteran Tim Van Patten, "A Return to Normalcy" was anything but. Atlantic County Treasurer Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) and Atlantic City braced for change on Election Day in 1920. The grease and oil in his political machine was stronger than ever. But at what price? Note: While this recap will not be my usual...

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THE WRITER'S DILEMMA (#fridayflash)

The writer had nothing... Nada.He lit a cigarette, sat down, scratched the back of his head and sought the inspiration that eluded him now for weeks. It was due. While he knew there were endless millions of possibilities, nothing came. Perhaps he was too tired. Or just plain lazy.He thought of the brilliant people, the ones that made it look easy. Then he thought of those lucky ones who, while not brilliant, managed to string together enough words...

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MAD MEN MOMENT No. 5

Click the pic for a larger imageWhere to begin...I guess I can buy into the fact that the couple wanted to leave their swingin' cocktail party. But what I'm wondering about in this odd formal wear ad is why they felt the need to swing by the 7-11 for a newspaper, loaf of bread, carton of milk and an orange? And what sense does 'Why have a party when you can just have a ball' make? Is it me?Tw...

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAP: NUCKY REPLACES ELI AS SHERIFF

"Boardwalk Empire" Episode 11 - "Paris Green" was the 11th episode in the series. With only one more to go in the stupendous first season, Nucky Thompson's world is starting to close in on him. Will things be wrapped up by next week?Some key events:• Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) navigates some delicate family issues and we finally learn the identity of his father.• Prohibition Agent Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon) is starting to unravel and spends...

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ILLUMINATI AT THE AIRPORT (#fridayflash)

Press play for some mood music There was something going on here.I plopped in my barstool in the way-too-bright airport lounge at Denver International Airport and looked through my notes. I had them jotted them down in a small black Moleskine because I wanted to look inconspicuous. Nursing a Jack before my flight back to Manhattan, I combed through what I had uncovered and the more I thought about it, the more I felt uneasy.Now I've always loved...

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YES INDEED...

... There were also shitty drivers in 1912. Don't think it's only the tools in BMWs today.My #fridayflash is to come. Turkey Day effed me all up.Tw...

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HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

Gobble! Gobble!Tw...

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MAD MEN MOMENT No. 4

Nothing sells coffee like a tired dad beating the bejesus out of his son...(click pics to enlarge)Tw...

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HOW DO YOU GET SINATRA TO READ YOUR SCRIPT?

... Like this.Tw...

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I OWE MY SOUL TO THE COMPANY STORE (#fridayflash)

Click play for some mood music I'd say that my parents screwed me up pretty good. They weren't normal. In fact, I'd say they were pretty fucking crazy.My dad Rusty was the fourth bill in a traveling wild west show that had all the authenticity of your basic dime store six shooter.And Ma? She was his apprentice and, truth be told, none too bright either. What else would explain how she'd let a two year-old brave the old man's "legendary" knife toss?...

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MAD MEN MOMENT No. 3

It was an era when tough guys were able to sell cigarettes on TV... Enjoy."Paul Mall" was the sponsor of "M Squad," a television program which ran on NBC during the '50s. That's perhaps why Lee Marvin, the show's star, appeared on its commercials during the episodes.As for his quirky pronunciation? The cigarette's name is correctly pronounced with the rhyming couplet "pell mell," as made evident in the advertisement.The American Tobacco company would dispatch numerous publicists to instruct the cast and staff of the correct pronunciation during...

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAP: NUCKY THOMSPON'S WORLD IS CLOSING IN

Sunday's episode of "Boardwalk Empire" was written by Steve Kornacki and directed by Brad Anderson. Between the looming election and the damage control following an attempt on his brother Eli's life, Atlantic City Treasurer Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) seems to be spinning many of his plates in the air.Some key events:• A matured Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) returns to Atlantic City after spending months in Chicago only to find Agent Nelson Van...

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RED CLOUD AT SUNDOWN (#fridayflash)

Please click play for some mood music 1835.When Flapjack Collins got wind that the Mexican government was shelling out up to fifty American for Apache scalps, he pondered if he was the killing kind of man.He worked grain at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Franklin County, Kentucky and being that there was no future as far as he could see, he packed up with no notice and hit the open trail.The going got rough somewhere around South Texas or ... Hell,...

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FOR OUR VETERANS...

...Both past and present. Happy Veterans Day. The 'Basement' appreciates you...Tw...

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TINA FEY: MARK TWAIN AWARD

Seriously, how can you not love the above pic of Tina Fey?Vargas girl pose -- checkVintage typewriter -- checkAdorable mojo with with just enough sex appeal -- check... And just in case, you need another excuse to realize that writer-comedienne-actress Tina Fey is the cat's pajamas, she's just been given the Mark Twain Award for American Humor.Awarded by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts annually since 1998, it's presented to an...

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