Monday Miscellany: Some Odds, Ends and Personals

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Reader comments:

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From Arthur T, in response to the series of pics entitled Words Fail me:

“One thing is for sure, I will not be going to get a haircut with the barber that has the angle grinder. Have a nice day.”

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From Robyn T in response to the anecdote and pics of Gough Whitlam:

Hi Otto

And thank you for your story about Gough. There are so many wonderful stories featuring him and his wit and wisdom; how fortunate you are to have one of your own. I met and rubbed shoulders with him (metaphorically speaking as I'm a 164 cm minnow) when he attended our local ALP branch meeting sometime in 71. Those were the days when the party leaders were actually interested in the views of the party members. He even hung around afterwards to have coffee at the home of one of the comrades. 

Vale Gough

Robyn T 

From Charles X on the same topic:

Dear Otto

I didn’t watch much of Q & A last night, but a pertinent comment was made by Geoffrey Robertson. There was never any scandal or corruption with Gough Whitlam. He did what he thought was the right thing for the people without self- interest. Whether or not you follow his politics, I think that’s what makes the man “Great”.

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I am indebted to my father in law for the following anecdote about Rex Harrison (pictured below). Rex is best remembered as the English actor who played Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, getting a Best Actor Oscar for his performance, and for the title role in Dr Dolittle.

The anecdote told to me by Noel also appears in the IMDB post about him and I will quote that:

He had a reputation for being very abrupt with his fans. One night, after a stage performance of "My Fair Lady", it was late, cold and pouring with rain and there was an old woman standing alone outside the Stage Door. When she saw Rex, she asked him for his autograph. Rex told her to "Sod off", and the old woman was so enraged at this that she rolled up her program and hit him with it. Stanley Holloway, who had followed Rex out in time to see this, congratulated him on not only making theatre history but, for the first time in world history, "The fan has hit the shit!"

Stanley Holloway

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Some other movie star trivia . . . 

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The phrase "In like Flynn," stems from his 1942 trial for statutory rape.

Flynn’s 1959 autobiography, "My Wicked Wicked Ways," was originally to be called "In Like Me."

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Jim Carrey’s second wife, actress Lauren Holley, once complained that her husband freaked her out because he couldn’t pass a mirror in their mansion without stopping, staring into it, and making funny expressions for at least fifteen minutes.

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Woody Allen, born Allan Stewart Konigsberg, legally changed his name to Heywood Allen. He goes by "Woody" in honour of Woody Herman (1913-1987), legendary clarinetist, composer, singer and bandleader. 

Woody Herman

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George Burns loved playing tricks on his best friend and fellow comedian Jack Benny. Once, they were getting lunch at the famed Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood. George ordered Jack’s favourite dish, bacon and eggs, and wondered why his friend settled for cereal. Benny explained his wife Mary had been giving him a hard time at home about his diet and would kill him if he had bacon and eggs. The exasperated Burns shook his head. How pathetic! What was the point of working hard to become rich, famous and powerful if you were going to be henpecked? And Mary wasn’t even present. The inspired Benny nodded and changed his order. When they finished their hearty meals, George declared to the waiter that Jack would pick up the tab. The famous cheapskate turned red. “Why the hell should I pay it?”

“Well, if you don’t I’ll tell Mary you ate bacon and eggs.”

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When the Marx Brothers went to MGM studios to make movies in 1935, they had a hard time getting in to see producer Irving Thalberg (pictured above with Harpo, Groucho and Chico). Although they had scheduled meetings, Thalberg kept them waiting outside several times and the boys got fed up. One day, when Thalberg returned to his office, he discovered Harpo, Groucho, and Chico sitting naked on the floor of his office. The boys had started a bonfire in the middle of Thalberg's office and they sat roasting potatoes over the fire. A good sport, Thalberg told the boys to get some butter from the studio commissary, which Harpo did, and they all ate the potatoes together. After this incident, Thalberg never kept them waiting again.

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