Sunday Styles

Sister Mary Richards, Our Lady of Evan-Picone.

Sock It To Me

Mary Tyler Moore reveals a heretofore undiscovered talent for impersonating Judy Carne.

That Boy John

Three of our favorite films when we were growing up were Imitation of Life (1959), Back Street (1961), and Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) -- which, incidentally, explains a lot about us. There were several connecting threads to these movies: lavish Ross Hunter productions all, they also featured stunning Jean Louis costumes; more gay icons than you could shake a David Webb choker at; and all of them co-starred one of our first adolescent crushes, the impossibly handsome John Gavin.

With Lana Turner in Imitation of Life (Universal, 1959)

With Susan Hayward in Back Street (Universal, 1961)

With Mary Tyler Moore in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Universal, 1967)

 Although he never became a superstar, for a few short years, John Gavin was keeping some pretty impressive company: in 1960 alone, he appeared in two certified classics, Psycho and Spartacus. The common theme for these two, happily, was that our man Gavin spent a good deal of time shirtless in both.

With Janet Leigh in Psycho (Paramount, 1960)

With Laurence Olivier in Spartacus (Universal, 1960)

Often derided for being understated to the point of being wooden, Gavin could rise to the occasion when given proper direction and good material (surely, Hitchcock and Kubrick must have seen something in him, besides his flawless chest); and he proved that he had a healthy sense of humor about his square-jawed image, spoofing it with impressive comic timing in Millie. It's undeniable that he's not at his best in Imitation or Back Street; in all fairness, although he's ostensibly the male lead in both, they're really Enormous Star Vehicles for Lana Turner and Susan Hayward and their wardrobes -- you try to be 100% effective when sharing the screen with Susan Hayward's sable-trimmed cuffs, and see how well you make out. Personally, we think Gavin's best acting was in an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour entitled "Run for Doom." Pitted against Britain's blowzy blonde bombshell, the splendiferously trashy Diana Dors, and playing against type as a naive cuckold, Gavin acquitted himself admirably with a tense, nervous performance.

So, here's to John Gavin: one of the handsomest men to ever grace the silver and small screens; former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico; a would-have-been James Bond; and an all around class act. We here at SSUWAT salute you!

JOHN GAVIN
April 8, 1931

And Then There Were Nun

Pick your favorite swingin' sister!

Debbie Reynolds in The Singing Nun (1966, MGM)

Diana Ross and the Supremes (with Ron Ely) on television's Tarzan (1968)

Rosalind Russell and Stella Stevens in Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows (1968, Columbia)

Mary Tyler Moore in Change of Habit (1969, Universal)

Oh, Rob!

When Ritchie is shuttled off to stay at Jerry and Millie's, and Rob and Laura can Twizzle all night long...

148 Bonnie Meadow Road

It is difficult to make any examination of the time frame centered around 1962 without falling prey to the cliche, "The Era of Camelot". This idea, of course being patented by President and Mrs. Kennedy. And frankly I for one, am happy to take the bait. Everywhere you look on the cultural landscape, you can see this 'land of happy ever-aftering' in play. It's simplicity, elegance, optimism and overall sense of welcoming. The First Family's effect was inescapable.

So, from 1961-1966 we regularly dropped in on a couple with a slightly more than passing resemblance to the Kennedy's, albeit younger, more suburban, more accessible. Their names were Rob and Laura Petrie.

Since the theme song is already going through your head anyway, here is a triple screen of it showing three of the variations that were used in the opening credits.

One of the greatest comedic gifts to the late 20th century, Carl Reiner, created the show based on his life as a comedy writer for the Sid Caesar program, "Your Show of Shows". He claims that the Alan Brady character is less Caesar, and more of an amalgam of Milton Berle and Jackie Gleason. Apart from that, biographical it is. All the way down to the Petrie's address of 148 Bonnie Meadow Road, New Rochelle, NY. Evidently it was one digit off of Reiner's home address!

It's hard not to like Rob Petrie and even harder not to love the way Dick Van Dyke played him. A big career risk at the time, Van Dyke was doing "Bye Bye Birdie" on Broadway which looked like it would run forever. So should he leave the musical to go out to Hollywood and shoot a pilot that might never go anywhere? For almost 50 years, audiences are awfully glad he did.

But one brilliant creator and one terrific actor does not a legendary sitcom make. The supporting cast was, in a word, PERFECT! Rose Marie (nee Baby Rose Marie) and Morey Amsterdam (who, incidentally wrote the lyrics to "Rum and Coca Cola for the Andrews Sisters) were two Vaudeville veterans who were lightning quick and could steal a scene with the best. And Richard Deacon as the poor, long suffering (gay) Mel Cooley was at his put-upon best.

But the real surprise was young Mary Tyler Moore, who's resume was not especially, how shall we say, vast. Van Dyke was initially reticent about her because of their age difference. But to this day, whenever I think of love, it's easy to think of Rob and Laura. And as for her chops around such seasoned performers, well the kid did just fine.



It may very well be the first sitcom that would handle topical issues such as race relations and, the then relatively new, anti smoking campaign. (Impressive considering Kent cigarettes was a sponsor.) Reiner has also said that the enduring longevity of the show was due to his policy not to include any early 60's slang or fads. However, I did catch him in one slip up there:



Alright already, I admit it, that clip is here so I could drool over Jerry Lanning who played Randy Twizzle (makes my checker chubby!)

It was also the first sitcom to have a conclusion in which Rob writes a book about his experiences as a writer for the Alan Brady Show. The publisher rejects the manuscript but Alan Brady (played by Reiner) says that he will produce it as a sitcom and play the role of Rob Petrie!

If you find my comparison of the Petrie's to the Kennedy's a bit of a tough sell, well all I can tell you is this: In my three year old mind I thought they were the same people. You know, like he was President all week and had a TV show too. And on that horrible day in Nov. of '63, I was crying right along with my parents because I thought I'd never see the show again.



Posted by FELIX!

When Bouffants Roamed The Earth...

...and the airwaves.

Post Modern Glamour

Oh, Mr. Grant!

From 1962 until 1979, America's Sweetheart, Mary Tyler Moore, was married to television executive and producer, Grant Tinker. Together, they formed MTM Enterprises in 1969, which resulted in a little thing called The Mary Tyler Moore Show... and suddenly, love was all around.


We admit to a strange, unhealthy obsession with the craggily, conservatively hunky Mr. Tinker; the fact that The Man That Got Away and he share an eerie resemblance has a lot to do with it. (We'll leave it to your judgement if we share a similar resemblance to Mary.) For a time, Grant Tinker and MTM (the lady and the company) were an unstoppable, unbeatable combination -- as well as a strikingly attractive one.

Love is All Around

We were faced with a quandry: What the heck do you get Mary Tyler Moore for her birthday? She already has an endless Evan-Picone wardrobe, a kicky Mustang, andthe tsotchke to end all tsotchkes: a big ol' "M" on her wall. Then it hit us: we'd have Nell Carter serenade her. Because that's what we want for our birthday.

Birthdays

JUDE LAW
December 29, 1972


MARY TYLER MOORE
December 29, 1936

Both can turn the world on with their smile.

Ménage à fab

OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS (1928)


THREE ON A MATCH (1932)


ZIEGFELD GIRL (1941)


HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE (1953)


THE BEST OF EVERYTHING (1959)


VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1967)


THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (1970)

It's better with three.

You Gotta Have Friends

FABULOUS friends.