Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Vito Scotti--My First "That Guy."


Probably the earliest character actor I remember recognizing from one show to another was Vito Scotti, an absolute expert in different ethnic characterizations. He started in films in the late forties but really made his mark on television a few years later. One look at his IMDB filmography verifies my theory that he was pretty much on everything in the sixties and early seventies...and quite a few things after that, right up to his passing in 1996! 

For more info on Vito Scotti, check out his Wikipedia page here:





Monday, April 22, 2013

Jerry Mahoney


While the heyday of Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney was before my time, the great voice actor and his little wooden friend continued to delight well into my formative years. Here's a one-page piece from the mid-fifties. 

Sunday, April 21, 2013

R.I.P. Annette



Perhaps my first TV crush, we lost Annette Funicello while my computer was giving me fits. Her earliest success was before I was born but I saw her on ZORRO and reruns of MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY and, yes, THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB. Soon enough, I was watching her in the almost ubiquitous Beach Party movies of the early to mid-sixties. She was, by all accounts, as sweet and lovely inside as out. A friend even though we never met. Rest in peace, my friend.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

That Li'l Girl


In the center is young Margo Thomas, pre-nose job and before she changed her "g" to an "l." The even tinier Thomas at left is her sister Terre aka Theresa, aka, apparently, "Chita!"

Saturday, April 13, 2013

R.I.P. Jonathan Winters


As I grew out of toddler-hood, Jonathan Winters was recognized as a familiar TV presence. By the early seventies, his improvs had become absolute favorites. R.I.P.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Asking For Your Help

http://www.gofundme.com/2gyu3k

I average 12 fairly popular blogs at any one time and since 2009, partly for health reasons, I have also made my living working from home doing proofreading, transcription, research, fact-checking, editing, editorial assistance, writing and ghostwriting as well as selling off collectibles online. Since December, my IMac has been having intermittent issues that prevent me from working to my best and frustrate me (and my already high blood pressure) endlessly. After talking to Apple, they suggest repairs might cost more than getting an upgraded computer. This one is, after all, three years old.

Amanda Palmer recently posted a video about how people are willing to help if they are just asked. I'm asking. We're still living paycheck to paycheck from my wife's new job and my freelance income. An upgraded version of the computer I have--with all the software I'd need to keep working--would be around $2000.00.

If you've ever enjoyed any of my postings or my writing or my art or my Facebook photo galleries, I'm asking you now to help me keep it going. If 80 people give $25.00 apiece, it's a done deal! I'm asking. If you're in a position to help us out, please consider doing so and I promise to continue to turn out entertaining posts and products for years to come!