Waldina

Today is the 99th birthday of the actor Bea Arthur. I have seen every episode of The Golden Girls so many times, I have lost count. They used to be on late at night and I would fall asleep watching them. The world is a better place because she was in it and still feels the loss that she has left.

Ninety-seven years ago today, the film Sherlock Jr. premiered. Buster Keaton directed, co-produced, starred, and edited this silent film originally titled The Misfit. In 1991, Sherlock Jr. was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Today is Katharine Hepburn’s 114th birthday.  I tried to narrow down my favorite film of hers, but I couldn’t.  If you haven’t seen “A Delicate Balance,” you should, it showcases some of the her best acting in a screenplay by Edward Albee.  You can’t go wrong with that team.

We can all take inspiration from her fearless individuality. She created her own identity, her own reality, how she knew was the best way for her to live her life how she could do it within the construct of Hollywood, fame and the entertainment industry. We don’t have to worry about all that as much as just being as uncompromisingly authentic to ourselves as possible. Unapologetically organic. Most everyone can sniff out a fake just as much as they can recognize when they are witnessing realness. Be like Kate. The world is a better place because she was in it and still feels the loss that she has left.

Fifty years ago today, the film Mrs. Pollifax-Spy premiered. I actually watched this last night on Amazon Prime. It is just really great. It is Rosalind Russell’s last film and she even adapted the screenplay, credited under a pseudonym. You really must watch this.

Today is the 117th birthday of the artist Salvador Dali. My very favorite description of one of his pieces is that of the 1940 Painting “Daddy Longlegs of the Evening — Hope!” The painting depicts an elongated, seemingly molten human figure draped over a dead tree and trying to play a cello, while off to the left a horse is shot from a cannon. The world is a better place because he was in it and still feels the loss that he has left.

Today is the 127th birthday of Martha Graham.  Her contribution to dance is absolutely unparalleled, unmatched, and priceless.  Without her, the entire art form would not resemble what it does today.  The world is a better place because of Martha’s place in it and Martha will always have a place in the world.  A legacy that will live on forever.  The world is a better place because she was in it and still feels the loss that she has left.

Today is the 99th birthday of Nancy Walker.  My natural draw to 70’s mystery detective TV dramas made it natural that I loved her on McMillan & Wife.  Her entire resume reads impressively, the best TV shows of the time, she was on them, iconic TV shows of every decade, she guest starred.  The world is a better place because she was in it and still feel the loss that she las left.

Today is the 122nd birthday of Fred Astaire.  Naming his best work is pointless, it is all flawless. Naming one of my favorite pieces is easy, I absolutely love the “Clap Your Hands” piece from Funny Face he performs with Kay Thompson (included below).  Absolutely brilliant.  The world is a better place because he was in it and still feels the loss that he has left.

Sixty-two years ago today, the film Vertigo premiered. There is a lot to love about this film: Alfred Hitchcock, James Stewart, Kim Novak, Edith Head, Saul Bass, San Francisco. When I was living in San Francisco, I used to set my walks places to include famous landmarks and/or locations of famous films. I would walk by Scottie’s apartment building whenever possible and it was fairly east to do because it is one block downhill on Lombard from the famous block. There’s a wall in front of it now, but glimpses are still possible. This film is another one I first watched as a kid. It seemed intense then and maybe even a bit confusing, but watching it recently, it is so very beautifully stylish, but still disturbing. You have to watch this film.

Twenty-four years ago today, the film Nowhere premiered. It is a black comedy drama, the third in Greg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse trilogy and described as ‘Beverly Hills 90210 on acid’. The film follows a day in the lives of a group of Los Angeles college students and the strange lives that they lead. If reading who is in the cast isn’t enough incentive to watch this movie, I don’t know what is. The soundtrack is a perfect group of songs that encapsulates that late 90s angst. You need to see this movie.