graveyard love

I never wrote about finding the final resting place of John Gilbert but I did manage to work on a photo that I took from that day. Since I feel no connection to whatever Hollywood does these days, I revel in the idea that there is so much from Hollywood’s past that I have to read, see, discover or hear. Everything from movies, books and music. I know that I will, hopefully, never be bored. Or reduced to succumbing to today’s pop culture.

With that being said, I guess you could also say, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to” and in your mind picture whatever that “‘em” is. For me it would be Jack Gilbert. Sure, he was a horny drunk, but he also packed five lifetimes worth of living into his short 36 years on this planet. I’d want to take a ride on the Wacko Jack Gilbert Express any day.

It is nice to know that he is now resting much like he lived in that house on Tower Road; on the top of a beautiful hill surrounded by beauty and looking out over all of the city. Here’s to hoping there’s no hangovers in heaven.

the picture show

At the picture show last night.

From my e-mail sent to Emily this afternoon:

“I hit up the movie theater for the double feature of “Double Indemity” and “The Blue Dahlia” and it was just about the best thing ever. Both movie prints were absolutely gorgeous and it was so much fun to do an old fashioned picture show with two old movies in a row. I was a little bit irked because they showed “DI” first and apparently today’s movie audience is too sophisticated for the dialogue of Raymond Chandler and Fred MacMurray’s style of acting; most of the people in the audience laughed through the whole film. I’m something of a movie snob and was surprised to hear scoffing and outright bursts of laughter when the scene was intended to be dramatic and tense. Poor Barbara Stanwyck, I’m sure she was turning in her grave last night around 9:00 p.m. By the time “The Blue Dahlia” went on, most of the people had cleared out and the remaining seats were relatively quiet. It was fun, nontheless.”

I guess it goes without saying that watching certain movies is intensely personal for me. Especially the ones with people that I have particular reverence for. I’ve been starry eyed over Barbara Stanwyck since I was 11 or 12 years old and I can remember clearly staying up late to record this particular movie to VHS one night.