#meanwhile molly is like 32 in my mind

[lesbeing]

do u think haru would dye his hair back for his wedding

[papermoonloveslucy]

IS SHE A NATIONAL HABIT? and OTHER PRESS

December 19, 1965

On Sunday, December 19, 1965, the TV Tab supplement to the Rochester (NY) Democrat and Chronicle, published an article by UPI’s Vernon Scott about the staying power of Lucille Ball. 

The article is reprinted verbatim below, with direct quotes from Lucille Ball in bold and italics. 

By VERNON SCOTT, HOLLYWOOD (UPI) 

"Institution" is an unflattering term for beautiful redhead, but it fits Lucille Ball who, after 14 years in television, is still among the top 10 in the ratings. 

Mention "Lucy" in the civilized world, and people everywhere know who you're talking about.

Lucy's unprecedented longevity as a television comedienne is all the more remarkable in that she began as a starlet in "Roman Scandals" with Eddie Cantor back in 1933. 

Remarkable because she alone among her contemporaries is still a major star. The life span of starlets is usually five years. If a girl can act, she may survive for 15 years. But once a starlet's measurements have been exploited and her youthful beauty fades she dissolves into the scenery on the back lot. 

But Lucy? She's been going strong for 32 years. 

Her figure is terrific. Better than most of this season's sex kittens. On screen she appears a youthful 35. In person her features are animated, her blue eyes brimming with mischief and intelligence. 

What's more, Lucy has survived on the strength of her own comic genius. When she and Desi parted it was predicted Lucy couldn't carry on alone. Wrong. The same was said when Vivian Vance departed last season. Wrong. 

"The Lucy Show" title says it all. She stands alone. 

Asked how she managed to go on and on, Lucy said: "My personal life may have something to do with it. I've almost always enjoyed good health. I take care of myself. I don't drink. I'm happily married, and I don't let work interfere with being a good wife and mother.” 

Is she, indeed, an institution? "I never thought it unflattering to be an institution. The idea appeals to me. I credit the steadfastness of my viewers for my longevity on television. I've become a national habit.” 

"And children love my show, too. I think people began tuning in to the old 'I Love Lucy' show because Desi and I were married on-screen and off. It was different. We had strong audience identification with other married couples.” 

"Later when Vivian and I carried on as a couple of women trying to raise kids without a man around, we still had a great deal of identification with a large segment of the population.” 

"We also knew what not to do. We kept away from vulgarity, distasteful subjects and unwholesomeness." 

Lucy still failed to touch on the element that makes her such a popular favorite. She doesn't really know. Perhaps no one does. 

I think it is that she is the only comedienne who combines humor sometimes outlandish clowning with beauty, sex appeal and, most Importantly, femininity. Even with her hair frowzed, her face dirty and clothes in tatters she looks like a female should look. 

The TV Tab also provided listings, including one for a Monday, December 20, 1965 repeat of “The Lucy Show” episode “Lucy in the Music World” (TLS S4;E3) first aired on September 27, 1965. 

Meanwhile, in Iowa’s The Courier on December 19, 1965, TV critic Ken Murphy wrote about Milton Berle and Lucille Ball, the king and queen of TV comedy. 

Murphy is talking about “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (TLS S4;E13) first aired on December 6, 1965. 

In Long Beach (CA) the Evening News and Independent-Press-Telegram Tele Vues took a look at Lucy’s partner in crime, Gale Gordon with this article from Bert Resnik’s column Bert’s Eye View: 

IF SANTA CAN FIND it in his heart to forgive the on-screen, blowhard shouting of Gale Gordon, television's meanest man could have the following in his Christmas stocking: A drill-press, a shaper-planer and a band-saw. 

Gale, who currently is flipping his lid as blustering banker Theodore J. Mooney on CBS-TV's Monday "The Lucy Show," is a do-it -yourselfer magna cum laude. 

He does it himself on a 100-acre ranch in the San Ysidro Mountains near Borrego Springs. 

It is doing that utilizes a 37-horsepower, 4-wheel, lightweight tractor that Santa, in the guise of his wife of 28 years, Virginia, gave to him a previous Christmas. 

It is more than just a tractor to Gale. 

"It is therapy for me," he said. 

In addition to the therapeutic tractor, the hoped-for drill press, planer and handsaw, Gale has a cement-mixer (an anniversary present) and numerous tools. 

"I can work all day long mixing cement and to me this is the same as going to the opera for some people. It's completely relaxing."

THERE IS NO therapy for Gale in bombastically blowing his top onscreen. He's not knocking it, mind you. Just don't get the idea that it's the best way to prevent ulcers - not that Gale has one. 

He enjoys the flip-wigging for two reasons: It gets laughs and it brings money.

Both have been coming quite persistently since, as Mayor La Trivia in the "Fibber McGee and Molly" era, he hollered his first roof down. 

On television he's blustered as the meany school principal in "Our Miss Brooks," was Uncle Paul in the "Pete and Gladys" series and served a stint as Mr. Wilson for "Dennis the Menace." 

It is blustering, incidentally, that highly challenges Gale's acting abilities. 

For off-screen, he's the opposite kind of man. 

"People who exhibit temper are very disagreeable," he said. "I don't like to be disagreeable.” 

"By nature, I'm a very placid person. Very little disturbs me." 

In his 43-year-career, Gale learned by observing more temperamental show-business personalities that: "Temper is such a waste of time." 

It is a career that has been marked by an appearance in the 1928 silent movie, "Temptress," with Greta Garbo.” 

"She's the most ethereal and beautiful creature I've ever seen in my life," he said. "Her ability is in the tremendous appeal she has for the audience." 

It is a career that included a radio role as, leading man in "The Mary Pickford Show” in the 1930s. "She was very charming, very considerate." 

Eve Arden, the title star of "Our Miss Brooks," has "no equal" in her style of sophisticated comedy. Miss Arden, Gale and other members of that television series' cast "were a family." 

It is Lucille Ball, however, with whom Gale finds it most stimulating to work. "I admire her above all women her ability, her knowledge of theater and for a very keen sense -- an instinct, actually -- of what will p!ay funny to an audience.” 

"I'd rather be a supporting player for Lucy than be a starring player myself under any of the most favorable conditions.”

The Honolulu (HI) Star-Bulletin printed this brief mention on December 19, 1965, regarding children of celebrities going into show business. 

While across the Pacific, in The San Francisco (CA) Examiner, columnist John J. Miller reported on Lucille Ball’s day in tax court. 

[orenbeval-blog]

Rosie Watson’s Diary - Tue.12/02/2030 (part 3)

Good thing about automatic tubes : they are never late and super reliable. Daddy told me once there used to actually be drivers inside the tubes and they would drive them along the tunnels. That sounds sooooooo XXth Century alike !

 At the practice, I kindly said hello to the young lady at the entrance desk (I don’t know, I have the feeling there is a new one like every three weeks or so… never understood why) and sat down in the waiting room. There was another person waiting. So I texted Irene, Molly, Harry and Sherlock.

18:01 - Hi Harry, I am fine. I am at Daddy’s practice to bring him back his phone.

18:03 - Hi Sherlock, I am fine. I just went home to collect my stuff. I will sleep at Molly’s. I took Daddy’s phone. I am at his practice to give it back to him. He slept at Harry’s last two nights. <3

18:05 – Molly, Hi ! I went home to get my stuff. I found Daddy’s phone. Am currently at his practice to give it back to him. See you later.

18:06 – I am at Daddy’s practice. I’ve got his phone. I don’t understand anything. Would you mind explaining ?

18:07 – Well, Junior good evening. Explaining what ?

18:08 – Moriarty, Magnusson and Morstan. And the fourth M.

18:09 – They’re dead. Period.

18:10 – Shall I ask my parents ?

18:12 – I wouldn’t suggest that, right now. 

18: 12 - What is this obsession all about ?

18:13 – I don’t know. I handed Sherlock some adoption forms and… suddenly all Daddy and him were talking about implied jumping from a roof, being dead, dismantling a mafia in Serbia, Jim Moriarty, my Mum being an assassin, Daddy being a drinker, Daddy being violent, Sherlock being shot… And NOBODY wants to give me any real explanation.

18:17 – I see.

18:17 – So ?

18:18 - Who is Jim Moriarty ?

18:19 - Ask the Lestrade bloke.

18:19 - I am asking you.

18:21 - Wrong person. I won’t say anything. Leave him alone, he is of no interest. Go read Angela Davis' work instead, put something usefull into your brain.

18:23 - He made Sherlock jump from a roof ?

18:24 - Christ Junior, don't go down there.

18:25 - I already am. I want to understand.

18:31 - He... liked your Sherlock Dad. Wanted to play with him. Made him jump from a roof, yes, just for fun. He was a bad guy. Really bad. You don’t wanna know.

18:32 – But WHY did Sherlock Jump ?

18:37 - To actually save the people he loved. Jim Moriarty wanted to “burn the heart out of him”. Just for fun. Almost managed. But failed in the very end. Because your parents are two. It's always two of them. So he died. Well I don't miss him. Nobody does. Let him be. He has done enough damage.

I didn’t get a chance to reply as suddenly Daddy was standing in front of me, in his white kittle, arms crossed, face serious. He looked grey and tired. So… THAT was Daddy without Sherlock for two days. I swallowed :

 “Hi.”

 “Hi.”

He bent over to kiss my forehead.

“I went home and found your phone on the table. I thought it would be easier if you had it. I read your text messages. You got some from Inspector Donovan and two from Greg.”

 He frowned while taking the phone : “Rosie…”

“I also wanted to see you.”

He looked at me and melted. His eyes went warm, his face sweetened up, he even smiled. He nodded and relaxed. I patched his wrist. He read the messages. He almost fell on the seat next to mine and slowly grabbed his head with a big sigh.

 I asked very carefully : “Daddy, what is this all about ?”

 He rose his gaze and looked at me between his fingers.

 “We…”

 “Who is Jim Moriarty ? Why did Sherlock jump from a roof ?”

 Daddy tensed.

“Of course you heard us on Saturday...”

I wanted to add like “well yes and on Friday, and on Thursday and on Wednesday and...” but I remained silent (maybe I should join a chess club or something... I find myself really good at strategic and tactical thinking...). However. He went on, voice thin and flat, breathing deeply, face and shoulders tensed. His scare seemed to cause him pain, he was slowly rubbing it without seeming to notice : “Jim Moriarty was an insane criminal who had decided he would play cat and mouse with Sherlock just to… not be bored. He was very dangerous. He had many people working for him. Powerful people.”

He seemed to search for some proper wording. GOD as if I was 6 or something... When he spoke again, there was some sort of thump growling under his stiff voice : “At some point, he managed to trap Sherlock, to make the world believe Sherlock was all fake, and to force him to fake his own suicide in jumping from Saint-Bart’s roof. I was there, I have seen it. -he swallowed- Well… Sherlock couldn’t tell me he was alive and so I grieved. I was… hardly alive for several months. And while Sherlock was travelling around the world to dismantle Moriarty’s net, I met your Mum and started to survive again. She helped me getting better. And… I proposed. And Sherlock suddenly was back. Not dead. It had been my very dream for two years, you know... I had wished so hard for him not being dead... But... well I am a docotor and a soldier, it can hardly get more sensible so... I was wishing but not believing, and... But... suddenly he just was there... But… I… had been mourning for two years, I couldn’t suddenly jump back to… this was… and anyway you wouldn’t be there if I had. And I therefore married your Mum. You have the pictures. Sherlock was my best man at that wedding. He made it...”

He closed his eyes. His voice felt like squeezed out of his chest, he seemed to... force himself into speaking. This was difficult, I could see it.

“He made it... -he swallowed hard, licked his lips, shut his eyes- quite clear how he was feeling towards me during his best man speech. Too late, of course. I was… so lost and confused. It’s hard to explain. Anger, regrets, fear… not a nice cocktail. Your Mum and Sherlock didn’t go along very well. And he had actually failed at dismantling Moriarty’s net. So it all restarted again. Eventually… your Mum got shot. I moved back to 221B and… well… Sherlock and I talked. Or maybe I was the only one to talk... who knows. I don’t.”

He opened his eyes and rose his gaze to met mine. He smiled : “You made us actually talk. And… thanks to you… we were able to find some balance and to build something… really worth it. We were able to leave the past behind and to turn to future.”

“So why is that past coming back ?”

“Because I think there are some key points we... omit to discuss. And once again… we will have to talk, both of us this time, because of you.”

He smiled. Quite shyly.

“I will go home tonight. Greg is right, Sherlock needs me. He might behave as the biggest dick on earth... but this is just Sherlock being afraid and in need for a hug. I know it but damn... I’m just human, I can’t always be available on demand when my husband suddenly freaks out for reasons I don’t get and which will take days to work out of him... I’m no fucking psychiatrist and... arf, however… now that he knows I have my phone back, he will turn insane if I don’t text. I have to go home. And, anyway, Harry’s couch is by no means an option for a third night.”

My eyes went big : “You left your phone home on purpose ?!”

He smiled again. A sad smile. He scratched his head and went slowly up. He looked so tired. So… old.

“I think it’s better if I stay at Molly’s”.

“Yeah, I think so. Two people might be difficult for him to handle right now.”

I took my bag, closed my coat and was stepping out when he called me back :

“Rosie, love… I am proud of you. I am a really proud Dad of a wonderfull daughter. Thank you for being who you are. Times are a bit… stormy right now but don’t worry. This ship will navigate safely back to harbour. I promise.”

I just nodded.

Harbour, harbour… meanwhile, I would have to investigate harder.

Today nothing happened. I told Yifan and Kiara about all this and they decided to get involved as well. Time for them to investigate too. Tonight I am still not going home. Daddy wrote something about not to worry but the flat (the ***flat***) needed some... cleaning. Sherlock and himslef would wait for me tomorrow evening. Molly knew and was not surprised when I showed up after school. Stella came over with some funny cupcakes and it was a nice evening after all. And Yifan is investigating on the internet. So... wait and see ! :)