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Post by inger on Sept 18, 2023 20:57:57 GMT -5
The Marx Brothers, especially in their early films, were pure genius. When they switched studios and the new guys wanted more structure rather than the improvisational chaos of the first efforts, things definitely went downhill. Having said that Rizz, I believe you are thinking of Groucho performing in gown and mortarboard as Quincy Adams Wagstaff doing "(Whatever It Is) I'm Against It" from their 1932 movie "Horsefeathers." The Bee-A-Bo number was the work of those other comedic masters The Three Stooges from the Columbia Short "Swingin' The Alphabet" with Moe leading the instruction of a group of unimpressed female students. In "Horsefeathers" Groucho is the newly-appointed President of Huxley University. His stated goal is to build a university that the football team can be proud of. Nothing new under the sun. You are correct! I meant to say The Three Stooges and somehow wrote down the Marx Brothers instead! I loved the Marx Brothers much more than The Stooges, but both were critical to my upbringing and sense of logic.  Wise guy, eh? Pick two. Boink!… |
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Post by desousa on Sept 19, 2023 6:35:23 GMT -5
Good to know that you and Mrs. Pipps are hale and healthy. I admire your spirit of adventure and perambulation. Supposedly, I am a descendant of either Samuel de Champlain or Jacques Cartier - my Aunt Helen researched and then mixed up the lineage more than once. Either way, someone with my blood trace explored the Saint Lawerence river region and bay in the early 1600s or early 1500s. Speaking of Rheal Cormier, when I first saw his name on a MLB uniform, I assumed incorrectly that he was from south Louisiana, as Cormier is a very common name in Vermilion Parish. Sadly, Cormier died of pancreatic cancer in 2021. Enjoy your travels, my friend! And, let us know about the seafood victuals you try. Thank you for your kind wishes, Monsieur. It would certainly be plausible that the origins on your maternal side could be through Champlain -- his wife's name was Boule if that rings any familial bells -- since he established a settlement in Acadia (later Nova Scotia) from which the Acadians were expelled by the British in 1745 and many wound up in the French settlement of Louisiana. I am sure you know the term Cajun is derived from Acadian. We visited Grand Pre National Park in Nova Scotia a few years ago, the place that had been a major Acadian settlement and the setting for Longfellow's somewhat fanciful historical tale of "Evangeline." Just a beautiful, serene setting. If memory serves, M. Inger also has French-Canadian antecedents on his mother's side. Not saying you two are cousins twice removed or anything, but maybe you should do the Ancestry.com DNA test just to be on the safe side. I did not know that about Rheal Cormier. Sorry to learn about his demise. I always loved his name, which sounded more like a goalie for the Quebec Nordiques than a major league pitcher. And for sure, I will issue a detailed report on what I expect to be a heavily seafood-based regimen in PEI. The pelican diet. They are also famous for potatoes -- one of the main tourist attractions is a potato museum, which gives you some idea of how much action there is on the island. But we're around for the next few days, so I will get to see the Toronto series (and that will be it for me for Yankee baseball in 2023, barring a comeback for the ages that would almost have to include taking a minimum of five out of six from the Blue Jays.) My mother's family first arrived near where Quebec City is now, sometime in the early 1600's. They came to the states (Vermont)in the late 1800's. Now I live less than an hour from Quebec and two hours from Montreal. My mother's maiden name was Larocque. |
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Post by desousa on Sept 19, 2023 6:39:14 GMT -5
Oh, I meant to add Kaybli that driving back I got to see the old "Trenton Makes, The World Takes" sign brightly illuminated off of Highway 1. I haven't seen that in years and thought it had deteriorated. Looks like they've freshened it up. Trenton doesn't make my Top Ten Cities in New Jersey list. Lol I don’t think Trenton makes anyone’s top ten cities list unless you’re talking about top ten cities you want to avoid. Not as bad as Camden at least. Gloria would agree with you. Years ago, she worked in Trenton and said it was a pit, but at least it wasn't Camden. |
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Post by desousa on Sept 19, 2023 6:52:50 GMT -5
The Marx Brothers, especially in their early films, were pure genius. When they switched studios and the new guys wanted more structure rather than the improvisational chaos of the first efforts, things definitely went downhill. Having said that Rizz, I believe you are thinking of Groucho performing in gown and mortarboard as Quincy Adams Wagstaff doing "(Whatever It Is) I'm Against It" from their 1932 movie "Horsefeathers." The Bee-A-Bo number was the work of those other comedic masters The Three Stooges from the Columbia Short "Swingin' The Alphabet" with Moe leading the instruction of a group of unimpressed female students. In "Horsefeathers" Groucho is the newly-appointed President of Huxley University. His stated goal is to build a university that the football team can be proud of. Nothing new under the sun. I believe Mel Brooks “sort of” reprised the Bee-A-Boo in one of his movies. Perhaps one of those History of the World spoofs he did. I think it went into the ficky-fies, ending in “Ficky-Fie F—- You”… 🤓 Brooks at his best was pure madcap comic genius. Brooks is still living at 97. He must be an absolute hoot when he soils himself… Jerry Seinfeld has a show called, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee". It's essentially what the name implies as Jerry picks up a comedian from their home and they go out to drink coffee, have breakfast or lunch and talk. The cars are handpicked for the comedian. He did a show with Carl Reiner and picked him up in a Rolls Royce which had the turning radius of a battleship. During their conversation, Reiner tells Jerry that he has dinner at his house almost every night with Mel Brooks. They order out, watch Jeopardy and then a movie. Jerry asks if he can come over and join them. Reiner says sure and Jerry arrives with pastrami sandwiches and hilarity ensues. Brooks is still one of the best story tellers alive today. One can tell Seinfeld is in awe of these two 90 something comic geniuses. I would have given anything to watch Jeopardy with those two, but unfortunately Reiner died in 2020. |
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Post by kaybli on Sept 19, 2023 9:00:16 GMT -5
Lol I don’t think Trenton makes anyone’s top ten cities list unless you’re talking about top ten cities you want to avoid. Not as bad as Camden at least. Gloria would agree with you. Years ago, she worked in Trenton and said it was a pit, but at least it wasn't Camden. Lol. There’s always worse. Unless you live in Camden. |
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Post by inger on Sept 19, 2023 9:01:47 GMT -5
I believe Mel Brooks “sort of” reprised the Bee-A-Boo in one of his movies. Perhaps one of those History of the World spoofs he did. I think it went into the ficky-fies, ending in “Ficky-Fie F—- You”… 🤓 Brooks at his best was pure madcap comic genius. Brooks is still living at 97. He must be an absolute hoot when he soils himself… Jerry Seinfeld has a show called, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee". It's essentially what the name implies as Jerry picks up a comedian from their home and they go out to drink coffee, have breakfast or lunch and talk. The cars are handpicked for the comedian. He did a show with Carl Reiner and picked him up in a Rolls Royce which had the turning radius of a battleship. During their conversation, Reiner tells Jerry that he has dinner at his house almost every night with Mel Brooks. They order out, watch Jeopardy and then a movie. Jerry asks if he can come over and join them. Reiner says sure and Jerry arrives with pastrami sandwiches and hilarity ensues. Brooks is still one of the best story tellers alive today. One can tell Seinfeld is in awe of these two 90 something comic geniuses. I would have given anything to watch Jeopardy with those two, but unfortunately Reiner died in 2020. Reiner was so madcap that I believe he’d laugh if his urn were placed at a contestants podium during Jeopardy and a scorecard showed a 0 for his score. I know it’s said too often about entertainment, but the true geniuses that have been lost can never be replaced. Comedy is not the same anymore. Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Johnny Carson, Steve Martin, Red Skelton ,the Marx Brothers, and even the three Stooges practiced a brand of absurdism that we’ll never see again. Their comedy was often the right vehicle at the right time so show off a new medium (TV or Movies) that isn’t going to play in the future. We were fortunate to live in that era. Cursing was okay, but not required. I don’t think Red Skelton ever said even a “damn”, but the subtle innuendo of some of his improvisation was hilariously portrayed. A projectile toward his lap would result in him pinching the bridge of his nose in suggested pain and he needn’t grab his crotch to let you know what happened. All Carson needed to do was look at the camera with a face that could portray his most suggestive thoughts and his audience would talk about it at the water cooler the next day. No more arrows through the head. Martin pulled that gag out as time after time he emptied his head of the things others thought every day but wouldn’t do. I’d almost add Howie Mandel to this group, but only for the skit where he put the rubber gloves on his head and then inflated them. Good bye to comedy forever? No. But the geniuses of the future have their work cut out for them. Today’s sitcoms aren’t funny. At least I assume not, I don’t watch them. When Ruthie turns one on, I don’t laugh. I miss laughing at truly funny TV shows and movies… |
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Post by inger on Sept 19, 2023 9:04:06 GMT -5
Gloria would agree with you. Years ago, she worked in Trenton and said it was a pit, but at least it wasn't Camden. Lol. There’s always worse. Unless you live in Camden. Relative to where you live, I suppose. 10 Most Dangerous Cities in America (2023) Memphis, Tennessee St. Louis, Missouri Oakland, California Albuquerque, New Mexico Baltimore, Maryland New Orleans, Louisiana Detroit, Michigan Lubbock, Texas Chicago, Illinois Stockton, California… |
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Post by pippsheadache on Sept 19, 2023 12:05:11 GMT -5
Thank you for your kind wishes, Monsieur. It would certainly be plausible that the origins on your maternal side could be through Champlain -- his wife's name was Boule if that rings any familial bells -- since he established a settlement in Acadia (later Nova Scotia) from which the Acadians were expelled by the British in 1745 and many wound up in the French settlement of Louisiana. I am sure you know the term Cajun is derived from Acadian. We visited Grand Pre National Park in Nova Scotia a few years ago, the place that had been a major Acadian settlement and the setting for Longfellow's somewhat fanciful historical tale of "Evangeline." Just a beautiful, serene setting. If memory serves, M. Inger also has French-Canadian antecedents on his mother's side. Not saying you two are cousins twice removed or anything, but maybe you should do the Ancestry.com DNA test just to be on the safe side. I did not know that about Rheal Cormier. Sorry to learn about his demise. I always loved his name, which sounded more like a goalie for the Quebec Nordiques than a major league pitcher. And for sure, I will issue a detailed report on what I expect to be a heavily seafood-based regimen in PEI. The pelican diet. They are also famous for potatoes -- one of the main tourist attractions is a potato museum, which gives you some idea of how much action there is on the island. But we're around for the next few days, so I will get to see the Toronto series (and that will be it for me for Yankee baseball in 2023, barring a comeback for the ages that would almost have to include taking a minimum of five out of six from the Blue Jays.) My mother's family first arrived near where Quebec City is now, sometime in the early 1600's. They came to the states (Vermont)in the late 1800's. Now I live less than an hour from Quebec and two hours from Montreal. My mother's maiden name was Larocque. This forum is loaded with French Canadian antecedents. Not me, although there is some French in there but they hung out in Scotland for a century or so before hunkering down in Maryland for about 275 years. I don't suppose you are related to either former Montreal Canadiens goalie Bunny Larocque or old-time actor Rod Larocque? The two movies he appeared in that are still in general circulation are "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" in 1939 and "Meet John Doe," his last film in 1941. |
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Post by pippsheadache on Sept 19, 2023 12:14:27 GMT -5
Lol I don’t think Trenton makes anyone’s top ten cities list unless you’re talking about top ten cities you want to avoid. Not as bad as Camden at least. Gloria would agree with you. Years ago, she worked in Trenton and said it was a pit, but at least it wasn't Camden. I agree that Camden beats Trenton in the race to the bottom, although I've been to other cities that are Camdenesque in many ways, like Gary, Indiana and Flint, Michigan and Jackson, Mississippi. You will be wanting your mommy pretty quickly in any of those burgs. Camden is still the headquarters of Campbell Soup, and up until the 1980s it was home to the main manufacturing facility of RCA Victor -- a lot of Elvis Presley records were pressed in Camden. That old building, later called the Nipper Building for the dog on the RCA label, was converted to expensive loft apartments with nice views over the Delaware River and the Philly skyline. I can't imagine who would want to pay top dollar for a place surrounded by rundown neighborhoods, but I guess that's what urban pioneering is all about. Actually crime has dropped drastically in Camden over the past generation. I think that's probably because most of the businesses or people who might be worthwhile targeting have moved out. |
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Post by pippsheadache on Sept 19, 2023 12:33:16 GMT -5
Lol. There’s always worse. Unless you live in Camden. Relative to where you live, I suppose. 10 Most Dangerous Cities in America (2023) Memphis, Tennessee St. Louis, Missouri Oakland, California Albuquerque, New Mexico Baltimore, Maryland New Orleans, Louisiana Detroit, Michigan Lubbock, Texas Chicago, Illinois Stockton, California… Yep, Memphis and St. Louis have earned their places in the violent crime Hall of Fame for many years now. Camden is too small to compete with the pros in those cities. One difference between places like Camden or Gary or Flint and those larger cities is that the big ones still retain some faded grandeur (and still some parts that are quite interesting and worth visiting) that at least theoretically could be restored. The smaller awful places were typically never very elegant, more like working class functional towns that at least at one time were quite liveable, if rather modest, with functioning everyday services. I can still remember in the 1950s and early 60s, now-hellish places like Camden and Chester, PA were perfectly fine to visit -- there were restaurants with character and clothing stores and pubs that would be patronized by customers from the suburbs without a thought for any danger. Major leaguers like Danny Murtaugh and Mickey Vernon had off-season jobs at high-end haberdasheries in Chester. My brother had his guitar teacher in Chester. Today you would have to be either crazy or a drug dealer to go there. There are no shops of any kind beyond check-cashing places and seedy bars and Goodwill stores. Mostly just boarded-up buildings. I was never deterred from going "slumming" in bad neighborhoods in search of obscure R&B records or oddball eateries, but Camden and Gary and Jackson et al no longer provide those small pleasures. |
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