Winter is Coming
I don’t mean that in a Game of Thrones way. It’s time to get out the warm coats and gloves, the shovels, the rock salt.
I once asked for rock salt at the supermarket and the young clerk looked at me like I was from another planet. Apparently it’s “ice melt” now.
I went to get out my winter coat and my gloves, and for some reason I found three “right” gloves of different brands and styles but no “left” ones. I know that sounds like an old joke, but it’s true. The other ones must be in my dark closet, way in back or on the floor with a bunch of other junk.
It was 61 degrees here on Monday and then in the 40’s mid-week, so I haven’t needed them recently. But this weekend it will be the temperature it’s supposed to be, and soon it will be bitter cold so I’ll need to find those glove companions.
I also found out that I evidently don’t own any sweaters. What happened to them? Didn’t I wear one last year? I have other clothing items that begin with “sweat” — shirts and pants — but no sweaters. I’ll have to get some soon, a couple for everyday wear and an ugly one for Christmas. Though on Christmas, is any sweater really ugly?
Schrafft’s, Stuckey’s, and Sears
Three chain stores are on their way to coming back, and by sheer coincidence they all begin with the letter “S.”
One of them, Stuckey’s, you may already know about if you read Bill Newcott’s piece. But we’re also seeing the return of Schrafft’s and the possible — possible — return of Sears, believe it or not.
“Requiem”
That’s the name of the Raymond Chandler poem discovered by Andrew Gulli, managing editor of the mystery magazine The Strand. It was found in a shoebox at The University of Oxford. Chandler wrote it in 1955, shortly after the death of his wife Cissy, and was clearly inspired by her.
You can read it in the 25th anniversary issue of The Strand, on sale now.
Santa Claus is Comin’ to His Final Resting Place
But not the real one, kids! It’s actually a ceremony for Edmund Gwenn, who played Santa in one of the best Christmas movies, Miracle on 34th Street. As I mentioned earlier this year, the urn containing his ashes was misplaced decades ago and was finally found by the people at Hollywood Graveyard, and last week they took them to his new home at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Gift of the Week
What do you get for the man who has everything? The Meat Card! For only $23.99 you get to put any message you want on a greeting card-size piece of beef jerky.
Christmas Song of the Week
This is Kay Starr, who also did the beautiful “December.”
RIP Ryan O’Neal, André Braugher, Ellen Holly, Jack Hogan, Stan Rogow, Shirley Anne Field, Lola Dee, and Marisa Pavan
Ryan O’Neal starred in such movies as Love Story, Paper Moon, Barry Lyndon, The Main Event, and What’s Up, Doc? He also appeared on Peyton Place, Empire, Leave It to Beaver, Perry Mason, and other shows. He died last week at the age of 82.
André Braugher starred in such TV shows as Homicide: Life on the Street, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Men of a Certain Age, The Good Fight, Hack, and Gideon’s Crossing, and appeared in movies like The Tuskegee Airmen, Salt, The Mist, Primal Fear, and Glory. He died Monday at the age of 61.
Ellen Holly was a groundbreaking part of the soap One Life to Live, playing Carla Benari, a Black actress trying to pass as white. She also appeared on Guiding Light and In the Heat of the Night as well as in movies like School Daze and Cops and Robbers. She died last week at the age of 92.
Jack Hogan starred in the 1960s World War II series Combat! He also appeared on dozens of other TV shows and even worked in the casting department of Magnum, P.I. He died last week at the age of 94.
Stan Rogow produced the popular show Lizzie McGuire as well as the TV version of Fame and many other shows. He died last week at the age of 75.
Shirley Anne Field appeared in such movies as Alfie, The Entertainer, The Damned, The Rachel Papers, and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, as well as TV shows like Where the Heart Is, Santa Barbara, and Murder, She Wrote. She died Sunday at the age of 87.
Lola Dee was a singer in the 1950s, known for such songs as “Hitsity Hotsity,” “Pretty Eyed Baby,” “With a Little More Love,” and a cover of the Platters song “Only You (and You Alone).” She died last week at the age of 95.
Marisa Pavan appeared in such movies as The Rose Tattoo, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, Solomon and Sheba, and The Midnight Story, as well as TV shows like Ryan’s Hope, Naked City, and The Rockford Files. She died last week at the age of 91.
This Week in History
Clarence Birdseye Born (December 9, 1886)
The headquarters of the frozen food king used to be not too far from where I grew up.
Magnum, P.I. Premieres (December 11, 1980)
The good one, with Tom Selleck. Some people forget the show had a different theme song for the first season.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: “Lost His Mitten” (December 14, 1957)
When artist Ben Kimberly Prins thought he had drawn too many lost items for the wall, a school principal told him “draw twice as many.”
December is National Pear Month
Such a neglected fruit. Not as popular as the cool kids in the fruit bowl, apples and bananas. Here are a few holiday-related recipes to try.
Veggie Desserts has these Poached Pears in Red Wine with Cinnamon Cream, while Once Upon a Chef has Baked Pears in Spiced Pomegranate Syrup. My Recipes has these Holiday Pears, Jamie Oliver has an Easy Festive Pear and Gingerbread Bake, and Happy Foodie has these Poached Pears with Vanilla and Cinnamon.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
Winter Begins (December 21)
I told you winter was coming. At exactly 10:27 p.m. ET, if you want to set your alarm.
Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic (December 21)
CBS celebrates the career of one of our greatest entertainers with a two-hour special. It starts at 9 p.m.
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Comments
Jeez Bob, with the weather forecasts I’ve seen on the national news for your section of the U.S., you’d BETTER find the left mates to the right gloves. Freezing hands is no joke. A sweater or two is a good idea. The California Lottery is currently running ugly Christmas sweater ads. It just so suits this state.
Actually, sometimes Ca. gets things right! Thanks for the link on Sears. Burbank is only about 20 miles away, and I’d like to go, but after the Holidays. Accidents everywhere; hate driving unless I have to. My Christmas presents are new and renewal subscriptions to the Post. I finally got my Christmas cards done, not having ‘done them out’ since 2019. Time consuming yes, but worthwhile things usually are. A cancelled business trip to Tokyo serving as inspiration for some, classic cars, and ’60s parties for others.
Stephanie Stuckey is one shrewd businesswoman, in reviving her family’s core products and making a success of it. Great new Post feature! Thanks for the Hollywood Graveyard link on Edmund Gwenn. Nice Christmas sequel to the one in August.
I’ll get a sympathy card to Tatum O’Neal. It’s hard enough to lose a parent, but more so during the Holidays. She’s a very friendly, down to earth woman. Got to spend time speaking with her about life at a ‘Hollywood Show’ in Feb. 2019 down by LAX. I initially went to meet Angie Dickinson, but she stayed home because it was pouring—hard! Shatner showed up, clearing out the 2 main rooms. Their gain, my gain. Spending time with Dawn Wells was fun.
The Ben Prins cover still looks surprisingly modern. The main thing that looks vintage is the drinking fountain. Oh! Speaking of water, is anyone else aggravated that the one-gallon bottles of Crystal Geyser and other brands have dropped the easy to carry handles, while drastically raising the prices? It’s been like this for months. Geyser says it’s a “supply chain problem”. Is it though… is it really?