Picture Perfect Special: Frances Dee

Frances Dee was born in 1910 and she led the nomadic childhood of an Army Brat. When she was 19, her father was stationed in Los Angeles, and Dee began working as an extra in movies. Although she was doing it primarily for fun, she came to the attention of casting directors and by 1930 she had graduated to lead female roles.

 
 

In 1941, she co-starred with John Wayne in "A Man Betrayed". This film can be watched in the Shades of Gray Screening Room by clicking here. Check it out for a great example of Dee's low-key acting style.

But, before you leave, here are a few portraits and publicity stills taken of Dee during her years in front of the camera. (From 19230 through 1954, Dee maintained a busy schedule, appearing as lead or co-star in several films each year. She retired from acting and public life in 1954, to focus on her family and children with husband Joel McCray.)

  

 
 
 

It's National Record Store Day!

On National Record Store Day, we celebrate those large (and sometimes small) black platters can hold groovy music in their grooves!

Happy birthday, Shu Qi!

Taiwanese actress Shu Qi turns 48 years old today. Although she's a celebrated actress in her home country and elsewhere in East Asia, she is not so well known in the rest of the world.

Outside of Asia, she is best known as "the package" in the original "The Transporter" (2002) film and a co-starring turn with Jackie Chan in "Gorgeous" (1999), but that may be about to change...

Because, while 48 is considered an unlucky number by many numerologists, among the Chinese it is considered a lucky number that indicates that a person is "destined to prosper".

We'll have to check back in with Shu Qi when she turns 50, to see which numerologists have it right, evaluating whether her life's trajectory has been upward or downward.

Welcome to April!

April 1 is the day when we get serious around here. The staff gets together to discuss what will happen for the next year here on Shades of Gray (which needs to get back on track!) what will be released from NUELOW Games (which needs to release more actual game content!) and lots of other stuff.

It is all very professional and organized.

Eiffel Tower Day at Shades of Gray

On this day in 1889, the Eiffel Tower was first opened to the public. Here are some pictures that capture its beauty and majesty.

 

International Dance Day is coming...

 ... and Vera Ellen has a difficult decision to make: What shoes to use.

Will she be ready by April 29? Time will tell!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 Lucille Ball is here to show you how a proper lady celebrates this glorious day!

Not everyone necessarily thinks this holiday should be celebrated, nor that St. Patrick should be honored. In the interest of fairness, we're giving those people equal time and space this year.

March is underway

... and here's a look at how they used to advertise booze in 1908. This drawing by Georg Hanel was featured in "Jugend" Magazine.

(And if we were put in charge of marketing adult beverages today, we'd follow the lead of ad executives of yore and rely on fantasy elements, too!)

Valentine's Day Aftermath with Wonder Woman and Spider-Man

 

Happy birthday to Jennifer Aniston!

American actress Jennifer Aniston turns 55 years old today.

Aniston fell in love with acting at the age of 11, and her career began in earnest during the early 1990s with a leading role on the very short-lived sit-com "Molloy" (1992) and a starring role in the horror film "Leprechaun" (1993). In 1994, she cast as Rachel in the sit-com "Friends" and she played that role until 2004. The show is still broadcast in re-runs around the world, and it is the part for which she remains best known.

Aniston has kept a busy acting schedule for three decades now, and she shows no sign of wanting to rest on her laurels yet. We now celebrate her time in front of cameras with a few pictures. Enjoy!

 

Welcome to February!

 If I was going to sell booze to old-school fantasy roleplaying game players, I'd use art like this ad that originally appeared in Jugend (1908).

It's National Hat Day!

We once again observe National Hat Day with pictures of some friends of Shades of Gray in hats.

 

 

And finally, Claire Dodd wasn't sure whether it was National Hat Day or International Nude Day, so she came prepared for both!

The Spirit of Christmas...

... is roaming the land, spreading light in the darkness.

We wish that all visitors to Shades of Gray have a joyous Christmas!

An example of why creators need assistants...

 

Happy Birthday, Vanessa Hudgens!

Singer and actress Vanessa Hudgens turns 35 years old today. She began performing in musical theater at the age of 8, and by the time she was in her mid-teens, she'd gained worldwide fame for her role in the "High School Musical" film series and a number of other projects for the Walt Disney Company.

At 18, her career took a minor hit when nude photos of her were stolen and leaked online, but she soon recovered and her fame has only grown as the years have gone by. Today, we celebrate her birthday with a small gallery of photos.