Claudette Colbert was born 120 years ago today

We're celebrating 120 years since the birth of the versatile star of screen and stage, Claudette Colbert with a small gallery of photos!

 

Claudette Colbert was born in France on September 13, 1903. She immigrated with her parents to the United States in 1906, and young Claudette grew up in New York City with dreams of becoming a star on Broadway. When the Great Depression hit, and all but shut down stage productions, young Claudette decided to take a shot at the evolving and increasingly popular field of movies. Her first known film appearance took place in 1927.

 

After a rocky start in the film biz--that involved unhappy experiences and a commercial failure or two--she rocketed to movie fame and immortality in the mid-1930s with "In Happened One Night" and "Cleopatra" (both released in 1934. Her popularity with the movie going audiences never waned, and they followed her to television after she traded the big screen for the small one beginning in the early 1950s.

 
 
 

Claudette Colbert appeared in some 80 films and television shows of almost every genre between her screen debut in 1927 and her retirement from acting in 1987. Over those six decades, she also attempted to fulfill her childhood dreams of Broadway stardom, but she never managed to capture the hearts of theatre-goers to the degree she did those of filmlovers. She remained a radiant and charming presence right up until she passed away following a series of strokes in 1996.

Musical Monday with CoCo Lee

In July 2023, Hong Kong-born singer/songwriter CoCo Lee committed suicide at the age of 48. She had enjoyed a 30-year career in the music industry, primarily in Asia but gaining international fame for her songs in for the films "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Mulan".

According to a statement issued by her family, Lee had been dealing with worsening depression, and she finally couldn't handle it anymore. 

September is suicide awareness month. If you or someone you know are having thoughts of harming themselves, you or they should reach out for help and advice.

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Its Shoot-Em Sunday!

Elegant and deadly -- the Shades of Gray Gun Girls are ready to spend a night out on the town! 

It's a Big Fanny Friday!

It's a very special Fanny Friday today, in that it coincides with National Actors Day AND (or should we say "&"?) Ampersands Day. To make this dual celebratory day all the more festive, we are not only bringing you Fanny's thoughts on actors, but we are going BIG & bringing you more than just one cartoon!

  
 
 
 

Ellen's Leg Regimen

Ellen Majewski, one of the Shades of Gray dancers, keeps her leg strength up by doing lifts with a bowling ball thirty minutes each day.

The Culture Corner: Where Generations Meet

There's been much made of the Generation Gap that exists between Millennials and Boomers. This blog is produced by Gen-Xers, and we think we've found the perfect vehicle to stop the slings and arrows and cheap shots that are being flung back and forth by the generations to either side of us--and the even younger generation!

Today, we're introducing a new feature to the blog--The Culture Corner! It's helpful tips for making your life go smoother and getting along with those around you, no matter what generation you are. We're certain that the universality of the content in this series will show all generations that they have more in common than they have differences. We're equally certain that the series host and writer C.K. Conk will swiftly come to be a trusted source of advice for everyone. As an official Queer Old Coot, he embodies something that each of the warring generations can appreciate and claim ownership of and support for,

We're presenting The Culture Corner in comic strip format, because comics is something that's enjoyed and understood by all, from Boomers to Zoomers and beyond. The art will be by legendary cartoonist Basil Wolverton. (Click on any panel for a larger, more easily read version of the strip.)

Musical Monday with Polyphia

We're starting the work-week with some amazing guitar playing, a great tune, and an engaging video in which we need YOU to tell us what's going on.

"Chimera" is one of many great bits of genre-bending music from Texas-based band Polyphia. Most of their stuff is instrumental music growing from a hard rock base, but they stray in and out of all sorts of genres during their tracks. This song features a guest appearance by rapper Lil West, so it's got some vocals to it... but, oh my GOD--the guitar playing!

Chimera (2022)
Starring: Tim Henson, Scott LePage, Clay Gober, and Clay Aeschliman

Director: Jake Woodbridge

Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

Fanny Friday

 

Damsels & Dragons: A New Shades of Gray Series!

A young dragon had taken to dining on the sheep of a human village, snatching one each evening. As the dragon was about to grab his 14th sheep, an adventurer, whose physical strength was legendary, ambushed him. 

"I will subdue you with my bare hands, then by the gods' decree you shall become my slave and bedevil innocent people no more!" the human declared.

The dragon laughed, but his mirth faded as he came to realize he had underestimated the human. The adventurer was winning the battle.

At the very last moment, just as the dragon was about to surrender, a beautiful maiden appeared. She declared her undying love for the heroic man and ran up and kissed him. The adventurer was so distracted that the dragon ended up victorious. 

The maiden was actually the dragon's love who had shapeshifted into human form. The two dragons then celebrated by eating the adventurer's corpse. The sheep were spared that day, but for the next little while, the village lost TWO sheep each evening. (Art by Henry Justice Ford.)

To beat the summer heat...

... the Shades of Gray Dancers are staying close to (or in) the sea!