Goodbye to a Golden Girl..

Beatrice Arthur
May 13, 1922- April 25, 2009


Cousin Maude visits the Buners; part 2 of 3;


Best of Dorothy; seasons 1 & 2:



Its a rotten shame that all of the great talents not only of the studio era but, also from television's golden years, are nearly extinct. I can honestly almost name off everyone who is left. Oh, they were a rare breed, the true entertainers..




PS- BETTY WHITE, you better be taking every freaking vitamin in the universe right now woman because, quite honestly, I'm unstable enough. We can't lose you anytime soon or I'll go crazyyyy.


Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

In Honor:

In rememberance of Martin Luther King, Jr ; I have gathered together a few things to share which I found to be of interest.

Washington, D.C., circa 1916. "Slaves reunion. Lewis Martin, age 100; Martha Elizabeth Banks, age 104; Amy Ware, age 103; Rev. Simon P. Drew, born free."

I cannot help but wonder, taking into consideration what advanced ages the first three individuals in the above photograph reached, if perhaps Mr. Drew lived long enough for his heart to swell with joy and hope as human beings of every age, color, and nationality were brought together by the activism, charisma, and wise words of this man:



Join with me in enjoying the entire I Have a Dream Speech, The March on Washington; August 26th, 1963:


As you watch this, keep in mind tomorrow's inauguration and the possibility that perhaps, finally, America as a nation is realizing the great satisfaction in the words; Liberty and Justice FOR ALL.


first image courtesy of Shorpy

Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

My Favorite Famous Couples; Dedication 1.

There have been so many remarkable couples spanning the last century who have left their imprint on the hearts and minds of all who were aware of their exsistence. This is the first post in a series dedicated to those who have inspired me the most.

Lucille Desiree Ball & Desiderio Alberto Arnaz e de Acha III.


via 4EverDarling

Lucy & Desi became legends of their own time with the premiere of the first and perhaps, best loved television sitcom of the 20th century, I Love Lucy , on October 15, 1951. Unbeknownst to them, the long shot endeavour that was birthed in order to allow these two love birds to work together as opposed to being perpetually seperated by their careers [and also, by teaming up for this project, taming Desi's notorious womanizing nature], they had unleashed a legacy of laughter and unending enjoyment among the American and, a few years into production, the international audience that has carried on into the present day with I Love Lucy still being aired through syndication not only here in the U.S. but in over 80 nations worldwide, including Britain, Central America, Germany, and Japan.



Besides their television shows, Lucy & Desi owned their own studio, which they christened Desilu , and that company produced and housed the production sites of such popular 50s and 60s television favorites as The Andy Griffith Show , Our Miss Brooks , and even, due to Lucy's own good sense, Mission: Impossible and Star Trek .





I Love Lucy itself ceased production in 1957 but the beloved characters; Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel expanded in the continuation of ten years of escapades with The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour , which allowed for 13 hour long segments which expanded their popularity by another two years with this show coming to an end in 1960, the same year that the Arnazes 19 year union dissolved.







Despite the fact that Lucy and Desi could not live together forever in wedded bliss, they were famously in love with one anopther and it is widely acknowledged that, regardless of the fact that both remarried; Lucy to a mediocre stand-up comedian, Gary Morton and Desi to yet another redhead, Edith Mack Hirsch; they never ceased in loving one another very deeply and they remained extremely close until Desi's death in 1986 from lung cancer and Lucy followed suit barely two years later, a week following a seemingly successful heart surgery when her aorta ruptured in the early morning hours of April 26, 1989.









And so, a decades long love affair ceased to be on that date; April 26, 1989; with Lucille Ball's death, because Lucy remained faithful to Desi's memory for the rest of her life, despite their many ups and downs.

The world and the entertainment industry owe a lot to these tireless pioneers of the craft, what with Desi's many innovative ideas in television production, including the three camera filming method which is still in use today on many, if not all, of your current favorites; and Lucy's comedic genius and eye for the type of entertainment that would have staying power when she approved the making of Star Trek and Mission: Impossible.

These two remarkable human beings are remembered by the vox populi today with respect, reverence, and love and appreciation for the sacrifices that they endured in their personal lives to bring us, their adoring public, such everlasting joy and happiness which, as long as their are individuals like myself and the many other lovely people I have connected with as a result of my own devotion and historian-like tendencies.

I leave you with a heartfelt observation, simple but obviously impeccably true, that Desi made many years after the heyday of himself and his legendary former spouse, in an interview:

I Love Lucy was never just a title.

Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

Thank you for being a friend...

Estelle Getty
July 26, 1923-July 22, 2008

As you all know by now, Estelle Getty, best known for her role as Sophia on The Golden Girls, passed away yesterday at the age of 84.

In her honor, a compilation of some great "Sophia" moments:





Thank you for the laughter, Estelle.

Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

Tula Ellice Finklea.

The well-known actress and dancer referred to in in Hollywood as Cyd Charisse , passed away on the 17th, as I'm sure all of you are already aware but, this is the first chance I've gotten to sit down and make a post.

Cyd's filmography includes roles in such classic films as The Harvey Girls alongside Judy Garland, Silk Stockings with Fred Astaire, and she was chosen specifically by Gene Kelly to perform alongside him in the famous Broadway Medley Ballet scene from Singin' in the Rain .

She was presented with the National Medal of the Arts and Humanities in 2006 in honor of her extensive career.

So, goodbye to another of the last gems of Hollywood's golden age, and thank you for sharing your talent.


Cyd alongside Fred Astaire in The Band Wagon:

Sunny Side Up! darlings,
Krista.

There's a special little songbird who has a birthday today!

Frances Ethel Gumm



Quiet, please - there's a lady on stage;
She may not be the latest rage,
But she's singing, and she means it,
And she deserves a little silence.


Quiet, please - there's a woman up there,
And she's been honest through her songs
Long before your consciousness was raised.
Doesn't that deserve a little praise?


So, put your hands together and help her along;
All that's left of the singer's
All that's left of the song.
Stand for the ovation,
And give her one last celebration...


Quiet, please - there's a person up there,
And she's been singing of the things
That none of us could bear to hear for ourselves;
Give her your respect if nothing else.


Quiet, please - there's a lady on stage;
Conductor, turn the final page,
And when it's over we can all go home -
But she lives on - on the stage, alone.


I Don't Care, my personal favorite.

In celebration, a few other gems:

We're a Couple of Swells.


On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe

and,

The Man That Got Away

So, Judy darling, here's to you, on what would've been your 85th birthday.

Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

I'm so glad we had this time together...

Harvey Korman passed away yesterday at the age of 81.



Ick, its a shame all of these incredible entertainers are disappearing so rapidly.
Death blows, quite frankly.

In memory of Tim, I'm posting my favorite "Family" skit.
Enjoy!

Part 1:


Part 2:


You will be missed, Harvey.

Sunny Side Up!,
Krista