From CNN: Actress and spokeswoman June Allyson dies

It was pretty sad to read this as she was one of the few surviving major MGM musical stars from the forties. But according to the article she had been in ill health for awhile.

I only have a couple of her movies on DVD (Good News, The Glen Miller Story) and I’ve only seen a couple more of her filmes off TCM at most. But she was always so sunny in her movies, very much playing the girl next door role or the perfect little wife. But with an independent streak…

I also got a copy of her autobiography last year. She certainly didn’t have an easy life - the childhood accident, her first couple of marriages (being married to a much older man such as Dick Powell didn’t seem like a fairytale to me) and other assorted dramas. I am also thankful for her participation in Thats Entertainment 3 and other interviews that she has done over the years, so I have gotten to understand some of her percetptions on Hollywood when she was a film star.
She will be missed.

It was my birthday a week ago. Just one more year… and I’ll be 30.

If my sister reminds me of that one more time… well….

There wasn’t a lot that I really wanted for my birthday. The only thing I didn’t get that I really want is that damn Rodgers & Hart compilation CD that I”ve mentioned before.

I’ve also been on the hunt for books again. I got a copy of Jackie Cooper’s autobiography and I just finished it yesterday. I found his view of working as a child actor extremely interesting but definitely a touch bitter. I can see why… pushed into the industry by his mother and then he felt that his he didn’t enjoy a satisfying film directing career.

I also bid on an auction by the book on child stars by Dick Moore: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I was fortunate to find a US seller who went to the post office to find out how much it would cost to send it to me in New Zealand. I’m part-way through it and it’s been amusing to find out more about some stars I already know (eg. Donald O’Connor) and learn about others I know nothing about.

I think though in the next few weeks… I”ll definitely be watching a few more films. I’m going house-sitting for 4 weeks and I’ll only have dialup access for that time so I don’t know how often I’ll want to be logging on.

Shock horror… I went to the movies last night and saw The Break Up. And not by myself either. While most people I know were watching the rugby. I know the reviews were mixed and imdb only gives it a 5.8…. but I think it was well done. I thought the photo montage with the opening credits was different, and it was well shot on location in Chicago.

Ironically, I have been to the movies three times in the last year. Two of those movies starred Jennifer Aniston. And she’s still my favourite Friends actor.

I enjoyed myself. I can’t see I’ve ever been in any of the situations portrayed, but they were hilarious. My personal favourites were the strip poker game with the exotic dancing and when Brooke lets her brother borrow her room for his group’s singing practice when Garry is hungover. And her brother beats the crap outta him. I’m like…. is this what I have to look forward to if I ever snare a man?

I’ve now had a chance to listen to one of my new CD’s - Puttin’ on the Ritz: Capitol Sings Irving Berlin. I’ve never had a Irving Berlin compilation CD before…. and why did I wait so long to get one? Now I need to make the hard decisions about what tracks need to go onto my iPod. .

The one word I would use to describe it is… subtle. I’ve been a huge fan of the Capitol compilations I’ve listened to to date and this one is no exception. It’s one of those CDs that I can play on my computer and it’s a nice background to whatever I’m doing. And several of the movie songs I’m familiar with are sung by other people which is a nice change.

Now I want the Rogers & Hart one. I nearly bought it this on the same amazon.com order!!

I always enjoy reading comments that people post on this site… it makes me want to blog more. Comments are few..  but a very welcome change from the spam comments I normally receive. 

I just had to post a link to this blog as I really enjoyed reading the posts about Betty Garrett who is one of my favourite musical actresses.  If it wasn’t so late at night, I would have read a few more posts.  But it’s now on the blogroll so I can look at it again.  Thank you to Wendy (a fellow kiwi) who showed it to me!