The holidays come to Hollywood
I just love this time of the year. When I was a kid I hated the
Christmas holidays as my mother’s husband, father to my brothers
and sisters, always went out of his way to ruin holidays. Once I
married Nancy 49 years ago on Christmas Eve the holidays have never
been so blessed. Last night we attended the Hollywood Christmas
Parade which goes by Sunset Boulevard, which happens to be one
block from us. Our son, David, was here for Thanksgiving week so
that made it all the more special. I loved our 25 years in San
Francisco but we really love that Hollywood is so family
oriented.
The holidays come to Hollywood
I just love this time of the year. When I was a kid I hated the Christmas holidays as my mother’s husband, father to my brothers and sisters, always went out of his way to ruin holidays. Once I married Nancy 49 years ago on Christmas Eve the holidays have never been so blessed. Last night we attended the Hollywood Christmas Parade which goes by Sunset Boulevard, which happens to be one block from us. Our son, David, was here for Thanksgiving week so that made it all the more special. I loved our 25 years in San Francisco but we really love that Hollywood is so family oriented.
Bob Barker was the Grand Marshal as Regis was last year and in person Barker looks like he could have stayed on the “Price is Right” for another 25 years. Also waved to Fred Willard, the only actor who just makes you laugh without having to do a thing and is always the best thing in any movie in which he appears. He makes even the dumbest films seem good. He should have won the Oscar for “Best in Show” where he played the announcer at the dog show competition with one slight problem; he knew nothing about show dogs. Where’s Michael Vick when you need him? Aye chee waa waa.
I was thrilled to see Shelley Berman, a pioneer in standup comedy who still has that edge of being witty without being filthy and, of all things, intellectual. He also should have won an Oscar for his creepy role as a political snitch in the second best political film ever, “Best Man.”
Shirley Jones of “Oklahoma” and “Carousel” fame if you are 50 and over and the “Partridge Family” for the rest of the parade crowd was just radiant. Unlike Fred Willard and Shelley Berman she won an Oscar for “Elmer Gantry” starring Burt Lancaster as a money-grubbing evangelist. A work of fiction, no doubt. The always sweet Jones knows that sweet seldom wins Oscars but she won hers playing a trollop with a heart of gold and more importantly, a statue made of gold. What’s with that no graven images garbage?
My biggest applause went to Casey Kasem’s wife, the big, tall blonde who played “Low-Rett-Tah” on “Cheers.” She was the unlucky one who stole Carla’s husband away and my heart, too.
The parade crowd loves its menudo as most in our neighborhood are of the Mexican persuasion. Menudo in a Thermos on a cool 78-degree evening and watching Menudo the singing (?) group pass by on the menudomobile. Aye Chee waa waa, menudo con Menudo.
I love my readers and one of the two of you must like me as you send me free stuff;. Thanks to whoever sent me that free prepaid cremation gift certificate. What’s the asterisk for? ***Must be alive during the cremation. Aye chee waa waa.
Here’s a story that makes me hope I’m cremated before it goes into effect. The business section in today’s paper headlines “China and Mexico to build joint effort automobile.” The only business that will increase when this happens is the “joint” part. This is like Mariachi music merging with Chinese New Year’s Parade cymbals. Aye chee waa waa and pass the won ton menudo.
Love the trivia section in the sports page of the Lost Angeles Times. A basketball player for the Lakers making all his team’s points but three. But that was not even the trivia question. The question was what was the lowest score ever recorded in NBA history. Fifty-seven years ago this Thanksgiving the Pistons beat the Lakers 19-18.
Next week: Why I still think that the Pinnacle’s John Bagley is the best sports writer since 1958 when I wrote sports for the Hollister High Baler. Despite what you read in the local obituaries, Becky McGovern is not dead and I’ll have proof in next week’s column.
As I predicted they wouldn’t even wait until the official vote tally giving the Hollister City Council more taxes to find ways of wasting it on things other than the promised more police and firefighters. Now there is a movement to make the mayor of Hollister a four-year elective office at more tax dollar pay. I hate telling you “I told you so.” No I don’t! I told you so.
My neighbor’s daughter is 17 years old and has a fake I.D. and has no trouble getting into Hollywood night clubs and bars. The other night though she forgot her fake I.D. and she was not allowed in. She went to the Cinerama Dome movie complex to see the best movie of the year so far, “No Country For Old Men.” It is rated “R,” no one under 17 admitted without an adult. God, I love this country. It’s easier for a teen to get into a bar than a movie. The-tha-the-tha-the-that’s all folks!
