My New Favorite Show

Although my favorite old-fashioned time periods are Regency and Victorian I also enjoy more modern time periods such as the 1930's-1950's. I have recently discovered what is now my new favorite TV show. Ever heard of the 1950-1967 run TV game show "What's My Line?"? Far from being just another game show with expensive prizes and screaming contestants, "What's My Line?" (a.k.a. WML) was really silver screen history in the making!

WML featured a team of four panelists who weekly would rise to the challenge of guessing the occupations (or "lines") of three guests by asking yes or no questions. Each time they received a "no" answer the guest would get an amount of money. 10 "no" answers and the guest would have stumped the panel and would walk away with $50. Each show also featured at least one mystery celebrity guest (usually an actor, but sometimes a singer, athlete or political figure) who would disguise his or her voice while the blindfolded panel would try to guess who the mystery guest was. After the mystery guest's identity was revealed the panel would often discuss the celebrity's recent TV appearances or film credits.

There were also celebrities on the panel. There were three regular panelist (pictured above) which featured Arlene Francis (at left, a stage actress), Bennett Cerf (at top, co-founder of Random House publishing) and Dorothy Kilgallen (at right, journalist and columnist). The fourth panelist was usually another celebrity, one time they even had Frank Sinatra join them!

The life of the show was really the show moderator John Charles Daly (at bottom in photo, reporter/newscaster and journalist) who kept the rowdy panel in line and enjoyed watching them get stumped. What fun they all have!

So what guests did the show feature exactly? Absolutely everyone who was anyone! Here's just a few guests pictures with links to where you can watch their special appearances on YouTube.

American sweetheart, actress Debbie Reynolds. Starlet of such lovely films as Singin' In The Rain and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Miss Reynolds appeared on WML at least three times and was proclaimed queen of voice disguises. My favorite appearance features her as a blond imitating Hungarian born actress Zsa Zsa Gabor. You can watch it here.

Funny girl, the spunky Doris Day. A lovely voice and talented actress, Ms. Day stared in such great films as On Moonlight Bay, By The Light Of The Silvery Moon, The Glass Bottom Boat and Do Not Disturb. She appeared on WML at least twice and had a hard time fooling the panel with her distinctive voice. You can see an appearance here.

Charming southern gentleman Andy Griffith. Known best for his role as Sheriff Taylor, Mr. Griffith's southern drawl is hard to disguise but he had lots of fun in both of his appearances on WML. You can watch my favorite here.

Darling Dezi Arnaz & Lucille Ball. You probably know them best from "I Love Lucy" fame but they were popular long before that in movies and radio. They tried their hand at stumping the panel when they appeared together but always did a better job when they appeared separately. I love Lucy too, she's so funny! You can view my favorite here.

Lovely songstress Julie Andrews. Before her role in Sound of Music, Ms. Andrews delighted audiences on stage starring as Eliza Doolittle in Broadway's My Fair Lady. Her appearance on WML is simply delightful, you can see it here.

Country star team Dale Evans & Roy Rogers. This real husband and wife team are my absolute favorite mystery guests. They appeared at various times by themselves but together they are even sweeter. Genuine down to earth folks who were kind and true Christians in their real lives. They are so much fun to watch here.

So many other wonderful and talented actors, singers, musicians, athletes and even a politician or two graced "What's My Line?" during the 1950's and 1960's! Including but not limited to: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Greer Garson, Mickey Rooney, Jimmy Stewart, Bob Hope, Gene Kelly, Yul Brynner, Angela Lansbury, Charlton Heston, Ronald Reagan, Walt Disney, Alfred Hitchcock, Colonel Sanders (KFC founder), former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and even the man who voiced the original Donald Duck!

Lots of good clean fun! It is my new favorite show and I highly recommend you enjoy the clips I linked to this post and go over to YouTube and enjoy the hundreds of clips that are there! I learned so much about movie and theater history and the lives of those connected to it. I'm sure you can find your favorite silver screen actor or actress! :)

Dear Mr. Knightley

Last night my family and I watched again BBC's newest adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. I know this adaptation has it's faults but I really love it, in fact I think it's my favorite Emma adaptation now. There are so many lovely features: costumes, scenes, dances, actors, and a script that leaves very little of original story out!



My family and I enjoyed watching it immensely (it was my 5th time viewing it)! We particularly enjoyed Johnny Lee Miller's performance as Mr. Knightley. And I must say I am "falling in love" with Jane Austen's wonderful mature hero of Emma like never before!



Because I not too long ago made a great many screencap banners (with words, from Emma) I decided the rest of this post will be devoted to these banners and the various things that occurred to me while watching Emma last night.



Mr. Knightley lives so close to Hartfield that he walks over almost every day! He also frequently advises Mr. Woodhouse on buisness and stays to dinner. He comes and goes at all respectable hours and doesn't hesitate to use side doors. It's no wonder Emma thinks of him as an older brother and not a possible husband.



In this version of Emma, Mr. Knightley even has his own chair to pull up by the fire! He also is very at home using their ink and paper to write letters.



Mr. Knightley is such a gentleman and a kind caring friend to everyone and especially to Emma. He's so kind and attentive, so courteous and yet very practical. He is the very best friend anyone could wish for!



But Mr. Knightley also has a very good buisness head on his shoulders. He has done very well with the estate of Donwell Abbey, his farms and land yield abundantly. Mr. Knightley is definitely more at home talking crop rotations with his tenants than dancing in the finest London drawing rooms!



It occurred to me that since Donwell Abbey is so close to the town of Highbury and since the Knightleys are the richest and most prominent family around that Mr. Knightley must be the chief employer of Highbury's vicar. Then I remembered that in the book Mr. Knightley meets with Mr. Elton frequently on parish business. So really far from being Mr. E's "my friend Knightley" he is actually Mr. Elton's boss in every sense of the word!



Since the Knightley family are the chief employers of the vicar it popped into my head that Mrs. Bates' descended husband and Miss Bates' father (and Jane Fairfax's grandfather) was the former Reverend of Highbury. Mr. Knightley's kind attentions are directed toward these two ladies because he is kind, but also because he feels a responsibility to help them since his family has helped support them for years! He is always bring them gifts of food and acting on their behalf with business and letting them use his carriage when he sees the need. What a gentleman!!!



Mr. Knightley realizes he loves Emma almost as soon as Frank Churchill starts showing attentions to her. But he is quiet about his love for her and allows her to make her own choice.
"Brother and sister, no indeed!" is the one phrase not included in this adaptation that I miss the most!



My favorite scene in this film is definitely the proposal scene! It's full of lovely confessions and sweet moments.

Below are some banners with screencaps from this proposal scene:













Smoldering looks that just melt the heart! What a silly fan girl I've become! :)



The biggest illustration of Mr. Knightley's love for Emma is his willingness to relocate from his bachelor's pad, his ancestral pile of Donwell Abbey to the more confined and feminine Hartfield. He's has the perfect kind temperament to live in the same house with Mr. Woodhouse day in and day out.



I love that in this film the outward affections are very gentle and tender. Mr. Knightley is content just to hold Emma's hand in his, happy that her heart now belongs to him.



There's only a few other literary heroes who deserve happiness more than dear Mr. Knightley!



What are your thoughts on Mr. Knightley? Did you like this adaptation of Emma? Who are your favorite Jane Austen heroes?

Hope this silly post brightens you day! Sorry for posting so many banners, I just had too much fun making them! :)

September Header

It's September! I'm so excited because it means we're that much closer to Autumn! In honor of this lovely new month I've changed the header. I really wanted to put up one with Autumn colors but I've restrained myself and chose another from one of my favorite literary adaptations.

Can you guess what miniseries this header photo is from? It might be a bit hard but you can see two of the characters at the far left and the house the heroine lives in at the right.

Below is the header for July/August 2010. I really did love the colors and brilliant art of my last header but it wasn't until a couple weeks ago that my sister pointed out to me that I had misspelled the second Old-Fashioned! Oh well, it was pretty anyway! :)

It's been rather hot and humid in my neck of the woods lately! I long for the cool breezes and chilly nights of Autumn!

Just for fun I've this lovely video featuring Old-Fashioned ladies from my favorit period films! The music is lovely too so enjoy!

Hope you're having an absolutely delightful day! God bless! :)

Why I Love Anne of Green Gables

I've been watching Anne of Green Gables and The Sequel the last couple of days. It's my sister's first time seeing the films and my mom and I haven't seen them in a long time.
I always forget how good these films are and I was surprised by how many tears were shed, I don't remember crying so much when I was younger. Must be I've got terribly sentimental since I've gotten older! :)

Anyway...without further ado here are some of the many reasons I LOVE Anne of Green Gables:

1. Because of the many predicaments that Anne gets herself into! Her first few weeks at Green Gables is an unending string of troubles and trials! I don't know how Marilla and Matthew stand it really, but most of the troubles Anne gets into are of her own making and usually have simple solutions. What wisdom is given to Marilla as she deals with her "Ann with an E"!

2. Because of lovely poetry! Indeed the film begins with Anne reading The Lady of Shalott. There are many other lovely poems and prose read or quoted in the course of the film. One of my favorite scenes is of Anne and her friends acting out Tennyson's Lancelot and Elaine.

"In her right hand the lily, in her left
The letter--all her bright hair streaming down--
And all the coverlid was cloth of gold
Drawn to her waist, and she herself in white
All but her face, and that clear-featured face
Was lovely, for she did not seem as dead,

But fast asleep, and lay as though she smiled. "

- Lancelot and Elaine by Alfred Lord Tennyson

3. Because of puffed sleeves! Anne is lovely in puffed sleeve ball gown. I love puffed sleeves and all the other beautiful clothes she and the other characters wear during the course of both films! I've decided I really want a plaid skirt and sweater set for this autumn!

4. Because of many heroic acts! Anne may make many mistakes but she also heroically saves lives and heals broken hearts. She finds solutions to many problems.

5. Because of much laughter! There are so many funny moments and witty humor abounds. I love seeing Marilla and Matthew smile - Anne brings so much joy to their dreary lives!

6. Because of beautiful girlhood portrayed. A film series where girls are not afraid to be girls and dream of being young women, loving wives and caring mothers. Girls are encouraged to make a difference in their communities as ladies of grace and beauty. A time when femininity is revered.

7. Because of beautiful scenery! The seasons change in brilliant color. Autumn is my favorite season so I very much enjoy seeing the bright gold, red and orange hues on Prince Edward Island. Below are three of my favorite picturesque views!

8. Because of the many friends made. L.M. Montgomery's cast of characters in her novels are so real to life as you read or watch it's almost as if you know them. Anne makes so many wonderful friends along the way, those life long friends, those "kindred spirits". For the viewer Anne herself is a true friend one we can laugh and cry with and jump for joy with! Anne is truly remarkable!

So....Why do you love Anne? What are your favorite Anne moments? Do tell! :)

Finally Back Home

Sunday evening my family and I returned home from a long five weeks working at a children's Bible camp. It was such a wonderful time seeing God providing the needs at our small camp and working in the hearts of campers and staff.

My summer in brief summary:

• June 23-July 2: Christian Youth In Action training school. 10 days of learning how to share the gospel and teach in Bible clubs and time spent actually going out street witnessing and working in a 4-day Bible club for kids. Much time spent in learning, singing, praising the Lord and talking with many fellow believers. My group had the opportunity to share the gospel with more than 30 young people!
• July 3-6: Four days spent celebrating Independence Day and my brother's 19th birthday. Also lots of time spent packing and planning for the rest of the summer.
• July 7-11: I got to drive the 2 1/2 hour up to the camp I worked at the rest of the summer. I made new friends and spent lots of time cleaning up the campground and preparing the program for staff and kids to arrive.
• July 12-16: Teen Camp for ages 13-16. We had 17 teen campers one of whom was my sweet sister Miss Bea. I enjoyed being a counselor on the girls side and helping to share God's plan of purity, modesty and Christ-likeness with the girls who came. The staff for the week all came from one local church and the fellowship that week was great!
• July 19-23: Junior Week 1 for ages 8-12. My mom and brother joined my sister and me to add their helping hands. My mom and I were counselors for the 10-12 year old girls. Miss Bea was a counselor for the first time ever with the younger girls ages 8-9. Our brother Andy was a counselor for the boys side and our camp was very full! There were many problems with obedience that week and several campers who were homesick but the Lord helped every step of the way even when it seemed that Satan's interference was very strong! I also enjoyed getting to know our camp missionaries who serve the Lord in Uruguay, they taught us a lot about the culture and a few Spanish choruses/songs. What a blessing!
• July 23-18: My Birthday! My father came up for the weekend (as he did most weekends) and celebrated my 23rd birthday! I was so blessed first by many campers singing and wishing me "Happy Birthday" and then to spend time shopping and dining out with my family on the weekend and attending a local church with them. I got some lovely old-fashioned gifts!
• July 26-30: Junior Week 2 for ages 8-12. I got a break and spent the week working in the camp office. I made many signs and typed up many lists and made many copies. I answered phone calls and took notes, and filed many papers! I did miss working hands on with the kids but was quite occupied with office work. Most of our staff that week all came from one church and we had lovely fellowship that week!
• August 2-6: Junior Week 3 for ages 8-12. A very full week for campers and very low on staff. So low our camp director had to be a counselor with my brother Andy on the boys side. I enjoyed being a counselor for girls ages 8-10, and got to answer the many spiritual questions they had. This summer wasn't so much a time for salvations as it was time for spiritual growth for the kids who have made salvation decisions in past years. I also got to teach a craft class that week which I always love doing!
• August 9-13: Day Camp for ages 5-8. We had 17-16 younger kids from 9am-4pm each day and really enjoyed going on Bible Safari with them. I got to lead a team of boys and girls and it was so much fun, they are so cute at those ages! Also only having half a day of camp leaves time for fun and relaxation after campers go home.

It is great to be home, but I'm afraid our house looks quite like the picture above as we start to unpack after landing home Sunday night.

I learned so many things this summer about trusting God even when the work seems long and unending and you can't see God in a given moment. God works in ways we can not see, the most important place is in the heart of a child, God can do great things there! I've been reminded of how much I have grown in the last two years - in my own abilities, confidence, maturity and spiritually too. I even had one lady I knew from past years at camp say she liked me a lot better this year than she had liked me before. I found the comment quite funny but realized I have become less shy and more decisive and assertive lately. God is good!

I've been home a few days now and had time to get rested up. I've been thinking over many things and praying for what the Lord may have next from me. I think He wants me to go to Bible School and I even sent in an application this summer and was accepted but I have neither the money nor the correct paperwork (because the school is in Canada) to go this Fall. Maybe in January from the Spring semester. I'd appreciate your prayers as I seek the Lord's will.



And now it's time to get busy posting again! I have many things to post about even in the past few days!

Hope you all had a great summer!

Miss Laurie :)