It Went With The Wind!

June 30th, 1936: Gone With The Wind Is Published!

I’m every bit the romantic, but I cannot think of Gone With The Wind without picturing Carol Burnett in her curtain rod dress. It cracked me up as a nine year old and it cracks me up now (“I saw it in the window and I just had to have it”).

Yet it was that very TV sketch that introduced me to Margaret Mitchell’s sweeping saga which was first published on this very day, back in 1936. You can imagine my parents explaining that neither the actual book or movie contained any outfits fashioned from window treatments. I was really disappointed to learn it wasn’t even a comedy.

Some say Mitchell–who vehemently swore her novel was pure fiction–actually based most of the characters on real people. A feisty news journalist in 1920’s Georgia (think Rosalind Russell with a Southern drawl), she was an avid history buff who devoured books about the Civil War. Rumor has it, Rhett was based on real-life ne’er-do-well George Alfred Trenholm, a handsome blockade runner (high-class smuggler) from Charleston!

Once I was old enough to understand the “real” movie, I was blown away. The bombastic characters and ragged war-torn South left a deep impression. As sweet and good as Melanie was, it was hard not to side with smarmy, conniving Scarlett. But then, I’ve always been partial to firecrackers. Did you know Mitchell almost named her Pansy O’Hara? The power of editing.

Throughout the years, the book has become an old friend. Like other classics of its stature (it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1937), it sucks me in every time. So much so that a few years ago, I began collecting memorabilia from the film. There’s something about the Golden Era of Hollywood that enchants me.

I’ve got our Rhett and Scarlett Cookie Jar for my Rice Krispie Treats (not exactly a Civil War delicacy, but my kids’ favorite) and the antique-look Salt & Pepper Shaker Set (I pretend I got it from a Tara estate sale). When I need to curl up with the movie on DVD, I snuggle under my GWTW Fleece Blankie.

And for my birthday this year, my mom (also a fan) bought me the GWTW Art Deco-Style Wall Clock. It took me two weeks to pick a room to hang it in!

I suppose it’s possible to imagine a world without Gone With The Wind. But I wouldn’t want to live there!

Tune Into 70s TV!

DVDs Bring Back Shows We've Missed

Every night after work I do the same thing you do: spend 35 minutes flipping up and down through all of my TV channels looking for something to watch. I spend more time looking than actually watching!

Remember growing up in the 60s and 70s when you looked forward to your favorite shows every week? You knew exactly when they were on and you simply tuned in and watched. During the commercials, you waited.

One of my favorite shows back then was–and still is–The Love Boat!

What captivated us, week after week, to curl up in front of Captain Stubing, Lovable “Gopher”, Julie McCoy Your Cruise Director, Ladies Man Doc Bricker and Isaac “Hippest Bartender On The High Seas?” Was it the deeply-woven dramatic storylines? The sizzling romances between Charo and David Hasselhoff? The vistas of exotic locales we vicariously visited while riding The Pacific Princess?

All of the above!

Season One, Volume One of The Love Boat is out on DVD and let me tell you–it’s just as much a guilty pleasure now as it was back in 1977 when it first premiered! It’s a time capsule of polyester bell bottoms, bouncy feathered hair and giggly double entendres! The background music alone is worth the price! As a young girl, I dreamed of wearing a string bikini and smearing cocoa butter on my tan legs as Isaac brought me mai tais. If I was lucky, Scott Baio would be on board!

Watching my Season One DVD as a grownup mom in 2008, I realize I’d now substitute sunscreen, a sundress, and Diet Coke–but I’ll let you in on a little secret: Scott Baio WAS on board in Season One and I did spaz a little bit when I saw him on the DVD! Unfortunately, the kids saw me and now I’ll never live it down.

If you liked The Love Boat, we’ve got tons more 70s shows on DVD:
Love, American Style
The Sonny & Cher DVD (highlights of the variety show)
Mike Douglas Moments & Memories
Best Of Donny And Marie DVD





And for those of you who always believed you’d make a great contestant–The Price Is Right DVD Home Version is here! Come On Down!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, Scott is waiting on The Lido Deck.

Stan Laurel, The Gentleman

Born June 16, 1890

When you grow up in a house run by classic comedy fans (my parents), it’s a given that you’ll be well-schooled in Laurel And Hardy films! My siblings and I never got tired of hearing Oliver’s famous line “another fine mess!” or seeing Stan wrench his features into the whiny-crybaby face.

We must’ve watched Flying Deuces, and Babes In Toyland (also known as March Of The Wooden Soldiers), I don’t know how many times! And, because we were kids, we had no concept that these films had been made 40 years before our arrival on the planet. We didn’t care that we were watching stuff from the 1930’s! We just thought it was funny!

My Dad was the true comedy historian in the family, and he loved teaching us trivia about the stars we grew up idolizing. I developed a personal affection for Stan Laurel (I always championed the underdogs) and learned over the years that he was born into a vaudeville family in England, was once an understudy to Charlie Chaplin, was voted along with Oliver Hardy the 45th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly, was the inspiration for Peter Sellers’ sublime Chance The Gardener from Being There, and was a mentor to Dick Van Dyke.

But my favorite tidbit is his well-known generosity towards his fans. It’s said that late into his years he kept his phone number listed in the book, welcomed visits from admirers and personally answered as much fan mail as he physically could. That spindly simpleton with the twinkle in his eye was truly a rouse–Laurel, the man, was a gentleman through and through.

Another gentleman I know and love is my dad. So, this past Father’s Day, I drove over to his place and we watched his Laurel And Hardy DVD Collection. I’d brought him a copy of our new book, Stan And Ollie, and we flipped through the pictures while we laughed out loud at the DVDs.

Still ready with the trivia, my dad told me Stan was once asked by a reporter if he had any bad habits. Laurel, who’d been both married and divorced five times, answered, "Yes, and I married them."

Start Your Engines!

Summer Sun & Racing Fun

Americans love cars. From the drag races of the 1950s to the full-on phenomenon of NASCAR, it’s a hobby for some and an obsession for many.

With the gas crisis, however, many of us are opting for less sporty cars these days. While it feels great to save money and help the environment, I have to admit I miss the days when Mr. Betty’s Attic and I rode around in his souped-up 1967 Shelby GT 350 Mustang. I loved that car. The smell of the exhaust. The power of all those ponies under the hood. He had to sell it years ago, but I bought him this sweet die cast to remind him he can have another one when he retires!

In college I actually drove a classic 1968 Chevy Camaro Z28 for a few years! It had been my older brother’s, but when he went into the Army, he reluctantly let me “take care of it for him.” Oh, I took care of it, alright! I was careful never to rev it too high, but let me tell you–it felt very cool to pull up parties in that baby. As payback for his Mustang, my husband bought me a die cast of my Camaro.

We’re not tearing up the local drag strip anymore or flying down the highway with the wind in our hair (unless you count the breeze from the air conditioner), but that doesn’t stop us car folks from daydreaming about the good old days.

When summertime sizzles, my husband throws on one of his camp shirts (the Surf Woody shirt is his favorite), we corral the kids in the car, and head to a retro-style burger joint in town to sip milkshakes while car collectors parade their vintage machines for all to adore. The gleam of the chrome and smooth, pristine paint jobs are truly beautiful. And historic.

But we may have created a monster–my son now wants a 1957 Ford Skyliner (he loves the retractable roof)! Good thing we have this die cast in The Attic!

It’s All About Glamour!

Carrie & Samantha Have Nothing On Our Gals!


We waited.
And waited.

And last weekend, the Sex And The City movie finally premiered, reuniting many of us with the four women we think of as our surrogate best friends. I was a huge fan of the series. I giggled and cried and relived dating disasters right along with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha.

Why do we love watching glamorous women wreck their love lives in sky-high heels and couture? Is it the fashion? The trendy clubs? The dream of a world in which you never have to use the same bag twice?


I think it’s more about the laughter.


Because, let’s face it girls–if we didn't laugh at ourselves we’d never make it through the day. It’s the conversations, text messages and emails we share with our friends about how ridiculous we are that bonds us.


This is nothing new...


Retro icons from Loretta Young to Cher have given us humor right along with glitz and glamour. Marilyn proved pretty girls could not only be funny–they could be downright hilarious! And smart as a whip to boot!

Celebrate the diva inside you! Whether you’re strolling down Park Avenue with a venti cappuccino or driving to the supermarket for cat litter (note to self: don’t forget the cat litter)–toss your hair back and put some swing in your step!


And if you’re ever having one of those days where the job, traffic, and housework seem to erase all traces of “fabulous” from your face...these Retro Attitude Gals are guaranteed to put that sassy smile back where it belongs!