LICK MY ARMPITS: Post 1: Munch it

TEEN IDOL OF THE WEEK: DON GRADY : Post 2: 1960's young actor, singer, hunk: 'My Three Sons' classic show

Maybe it was his smile and the adorable dimple in his chin...but just look at how he grew up and beefed up on 'My Three Sons'. All I can say is these shows were classics, and Don Grady was a teen hottie even then. And YES...the Handsomest Boy in America! (see mag cover)

TEEN IDOL OF THE WEEK: DON GRADY : Post 1: 1960's young actor, singer, hunk: 'My Three Sons' classic show

Don Grady was just so HOT.... and still is in his 60's today. This 'clean-cut' retro classic look really does it for me, the clothes, the hair, the teen angst. He was just blessed with  perfect college boy looks. The square jaw, big eyes, great eyebrows and teeth, a beautiful dreamy face.  He was on The Mickey Mouse Club and The Lucy Show as a boy, and grew up on 'My Three Sons' and then got into music. He always had that special quality.... something just shone from him, a beautiful on the inside as well as the outside quality. And seeing these shows on cable or DVD... he is always the same...gorgeous. And every time I see him, he melts my heart. 

VINTAGE BEEFCAKE OF THE WEEK: Post 4: WILLIAM (BILL) SMITH of LAREDO and other tough guy roles

Tough guy Bill Smith has guested in every major television series you can think of...here are some of his more substantial series and films. Combat, Laredo, Waagon Train, Batman, The Virginian, Daniel Boone, The Mod Squad, Mission Impossible, Gunsmoke, Police Woman, Fantasy Island, Hawaii Five 0, Hunter, Knight Rider, Justice League. A legend in 'biker flicks' like 'Run, Angel, Run (1969) and 'Angels Die Hard' (1970) because he did his own riding, he is also remembered for 'Any Which Way You Can' (1970) and 'Conan the Barbarian' (1983) as Conan's father. He also played the store clerk in The Outsiders (1985) the cult teen angst film to start the careers of 'brat pack'  actors like Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estrevez and Ralph Macchio. 

WHAT I'M READING: Post 1: Kay Thompson, Fifth Avenue 5am, DNA Australian men's magazine, Modernism magazine.

I am just getting my teeth in KAY THOMPSON by Sam Irvin (2010 Simon & Schuster) about the dynamite over achiever Kay Thompson, who was mentor and best friend to Judy Garland, Godmother to Liza, coached Marilyn Monroe and Bette Davis, and created nightclub acts for Marlene Dietrich and Ginger Rogers. Commandeered MGM's vocal departments in many musicals, starred as a Diana Vreeland type fashion editor in 'Funny Face' where she sang 'Think Pink', discovered Andy Williams and his brothers for her own nightclub act, and...whew...wrote the Eloise books set in her own New York Hotel, the Plaza. I have also ordered the CD set 'Think Pink' with Kay's songs that Lypsinka has used in his act for years. Last year Liza recreated Kay Thompson's nightclub act in the second half of her own shows, as a tribute to the woman who was there for her and her mother for decades. 

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO: Post 1: Hip Hammond & Soulful Grooves, Easy Tempo (lounge series). Blue Note Trip series, Disco Discharge series.

You can never know too much about Jazz or popular easy listening music. I am discovering these  groovy Blue Note releases, and also looking for more on the artists I like featured. The Easy Tempo series is fantastic...lots of euro style lounge and bits from Italian soundtracks. Disco Discharge is the best series on classic Disco in years. There are about 6 double Euro, Gay and Diva themed cd's with more on the way. They are remastered 12" mixes of classic songs like "I'm a Man" and "More More More". Stunning is the word for these tracks that are impossible to find as original 12" mixes elsewhere. 

WHAT I'M WATCHING: Post 1: Mad Men, The Night Gallery, Alain Delon, The Lucy Show

I could watch Mad Men forever, it is a fabulous well written show with great fashions and stories. This is as good as TV can get. Rod Serling's Twilight Zone is out on Blue Ray, but I have his later 'Night Gallery color series to get through first. This has the rare Joan Crawford episode with Joan playing an arrogant rich blind woman who pays an African American man for his eyes, so she can see. The Alain Delon box set is just wonderful. What a vision of a man. The Lucy Show was Lucy's early 60's series after 'I Love Lucy' and 'The Lucy and Desi Comedy Hour'. It was made just before the late 60's 'Here's Lucy' (which is also remastered to DVD)  But 'The Lucy Show' is Lucy at her absolute best without her pushing her real children in front of the camera.  These are real classics with her and best friend Vivian Vance as flat-mates sharing a house with their young children and getting up to no good..lots of slapstick and sight gags. Laugh out loud brilliance. I think this series was her best, because its centered mostly on Lucy herself, and she creates absolute havoc. This is the series that turns color after series 1, and features many great stars later, like Joan Crawford (in a later season). Lucy and Viv find Joan cleaning her own house and think she has hit hard times and try to find her a job. Great fun. 

VINTAGE BEEFCAKE OF THE WEEK: Post 3:Art Byman: Photos by Arthur Craig

NARCISSUS: NARCISSISM and Self Admiration: Post 2: ASHTYN LONG by DAVID VANCE

And so Narcissus, having come to the pool to quench his thirst, saw his own reflection in its smooth surface, and fell in love with it. And since he could not obtain the object of his love, he died of sorrow by the same pool. The nymphs grieved him.... but they could not find his body...only the flower that today bears his name. It is told that Narcissus still keeps gazing on his image in the waters of the river Styx, in the underworld. 

CAMP: This week in CAMP: Post 4: Liz Taylor Noel Coward in Boom, Barbara Cartland, Jimmy James as Marilyn, Buster Crabbe

1.  Elizabeth Taylor oozed camp appeal in a 'patio outfit' with Noel Coward in BOOM. A film that has to be seen to be believed. Liz is living on an exotic island reciting her autobiography to a tape recorder. Noel plays The Witch of Capri. Richard Burton is 'death' trying to get to her:  2:  Glamorous eccentric Barbara Cartland and her dog look alike in this shot of the Romance Novelist. 3: Gorgeous Jimmy James was the best female impersonator of Marilyn Monroe. He sang live in his own shows and appeared famously on Donahue, leaving the audience aghast at his superb channeling of the eternal sex goddess. 4: Olympic Gold Medal swimming champion Buster Crabbe appeared in many 30's and 40's movies and matinee serials including Flash Gordon,  Buck Rogers, Tarzan and Billy the Kid.  A real hunk and a very well liked actor, seen here in 'futuristic' tight shorts. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR: Jayne Mansfield, (bottom right) Mae West