Faux-na Lisa?

Did Leonardo da Vinci painter more than one Mona Lisa? That is the question being posed by art critics and auction houses. This Friday in Geneva a possible second Mona Lisa will be unveiled. Known as the Isleworth Mona Lisa the painting has been in West London since 1914. Hugh Blaker a painter and art critic bought the larger and older version of the painting at an art auction in Somerset. The painting was sold in 1962 to Henry F. Pulitzer an American art collector. Upon his death it was willed to Pulitzer's girl friend and at her death it was sold to a Swiss consortium and kept in a Swiss bank vault.
There is much debate over the authenticity of the Isleworth Mona. Many really believe that it is a true earlier version. Lisa herself looks younger and has a happier smile. The background is slightly different as well. Pulitzer spent much of his later life trying to prove it real. Now the Swiss consortium is trying to get the painting acknowledged as a real Mona.
On Friday after the unveiling the fight will begin and who doesn't love a fight between art historians?

"Good Luck With Your MOUTH!"

Kaye Ballard is no shrinking violet. Ms Ballard was born with the name Catherine Gloria Balotta. She is the ultimate Italian American and proud of it. Kaye started out in the 1940's  as a musical comedienne touring with Spike Jones. She proved herself to be very capable of playing broad physical comedy. She is a broad. In 1957 Ballard and Alice Ghostly played the ugly step sisters in Roger and Hammerstein's Cinderella on Broadway. In 1962 she was playing Lucille Van Pelt in Peanuts and recorded an album of the comic strip's funniest stories. Ballard then went on to star in a sitcom with Eve Arden called "The Mother-in-Laws" for two seasons. Then the Doris Day show where she played Doris' land lady and volatile restaurant owner Angie Pallucci for another two seasons. In the 70's she did a lot of guest star roles on sitcoms and appeared on games hows like "Match Game".
Ballard now primarily appears on stage in musicals in various cities around the country. She is often on stage in Palm Springs where she lives in a home that was once owned by Desi Arnez.

The Mawby Triplets

Hollywood has created a few fakes over the years but The Mawby Triplets take the cake. During the late 20's children were hot commodities in Hollywood and The Mawby Triplets were one of the hottest. The three girls appeared in movies with Gloria Swanson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and John Barrymore. They were big stars and had the prints in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theater but there was on little flaw. They aren't triplets. The Mawby triplets were a set of twins Claudine and Claudette and their sister Angella who was 11 months older.
The "triplets" were born in England and discovered by Hollywood in 1927 when they were disembarking from a ocean liner in Los Angeles. They were travelling with their parents as Mrs. Mawby was recovering from surgery and a doctor prescribed warm weather.  Photos of the girls were in all the papers and this brought Hollywood calling. The family lived in Malibu and the girls made their first film with Lew Cody the husband of Mable Norman. They went on to make a handful fo very successful films. The "triplets" were also members of the wedding party of Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Joan Crawford. Even though they weren't actual triplets Hollywood promoted them that way.
After the kidnaping of Charles Lindberg's son The Mawbys returned to England and that was more or less the end of their careers.

Billie Joe Armstrong Goes Ballistic

If an effort to prove he is still punk rock and not pop Billie Joe Armstrong went on an obscenity laden tirade during the iHeartRadio Festival in La Vegas. Of course it is hard to still be punk rock when you are playing in a festival hosted by Ryan Seacrest but Billie Joe sure did try. Apparently Usher went over by 25 minutes and this cut down on the time Green Day was allotted. Setting Armstrong off was an illuminated sign telling them they had one minute left. Billie Joe used that one minute to swear continuously and remind the crowd he has been around for a long time. "I'm not fucking Justin you mother fuckers!" Then he boke a guitar. Wow he is punk rock.

Don't Call Me Weiner Dog!

Dachshunds are hounds long and full of fun. They originated in Germany where they were bred to flush out badgers and other burrowing beasts. Their long narrow bodies were perfect for fitting into burrows. They are also excellent diggers. The name Dachshund is from the German meaning badger dog.
The typical Dachshund's body is long and muscular with short stubby legs. They have large front paws that allow for digging. Dachshunds love to dig and do it very well. If they don't have dirt to dig in a blanket will do. They also like to lie in wait taking they "prey" by surprise. They have an excellent sense of smell. They have a long snout that is designed to absorb odors. They come in three types, short haired or smooth, long haired and wired haired. The wire haired is the least common. They also come in 3 sizes standard, miniature and "tweenie" which is  most usual in household pets.

Dachshunds are playful and have lots of energy and love to chase things birds, tennis balls, cats are a favorite. They are also extremely stubborn and very difficult to train. They are generally good natured with their owners but can become very aggressive with other dogs and strangers, notably postmen, UPS and FedEx people. They may be little but they don't either know or care. Don't mess with their turf, they are very protective. They love their home turf and prefer to stay on it. They are homebodies.
Because of their long bodies they are prone to spine problems as well as hip problems especially if they are fat. If give the choice Dachshunds would choose to be fat. They love to eat. Eating is one other thing they excel at. Never come between a Dachshund and its food dish!
Over the years Dachshunds have become very popular pets. They rank seventh in the American Kennel Clubs listing of popular dogs. Queen Victoria as well as President Grover Cleveland had Dachshunds. There is a town in Russia called Zelenogorsk that has a monument erected to the Dachshund and there is a parade of Dachshunds that passes every year on July 25th. Both Andy Warhol and David Hockney owned Dachshunds and immortalized them on canvas.

No Smiling in New Jersey

If you want to smile don't do it at the New Jersey DMV. Why? Because it is against the rules that is why! In New Jersey you may not smile anymore when having your driving license picture taken because it interferes with "Face Recognition Software". Welcome to the dour world.  You must also keep you eyes open. New Jersey is one tough state!

Could Twinkies Soon Be No More?

The Twinkie has been on of America's favorite snack cakes since 1930 but there is a possibility they may go the way of the 8-track player and Tab. There could be a day coming very soon when the Twinkie will be no more. Hostess the bakery responsible for the Twinkie has filed for Chapter 11 Bankrupcty protection. The company and the baker's union are trying to hammer out a contract and if they do the Twinkie may be saved.
Created in 1930 by James Alexander Dewar a baker for the Continetial Baking Company the Twinkie was originally filled with bananna filling. Mr. Dewar noticed that the machines used to make cream filled strawberry shortcakes sat unused when strawberries were out of season and he figured there must be something that he could make using the machines. He then set a bout making a sponge cake filled with banana cream and called it a Twinkie. He thought of the name after seeing a billboard for "Twinkle Toe Shoes" when in St Louis. The Twinkie became an instantly successful treat. It was during World War II when bananas were rationed that the filling was changed to "vanilla".  The cakes were still successful and at the end of the war the banana cream filling was not widely reintroduced. It did make a brief comeback in 2005 when it had a promotional tie into the unsuccessful re-make of the movie King Kong. Over the years there have been attempts to add other fruit flavors but the "vanilla" flavored Twinkie always won out.

The Twinkie like any star has been gossiped about and it is claimed that the Twinkie has an infinite shelf life. this is just an urban rumor. There is such a thing as a stale Twinkie. They really only last about 25 days. Then of course there was the "Twinkie Defense" a term coined by columnist Herb Caen in the murder trial of Dan White. He was found guilty.
Could this truly be the end of the Twinkie? Will the other staple of the lunch box Wonder Bread (also a Hostess product) go as well? Only time will tell!

Stranded 300 Feet In the Air

Right now there are over 20 people trapped 300 feet in the air at Knott's Berry Farm! They got onto the WindSeeker ride 2 hours ago and were having a lovely southern California afternoon until...
They are trapped by a malfunction dangling 300 feet above the hard cement ground. Nice view but what if you have to pee? Trapped 300 feet in the air, pooping may be the bigger worry! Look Out Below!!!
Oddly this happened just about a week ago. Can you say Law Suit??

Amanda Bynes Makes Lindsay Look Normal

Lindsay is just a regular old alcoholic but Amanda Bynes might possibly a real nut job. Not only does she drive around with a suspended license but she has been seen talking to no one. Amanda Bynes is an ex-child star who had a couple of shows on Nickelodeon and has had a few movie roles and now she is the heir apparent to Lindsay Lohan for bad driving in Los Angeles. She has had two hit and run accidents, one involving a police car and a DUI. She recently locked herself in a fitting room in a West Hollywood shop for over 45 minutes. Then she was seen driving without a license smoking a pipe. Now if she was Popeye that wouldn't be too unusual but how many 26 year old women do you know who smoke tobacco from a pipe? This should be an interesting case to watch. Members of her West Hollywood gym and neighbors have reportedly seen her having conversations with no one and inanimate objects. She behavior makes Lindsay look perfectly sane!

Twiggy 8 Stone

Twiggy the face of the swinging 60's is now 63 years old. Born Lesley Hornby in suburban London in 1949 she Twiggy epitomized the androgynous British look. When she was 16 years old Twigs (her childhood nickname) went into the Mayfair salon The House of Leonard and got a short crop haircut and color. Leonard was looking for models to photograph for head shots to hang in his shop. The photos were seen by Deirdre McSharry a fashion journalist. McSharry arranged to have more photos taken and published in the Daily Express. Twiggy's career quickly took off because of her boyish looks and thick dark eye lashes. She was the mini girl with the colored tights and big earrings.
Twiggy became one of the first super models appearing on the cover of Vogue over three times in a year. Described by Diana Vreeland, "She's no flash in the pan. She is the mini-girl in the mini-era. She's delicious looking." There was a backlash. Twiggy was decried as being too boy-ish and waif-like. Twiggy herself in later years has complained of the trend of super thin models. She has explained that her look natural and she didn't want to be that thin. She also explained her eyelashes were three pairs of false eyelashes and black eyeliner.
In the 70's Twiggy started an acting and singing career. Her first film was Ken Russell's "The Boyfriend" and during that era she released two albums that had moderate success. She also worked in television in England and the US. In 2001 Twiggy was the co-host of the UK's morning chat show "This Morning" and on "America's Top Model". During this time she also went back to modeling working for London's Marks & Spencer. She has also made appearances on "Absolutely Fabulous".

CBGB & OMFUG

Coming out in 2013 is "CBGB" a movie directed by Randall Miller. Hilly Kristal and his little club on Bowery were instrumental in the making of the punk rock scene in New York. The bar was a little know down and dirty bar called CBGB & OMFUG. Hilly Kristal originally envisioned the bar as a place to feature County, BlueGrass and Blues music. It was "discovered" by the punk crowd after the closing of the Mercer Center of the Arts. Underground bands were looking for a place to play and CBGB's wasn't really pulling in a huge crowd. Hilly Kristal agreed to have bands play on Sunday nights. CBGB's had only one rule, no cover bands, this way the club didn't have to pay ASCAP royalties. The arrangement worked well and bands started playing in 1973 and started filling the place. Some of the earliest performers were Wayne/Jayne County, Television and Suicide. At Television's third show in 1974 Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye came to see the their friend Tom Verlaine play. They too went on to perform on the stage at CB's. The buzz about the club began to grow and more and more bands were booked. The Ramones and Blondie were also playing there in 1974. The club became more and more popular with new bands such as Talking Heads, The Shirts and Mink Deville playing. By the late 70's bands from out of town and England started to play cementing CBGB's reputation as one of "the" clubs for punk rock.
All good things must come to an end and in 2005 Hilly Kristal and the building owner's Bowery Residents Committe got into a disagreement about the rent. The East Village by this time had become gentrified and CB's didn't fit into the new chic image. The end finally came on October 15, 2007. The final act on the stage of CBGB's was The Patti Smith Group. This was after a week of good bye shows by bands like Dictators, Bad Brains and Blondie. Patti Smith's last song was "Eligie" during the song she thanked Hilly and read a list of performers and scene makers that had died. Less than a year later Hilly Kristal himself had died.

When the club closed they took everything when moving out including the infamous restrooms. There had been a discussion of moving everthing to Las Vegas and reopening the club there but has not happened.
Currently the space is occupied by a John Varvatos store.

Peg Entwistle Hollywood Sign Girl

80 years ago today was the worst day in Peg Entwistle's life it was also the last. Peg was an actress born in Wales and raised in London with the name Millicent Lilian Entwistle. Peg and her family emigrated to the US and she eventually settled in Boston where she studied acting at Henry Jewett's Repertory (now know as the Huntington Theater). She once performed the role of Hedvig in Ibsen's "Wild Duck" and inspired a young Bette Davis to be an actress "Just like Peg Entwistle". In 1925 Peg moved to New York having been recruited by the New York Theater Guild. In New York she performed with George M Cohan, William Gillette, Lilian Gish and Laurette Taylor. Peg met and married fellow actor Robert Keith. It wasn't until after they were married she discovered Keith had been married before and had a son Brian Keith. Brian Keith went on to star in TV's "Family Affair" as Uncle Bill. Their marriage was short lived. Peg was cast in a touring company and ended up in Los Angeles in 1932. She co-starred in the play "Mad Hopes" with Billie Burke. Humphrey Bogart was also in the cast. When "Mad Hopes" closed she was cast in the RKO film "Thirteen Women". This was a pre-code film produced by David O Selznick starring Irene Dunne and Myrna Loy. It is considered to be the first female ensemble film made in Hollywood. Ms Entwistle was living with an uncle on in Beachwood Canyon down the hill from the Hollywood Land development. She was dead broke at the time and spent most of her time looking for work as an actress. It was Friday night September 16th 1932 she told her uncle she was going out to the drugstore and would be back later. She never returned. It is now known she walked up through the canyon to Mount Lee. There she walked to the Hollywoodland sign and climbed a workman's ladder to the top of the "H". On Sunday morning of the 18th an anonymous woman called the Hollywood police station telling them she had left a package on their steps. She said she found a jacket, shoes and purse while out hiking near the sign. The police found the body of a blond woman in a ravine 100 feet below the sign. This was Peg Entwistle. She was later identified by her uncle. There was a note left in her purse stating simply: "I am afraid, I am a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this a long time ago, it would have saved a lot of pain. P.E.

There is a story that a letter arrive the next day offering her a job. This is just Hollywood lore, it makes a good store but has no basis in truth.
Peg Entwistle was 24 years old.

Marion Lorne Made Dithering An Art

Marion Lorne is every one's favorite dithery aunt. In fact she was Aunt Clara on "Bewitched". She may have been born in 1883, 1885 or 1888 (she was a bit vague) in Wilke Barre, Pennsylvania.

Marion Lorne made her stage premier in 1905. She performed for decades on Broadway and in London's West End. See studied acting at American Academy of Dramatic Arts and was married to playwright Walter Hackett until his death in 1944. Marion appeared in many of his plays in the 20's and 30's they founded the White Hall Theater. It was during her time in England she started perfecting her eccentric and dithery persona. Upon her husband's death Marion returned to the US and starred in "Harvey" on Broadway and then made her film debut in 1951.

Her first film was Alfred Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train". Her role was the flighty and out of touch mother of the villain. Her next film role wasn't until 1967 when she played Miss DeWitte in "The Graduate".
Television was Ms Lorne's true path to fame. Her first role was as Mrs. Gurney, a confused English teacher, on Mr. Peepers with Wally Cox. Marion went on to co-star in another sitcom called "Sally" in the late 50's.

Her next role was the role for "witch" she will be will be remembered, Aunt Clara. Aunt Clara was a bumbling witch who's powers were faltering. Clara would enter threw chimneys, walk into walls or find herself materialized in a closet. She was a well meaning and beloved character, one can't help but love Aunt Clara. One of the character's eccentricities was her door knob collection, inspired by Marion's real life collection of over one thousand door knobs.
Aunt Clara was Marion Lorne's last role. Marion Lorne died of a heat attack in 1968 during her fifth season in "Bewitched". Her role was not re-cast as only Marion Lorne could be Aunt Clara.

Did That Bird Just Call Me A Whore?

A complaint has been filed in a municipal court in Warwick, Rhode Island against a woman named Lynne Taylor stating she has taught her bird to swear at her neighbor. The neighbor is Kathleen Melker she is the next door neighbor of Ms Taylor and lives with Taylor's ex-husband Craig Fontaine. The houses are fairly close together (50 feet) and Ms Melker claims that anytime she is in eye sight of the bird it swears at her calling her a "fucking whore". Needless to say this is causing a bit of a problem. The Warwick Police have been called over a dozen time to the houses and have cited Taylor with a noise ordinance complaint. Melker has video taped the bird screaming out of the window at her. On the video tape the bird is clearly heard to say "fuck off" and "fucking whore". Both parties have taken out restraining orders. There have also been complaints of rock throwing and garden hose spraying. Taylor at on point painted a large mural on a rundown building on her property of a cockatoo aka the swearing bird. She has removed the mural and has now painted her car with a cockatoo.
When the case went to court Taylor was fined $15 for the noise violation. Willy the cockatoo was not called to testify. Taylor is contesting the fine.

The moral of this story: Never move in next to your ex-wife and her foul mouthed bird.

Theraflu I No Longer Love You

I have a cold I guess and I feel miserable. I tried aspirin, orange juice, and steam all to no avail. I was still feeling awful. I decided it was time for Theraflu. I hauled my sick ass to Rite Aide (always a mistake) and proceeded to search for my sure to be cure. I was not able to find any as the layout of my local Rite Aide was apparently designed by a psychotic. I finally find an employee at the pharmacy counter. He kindly directs me to an aisle that i had him repeat as I am sick and sort of stupid at this point "Aisle 7" yes, "Aisle 7". I head there and discover it is the foot care aisle. Great if I needed corn or bunion relief but I have a damned head cold. This is my own fault really I knew Rite Aide would be a disaster but it is closest. I head back to the car and drive the extra 10th of a mile I was to lazy to drive before to CVS. There in stacks on shelves was the magic elixir! Success! I practically bow and worship in the head cold aisle. I head home and into the kitchen to brew me some relief. I have the night time formula and I prepare myself for a good night's drugged sleep. I chug my mug of health. I lie down and prepare for my rest. HA! It seems that the formula has changed and it has reacted differently to me. I am wide awake. Tic Tic Tic I listen to the clock mock me as I don't sleep. Tomorrow hot Brandy!

Movie Star Maps

Take a drive along Sunset Blvd in Hombly Hills and you will see the signs; movie star maps for sale. For a mere five or six bucks you too can buy a map that will show you where all the stars live. How exciting. You can drive up and see their homes in person. Well maybe you can and maybe you can't.
Tour buses from Hollywood Blvd will take you around and the driver will point out the sights of Hollywood and Beverly Hills and if you are lucky you too can see a real live star. This is big business but truth be told it is a sham. The maps for sale are generally inaccurate and the tour guides are often wrong.
A woman I met recently at a party told me of car loads of people coming to her home and gawking trying to see in and sometimes trying to get in as they had a map saying Brad Pitt lived there. This lady who will remained un-named told me she and her husband built their house. They had lived there since the 70's and Brad Pitt had never resided there and in fact had never to her knowledge ever lived in her neighborhood. She told me she sometimes would be annoyed by the star gazers but often felt bad for them having been duped.
While heading to an address in Bel Air one day I was passed by a tour bus pointing out the homes of celebrities. Well the driver was actually pointing out the hedges of celebrities. "Look look! It's Lee Major's maid!"
In this time of stalkers and psychos homes have become fortresses. The days of knocking on George Burns' door and being invited in for a lemonade are over.

The Moldy Peaches

Founded in 1999 by Adam Green and Kimya Dawson The Moldy Peaches are mostly associated with the anti-folk movement. Their most commercial success has been the song "Anyone Else But You" which was part of the sound track to the indie film "Juno". Many of their songs are rathe slow paced and almost like edgy nursery rhymns. There is a child like quality to much of their work but the themes and language are not at all infantile. Memebers of the band have come and gone but both Dawson and Green have always been in the line up. Both of them have had side projects and solo acts. They both still tour individuallyperforming in smaller indie venues around the US and Europe. The Moldy Peaches themselves have not performed under that name since.
The band was signed with Rough Trade Records and put out several albums and did tour opening for  some well known acts like Tenacious D. Their single "Who's Got the Crack" did hit the top of the indie charts in the UK.

Their low-fi jangley sound has a definite DIY feel to it even though it has been mixed and is well thought out. This is never going to be pop music not do they seem to care. When things were looking like they could happen they just stopped. Kimya Dawson moved from New York to Washington state and had a baby she named Panda. Adam Green has continued to record and makes art.

Vincent "Buddy" Cianci

There are mayors and then there are MAYORS, Vincent "Buddy" Cianci is one of the latter. Buddy was not once but twice elected mayor of the City of Providence, Rhode Island and he is also one of the most loved and despised figures in Rhode Island politics. Having been elected twice is no big feat but in Buddy's case it is amazing. You see Buddy is a felon. He wasn't a felon the first time he was elected but he was the second time. Cianci's first administration ended in 1984 when he plead guilty to assault and his second administration ended when he was convicted of racketeering.
Buddy Cianci is the child of a doctor and grew up outside of Providence in the city of Cranston, RI. He was sent to Moses Brown, one of the oldest prep schools in the US. Moses Brown is one of the bastions of waspiness and he is Italian, this was a big deal in the 1950's. Needless to say he was the square peg. Cianci went on to eventually get a law degree from Marquette University. When he returned to Rhode Island and passed the bar Cianci was appointed a Special Assistant Attorney General in 1969. In 1973 Buddy became the prosecutor of the Rhode Island Attorney General Department's Anti-Corruption Strike Force. Oh the irony!

In the election year of 1974 Buddy was elected mayor of Providence. He was the first Italian-American and the youngest elected mayor in Providence's history. Until Buddy was elected mayors had always been of Irish descent. Cianci ran on an anti-corruption platform. During the 70's Buddy was a rising star in the national Republican party and spoke at the 1976 Republican convention. He was a serious contender as a Vice Presidential candidate with Gerald Ford. In 1980 Cianci ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Rhode Island.
Then the troubles began. In 1973 Buddy married a woman named Sheila and had a child Nicole. Their marriage was a troubled one. In the 1980's the were separated and Buddy moved into a large one time carriage house on Providence's East Side neighborhood. It was during this period Buddy and a friend had a disagreement with a man Buddy accused of having an affair with Sheila. Buddy plead guilty of assaulting the man with a lit cigarette and an ashtray in Buddy's carriage house home. Cianci resigned from his job as mayor. He went on to become an AM radio talk show host. Buddy's show was extremely popular. It was while hosting on the radio Buddy announced in 1990 he was running for mayor once again. This run for office was once again successful. Buddy Cianci was now the first felon to be elected as mayor of Providence.
During Buddy's second term as mayor Providence entered what is known as its "Renaissance". The faded and dying downtown was revitalized and major construction projects were started. Hotels and a new train station were built and a river was moved creating an new park and city center. While all of this boom was going on there was a darker side. Providence has always been known as a corrupt city from its earliest times. It was corrupt in the 1790's and in the 1990's corruption was reaching its zenith. In 1998 Buddy ran unopposed for another term as mayor and well he won. It was during this time the Feds started seriously looking at Cianci and his cronies. In what was eventually called "Operation Plunder Dome" nine people including Buddy were indicted on federal charges of racketeering, extortion, witness tampering and mail fraud. Buddy being Buddy publicly made fun of all of the charges. That was until all nine of the indicted were convicted of various counts. Buddy himself was charged with 27 charges and in his trail he was acquitted of 26 of them. He was at this time planning to run for another term as mayor. In September of 2002 Buddy was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison.

Buddy has always been a shorter and portly man with a full head of hair. It was when Buddy was imprisoned in New Jersey he was forced to relinquish his beloved toupee. Buddy served his time. He did request an early release but was denied. After his five years in stir Buddy returned to Providence a semi-hero. His popularity had not declined. Cianci went back on the air with his radio show and eventually became a television political analyst. As he is no longer on parole Buddy is technically eligible to run for mayor once again. There has been talk of his running for one of Rhode Island's seats in the US House of Representatives. Buddy seems very happy in Providence living in his luxury condo and riding around town in his chauffeured town car. In popular culture Buddy has his place. There is a book called "The Prince of Providence", "Buddy, The Musical" and "Buddy Cianci Junior High School" on the animated TV show "Family Guy". 

Will he run for office again? Never count Buddy Cianci out!

Emperor Norton

San Francisco is a city that loves an eccentric. One of the most beloved and famous of San Francisco's eccentric characters was Joshua Norton aka Emperor Norton. Norton I, Emperor of These United States and Protector of Mexico reigned in San Francisco for 21 years. The Emperor issued proclamations and his own currency that was accepted by businessess in San Francisco.
Born Joshua Norton in London his family emigrated to South Africa where Norton was raised and lived until his immigration to San Francisco in 1849. Using an inheritance of $40,000 from his father's estate Norton invested in San Francisco real estate and was very successful. His net worth in the 1850's was estimated to be $250,000 until an investment in a Peruvian rice deal fell through. He was involved in a series of law suits and lost causing him to file for bankruptcy in 1858. Norton left San Francisco for a while in shame and when he returned his state of mind was different. It was then he proclaimed himself Emperor.
As Emperor, Norton wore an elaborate blue uniform with epaulets donated by officers from the Presidio and a beaver hat with a rosette and peacock feather decoration. Norton would issue various proclamations announcing his intentions to over throw the government and declaring the US Congress to be illegal. He also proposed a bridge and tunnel connection San Francisco and Oakland. His vision was eventually completed long after his death with the Bay Bridge and BART tunnel. His main occupation was inspecting the streets of San Francisco. During one of his inspections Norton is said to have with his powers of diplomacy resolved a confrontation with anti-Chinese demonstrators rioting outside of Chinatown. He is said to have stood between the rioters and their Chinese targets and resolved the confrontation by reciting the Lord's Prayer.
In 1867 a police officer, Armand Barbier, arrested Emperor Norton to commit him involuntarily treatment for a mental disorder. A public outrage ensued causing the chief of San Francisco's police to issue a formal apology when Norton was released. Emperor Norton then granted an "Imperial Pardon" to the arresting officer. For the rest of the Emperor's life police officers saluted him whenever he passed.
No theater in San Francisco opened a show in San Francisco without reserving seats for the Emperor on opening night. Restaurants in San Francisco served him complimentary meals and prized his "Imperial Seal of Approval" by mounting plaques outside of their establishments. His self issued currency was accepted through out San Francisco. His notes came in denominations running from 50 cents to $10. The surviving notes are now collectors items and considered very valuable.

Emperor Norton collapsed on the corner of California St and what is now called Grant Ave on January 8, 1880. He died in the ambulance taking him to the hospital. There had always been speculation that Norton was actually wealthy. Upon his death it was discovered that he was indigent when his room in a Commercial Street rooming house was searched. Initally a paupers funeral was proposed but the Pacific Club arranged a fund to pay for a funeral and rosewood coffin. His funeral was on Sunday January 10th was solemn event attended by an estimated 30,000 people and had a cortege said to be 2 miles long. Emperor Norton was laid to rest in the Masonic Cemetary in a gravesite paid for by the City of San Francisco. In 1934 Nortons remains were transfered as were all others from city cemetaries to Colma a town just outside of the city. His grave is now in Woodlawn Cemetery marked with a mounument reading  "Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico".  An odd footnote to Emperor Norton's life is the gravesite adjacent to his. The headstone is for the self-declared "Her Royal Majesty, Empress of San Francisco, José I, the "Widow Norton" . The Widow Norton is a legendary San Francisco drag queen who makes an annual pilgrimage the the site to honor Emperor Norton.

Frightwig, Assume the Position!

"Faster, Frightwig Kill Kill"; do you have that record? If you don't you should. Vinyl copies are really hard to find but there is a CD called "Wild Women Never Die". Both "Cat Farm Faboo" their first record and "Fast, Frightwig Kill Kill" are on it. If you don't know Frightwig you don't truly rock.
Frightwig has had a varied line up over the years but for my money it will always be Deanna , Mia, and Cecilia. There were lots of other women rockers members of Frightwig; lots! Frightwig is a woman's punk band from San Francisco they are not a Girl or a Grrl Band they are a hard ass punk rock band; so fuck you.
In the 1980's there was a place in San Francisco called The Farm. This is where Frightwig got their start along with bands like The Descendants and Redd Cross. They played around San Francisco, New York, Europe and in some disastrous US tours. Rocker women came out in droves to see Frightwig inspiring scores of women to feel they too could start their own bands. Courtney Love stole their look for Hole but honestly did give them credit. Grrl Bands almost always credit Frightwig as an influence.
Frightwig did have men on stage. The men on stage in Frightwig shows were just meat. The women were in charge and the men knew and loved it. Men (yes, I am one of them) are Frightwig's play things.
The women of Frightwig have lived full and amazing lives outside of Frightwig; marriages, children, Witchcraft they have done it all. These women are broads and proud of it. They will mess you up if they have to. Musically Frightwig is straight up punk rock. Guitars, drums, bass and a wailing voice is all a punk rock band needs and Frightwig has them all.

This fall Frightwig is coming back again. They are still pissed and they still rock.

Washington, California

Do you like little old gold rush towns? If you do then you have to go to Washington, California in Nevada county. There is a road that runs off of Highway 20 called Washington Rd and that is the road to Washington. The town itself was founded in 1849 by a group of miners from Indiana who were looking for gold along the Yuba River. There is still a portal to an old mine in town. The town itself is a one street town with a fire station, a church, a general store, hotel with a bar and a restaurant.
The Washington Hotel is the largest building in town and really the center of activity. There is a room upstairs that is supposed to be haunted by the ghost of a prostitute. The proprietor who showed us around claimed there was a scent of lavender when Callie the ghost was in the room. There was a scent was it Callie or the Glade Plug-in is debatable.

The Yuba river passes through town. This is where the miner's started their quest for gold. They eventually moved into mines and then a Chinatown popped up a few years later to house the Chinese mine laborers. The old Chinatown is not very intact but it is behind a miner's cemetery.
There is still gold to be found in the river and not too long ago a large chunk of gold was found in some one's yard.
Go to Washington and maybe you'll find gold or a ghost!

Porn Star Backs Romney

Porn star and genius Jenna Jameson has announced her support of Mitt Romney in the presidential race. Isn't he lucky!  "When you're rich, you want a Republican in office." purred Ms Jameson whilst guzzling champers in a San Francisco "Gentleman's Club". Is she aware that Mitt Romney is anti-porn? I guess when you are rich and stupid you want Mitt as president.

Ron Jeremy on the other hand is voting for Barack Obama another thrilling endorsement. Apparently if you are fat and hairy you love Obama.

Woo Hooo Hoooo Its Jo Anne Worley Day!

Who doesn't laugh when they think of Jo Anne Worley? She has always been funny even in high school she was voted school comedienne. "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" brought her huge success and national attention. She has done it all though. TV, Stage, Movies and Game Shows! Her bubbly and wacky persona just makes people laugh.
Ms Worley grew up in Indiana and has always had a loud voice so loud in fact when she was a girl she would lip snyc when singing in a church choir as not to drown the others out! Well that voice was what got her noticed first on Broadway then in her night club act and finally with Rowan & Martin. She was a fixture in their cocktail party skits in her wild out fits and boas. After her run on Laugh-In she did a lot of guest appearances on sitcoms and more stage work.
This is a shout out to Jo Anne Worley! Happy Birthday!!!

Defamation Trial In Vegas

Casino Mogul Steve Wynn is suing "Girls Gone Wild" producer Joe Francis for defamation in a Las Vegas court. Wynn claims that Francis owes $2 million debt after a gambling spree in one of Wynn's Vegas casinos. He won that case and during that confrontation Joe Francis claimed that Wynn threatened to kill him by hitting him in the head with a shovel.
Wynn has naturally has said that this is a lie. Then poor Qunicy Jones was dragged into the whole debacle. Qunicy Jones is Francis' neighbor and Wynn's friend. Quincy Jones in a great Seargent Schultz manner claims "He knows Nothing".

Could it be they just don't like sharing the same face?

Ben & Jerry vs. the Porn Studio

Ben & Jerry makers of ice cream have sued a company called Caballero Video to stop them for using references to their product. They have won a temporary court order to cease and desist. The porn company was marketing a line called Ben & Cherry's videos with titles like "Peanut Butter D-Cups" and "Boston Cream Thighs" all deemed to close to the Ben & Jerry product names.
The North Hollywood porn company's packaging also look too similar to the ice creams packaging with fluffy clouds and cows.
Porn companines have been getting away with this kind of marketing for years. Sometimes thes names are funny but in the bigger picture they do damage the original product's marketability.

A similar circumstance is happening to an LA actress and one time Play Mate Victoria Valentino. There is a porn actress who uses her name. She has been asked to stop using Ms Valentino's name but at this date when one googles the name Victoria Valentino pages of porn titles come up mixed in with legitimate crdits for the real Victoria Valentino.

Sure the porn industry has a right to exisit but it does not have the right to use anothers reputation to sell it wares. Ben & Jerry have deep pockets and are able to bring law suits but individuals like Ms Valentino do not the the resources to keep suing.