Jones, Bones and Moe

[Leopold, Dale]

Ted Samsel entreats us to check out the Web site for Spike Jones at >
http://www.calweb.com/~starajd/plaza.html  The Spike jones is one I
happen to share with Our Tom (as well as my dad, who--cfa take
note--actually *did* work for the CIA).  The first time I saw him was in
the mid-70s when I was idling away an afternoon watching an old ('47)
Hollywood piece of dreck entitled "Variety Girl" (thank you imdb) on
Dialing-for-$$.   It's one of those contractual obligation quickies
where some recently-signed bit actor wanders around the Paramount back
lot and--hey! It's Bing Crosby and Bob Hope playing themselves,
and--wouldn't you know it--they really *are* nice guys! (u.s.w. with
dozens of other Paramount stalwarts)...

Anyway, our anonymous hero chances upon a poolside party, and the
entertainment turns out to be Spike and his City Slickers. Don't
remember the number they did, but I do recall that they ended it by
flying off the bandstand, one by one, and I was enthralled. You mean
there were guys this cool in the 40's?? Oh yeah, the anonymous young
actor was named Deforest Kelley ("It's worse than that--you're
overacting, Jim!").

Also, a recent mention of Larry Fine reminds me that last Thursday, 6/19
was the centenary of Moe Howard's birth.  Obviously the doctor's slap
that day had many repercussions in the years that followed (I learned
this little tidbit from the Zen list--perhaps a new koan will come of
it: "what is the sound of one stooge slapping?"). I hereby suggest that
our English p-listers observe this landmark by seeking out the Times
photographer and boinking his eyes but good.  

Back to lurking...
Dale
"Anna Mary candy lights since imp pulp lay things." B. F. Skinner