Pluggers by Rick McKee for December 13, 2016

Who is Jackie Gleason?

“Ya know what I mean?” You have to be a lover of old radio shows and movies to hear that one from Art Carney. In a similar way, you have to be an old movie watcher to see “Pittsburgh” a movie with John Wayne visiting a tailor played by Shemp Howard. [ that 3 Stooges other brother] oops, I’m a Plugger!

What? So who is it?

I remember a movie with Art Carney and James Cagney. One of Cagney’s last.

I understand that the younger generations don’t usually know the classic actors. They are missing so much. My husband is addicted to old movies, so our son grew up with them. He knows a whole lot more about classic movies and their casts than most people of his generation, and he is the richer for it.

That’s the thing with Pluggers and names. I enjoyed a tv program actor and when I saw his name was Billy Burke my mind immediately went to the actress Billie Burke who played Glinda in “The Wizard of Oz”!

I’m a plugger! I told somebody to “Say ‘Good night, Gracie’” and got a blank look.

One of the best Gleason films was Soldier In The Rain with Steve McQueen

Until that time, Eustice, until that time

It was Cagney’s last. Carney won an Emmy and Cagney should have won one also. Also, in my college classes, I will mention John Kennedy and they think I mean JFK, Jr.

One of the best monologues in written history is Art Carney as Santa; “Why do I drink Mr. Dundee?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUEx-XqbB2M

“Sunset Boulevard” with Gloria Swanson and William Holdan!

And when things are getting tense I say “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night!” Bette Davis, most people go “Huh?”

Today’s actors don’t seem to have the same presence that the bygone film stars did. Some even play the same role in all their films and sound exactly the same off screen. Of course the media hasn’t helped by forcing them into our faces every day.

I know Art Carney from the Honeymooners. And the actor Ed Norton from many movies including a Marvel Hulk film.

Farside99

He was a trumpeter and band leader. Also acted in some sit-coms. Don’t try to out-Plugger me.