`flicks chicks & Vaudville-

Uplate, working on ideas for my upcoming ‘ovarian cancer campaign’, I needed a breather…………flicking through the channels, I landed upon an RKO Radio Picture.

Didn’t catch the host’s name, but he did a great job introducing the various artists, from as far back as the ’silent-era’, with some extremely ghoulish, pasty-faced characters who sported dark circles around their eyes…seemed the darker, the better? The setting, two sisters running a seamstress business for the rich & wealthy, each choosing either the right path in life, or the wrong-Our first sister,the ‘wide-eyed’, gullible dreamer,  opted to run – away with some sinsiter-looking gentleman, where  he would open her world to night after night of partying…..this novelty little silent-flick, ensured we knew, this girl was heading for trouble! Meanwhile, the other sister marries, opting for children and a life, at home. Somewhat strange ending, with the moral being, choose the latter scenario, and you’ve chosen the right path!

This was followed by a set of Vaudeville acts, everything from dance perfomances,which highlighted Pat Rooney-Rooney was a vaudeville performer who performed with his father Pat Rooney Sr. in Vaudeville in the 1920’s at the Palace Theater. Joined the Army and was Honorably discharged in 1945. Pat Jr. and his son Pat III were introduced by Bob Hope in August 3, 1933 at the Capitol Theatre, were they did a few numbers together.

I witnessed a collection of  ‘turn of the century- to 20th century fashion-fads’, the styles from France to the United States,  while quirky comments kept me captivated! I laughed as I tried comprehending such odd attire, full-length flowing dresses, some with NO shape, sleeves shaped like wings and scooped-collared-necks…as our host described, “A great ‘table-accessory’, catching any food that slips from your plate!”

It was a nice change from what would ordinarily be showing that late, and I only wished I’d switched channels earlier, but for what I did catch, received a light-hearted look back to the early days of film, vaudeville and fashion.