I've got a lot of reading to do

Joanne Woodward reading to two children at speech therapy center in 1958.

__________

I've been gone for a while and my desire to return has been reluctant at best. Sometimes one needs a vacation from even a cherished pastime lest it grow into a dreaded obligation. I noticed a couple of my favorite blogs had anniversaries while I was out (Arbogast on Film and The Kind of Face You Hate) and though I commented on them I wish I could have engaged a bit more. And it wasn't just my own blogging that ceased, I wasn't even online except to watch movies for much of the past week so I have little idea what anyone has been doing. Facebook? I went on briefly to respond to a tag and that was it. Frankly, I'd like to take another month or so offline but I cherish the community of which I have become a part and don't wish to find myself on the outside looking in. In short, I'd miss the conversation too much. So I return but with little to say at the moment. Oh I have reviews to write, new movies to see, trailers for October to put up and under appreciated actors to highlight but all of that needs to find structure first in the dusty recesses of my idle mind. I even have a piece on a topic I've never really broached here at Cinema Styles that I hope will provide for an engaging conversation, even if I do believe most everyone will disagree with me. But that's for a later date. For now, hello again. It's good to back.

Jack and Jackie

Jack Webb and Jackie Loughery tie the knot on June 24th, 1958. Jackie is primarily known in beauty pageant circles (the kind Bill and Fox follow breathlessly) as the first Miss USA winner ever in 1952. Also, according to one of the most exemplary Wikipedia biographies I have ever read, she is also a woman. Really, treat yourself. Jack is primarily known for Dragnet of course.

In the photo above they appear to be celebrating their marriage but in reality they are celebrating Cinema Styles 300th banner, and who wouldn't? They're also celebrating Flickhead's Claude Chabrol Blogathon, the upcoming Ed Wood blogathon (no word yet on when the Ed Howard blogathon will take place) and I am assuming, the history of icing. Have a great holiday weekend everyone!*

_________________________

*For goodness sake though, eat your pudding responsibly. Also, don't forget to eat your meat. You remember what happens if you don't eat your meat, right?

About the Name that Movie thing

I apologize for the fluctuating templates here today as I updated mine. I got tired of the crowded sidebar and had never thought of adding buttons along the top instead until I saw Rick Olson's redesign. So that's done now and the links to everyone on the blogroll will be added back in later today or tonight so everyone will get a fresh technorati hit. If I forget anyone, let me know.

Now as to the Name that Movie thing on the sidebar. I enjoy guessing games and have wanted to do one again since several months back when Bill won the first one. But that took a lot of effort: Putting together dummy blogs, a riddle for each one, trying to keep track of everyone guessing, etc. I don't want to do all that again, no thanks. However, people love winning things and I love giving away a new DVD once in a blue moon so here's the deal: Once a week, a new Name that Movie will go up in the sidebar. Whoever guesses correctly first gets a point. And just go ahead and guess in the comment section, not on YouTube. Now, I'm sure as hell not giving away a DVD each week for each correct guess so the rules are whoever gets to 25 points first wins. That way it's a once every six months game and once every six months I can afford the DVD. And remember, it's a DVD of your choosing (no box sets unless they're under 50 bucks) and $49.99 and under. Shipping will be taken care of by me. So that's that.

Rick Olson guessed correctly with Mon Oncle for the first one but since no one was participating and Fox was the first to humor me by guessing on YouTube, I'm giving him a point too. So as it stands right now it's Rick - 1 and Fox -1.

The Dead Walk Amongst Us

That would be all we bloggers who have been working hard to post every day and keep the fires of October burning brightly, or darkly as it were. It's been a hell of a Kill Fest here and there's only one day to go. Posting this much and this often isn't my normal style and an unusually heavy workload at my real job and computer problems at home made for an even tougher go of it. And with one day left I would be remiss if I didn't mention Arbogast and his 31 Screams, Bill and his daily horror book review plus Rick keeping the vampire myth perpetuating, Pat (Evil Clown) going nuts for a month and even Bob getting down and dirty for the month. I would also be remiss if I didn't apologize to my many favorite bloggers who may not have seen much of me this month. With work and then especially with the home computer problems I had to use my time at work, uh, working and quickly checking in here when I could.

My post tomorrow will be the month end movie. It's a little different than what you're used to seeing here at Cinema Styles. It's 2 minutes and 45 seconds but only a little over a minute of that is the actual montage. And in that minute I cram in over 50 clips so it moves fast, very fast. As such, I highly recommend opening it, pausing it and letting it load up fully before starting. The rest is the "program" that surrounds it. Just imagine it's 1958 and you're at a drive-in and everything should work out fine. There's even a logo for Cinema Styles in there, made to look how it might have were it a super low budget film company operating in the late fifties rather than a movie blog operating today.

And finally, starting November (if I can get to a computer that works on Saturday) the blog will have a new design with a few new features. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Now for some more coffee and, ugh, back to work.

O Frabjous Day! Callooh! Callay!

The time has come my friends to speak of many things. But let's let Bill do the talking...

Because his blog is up and running!

Follow the link here and add it to your blogroll. And join me in welcoming this man of mystery to the internet world of blogging. He's no longer a mystery man, now he is ... Bill R. Well, okay so he's still a mystery. And thanks Bill for making me slap my forehead and think, "Why didn't I just do that? Use my real name and surname initial." Geez, I could've been going by Engelbert this whole time. Oops, I said too much. Anyway, sing along with the clip below as a part of the welcoming party (just change the pronoun "her" to "him" and it's all good). Welcome aboard Bill. I'm glad to have gotten to know you over this past year and I'm happy to call you my friend.