On a dark and windy night at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, Myrna Loy, wearing a red silk dress with matching heels, applies her lipstick. She stares at her reflection in the south window of the corner suite glancing down at the boulevard. Turning into the room she smirks, “It’s gotten louder and stinkier.”
On a dark and windy night at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, Myrna Loy, wearing a red silk dress with matching heels, applies her lipstick. She stares at her reflection in the south window of the corner suite glancing down at the boulevard. Turning into the room she smirks, “It’s gotten louder and stinkier.”
Bogart tilts his head and gives her a smile as Jean Harlow rolls her eyes and drawls, “Whattya want honey, Orange blossoms and streetcars? I’ll take this burg over Kansas City any day.”
Bogie checks his watch just as Mickey Rooney bursts into the room.
“Hey kids, let’s put on a…
“Zip it shorty. We all know you outlived everybody but you’re new here. Have a seat and keep your lip buttoned.”
Rooney slumps into a chair getting a kind glance from Wallace Beery. “Aw gee Humph,” drawls Beery, “ you know how it is for the new guys. He has to adjust is all.” Bogart says nothing as he tosses a shot of bourbon down his pipes and walks to the large window looking out over the Chinese. He casts his eyes downward to the street below and can hardly believe his eyes. Thousands of movie fans have gathered from all over the world for the fifth annual Turner Classic Movie film festival. Most of them weren’t born when Bogie and his suitemates were making flicks. A dozen films were playing simultaneously while downstairs in the lobby a gaggle of film buffs were buying t-shirts, hats and attending seminars.
Bogie looks across the room. Not even Clark Gable, who was sleeping in an overstuffed chair, could have predicted this. In their day, once a film had finished it’s run that was it. You put the film in a can and shelved it. However, with the advent of television, classic films found a new audience. Twenty years ago when TCM was formed, movies from every corner of the map representing every era of filmmaking were broadcast uncut and commercial free. Finally, movies were treated with the respect and dignity that was only previously bestowed to a piece of fine art. Hell, even Ivy League college kids were dissecting The Three Stooges.
Rudy Valentino stands expressionless with his arms crossed and stares along with Bogie. The throngs below leave him speechless as he slides out, ignoring Audrey Hepburn, and heads to his yoga class. Hepburn sniffs in disgust and plops down on Gable’s lap waking him up. He rubs his eyes, looks at Audrey and flashes his famous smile.
“What gives skinny?” She tussles his hair and locks eyes with him. “Please take me to the Blazing Saddles screening. I think that Mel Brooks is cute!” “You know how much I like you kid, but I’m taking Carole to see Godfather Two.” Audrey jumps up, bouncing over to Bogart wrapping her arms around his waist. He gently releases himself of her grip and says with a laugh, “Behave yourself, you know I’m waiting for Betty.”
Hepburn spins away and suddenly becomes breathless. “There he is!” They all walk to the window and watch as a silver haired man in a dapper grey suit walks across the boulevard. He looks up and sees the immortal stars smiling down at him. He gives them a wink and a smile as he enters the Roosevelt.
Rooney stands up and gasps, “Ava?” Agnes Moorhead puts down her highball and snaps at Mickey. “Ava’s in Palm Springs with Frank. It’s Bobby Osborne you ninny.”
“Oh yeah?” I know him, he’s a nice guy.”
“A nice guy?” purrs Loy, “He only gave us eternal life!”
They all head to the bar for a nightcap, with the exception of Bogie who stares out at the street.
“Would you like at that. Spiderman’s down there hustling like a chump sporting a beer belly. Thank heavens for TCM. It gives this place class.”
Allan Havey