Rain On a Match

Began a rainy, cold morning with breakfast and Singin' In the Rain, but not the soundtrack from the film. I found the cast album for the 1983 London production featuring Tommy Steele at a thrift shop with other British cast albums (and a few Russian albums) a few years ago. While it does include a Brown-Freed song that was only heard in the film as underscoring, "Temptation," it also replaces several of their other tunes with songs by pretty much every other writer in Hollywood in the 1920's-early 30's. That said, "Too Marvelous For Words," the big girlie production number, is really kind of fun, and I like Steele's energetic "Fascinating Rhythm." 

(Incidentally, a Broadway production in 1985 restored the original songs, added two more from Brown-Freed and a couple instrumental routines, and moved "Temptation" to the medley of Monumental Pictures musicals in the second act. Though the show did well enough, running a little over a year, it hasn't been seen in New York since. It's been far more popular in Europe. London stages revived it six times, including two tours and one that should be opening this year.)

By the time I made it to work, the rain was gone, but it remained gloomy, wet, and cold. I was in and out, doing carts and gathering recycling. Spent the last hour wiping down doors and cleaning up icing smears in the seafood department from a cake someone dropped. I was in and out with no problems. Picked up a few things on the way out, including Starlight Mints, peanut butter on sale, and a new thermometer (that didn't work). 

As soon as the Uber gentleman dropped me off, I stumbled into my apartment and fell into bed. I'm not feeling well. I've been tired since yesterday afternoon, and my stomach is achy. The thermometer machine at work revealed I don't have a temperature, I'm breathing just fine, my chest feels normal, and I could definitely taste the ginger ale I picked up at work. Slept until 5:30, then read a chapter of the Bill Cullen biography for a little longer because the blankets just felt so good.

Attempted writing at quarter of 6. Didn't get very far. Brett strings Goodson along, listening to him complain about how Gene was one of his best captains until he started chafing under his demands and went rogue. Brett strings him along...but she has her own plans...

It was past 7 when I broke for dinner. Had leftovers while listening to another film-to-stage musical adaptation, 42nd Street. Jerry Orbach played the director determined to wring out one last hit, while Tammy Grimes is the faded star. This was director Gower Champion's last show; he died on its opening night. My favorites here are the ensemble numbers, including the dreamy "Shadow Waltz," adorable "Go Into Your Dance" with the ladies and Andy Lee (Danny Carroll), "There's a Sunny Side to Every Situation," and the dramatic title song. 

Finished out the night on YouTube with more Bill Cullen game shows in honor of the biography I'm reading. Began with a 1970 To Tell the Truth episode. I wish Buzzr would show ones from before 1973. The set in this early version of the show is a surreal work of art, with swirling rainbow colors in wild psychedelic designs flowing around the walls. Interesting guests, too. The first man made a mural of 1,001 caricatures from the Golden Age of Hollywood (Kitty Carlisle included) that was really awesome. The second was a woman who took photographs of the vanishing Everglades and the many endangered species who live there.

Three on a Match was a hit in the mid-70's. Alas, only about seven shows from late in its run exist today, including this one. They apparently ran through at least three formats during the show's run. I rather enjoyed this one, as people answer true-or-false questions, then spend money to make matches on a prize board. 

Bill's syndicated version of The 25,000 Pyramid is also sadly rare. In this case, the show wasn't erased, just lost. Too bad. Bill has a lot of fun leading people through answering questions in rotating boxes on a pyramid-shaped board. Anne Meara and Tony Roberts were the celebrities in this early episode. 

Pass the Buck is just as complicated as Three On a Match, and even more fun. Bill asks contestants a topic, and they have to keep throwing in answers until the judge doesn't accept one. Contestants are gradually eliminated and sent to a holding area, while the champion continues to answer questions on a board not unlike the one from Pyramid. If they can get at least one answer on a row, they move on. If they can get three or more, they win 5,000. While watching people pass the answers is pretty exciting, it does rely a little too much on a judge's decisions. I can understand why this didn't last long.

Here's more gems from the career of "The Dean of Game Shows" himself! Hope you have as much fun as I did with them. (As a bonus, look for the commercials from the original broadcast on Three, including one from Morton's Salt featuring an early appearance by a very young Jim Perry!)

To Tell the Truth (1970)

Three On a Match (1974)

The 25,000 Pyramid (1975)

Pass the Buck (1979)

Oh, and the Eagles ended their season the same way they've played it - badly. They lost to Washington 20-14.