Happy Solstice:

Happy Solstice - wherever you are!

#WinterSolstice #SummerSolstice

Lena Dunham, on reading:

 

Let's be reasonable and add an eighth day to the week that is devoted exclusively to reading.

- Lena Dunham.

Recommended reading - Be Cool

Be Cool

by Elmore Leonard.
 
Published 1999.
Published by Mariner Books.
Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0062265997
ISBN-13: 978-0062265999
 
Description:

“The greatest crime writer of our time, perhaps ever!” – New York Times Book Review.

“An absolute master.” – Detroit News.

Get Shorty's Chili Palmer is back. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

After a smash hit and a flop, B-movie producer Chili Palmer is looking for another score. Lunching with a record company executive, Chili's exploring a hot new idea – until the exec, a former "associate" from Chili's Brooklyn days, gets whacked.

Segue from real life to reel life. Chili's found his plot. It's a slam-bang opener: the rubout of a record company mogul. Cut to an ambitious wannabe singer named Linda Moon. She has attitude and a band. She's perfect. Zoom into reality. Linda's manager thinks Chili's poaching and he's out to get even, with the help of his switch-hitting Samoan bodyguard. But somebody else beat them to the punch, as Chili discovers when he gets home and finds a corpse at his desk. Somebody made a mistake….

Born on this day – Peetie Wheatstraw:

Peetie Wheatstraw

Blues singer

Guitarist

Pianist

December 21, 1902 – December 21, 1941

Credits:

Songs:

Ain’t It a Pity and a Shame; Blues At My Door; C and A Blues; Chicago Mill Blues; Crazy With the Blues; Devil’s Son‐In‐Law; Don’t Feel Welcome Blues; Drinking Man Blues; Four O'Clock in the Morning; Gangster Blues; Gangster’s Blues; Good Whiskey Blues; Hog-Love Blues; I'm A Little Piece Of Leather; Long Time Ago Blues; Midnight Blues; More Good Whiskey Blues; Packin' Up Blues; Pete Wheatstraw; Police Station Blues; Saturday Night Blues; Shack Bully Stomp; Six Weeks Old Blues; So Long Blues; Strange Man Blues; Suicide Blues; Sweet Home Blues; Tennessee Peaches Blues; The Break I'm Getting'; The Rising Sun Blues; Working on the Project; You Can't Stop Me from Drinking.

Albums:

ABC Of The Blues Vol 48 (2010); Beyond Patina Jazz Masters: Peetie Wheatstraw (2012); Blues Legend 1934-1941 (2011); Blues Legends: Peetie Wheatstraw (2014); Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Vol. 1: 1930-1932 (date?); Crazy With The Blues (2007); Macho Persona (2015); Peetie Wheatstraw Vol. 1 1930-1932 (2005); Peetie Wheatstraw Vol. 2 1934-1935 (2005); Peetie Wheatstraw Vol. 3 1935-1936 (2005); Peetie Wheatstraw Vol. 4 1936-1937 (2005); Peetie Wheatstraw Vol. 5 1937-1938 (2005); Peetie Wheatstraw Vol. 6 1938-1940 (2005); Peetie Wheatstraw Vol. 7 1940-1941 (2005); Saint Louis - Chicago - New York 1931-1941 (The Blues) (1996); This Is the Blues, Vol. 8 (Mono Version) (1962, EP). 

Recommended reading: 

The Devil's son-in-law: The story of Peetie Wheatstraw and his songs

by Paul Garon.

 

Paperback.

Published 1971.

Published by Studio Vista.

ISBN 13: 9780289702116

ISBN 10: 0289702119

ASIN: 0289702119

Description:

Blue-singer, songwriter, piano and guitar player, William Bunch (1902-1941) was well-known as Peetie Wheatstraw, the Devil's Son-in-Law and the High Sheriff from Hell. Long recognized by connoisseurs as one of the most influential blues people of all time, his life and work are little known to the broad public. Blues scholar Paul Garon's important and abundantly illustrated study - drawing on his own extensive interviews with Wheatstraw's relatives, and fellow musicians - brings the exciting Whatstraw saga to life at last. With insight and imagination, Garon explores Peetie Wheatstraw's crucial role not only in blues history, but also in African American urban mythology, and - via a penetrating analysis of song lyrics - his appreciable contributions to blues poetry and to vernacular surrealism. Originally published in the UK in 1971, this substantially revised and expanded edition includes a mass of new information and images, as well as an updated bibliography, discography and index. Also included is a 24-track CD portraying Peetie at his best, with a bonus track by Harmon Ray, the previously unissued Xmas Blues!

Born on this day – Frances Goodrich:

 

Frances Goodrich

Writer

December 21, 1890 – January 29, 1984

Credits:

El diari d'Anna Frank (1996); Father of the Bride Part II (1995); Father of the Bride (1991); Clarence (1990); The Diary of Anne Frank (1985); The Diary of Anne Frank (1982); The Diary of Anne Frank (1980); The Diary of Anne Frank (1967); The Diary of Anne Frank (1962); Five Finger Exercise (1962); The Diary of Anne Frank (1959); The Diary of Anne Frank (1958); A Certain Smile (1958); The Diary of Anne Frank (1957); Gaby (1956); Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954); The Long, Long Trailer (1954); Give a Girl a Break (1953); Kraft Theatre (1950–1952); Too Young to Kiss (1951); Father's Little Dividend (1951); Father of the Bride (1950); In the Good Old Summertime (1949); Miss Tatlock's Millions (1948); Easter Parade (1948); The Pirate (1948); Summer Holiday (1948); It's a Wonderful Life (1946); The Virginian (1946); The Hitler Gang (1944); Lady in the Dark (1944); Another Thin Man (1939); Society Lawyer (1939); Thanks for the Memory (1938); The Firefly (1937); After the Thin Man (1936); Small Town Girl (1936); Rose-Marie (1936); Ah Wilderness! (1935); Naughty Marietta (1935); Chained (1934); Hide-Out (1934); The Thin Man (1934); Fugitive Lovers (1934); Penthouse (1933); The Secret of Madame Blanche (1933); Prosperity (1932); Up Pops the Devil (1931).

Born on this day – Anita Dorris:

Anita Dorris

Actress

December 21, 1903 – December 24, 1993

Credits:

Alimente (1930); Bigamie (1927); Das Mädel aus der Provinz / The Girl from the Provinces (1929); Eros in chains (1929); Fedora (1926); Frau Sopherl vom Naschmarkt / Mrs. Sopherl from the Naschmarkt (1927); Goethe's Young Love (1930); Handsome Gigolo, Poor Gigolo (1930); Hinter Klostermauern / Behind monastery walls (1928); Honor Your Mother (1928); How to stay young and beautiful - marriage secrets (1926); Im weißen Rößl / At the White Horse Inn (1926); Königin Luise, 1. Teil - Die Jugend der Königin Luise / Queen Louise, Part 1 - The Youth of Queen Louise (1927); Königin Luise, 2. Teil / Queen Louise, Part 2 (1928); Liebeshandel / Love Trade (1927); Mach' mir die Welt zum Paradies / Make the world a paradise for me (1930); My dream would be a girl (1929); Nur Du / Only you (1930); Storm on three hearts (1930); Student Life in Merry Springtime (1930); Svengali (1927); The Lady on the Banknote (1929); The mill of Sanssouci / Luise, his daughter (1926); The thing with Schorrsiegel (1928); The trumpets are blowing (1926); Vienna – Berlin (1926); When I came back (1926).

Born on this day – B.K. Turner:

B.K. Turner

Blues singer

Guitarist

December 21, 1905 – November 7, 1972

Credits:

Albums:

I'm the Boss Card in Your Hand (compilation, Arhoolie, 1992); The Black Ace: BK Turner and His Steel Guitar (studio album, Arhoolie, 1960).

Songs:

Beer Drinkin`Woman; Black Ace; Evil Woman; Hitch Hiking Woman; I Am the Black Ace; Interview; Your Legs Too Little.

Born on this day – Junie Astor:

Junie Astor

Actress

Producer

December 21, 1911 – August 22, 1967

Born on this day – Joe Mantell:

Joe Mantell

Actor

December 21, 1915 – September 29, 2010

Credits:

Alcoa Theatre (1959); Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955–1957); All About 'the Birds' (2000); All in the Family (1976); And Baby Makes Three (1949); Armstrong Circle Theatre (1955–1956); Arrest and Trial (1964); Barbary Pirate (1949); Barney Miller (1982); Beau James (1957); Blame It on the Night (1984); Blind Ambition (1979); Cain's Hundred (1962); Checkmate (1960); Chinatown (1974); Climax! (1956–1958); Combat! (1962); 'Combat!' Memories / Video (2004); Danger (1952); Don't Call Me Charlie (1963); Dr. Kildare (1964); Fantasy Island (1978); Goodyear Playhouse (1953–1956); Goodyear Theatre (1960); Guestward Ho! (1961); Hart to Hart (1980); Inner Sanctum (1954); Ironside (1969–1971); Judd for the Defense (1968); Justice (1956); Kelly's Heroes (1970); Kraft Suspense Theatre (1965); Kraft Theatre (1956); Kraft Theatre / The Philco Television Playhouse (1953); Lights Out (1952); Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003); Lou Grant (1977); Mannix (1967–1969); Marty (1955); Maude (1976); Mission: Impossible (1966); Mister Buddwing (1966); Mister Peepers (1952); Modern Romances (1955); Movers & Shakers (1985); Mr. Garlund (1960); Mr. Novak (1963); My Three Sons (1964); Omnibus / Segment: The Man without a Country (1956); One Step Beyond (1959); Onionhead (1958); Out There (1951); Pete and Gladys (1961–1962); Petrocelli (1974); Port of New York (1949); Public Prosecutor (1948); Sam Benedict (1962); Short Short Dramas (1952); Starlight Theatre (1951); Storm Center (1956); Studio One (1955); Suspense (1951); Television: The First Fifty Years (1999); The 20th Century-Fox Hour (1957); The Birds (1963); The Comedy Spot (1960); The Crowded Sky (1960); The Defenders (1963); The Detectives (1960–1961); The Doctors and the Nurses (1963); The Elgin Hour (1955); The F.B.I. (1970); The Gun of Zangara (1960); The Horror Show (1979); The Loner (1966); The Man from Blackhawk (1960); The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1966–1967); The Millionaire (1959); The Murder Men (1962); The Roaring 20's (1960); The Sad Sack (1957); The Scarface Mob (1959); The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (1964); The Twilight Zone (1960–1963); The Two Jakes (1990); The Undercover Man (1949); The Untouchables (1959–1960); The Virginian (1965); The Web (1950–1957); They Only Come Out at Night (1975); Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958); Welcome to the Basement (2016); Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1959).

Born on this day – Ed Nelson:

Ed Nelson

Actor

December 21, 1928 – August 9, 2014

Born on this day – John G. Avildsen:

John G. Avildsen

Director

December 21, 1935 – June 16, 2017

Credits:

Let Love Last (2014); Inferno (1999); A Fine and Private Place (1998); 8 Seconds (1994); The Power of One (1992); Rocky V (1990); The Karate Kid Part III (1989); Lean on Me (1989); For Keeps? (1988); Happy New Year (1987); The Karate Kid Part II (1986); The Karate Kid (1984); Murder Ink (1983); A Night in Heaven (1983); Traveling Hopefully (1982); Neighbors (1981); The Formula (1980); Slow Dancing in the Big City (1978); Rocky (1976); Foreplay (1975); W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975); Save the Tiger (1973); The Stoolie (1972); Okay Bill (1971); Cry Uncle (1971); Joe (1970); Guess What We Learned in School Today? (1970); Out of It (1969); Turn on to Love (1969); Light Sound Diffused (1965); Smiles (1964).

Born on this day – Gail Lumet Buckley:

Gail Lumet Buckley

Writer

December 21, 1937 – July 27, 2024

Credits:

Books:

American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm (2001); The Black Calhouns: From Civil War to Civil Rights with One African American Family (2016); The Hornes: An American Family (1986).

Television:

American Masters (1996–2021).

Born on this day – Jack Nance:

Jack Nance

Actor

December 21, 1943 – December 30, 1996

Born on this day – Gwen McCrae:

 

Gwen McCrae

Singer

December 21, 1943 – February 21, 2025

Credits:
 
Albums:

For Your Love (2012); Funky Sensation (2015); Girlfriends Boyfriend (1996); Golden Classics (1993); Gwen Mc Crae Live at the New Morning (2006); Gwen McCrae (1974); Gwen McCrae Sings TK (2006); Gwen McCrae: Cat & Atlantic Years (2019); Henry Stone's Best of Gwen Mccrae (2014); Lay It On Me: The Columbia Years (2010); Let’s Straighten It Out / Melody of Life (2005); Let's Straighten It Out (1978); Live in Paris at New Morning (2006); Melody of Life (1979); On My Way (1982); Psychic Hot Line (1996); Rock Your Baby: The Best of George & Gwen McCrae (1993); Rockin' Chair & Let's Straighten It Out (1999); Rockin' Chair/Something So Right (2005); Something so Right (1976); Soul From Miami USA (1975); The Best Of Gwen McCrae (1992); Together (1975); You and I Were Made for Each Other (2011).

Songs:

90% of Me; All This Love That I’m Givin’; Clean Up Woman; Cradle of Love; Damn Right It’s Good; Doin’ It; For Your Love; Funky Sensation; Girlfriend's Boyfriend; He's Not You; I Found a Love; I Got Nothing to Lose but the Blues; I Need to Be With You; It Keeps on Raining; It’s Worth the Hurt; Keep the Fire Burning; Lead Me On; Let Nature Take Its Course; Love Without Sex; Maybe I’ll Find Somebody New; Mechanical Body; Move Me Baby; Rock Your Baby; Rockin’ Chair; Something So Right; Starting All Over Again; The Rub; Winners Together or Losers Apart; You and I Were Made for Each Other; You Were Always on My Mind

Movies and television:

American Bandstand (1975); AVRO's Toppop (1983); Cassius: Feeling for You (1999); Clubbed (2008); Love Serenade (1996); She's So Lovely (1997); Skins (2007); Soul Train (1977); Sunday Driver (2005); The Breaks (2017); The Dukes of Hazzard (2005); The Last Days of Disco (1998); The Midnight Special (1975); The Weird World of Blowfly (2010).

Born on this day – Ulli Lommel:

Ulli Lommel

Actor

Director

December 21, 1944 – December 2, 2017

On this day in movie history - Grand Prix (1966)

Grand Prix

directed by John Frankenheimer,

written by Robert Alan Aurthur,

was released in the United States on December 21, 1966.

Music by Maurice Jarre.

Cast:

James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, Yves Montand, Toshirô Mifune, Brian Bedford, Jessica Walter, Antonio Sabato, Françoise Hardy, Adolfo Celi, Claude Dauphin, Enzo Fiermonte, Geneviève Page, Jack Watson, Donald O'Brien, Jean Michaud, Albert Rémy, Rachel Kempson, Ralph Michael, Alan Fordney, Anthony Marsh, Tommy Franklin, Phil Hill, Graham Hill, Bernard Cahier, Masaaki Asukai, Lorenzo Bandini, Raymond Baxter, Roy Beck, Salvatore Billa, Bob Bondurant, Joakim Bonnier, Jack Brabham, John Bryson, Jim Clark, Eugenio Dragoni, Evans Evans, Tiziano Feroldi, Paul Frees, Alain Gerard, Richie Ginther, Noël Godin, Dan Gurney, Arthur Howard, Gilberto Mazzi, Bruce McLaren, Jochen Rindt, Jo Siffert.

On this day in movie history - The Gauntlet (1977)

The Gauntlet

directed by Clint Eastwood,

written by Michael Butler and Dennis Shryack,

was released in the United States on December 21, 1977.

Music by Jerry Fielding.

Cast:

Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney, Michael Cavanaugh, Carole Cook, Mara Corday, Doug McGrath, Jeff Morris, Samantha Doane, Roy Jenson, Dan Vadis, Carver Barnes, Robert Barrett, Teddy Bear, Mildred Brion, Ron Chapman, Don Circle, James W. Gavin, Thomas H. Friedkin, Darwin Lamb, Roger Lowe, Fritz Manes, John Quiroga, Josef Rainer, Art Rimdzius, Al Silvani, Michael L. Cooley, Marneen Fields, Dennis Jenkins, Mike Mangiaruca, Butch Price, Terry D. Seago, Steve Wargo, Tom Willett.

On this day in movie history - The Electric Horseman (1979)

The Electric Horseman

directed by Sydney Pollack,

written by Paul Gaer and Robert Garland, 

based on a story by Shelly Burton,

was released in the United States on December 21, 1979.

Music by Dave Grusin.

Songs by Willie Nelson:

• My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.
• Midnight Rider.
• Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.
• So You Think You're a Cowboy.
• Hands on the Wheel.

Cast:

Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Valerie Perrine, Willie Nelson, John Saxon, Nicolas Coster, Allan Arbus, Wilford Brimley, Will Hare, Basil Hoffman, Timothy Scott, James Sikking, James Kline, Frank Speiser, Quinn K. Redeker, Lois Hamilton, Sarah Harris, Tasha Zemrus, James Novak, Debra L. Maxwell, Michele Heyeden, Robin Timm, Patricia Blair, Gary M. Fox, Richard Perlmutter, Carol Eileen Montgomery, Theresa Ann Dent, Perry Sheehan, Sarge Allen, Sylvie Strause, Richard Knoll, Angelo Giouzelis, Mark Jamison, Brendan Kelly, Sheila B. Wakely, X.V. Kelly, Gary Shermaine, Gary Liddiard, Jerry Kurland, J. Carlton Adair, Charles J. Monahan, George W. Etter, Raymond G. Maupin, Bob C. Barrett, Red McIlvaine, Frank Nicholas, Johnny Magnus, Vic Vallaro, Bob Bailey, Roger Lowe, Kim Kephart, E.P. King, Rita Picking, Bernie Pollack, Sydney Pollack, Tom Willett.

On this day in movie history - Angel-A (2005)

Angel-A

directed and written by Luc Besson,

was released in France on December 21, 2005.

Music by Anja Garbarek.

Cast:

Jamel Debbouze, Rie Rasmussen, Gilbert Melki, Serge Riaboukine, Akim Chir, Eric Balliet, Loïc Pora, Venus Boone, Jérôme Guesdon, Michel Bellot, Michel Chesneau, Olivier Claverie, Solange Milhaud, Laurent Jumeaucourt, Franck-Olivier Bonnet, Akim Colour, Tonio Descanvelle, Grigori Manoukov, Alain Zef, Jean-Marc Montalto, Jil Milan, Todd Thaler, Gael Triam.