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 – 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 – 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 – 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