Do, Dump or Marry: The 1920’s edition….
February 27, 2009I had started this post about WWI demi-gods but decided that I might just try and do these right along with my US History Units at school…so, since we just finished WWI and are starting the 1920’s, I thought to me self, “Self – Wilson, Clemenceau and Czar Nicholas ummm…not so much.” So, the 1920’s it is….
Do:
Jay Gatsby as portrayed by the very hunky Robby Redford
Now, hear me out ….I know that Robert Redford is not technically from the Jazz Age, but what makes him so adorable as this character, in particular, is his vulnerability which is masked by his materialism & apparent immorality. And that was what the Twenties were all about so, go with it….. That being said, JG is my “do” because while he is incredibly debonair, sexy & rich as hell….he is also obsessively devoted to the flippant Daisy Buchanan as well as a member of organized crime and that, my friends, is something I don’t think I could live with. For one night however, well….I think it would be all right.
Dump:
Bishop James Cannon Jr.
Boooo, Hisss….An obvious choice here, folks. This dear Bishop of the Methodist church was one of the leaders of the temperance movement here in the US during the 1920’s. Just that one sentence should pretty much make my entire argument as to why he and I would NOT make a good, or even civil, couple. But beyond our profound differences in opinion on how to make a good Old Fashioned (because his would be WITHOUT BOURBON!!!) he was also just a not very nice guy. During his hey day, he held the political movers and shakers of the early 1900’s in the palm of his hand. Mayors, Congressmen, even Presidents listened to his demands advice. Hence, the 21st Amendment (my least favorite of ALL the amendments!). Finally, I would dump this teetotaler due to slimy business and personal affairs. His later life was strewn with scandal…charges of adultery, embezzlement from the church & even, gasp, misuse of campaign funds! He was found not guilty of all the charges, by his church and by a court of law (I’m sure that political influence didn’t help at all there……) but if it walks like a duck and it talks like a duck, well…you know.
Marry:
Rudy Vallee
One of our country’s first “crooners” (think Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Andy Williams…) Rudy’s Vitalis-ed coif and puppy dog eyes had me at hello. Being multi-lingual (a rarity during the xenophobic 1920’s: we fear foreigners and their devilish languages!), Rudy was originally a clarinetist (like moi) and saxophonist in New England born in…..wait for it……Island Pond, Vermont!!!! (coincidence, I think not…). He was also the original boy toy, girls screamed and fainted at his almost entirely sold out live shows. While his first three marriages were failures, he eventually found a fit and his last marriage was forty years long until his death in 1986 (when I was in Kindergarten!) Ah, Rudy….if only I had been born sixty years earlier. As an added bonus, he looks an awful lot like the first love of my life, who I was dangerously obsessed with a fan of since his performance in the movie Memphis Belle: Harry Connick Jr.
Be still my aching heart....
On a side note, a very good friend of mine (hint) once chased like a dog ran after a Mardi Gras float containing Mr. HCJ. along with me trying to get his attention and even when I gave up and stopped, panting in the road, she continued until a kindly NOLA cop body checked her asked her to stop. Just remember kids, friends that stalk together, stay together.
