Saturday, February 21, 2015

The Cat's Out Of The Bag



It's probably impossible not to like Cat Gorman.

Exuding likability, the Ohio-based songstress is an attractive lady with an attractive voice, performing an attractively presented show (her New York debut) at Don't Tell Mama, entitled "Stars, Songs, and Stories." Gorman is benefitted considerably by her crackerjack quartet, led by Barry Levitt, and including Jack Cavari on guitar, Tom Hubbard on bass, and Daniel Glass on drums.

The latter two gentlemen are frequent players at the marvelous Marilyn Maye's New York gigs, and that legendary lady's influence permeates Gorman's entire show: La Maye is the director, and her inimitable stamp is evident throughout, especially in the cleverly conceived medleys (a Maye trademark) and the sunny, positive theme -- no moody, gloomy cabaret act, this.

Cat Gorman with (L-R) Barry Levitt, Daniel Glass, Jack Cavari, and Tom Hubbard

That positivity served Gorman's soprano well, in a well-paced program which opened with one of our favorite compositions, "So Many Stars" by Sergio Mendes and the Bergmans, and highlighted by a My Fair Lady medley and a particularly lovely combination of "My White Knight" and "Till There Was You" from The Music Man (which also featured strikingly good guitar work by Mr. Cavari).

Another superbly crafted medley was one which combined "talk" songs: Bobby Troup's "Girl Talk," Meredith Wilson's "Pick a Little, Talk a Little," Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Happy Talk" -- geddit??? Of all of the medleys, this is the one which most bore the unmistakable mark of Maye -- it suits her style to a tee, and although Gorman is a completely different kind of performer, she nicely captured the requisite lightness and sense of fun. On the flip side of that coin, the only real misstep of the evening was a medley of Jerry Herman's "Before the Parade Passes By" and "Ribbons Down My Back" from Hello, Dolly. This beautiful arrangement has long been an emotional highlight of Marilyn Maye's own shows, but Gorman seemed to lack the gravitas to make it completely work.

A particularly pleasant and unexpected surprise, however, was the most contemporary number in the act, "Santa Fe" from the recent musical, Newsies. Truth be told, we disliked the show and most of the music when we saw it on Broadway, but Gorman imbued the song with such genuine longing and emotion, it was truly moving.

Reaching back into the vintage Broadway bag, Gorman closed her Gotham debut on a figurative and literal high note with another thoughtfully considered medley, this time from Frank Loesser's Guys and Dolls, including an excellent "I'll Know" and ending with a soaring "I've Never Been in Love Before."

Above all, Marilyn Maye's smooth direction ensured that the show was extraordinarily well paced, and its set list remarkably well considered, with a subtle but significant thematic story arc of achieving one's dreams. It will be interesting to watch Cat Gorman as she fulfills hers, and continues to shape her sound and style as a cabaret artist. She certainly could ask for no better mentor.

We liked her, we really liked her.


Thursday, January 15, 2015

Friday, January 2, 2015

Happy 2015, Darlings!


We will be back with our regularly scheduled programming soon, darlings; it's just been a whirlwind of activity and holiday cheer of late. Of course, as has been tradition for the past few years, we rang in 2015 with the ever-wondrous Marilyn Maye (pictured with us above, and our dear friend and fellow uber-fan, Drew, on the left) at The Metropolitan Room.

La Maye continues the party, starting tonight, with another seven shows this week and next; we'll be at every performance except Sunday's, so do drop by to join the spellbound acolytes and say hello if you do! Happy 2015, and may the new year bring all of you nothing but health, happiness, and fabulosity!



Tickets for Marilyn Maye at The Metropolitan Room HERE.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Yes, It's Monday, Darlings...






...Just suck it up!!!

La Cradock's segment begins at the 10:30 mark, and she begins sucking down winkles at 15:10. Not to be missed, darlings.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Scratch 'N' Sniff

Gilbert Roland in Thunder Bay (Universal, 1953)


We can practically smell this photo, darlings.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Farewell, Miss America






MARY ANN MOBLEY
February 17, 1939 - December 9, 2014



 Be sure to join us on our Facebook page, where we'll be sharing a ton of Mary Ann Mobley memorabilia all day long. Click HERE.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Friday, December 5, 2014

Miss Tallulah Bankhead...


Tallulah Bankhead makes a spectacular entrance at The Ritz in London, August 20, 1964.


...now appearing in Fall! Fall! My Darling!

Thursday, December 4, 2014

The Beefcake Age

Robert Wagner

Rock Hudson

Race Gentry

Crash Craddock

Fabian

Tab Hunter


When heartthrobs and their hair products roamed the earth.


Don't forget to visit our Facebook page for even more fabulosity! Click HERE.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

In Like Clinch

Yvonne De Carlo and John Ireland in Hurricane Smith (Paramount, 1952)
Donna Reed and John Payne in Raiders Of The Seven Seas (United Artists, 1953)
Piper Laurie and Tyrone Power in Mississippi Gambler (United-International, 1953)

Saturday, November 29, 2014

A Tale Of Two Tarzans

Modern Screen, Jan 1936

Photoplay, July 1932


How do you prefer him, darlings? Swinger or city slicker?


Don't forget to "Like" and follow us on Facebook, darlings! Click HERE.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Golden Girl






Rare photos from Modern Screen magazine, chronicling the rise of starlet Marilyn Monroe, 1951-53.



Join us as we discuss and share even more Marilyn today on our official Facebook page! Click HERE.