*CANDIDS*

[mongoII]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TUESDAY WELD is 69 today


TOMMY SANDS is 75 today


MARTHA RAYE (1916 - 1994)


GEORGE MONTGOMERY (1916 - 2000)


JOHNNY ECK (1911 - 1991)


BYRON FOULGER (1899 - 1970)


JAMES FINLAYSON (1887 - 1953)

[charliechaplinfan]

I've never seen a picture of the older Pia, she's like her mother.

The adult Pia Lindstrom is well known here in NYC, where she was a popular television newscaster in the 1970s-1990s. It was years before I found out she was Ingrid Bergmans' daughter. [/q]

She must have been good at her job then.

[CineMaven]

I'm a little late to the Hubba Hubba party. But I'd like to add mine. Hubba! Put your head on my shoulllllllders. Whisper in my ear, baaaaybeeee...

Ooooh, his tummy is a little exposed...

[mongoII]

A TRIBUTE TO BIRTHDAY GAL MARTHA RAYE



The most unforgivable oversight of TV is that her shows were not taped.
This is a great story about a great woman.
I was unaware of her credentials or where she is buried.
Somehow I just can't see Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, or Jessica Simpson doing
what this woman (and the other USO women, including Ann Margaret & Joey Heatherton)
did for our troops in past wars.
Most of the old time entertainers were made of a lot sterner stuff than today's crop of
activists bland whiners.
The following is from an Army Aviator who takes a trip down memory lane:
"It was just before Thanksgiving '67 and we were ferrying dead and wounded from a large
GRF west of Pleiku. We had run out of body bags by noon, so the Hook (CH-47 CHINOOK)
was pretty rough in the back.
All of a sudden, we heard a 'take-charge' woman's voice in the rear.

There was the singer and actress, Martha Raye, with a SF (Special Forces)
beret and jungle fatigues, with subdued markings, helping the wounded into
the Chinook, and carrying the dead aboard.
'Maggie' had been visiting her SF 'heroes' out 'west'.
We took off, short of fuel, and headed to the USAF hospital pad at Pleiku.
As we all started unloading our sad pax's, a 'Smart Mouth' USAF Captain said
to Martha.... "Ms Ray, with all these dead and wounded to process, there would
not be time for your show!"
To all of our surprise, she pulled on her right collar and said ....."Captain,
see this eagle? I am a full 'Bird' in the US Army Reserve, and on this is a 'Caduceus'
which means I am a Nurse, with a surgical specialty....now, take me to your wounded!"
He said, "Yes ma'am.... follow me."
Several times at the Army Field Hospital in Pleiku, she would 'cover' a surgical shift,
giving a nurse a well-deserved break.
Martha is the only woman buried in the
SF (Special Forces) cemetery at Ft Bragg.

[moira finnie]

Thanks for that background on Martha Raye, Joe. I did know that she was a tireless entertainer in the USO, but her nursing skill has not gotten the attention it deserves and I am glad you enlightened me about it.

[Rita Hayworth]

I learned something new today - Martha Raye served in US Army with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel and served with the USO Tour Group too.

[JackFavell]

That's a fantastic story, Mongo. Thanks for posting that individual tribute, one of thousands I am quite sure. She was a beloved trouper and a great lady.

[mongoII]

INDEED SHE WAS!
Thanks for the feedback you guys.

[mongoII]

James Stewart and Thelma Ritter between scenes of "Rear Window"

[mrsl]

.
Gosh Mongo, I feel like a real jerk thinking it was sad that a nice, not very attractive but funny comedian died. That story brought tears to my eyes. I hope it was printed in Variety for all to see.

[knitwit45]

Lovely story about a lovely Lady, Joe. Thanks for sharing.

[Vecchiolarry]

Hi Joe,

Thank you so much for that wonderful tribute to Martha Raye. She was a genuine human being - very loving, very giving and also very funny.....

Dear Anne -
The only exception I have to your post is that Maggie was unattractive. She made a living making faces, and that's what people remember about her, especially her mouth - "The Big Mouth"!!!!!!
But, she was quite pretty really and 'washed up quite beautifully' at many dinner parties I was at with her. In quiet repose, she could sometimes pass for Ava Gardner.... Believe me!

Something not known about her, however, is that she was illiterate; she couldn't read, nor write well..... This was hidden always.... I'll probably go to hell now for telling....
I loved her best of all my "Old Ladies".....

Larry

[mrsl]

.
Larry:
.
Okay Larry, I love you dearly and you know that however, I'm getting into semantics here but I just have to, I can handle it when folks print there when they mean their, or there when they mean they're, and so on and so forth, but I said Martha was "NOT VERY ATTRACTIVE", I did not say that she was "UNATTRACTIVE". I've seen photos of her where I had to look at the caption to be sure it was her because she looked so nice - in fact I believe mongo used one for her birthday photo.

Just as an equalizer, I also don't think Carol Burnett (a lady I love and admire, especially for her funny faces), is 'very attractive' but she also 'cleans up' well.

Luv ya, Lar

[mongoII]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

BEN GAZZARA (1930 - 2012)


PEGGY RYAN (1924 - 2004)
DONALD O'CONNOR (1925 - 2003)


NANCY KULP (1921 - 1991)


SIMON OAKLAND (1915 - 1983)


SAM LEVENE (1905 - 1980)


CHARLES BOYER (1899 - 1978)


MORRIS ANKRUM (1897 - 1964)

[JackFavell]

I had no idea that Peggy Ryan and Donald O'Connor shared a birthday! You learn something new every day, especially here at Mongo's thread.

Mmmm. Charles Boyer. Lovely photo. ha-cha cha!