Sifting Through the Roberts

Montgomery, Cummings, Young, Taylor... I get them mixed up sometimes.

Last night I watched Robert Taylor in a movie —with beloved Barbara Stanwyck—and realized he'd slipped below my radar. Ridiculously handsome, with full, sensuous lips. Striking. Nothing like the others.

I always think I know a fair bit about old Hollywood history. Plegh! How did I not know that Talor and Barbara were married from 1939-1952??? Shame on me. A one time Taylor was number 4 at the box office, and took the lead in the 1935 version of Magnificant Obsession with Irene Dunne. I'll need to try to dig that one out, it was a huge hit, and I find the Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman version painful to watch. I'd rather stick a fork in my hand. (that is not my line, but I can't remember who said it.) Taylor was a pretty big star, a solid leading man into the '50s, and even had his own TV show in the '60s. Yet he is quite obscure today.

Robert Taylor served admirably in the war, but would have been despised by all I hold dear because he was a "friendly witness" for the HUAC. Close friend of Ronald Regan, who even spoke at his funeral. But I will set aside my feelings about that. Above all else, I can forgive Taylor anything for this alone: When asked at a party what his most important goal was, he replied very seriously that it was to accumulate "a wardrobe of ten fine custom-tailored suits." How can I not love a man who said that?

In which we pick up where we left off

What do you think so far val?

Tweaking all the little layout details are a huge pain. Still trying to get it just right.