This or That

[vitanola]

Yes! All of the above.

I maintain the rugs by vacuuming. Every spring and fall I take the rugs outside and beat them and let them air. Occasionally, if they are getting dingy I'll lay them on a shaded concrete patio, flood them with water, and gently shampoo them, using a (new) shoe brush and very mild soap. I seldom have to shampoo more than once a decade, or so. In fact, I just had some helpers in yesterday, at which time we cleaned and aired the rugs. The big rug (at 24' x 11' it is a BEAST to move) from the library is just now folded up in the hall awaiting the next clear day for its first shampooing.

A couple seldom used bedrooms are fitted with antique Ingrain or antique rag carpeting. This is vacuumed weekly. In another year or so I will be taking these carpets up to shampoo them as I do the rugs and reverse them in the floor, to better distribute wear.

The hallways have (for the time being) modern production synthetic patterned wall-to-wall carpet. Those I vacuum and shampoo with a rented "Rug Doctor" in the usual manner.


Indirect or direct lighting?

 

[Trenchfriend]

The old fashion way, taking a cheap can of usual perfumed shaving-foam and any kind of handy cleaning-brush and refurbish your "Teppich" at the living-room, step by step.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Indirect or direct lighting?

Indirect.

As "bedtime-candy":

Prefer some chocolate/pralines OR two handy rollmops-herrings??

 

[vitanola]

Rollmöpse

Couldn't abide chocolate just before bed.

I'd just consider Rollmöpse at bed-time a sort of down payment on the coming Katerfrüstück.

Brasso or Never Dull?

 

[2jakes]

Brasso.

Rare, medium or well-done steak
of your choice?

 

[vitanola]

Rare.

Of Jane Powell's books;

"Bungalow Kitchens" or "Bungalow Bathrooms"?

 

[2jakes]

Of Jane Powell's books;

"Bungalow Kitchens" or "Bungalow Bathrooms"?

"Bungalow bathroom" as the one provided for me by Jack Warner
family when I lived at their Beverly Hills estate in California.

Whirlpool jet or vintage clawfoot & pedestal tub?

 

[vitanola]

Clawfoot.

I have four of them installed,three in the big house and one in the bungalow.

Not a single jetted tub of any kind.

I'love to have seen that bungalow.

Interior decoration:

Rose Cumming or William Haines?

 

[Fading Fast]

We need a Bat Signal for Lizzie.

I like the idea of a silhouette of Lizzie flying through the air with a cape like a superhero (my bet, 2Jakes can work up a prototype up for us). But I will admit that the snarky side of me was going to suggest the hammer and sickle as the signal (I know - that was wrong).

Right now, I'd call up commissioner 2Jakes and asked him to flash the Lizzie-signal to save "This or That" from slipping off the main page.

And I do realize that, at this moment, our superhero is tied up fighting the Finnish collaborators in WWII over in the "Red Scare" thread - but a superhero's work is never done.

 

[2jakes]

We need a Bat Signal for Lizzie.

I like the idea of a silhouette of Lizzie flying through the air with a cape like a superhero (my bet, 2Jakes can work up a prototype up for us). But I will admit that the snarky side of me was going to suggest the hammer and sickle as the signal (I know - that was wrong).

Right now, I'd call up commissioner 2Jakes and asked him to flash the Lizzie-signal to save "This or That" from slipping off the main page.

And I do realize that, at this moment, our superhero is tied up fighting the Finnish collaborators in WWII over in the "Red Scare" thread - but a superhero's work is never done.

You are aware that this may very well be my last post!

 

[LizzieMaine]

Willie Haines. His popularity as a heterosexual romantic lead was testimony to his remarkable skill as an actor, and he was highly spoken of by the cognoscenti for his decorating abilities.

And, hey, being a direct descendant of a "Salem Witch," I don't mind that logo at all.

Louise Fazenda or Polly Moran?

 

[2jakes]

Polly Moran.

Btw:
I kid mostly those that I admire!

Actually... I would kiss the ground
you walk on.
Call it infatuation or whatever,
you would make a great dictator!


Cape Fear:
Mitchum or DeNiro?

 

[vitanola]

Mitchum.

Re: the Miss Maine's already answered questions, though I love Polly Moran, Louise Fazenda leaves me in studies.

Billy Haines decorated the Jack Warner mansion. It is one of his most famous designs.

Biograph or Essanay?

 

[2jakes]

Billy Haines decorated the Jack Warner mansion. It is one of his most famous designs.

Biograph or Essanay?

Essanay. (Chaplin)

I wonder how much input Mr. Haines had with the Warner mansion
indoor layout.
There were more hidden passages in that place then
an amusement park fun house.
At times, I never knew where or when Mrs. Warner would
come or go in that huge bedroom of hers.

Clarification: Her bedroom was not a typical bedroom.
It comprised of many things. She conducted much
of her activities from here with the lady of the house
making sure that “madam's” orders were to be followed.
She hardly went around the place.
One of my tasks was to insure that the staff was at
their work stations. I had a wonderful time exploring
all the rooms, collections and things from a bygone era.
The front of the place reminded me of that mansion from
“Gone With the Wind”. The interior I can only describe it
as “opulent”.


Mack Sennett or Hal Roach?

 

[LizzieMaine]

Roach, a studio executive who recognized his own creative limitations and left his comedians pretty much to their own devices. The results speak for themselves.

Anita Garvin or Martha Sleeper?

 

[2jakes]

Roach, a studio executive who recognized his own creative limitations and left his comedians pretty much to their own devices. The results speak for themselves.

Anita Garvin or Martha Sleeper?

Anita Garvin . Those eyes of hers and that “look”.
I melt into silly-putty!

Jean Harlow or Mae West?

 

[vitanola]

Essanay. (Chaplin)

I wonder how much input Mr. Haines had with the Warner mansion
indoor layout.
There were more hidden passages in that place then
an amusement park fun house.
At times, I never knew where or when Mrs. Warner would
come or go in that huge bedroom of hers.

Clarification: Her bedroom was not a typical bedroom.
It comprised of many things. She conducted much
of her activities from here with the lady of the house
making sure that “madam's” orders were to be followed.
She hardly went around the place.
One of my tasks was to insure that the staff was at
their work stations. I had a wonderful time exploring
all the rooms, collections and things from a bygone era.
The front of the place reminded me of that mansion from
“Gone With the Wind”. The interior I can only describe it
as “opulent”.

Haines was responsible for the redecoration after the expansion and remodeling was completed in 1937. The Warner house, as built in 1926 was a fairly large (7500 sq. Ft.) Hollywood Spanish home. The house was considerably expanded in 1933 and again between 1935 and 1937. The facade was modified to a "Colonial" appearance in the 1933 remodeling. The final Neoclassical (actually a free interpretation of Greek Revival in the Doric taste) was the responsibility of architect Roland Coate. Only the interior decoration was the responsibility of Billy Haines. This home has been owned by David Geffen for nearly thirty years. It is reported that he has carefully preserved both the house (with it's interiors) and the landscape. If true,this would make it the sole surviving house of it's type from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

What a stunning place. It must have really been something to work there.

Harlow. West always seemed a bit of an over-ripe peach to me.


Florence Lawrence or Leona Anderson?

 

[2jakes]

^^^^
With your wealth of knowledge and details, I’m sure you would’ve
appreciated that place more than me.

This is a photo of the “Colonel” (as he liked to be called)
He’s in the middle holding one of his “trophies”.

I handled that Oscar and it was heavy. Also you could not walk out of the room with that statue without triggering an alarm at his estate.

I’m not familiar with the names you have posted.

So....


Florence Lawrence or Leona Anderson?

 

[vitanola]

Wow!

That must have been an interesting, though demanding job. May I ask how you felt about working for the family? (Broad generalities- I do not mean to pry) A supervisory position can be a real minefield when one is as young as you must have been, requiring considerable tact and a broad knowledge of human nature. Did you find your military service to have been a useful preparation?

 

[2jakes]

Wow!

That must have been an interesting, though demanding job. May I ask how you felt about working for the family? (Broad generalities- I do not mean to pry) A supervisory position can be a real minefield when one is as young as you must have been, requiring considerable tact and a broad knowledge of human nature. Did you find your military service to have been a useful preparation?

I'll begin with your last question.
If anything positive came out of the
military without getting into the political
arena, was an appreciation for life.
That I was able to maintain my sanity,
I owe to my grandmother.
Having seen the face of death daily,
anything that came at me later in
life was a piece of cake.

I lived with the Warner's for almost
a year. It was a way of life that I
thoroughly enjoyed. The material things
and comfort was new and wonderful.
But I did not have the mentality like
the staff who were pros and dedicated
to their work. I was too young and
wanted to see the world.
I was good at tennis and one of the
daughters invited me to play at the
court near the swimming pool.
The staff made me aware later that
it was wrong to mix with the family.
When I said my farewell, Mrs. Warner
expressed her concern to stay adding
that she would take me with her to
travel all over the world.
I said thanks, but I didn't feel
comfortable.

I met many folks who enjoyed my
tennis. Was invited to many places
to have a good time with food & drinks.
But I'm the type that appreciates folks
and like to return the favor.
That I was not able to afford to do
so was very uncomfortable.
But overall it was nice. I got to meet
people that I had only seen on the
screen before.
It was grand!