From Sybil Bruncheon's "MY MERRY MEMOIRS"... Dagmar Does It Again!

My identical twin sister Dagmar never really had any luck with her attempts at start-up businesses. She was always trying to prove to our Dad that she could "make it on her own" despite the fact that she was underwritten by every one of our family members and relatives including a six-year-old niece that she duped out of her allowance over a platinum-mining scam. This photo is of a candy store she claimed to want to open in time for Halloween called Tasty Terrors. Sadly, 33 of her first customers were food-poisoned on her “gelatinated” locust-bugs. YEEESH!

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Sybil Bruncheon's "KNOW YOUR GAY HISTORY!"... Robert Eselberger.

Darlings, so many young LGBTQ persons don't seem to know or care about their gay-heritage!... where they came from, what the struggles were, how difficult, and even dangerous it was to be an LGBTQ youngster in the not-so-distant past. It can be very, very discouraging and disheartening to older people who know all too well what the journey was to this point... and how much farther so many folks still have to go in certain parts of the world and even this country. That's why, as a public service, we will be helping to educate everyone about our GAY HISTORY!

Here's a photo of a notorious drag performer from Cherry Grove, Fire Island circa 1950. His name originally was Robert Eselberger, from Ronkonkoma, the son of the famous delicatessen owners, Eselberger's Kosher Catering! But he gave up his place behind the counter and at the Board of Directors table, and became "Shishka-Bobbie", an interpretive dancer and fire juggler who performed mostly to Alice Faye and Patty page records; Bobbie's biggest numbers were "With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming" and "Hello, Frisco! Hello"... sadly, it was discovered in 1956, that the shish kabobs she served to the audience during her musical numbers were local roadkill, and possibly even lost house pets... Shishka-Bobbie was arrested at the Matawan Melody Tent after the first act, tried, and sentenced to seven years at the Manonkahottan Institute for Inveterate Discourtesy to Our Four-Legged Friends... She changed her name to Shishka-BARBIE and hosted the Saturday afternoon “Grill ‘n’ Greets” for the new inmates’ arrival. Her parents moved from Ronkonkoma to Akron, and changed their name to Hefflehoffer… they made a small fortune in the library paste industry.

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Sybil Bruncheon's "MY MERRY MEMOIRS!"... chapter 11... Here, Kitty, Kitty!

My little kitty, Professor Sniffkins, and I solved several shocking mysteries during my years at the Headley-Greers Academy for Disturbingly Precocious Young Persons. There was "The Graham Cracker Crusher Caper", "Another Felonious Frankfurter Horror", "The Afternoon Nap of No Return", and of course, Scotland Yard's favorite, "Nilly Natchet Took a Hatchet".

Professor Sniffkins and I were awarded the Marleybone Star of Meritorious Service to the Nation by his Gracious Majesty. Sadly, Sniffkins chewed the ribbons off of both them and dragged mine to a grate in the garden, never to be found again. And coincidentally, amethyst is my birthstone! DAMMIT!

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Tour-ette from Fire Island... a sunset in Cherry Grove 6/7/2019

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A New Sybil's "WHO'Z DAT?"... S.Z. "Cuddles" SAKALL (February 2, 1887 – February 12, 1955)...

Darlings! Mummy has made a decision! After reading dozens of posts and having hundreds of conversations with well-meaning folks who just don't know about the great CHARACTER actors who gave films the depth and genius that surrounded and supported the so-called "stars", I am going to post a regular, special entry called SYBIL'S "WHO'Z DAT??"....there'll be photos and a mini-bio, and the next time you see one of those familiar, fabulous faces that you just "can't quite place".......well, maybe these posts will help. Some of these actors worked more, had longer and broader careers, and ended up happier, more loved, and even wealthier than the "stars" that the public "worships"......I think there may be a metaphor in that! What do you think???

Originally named Szőke Szakáll , S.Z. Sakall (February 2, 1883 - February 12, 1955) was born Gerő Jenő in Budapest, Hungary, to a Jewish family. During his schooldays, he wrote sketches for Budapest vaudeville shows under the pen-name Szőke Szakáll meaning "blond beard" in reference to his own beard, grown to make him look older, which he affected when at the age of 18 he turned to acting and sketch writing. The actor became a star of the Hungarian stage and screen in the 1910s and 1920s when he moved to Vienna, where he appeared as a regular at Herman Leopoldi’s famous Kabarett Leopoldi-Wiesenthal. In the 1930s, he was, next to Hans Moser, the most significant representative of the Wiener Film, the Viennese light romantic comedy genre. He also appeared in Berlin. He appeared in FAMILIENTAG IM HAUSE PRELLSTEIN (1927), IHRE MAJESTÄT DIE LIEBE (1929), which was remade in Hollywood as HER MAJESTY LOVE with W.C. Fields in Sakall's role, and TWO HEARTS IN WALTZ TIME (1930). For a brief period during this time, he ran his own production company. When the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, Sakall was forced to return to Hungary. He was involved in over 40 movies in his native land. When Hungary joined the Axis in 1940, he headed for Hollywood with his wife. Many of Sakall's close relatives later died in Nazi concentration camps, including all three of his sisters and his niece, as well as his wife's brother and sister.

Sakall began a career that included an endless succession of excitable theatrical impresarios, lovable European uncles and befuddled shopkeepers. His first Hollywood role was in the comedy IT'S A DATE (1940) with Deanna Durbin. The first big hit of his American career was BALL OF FIRE (1941) with Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. Later, he signed a contract with Warner Brothers, where he had a number of other small roles, including YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942) with Oscar winner James Cagney.

Later the same year, at the age of 59, he portrayed one of his best remembered characters, Carl the head waiter in CASABLANCA (1942). Producer Hal B. Wallis signed Sakall for the role three weeks after filming had begun. When he was first offered the part, Sakall hated it and turned it down. He finally agreed to take the role provided they gave him four weeks of work. The two sides eventually agreed on three weeks. He received $1,750 per week for a total of $5,250. He actually had more screen time than either Peter Lorre or Sydney Greenstreet.

Sakall appeared in 30 more movies after this, including CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945) again with Barbara Stanwyck. Sakall appeared in four films released in 1948: the drama EMBRACEABLE YOU, followed by APRIL SHOWERS, Michael Curtiz’s ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (Doris Day’s film debut!!), and WHIPLASH.

He was in four top movies in 1949. First Sakall played Felix Hofer in Doris Day's second film, MY DREAM IS YOURS. Later that year, he supported June Haver and Ray Bolger in LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING. Next, he played Otto Oberkugen (another one of his iconic roles) in IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME with Judy Garland and Van Johnson (a musical remake of Ernst Lubitsch’s THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER. Finally, Sakall was given the principal role of songwriter Fred Fisher in OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL, though top billing went to June Haver.

Sakall appeared in nine more movies during the 1950s, two of them musicals with Doris Day, playing J. Maxwell Bloomhaus in TEA FOR TWO and Adolph Hubbell in LULLABY OF BROADWAY. His other roles included: Poppa Schultz in the Errol Flynn western MONTANA; Miklos Teretzky in the June Haver musical THE DAUGHTER OF ROSIE O'GRADY; Don Miguel in the Randolph Scott western SUGARFOOT; Uncle Felix in the musical PAINTING THE CLOUDS WITH SUNSHINE with Virginia Mayo; and in one of the episodes in the movie IT'S A BIG COUNTRY featuring Gene Kelly, Van Johnson, Gary Cooper, Janet Leigh, Fredric March, and Ethel Barrymore. His last movie was in 1954 playing Joseph Ruder in THE STUDENT PRINCE. His 1954 memoir had the humorous title of “The Story of Cuddles: My Life Under the Emperor Francis Joseph, Adolf Hitler, and the Warner Brothers.”

Sakall died of a heart attack in Hollywood on February, 12th, 1955, shortly after filming the THE STUDENT PRINCE, and ten days after his 72nd birthday. He had been married twice in his lifetime; Giza Grossner from 1916 to 1918, and Anne Kardos from 1920 till his death. He is buried in the Garden of Memory in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

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Sybil Bruncheon's MORE THAN THEY SEEM STORIES... “Tasty"...

Uncle Herb was everyone's favorite. He'd come for a visit every Memorial Day weekend and stay for the following week. And it was always his delicious barbecues that brought the whole family together. Of course this Holiday weekend had started off more unhappily than any other when Mikey was bitten by Mrs. Kelly's dog. He'd always been a very mean dog, and Mikey had only been walking down Elco Drive when the dog ran out of nowhere and jumped him. Mikey even tried to be friendly and calm him down by petting him and saying his name, Fritzi... or was it Rocket? Mister Smiley?... Bumpo??... whatever. The dog first bit his hand and then tore his pants when he bit Mikey on the back of his thigh, right on the inside between his legs where it really hurt. But Uncle Herb always made everything alright. He was funny and wise, and helpful, and never had problems making decisions that fixed problems... just like on a TV show. And now, Uncle Herb had fixed it so the dog wouldn't bite anyone again... and he fixed Mrs. Kelly too.

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Sybil Bruncheon's MORE THAN THEY SEEM STORIES... “A Pep Talk"...

At Rockland State University, the school spirit ran very high! The academic standard was exceptional, rivaling even the more expensive and supposedly "exclusive" Eastern colleges, and its athletic teams regularly triumphed on the national stages in all sports. No one ever suspected in 1950 that there could be any scandals... or that there were subversive elements among the students and faculty. How could anyone guess that popular debutante Betty Lynn Frazier was a double agent for the KGB, and an expert in explosives and sabotage? And what about Professor Seymour Redkin, noted author of psychological texts and beloved children's books, and a master thief and forger of important government documents? There was Dr. Syms Frieborg, who had endowed the Surgical Chair in the Medical School from his family's fortune, and was an expert in interrogation and torture. And then there was his boyfriend, Biff Holloway, captain of the cheerleaders and a ruthless blackmailer who could use his sexual prowess with both sexes to compromise the highest diplomatic officials. Of course, no one found out about any of it till the four of them had left for the Riviera, and the Caribbean, for Paris, and Bali... and had lived happily for decades in security and luxury. Comfortable in their old age... without a care in the world...

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Sybil Bruncheon's MORE THAN THEY SEEM STORIES... “Follow My Lead"...

The Annual Country Club Dance was always scheduled for the last weekend before Labor Day, and all the members made a point of being there for the festivities, the raffles, auctions, and prize drawings. The elaborate banquet was catered by the very best company, and the orchestra was always booked from the city and cost a fortune, but no expense was ever spared. Everyone who mattered in the town's elite made a point to see and be seen by their rivals, business associates, competitors, neighbors and friends, and always at their very best. Maybe that was why Ken was so mortified. His wife Phyllis was a proverbial "trophy-wife". Educated at the very best schools both here and abroad, raised in a family of incredible wealth and culture, taste, breeding, wit, and beauty, Phyllis was everything any man could want and any woman could want to be... But why did she always insist on leading? Leading when they got to the dance floor? And why did everyone always have to giggle about it?... and point at Ken!... especially when his back was turned!!… and Phyllis was dipping him!!

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Sybil Bruncheon's MORE THAN THEY SEEM STORIES... “A New Party Frock"...

... Jeanine was thrilled! She had gotten the promotion at the office, a bonus and raise, a corner office and two assistants, and all before the Christmas season, so shopping for friends, family, and herself was assured. And what did she do that very afternoon? She went to Saks Fifth Avenue to the designer floor where that beautiful violet cocktail dress was waiting for her. Nice Mrs. Fletcher, the manager, had set it aside right after Jeanine called and put it on her newly opened charge account. So here she was, dancing and celebrating, enjoying the martinis and champagne, the hors d'oeuvres and the caviar. She was having too much fun dancing with handsome Scott from the Advertising Department to notice that Bill, Cathy, and Craig were snickering over by the record player. Bill had just accidentally-on-purpose bumped into her from behind and wiped a huge streak of chocolate frosting on the derriére of her new dress... and oh, how the fun would really begin...

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Sybil Bruncheon's MORE THAN THEY SEEM STORIES... “A Visit to A New Place"...

... Zorina had traveled to so many different places and was always excited to meet new people. Finally, she decided to come to the United States. It seemed like it would be an amazing adventure in 1956. But she heard that Americans might be afraid of strangers, especially if they weren't white. She didn't know that that included Martians...

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