Hopefully the caption I’ve shared below inspires you to offer up one or two of your own. Leave a funny caption in the comment section, and I’ll approve it for readers to enjoy.
“How’s your aim?”
The Sun and Her Stars by Donna Rifkind is a biography about the extraordinary but little known life of the Jewish, Austrian actress turned Hollywood screenwriter, Salka Viertel, who moved from Europe to southern California in the late 1920s. If you are fascinated by the Golden Age of Hollywood, you’ll find Rifkind’s detailed account of Viertel’s life and those around her fascinating to read.
It was fascinating to compare how several characters in this year’s celebrated film, Mank, were perceived by Salka. The black and white film about screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz writing of the acclaimed movie, “Citizen Kane” takes place at the same time and is nominated for 10 Oscars. Some of the Hollywood heavyweights referenced in both the book and movie include Orson Welles (actor), Ben Hecht (screenwriter / novelist), David Selznick (studio executive), and Charlie Chaplin (actor).
Hitler’s rise to power in the 1930s led to a braindrain of the creative class from Europe. These shellshocked ex-pats fleeing from the horrors of Nazi Germany, were not welcomed by most in America. Rampant, in-your-face antisemitism was pervasive and put many on edge; feeling fortunate to escpe but unsure of their future or ability to rebuild in an alien country and culture. Salka’s home in Santa Monica became a refuge for these people. Her close friend, Greta Garbo, was a frequent visitor as were the many refugees who would flock to her Sunday parties.
The biography also details the personal trials and triumphs of Salka who earned a commanding salary and the respect of studio executives, producers and directors at a time when few women were respected in the male-dominated industry. Rifkind also touches upon the blacklisting that impacted Salka and many other Europeans in the decade that followed WWII because of their political sympathies and foreign accents which made them tagets of McCarthy and those on the HUAAC.
The book was a fascinating read from a pop culture, political and historical perspective, and I’m glad I read about this rather extraordinary woman. Through her efforts she saved the lives of many fleeing from Europe to escape fascism and rubbed elbows with some of the biggest stars and deal-makers in Hollywood’s Golden Age. If you are fascinated by or liked the Oscar-nominated film, Mank, add this to your reading list.
If you’re interested in purchasing this book and open to supporting local bookstores, try one of the links I’ve shared. The links below will take you right to the book so you can order it online in just a couple of clicks.
Brookline Booksmith in Coolidge Corner
Harvard Bookstore in Harvard Square
Porter Square Bookstore in Porter Square
Trident Bookseller’s & Cafe in Back Bay
Posted in Book Review, Pop Culture, What'cha Reading
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Pop Culture
This week’s Temptation Tuesday comes to you courtesy of @tennesseetony75. Tony said, “This looks like temptation to me”, and I agree. To paraphrase a line from a popular 1980s film, “I’ll have what he’s having.”
The Boston Gay Men’s book club will be meeting later tonight to discuss the 2018 collection of short stories, Sweet & Low, by gay author, Nick White. I will be publishing my review of this book later this month, but I wanted to encourage anyone interested in gay literature to RSVP.
I joined this group for the first time earlier this year when they discussed Eric Cervini’s book, The Deviant’s War and enjoyed listening to people sharing their perspectives. I noticed that a few of the people hadn’t read the book so you needn’t feel uncomfortable about joining if you’ve yet to read the book. You can use the opportunity to hear people’s comments to determine if you think you’ll enjoy it. If you haven’t any plans for this evening, RSVP and join the conversation. All are welcome.
Sweet and Low: Short Stories by Nick White
Monday, April 19th 6:30 – 8:00pm ET
Looks like a perfectly respectable kilt, but I’m not a big fan of that furry sporran. It looks like it needs a trim.
This week’s mancandy post is suitably distracting to help you forget it is Monday morning.
Back in 2014 I shared a post about roasting garlic and bell peppers. I now prefer this method for garlic, which I shared in January this year. It may take longer but it is insanely easy and I can make far more in one batch. I still regularly roast bell peppers for two reasons. First, it is pretty easy, and second, when I buy roasted peppers in a jar sometimes they taste funny so stopped buying jarred roasted veggies a while back.
PREP & ROASTING: Preheat the oven to 400 Farenheit / 200 Celsius or you can do this on a grill over high heat. Wash the peppers and place in the oven on a tray lined with foil for easier clean up and rotate every 8-10 minutes (total cooking time ~30minutes). If you’re using a grill / open flame, you may need to rotate the peppers more quickly.
RESTING AND PEELLING: If there is any work to this recipe it is peeling the skin and removing the seeds from the roasted peppers. Unless you have asbestos fingertips let the peppers rest for 15 minutes because they will scald you. The peppers will look wrinkly and deflated when you take them out of the oven. The skin should easily peel off. You’ll also want to remove the seeds and stem.
STORAGE: The peppers will keep in the refrigerator for about a week. Add a drizzle of olive oil and keep sealed in a container. I sometimes will also add a few sprigs of Thyme. I’m never quite sure if it adds to the flavoring but it makes me feel like I’m making good use of the fresh herb.
One reason I like to roast bell peppers is because the flavor elevates a dish. This is an easy way to add flavor without calories. I welcome suggestions on how you use roasted bell peppers. Here are some of the ways I use roasted bell peppers.
If you like you can also follow this sexy Spaniard on Twitter at @PorMisBarbas33.
Enjoy your morning cup of Joe (or whatever you might like to call this handsome guy).
ADAM & ANDY is set in the fictional New England town of Woodfield, CT. You can learn more about Adam and Andy and purchase a copy of “the definitive collection of Adam and Andy” by visiting, adamandandy.com.
Click on this week’s comic strip to enlarge
Click here if you would like to see the previous Adam & Andy
The restaurant industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. By September 2020, WBZ-TV reported that 20% of all restaurants in Massachusetts had closed for good. Spring 2021 has reversed those trends as many restaurants come out of hibernation and news of new restaurant openings replaces the more depressing news of closures that we became accustomed to last year.
With an increased optimism comes new investment to bring life back to spaces that pre-pandemic were popular and profitable. Seizing this opportunity, GTI Properties has hired Jeff Gates to oversee the food and beverage operations at the SOWA Power Station, which is being converted into a special events space and to open and manage three new restaurants in SOWA – one of which will open next month.
Brasserie, located at 560 Harrison Avenue (formerly Gaslight) will open in May, according to a Boston Restaurant Talk blog post. If that timing is correct, a quick walk by suggests that not much will likely change in decor or design but Gaslight was a juggernaut so the key to Brasserie’s success will be staffing and management.
Roma 500 at 500 Harrison Avenue (formerly Cinquecento) will likely open later this year. Unlike Brasserie, significant renovations and remodeling are required. Roma 500 will have an enlarged outdoor dining patio and bar. No other South End restaurant has an outdoor bar, making this a unique (and welcome) addition to the neighborhood.
Finally, Pho on Thayer, at 460 Harrison (building B) will open in new space that was briefly used by Mohr & McPherson but is now vacant. Late last year Jeff Gates petitioned the city on behalf of GTI to transfer the Hungry I liquor license to Pho on Thayer so the restaurant will have a full bar.
Stay tuned for more details as they come available, I’ll be sure to share that information here.
Above is a photograph dating back to 1939 of Wystan Hugh Auden(left) (right) and Christopher Isherwood (right) (left). Auden was a poet from York, England but became a naturalized American after WWII. He collaborated with Isherwood on three plays from 1935-1938 who is perhaps better known to Americans. Isherwood also became a naturalized American and was a novelist, playwright and screenwriter during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The two maintained a lasting but intermittent sexual friendship from around 1927 to 1939.
While Auden married Erika Mann in 1935 to help her escape Nazi Germany both men were homosexuals. Any doubt of Auden’s orientation would be erased upon reading his erotic poem, The Platonic Blow (A Day For A Lay), written in 1948 to American poet, Chester Kallman.
I dedicate this weekly post, featuring vintage gay photographs, to the men and women who lived in a more critical time where being true to yourself and loving who you want wasn’t always an option and came at a great price. Do you have a photo you would like to share? Email me at bosguymail@gmail.com.
If you follow this weekly post, you know that I enjoy following and featuring artists who use Instagram to share their work. @heybeefcake is another account that I always enjoy seeing in my feed. His cartoonish characters are well drawn, often funny and sometimes naughty. If you like his artwork on his Instagram account you can most likely purchase it on etsy at etsy.com/shop/HeyBeefcake.
You can follow this week’s featured account on Instagram here, and you can check out previously featured IG accounts here.
BosGuy 
