Hi there, guys and dolls!  And wordpress, thanks for asking.  Let’s see, on this day in September, 1957 (the 7th, to be precise), Santa Lucia was still all agog over the recent murder of town doyenne Constance Stearns-Montgomery  (check out the whole story in STRANGLED BY SILK).  Stearns Academy was set to open shortly, with the town doing their best to honor their fine lady and look toward the future.  Daphne, Margot and the rest of the Poppy Cove gang were coping in the finest fashion they knew how.  Good thing, because glamor in the form of the social event was around the corner.  Little did they know a new tragedy was hot on its heels (DEATH OF A BEAUTY QUEEN gives all the sordid details).  Sigh, life can be such a trial for fictional characters.

In the real world, all the cool cats and kittens were dancing and romancing to Pat Boone’s LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND, Paul Anka’s DIANA and Debbie Reynold’s TAMMY.   They could also be caught moving and grooving to The Cricket’s THAT’LL BE THE DAY and Elvis Presley’s (LET ME BE YOUR) TEDDY BEAR.  Feel like doing a little reading?  How about Meyer Levin’s COMPULSION, James Gould Couzzens’ BY LOVE POSSESSED, or the ever popular Grace Metalious’ PEYTON PLACE?

How about a night at the movies?  The highly underrated, intriguing romance, WOMAN IN A DRESSING GOWN was worth the price of admission and one of my all time favorites, THE PAJAMA GAME whorled its way through my heart with its soaring colors and crinolines.  THE SUN ALSO RISES had great dramatic tension and the goofy thriller QUARTERMASS II:  ENEMY FROM SPACE will make you cuddle closer to your date.  Care for a night in?  It was the golden age of television.  There was PERRY MASON, THE GALE STORM SHOW and GUNSMOKE to fill the evening hours.  You could even move the coffee table and roll up up the rug dancing along with LAWRENCE WELK’S DODGE DANCING PARTY.

However you choose to spend your evening, be sure to include the fine company of good friends.  I’ll toast a glass to you :-).

Toodles,

Barbara Jean