THE MAGIC OF HOUDINI

    

The name Houdini is synonymous with magic. In fact, it has become almost a part of the English vernacular (ie. “I’d have to be Houdini to get out of that jam”).  Last week I attended a wonderful exhibit at the Skirball Museum in Los Angeles; it highlighted the life and times of Harry Houdini. (“Houdini: Art and Magic”).

For those of you unfamiliar with the amazing feats of this extraordinary magician, Harry Houdini is considered, by many, to have been the best magician who ever lived. Actually, this distinction may be due, in part, not only to the fantastic illusions he performed but to his phenomenal gift of self promotion.

Born in 1874 in Budapest, Hungary, Ehrich Weisz’s (Houdini’s name at birth) father was a rabbi. The family emigrated to Appleton, Wisconsin where Harry (derived from ‘Erry) discovered his passion at an early age. He adopted the name Houdini, to pay tribute to French magician, Jean Houdin, whom Houdini claimed was his inspiration.

Throughout the early part of the 20^th century, Houdini, accompanied by his wife, Bess, performed in vaudeville houses across the country. In an era lacking television and the internet, his appearances drew thousands. A master escape artist, he used ropes, chains, handcuffs, and other assorted props to add to the suspenseful scenarios he’d create. Some of his famous “escapes” included: the mirror handcuff challenge, the Chinese water torture cell, the milk can escape, the suspended straightjacket escape (he once did this while dangling by his feet above a newsroom), and the overboard box escape.

In addition to his career in magic, Houdini was an early aviator, dabbled in motion pictures, and acted as a “debunker of spiritualism”, exposing phony séances. An interesting man to say the least and quite a showman.

            It was his “debunking of spiritualism” that cost him the friendship of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (author of Sherlock Holmes) since Doyle and his wife were noted spiritualists.  Ironically, while Houdini exposed séances as shams (he tried to connect with his beloved, deceased mother at one time and failed) he apparently “hedged his bets”. He and Bess came up with the code, “Rosabelle believes”, that Houdini would use should he find himself able to communicate from “the other side” after his death. Bess kept a vigil for ten years then gave up stating that “ten years was enough to wait for any man”.

            Contrary to the Tony Curtis movie depicting Houdini’s life, Houdini didn’t die as a result of the water torture illusion gone bad. He suffered a blow to the stomach which may have contributed to a ruptured appendix and he ultimately died of peritonitis on Halloween, 1926.  To this day, worldwide séances and tributes are held in his honor on October 31.

            The exhibit at the Skirball ( 310-440-4500) will be there for another week or two and on Thursdays admission is free. (A companion exhibit showcasing the lives of other magicians who lived at that time will be continuing through the end of the year). The Houdini exhibit will then move on, first to San Francisco and then to Wisconsin. I’d encourage you to attend any of these exhibits if you can.

            In an age of “fifteen minutes of fame” and instant reality show celebrity, Houdini’s is a name that has endured.

            Attempting to compile a list of the greatest magicians of all time was difficult. Most lists I checked either focused on magicians of the 20^th century or tended to be somewhat biased in favor of American magicians.

            In the end, I decided to list those magicians, older as well as up and coming ones, whose names came up most often when speaking of great magicians, beginning with Harry Houdini. The list is in no particular order and I must admit I was unfamiliar with many of the more obscure names. Feel free to add to the list if I’ve missed someone significant.

1. Harry Houdini
2. David Copperfield
3. Ricky Jay
4. Penn and Teller
5. Lance Burton
6. Dai Vernon
7. Doug Henning
8. Siegfried and Roy
9. Tony Slydini
10. Criss Angel
11. Cyril Takayama
12. Harry Blackstone Jr.
13. David Devant
14. David Blaine
15. Mark Wilson
16. Harry Anderson
17. Theodore Hardeen (Houdini’s brother)
18. Juan Tamariz
19. Dynamo
20. Dante

Have a great weekend and thank you for joining me this week along,

RHODES LESS TRAVELED

Vivian

CIGARETTES

    

            Prior to the Surgeon General’s warning, in 1964, pronouncing that cigarettes could be harmful to one’s health, cigarette smoking did not have the evil connotation that it has today.  On the contrary, movie stars, crooners, politicians, and even athletes, made cigarette smoking appear glamorous.

            In many ways, smoking was, for a long time, regarded in much the same way we look upon drinking coffee or having a beer: something to be enjoyed in moderation and by adults. Or maybe it was seen as a bad habit, like chewing gum. (Just imagine if, twenty years from now, you were informed that chewing gum could kill you).  Smokers may have experienced a hacking cough, a raspy throat, and/or yucky, yellow-stained fingers and teeth, but while it may have been considered a dirty habit it wasn’t considered to be a deadly one.

            Let’s put aside for a moment the fact that cigarette smoking is costly, causes wrinkles and shortness of breath, and is associated with a multitude of health issues, including heart and lung disease.  In its time, cigarettes served a purpose: to some degree, it calmed one’s nerves, assisted in weight loss, made people (particularly teens) seem “grown up and sophisticated”, and was a terrific “prop” for actors.

            Certainly I am not suggesting a return to cigarette smoking but merely attempting to explain why people chose and still choose to smoke.  Unfortunately, by the time one realizes the benefits of stopping, it is a major challenge to do so.

I should add that though I am not a smoker nor am I an advocate of cigarette smoking, neither am I in favor of making the smoker a pariah. Often, in today’s society, smokers are treated only slightly better than child predators. For example, the “heavy” in films today can be a smoker, whereas the hero cannot. (Unfortunately, knowing this frequently gives away the ending). I understand that the purpose of this, where film is concerned, is to make cigarette smoking less appealing to young people, but I think there is a measure of political correctness going on in our daily lives as well.

I was once told of an eight year old boy who pointed to a smoker (who, by the way, was standing in a ‘smoking permitted area’) and said “smoking is bad for you”, while his self satisfied mother looked on.  Someone should have informed the woman that raising a disrespectful, ill-bred child was as repulsive to some as smoking is to others.

            Of course it’s best not to begin to smoke, especially since smoking is one of the most difficult addictions to break. My hat goes off to the smoker who has successfully licked this habit either by stopping cold turkey or by other means.

            So…how many of you can remember the old cigarette commercials and the memorable slogans associated with them?  Here’s a quiz to test your memory.  When you’re finished, scroll down for the answers. (BTW, a cigar or two might be included in this list).

1.   Why don’t you pick me up and smoke me some time?        A.  Salem

2.   -------- - The House of Menthol                                           B.  Tarryton

3.   Call for ----------   -----------                                               C.  Pall Mall

4.   To a smoker, it’s a ----------                                                D.  Marlboro

5.   I’d walk a mile for a --------                                                 E.  Virginia Slims

6.   ---------- means fine tobacco                                               F.  Viceroy

7.   Blow some my way                                                             G.  Muriel

8.   Cigars, cigarettes, ----------                                                 H.  Winston

9.   I’d rather fight than switch                                                  I.    Lucky Strike

10. 20,000 filter traps                                                                 J.   Chesterfield

11. --------- tastes good like a cigarette should*                        K.  L & M

12. Come to --------- Country                                                    L.   Phillip Morris

13. You’ve come a long way, baby                                            M.  Kent

14.  ------ - feeling free.                                                             N.  Tiparillos

15.  Wherever particular people congregate                              O.  Camel

16.  Just what the doctor ordered                                               P.   Kool

*    Another popular slogan for this brand:

           

“It’s what’s up front that counts”          

Ready for the answers?  Scroll down to see how well you did.

1.G;  2.P; 3.L; 4.M; 5.O; 6.I; 7.J, 8.N; 9.B; 10.F; 11.H; 12.D; 13.E; 14.A; 15.C; 16.K

Have a great weekend and thank you once again for joining me on this week’s journey along,

RHODES LESS TRAVELED,

Vivian                          

THE BEST OF FILM NOIR

    

I was more or less raised on the genre of film noir, having been introduced to it by my older brother when I was very young. The black and white graininess of the films, the stark sets, the clipped, direct conversations, and the often lush music that accompanied them…all of it appealed to me.

The most noted noir actors include Zachery Scott, Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum, Dana Andrews, Richard Widmark and Robert Ryan. Robert Young, often thought of as Jim Anderson of Father Knows Best or as Dr. Marcus Welby, is featured in what is probably his only role as a heavy in the noir film, They Won’t Believe Me.

And let us not forget the women! There were always enough dames on hand to mess up a good man’s life. Though many viewers are familiar with the more popular actresses of the era such as Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyk, and Lana Turner, actresses such as Jane Greer, Janis Carter, Ida Lupino (one of cinema’s earliest female directors), and Gloria Grahame heated up many a film with their rouged lips, stiletto heels, and perfume that pretty much wafted off the screen.

I consider there having been two types of noir films: the hardboiled (lots of police sirens, prize-fighters, people who lived on the seedy side of life, and nightclub singers named Ruby) and the more personal stories, ones that often dealt with psychotic women and the men who made them that way. Truthfully, I’m more partial to the latter.

Some of these movies show up on Turner Classic Movies (TCM), some do not and can only be purchased online, viewed at a retro theater, or rented at a video store specializing in old films. (EDDIE BRANDT'S SATURDAY MATINEE is a phenomenal, family owned video store here in L.A. that carries virtually everything).

For those unfamiliar with the genre who would like an introduction to some great films, I’ll share a dozen of my favorites. Some might not be technically considered noir, but are not to be missed films none the less. They are, in no particular order:

1.   LAURA (1944) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037008/ - David Raksin’s haunting theme competes only with the beauty of its star, Gene Tierney.

2.   THE TWO MRS. CARROLLS (1947) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039926/ - A great, ‘had she but known’ story, starring Barbara Stanwyk, Humphrey Bogart and Alexis Smith.

3.   THE LOCKET (1946) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038700/ - Probably has the distinction of having the most flashbacks within flashbacks.

4.   THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (1946) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038854/  - See the original, starring a rugged John Garfield and a sizzling Lana Turner.

5.   DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036775/ - Featuring Fred Macmurray in a role very much unlike the one he played in My Three Sons.

6.   MY NAME IS JULIA ROSS (1944) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037932/ - A hidden, often overlooked, gem starring Nina Foch and Dame May Whitty.

7.   THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS (1946) - Brilliant performances by Barbara Stanwyk, Van Heflin, and Kirk Douglas (who plays a weak politician to perfection).

8.   THE BIG CLOCK (1948) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040160/ - A terrific cat & mouse thriller with Charles Laughton as the cat and Ray Milland as the mouse.

9.   MILDRED PIERCE (1945) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037913/ - Joan Crawford at the top of her game as she plays a mother willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of her ungrateful daughter.

10. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033870/ - In one of his most memorable performances, Humphrey Bogart stars as Det. Sam Spade in this classic mystery based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett.

11. D.O.A. (1950) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042369/  - Again, go for the original, starring Edmund O’Brien.

12. NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048424/  - The only movie ever to be directed by Charles Laughton, very eerie; my all time favorite.

There are many ‘neo-noir’ movies, recent films that have managed to capture that old time feeling; I’ll save that discussion for a future posting. Now is the time to put on an old fedora, pour yourself a double scotch, and curl up with one of the above mentioned films --- an evening well spent.

Have a great weekend and thank you for joining me on this week’s journey along,

 RHODES LESS TRAVELED,

Vivian

TRAIN TRAVEL IN YEARS GONE BY

    

            Murder on the Orient Express, North by Northwest, Silver Streak.

            Mystery. Intrigue.  Romance.

The rail system and all that it conjures up has always held a particular allure for the American public. Much of this fascination is due to passenger trains that evoke a feeling of simpler and, in some ways, more tender times. We’ve all seen the movies. Cheerful porters. Elegant dining cars.

            Before laptops, iPods and smart phones, travelers had fewer options as to how they might choose to amuse themselves while on a train.  They could sleep or eat. They might read or work a crossword puzzle. Or they could get to know the stranger seated beside them.  In trains equipped with sleeping compartments, they could while the time away making love (the rhythm of the trains either adding or detracting from the experience depending on one’s outlook).

            Gone now are the Santa Fe, Union Pacific, and the Southern Pacific and Amtrak sometimes seems to be holding on by the skin of its teeth.

            Standing as a testament to these old rail lines are beautifully constructed and designed stations throughout the nation.  Recently, I had the opportunity of touring L.A.’s own Union Station. Built in 1939, Union Station is a nationally recognized historic landmark and presently is home to Metrolink, the Metro Red, Purple and Gold Lines. An ambitious plan is underway to link Los Angeles to San Francisco, Anaheim, and San Diego with “bullet trains” capable of traveling up to 250 miles per hour.

            While touring the station, I found myself less interested in its future than in its formidable past.  Combining the influences of the original Spanish settlers with an art deco flavor, architects Donald and John Parkinson incorporated incredible colored tiles and white washed stucco with clear lines, curves, and geometric mosaics. The effect is striking.

            Union Station was originally built for a, then astronomical, cost of 11 million dollars.  When it was constructed it displaced homes, wine vineyards, and the original Chinatown.  Incidentally, the station is reputed to have its own ghost. (Maybe one of those displaced wasn’t too pleased about the concept of eminent domain.)

            Though the newer additions to the station contain magnificent murals and sculptures, it is the immaculately maintained features of the past (the lighting fixtures, ticket booths, seats) that truly amaze.  If you close your eyes, you might imagine passengers of years gone by, dressed in their “proper traveling clothes”, glancing up at the prominent clock tower in their rush to catch a train.

            To a great extent, train travel in L.A. was diminished by the increased use of the automobile (as well as the introduction of freeways) and ultimately air travel. In fact, Union Station is often referred to as “the last of the great American train stations”.

            Whether or not you take advantage of the facilities which are rented out for weddings and other functions, I strongly recommend taking a tour as I did (simply contact the L.A. Conservancy: 213-623-2489; the tour of Union Station, I believe, is every third Saturday).

            If you do decide to take this tour, you might want to spend some time downtown either visiting Olvera Street or just having lunch or dinner. (The day I was there I had the “specialty” of the renowned Phillipe’s: the dipped sandwich. Delicious, and at $6 or $7 the price can’t be beat).  For residents of the Los Angeles area or for those of you planning to visit, the following is a partial list of what was voted “best places to eat downtown” by readers of Los Angeles Downtown News:

1. BEST BREAKFAST:  The Original Pantry Café
2. BEST AFFORDABLE RESTAURANT:  Nickel Diner
3. BEST WINE BAR:  Corkbar
4. BEST AMERICAN:  Pete’s Café & Bar
5. BEST STEAKHOUSE:  Morton’s The Steakhouse
6. BEST PIZZA:  Bottega Louie
7. BEST SEAFOOD:  Water Grill
8. BEST BURGER:  Tommy’s
9. BEST THAI:  Soi 7
10. BEST SUSHI:  SugarFish
11. BEST DIM SUM:  Empress Pavillion
12. BEST CHINESE:  Yang Chow
13. BEST VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY:  Blossom
14. BEST BAKERY:  BabyCakes
15. MOST ROMANTIC:  Café Pinot
16. BEST BARGAIN LUNCH:  Phillipe The Original
17. BEST ITALIAN:  Drago Centro
18. BEST MEXICAN:  El Cholo
19. BEST MIDDLE EASTERN: Lula Kabob
20. BEST RESTAURANT HAPPY HOUR:  McCormick & Schmick’s

(I would add to this one of my personal favorites: Clifton’s Cafeteria)

Please feel free to comment on any of the restaurants I’ve mentioned and to suggest one or two of your own.

Have a great weekend and thank you for joining me on my journey along,

RHODES LESS TRAVELED,

Vivian

THE RACE TO SPACE

           

            Yesterday, thousands of people packed the landing strip at the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, anxiously awaiting the touchdown of space shuttle, Atlantis.  The landing drew cheers as well as tears since it brought with it an end to NASA’s longest running (thirty years) space flight program, a program that included space shuttles Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Endeavor and Atlantis, America’s final shuttle.

            It was refreshing to see the attention paid to Atlantis by the media, especially since, as a country, our fascination with the space program has waned to some extent over the years.

            In the mid-fifties, at the height of the cold war, the U.S. was competing with the Soviet Union for domination in space exploration. Spurred on by the success of Sputnik, the first satellite to be launched into orbit (launched by the Soviets, no less), the American government was determined to be the winner in this race.

            To that end, schools across the country scrambled to comply with the dictum handed down: beef up our school science programs at every grade level!  Viewers were deluged with episodes of Outer Limits and Twilight Zone that dealt with “outer space” and movies with similar themes (ie. Invaders From Mars, The Day the Earth Stood Still) were plentiful. People were enthralled with astronauts, our new super-heroes.

            Yet over the years, our rapture seems to have abated; somewhere along the way, captivation turned into merely mild curiosity. A blasé public has pretty much taken astronauts for granted these days and has viewed their space missions as interesting but little more than that.

            Sad to say it often takes something as momentous as yesterday’s final shuttle landing or as tragic as the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986, to remind us just how courageous these men and women are.

            A personal anecdote here: Years ago, when my son, Adam, was in kindergarten, he came home and asked if grandpas could walk on the moon. I smiled indulgently and told him as a rule, that didn’t happen. When asked why he wanted to know, he said, “Kaylie said her grandpa walked on the moon.” I asked who Kaylie was and Adam replied, “A new girl at school, Kaylie Armstrong. Somewhat humbled, I informed my son that Kaylie’s grandpa had, indeed, walked on the moon.

            As a tribute to the astronauts who helped to further our knowledge of the universe, I’m offering a little quiz.  I’ve listed 10 astronauts whose names are recalled for a particular reason. See if you can match the person with that which has made their names recognizable.

1.   Robert Lawrence          a.  First American to orbit the Earth.             

2.  Christa McAuliffe           b. First human to orbit the Earth.                                              

3.  Neil Armstrong              c.  Only person to fly in all of America's
                                               first three space programs (Mercury,
                                               Gemini, Apollo).
4.  Allan Shepard                d.  First American woman in space.
5.  Wally Schirra                 e.  First American in space.
6.  Sally Ride                       f.  This teacher was one of the seven
                                               crew members killed in the Space
                                               Challenger disaster.
7. Yuri Gagaren                   g.  Second man to walk on the moon
                                               (unfortunately, while memorable, it
                                               doesn't quite have the cache as
                                               having been the first).
8.  John Glenn                     h.  First African American astronaut.
9.  Lisa Nowak                    i.  Astronaut who gained notoriety
                                              when charged with the attempted
                                              kidnapping of another astronaut,
                                              a romantic rival (clue: remember
                                              the diaper?)
10. Buzz Aldren                  j.  First person to walk on the moon

Scroll down for the answers:

1h, 2f, 3j, 4e, 5c, 6d, 7b, 8a, 9i, 10.g

Have a great weekend and thank you for joining me on this week’s journey along

RHODES LESS TRAVELED,

Vivian

MURDER IN BROOKLYN

 

            Murder is, by its very nature, horrific. Some murders, however, stand out as being more horrific than most.

            The gruesome discovery this week of the dismembered remains of Leiby Kletsky is one such case.

            Leiby, a nine year old Chasidic (an ulta-orthodox sect of Judiasm) boy had been missing since last Monday. He left his day camp in Borough Park (a close knit, ultra-orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn, NY) to meet his parents at a pre-arranged destination seven blocks away.  Before we criticize the parents for allowing their son to walk even a short distance alone, keep in mind these were busy streets, it was five o’clock on a summer’s day, and it was broad daylight.  Unfortunately, Leiby got lost.

            The man whom he asked for directions was thirty-five year old Aron Levi, who, days later, confessed to having killed Leiby.  Ironically, the boy undoubtedly put his trust in a man whose outer appearance was familiar and one which made him seem frum, the Yiddish word for righteous. (Levi quite probably spoke with Leiby in Yiddish and possibly wore customary religious garb as well).

            It is a testament to our humanity that we have not yet become so cynical a society that the murder of a child, be it Leiby Kletsky or Caylee Anthony, does not still outrage us.

            The question remains, what do we do with the monsters among us who would commit such heinous acts?  Jose Ramos, the murderer of six year old Etan Patz  (the child who was infamously abducted on his way to school in N.Y. in 1979) was only convicted in civil court.  He is presently serving a sentence for child molestation and is due to be released in 2012.  Ottis Toole, a convicted killer who was determined to have abducted and murdered six year old Adam Walsh in 1981, died in prison in 1996 before he could be tried for the murder. Many cases remain unsolved despite great efforts being made on the part of authorities and missing persons advocates.

            A good deal has been done in the years following these well publicized abduction/murders: the milk carton campaign, the Amber Alert, the enactment of the Adam Walsh Protection Act which called for stricter sex registration among other things.  Adam Walsh’s father, John Walsh, became a major activist and his TV program, America’s Most Wanted, has been responsible, over the years, for locating nearly 150,000 missing children.

            All of these efforts are worthwhile and commendable and yet the fact remains that children are still at risk of being abducted. True, the incidence of “stranger abductions” is low, but this would be of little comfort to you if it were your child, or a child you knew, who had been kidnapped.

            We need to, somehow, strike a balance between making children wary of all adults and teaching them to be cautious. One doesn’t ask directions of a stranger, assist a stranger, or get into the car of a stranger, regardless of the person’s demeanor or how well he or she presents himself or herself. In fact, in this day and age, it might be well worth repeating the cautionary tale of “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”.

Have a great weekend and thanks for joining me on the journey along 

RHODES LESS TRAVELED,

Vivian

MY WIFE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND ME...YADA, YADA

                                                 

            The very concept of a mistress has been around for ages.   In fact, had there been another woman on the horizon, rest assured that Adam might likely have cheated on Eve.

            In the upper strata of society, women were traditionally expected to overlook their husband’s “dalliances”; marriage was often viewed as more of a business arrangement and, after all, men would be men.

            Caesar’s wife, Calpurnia, accepted the fact that Caesar had a mistress, that is until he brought Cleopatra back to Rome and she began to flaunt the son she claimed was their “love child”.   (Any parallels that might be drawn to the recent scandal involving a California politician, are strictly coincidental).

            Louis XV had his Madam de Pompadour, Colette wrote about the training of a courtesan (remember Gigi?), and on and on it continued until the sixties brought with it “the pill” and the sexual revolution that followed.

            These were tough times in which to be a proper mistress. With all the “free love” being bandied about, the average man was less likely to spring for the rent on a “love nest” and all the other pricey “mistressy” requirements.

            Still, there will always be the powerful honcho who can indulge his desires and who wants to avoid the scandal of stepping out with just anyone, something that could be costly to his career.  In short, he wants to have his cake and eat it too, metaphorically speaking.

            What follows is a list of “big whigs” to be matched with the females with whom they are said to have had affairs. Realizing that some of these are difficult, I threw you a bone with Hitler. (Note: One lady was actually the mistress of two powerful men listed (she was indeed!), but in this game it’s only “one per customer” so you’ll have to decide on the correct match in this instance.) Scroll down for the answers and good luck.

1.    Lucy Mercer                                                 a. Edward Brooke

2.    Gennifer Flowers                                          b.Wm.Randolph Hearst

3.    Gloria Swanson                                            c. Thomas Jefferson

4.    Phyllis McQuire                                            d. John Edwards

5.    Marion Davies                                               e. John Kennedy

6.    Barbara Walters                                            f. Bill Clinton

7.    Eva Braun                                                     g. Sam Giancana

8.    Rielle Hunter                                                 h. Franklin Roosevelt

9.    Sally Hemings                                                i.  Joe Kennedy

10.  Judith Campbell                                             j. Adolf Hitler

1.h    Lucy Mercer was F.D.R.’s personal secretary; they were personal in many ways.

2.f     Bill Clinton admitted to an indiscretion with Gennifer Flowers while trying to defend his name in the Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky affairs.

3.i     Actress Gloria Swanson was the mistress of Joe Kennedy; obviously old Joe taught his sons well.

4.g    Here’s where things get tricky. Singer Phyllis McQuire (of the McQuire Sisters) had a long term affair with Mafia kingpin, Sam Giancana.  Giancana also had an affair with a beauty by the name of Judith Campbell, whose name will come up again on this list.

5.b    Newspaper mogul, Wm. Randolph Hearst (upon whose life the movie, Citizen Kane, was based)  “kept” actress, Marion Davies in a lavish beach house estate in Santa Monica, which the two designed together.

6.a    In the seventies, TV journalist, Barbara Walters, admittedly had an ongoing affair, with  married Sen. Edward Brooke of Massachusetts; Brooke, incidentally, was the first black to be elected to the senate and if news of the affair had been leaked at the time, both of their careers would likely have been ruined.

7.j    Eva Braun’s relationship with Adolf was well documented, as was the first "crush" Hitler had on his niece, Geli Raubal.

8.d    Sen. John Edwards was having an affair with Rielle Hunter while his wife was dying of cancer. Nice.

9.c    Thomas Jefferson’s mistress was his slave, Sally Hemings.

10.e  And here’s where things get interesting. Judith Campbell was having an affair with President John Kennedy at the same time she was sleeping with Sam Giancana (are you still with me?) which was the same time Kennedy’s brother-in-law, Atty. Gen. Robert Kennedy, was investigating the operations of the Mafia in this country.

Other women with whom J.F.K was reputedly involved included: Gene Tierney, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Mansfield, and Angie Dickenson. Incidentally, I toyed with the idea of having a separate list for all the Kennedy men and their respective mistresses, but the list would have been too long.

Thank you for joining me on Rhodes Less Traveled and,

Have a great weekend, Vivian