Halloween is not too far off, and what better symbol of the holiday than a witch? Here's one of cinema's scariest. If fact, she just might be the gold (or mold) standard for cinematic scary witches:
Did you notice how the Tin Man put out the fire with his oil can hat? That's because a fire needs oxygen or else it's likely to die out. Nice to know that even in a land of witches and talking scarecrows, the basic laws of science still apply.
By the time she died at age 82 in 1985, Cleveland native Margaret Hamilton had lived through decades of TV showings of 1939's The Wizard of Oz, and was well-aware that her Wicked Witch of the West character had become a cultural icon. It didn't seem to bother her any. Also, cultural icons often attract the attention of other cultural icons, which seems to be the case in this clip that pairs Hamilton with a man who was considered anything but wicked:
Betty White, bless her soul, got her wish.
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Now, let's look at a different witch. Well, I thought she was a witch at first because there's a black cat, and the lady herself is dressed in black, but that's where the similarity ends:
And I don't care if she's a witch or not. She's still magical.
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| Mitzi Gaynor 1931-2024 |
I did enjoy the clip as the couple drove to her sister's house.
ReplyDeleteWhile I know of Mitzi, I don't know anything about her, 'though a little bit more now.
Andrew, Mitzi was probably the last of star of what may be called Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals (roughly 1930 to 1955.) Not yet 30 when that era came to an end, she was able to successfully transition to night clubs and TV specials. Way, way into middle-age (as well as the rock music era,) she was still able to put on the skimpy outfits and dance and sing her heart out.
DeleteI still love Mitzi Gaynor, but that video was ... um.... wow! Margaret Hamilton was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMitchell, I already had the post completed when I found out Mitzi died. I was hoping to find a clip of her singing some Big Band song that would fit in with witchcraft or Halloween ("That Old Black Magic would have been perfect.) This was the best I could do.
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ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard that Mitzi Gaynor just died. She certainly had a good long life after her illustrious career. RIP
ReplyDeleteDebra, because both you and Mike said you weren't aware that she died, I just now double-checked to make sure I didn't imagine the whole thing! Unfortunately, she is indeed gone.
DeleteNice post. FYI - if you haven't seen new Margaret Hamilton book: "Margaret Hamilton From Cleveland Ohio to the Land of Oz" margarethamiltonbook.com
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, thanks for clueing me in about the book.
DeleteHello Kirk, Very entertaining content today. I can't remember exactly where I saw or read this, but when John Waters asked for Margaret Hamilton's photo, she autographed it "Margaret Hamilton/WWW" for Wicked Witch of the West.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Jim, John Waters once said The Wizard of Oz is his favorite movie.
DeleteHi, Kirk!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this tribute to Margaret Hamilton, a sweet woman who didn't seem to mind being forever remembered for her role as the villainous Wicked Witch of the West. Although Margaret portrayed an old crone in Oz, she was actually only age 35 when filming began.
I enjoyed the clip you posted of Margaret at her wicked best in the epic Oz film as well as the one of her appearance on Paul Lynde's H-ween Special that aired in October, 1976. As you should know by now, Lynde ranks very high on my list of favorite comedians. I wonder if you or any of your other readers caught the name "Paul Williams" being mentioned by Betty White as she rattled off a list of famous Pauls she was hoping to meet instead of Paul Lynde. As you might recall, Paul Williams is a diminutive composer, singer and songwriter who was red hot at the time, having written or co-written several megahits for major recording acts like Three Dog Night ("Old Fashioned Love Song") and The Carpenters ("We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days And Mondays.") Paul Williams was a frequent guest on music variety TV shows of the 70s, and he had a small acting part in one of my favorite films The Chase (1966) starring Marlon Brando, Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Robert Duvall and Angie Dickinson. He is not to be mistaken for that other famous "Paul Williams," actor Doug Davidson's fan fave character on The Young And The Restless. I know that Betty White was not referring to Doug's Paul Williams because Doug did not assume that career-making role until 1978, two years after the Lynde TV special aired.
I would like to add that, for years, I enjoyed watching Margaret Hamilton as "Cora" in the ad campaign for Maxwell House coffee. Here's a spot that aired in 1976:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUnNDEygBjA
(I'm sure Sarah Huckabee would approve of the wife in that commercial. #1 - she is humble, and #2 - she serves a useful purpose in life, having learned how to serve a dang good cuppa coffee to her man.)
I also appreciate you remembering the wonderful singer, dancer and actress Mitzi Gaynor who, at age 93, became The Reaper's latest trophy a few days ago. Mitzi, a looker and zesty performer, was one of the last surviving greats from the Golden Age of Hollywood musicals.
I am returning with my second Halloween post this Saturday and invite you to join the fun at Shady's Place if able. Enjoy the rest of your week, good buddy Kirk!
Shady, the lead singer of the Temptations was also named Paul Williams, but I'm pretty sure Betty is referring to the diminutive (in size, not talent) Paul Williams you refer to, as his countless movie and TV appearances and as well as all his songwriting (he also wrote the lyrics to Barbra Streisand's "Evergreen") would have made him, at least in the 1970s, the most well-known of the Paul Williamses. Incidentally, The Chase wasn't Williams only chase movie, as he was in Smokey and the Band and both its sequels.
DeleteIf there was any news about Mitzi Gaynor dying, I missed it.
ReplyDeleteI scooped the competition, Mike.
DeleteI don't recall Mitzi Gaynor but must have seen her in something. RIP.
ReplyDeleteTalking of black cats....my daughter who is nearly 6 says our black kitten is a witch's cat! She is hyper about Hallowe'en and keeps saying she wants to dress up as Wednesday Addams.
Funny you mention Wednesday Addams, Ananka. Margaret Hamilton played Morticia's mother in a couple episodes of the 1960 sitcom.
DeleteNow that I've written the above paragraph, it occurs to me that it may not be the 1960s version of Wednesday Addams your daughter likes, but some later version of the character.
I prefer the older show from the 60s. I think John Astin is the only one still on the go. The 90s films and the animated films are they ones she likes. She hasn't seen the Wednesday series though.
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