Banana Beat

Bob, Ian, Regina, Jim, Bobb, Bill, Lynne, Barbara, Glen, Ben, Steve G and Steve L.

After last night I have a strong suspicion that most of our Conrad's Monday night diners have a banana stuffed in their pocket (and there was me thinking they were pleased to see me).
It all started with innocent remarks about whether people preferred green or brown (ripe) bananas. Like Jack Spratt and his wife in the nursery rhyme, Barbara and Lynne like 'em ripe, while Bobb and Bill prefer them harder - happily our old pal Dr Freud couldn't be with us, or he would have had material for several learned tomes on phallic symbols, erections and other trivia.
That led naturally onto a debate on whether bananas should be cooked, and how. I am delighted to report that no one could cap Bill and Lynne's method, honed after extensive testing, of splitting them, barbequeing them until brown and adding brandy and whipped cream. Delicious!
Unusually, bananas were a subject that we could all agree on - Bobb even went so far as to declare "You don't need to eat anything else!". Strange then, that the long-suffering Javier rarely takes an order for banana - or do they taste better bought from a supermarket?
Bobb's remark was a strong contender for quote of the night, but that has to go to the other Bob, Birchard, with his world-weary but profound observation: "I don't buy the idea that reading one book is going to change anyone's psyche."
Bill got Bob onto the power of books by mentioning that another biography of Cecil B. DeMille has just appeared - to the rest of us at least, though it turned out that Bob has had a copy for some time and found it paid fulsome tribute to his own sterling effort.
That led on to a riveting account by Bob of the historic Directors' Guild board meeting of October 9, 1950, which he had been sent by an Australian PhD student.
It was about whether Hollywood directors should sign a loyalty oath to affirm that they were not communists, and featured an ego-soaked battle between DeMille and the guild's president, Joseph Mankiewicz. I dug up an excellent report of the saga on http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE1DC1138F936A15752C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Maybe Bob should write a book on that extraordinary episode, with the advantage of 60 years' hindsight.
Ian entertained us with his new song, the Clap Clap Crew, a pointed attack on those film buffs who love to applaud their favorites' names when the credits roll, as if they were there like actors taking a bow on stage. Leading exponents: Will Ryan and Mary Mallory of our Conrad's group. The song caused much mirth, but it seemed that felt as strongly about this harmless if pretentious practice as Ian himself. But if it takes off it won't be the first song to change people's thinking.
The checks are coming earlier and earlier, landing on our laps at 7.32 pm - not sure if that was because Javier wanted to take his break, or just that Ian and Regina had to leave early. But, whatever the reason, there was a mass exodus at 7.45, leaving just Jim, Bill, Lynne, Bob and the two Steves.
But the talk wasn't finished. Steve G, who revealed his father had been a gardener for the legendary Harry Chandler in Arden Road, Pasadena, joined in a discussion over whether the department store is dead, or are we just witnessing the death throes of Macy's?
Everyone has childhood memories of being taken to department stores, but nowadays Macy's seems to defy financial gravity by requiring few customers and even fewer staff. They just aren't places to be seen in any more.

CAUGHT ON THE BREEZE
Barbara asked if the group has transmogrified - for the worse?
Regina not sure what to do in November, likes Mr Kipling lemon and almond slices, but meanwhile wants to be Rollo.
Steve L said that BMW was ruining Morgan and Bentley cars, and Volkswagen likewise with Rolls-Royces.
Ian told Jim he should collect old women - starting with Helen Shapiro!
The heavily tattooed Ben raised the question of why tattoos are becoming so popular? And why do porn stars like them so much?