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Arthur Lake Non-Blondie Photo Gallery
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"Arthur & Patricia Lake With The Dawnaires"
Taken at a restaurant in Guarez, Mexico (1952)
Click on image to enlarge.
What you are looking at is a positively rare, one-of-a-kind, only-one-in-existence photograph. This was contributed by Mitzie Edwards from North Carolina in 2005 and was taken in 1952. There is quite a story behind this picture and how I got it.
Front Row: Phil Cass, unknown woman, Patricia Lake, Mitzie Edwards
Behind Pat: Carl (Duke) Stewart
Third Row: Eddie Purcell, Walt Riddle (Mitzie's husband, later ex-husband), unknown man, Arthur Lake
In Back: Unknown man (with eyes closed)
Far Right: Their waiter
Mitzie Edwards (2005)
MANY THANKS, MITZIE!
Read on for much more information about this photo, or click on the link below to take you to the part of this exhibit you'd like to see.
Autographs
Back of the Photo
My Thoughts
The Story
The Story (Follow-Up)
Mitzie originally sent this photo to her family and it was signed by the people in the photo including Arthur and Pat. On the back of the photo Mitzie wrote:
"Hi Darlings,
This was taken in Guarez, Mexico. We're on our way to Pat & Artie's home in Santa Monica. Will write soon. Love you.
Your baby,
Mitzie"
Pat Lake signed "Happiness to you. We love your girl. Pat (Blondie) Lake.
Arthur Lake drew a little picture of Dagwood's face (his trademark) and little X's and O's in the thought balloon with the name "Dagwood" under its chin.
Carl (Duke) Stewart signed it "Hey Kids. Duke Stewart"
Walt Riddle signed it "Love to you both. Walt"
Mitzie signed it "Your baby. Mitzie"
Ed Purcell signed it "To Mr. & Mrs. Taylor. Hey look at us. Ed Purcell." Ed's name is in a speech balloon.
On July 18, 2005 I received an e-mail from an Arthur Lake fan.
"Dear Blair,
I have only one picture of Artie and Pat taken in the early 50s and I don't know if you would be interested or not. My ex-husband and I were with a small band, The Dawnaires, and when Artie decided to take a show on the road, he contacted our agent and we trotted out to their home at 1051 San Vincente Blvd. (funny how some addresses remain in one's mind). We rehearsed for about a month at the house and then took the show on the road. I wish I could remember the itinerary, but I can't. I do know we wound up in Beaumont, Texas because my parents lived in Port Arthur and came to see the show and then brought all of us home for dinner (it was near Thanksgiving at that time). The picture was signed by Artie and Pat and the members of the band (and me, of course). Also in the show was the fellow who played the mailman in the Dagwood movies (can't remember his name) and Preston and Sheila Foster. I remember Pat singing "P.S. I Love You" with the Dawnaires and Sheila Foster sang something that I can't now remember, but it may come to me later. They did the old "make up" scene (which ended with a pie in the face, of course).
I enjoy the memories of our stay with Artie and Pat and the children, Arthur Patrick and Marion Rose and of our time on the road. We lost track of them after Marion Davies died and they moved to (where?) Palm Springs? There was, of course, the old story that Pat was actually the daughter of Marion, but Rose claimed maternity to keep things quiet. Let me know if you'd be interested in the picture. I hadn't thought of it in many years until I read your website.
Sincerely,
Mitzie Edwards"
Naturally, my response was "YES! I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THE PICTURE!" What you see at the top of this page is what I got. I have the real photograph, and scanned it as well as I possibly could to share with the whole world of Blondie fans!
Mitzie and I have e-mailed many times since, but on August 27, 2005 she sent me an e-mail that follows up on The Dawnaires and the people in this picture. Here are the parts I thought you'd find interesting:
"I first met Walt Riddle, my ex-husband, in the spring of 1951 when he was with a band called the Hucklebucks led by Jack Richards. Walt had a glorious dramatic tenor voice on the order of Mario Lanza and I fell head over heels in love.Also in the band were Duke Stewart and Bobby (the blind piano player whose last name I've forgotten). The Hucklebucks had been together for quite some time, but Jack and Bobby decided at the end of that year that they would remain in Columbus, Ohio, their hometown.
In Columbus, we found Eddie Purcell and Phil Cass (short for something like Caccioppio) and with Duke and Walt the Dawnaires was formed. The boys played the Columbus area and other spots in Ohio and Michigan before heading to Las Vegas and the Golden Nugget. After the gig at the Nugget, the band headed for Reno and from there we went to Santa Monica and into rehearsals with Artie and Pat. That had to be the summer of 1952.
Eddie Purcell fell in love with Artie's niece and they were married shortly after the tour was completed. The group didn't hang together many more months after that and, unfortunately, we didn't keep in touch.
The next group with Walt and Duke and a little fellow called Ralph Michaels (accordion) was formed and I named them the "Punchinellos" (from Laugh, Clown Laugh). They did great music and lots of comedy. We were all together for a couple of years. Played almost a year in Muncie, Indiana (two gigs that lasted six months each) and places like Atlantic City, New York, Chicago area and Florida.
That's about all the time I have for this, Blair. Not all that much about the Dawnaires, I fear, but at seventy-four the memory fades. There were good times and bad, of course, but all in all it was a great experience."
Return to "Blondie's Page" Main Page
This award for "Blondie's Page" received July 9, 2005. Brad Lang maintains Classic Movies and truly appreciates Hollywood's Golden Age. How thrilled I was to learn that he listed this site as one of the Best New Links to his very large website for that particular week. It's very nice to be noticed and I enjoy hearing from him and all of you! Visit his website by clicking the graphic above.
Click Here To Buy New Lenta Shane Book!
Click Here To Buy New Lenta Shane Book!
"Arthur & Patricia Lake With The Dawnaires"
Taken at a restaurant in Guarez, Mexico (1952)
Click on image to enlarge.
What you are looking at is a positively rare, one-of-a-kind, only-one-in-existence photograph. This was contributed by Mitzie Edwards from North Carolina in 2005 and was taken in 1952. There is quite a story behind this picture and how I got it.
Front Row: Phil Cass, unknown woman, Patricia Lake, Mitzie Edwards
Behind Pat: Carl (Duke) Stewart
Third Row: Eddie Purcell, Walt Riddle (Mitzie's husband, later ex-husband), unknown man, Arthur Lake
In Back: Unknown man (with eyes closed)
Far Right: Their waiter
Mitzie Edwards (2005)
MANY THANKS, MITZIE!
Read on for much more information about this photo, or click on the link below to take you to the part of this exhibit you'd like to see.
Autographs
Back of the Photo
My Thoughts
The Story
The Story (Follow-Up)
Mitzie originally sent this photo to her family and it was signed by the people in the photo including Arthur and Pat. On the back of the photo Mitzie wrote:
"Hi Darlings,
This was taken in Guarez, Mexico. We're on our way to Pat & Artie's home in Santa Monica. Will write soon. Love you.
Your baby,
Mitzie"
Pat Lake signed "Happiness to you. We love your girl. Pat (Blondie) Lake.
Arthur Lake drew a little picture of Dagwood's face (his trademark) and little X's and O's in the thought balloon with the name "Dagwood" under its chin.
Carl (Duke) Stewart signed it "Hey Kids. Duke Stewart"
Walt Riddle signed it "Love to you both. Walt"
Mitzie signed it "Your baby. Mitzie"
Ed Purcell signed it "To Mr. & Mrs. Taylor. Hey look at us. Ed Purcell." Ed's name is in a speech balloon.
On July 18, 2005 I received an e-mail from an Arthur Lake fan.
"Dear Blair,
I have only one picture of Artie and Pat taken in the early 50s and I don't know if you would be interested or not. My ex-husband and I were with a small band, The Dawnaires, and when Artie decided to take a show on the road, he contacted our agent and we trotted out to their home at 1051 San Vincente Blvd. (funny how some addresses remain in one's mind). We rehearsed for about a month at the house and then took the show on the road. I wish I could remember the itinerary, but I can't. I do know we wound up in Beaumont, Texas because my parents lived in Port Arthur and came to see the show and then brought all of us home for dinner (it was near Thanksgiving at that time). The picture was signed by Artie and Pat and the members of the band (and me, of course). Also in the show was the fellow who played the mailman in the Dagwood movies (can't remember his name) and Preston and Sheila Foster. I remember Pat singing "P.S. I Love You" with the Dawnaires and Sheila Foster sang something that I can't now remember, but it may come to me later. They did the old "make up" scene (which ended with a pie in the face, of course).
I enjoy the memories of our stay with Artie and Pat and the children, Arthur Patrick and Marion Rose and of our time on the road. We lost track of them after Marion Davies died and they moved to (where?) Palm Springs? There was, of course, the old story that Pat was actually the daughter of Marion, but Rose claimed maternity to keep things quiet. Let me know if you'd be interested in the picture. I hadn't thought of it in many years until I read your website.
Sincerely,
Mitzie Edwards"
Naturally, my response was "YES! I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THE PICTURE!" What you see at the top of this page is what I got. I have the real photograph, and scanned it as well as I possibly could to share with the whole world of Blondie fans!
Mitzie and I have e-mailed many times since, but on August 27, 2005 she sent me an e-mail that follows up on The Dawnaires and the people in this picture. Here are the parts I thought you'd find interesting:
"I first met Walt Riddle, my ex-husband, in the spring of 1951 when he was with a band called the Hucklebucks led by Jack Richards. Walt had a glorious dramatic tenor voice on the order of Mario Lanza and I fell head over heels in love.Also in the band were Duke Stewart and Bobby (the blind piano player whose last name I've forgotten). The Hucklebucks had been together for quite some time, but Jack and Bobby decided at the end of that year that they would remain in Columbus, Ohio, their hometown.
In Columbus, we found Eddie Purcell and Phil Cass (short for something like Caccioppio) and with Duke and Walt the Dawnaires was formed. The boys played the Columbus area and other spots in Ohio and Michigan before heading to Las Vegas and the Golden Nugget. After the gig at the Nugget, the band headed for Reno and from there we went to Santa Monica and into rehearsals with Artie and Pat. That had to be the summer of 1952.
Eddie Purcell fell in love with Artie's niece and they were married shortly after the tour was completed. The group didn't hang together many more months after that and, unfortunately, we didn't keep in touch.
The next group with Walt and Duke and a little fellow called Ralph Michaels (accordion) was formed and I named them the "Punchinellos" (from Laugh, Clown Laugh). They did great music and lots of comedy. We were all together for a couple of years. Played almost a year in Muncie, Indiana (two gigs that lasted six months each) and places like Atlantic City, New York, Chicago area and Florida.
That's about all the time I have for this, Blair. Not all that much about the Dawnaires, I fear, but at seventy-four the memory fades. There were good times and bad, of course, but all in all it was a great experience."
My
Thoughts:
It is a thrill for me whenever I get to touch history, and this photograph IS history. To know that Arthur Lake (Dagwood Bumstead) himself once held it in his hand and signed it, as did his wife, is exciting. Knowing that this is the only copy of this photograph in existence is even more exciting. I consider it a real treasure. But what makes this photograph even more special is the fact that all of these people that worked with Arthur and Pat Lake signed it and each one of them has their own story to tell. Thanks to Mitzie, we know quite a bit about the history of this photo. What became of some of these other people? And who are the unknown men and woman...and the waiter? Some of these people never saw each other again after this photograph was taken, and some of those who did work together went their separate ways not too long after it was snapped. Anyone who has information, please CONTACT ME. But all in all, this photograph is a real find for me and it represents a moment that can never be created. And if it wasn't for Mitzie Edwards, who kept this photograph safe for almost five decades before sending it to me, we'd never see this. A GREAT BIG THANKS GOES TO MITZIE EDWARDS FOR THIS CONTRIBUTION!
It is a thrill for me whenever I get to touch history, and this photograph IS history. To know that Arthur Lake (Dagwood Bumstead) himself once held it in his hand and signed it, as did his wife, is exciting. Knowing that this is the only copy of this photograph in existence is even more exciting. I consider it a real treasure. But what makes this photograph even more special is the fact that all of these people that worked with Arthur and Pat Lake signed it and each one of them has their own story to tell. Thanks to Mitzie, we know quite a bit about the history of this photo. What became of some of these other people? And who are the unknown men and woman...and the waiter? Some of these people never saw each other again after this photograph was taken, and some of those who did work together went their separate ways not too long after it was snapped. Anyone who has information, please CONTACT ME. But all in all, this photograph is a real find for me and it represents a moment that can never be created. And if it wasn't for Mitzie Edwards, who kept this photograph safe for almost five decades before sending it to me, we'd never see this. A GREAT BIG THANKS GOES TO MITZIE EDWARDS FOR THIS CONTRIBUTION!
Return to "Blondie's Page" Main Page
This award for "Blondie's Page" received July 9, 2005. Brad Lang maintains Classic Movies and truly appreciates Hollywood's Golden Age. How thrilled I was to learn that he listed this site as one of the Best New Links to his very large website for that particular week. It's very nice to be noticed and I enjoy hearing from him and all of you! Visit his website by clicking the graphic above.