January 19, 2010
Just got word that the writer Robert Parker has died at the age of 77, "just sitting at his desk" at his home in Cambridge, Mass. The news of Parker's death on Monday has been confirmed by Parker's U.S publisher, Putnam; an official statement is expected later today, though on Twitter a representative wrote: "R.I.P beloved author Robert B. Parker. You were indeed a Grand Master, your legacy lives on, and you will be missed by us all."

Went home for lunch and whipped out a William S. Hart sketch:

It's serendipity that one of the first Western movie stars has his hat in hand, almost in respect for Parker.

Meanwhile, found this great photo of Alan Ladd from the movie Shane:

This photo illustrates a couple things. The first is that his leather shirt helped popularize the style for upcoming TV shows The Range Rider and Buffalo Bill. And, the photo clearly illustrates how directors and photographers had a challenge to hide his short stature. Here the photographer has creatively put his co-star up on a stump and the another actor is placed behind at a distance. Of course, in Westerns everyone plays Big, even Jimmy Cagney in The Oklahoma Kid (1939):

Yes, that's Humphrey Bogart on the right. Both look quite out of place in a Western.

We had a wet storm move through last night. Supposed to have another tonight and then a big one on Thursday night. Forecasters are predicting 8 inches for Cave Creek area.

“The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.”
—Joe Ancis