ARTWORK, PHOTOS
Published on June 13, 2013
Comments 39

Basil’s 121st Birthday

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Happy Basil Birthday to you all

From Home is Where the Holmes is….

39 Comments

  1. GRETCHEN says

    UH-OH…Alyssia’s new blog says it’s “NOT going to be about FANTASY or IMAGINATION”, so she’d better WATCH-OUT, or she’ll be breaking her OWN rules…since everything SHE believes about Ouida and Basil, IS. (HAR-HAR!!) 🙂

    Looks like we’ve got ourselves a RIVAL-BLOG to contend with…well, it doesn’t seem like MUCH competition to ME! Especially since EVERYTHING we know that’s ACTUALLY true about Basil and his wife can be corroborated with HARD, inarguable physical evidence; and what SHE says, CAN’T.

    Riddle-me THIS, Alyssia: How is it POSSIBLE that Ouida’s 1974 newspaper obituary states that her ONLY surviving relative (her brother) had the last name “BRANCH”?? Hmmm…could this be perhaps because that’s HER REAL last name, since she was born “EUNIE BRANCH” in the Arkansas state-census (“Ouida Bergere” was her self-given STAGE name when she was an actress— DUH!)…seems pretty STRAIGHT-FORWARD to me! But then, YOU’D say the paper (AND the census) was “MAKING-IT-UP”, wouldn’t you? AND, could Basil’s OWN son and grandchildren, his buddy Vincent Price and his other friends and aquaintances, his staff of housekeepers, his co-workers, and anyone ELSE who ever knew Ouida, ALL be LYING when they have ONLY NEGATIVE things to say about her— and NO positive— if she was such a “SAINTLY” woman??? I think NOT!!! Anyone who nearly brings her husband “to tears” in front of his friends because of how much DEBT she’s racked-up for her LOUSY SHOW-OFF PARTIES isn’t acting much like a “WONDERFUL” wife, now IS she?? You don’t have to be SHERLOCK HOLMES to figure THIS one out, DO you? (OBVIOUS-CITY!!)

    Sorry about the rant, but this thing is REALLY starting to BUG me!! And, it’s RUINING Basil’s B-Day page! 😦

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    • Ellen Foley says

      You have so many in agreement with what you say about her OCD-like penchant to spend all he earned.Wasn’t his gratitude enough to please her,did she have to spend it all like it only belonged to her?What was he,a servant?Once he left H’wood,it was the beginning of the end,and she had to learn to live accordingly,esp with a sick daughter.HRD was right,OR couldn’t manage a lemonade stand.I still can’t understand the lavish parties.If I were him,I would’ve preferred quiet nites at home,let her go to the bars and clubs.Better yet,have lunches or tea parties she could host.

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      • GRETCHEN says

        I’ve come to the conclusion that Alyssia’s so-called “blog” is most likely a FRAUD…a ruse put-on by her in hopes of getting a RISE out of us. This theory is based upon the fact that she’s been PROMISING to start one on his b-day for a while now, and HAD to do it so she wouldn’t look like an absurd LIAR. I’ve also observed that absolutely NO-ONE has made a comment on it yet, at this time…probably out-of their utter RESPECT for Basil. There are NO other pages, or even a photo-gallery— it appears to be a FAKE BLOG!! I’d be SURPRISED if anyone actually visits it, or if she EVER updates anything. It’s quite apparent to ME that she’s just trying to SOUND important, as if she actually KNOWS something we don’t; when in reality, she just looks like an even BIGGER FOOL for doing it.

        My MAIN worry, is that this “blog” of hers might cause new and unknowing fans of Basil’s to be fed MISINFORMATION when accidentally coming upon it, and reading all of HER interpretations of his and his wife’s life-stories and relationships…It upsets me GREATLY that untruths could be told to the WORLD via her outlet. She has EVERY right to believe what she wants, but it is VERY wrong to put her beliefs on a site that MANIPULATES REALITY and could possibly lead others astray— not to mention DEFILE the TRUE memory (although not always the happiest) of a precious human being WHO CANNOT speak on his OWN behalf, and who relies solely on the still-living to keep the FACTS alive for the honor of both he AND his remaining family members and friends…I find Alyssia’s “blog” to be both HIGHLY disrespectful of and UNFAIR towards Basil AND his wife, Ouida. It’s FAR better to relay the TRUTH, no matter how PAINFUL, than to send-out one’s own LIES and SELF-INTERPRETATIONS of someone ELSE’S life-experiences (of which even WE have little or NO knowledge, as it IS). This would be a very DEGRADING and HURTFUL thing to do to such a DEAR soul as Basil. 😦

        I REALLY appreciate THIS blog (“The Baz”), because it ONLY deals in the TRUTH!! It’s a safe place to come and discuss someone VERY SPECIAL’S life, and to CELEBRATE the GOODNESS in him…I’m thankful for ALL the people who make it possible for me to voice my feelings in this AWESOME forum! Hopefully everyone will come HERE when looking for a Basil-outlet, and not be MISLED by that “OTHER BLOG”. 🙂

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        • Alyssia says

          My blog is NOT fake. I am planning to quote extracts from all his personal papers left me by a beloved friend who was close to him, but ti is taking time to collect and transscribe

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          • GRETCHEN says

            That sounds COOL!! 🙂

            I’d REALLY like to see your stuff…if you can prove-me WRONG in my thinking that you don’t ACTUALLY have Basil’s LEGITIMATE papers, I’ll apologize for the accusation. SORRY if I sound mean when I write sometimes, but I get VERY defensive when I believe someone is causing HARM to a person (AND their reputation) that I care DEEPLY about. 😦

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          • The Countess says

            Finaly I did find and take a look at your little offering,Alyssia.I did say I would.So Telegram for Alyassia: Like the header.Stop! Like that anyone is giveing our man a chance to shine.Stop! But honstly dear…Stop!

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          • BASIL says

            Can you post pictures of them? PLEASE? (≧_≦)
            I’ve got a book which used to belong to Basil too, it used to be in his library, and he seems to have underlined things in them! (Speaking of which, I need to remind myself to send pictures of it to NEVER sometime :-/)
            I have some paperwork which came with it and everything, and it has some stuff stuck inside of it to say it’s official…I bought it on eBay oωo

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  2. Ellen Foley says

    At least Baz was in Bthing Beauty,so the 1st trib to Esther was Baz-related,and I enjoy him in BB,too!Kinda cute premise

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      • rosebette says

        I enjoy the musical numbers, but there is too much drecky dialogue and plot in between. As a personality, I don’t think she’s much of anything. My own tastes in musicals are more toward Fred and Ginger, Warner’s Busby Berkeley musicals, esp. pre-codes, and MGM flicks of the classic era — American in Paris, Singing in the Rain, Bandwagon. However, if I could find any swimsuits like hers in a vintage store, I’d snap one up in a jiffy — they’re gorgeous, cover plenty, and fit beautifully.

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  10. GRETCHEN says

    EWWW!!! 😦
    My beautiful birthday-cake was RUINED when I posted this! NOOOOOO!! Oh, WELL…it still looks pretty NEAT, anyway! 🙂

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  11. GRETCHEN says

    HAPPY B-DAY, BAZ!!! 🙂 * * +
    * * + * @ + * @ * +
    * @ * * * | * * * | + *
    + | * @ * | + @ * | * @ *
    * | * | + * | * | + | * | *
    | | | | | |
    | | | | | |
    {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
    {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
    # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
    % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
    O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
    ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
    ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
    _________________________________________________
    _________________________________________________
    \ /
    \ / SHINE!
    SPARKLE! | |
    | |
    / \
    / \ GLIMMER!
    ________________

    HEY, IT’S JUNE 13, 2013!
    YIPPEE-YAY…YOU’RE 121 TODAY!!!
    HAVE A HAPPY, HAPPY 121st BIRTHDAY BASIL—
    WITH LOVE,
    FROM YER BUD-N-PAL, GRETCH!! 🙂

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  12. Levasseur Fan says

    “Happy Birthday…to Yoou
    Happy Birtdhay… to Yoou
    Happy Birthday Mr Rathbone
    Happy Birthday to..yooou…”

    (you have to imagine Marilyn Monroe singing it 🙂 )

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    • Landra Rogers says

      How true! My trusty Tivo has been recording all of Basil’s movies showing on TCM today, a number of which I haven’t seen before. When I get home from work I will celebrate Basil’s birthday by toasting him with a nice glass of Merlot and enjoying these wonderful movies.

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  16. David Macklin says

    Remembering Basil Rathbone as to his his long ago birthday. But the wonderful personal memories of this great and kind man remain like yesterday or today..

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