Ricou Browning, who played the creature in the 1954 horror film Creature From the Black Lagoon died on dry land in Florida last Monday at the age of 93. Actually, Browning only played the creature when it was under water. Ben Chapman played it on land. The creature was also known as the Gill-Man.
Browning was 23 when he was asked to show some visitors around Wakulla Springs near Tallahassee, FL. It turned out the group included Jack Arnold, who directed the movie, and Scotty Welbourne, the cameraman. Scotty asked if Browning would mind getting in the water and swimming in front of the camera, so they could get some perspective. They loved the location and loved Browning’s swimming. He got the part.
Part of the story, you may recall (I don’t), is that the creature falls for one of the scientists, Kay, played by Julie Adams. In one scene, she goes for a swim and he swims below her, enraptured. The Times called the scene both creepy and oddly poignant. It elevated the film from a simple monster feature to a “Beauty and the Beast” sort of deal. Browning reprised the role in two sea-quels: Revenge of the Creature and The Creature Walks Among Us.
When Browning was a teenager he worked in those waters, swimming deep for tips from tourists in glass-bottomed boats. He made good money that way, he said. After playing the Gill-Man he continued to work in films, e.g., he directed Mr. No Legs (1978), a crime drama about a mob enforcer who was a double amputee (not kidding), and — get this — he was Jerry Lewis’s underwater stunt double in the 1959 comedy Don’t Give Up the Ship.
His second wife died in 2020. He is survived by four children, ten grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren, all human.
Here’s the girlfriend from the lagoon. I can see why the Gill-Man fell for her.
Who doesn’t love FRIAR Tuck? He was in the puzzle today (“Title for Tuck”). His first encounter with Robin Hood in the Tales is often a battle of wits between them to decide who is to carry whom across a river. Tuck ends up carrying Robin, but throwing him in the water mid-way. He is typically portrayed as fat, bald, and jovial.
In Mel Brooks’s hands, he’s Rabbi Tuckman, and is a “mohel extraordinaire.” In a 1958 cartoon Robin Hood Daffy, Porky Pig plays the Friar. In a 1997 article in “The Journal of Popular Culture,” Anne Kaler compares him to characters such as Santa Claus, Falstaff, and Winnie the Pooh, calling him our belly cheer, our Lord of Misrule, our occasional defiance of authority, our spirit of seasonal joy. (Burp!)
On the other hand, a pattern in the dermatologic disease trichotillomania (compulsive pulling out of scalp hair) has been named after the pattern of hair of the good friar. Not the best way to be remembered.
Here he is, having a nosh.
If you’re a fan of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, you know how funny Kaitlin Olson is. Her middle name is Willow. Thanks for popping into the puzzle today and joining us at Owl Chatter, Kaitlin! Can you stay for the Megillah reading? It’s Purim!
Her husband is funny too: Rob McElhenney who is also on the show and is one of its creators. They’ve been married since 2008 and have two sons. Kaitlin went into labor with the first one at a Phillies-Dodgers game in LA. She said she was okay leaving early to have the baby once Ryan Howard hit a 3-run homer to give the Phils a 6-1 lead. She’s an Oregon girl, born in Portland, and has a degree in Theater Arts from U. of Oregon. Go Ducks!
Here’s a dirty joke in honor of Purim.
Abe’s at the doctor.
The doctor says, “Abe, you’re going to have to stop masturbating.”
Abe says, “Why?”
The doctor says, “So I can examine you.”
How much time between slipping on the peel and slamming your head on the pavement? One bananosecond.
Here’s a sweet exchange between two members of the commentariat.
Pabloinnh wrote: Late to the party this morning as just as I finished the puzzle, my 9-month-old grandson decided to take a nap (I was holding him in my arms) and he woke up 2 hours later.
And then Weezie said…
“Whenever my dog or one of my nieces or nephews falls asleep on me, I say ‘Welp, that’s it, guess I’m never moving again.’ It’s a truly special feeling to have someone trust you like that, worth all the limbs falling asleep and rearranging of plans in the world. I’m sure your grandson must be very grateful for your support!”
Are you familiar with that term “welp?” It replaces “well,” when it precedes a statement of resignation or disappointment. “Welp, it looks like the goddamn Nats blew another lead.” It’s first known use was in 1987, but I’ve only been hearing it lately. It’s been in the puzzle.
Happy Purim, everybody! Help yourself to a couple hamentashen. Don’t be shy. See you tomorrow!
The Wellington Files 