Wyatt Earp Fights James Dean

As the proprietor of this joint, I like to check what the ‘Top Posts’ are (see the sidebar down towards the bottom). What astonishes me is that, along with and even to the detriment of some of my greatest works of literature, that pesky ‘Patrushka Shoots Wyatt Earp’ hits the list day after day. People really want to know more about the grim old lawman who lies at rest in Colma, California.

It’s a throwaway piece I wrote in the summer of 2006 as we were driving acoss the country. The map showed Wyatt Earp’s birthplace just off the road a few miles and we were tired of the stupid interstate. Which usually happens after ten miles. So we drove up there and I wrote a little comedy piece about it when we got to the motel. Strictly for laffs, understand?

Yet it’s become one of the world’s all-time favorite Pondering Pig pieces, right up there with “James Dean’s Jeans”, a complete throwaway with a catchy title. Here I am explaining the Bible or revealing my deepest soul and the crowds flock to read “James Dean’s Jeans.”

Well, I figure this post is going to top them both. Check out the title.

By the way, for all you serious Wyatt Earp or pig comedy fans, yesterday I refurbished another old post, even more ridiculous than the first , but pretty funny — called The Strange Case of Wyatt Earp’s Tombstone. And, while I was at it, I refurbished another comedy classic, The Pondering Pig’s Tour of San Francisco. Hope you enjoy them.

James Dean’s Jeans

Oh no – not this again! Yes, friends, Jimmy’s trousers sold so well that now someone is putting up his jeans and his teeshirt too. Estimated value at auction: $15,000. To anyone of my generation, that’s cheap. And, astounding to say – Jim Stark, Dean’s character in Rebel Without A Cause, wore Lee’s jeans! In my high school, only Levis were cool. All other brands were worn only by dorks. That singular prejudice has lasted to this day and, after nearly fifty years, I still only wear Levis. I still don’t want to be a dork!

Labels: James Dean

Wearing James Dean’s Slacks

How did that happen? The great teenage angst film, Rebel Without A Cause, has somehow wheedled its way back into Pigland’s consciousness (see comments to the Kerouac/Pig post below). Well, I gave up trying to control the destiny of this blog several months ago. In fact, I am seriously thinking of changing the blog’s name again. To The Pondering Pig and His Pals.. Has a nice ring to it, I think. Sounds like a Sunday funnies comic strip from 1925.

Anyway, dedicated to going with the flow this morning, I have news. Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas is going to auction the brown trousers from the knife fight scene, a patch from the sportcoat, and the very teeshirt that James Dean wore in that film.

I’m thinking about bidding on the pants. I know I could never fill James Dean’s shoes, but maybe, if I signed up at the gym, I could fit into his pants.