Turner Treasures

Over at the website for Turner Classic Movies, they're always posting some great clip that you can view online.  Right this moment — it will change soon — they're offering us "So You Want To Be A Gambler," a Joe McDoakes short starring George O'Hanlon (whose name they insist on spelling wrong).  Depending on which browser you're using and whether I've figured out how to bypass a network of JavaScript pop-ups, this link may take you to it.  But if not, go to their main page and look around.  For that matter, there are a lot of great clips on their multimedia page and on their trailers page.  (If those links don't work, go to their main page and use the drop-down menus at the top.)

On the latter page, there are many treasures including a trailer for the real movie of The Music Man with Robert Preston delivering some special promotional lyrics to the opening of "76 Trombones."  I believe there was a longer version in the original trailer but even this much is a fine treat.  Here's a link that may work or you may have to root about.  It's great to see Mr. Preston in his signature role.  If you saw the Matthew Broderick version and would like to catch The Music Man as God intended it to be seen — filmed in America with people who fit the roles — Turner Classic Movies is running the movie March 3, or you can order the DVD by clicking here.  Preston is wonderful and mesmerizing, Shirley Jones is wonderful and pregnant, and everyone else is just plain wonderful.