Tonight's Boston Round-up Cancelled

Sorry, but we have to cancel tonight's Boston "We've Come for the Davenport" Round-up. See you next month.

Boston Chapter Round-up Thursday, December 18th

The Boston "We've Come for the Davenport" Chapter of the Robert Benchley Society will hold its monthly Roundup at the Downtown Harvard Club, high above Boston town on the 38th floor of One Federal Street, in the Financial District. We'll gather at the Crimson Pub on Thursday, December 18th, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Dress code is informal or business casual. For more information, contact David Trumbull at david@robertbenchley.org.

MENU

Braised Short Rip and Whipped Potato Martini Glasses

Marinated Bocconcini Tasting Spoon served with Kalamata Olives, Cherry Tomatoes, Basil Pesto

Lobster Salad Sliders with Arugula

Grilled Vegetable Risotto with Roasted Tomato, Basil, Parmigiano Cheese

Antipasti Station & Cheese Board

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Mini Cannoli's ~ Ricotta Filling

Cocktails of the Night!

Vermont Maple Northern Comfort
Vermont Ice Maple Creme, Whistle Pig Whiskey, Dash of Maple Syrup - $11

Spiced Hot Chocolate
Cinnamon Schnapps, Hot Chocolate, Whipped Cream - $6

Listen to Benchley Perform The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

December 8 is the birthday of James Thurber (1894, Columbus, Ohio), so what a perfect time to listen to Robert Benchley and a full cast perform Thurber's most-popular work, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? It was recorded in December 1944 for CBS. Thurber loved this adaptation of the story from The New Yorker. This is the complete broadcast, not abbreviated. To celebrate Thurber today, let's share this with our friends, and try to get 100 listeners for both Benchley and Thurber!

Laughing Matter: Finding the Roots of Humor in the Brain

Compared to regular people or amateurs, professional jokesters had more brain activity in regions involved in producing humor. But the comedians had less activity in regions linked to pleasure and enjoyment of humor, according to a study ...MORE

Al Hirschfed Exhibit at Algonquin Hotel Nov. 22-Jan 9

New York -- November 22, 2014, is the 112th anniversary of the Algonquin Hotel throwing open its doors to guests. To coincide with the date, a celebration of iconic artist Al Hirschfeld illustrations will be on display in the lobby through January 9, 2015. There will be 25 images of the Vicious Circle and their friends hanging in the lobby. Stop in and have a cocktail, or lunch at the Round Table.

Humor Contest Update

Watch for an announcement soon of the top-ten semifinalists in the 2014 Robert Benchley Society Annual Award for Humor Writing.

Boston Chapter Roundup this Thursday, November 20th

The Boston "We've Come for the Davenport" Chapter of the Robert Benchley Society will hold its monthly Roundup at the Downtown Harvard Club, high above Boston town on the 38th floor of One Federal Street, in the Financial District. We'll gather at the Crimson Pub on Thursday, November 20th (NOT THE 19TH AS ERRONEOUSLY STATED IN YESTERDAY'S POST), beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Dress code is informal or business casual. For more information, contact David Trumbull at david@robertbenchley.org.

Manhattan Plaza

With his first collection of poetry, Manhattan Plaza, James B. Nicola joins the ranks of poets Frank O’Hara and Stanley Kunitz and humorist Robert Benchley as a New York author originally from Worcester, Massachusetts. James has been widely published in periodicals including The Atlanta Review, Tar River, Texas Review, Lyric, Nimrod, and Blue Unicorn stateside, and overseas in journals as exotic as The Istanbul Review and Poetry Salzburg. He also won the Dana Literary Award, a People’s Choice award (from Storyteller) and a Willow Review award; was nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize and once for a Rhysling Award; and was featured poet at New Formalist. A Yale grad and stage director by profession, his nonfiction book Playing the Audience won a Choice award. Also a composer, lyricist, and playwright, his children’s musical Chimes: A Christmas Vaudeville premiered in Fairbanks, Alaska, where Santa Claus was rumored to be in attendance on opening night.

James B. Nicola
Manhattan Plaza
AUTHOR EVENT, Saturday, NOVEMBER 22ND
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Westborough Shopping Center, Westborough, Mass.
Route 9 & Lyman St. • 508-366-4959
Open Mon - Sat 9am - 9pm, Sunday 10am - 6pm
www.tatnuck.com

Let the Laughter Begin

The entries in the 2014 Robert Benchley Society Annual Award for Humor Competition are available for reading at www.robertbenchley.org/2014_competition/index.htm.

An Evening NOT with Robert Benchley

Tuesday September 30, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. To celebrate Worcester-born writer and humorist Robert Benchley's 125th birthday this September, local poet and performer Paul Szlosek with present a selection of dramatic readings of the author’s work. For more information please call 508-799-1655 or visit the Events Calendar on worcpublib.org.

Location: Worcester Public Library - Main Branch - Saxe Room, 3 Salem Street, Worcester, Massachusetts

Boston RBS Chapter September 18th Round-up

The Boston "We've Come for the Davenport" Chapter of the Robert Benchley Society will hold its monthly Roundup at the Downtown Harvard Club, high above Boston town on the 38th floor of One Federal Street, in the Financial District. We'll gather at the Crimson Pub on Thursday, September 18th, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Dress code is informal or business casual. For more information, contact David Trumbull at david@robertbenchley.org.

Urban Noir: Night Photography in Los Angeles

Join renowned photographer and supporter of the Robert Benchley Society Helen K. Garber for a course on night photography, offered in conjunction with the Skirball exhibitions Light & Noir: Exiles and Émigrés in Hollywood,1933–1950 and The Noir Effect.

Begin with a walkthrough of the exhibitions with curators Doris Berger and Linde Lehtinen. Subsequent class meetings include on-location shoots at three Los Angeles landmarks—the Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, and the Skirball. The second session meets in the private quarters of the Pier Restoration Corporation, the old apartments above the landmark carousel. After a preliminary discussion and tour with the instructor, students watch and evaluate the available light to be ready to shoot by sunset, continuing through dusk and nightfall. The final meeting takes place at the Skirball for a critique of the students’ best work.

Prerequisite: Students are expected to understand how to use their camera, including ISO, speed, and aperture settings.

Instructor: Helen K. Garber is known for her night urban landscapes. In 2006, she was commissioned by the Venice Biennale of Architecture to create “A Night View of Los Angeles,” a five-foot-high, forty-foot-long, 360-degree panorama of the entire city of Los Angeles taken at night. A recipient of the 2014 Santa Monica Artist Fellowship, Garber will have several pieces on display in the Skirball exhibition The Noir Effect.

XPHO2086 -- Reg #35460: $285 Noncredit REGISTER HERE

First class materials: Film cameras are acceptable for the shoot, with TMAX 400 or 3200 film, but digital cameras are recommended. A mini tripod or tripod is mandatory for shooting at the pier. Also bring note-taking materials

Mark Russell to Judge 2014 Benchley Humor Competition, Entries Due by September 15th

The Robert Benchley Society is happy to announce that Washington, D.C.-based national humorist Mark Russell has agreed to be the final celebrity judge in the 2014 Robert Benchley Society Annual Humor Writing Award Competition.

I'm sure you are all familiar with Mr. Russell's topical and political humor and music, either through his three decades on public television or from his personal performances. More information on Mr. Russell may be found on his website www.markrussell.net.

The deadline to enter the 2014 Robert Benchley Society Annual Award for Humor Writing Competition is September 15, 2014 (the anniversary of Mr. Benchley's birth). For more details visit our website http://www.robertbenchley.org/competition/index.htm.

RBS Boston Chapter Monthly Roundup Thursday, July 17th

The Boston "We've Come for the Davenport" Chapter of the Robert Benchley Society will hold its monthly Roundup at the Downtown Harvard Club, high above Boston town on the 38th floor of One Federal Street, in the Financial District. We'll gather at the Crimson Pub on Thursday, July 17th, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Dress code is informal or business casual. For more information, contact David Trumbull at david@robertbenchley.org.

RBS Boston Chapter Monthly Roundup Thursday, June 19th

The Boston "We've Come for the Davenport" Chapter of the Robert Benchley Society will hold its monthly Roundup at the Downtown Harvard Club, high above Boston town on the 38th floor of One Federal Street, in the Financial District. We'll gather at the Crimson Pub on Thursday, June 19th, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Dress code is informal or business casual. For more information, contact David Trumbull at david@robertbenchley.org.

Can You Help?

This question was recently submitted to the Robert Benchley Society. Can anyone help answer it?

"Many years ago I read a wonderful story by Benchley in which he talks about all the clever things he wished he had said to someone at the time, but only thought of later, after his opportunity to say them had passed. Even though I have looked through all of the titles we have here by Benchley, I haven't been able to find that story. Every once in awhile I try again, to no avail.

"Best regards,
M.H."

RBS Boston Chapter Monthly Roundup Thursday, March 20th

The Boston "We've Come for the Davenport" Chapter of the Robert Benchley Society will hold its monthly Roundup at the Downtown Harvard Club, high above Boston town on the 38th floor of One Federal Street, in the Financial District. We'll gather at the Crimson Pub on Thursday, March 20th, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Dress code is informal or business casual. For more information, contact David Trumbull at david@robertbenchley.org.

Another Inquiry from the Mail Bag

Mr. Trumbull:

A recent book about Carol and John Steinbeck [the American writer] refers to Robert Benchley’s secretary as being a friend of the marine biologist and friend of John Steinbeck, Ed Ricketts. Apparently this secretary visited Mr. Ricketts home and laboratory in Monterey, California, sometime in the 1940s.

Do you have any information about this secretary and Mr. Ricketts and John Steinbeck?

Herb B.

Let's Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"

Tuesday, March 18, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., Thurber's Bar at The Westin Columbus, 310 South High Street

The Thurber House cordially invites you to help Thurber House celebrate the 75th anniversary of the publication of one of James Thurber's most famous short stories, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty!" Join us as we pay homage to the meek man with the wild imagination who inspired two feature films and whose name has become part of the world's vocabulary. There will be plenty of hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Don't miss the fun!

Tickets are $10 and reservations are required. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets online, or purchase by phone at 614-464-1032 x.11. Please reserve tickets by 4 p.m. on Monday, March 17.

From the Mail Bag, Signed Benchley Books Offered

Dear Mr. Trumbull, I have 2 Robert Benchley books from the 1920s, both autographed. One is titled 20,000 Leagues under the Sea or David Copperfield which is autographed by Robert Benchley, Sr., Gertrude D. Benchley, Nat Benchley and Bobby Benchley. The two boys printed rather than signed their names. The inscription was "To Miss Moyer, with a great deal of Benchley affection December 6, 1928." This book has a large drink ring mark on the cover but is otherwise in good condition.

The second book is titled Pluck and Luck. It is signed similarly but has no "Sr" after the father's signature. It is inscribed "For the Benchley boys' "Miss Moyer." No date but the book is 1925 and the kids' printing is more primitive. It has a small stain on the cover.

I believe I obtained these at a sale at the Langhorne-Middletown Library in Langhorne, PA in the 1960's.

Do you know anyone who might be interested in having these books?

Sarah M.

If you are interested, contact me at david@robertbenchley.org and I'll put you in touch with Sarah.

RBS Boston Chapter Monthly Roundup Thursday, February 20th

The Boston "We've Come for the Davenport" Chapter of the Robert Benchley Society will hold its monthly Roundup at the Downtown Harvard Club, high above Boston town on the 38th floor of One Federal Street, in the Financial District. We'll gather at the Crimson Pub on Thursday, February 20th, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Dress code is informal or business casual. For more information, contact David Trumbull at david@robertbenchley.org.

RBS Boston Chapter Monthly Roundup Thursday, January 16th

The Boston "We've Come for the Davenport" Chapter of the Robert Benchley Society will hold its monthly Roundup at the Downtown Harvard Club, high above Boston town on the 38th floor of One Federal Street, in the Financial District. We'll gather at the Crimson Pub on Thursday, January 16th, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Dress code is informal or business casual. For more information, contact David Trumbull at david@robertbenchley.org.