Would you take your cat to a Hollywood audition? From my own experience I know that even if I wanted to my Archibald would fight and scratch and run and leave claw marks all over me. No outdoor fun for him. No excitement. Nah.
My mother is the proud caretaker of my black cat now. He's a total house cat. Once, feeling sorry for the poor (prrr) bugger, we tried to take him out to explore, socialize, play, but the event ended up leaving scars on Archibald's psyche and all over our bodies. He was utterly petrified.
So, when I saw these people putting leashes on their cats and taking them to an audition... that left me in utter awe, shock, bewilderment, amusement & with a belly full of laughter. (And concern for those cats, of course!) I wonder what were the requirements? Hm... black, cat, curious?
Isn't this and absolutely absurd sight?
Absurd and hilarious!
Ha! It's Vincent Price! So, it must have been an audition for Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat". V. Price and Edgar Allan Poe - what a great combination. Used to love these movies - Tales of Terror, House of Usher, The Raven... (And the other guy is of course Peter Lorre - after Terry saw this photo he kept doing the funniest P. Lorre impersonation with a foreign accent, while walking like a hunchback: "You keeled my snake. Why did you keel my snake?")
Why couldn't he just walk on the pavement, like everybody else? Well, that's cats for you.
Who brought a baby cat? We said no baby cats!
I don't like to be cradled like I'm a baby!
Hey lady! Nice eyebrows!
Well, of course, cats always get into trouble. Or, is it the old ladies that always get into trouble? Hmm.
Hey mister, don't even think about it. That part is mine!
This whole shot is fantastic - the kid, his boots and vest, the cat, the guy with a cigarette, the woman with the crutches.
I don't think this was intirely necessary for the part, now was it?! Miaow!
xoxoxo
{photos LIFE archive - Hollywood audition for Black Cat, 1961}
Teehee,
my goodness this was a fantastic post!
My friend has a black kitten and I'm always over at her house cuddling it :D
Also, kudos for the Vincent Price mention, he is quite fantastic ;)
x
Posted by: Athena | June 19, 2009 at 05:35 AM
This is totally amazing...I love these pics...must share this post with my mom, she would get a total kick out of this!!
Posted by: TheBeautyFile | June 19, 2009 at 09:49 PM
Oh my, wherever do you find such delicious pictures?
I love old time horror movies, use to spend a lot of
Saturday afternoons watching them when I was a kid.
Okay, late Friday nights, too!
Posted by: Roseanna | June 20, 2009 at 11:02 AM
This is incredible. I take my kitties out once in awhile for a little stroll...haha, since they are indoors I feel bad sometimes cause they are the adventurous types.
This photo series is wonderful. Your blog is so great...I love coming here!!!
Posted by: Kathleen | June 25, 2009 at 08:56 PM
These black cat audition photos are too much fun :) Some of my favorite LIFE archived pics ever!
I love those old Vincent Price movies too!
Posted by: The Cottage Cheese | July 01, 2009 at 08:30 PM
This is totally amazing.
Posted by: jayne | July 18, 2009 at 06:46 PM
My cat loves to lounge on the patio in his harness, of course... and one day I had the bright idea to try and walk him...Cats don's "walk". Cats take a step.. and sit..survey..take a step... sit. OH! you get the idea..
Posted by: sheri poston | March 17, 2010 at 08:16 AM
I love horror movies are the best, good stereo sound a good sofa accompanied by a popcorn and a good warm hug and there is no better evening, I love the excellent film blog.!
Posted by: sildenafil | April 27, 2010 at 07:47 PM
Once, feeling sorry for the poor (prrr) bugger, we tried to take him out to explore, socialize, play, but the event ended up leaving scars on Archibald's psyche and all over our bodies. He was utterly petrified.
Posted by: tinggi badan | May 09, 2010 at 09:27 PM
I fell in love with your blog. And this article - the photos, your comments - is purrr fun. Thank you very much!
Posted by: Ickemixe | June 26, 2010 at 04:20 AM
OMG!!! As a girl with three black cats, i LOVE this post!!!! go you!
Posted by: Tina | June 29, 2010 at 10:43 PM
beautiful black kitten That's so cute
Posted by: LOGO DESIGN | September 16, 2010 at 07:37 AM
How funny! I loved the boy with the boots and vest!! So many beautiful kitties also..
Do you think they still do this once in a while?
xo,
Penney
Posted by: just penneys | October 26, 2010 at 07:49 AM
I just lost my beloved black cat yesterday. He was 15 and a half. He actually used to let me cradle him like a baby when he was younger. Well for a few minutes anyway. Then he'd get annoyed and want to go explore something. I miss him terribly. Great post & pix!
Posted by: Marilyn | November 08, 2010 at 01:39 PM
Thank you so much for this post...so fun! Love the eyebrow lady and the black kitten. I have three black cats of my own. They are the BEST cats!
Posted by: Julie | July 22, 2011 at 09:06 PM
This made our day. Peter Lorre looks like a true cat man. I'd love to post one of these pics. Any copyright issues?
Posted by: Layla Morgan Wilde | July 23, 2011 at 09:30 AM
Peter Lorre (not Laurie) - I used to LOVE both him and Vincent Price in those old "horror" flicks when I was a kid. The pic of all the black cats on leases is just fabulous!
Posted by: Annalisa | July 24, 2011 at 12:25 AM
Outstanding post, fantastic images, and imaginative comments. Thanks for the best part of my day!
Posted by: Carol | July 28, 2011 at 09:39 PM
so funny, absolutely adore the pics! my old cat sure wouldnt have put up with it!
Posted by: dusanabotswana | October 07, 2011 at 03:16 AM
Where did you find these pictures? Talk about freaking awesome.
Posted by: christine | July 16, 2012 at 06:35 AM