The Late Great Joanna Pettet

I never had the honour of knowing actress Joanna Pettet, who appeared in the movies The Group (1966) and Casino Royale (1967) and several guest appearances on television, but I had many friends who were also friends with her. It is for that reason that I know that she was not only a beautiful and talented actress, but a warm, sweet, and approachable human being. She truly cared about her friends and appreciated her fans. When Sir Alan Bates was dying from pancreatic cancer in 2003, it was Miss Pettet who cared for him and provided him with companionship. I know of at least one person to whom she sent a warm and comforting letter upon the death of his mother. She was truly a great lady. Sadly, Joanna Pettet died on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at the age of 83. Her death occurred exactly 31 years after that of her son Damien Zachary Cord.

Joanna Pettit was born Joanna Jane Salmon in London on November 16, 1942. Her father, Harold Salmon, served in the Royal Air Force and died in combat during World War II. After the war, her mother remarried and settled with her family in Montreal. Joanna Salmon took her stepfather's surname, Pettet. She was 16 years old when she moved to New York City with $1000 in her pocket.

Joanna Pettit studied acting at the Neighbourhood Playhouse. She made her debut on Broadway in Take Her, She's Mine in 1961. She appeared again on Broadway in 1964 in The Chinese Prime Minister opposite Alan Bates and in Poor Richard, for which she one a Theatre World Award. She made her television debut in 1964 in an episode of Route 66. In 1964, she also began a brief stint as a recurring character on the soap opera The Doctors. During the Sixties, she guest starred on the TV shows The Nurses; The Trials of O'Brien; The Fugitive; A Man Called Shenandoah; and Dr. Kildare. She made her film debut in Sidney Lumet's movie The Group in 1966. She appeared in the movies The Night of the Generals (1967), Casino Royale (1967), Robbery (1967), Blue (1968), and The Best House in London (1969).

In the Seventies, Joanna Pettet appeared in the movies Welcome to Arrow Beach (1974), To Catch a Pebble (1975), the television version of Two-Minute Warning (1976), and The Evil (1978). She guest starred on the shows Mannix; The Delphi Bureau; Banacek; Night Gallery; McCloud; Medical Center; Police Story; Caribe; Thriller (1974); Harry O; Police Woman; Tales of the Unexpected; The Love Boat; and Charlie's Angels. She appeared in the mini-series Captain and the Kings, as well as such TV movies as The Weekend Nun, Pioneer Woman, and A Cry in the Wilderness.

In the Eighties, Joanna Petter appeared in a story arc of Knot's Landing. She guest starred on the shows Aloha Paradise; Tales of the Unexpected; The Littlest Hobo; The Love Boat; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers; Fantasy Island; The Fall Guy; The Yellow Rose; Knight Rider; Finder of Lost Loves; Hotel; Murder, She Wrote; and ABC Afterschool Specials. She appeared in the movies Double Exposure (1982), Otelo (Comando negro) (1982), and Sweet Country (1987). She made her last appearance on film in Terror in Paradise in 1991. She then retired from acting.

Joanna Pettet was an immensely talented and versatile actress. This can be seen in what may be her two most best known movies. In The Group, she played Kay Strong Peterson, the poorest member of eight freinds who becomes the wife of an abusive and alcoholic playwright. While The Group was a serious drama, Casino Royale was an outright spoof. As Mata Bond, the daughter of James Bond by Mata Hari, who is charged by her father to infiltrate International Mother's Help, which was little more than a SMERSH front. In her films, Joanna Pettet played a wide variety of roles, from a pioneer woman in Blue to a medical doctor in The Evil, and she did well in all of them even if the movies were not always the best.

Joanna Pettet was impressive in her television roles as well. In the Fugitive episode "Shadow of the Swan," she played a troubled young woman who is involved with a dodgy carnival worker and lives in a fantasy world. She appeared in multiple episodes of Dr. Kildare, playing a dancer afflicted with a rare neuromuscular disease. On Knots Landing, she played a homicide detective investigating the murder of Ciji Dunne (Lisa Hartman). One of her most amusing television roles was playing herself in the episode of The Fall Guy, "Always Say Always." She appeared alongside Britt Ekland and Lana Wood. Joanna Pettet was an amazing actress who leaves behind a wealth of great performances. From those who knew her, I know she was also a sweet, warm, and loving human being, the epitome of a lady.

U.S. Cellular R.I.P.

Yesterday I ceased being a customer of U.S. Cellular after twenty years and five months. It was in May 2024 that T-Mobile announced a plan to acquire both U.S. Cellular's customers and its stores, as well as 30% of the company's spectrum wireless licences. The deal would be closed over a year later, in May 2025. The plan was to transition U.S. Cellular customers over to T-Mobile. That happened yesterday.

U.S. Cellular was founded in 1983 as a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems Inc. as United States Cellular. It was in 1999 that the company shortened its name to U.S. Cellular. The year 2002 saw some big changes for U.S. Cellular. It bought  PrimeCo Wireless Communications. On November 2002, it launched in the Chicago area. It also hired native Chicagoan Joan Cusack as their spokesman.  That year it also exchanged wireless assets with Cingular and as a result got new spectrum in 13 states. From 2003 to 2016,  Comiskey Park in Chicago was known as U.S. Cellular Field, the company having bought the naming rights.  It entered the St. Louis market in 2005. 

Over time, U.S. Cellular would make some major changes. In 2010, it sold several of its markets to Sprint, including what had been its long-time home, Chicago. In 2020, it rebranded itself again as USCellular. Of course, as mentioned before, it was in 2024 that T-Mobile announced plans to acquire most of USCellular's mobile operations. In the wake of the acquisition, USCellular rebranded itself Array Digital Infrastructure and maintains operations of wireless towers across the nation. It is no longer in the business of consumer wireless networks.

U.S. Cellular had expanded into the Columbia, Missouri market in December 1988, so it was well established in the area years before I got my first cell phone in February 2006. As for why I went with U.S. Cellular, at the time it was more reliable in the area than most of the major companies and more affordable as well. Our service from U.S. Cellular has remained fairly good over the years, with almost no dropped calls and very few places where we couldn't get service.

That's not to say that U.S. Cellular was perfect. Prices for their service crept up over the years, to the point that the past few years my sister and I (she's on my account) considered switching companies. Indeed, we asked about getting unlimited data about three years ago only to find it was cost prohibitive for our budget. After T-Mobile bought out U.S. Cellular, we seriously considered switching to T-Mobile, but never did.

As it is, I wish we had done so sooner. After setting up my account with T-Mobile yesterday, I switched to one of T-Mobile's plans that is not only less than what we were paying U.S. Cellular, but gives us unlimited data as well. Unlimited data U.S. Cellular would have been forty dollars more than it would have been on T-Mobile! We also get various perks, such as special deals on various products and services on T-Mobile Tuesdays and possibly even free streaming services (such as Netflix). As to reliability, so far I haven't noticed any problems.

That's not to say I don't feel a bit sad that U.S. Cellular is gone. They were my first cellular phone company and they always were reliable. I can't say they did too badly towards us. And, while I don't know about now, they were certainly better than some of the major companies around here (particularly Verizon), whose coverage could be spotty at best. At any rate, I am looking forward to what T-Mobile has to offer. 

Godspeed Joby Baker

Joby Baker, who appeared in the three Gidget movies and starred on the short-lived sitcom Good Morning World, died on June 22, 2026, at the age of 92. His Good Morning World costar Ronnie Schell died ten days before him.

Joby Baker was born on March 26, 1934, in Montreal,Quebec. His mother died when he was very young, and the family moved to Oahu, Hawaii. Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, he and his stepmother were evacuated to San Francisco. He attended school in New York City and then served in the United States Army, where he entertained the troops. Among the men he served with was Lou Costello's son-in-law. He convinced Mr. Costello to do a show at his camp. As a result, the comic became both Joby Baker's friend and manager. He sometimes stayed at Lou Costello's home.

It was while he was working as a page at NBC that he made his television debut on The Red Skelton Show in 1952. During the Fifties, he guest starred on the shows Studio One, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Dragnet, and Surfside 6. He made his movie debut in Target Zero in 1955. He appeared in the movies Gidget (1959), The Last Angry Man (1960), Key Wtiness (1960), and The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960).

In the Sixties, he starred on the single-season sitcom Good Morning World. He guest starred on the shows The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Cain's Hundred, Dr. Kildare, The Roaring 20's, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Wagon Train, Bachelor Father, Frontier Circus, Gunsmoke, Sam Benedict, Combat!, The Greatest Show on Earth,. Ben Casey, 12 O' Clock High, The Loner, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Mannix. He appeared in the movies Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961), Gidget Goes to Rome (1963), Hootenanny Hoot (1963), Looking for Love (1964), Girl Happy (1965), When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965), The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967), and Blackbeard's Ghost (1968).

In the Seventies, Joby Baker had regular roles on the shows Stone and The Six O' Clock Follies. He appeared in the shows Love, American Style; The Streets of San Francisco; Assignment: Vienna; A Touch of Grace; Run, Joe, Run; Barnaby Jones; Police Story; Kate McShane; Medical Center; Bronk; Gemini Man; Most Wanted; and Nobody's Perfect. He appeared in the movies Self-Portrait (1973), which he also wrote, Superdad (1973), and Avalanche (1978).

In the Eighties, Joby Baker guest starred on the shows Simon and Simon; Quincy, M.E.; McClain's Law; Tucker's Witch; and The Paper Chase. He retired from acting in 1984 to concentrate on his career as a painter, sculptor, and jeweller. His artwork has been displayed at galleries in Los Angeles and have sold for thousands of dollars.

While Joby Baker considered himself a painter rather than an actor, he had considerable talent as an actor. In particular, he had a gift for comedy, that was on display on Good Morning World and elsewhere. In the Dick Van Dyke Show episode "Love Thy Other Neighbour," he played the husband of an old school pal of Millie, who creates jealousy in Laura when she thinks Millie is spending more time with her. In the F Troop episode "La Dolce Courage," he played a spurned lover who pursues the object of his affection when she and her father visit Fort Courage. While it isn't necessarily a good movie, he was funny as supermarket stockman and part-time bass player in Looking for Love. He could play dramatic roles as well. In the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode "Madame Mystery," he played a smarmy publicist seeks to exploit the death of an actress. Joby Baker had considerable talent both as an actor and as an artist.

Happy 4th of July 2026

It was 250 years ago on this date that the Declaration of Independence was signed, marking the founding of the United States of America. I know that many people aren't particularly in the mood to celebrate today. Much of the country is suffering from extreme heat. The economy is not particularly good. There is widespread political division. And a certain individual who shall not be named has insisted about making the 250th anniversary of the United States of America all about himself. And I do have to admit that the United States has not always lived up to its ideal that all men are created equal. Native Americans (including my Cherokee ancestors) suffered greatly because of the US. For the first 87 years of the country's existence, slavery existed in the US. Still, it is the idea that all people were created equal, that we all have certain unalienable Rights, including those to  Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, is one worth celebrating and one worth working towards, no matter what others might think or try to force upon us. For that reason, I am celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America today.

Of course, here at A Shroud of Thoughts, celebrating means posting vintage pinups. I hope that you appreciate them whether you are celebrating today or not.

First up is Vera-Ellen, who is celebrating the 4th of July with a patriotic version of hopscotch.

And here's another Vera, Vera Miles, getting ready for a loud boom.

The lovely Angela Greene is celebrating the 4th of July on the beach.

Jane Russell is getting ready to light off a rather large firecracker. Or maybe dynamite...

Gloria Grahame not looking too happy after what looks like the aftermath of a fireworks display.

And here's the lovely, leggy Ann Miller with some really big fireworks. 

Happy 4th of July!

David Sheiner Passes On

David Sheiner, who had a recurring role on the short-lived sitcom Diana, guest starred on shows from The Man From U.N.C.L.E. to Murder, She Wrote, and appeared in such movies as The Odd Couple (1968) and Blue Thunder (1983), died on June 5, 2026, at the age of 98.

David Sheiner was born on January 13, 1928, in the Bronx. He graduated from DeWitt High School and then served in U.S. Army Air Forces. After his service, he took acting lessons for eight years on a scholarship from Lee Strasberg.

Early in his career he toured with a production of The Country Girl by Clifford Odets. He made his television debut in an episode of Studio One. During the Fifties, he guest starred on the shows Tom Corbett, Space Cadet; The Big Story; The Best of Broadway; The Phil Silvers Show; and Perry Mason. He made his movie debut in an uncredited role in The Mugger (1958). He appeared on Broadway in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?.

In the Sixties, David Sheiner guest-starred on the shows The Defenders; The Detectives; Sam Benedict; The Twilight Zone; The Eleventh Hour; The Rogues; Dr. Kildare; Kraft Suspense Theatre; Mr. Novak; A Man Called Shenandoah; Burke's Law; Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea; Blue Light; The F.B.I.; The Man From U.N.C.L.E.; I Spy; The Fugitive; Combat!; Mission: Impossible; The Invaders; Iron Horse; Ironside; Dundee and the Culhane; The Big Valley; Judd for the Defense; Hawaii Five-O; Then Came Bronson; The Name of the Game; The Virginian; and The Young Lawyers. He appeared in the movies The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), A Man Called Gannon (1968), The Odd Couple (1968), Winning (1969), Halls of Anger (1970), and They Call Me Mr. Tibbs! (1970).

In the Seventies, David Sheiner had a recurring role as the title character's boss on the short-lived sitcom Diana, starring Diana Rigg. He guest starred on the shows Mission: Impossible; The Bold Ones: Senator; Gunsmoke; Mannix; Sarge; Bonanza; The Delphi Bureau; Cannon; Hawkins; Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law; Columbo; Planet of the Apes; S.W.A.T.; Bronk; Kate McShane; Medical Center; Switch; Lanigan's Rabbi; Baretta; Rich Man, Poor Man Book II; Police Story; Westside Medical; Lucan; The Six Million Dollar Man; The Amazing Spider-Man; How the West Was Won; The Wonderful World of Disney; and Vega$. He appeared in the movies The Stone Killer (1973), The Gong Show Movie (1980), and Battle Creek Brawl (1983).

In the Eighties, David Sheiner appeared in the movie Blue Thunder (1983). He guest starred on the shows Charlie's Angels; Quincy, M.E.; Manimal; Automan; Trapper John, M.D.; Fantasy Island; Matt Houston; The Fall Guy; and Murder, She Wrote. He retired from acting in 1988.

David Sheiner is one of those actors whose name they might not recognize, but whose face they certainly would. He appeared in several hours of television over the years, including several movies. What is more, he could play a wide variety of roles. His versatility can be demonstrated by his two guest appearances on Combat!. In the first episode, "The Steeple," he played a U.S. Army paratrooper captain trapped in a steeple with German soldiers on the ground below him. In "Gadjo," he played a major in the German S.S. He played a prime minister in an episode of The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Oscar's accountant Roy in The Odd Couple, a preacher turned outlaw on Gunsmoke, and a somewhat skeptical police captain in The Stone Killer. David Sheiner was nothing if not versatile, and he always gave good performances.

A Shroud of Thoughts Store on Zazzle

In an effort to increase my income in these difficult times, I have opened a store for A Shroud of Thoughts on Zazzle. Like the blog, it is dedicated to popular culture. Of course, due to copyright restrictions, I really can't have any times based on movies, TV shows, or books that are not in the public domain. Fortunately, there are a lot of popular books that are in the public domain, so I have created a series of products such as T-shirts, key chains, and coffee mugs using quotes from popular books, including The Sign of Four, Wuthering Heights, and The Great Gatsby. I do plan to add more products as I go along, and I might even include products based on silent movies in the public domain (most talkies aren't for now).

Anyway, if you're interested in taking a look, you can click the link here. 

The Late Great James Burrows

James Burrows, who co-created the classic sitcom Cheers and directed shows from The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Fraiser, died on June 19, 2026, at the age of 85.

James Burrows was born on December 30, 1940 in Los Angeles. His father was composer, director, and writer Abe Burrows. He was fairly young when his family moved to the West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Given his father's profession, as a boy, he got to spend time backstage of such Broadway shows as Guys and Dolls and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. In grade school, he was a member of the Metropolitan Boy's Choir. He attended the High School of Music & Art. He attended Oberlin College and then the Yale School of Drama.

After college, James Burrows moved to California where he became a dialogue coach on the short-lived sitcom O.K. Crackerby. He then worked as an assistant manager on Holly Golightly, a musical version of Breakfast at Tiffany's, during its pre-Broadway tryouts. While the musical was scrapped before making it to Broadway, James Burrows did get to meet its star, Mary Tyler Moore.

It was meeting to Mary Tyler Moore that would lead to James Burrows's first work as a television director, directing episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1974. In the Seventies, he also directed episodes of Fay; Phyllis; The Bob Newhart Show; The Tony Randall Show; Laverne & Shirley; Busting Loose; Szysznyk; Lou Grant; We've Got Each Other; The Betty White Show; Rhoda, On Our Own; Husbands, Wives & Lovers; Free Country; A New Kind of Family; The Associates; The Stockard Channing Show; and Good Time Harry.

It was in the 1980s that James Burrows co-created Cheers with Glen and Les Charles, and co-created its spinoff The Tortellis with Glen and Les Charles and Ken Estin. He directed the vast majority of the 275 episodes of Cheers, as well as episodes of the shows Best of the West; Taxi; Night Court; Valerie; All is Forgiven; The Tortellis; CBS Summer Playhouse; Dear John; The Marshall Chronicles; Wings; Down Home; and The Fanelli Boys,

He continued working on Cheers into the early Nineties. In 1998, he began work on Will & Grace and directed every episode of the show's original run. He also directed episodes of the shows Roc; Pacific Station; Flesh 'n' Blood; Flying Blind; Cafe Americain; Monty; The Boys Are Back; Madman of the People; The Preston Episodes; Hudson Street; Partners; NewsRadio; 3rd Rock from the Sun; Frasier; Men Behaving Badly; Chicago Sons; Fired Up; Veronica's Closet; George & Leo; Caroline in the City; Union Square; Dharma & Greg; Friends; Jesse; Conrad Bloom; The Secret Lives of Men; In the Loop; Stark Raving Mad; Madigan Men; and Cursed.

In the Naughts, James Burrows continued work on Will & Grace. He also directed episodes of the shows Cursed; Good Morning, Miami; Bram and Alice; The Stones; Four Kings; Teachers; Two and a Half Men; Courting Alex; The Class; The Big Bang Theory; Back to You; Gary Unmarried; Better with You; and S#*! My Dad Says,

In the Teens, James Burrows directed episodes of Up All Night; Partners; Sean Saves the World; Friends with Better Lives; The Millers; 2 Broke Girls; Mike & Molly; Crowded; Man with a Plan; Superior Donuts; Disjointed; The Neighborhood;Our House; B Positive; and Romantically Challenged. In the 2020s, he directed episodes of Mid-Century Modern and the revival of Frasier.

While James Burrows directed hundreds of hours of television, he only directed on feature film, Partners in 1982.

James Burrows also served as a producer on several shows, including All is Forgiven; Cheers; The Tortellis; The Secret Lives of Men; The Class; Back to You; Gary Unmarried; Romantically Challenged; Mike & Molly; Partners; The Millers; Crowded; Superior Donuts; Man with a Plan; Will & Grace; and Mid-Century Modern.

James Burrows occasionally made cameos on shows. He was an agent on Rhoda, a telephone man on Phyllis, a maintenance man on The Bob Newhart Show, a director on Friends, and James Burrows on Will & Grace and The Comeback.

Over the years, James Burrows was nominated for several awards. He won Emmy Awards for episodes of Taxi, Cheers, and Will & Grace.. He also won Directors Guild of America awards for Cheers, Frasier, and Will & Grace.

James Burrows was definitely one of the greatest directors of all time. Even though the majority of his work was in multi-camera sitcoms, he used lighting that was a bit more advanced than that of the average sitcom. He was also a genius when it came to comic timing, able to milk the most out of the humor already in a script and in the performances of his actors. Indeed, more so than other directors, he concentrated on the characters, emphasizing the dialogue and using often complicated blocking. James Burrows could often get the best out of his performers, and it is little wonder that many of the episodes he directed are considered among the greatest television episodes of all time.