Hal Roach anecdote in Roger Moore autobiography

[Hal Erickson]

In his autobiography MY WORD IS MY BOND, actor Roger Moore relates a rather
ribald anecdote concerning a practical joke perpetrated by Hal Roach Sr. on
an unwitting screenwriter.

I won't repeat it here, but it involves a libidinous "Mrs. Roach", a guilty
conscience and a matter of trust.

Moore says that the anecdote was given him by his friend and sometime
director, the late Gordon Douglas--who is also credited in the autobio with
dreaming up the "lighted thumb" gag in the Boys' WAY OUT WEST.

--Hal E

[Larc]

On Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:58:12 -0500, "Hal Erickson" <***@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

| In his autobiography MY WORD IS MY BOND, actor Roger Moore relates a rather
| ribald anecdote concerning a practical joke perpetrated by Hal Roach Sr. on
| an unwitting screenwriter.
|
| I won't repeat it here, but it involves a libidinous "Mrs. Roach", a guilty
| conscience and a matter of trust.
|
| Moore says that the anecdote was given him by his friend and sometime
| director, the late Gordon Douglas--who is also credited in the autobio with
| dreaming up the "lighted thumb" gag in the Boys' WAY OUT WEST.
|
| --Hal E

I wish you would "repeat it here." :)

Larc

[Hal Erickson]

Post by Larc
| In his autobiography MY WORD IS MY BOND, actor Roger Moore relates a rather
| ribald anecdote concerning a practical joke perpetrated by Hal Roach Sr. on
| an unwitting screenwriter.
|
| I won't repeat it here, but it involves a libidinous "Mrs. Roach", a guilty
| conscience and a matter of trust.
|
| Moore says that the anecdote was given him by his friend and sometime
| director, the late Gordon Douglas--who is also credited in the autobio with
| dreaming up the "lighted thumb" gag in the Boys' WAY OUT WEST.
|
| --Hal E
I wish you would "repeat it here." :)
Larc

I don't want to take that pleasure from Mr. Moore, but I'll provide an
outline.

Mr. Roach hires new writer, invites writer to dinner with himself and Mrs.
Roach.

Roach finds excuse to step out of the house.

Once her husband is gone, Mrs. Roach jumps on top of the writer and screams
"Give it to me." Writer does.

Writer does the same several nights running. Somehow or other Mrs. Roach
always calls writer during story conferences with Mr. Roach, demanding
"more" or she'll blow the whistle on him.

Writer is caught between a rock and a hard place. Can't break off the
relationship without losing his job. Suffers pangs of guilt and fear.

Then one day Mr. Roach gives the writer an assignment: To write a story
about two men who trust each other.

"Just like I'd trust you with my wife," adds Roach.

And now I'll withhold the payoff of the practical joke....you might have
guessed it by now.

If not...ain't I a stinker?

--Hal

[so]

Post by Hal Erickson

Post by Larc
| In his autobiography MY WORD IS MY BOND, actor Roger Moore relates a rather
| ribald anecdote concerning a practical joke perpetrated by Hal Roach Sr. on
| an unwitting screenwriter.
|
| I won't repeat it here, but it involves a libidinous "Mrs. Roach", a guilty
| conscience and a matter of trust.
|
| Moore says that the anecdote was given him by his friend and sometime
| director, the late Gordon Douglas--who is also credited in the autobio with
| dreaming up the "lighted thumb" gag in the Boys' WAY OUT WEST.
|
| --Hal E
I wish you would "repeat it here."  :)
Larc

I don't want to take that pleasure from Mr. Moore, but I'll provide an
outline.
Mr. Roach hires new writer, invites writer to dinner with himself and Mrs.
Roach.
Roach finds excuse to step out of the house.
Once her husband is gone, Mrs. Roach jumps on top of the writer and screams
"Give it to me." Writer does.
Writer does the same several nights running. Somehow or other Mrs. Roach
always calls writer during story conferences with Mr. Roach, demanding
"more" or she'll blow the whistle on him.
Writer is caught between a rock and a hard place. Can't break off the
relationship without losing his job. Suffers pangs of guilt and fear.
Then one day Mr. Roach gives the writer an assignment: To write a story
about two men who trust each other.
"Just like I'd trust you with my wife," adds Roach.
And now I'll withhold the payoff of the practical joke....you might have
guessed it by now.
If not...ain't I a stinker?
--Hal- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

WTF? Do I have to buy the book?!

[Paul Penna]

Post by Hal Erickson

Post by Larc
| In his autobiography MY WORD IS MY BOND, actor Roger Moore relates a rather
| ribald anecdote concerning a practical joke perpetrated by Hal Roach Sr. on
| an unwitting screenwriter.
|
| I won't repeat it here, but it involves a libidinous "Mrs. Roach", a guilty
| conscience and a matter of trust.
|
| Moore says that the anecdote was given him by his friend and sometime
| director, the late Gordon Douglas--who is also credited in the autobio with
| dreaming up the "lighted thumb" gag in the Boys' WAY OUT WEST.
|
| --Hal E
I wish you would "repeat it here." :)
Larc

I don't want to take that pleasure from Mr. Moore, but I'll provide an
outline.
Mr. Roach hires new writer, invites writer to dinner with himself and Mrs.
Roach.
Roach finds excuse to step out of the house.
Once her husband is gone, Mrs. Roach jumps on top of the writer and screams
"Give it to me." Writer does.
Writer does the same several nights running. Somehow or other Mrs. Roach
always calls writer during story conferences with Mr. Roach, demanding
"more" or she'll blow the whistle on him.
Writer is caught between a rock and a hard place. Can't break off the
relationship without losing his job. Suffers pangs of guilt and fear.
Then one day Mr. Roach gives the writer an assignment: To write a story
about two men who trust each other.
"Just like I'd trust you with my wife," adds Roach.
And now I'll withhold the payoff of the practical joke....you might have
guessed it by now.
If not...ain't I a stinker?

Just as a guess... it wasn't really Mrs. Roach?

[DonB]

Post by Paul Penna
Just as a guess... it wasn't really Mrs. Roach?

Hint: www.amazon.com allows searches within the text of this book.