A YesterYear Boy in Summer Underwear*

Although it didn't win an Oscar back in 1969, The Reivers, was a good coming-of-age film featuring a very talented 11 year old boy. This movie was based on the 1962 book by William Faulkner (1897-1962), one of my most favorite authors. That book was published one month before his death. His novel, of course, was on the best seller list and he won a Pulitzer Prize in 1963, posthumously. He had previously one a Pulitzer for another book, A Fable. Only three other authors have been awarded more than one of these prestigious awards! He had also been rewarded a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950 and the Legion of Honor from France in 1951.  He's been called "One of the towering figures in American Literature."

The film adaptation stars Steve McQueen as Boon Hogganbeck, Will Geer as Boss McCaslin, a very young Mitch Vogel, Boss' grandson, as Lucius. The Reivers was Vogel's very first film. "Reivers" actually refers to mischievious, trouble bound, adventurers.

The year was 1905. Lucius' grandpa, Boss, purchased the first automobile in Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi, a bright yellow Winton Flyer. When Boss and members of the family were required to catch a train for a funeral in a distant town, Lucius was left in “the care” of Boon, a family friend and hired hand. No sooner had the sound of the train faded away when Boon polished the newly delivered automobile and took it for a spin. It was so much fun, he decided to take a drive up to Memphis. And why not take the boy with him. Lucius at first firmly refused as he was a very good kid who respected and obeyed his grandpa. But Boon was sweet on a certain woman so wasn't keen on staying around town babysitting. He soon talked the boy into accompanying him in his grandpa's car.

After several adventures they finally made it to Memphis. Boon arranged for the two of them to stay overnight at a “rooming house.” At least, that was what he old Lucius. The place, the boy soon discovered, was inhabited by young and pretty women. Men of the town would come and go but seldom spent the night. What was a young boy to think?

The plot definitely thickened as they say. So do yourself a favor and discover further adventures by watching this flick (as films used to be called) on any number of streaming services. In the meantime, here are a few scenes of the first night the duo spent in the rooming house.

After a dusty trip in the Winton Flyer, the madam, I mean the matron, Miss Reba suggested Boon and Lucius enjoy a bath. Lucius finished bathing first and pulled on a clean suit of BVD underwear and fresh socks while Boon undressed for his bath: 

 

Lucius noticed a life size panting of a beautiful, reclining woman that immediately interested him. 

Boon kindly and seriously discussed gentle facts of life with Lucius.  And thus, the boy began his transition away from childhood: 

  

 Boon eventualy pulled Lucius away from stairing at the portrait so they could finish dressing...

 

....before heading down to join the women of the household for dinner.  

After dinner, Lucius returned to his assigned bedroom for sleep after taking one last look at the portrait hanging on the wall.  

 

He then said his prayers and crawled into bed, exhausted after the trip to Memphis:

 

What's this??! Before Lucius even closed his eyes....

  

Well, to see what caused the boy's consternation, 

return back here next week to Union Suit Fans in the Limelight !

*The one-piece "summer underwear" featured in this posting called BVD's back in the day was first manufactured and sold as BVD's in 1877, about twenty years after union suits as we know them today became immensely popular. Lucius wears white BVD's while Boon prefers two piece red underwear.

Joseph W. Bradley, Luther C. Voorhees, and Lyman H. Day of a New York City underwear company named their brand of underwear after the first letter of their last names. BVD's became widely worn as an alternative to long two-piece underwear and union suits, because this underwear design, one-piece had cooler short drawers combined with short sleeves (see my posting with examples in my companion blog, Union Suit Fan.

Special Thanks to the following for making such an entertaining film and choosing top-rate actors: Mark Rydell, Director, Irving Ravetch, Producer, Production Companies: Cinema Films, Duo Films, Solar Production, and National General Pictures, and particularly to the outstanding cast and crew!

Down and Out, But Not for Long!

       Spencer Hastings, Guest Contributor

In this story, Zane was married to an Asian woman, Alice. The couple had two young children, a boy and a girl. One morning, Alice answered the door to find the local “peace” officers standing there to arrest her for miscegenation.* As she was being handcuffed, Zane, the loyal ranch foreman and devoted husband and father, came running to her rescue. He was overtaken, beaten senseless and left for dead in front of his kids. Alice was taken off to jail.

This original sad tragedy was the third episode in Season 2 of the miniseries, Yellowstone 1923 which aired March 16, 2025 and titled Journey the Rivers of Iron.

In the fourth episode, Alice lingers in jail and Zane, now paralized from the waste down and unable to walk, is held in a “home” confinement hotel room, unable to care for himself. Jacob Dutton, anxious to come to the aid of his favorite ranch hand, confronts the county judge who was to preside over Alice's trial. After he realizes the good judge drinks forbidden alcohol (it's Proibition afterall in the United States at that time), he secures the release of Alice and Zane through a little extortion. After Alice's release, Jacob eventually gets their family back to his large ranch house, barely surviving a terrible blizzard on the way.

When a doctor makes a house call at the Dutton Ranch for a different reason, Jacob asks him to take a look at Zane who is still bedridden. The doc determines that Zane has swelling of the brain and will not survive much longer with out immediate hospitalization, the only place having resources to relieve the growing pressure. He needs to get to a major hospital immediately. This is impossible because roads and railroads are still closed due to the recent blizzard and large snow drifts blocking most travel.

The doctor informs the family that he has a drill, such as it is, but little anesthetic. But it is the only possible solution if Zane is to live. Still there is no guarantee that he will live let alone ever walk again. The decision is made to proceed.

So, Zane is undressed, laid out in his union suit and socks on a bed to keep warm. 

 

He is strapped down as the doc prepares to get to work.  Special wooden blocks had been built to hold Zane's head steady during the procedure. Leather straps added to the bed frame to assist Jacob and his nephew, Jake Dutton, to firmly hold down Zane's head and body. 

  

With the straps secured and the head restraints fitted, the doctor and men are ready for emergency brain surgery.  The Duttons hold Zane straight and tightly so he doesn't inadvertently strain against the straps.

  

  

 

The doc places a rag drenched in chloroform over Zane's nose and mouth to put him under..... 

The family doctor becomes a surgeon as he reaches for antiseptic for cleaning the top of his shaved head and next his hand-cranked drill...The desperate work begins.

 

To Zane's great discomfort, the chloroform does not last through the operation. He wakes up screaming! But Jacob and Jake with all their strength hold him down and steady while the job is finished. But will it be successful? 

After a bit, the straps are loosened and taken off. Jacob assists Zane in setting up....carefully and slowly:  

  

Zane tells the men the pressure is subsiding. They want to see if he is able to stand. Will the release of the pressure on his brain result in him no longer being paralyzed?  

 

He is able to successfully stand and walk a few steps in his socks and long underwear with a large bandage wound around his head.  

 

   

Zane is anxious to see his wife, Alice, who has been through so much! Jacob is not so sure as he is still unsteady.  

 

The stressed out doc, pulls a bottle of prohibited booze from his medical bag for a shot. 

Pulling on clothes is too difficult for Zane so Jacob throws a blanket around his shoulders and leads him outside in his union suit into the freezing cold where Cara is comforting Alice... 

 

The wives are surprised to see Zane up and around so soon after the procedure. But, so thankful!

 

Brian Geragty, Hollywood Actor:

 

On set in Yellowstone 1923

* Miscegenation refers to the mixing of different racial groups through marriage, relationships, sexual relations.

If you haven't as yet, be sure to see the Yellowstone prequels.

Thanks to Paramount+ and the cast and crew of a great western U.S. series.

Down and Out, But Not for Long!

Last week, I heard again from friend and union suit wearer, Spencer Hastings. He was a "Guest Contributor" in past years to my companion blog, Union Suit Fan. His memorable contributions included Abe's Long Underwear which ran on August 20, 2023. And an article about Grant Wood, American artist, who had created a 1939 lithograph, Midnight Alarm. This one of a farmer descending the stairs late one night in his union suit was featured on April 4, 2018. The long underwear clad farmer was followed up by postings of other Wood creations, including one on April 20, 2018 of native Americans stealing union suits from a pioneer woman's make shift clothes line.

This time around, Spencer is recommending a classic televison series to us.... 

Chris: Back in June, 2018, a superb television show, Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner, began a multi-decade run, including two “prequels,” Yellowstone 1883 and Yellowstone 1923. I didn't miss a single episode. I dutifully recorded the ones I otherwise may have missed because like millions of Americans, I followed the lives of the Dutton family from the time they journeyed west to Montana. I believe the prequels were even better than the original show.  

The story is of these travelers, settlers, and finally a prestigious family overcoming great perils that could have consumed them. Through perseverance they became very powerful Montana land owners in the 1920's.

For Union Suit Fans, like you and me, I've pulled out one scene of loyal ranch foreman, Zane Davis, played by actor, Brian Geragty. He worked for Jacob Dutton, Yellowstone ranch owner starring Harrison Ford in this period drama. Jacob's wife, Cara played outstandingly by Helen Merrin, deserves special mention. She is one of the greatest actresses ever to grace large and small screenes. She was vital in the success of this exceptional story. Yellowstone 1923 was created and written by Taylor Sheridan and co-directed by Ben Richardson and Guy Ferland. The production companies include Bosque Ranch Productions, Linson Entertainment, 101 Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios. This drama aired from December 18, 2022 through April 6, 2025 on Paramount+.  

Zane had been beaten and left for dead in Yellowstone 1923's second season. Boss man, Jacob Dutton, rescued Zane, bringing him and his family back to the ranch for recovery. But life for Zane just became worse....

After reading Spencer's email, I was so interested that I asked him if he would review the aforementioned episode of Yellowstone as a guest contributor to Union Suit Fans in the Limelight. He consented. 

So look for the trials and tribulations of ranch foreman, Zane Davis, in next week's blog. After which, I'm betting you'll want to see this prequel and the Yellowstone trilogy....Chris