Chess Olympus

@chessolympus

A daily celebration of chess marginalia. Author of this book about Alexander Alekhine:

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Chess Olympus@chessolympus· 29d

Polly Bergen, born July 14, 1930, matches wits with Gregory Peck during the making of Cape Fear (1962).

Gregory Peck and Polly Bergen sit at a makeshift table made of boards and concrete blocks, leaning in close to a small travel chess set. Crew members can be seen milling around the background.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 13

From American Chess Bulletin, May 1913: Chess as boardwalk attraction.

"Chess has recently been introduced among the entertainments at Coney Island. A man there, togged out to look like a farmer, invites visitors to play chess with him for fifteen cents a game. There are so many strong chess players in New York that "the farmer" is likely to have some exciting experiences. --The Staten Islander."

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 12

July 12 is Bill Cosby's birthday, although I hesitate to wish him a happy one.

Cover of the June, 1987 issue of Chess Life magazine, featuring a still from The Cosby Show in which Bill Cosby sits on his living room floor studying a chess position on the coffee table.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 11

Patrick Wymark (playing black), seen here confronting Clifford Evans in 1969 to promote their series The Power Game, was born July 11, 1926.

In a Getty Images photo, Clifford Evans and Patrick Wymark sit at a table playing chess. Both men wear suits and ties and lean in close to the board.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 10

Happy birthday to Sofía Vergara, secret chess sharp on Modern Family.

In a scene from Modern Family, Ed O'Neill and Sofía Vergara play chess while Rico Rodriguez watches.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 9

Happy birthday to Paul Merton, seen here hamming it up in a 1996 episode of Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's....

In a scene from Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's..., Paul Merton sits at a table in a messy garage, playing chess via ham radio.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 8

Happy birthday to Anjelica Huston, who I assume is waiting to play winner in this scene from The Addams Family (1991).

In a scene from The Addams Family, Raul Julia plays chess with Thing while Anjelica Huston watches from the background.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 7

Eddie Mayehoff, born July 7, 1909, couldn't wrap his head around his son's chess obsession in the 1950s sitcom That's My Boy.

In a promotional photo for That's My Boy, Gil Stratton sits on the floor of a living room and reaches to move a piece on a chess set on a coffee table. Eddie Mayehoff and Rochelle Hudson watch from the sofa.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 6

Ned Beatty, born July 6, 1937, was no match for Lex Luthor in Superman II (1980).

In a scene from Superman II, Ned Beatty and Gene Hackman play chess in a prison cell. Both wear classic black-and-white striped prison uniforms.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 5

Warren Oates, born July 5, 1928, perpetrates some violence on the set of The Wild Bunch (1969). As seen on the Warren Oates Fan Club FB page.

In a photograph attributed to Deadwood Magazine, Warren Oates and Bill Hart play chess while a third actor watches. All three men wear western period costumes.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 4

Happy birthday to Luke Thompson, who didn't impress Claudia Jessie much with his chess on Bridgerton.

In a scene from Bridgerton, Claudia Jessie and Luke Thompson sit on opposite sides of a chess table. Thompson leans back in his chair with a self-satisfied look while Jessie sits up straight and gestures with both hands.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 3

Happy birthday to Benedict Wong, who looked surprised to find himself playing chess with Chiwetel Ejiofor in Dirty Pretty Things (2002).

In a scene from Dirty Pretty Things, Benedict Wong and Chiwetel Ejiofor sit at a table in a glass-walled office playing chess. Wong wears hospital scrubs, Ejiofor a leather jacket. Wong raises his hands and reacts to what's going on on the chess board.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 2

Happy birthday to Larry David, cranky chess coach in Whatever Works (2009).

In a scene from Whatever Works, Larry David sits at an outdoor chess table opposite a girl of about twelve and leans forward to make a point.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jul 1

On this day in 1918, James P. Taylor, Chess champion of Calgary, set a world's record in sack racing. As reported by American Chess Bulletin, May 1919.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 30

Happy birthday to Marton Csokas, seen here about to go looking for the person who took his chess pieces.

Marton Csokas, wearing a suit, sits on a plush leather sofa behind a coffee table on which sits an empty chess board. Csokas holds a large automatic pistol and looks menacingly in the direction of the camera.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 29

Happy birthday to Elsa Majimbo, internet celebrity and sometime chess player. Here she is as photographed for Forbes in 2020.

Elsa Majimbo sits at a table behind a chess set with figurative, Africa-themed pieces. She stares at the camera with a blank expression and holds her hands, fingers enlaced, just under her chin as a kind of platform for her face.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 27

Helen Keller, seen here at play with her mentor Anne Sullivan, was born June 27, 1880.

Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, both dressed formally, sit on opposite sided of a chess table. Keller reaches to move a piece. The source, Biography.com, says the photo was taken about 1899.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 26

Pearl S. Buck, seen here hanging out with her adopted daughters, was born June 26, 1892. Photo from the WVU library's collection.

Pearl S. Buck sits at a chess board opposite a teenage girl and raises a pawn to move it. Two more teenage girls watch from the side. The backdrop is a wall of books.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 25

Happy birthday to McKenna Grace, Sheldon's rival in season 2 of Young Sheldon.

In a scene from Young Sheldon, McKenna Grace, aged about ten, sits cross-legged on a bedroom floor behind a chess set.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 24

Happy birthday to famously nerdy offensive lineman John Urschel! There are pictures of him playing chess all over the internet; this one is from a 2016 story in Baltimore magazine.

John Urschel poses and smiles on a stone bench next to a chess set.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 23

Born 101 years ago today: Gloria Capablanca. From American Chess Bulletin, July 1925.

"According to news received from Cuba by Walter Penn Shipley of Philadelphia, a girl baby was born to Mrs. Jose R. Capablanca at Havana on June 23. Both mother and child were reported to be doing well. The world's champion, therefore, is now the proud father of two children."

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 22

With $36 and a time machine, you can get a palm ivory chess set straight from the Amazon jungle. From Chess Review, May 1958. I found a similar set online if you want a clearer view of what these were like: www.finerpieces.com/images/vi.html

Advertisement for a chess set "Made from the heart of the Ivory Nut."

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 21

Happy birthday to David Morrissey, who knew chess was an important skill for zombie defense in The Walking Dead.

In a scene from season 4 of The Walking Dead, David Morrissey sits at a kitchen table playing chess with a girl of about twelve.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 20

Errol Flynn, who somehow looked like a swashbuckling pirate even in costume as George Custer, was born June 20, 1909. This game with Olivia de Havilland took place during the making of They Died with their Boots On (1941).

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn, both in nineteenth-century western costumes, sit in director's chairs and play chess.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 19

Happy birthday to Paul Dano, chess celebrator in Explicit Ills (2008).

In a scene from Explicit Ills, Paul Dano and a boy of about eight sit on a park bench with a travel chess set between them. Dano grins and raises his fists in the air in celebration.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 18

E.G. Marshall, who had a go at Humphrey Bogart in The Left Hand of God (1955), was born June 18, 1914.

In a scene from The Left Hand of God, Humphrey Bogart and E.G. Marshall sit on opposite sides of a chess board with figurative red and white pieces. Bogart smokes a pipe, Marshall a cigar.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 17

Happy birthday to Jack Wouterse, king of an imaginary chess board in Lang Leve de Koningin (1995).

In a scene from Lang Leve de Koningin, Tiba Tossijn, about age ten, stands in front of two soldiers with spears as Jack Wouterse, wearing ermine robes and a gold crown, leans down to address her.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 16

Happy birthday to Ann Cathcart, seen here goofing around on TikTok with her XO, Kitty castmates.

Five young women in school uniforms stand on an oversized chess set in a park. Anna Cathcart is in the center, arm-curling a black king as if it were a dumbbell.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 15

Belinda Lee, who really knew how to promote chess, was born June 15, 1935.

Cover of Oggi magazine (in Spanish; I don't see a date) featuring a closeup of Belinda Lee lounging glamorously on a silk pillow behind a chess board with a game in progress.

Chess Olympus@chessolympus· Jun 14

Sir George Thomas, British chess champion and fashion icon, was born June 14, 1881. From American Chess Bulletin, February 1924.