Clark's Favorite

 

It's been a while since I last posted about a pipe.  Today's selection is listed at an affordable $121 on Smoking Pipes from whom I borrowed the above photo.  The pipe is called Clark's Favorite and pays homage to Clark Gable who was never seen without a pipe.  This pipe could almost be a Churchwarden as it is eight inches in length.  It is manufactured by Savinelli, which also makes pipes dedicated to both Ginger Rodgers and Bing Crosby.

Each actor liked the longer stem pipes and the bowls are billiard shaped bowls.  Bowl shapes are important to pipes as they represent the character of each pipe.  The finish is a chestnut stain and there are swirls in the stem to make it just a bit different.  There are those who smoked pipes with each pipe design central to the style actors used to smoke.  

Bing Crosby, for example favored a longer stem Canadian style pipe with the same style bowl as above.  Ginger Rodgers favored a bowl that was similar in style, but a bit smaller to fit her hands.  I observe the style of pipes that Charles Nelson Reily smoked while a panel guest on the Match Game from the 70's.  He seems to favor a more freehand style of pipe, but sometimes the stem is straight, but more often he prefers a pipe with a slightly bent stem.

When I see actors smoking a pipe in TV shows from the 60's and 70's especially, there are often pipes as props and I pay close attention to the pipes.  Many actors portraying fathers on old TV shows more often than not smoked pretty much Canadian style pipes, because such pipes were not ornate enough to draw attention away from the actor, but added depth of character.  

As in the case of the pipe above one might say that a pipe that curves downward as this pipe does does not hide one's face if one is facing a camera as perhaps a straight stem pipe might.  This is in part why Sherlock Holmes smokes a Calanash, because in the 1890's Sherlock Holmes was portrayed by Gillette on stage who said a downward pipe didn't hide his facial expressions from the audience.  

Smoking Pipes just received a new batch of Clark's Favorite pipes and I thought I would share it with you today.  A pipe on screen today is just out of place unless it's a period movie from the era, but no one smokes a pipe today on screen and I know of no actors that are known for their pipes.  I just think that is just too bad.  Today it is my Savinelli Arcobaleno blue pipe with some Bailey's Front Porch and I thank you for your time.  Peace to each one of you.

Dave