Denton Van Zan

[Denton Van Zan @DentonVanZ]

@TheKitchenPB USA

[Historic Vids @historyinmemes]

Voldemort laughing in different languages might be my new favorite video

[Clay Travis @ClayTravis]

Elon Musk asked about Disney’s Bob Iger pulling his ads off Twitter. “Go fuck yourself.”

[Judianna @Judianna]

For all the fans of “It’s A Wonderful Life” and Jimmy Stewart . . .

Just months after winning his 1941 Academy Award for best actor in “The Philadelphia Story,” Jimmy Stewart, one of the best-known actors of the day, left Hollywood and joined the US Army. He was the first big-name movie star to enlist in World War II.

An accomplished private pilot, the 33-year-old Hollywood icon became a US Army Air Force aviator, earning his 2nd Lieutenant commission in early 1942. With his celebrity status and huge popularity with the American public, he was assigned to starring in recruiting films, attending rallies, and training younger pilots.

Stewart, however, wasn’t satisfied. He wanted to fly combat missions in Europe, not spend time in a stateside training command. By 1944, frustrated and feeling the war was passing him by, he asked his commanding officer to transfer him to a unit deploying to Europe. His request was reluctantly granted.

Stewart, now a Captain, was sent to England, where he spent the next 18 months flying B-24 Liberator bombers over Germany. Throughout his time overseas, the US Army Air Corps' top brass had tried to keep the popular movie star from flying over enemy territory. But Stewart would hear nothing of it.
Determined to lead by example, he bucked the system, assigning himself to every combat mission he could. By the end of the war he was one of the most respected and decorated pilots in his unit.
But his wartime service came at a high personal price.

In the final months of WWII he was grounded for being “flak happy,” today called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

When he returned to the US in August 1945, Stewart was a changed man. He had lost so much weight that he looked sickly. He rarely slept, and when he did he had nightmares of planes exploding and men falling through the air screaming (in one mission alone his unit had lost 13 planes and 130 men, most of whom he knew personally).

He was depressed, couldn’t focus, and refused to talk to anyone about his war experiences. His acting career was all but over.

As one of Stewart's biographers put it, "Every decision he made [during the war] was going to preserve life or cost lives. He took back to Hollywood all the stress that he had built up.”

In 1946 he got his break. He took the role of George Bailey, the suicidal father in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The rest is history.

Actors and crew of the set realized that in many of the disturbing scenes of George Bailey unraveling in front of his family, Stewart wasn’t acting. His PTSD was being captured on film for potentially millions to see.

But despite Stewart's inner turmoil, making the movie was therapeutic for the combat veteran. He would go on to become one of the most accomplished and loved actors in American history.

When asked in 1941 why he wanted to leave his acting career to fly combat missions over Nazi Germany, he said, "This country's conscience is bigger than all the studios in Hollywood put together, and the time will come when we'll have to fight.”
This weekend, as many of us watch the classic Christmas film, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” it’s also a fitting time to remember the sacrifices of Jimmy Stewart and all the men who gave up so much to serve their country during wartime. We will always remember you!

Postscript:

While fighting in Europe, Stewart's Oscar statue was proudly displayed in his father’s Pennsylvania hardware store. Throughout his life, the beloved actor always said his father, a World War I veteran, was the person who had made the biggest impact on him.

Jimmy Stewart was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and died in 1997 at the age of 89.
H/T @mustangmarine

[Tom Cruise @TomCruise]

I’m taking a quick break from filming to tell you the best way to watch Mission: Impossible Fallout (or any movie you love) at home.

[Denton Van Zan @DentonVanZ]

@Pickleball Playoffs when?

[Denton Van Zan @DentonVanZ]

@Dexerto Funniest thing I've heard in a long time 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Dexerto @Dexerto]

Comedian Matt Rife is facing backlash after posting a fake apology link on Instagram.

Intended for those offended by jokes in his Netflix special, he actually linked to a website selling special needs helmets.

[Larian Studios @larianstudios]

Xbox players, we hear you’re looking for more news on Baldur’s Gate 3. The game is on track for a December release.

We’ll see you at The Game Awards for the World Premiere™ of the exact release date.

[Denton Van Zan @DentonVanZ]

@PPAtour What a joke... Awesome results and searchability on @espn

[Denton Van Zan @DentonVanZ]

@PPAtour What a joke. The biggest tournament of the year and you're only broadcasting it where no one who cares is going to be able to see it.

[Denton Van Zan @DentonVanZ]

@Haze_Parky @PPAtour I have ESPN and it doesn't matter. It's hidden somewhere in there and no one can find it.

[Denton Van Zan @DentonVanZ]

@PPAtour Yeah, where virtually no one will watch it be able to find it. Stick to PBTV. Just silly.

[Denton Van Zan @DentonVanZ]

@JamieMoranUK Want a release date so bad. Really hoping for sometime in December.

[Netflix @netflix]

Will you join the rebels? The trailer for Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire drops tomorrow! #GeekedWeek

[Denton Van Zan @DentonVanZ]

@JamieMoranUK Literally one of my faves. Denton Van Zan is awesome.

[Denton Van Zan @DentonVanZ]

@rPrequelMemes I've got a bad feeling about yo mama...

[Denton Van Zan @DentonVanZ]

The Kitchen is partnering with Selkirk to give away 10 of the newly released Selkirk Luxx paddles! https://t.co/5veqOzHkgz

[Denton Van Zan @DentonVanZ]

@TheKitchenPB @SelkirkSport @BridgerMSmith @rick_0521 @DescendingChime

[The Kitchen Pickleball 👨🏻‍🍳 @TheKitchenPB]

GIVEAWAY — 10 Selkirk Luxx Pickleball Paddles 💎

We are excited to partner with Selkirk to give away 10 of their BRAND NEW Luxx pickleball paddles! Winners get to choose size and color. 🤠

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We will choose 10 random winners on 11/4! 🙌