BOSTON, Massachusetts -- David Trumbull, of the Boston Trumbulls, a humor columnist and founder of the prestigious Robert Benchley Society is also a zealous devotee of SandBagger Mag-e-zine. 

    "It changed my life," Trumbull might have said, although it was hard to understand his words clearly, due in large part to the "medically-prescribed" Hannibal Lecter muzzle he wore during our interview.  "In addition to curing male pattern baldness, the mag-e-zine taught me the secret of inner peace—especially that article about Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad Cow Disease," mumbled Trumbull.  "More people need to read SandBagger Mag-e-zine.  That's why I linked it to our Robert Benchley Society  site." 

    After prattling on for about an hour (evidence of his enthusiasm, or simply that he forgot to take his meds again) Trumbull announced that since he had become a reader of SandBagger Mag-e-zine, his doctors now plan to release him.  But when asked if his release would be anytime soon, Trumbull explained, "It's bound to take awhile to undo all these straps and buckles."

 

The Robert Benchley Society 

    The Robert Benchley Society honors that great American humorist who, together with a small band of writers and journalists, set the tempo for national and international media during the 1920s.  Those lucky enough to join this "vicious circle," as Dorothy Parker called the fellowship she helped launch, lunched daily in the Rose room of the famous Algonquin Hotel at 59 West 44th Street in New York, with writers and celebrities—the cream of the New York press—at a huge round table acquired by Maitre d'hotel and later Algonquin owner Frank Case.  

    Through wit and media access this lunch group achieved international notoriety as "The Algonquin Round Table."  Members and guests of the Algonquin Round Table included:  Robert Benchley, Dorothy Parker, Alexander Woollcott, Edna Ferber, George S. Kaufmann, Franklin Pierce Adams, Harpo Marks, Heywood Broun, Marc Connelly, Robert E. Sherwood, Tallulah Bankhead, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Earnest Hemingway, James Thurber, Harold Ross, Peggy Wood and other noteworthies of the time.    

    Writing about Algonquin Round Table members, critic Brooks Atkinson once said, "By force of character, they changed the nature of American comedy and established the tastes of a new period in the arts and theater."  However Atkinson's stodgy turn of phrase may have missed the mark.  Dorothy Parker, with rapier-like wit and accuracy observed, the truly remarkable accomplishment of Round Table members was that they had become, "most famous for having lunch."  

     The official SandBagger website, www.lexingtonfilm.com, sponsored by SandBagger past president Frank King is one of the few humor links selected by Trumbull to share the limelight with icons like SandBagger friend Dave Barry.  Other links include: the Benchley related site, Kittens in Underpants (no, it's not that kind of site); a Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley tribute called The Utica Drop Forge and Tool Company; and sites dedicated to Benchley Society members and friends including Erma Bombeck, Bob Newhart, S. J. Perelman, Jean Shepherd, H. Allen Smith and James Thurber.  Trumbull's own charmingly funny columns are archived at www.trumbullofboston.org.  Trumbull's personal site also contains a link to SandBagger friend Dita Von Teese, International Burlesque Star, (which, by the way, actually is that kind of site).  Readers can also learn about a new play by Robert Benchley's grandson, Nat Benchley. 

[Editor's Note:  When equipment problems on our return flight—following official SandBagger business in Las Vegas—marooned Bill Putaansuu, Tim South, Kurt Anagnostou, and your editor, Horace J. Digby, at the Los Angeles International Airport Radisson Hotel lobby bar, Digby met an exquisite young woman.  She arrived alone—except for a small dog she carried.  Rather than let her be seated at an inferior table, Digby instructed his waiter to extend an invitation, which the lady graciously accepted, to join the SandBaggers at their table.  It afforded an excellent view of the entertainment (two musicians performing the music of Lennon and McCartney).  It turned out the musicians were her friends.  She had come to see them perform. 

While other SandBaggers were off chatting with a cadre of school teachers from Denver or somewhere, Digby and his guest woman remained at the SandBagger table throughout the evening, chatting on about philosophy, film, television (she was a producer for the Playboy Channel), Hawaii, and of course, Beatle music.  

"I am Dita," she had said when introductions were made.  When asked her last name, she repeated, "I am Dita."]