Open Thread: I'll never forget Whatshername - Senior Planet from AARP

I blame it on Ida Lupino.I watch a lot of old movies and TV series (Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock, Gunsmoke).It was fun to spot the first appearance of a later famous movie star.My favorite was picking up on one of Audrey Hepburns first screen appearances in the early moments of Our Man in Havana.Photo: Courtesy NBC RadioFor the past year or so, Ive not enjoyed the game so much.

It all started with Ida Lupino.I can picture her in my mind, and describe the plots of the Columbo episodes she starred in*, the Twilight Zone episode she directed **, and the Twilight Zone episode she starred in***.But for the life of me, when I think of her, I keep confusing her name withAldo Ray?Really, if there are two polar opposites in every respect, its Ida Lupino and Aldo Ray, but when I think of her and picture herI come up with Aldo Ray.Whats his name..?Worst of all, the contagion is spreading.

Now I cant summon Karl Urbans name without prompting.Im a fan of The Boys, and loved him in Star Trek, in the Marvel movies, and in Lord of the Rings, and I.justcant recall his name on my own.Memory? What memory?Rhyming their names or picturing them wearing name tags doesnt work.And since Im a pub trivia fan, my unprompted memory skills are vital.

I can recite poetry I learned in the seventh grade but it takes a while before I can summon up the name of the director of one of my favorite comedies, Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.**** Or the title of a favorite movie of mine that I quote all the time *****(That rug really tied the room together! Thats just, like, your opinion, man.)YOUR TURN-and a challenge!What about you? Whats your particularly tricky memory pitfall? What memory tricks have helped you? Let us know in the commentsand also let us know if you know either of *Idas Columbo episodes, *the Twilight Zone episode she directed, ***and/or the Twilight Zone episode she starred in.Or that director****.Or that movie*****! No cheating now!Virge Randall is Senior Planets Managing Editor.

She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog Dont Get Me Started puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City.Send Open Thread suggestions to [email protected].