Film

Lee Van Cleef: Beady-Eyed Villain and Pipe Smoker

January 10, 2025 by Rose Kiser

8 Comments

When I was a young girl, I had an uncle who was obsessed with spaghetti westerns. His entire man cave looked like a set from Bonanza and on the rare occasion that we visited, he would talk about whatever spaghetti western was on the tube. I don't remember a lot from these visits but I do remember one with him showing me the standoff between Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, and the unforgettable Lee Van Cleef in The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly. Lee's beady eyes ... Read More

Greta Garbo: Enigmatic Actor and Pipe Smoker

October 27, 2023 by Rose Kiser

2 Comments

There are few actors as iconic as Greta Garbo. The Swedish-American actor is often considered one of the greatest screen entertainers of all time, contributing impassioned performances in roles both silent and spoken. Garbo was an enigma to the public, a star who shied away from the spotlight and was unapologetically ... Read More

Gonzo Pipe Smoker: Hunter S. Thompson

January 14, 2022 by Chuck Stanion

18 Comments

Hunter S. Thompson was, it could be easily argued, the most talented, unique, and original journalist of the 20th century. The founder of Gonzo journalism, which is a blend of fiction, autobiography, and subjective reporting, his public persona became larger than life and a caricature of himself as he was fictionalized in films and in the famous Doonesbury cartoons, to the extent that ... Read More

Pipes in the Film, There Will be Blood

January 13, 2022 by Davin Hylton

1 Comment

As you can imagine, my knowledge of pipes has expanded greatly since starting at Smokingpipes. The world of pipes is fascinating with deep history, unique characters, and varying schools of design. Consequently, whether by coincidence, or more likely because I'm more aware, I've become more attuned to pipes in life and in film. ... Read More

Peterson's 2021 Pipe of the Year: The Iconic 4AB

December 3, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

25 Comments

Some pipe shapes are so inviting and attractive that they become iconic. Peterson's 4AB is such a shape, and it's return after decades of absence as the Peterson 2021 Pipe of the year was an event to be noted.

"Iconic" is a big word to throw around. A great example of an iconic shape is the Churchwarden. It was there at the beginning of European pipe smoking, long, graceful, and attending the first generations of modern smokers. ... Read More

Peter Falk: Columbo and Cigars

February 5, 2021 by Jeffery Sitts

21 Comments

Though Peter Falk is best remembered for his iconic character Lieutenant Columbo, the disheveled and eccentric homicide detective who worked for the Los Angeles Police Department, Falk was an incredibly versatile and talented actor whose career spanned several decades. As Columbo, Falk regularly smoked cigars and was a hero to the common man ... Read More

Groucho Marx: Cigar Smoking Comedian

January 8, 2021 by Jeffery Sitts

14 Comments

In addition to being a brilliant entertainer with razor-sharp comedic timing, Groucho Marx continues to remain an iconic cigar smoker. He was rarely seen without a cigar during his decades-long career in theater, film, and television, and it became a signature part of his persona. Like many other performers, Groucho initially used cigars as a versatile prop but grew to appreciate them for their flavors and the relaxing mood they promoted. ... Read More

George Burns: King of Comedy (and Cigars)

December 25, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts

12 Comments

Remembered for his quick-witted comedic delivery, gruff voice, and an incredible entertainment career that spanned over eight decades, George Burns was a gifted performer and one of the most famous cigar smokers in history. Burns was rarely seen without a cigar and it quickly became one his trademarks, with various sources claiming the comedian likely smoked hundreds of thousands of cigars over the course of his life. ... Read More

Sir Roger Moore: The Spy Who Smoked

December 11, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts

11 Comments

Sir Roger Moore is widely remembered for his portrayal of legendary MI6 agent 007, James Bond, starring in several iconic films throughout the 1970s and '80s. Moore's approach to the famous role dramatically departed from his predecessors, opting for a more humorous and light-hearted attitude while still ... Read More

Bela Lugosi: Horror Movie Icon and Pipe Smoker

November 20, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts