500: descriptor 'capitalize' requires a 'str' object but received a 'NoneType' Traceback

[paulmo]

Although I get this error in development with cgitb.enable() (form field obviously blank
when page loads), app runs fine locally. Not working on GAE though, Server Error.  

<type 'exceptions.TypeError'>: descriptor 'capitalize' requires a 'str' object but received 
a 'NoneType' Traceback (most recent call last):

Thanks in advance for suggestions to run this.