Growing up in the 1950s, my exposure to music consisted mostly of listening to long-playing records of Broadway musicals my parents attended on their frequent trips to New York City. Some of these were Pajama Game, Can Can, Carousel, Wish You Were Here, South Pacific, Oklahoma and The Sound of Music. I still love this kind of music.
My brother Ted had his own record player that played 45 rpm vinyl records. And, he became enamored with the music of Glenn Miller, probably because of the 1954 movie, The Glenn Miller Story, starring James Stewart. For a time, all Ted played were Glenn Miller records.
The songs Ted played over and over and over again included Moonlight Serenade, In The Mood, Little Brown Jug, Indian Summer, Tuxedo Junction, Pennsylvania 6-5 Thousand and Chattanooga Choo Choo. After hating these records at first (because Ted played them incessantly), I grew to appreciate the music. Thanks, Ted.
Glenn Miller was born in Clarinda, Iowa on March 1, 1904. During his senior year in high school, he became interested in "dance band music." Upon graduation, Miller decided to become a professional musician.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Glenn Miller played the trombone for several different bands. In the mid-1930s, he performed as a trombonist, arranger and composer for the Dorsey Brothers, a famous jazz band of that era.
In 1938, Glenn Miller moved to New York with the intention of starting his own band and creating his own unique sound. He succeeded.
In a 1939 interview, Miller stated, "We're fortunate in that our style doesn't limit us to stereotyped intros, modulations, first choruses, endings or even trick rhythms. The fifth sax, playing clarinet most of the time, lets you know whose band you're listening to." When you hear his music, you know it's Glenn Miller.
For the rest of his life, Glenn Miller enjoyed professional success and great popularity. In 1942 (during World War II), he joined the US military to "be placed in charge of a modernized army band."
On December 15, 1944 (75 years ago today), Glenn Miller flew from an airfield in England bound for Paris to make final arrangements to move his band there. His plane disappeared while over the English Channel and was never found.
Glenn Miller was 40 years-old, the same age as another great musician/composer, John Lennon (see blog post of the same name), who also died a violent and untimely death. It is interesting to note that Glenn Miller was an American who died flying from England, while John Lennon was an Englishman who died in the United States.
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Sunday, December 8, 2019
The Night God Died
In 1958, while preparing for my bar mitzvah, I was committed to the Jewish religion. I even thought about becoming a rabbi. It seemed like a good job.
I believed in God. It made sense. How could this amazing world exist without one?
Parallel to my religious activities was my family life, which was dominated by my mother, a very controlling person. She had rules that had to be obeyed without question or argument. I found this to be extremely frustrating. Like a tea kettle has a spout to let off steam, I needed one, too. But, I didn't.
Rarely, I reached a point in which I blew up, had a temper tantrum. They were always at home and I was allowed to act out until I calmed down on my own. But nothing changed. The rules remained and they had to be followed, without recourse. (Bill Gates had a similar problem with his mother. They went to therapy. We didn't.)
One night, and I don't know how I got there, I found myself in the sanctuary of the Congregation Adath Israel on East Third Street in Oswego. I was older, in high school, and fed up with the regimentation I was facing from my mother. I couldn't stand it anymore. I was literally standing in the dark pleading for God's help. There was no reply.
Eventually, my father came to take me home. I realized it was hopeless. Nobody was listening to me. There was no God.
A few years later, I escaped, left home for college. I finally gained freedom from the prison of my mother's restrictive rules.
While at Penn, I came across the French writer Voltaire who said, "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." That I could relate to.
I believed in God. It made sense. How could this amazing world exist without one?
Parallel to my religious activities was my family life, which was dominated by my mother, a very controlling person. She had rules that had to be obeyed without question or argument. I found this to be extremely frustrating. Like a tea kettle has a spout to let off steam, I needed one, too. But, I didn't.
Rarely, I reached a point in which I blew up, had a temper tantrum. They were always at home and I was allowed to act out until I calmed down on my own. But nothing changed. The rules remained and they had to be followed, without recourse. (Bill Gates had a similar problem with his mother. They went to therapy. We didn't.)
One night, and I don't know how I got there, I found myself in the sanctuary of the Congregation Adath Israel on East Third Street in Oswego. I was older, in high school, and fed up with the regimentation I was facing from my mother. I couldn't stand it anymore. I was literally standing in the dark pleading for God's help. There was no reply.
Eventually, my father came to take me home. I realized it was hopeless. Nobody was listening to me. There was no God.
A few years later, I escaped, left home for college. I finally gained freedom from the prison of my mother's restrictive rules.
While at Penn, I came across the French writer Voltaire who said, "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." That I could relate to.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
The French Connection
The French Connection is a 1971 police action film, produced by Philip D'Antoni, directed by William Friedkin and written by Ernest Tidyman. It starred Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, Fernando Rey and Tony Lo Bianco.
The French Connection was nominated for 8 Academy Awards, winning 5: Best Picture (D'Antoni), Best Director (Friedkin), Best Actor (Hackman), Best Adapted Screenplay (Tidyman) and Best Film Editing (Gerald G. Greenberg). Scheider was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, which was won by Ben Johnson in The Last Picture Show (see post: The Real Ben Johnson).
Filmed on the streets of New York City, The French Connection is the story of police detectives Popeye Doyle (Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Scheider). One night while having drinks at the Copacabana nightclub, they notice Sal Boca (Lo Bianco) at a table with known criminals involved in narcotics. Doyle and Russo follow him when he leaves.
Boca stops for an early breakfast at Ratner's, a Jewish kosher dairy restaurant at 138 Delancy Street in the East Village. This scene caught my attention as my family and I went to Ratner's often. Our favorite dishes were cherry cheese blintzes and kasha varnishkes. Ratners operated from 1905 until it closed in 2002.
Believing a shipment of heroin would soon arrive in New York, Doyle gets a warrant to wiretap Boca. Through this, he learns the heroin is coming from France.
Alain Charnier (Rey), French drug kingpin, convinces his TV personality friend, Henri Devereaux (Frederick de Pasquale), to hide the heroin in his car (a Lincoln) which is going to cross the Atlantic to New York via a cruise ship.
Realizing Charnier is the key to catching the criminals with the heroin, Doyle follows him through the streets of Manhattan before losing him on a subway car (the Grand Central Station Shuttle to Times Square).
Charnier's hit man (Marcel Bozzuffi) unsuccessfully tries to assassinate Doyle near his apartment at the Marlboro Housing Projects off Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn. At the time, my ex-wife Bonita worked as a teacher in a day care center nearby.
Doyle (in a commandeered Pontiac Le Mans) then chases the assassin (who was on an elevated B subway train) through 86th Street in Bensonhurst. It was "one of the greatest car chase sequences in movie history." After the train crashes, the assassin escapes the subway car but is shot (in the back) by Doyle while trying to flee.
Eventually, Doyle and Russo discover the heroin hidden in Devereaux's car, but leave it there. Later, Charnier drives the car to an old warehouse on Wards Island to sell the drugs to Boca and his associates. Doyle and a large police unit also arrive, killing Boca in a shootout and arresting the others, except Charnier, who somehow disappears without a trace. However, he reappears along with Doyle in the sequel of The French Connection.
The French Connection was nominated for 8 Academy Awards, winning 5: Best Picture (D'Antoni), Best Director (Friedkin), Best Actor (Hackman), Best Adapted Screenplay (Tidyman) and Best Film Editing (Gerald G. Greenberg). Scheider was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, which was won by Ben Johnson in The Last Picture Show (see post: The Real Ben Johnson).
Filmed on the streets of New York City, The French Connection is the story of police detectives Popeye Doyle (Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Scheider). One night while having drinks at the Copacabana nightclub, they notice Sal Boca (Lo Bianco) at a table with known criminals involved in narcotics. Doyle and Russo follow him when he leaves.
Boca stops for an early breakfast at Ratner's, a Jewish kosher dairy restaurant at 138 Delancy Street in the East Village. This scene caught my attention as my family and I went to Ratner's often. Our favorite dishes were cherry cheese blintzes and kasha varnishkes. Ratners operated from 1905 until it closed in 2002.
Believing a shipment of heroin would soon arrive in New York, Doyle gets a warrant to wiretap Boca. Through this, he learns the heroin is coming from France.
Alain Charnier (Rey), French drug kingpin, convinces his TV personality friend, Henri Devereaux (Frederick de Pasquale), to hide the heroin in his car (a Lincoln) which is going to cross the Atlantic to New York via a cruise ship.
Realizing Charnier is the key to catching the criminals with the heroin, Doyle follows him through the streets of Manhattan before losing him on a subway car (the Grand Central Station Shuttle to Times Square).
Charnier's hit man (Marcel Bozzuffi) unsuccessfully tries to assassinate Doyle near his apartment at the Marlboro Housing Projects off Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn. At the time, my ex-wife Bonita worked as a teacher in a day care center nearby.
Doyle (in a commandeered Pontiac Le Mans) then chases the assassin (who was on an elevated B subway train) through 86th Street in Bensonhurst. It was "one of the greatest car chase sequences in movie history." After the train crashes, the assassin escapes the subway car but is shot (in the back) by Doyle while trying to flee.
Eventually, Doyle and Russo discover the heroin hidden in Devereaux's car, but leave it there. Later, Charnier drives the car to an old warehouse on Wards Island to sell the drugs to Boca and his associates. Doyle and a large police unit also arrive, killing Boca in a shootout and arresting the others, except Charnier, who somehow disappears without a trace. However, he reappears along with Doyle in the sequel of The French Connection.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
The Year 1952, Chapter 17
On Tuesday, November 4, 1952, Americans go to the polls to elect the next president of the United States to succeed Harry S. Truman, who decided against running for re-election.
Republican candidate General Dwight D. Eisenhower receives over 34 million popular votes (55%) as compared to the 27 million (45%) for the Democratic candidate, Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson.
However, as we know, popular votes do not directly elect a president. Eisenhower wins 39 states giving him 442 electoral votes, far more than the bare majority he needs to be elected under the US Constitution.
Stevenson wins only 9 states (West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas) and 89 electoral votes.
Obviously, Harvey is ecstatic with the result. Eisenhower is the first Republican president in 20 years, since Herbert Hoover.
On the other hand, Burt is glum. But, maybe all is not lost.
Burt turns on the TV. NBC commentator John Cameron Swayze reports that, as a result of his tremendous victory in Monday night's presidential debate, Stevenson garnered 266 electoral votes, the bare minimum necessary to win. He will be inaugurated as the next president on January 20th, 1953. Now Burt is ecstatic.
Republican candidate General Dwight D. Eisenhower receives over 34 million popular votes (55%) as compared to the 27 million (45%) for the Democratic candidate, Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson.
However, as we know, popular votes do not directly elect a president. Eisenhower wins 39 states giving him 442 electoral votes, far more than the bare majority he needs to be elected under the US Constitution.
Stevenson wins only 9 states (West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas) and 89 electoral votes.
Obviously, Harvey is ecstatic with the result. Eisenhower is the first Republican president in 20 years, since Herbert Hoover.
On the other hand, Burt is glum. But, maybe all is not lost.
Burt turns on the TV. NBC commentator John Cameron Swayze reports that, as a result of his tremendous victory in Monday night's presidential debate, Stevenson garnered 266 electoral votes, the bare minimum necessary to win. He will be inaugurated as the next president on January 20th, 1953. Now Burt is ecstatic.
Sunday, November 17, 2019
The Heidi Game
Heidi is a novel written by Swiss author Johanna Spyri in 1881. It is the story of a young girl (Heidi) raised by her grandfather in the Alps Mountains.
The novel was made famous in the US when a movie version (Heidi) starring nine year-old, superstar Shirley Temple was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck in 1937.
More than thirty years later, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) made another version of Heidi for television, starring Jennifer Edwards. It was scheduled to air on the network Sunday night, November 17, 1968 (51 years-ago today), at 7 PM Eastern Time (and 7 PM Pacific Time).
Three hours earlier that same day (on the east coast), NBC began broadcasting an American Football League game between the New York Jets (7-2) and the home team, the Oakland Raiders (7-2). The expectation was that the game would finish no later than 7 PM (on the east coast). Three hours would be sufficient. Or was it?
The two quarterbacks, Joe Namath (Jets) and Daryle Lamonica (Raiders) combined for 31 incomplete passes which stopped the game clock. The game officials called a total of 19 penalties which stopped the game clock. Each team used their full allotment of three time-outs each half which stopped the game clock. Each of the 11 touchdowns and 4 field goals scored stopped the game clock.
The combined effect the above clock stoppages resulted in the game having approximately one minute of playing time remaining when the clock at NBC struck 7 PM on the east coast. The Jets were leading, 32-29. But, the Raiders had the ball on their own 22 yard line.
NBC then abruptly pulled the plug on the game and started showing their Heidi movie. Thousands of football fans on the east coast who had been watching the very exciting Jets-Raiders football game were outraged. Many called the network and other media outlets to angrily complain.
Luckily, I was living in New York and immediately turned off the TV and turned on the local radio broadcast of the football game to hear the final minute of play. Shortly afterwards, Lamonica threw a 43 yard touchdown pass to Charley Smith giving Oakland a 36-32 lead with still 42 seconds left. Could New York come back?
The Jets Earl Christy received the kickoff, but fumbled the ball. The Raiders Preston Ridlehuber recovered and ran into the end zone for another touchdown. Final score: Raiders 43, Jets 32.
Since The Heidi Game, it has become standard practice among all networks broadcasting sporting events to show them to their conclusion before turning to other programming. Thanks!
The novel was made famous in the US when a movie version (Heidi) starring nine year-old, superstar Shirley Temple was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck in 1937.
More than thirty years later, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) made another version of Heidi for television, starring Jennifer Edwards. It was scheduled to air on the network Sunday night, November 17, 1968 (51 years-ago today), at 7 PM Eastern Time (and 7 PM Pacific Time).
Three hours earlier that same day (on the east coast), NBC began broadcasting an American Football League game between the New York Jets (7-2) and the home team, the Oakland Raiders (7-2). The expectation was that the game would finish no later than 7 PM (on the east coast). Three hours would be sufficient. Or was it?
The two quarterbacks, Joe Namath (Jets) and Daryle Lamonica (Raiders) combined for 31 incomplete passes which stopped the game clock. The game officials called a total of 19 penalties which stopped the game clock. Each team used their full allotment of three time-outs each half which stopped the game clock. Each of the 11 touchdowns and 4 field goals scored stopped the game clock.
The combined effect the above clock stoppages resulted in the game having approximately one minute of playing time remaining when the clock at NBC struck 7 PM on the east coast. The Jets were leading, 32-29. But, the Raiders had the ball on their own 22 yard line.
NBC then abruptly pulled the plug on the game and started showing their Heidi movie. Thousands of football fans on the east coast who had been watching the very exciting Jets-Raiders football game were outraged. Many called the network and other media outlets to angrily complain.
Luckily, I was living in New York and immediately turned off the TV and turned on the local radio broadcast of the football game to hear the final minute of play. Shortly afterwards, Lamonica threw a 43 yard touchdown pass to Charley Smith giving Oakland a 36-32 lead with still 42 seconds left. Could New York come back?
The Jets Earl Christy received the kickoff, but fumbled the ball. The Raiders Preston Ridlehuber recovered and ran into the end zone for another touchdown. Final score: Raiders 43, Jets 32.
Since The Heidi Game, it has become standard practice among all networks broadcasting sporting events to show them to their conclusion before turning to other programming. Thanks!
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Beat Bush
In the summer of 2004, while my son Bret was home from his first year at the University of Maryland in College Park, I was in New York as well. While he got a job caddying at a private golf course on Long Island, I found one working for the Democratic National Committee in lower Manhattan.
While everyone knew Republican President George W. Bush would run for re-election, his Democratic opponent was yet to be determined at the time of my hiring in early June. It wasn't until the last week in July that Massachusetts Senator John Kerry won the nomination.
My job consisted of soliciting campaign contributions on the streets of Manhattan. Every morning all solicitors would be placed in teams of around four and told where to go to collect money. Our slogan before we had a candidate was "Do you want to Beat Bush?"
It was not a voluntary position. As I recall, we received some kind of minimum wage plus a percentage of the amount we collected. The contributions could be in the form of cash, check or credit card. I discovered that my daily success was really determined by where they sent me. My best days were when I was placed on the upper west side of Manhattan.
My favorite memory of this experience was eyeing the actor Richard Dreyfuss walking along the streets of New York. While I took a lunch break, he had been solicited by one of my fellow team members. When I returned, my fellow-solicitor told me about it and I regretted my bad timing. However, later, Dreyfuss again walked past our location.
Not able to solicit him a second time, I quickly thought of something clever to say. I blurted out, "I loved Moon Over Parador (a 1988 comedy Dreyfuss made in Brazil with Sonia Braga)." He stopped in his tracks for a second or two, responded "Good!" and then walked away without looking in my direction.
My worst memory of that time was when I asked a not so well dressed man on Broadway if he "wanted to beat Bush." Of course we were used to a lot of rejection. However, this guy responded in a very hostile way, "Do you want me to beat you?"
His manner conveyed he was not playing with a full deck. He started walking towards me with an angry expression, making threats. I looked to my teammates for help, but they ignored me. I was on my own. I kept backing away, trying to assuage him. I think, at last, he got tired of me and continued on his way. After that, I was more careful whom I solicited.
While everyone knew Republican President George W. Bush would run for re-election, his Democratic opponent was yet to be determined at the time of my hiring in early June. It wasn't until the last week in July that Massachusetts Senator John Kerry won the nomination.
My job consisted of soliciting campaign contributions on the streets of Manhattan. Every morning all solicitors would be placed in teams of around four and told where to go to collect money. Our slogan before we had a candidate was "Do you want to Beat Bush?"
It was not a voluntary position. As I recall, we received some kind of minimum wage plus a percentage of the amount we collected. The contributions could be in the form of cash, check or credit card. I discovered that my daily success was really determined by where they sent me. My best days were when I was placed on the upper west side of Manhattan.
My favorite memory of this experience was eyeing the actor Richard Dreyfuss walking along the streets of New York. While I took a lunch break, he had been solicited by one of my fellow team members. When I returned, my fellow-solicitor told me about it and I regretted my bad timing. However, later, Dreyfuss again walked past our location.
Not able to solicit him a second time, I quickly thought of something clever to say. I blurted out, "I loved Moon Over Parador (a 1988 comedy Dreyfuss made in Brazil with Sonia Braga)." He stopped in his tracks for a second or two, responded "Good!" and then walked away without looking in my direction.
My worst memory of that time was when I asked a not so well dressed man on Broadway if he "wanted to beat Bush." Of course we were used to a lot of rejection. However, this guy responded in a very hostile way, "Do you want me to beat you?"
His manner conveyed he was not playing with a full deck. He started walking towards me with an angry expression, making threats. I looked to my teammates for help, but they ignored me. I was on my own. I kept backing away, trying to assuage him. I think, at last, he got tired of me and continued on his way. After that, I was more careful whom I solicited.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Heat
Al "Sonny" Pacino was born on April 25, 1940 to Italian American parents in East Harlem, but grew up in the same neighborhood in the Bronx as my boss at Seagram's, Howard Miller. Al attended the High School of Performing Arts and the Actors Studio.
Robert De Niro, Jr. was born on August 17, 1943 in Manhattan. His father, Robert De Niro, Sr. was of Irish and Italian descent. Junior was raised by his mother in Greenwich Village and Little Italy. He dropped out of high school at sixteen years-of-age to pursue acting. He also attended the Actors Studio.
In 1985, both Pacino and De Niro appeared in the crime drama film Heat, which was written, produced and directed by Michael Mann. Pacino portrays Lt. Vincent Hanna, a LA police detective, while De Niro's character is Neil McCauley, a professional thief.
Vincent investigates the robbery of an armored truck committed by Neil's gang. One of Vincent's informants connects one of the gang to the robbery. Vincent's police team then surveils the gang member. They realize Neil is the leader of the gang and is planning another caper. What it is, they don't know.
In an interesting twist, Vincent stops Neil on a highway and invites him for a cup of coffee. Below is the dialog from a portion of the resulting priceless scene between two great actors.
Vincent: Seven years in Folsom, in the hole for three. McNeil before that. McNeil is as tough as they say?
Robert De Niro, Jr. was born on August 17, 1943 in Manhattan. His father, Robert De Niro, Sr. was of Irish and Italian descent. Junior was raised by his mother in Greenwich Village and Little Italy. He dropped out of high school at sixteen years-of-age to pursue acting. He also attended the Actors Studio.
In 1985, both Pacino and De Niro appeared in the crime drama film Heat, which was written, produced and directed by Michael Mann. Pacino portrays Lt. Vincent Hanna, a LA police detective, while De Niro's character is Neil McCauley, a professional thief.
Vincent investigates the robbery of an armored truck committed by Neil's gang. One of Vincent's informants connects one of the gang to the robbery. Vincent's police team then surveils the gang member. They realize Neil is the leader of the gang and is planning another caper. What it is, they don't know.
In an interesting twist, Vincent stops Neil on a highway and invites him for a cup of coffee. Below is the dialog from a portion of the resulting priceless scene between two great actors.
Vincent: Seven years in Folsom, in the hole for three. McNeil before that. McNeil is as tough as they say?
Neil: You looking to be a criminologist?
Vincent: You looking to go back? I chased down some crews, guys just looking to get fucked up, get busted back. That you?
Neil: You must have worked some dipshit crews.
Vincent: I worked all kinds.
Neil: I am never going back.
Vincent: Then, don't take down scores.
Neil: I do what I do best. I take scores. You do what you do best, trying to take down guys like me.
Vincent: So, you never wanted a regular type life?
Neil: What the fuck is that, barbeques and ball games?
Vincent: Yeah.
Neil: This regular type life, that your life?
Vincent: My life? No. My life's a disaster zone. I got a stepdaughter so fucked up because her real father's a large type asshole. I got a wife, but we are passing each other on the down slope of a marriage, my third, because I spend all my time chasing guys like you around the block. That's my life.
Neil: A guy told me one time, don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat (the police) around the corner. Now, if you're around me and you got to move when I move, how do you expect to be a keeper of a marriage?
Vincent: That's an interesting point. What, are you a monk?
Neil: I have a woman.
Vincent: What do you tell her?
Neil: I tell her I'm a salesman.
Vincent: So, that if you spot me coming around that corner, you're just going to walk out on this woman? Not say goodbye?
Neil: That's the discipline.
Vincent: That's pretty vacant.
Neil: It is what it is. It's that or we better go do something else.
Vincent: I don't have anything else.
Neil: Neither do I.
Vincent: I don't much want to either.
Neil: Neither do I.
Vincent: You know, we're sitting here, you and I, like a couple of regular fellows, you do what you do, I do what I gotta do. And now that we been face to face, if I'm there and I gotta put you away, I won't like it. But I'll tell you if it's between you and some poor bastard whose wife you're gonna turn into a widow, brother, you are going down.
Neil: There's a flip side to that coin. What if you do got me boxed in, then I got to put you down. Because no matter what, you will not get in my way. We've been face to face, yeah. But I will not hesitate, not for a second.
Vincent: Maybe that's the way it will be.
Neil: Well, maybe we'll never see each other again.
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