I just heard that Chuck Berry, one of the fathers of rock and roll, has died at the age of 90.
In this clip from Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll, Chuck and Keith Richards perform Nadine.
Category Archives: tribute
Say Goodbye to Hollywood: RIP Robert Osborne of TCM
“Hi, I’m Robert Osborne”.
Those four words, delivered in a smooth-as-honey voice, were delivered to classic films lovers watching TCM for over twenty years. Now that voice has been silenced, as fans learned today of Osborne’s death at the age of 84. He had been off our screens since early 2016 due to an undisclosed ailment, and we all eagerly hoped and prayed for his return. Alas, it’s not to be.
Robert Osborne wanted to be an actor when he first arrived in Hollywood in the 1950’s. He signed a contract with Desilu Studios, and soon began a close, lifelong friendship with superstar Lucille Ball. Osborne had small roles in episodic TV, and a couple of films (but I’d be hard-pressed to pick him out in SPARTACUS or PSYCHO), but his acting career went nowhere. Ball suggested he put his journalism degree from the University of Washington to good use, along…
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A Few Thoughts On The Passing of Robert Osborne
Robert Osborne, the longtime host of TCM, passed away today. He was 84 years old.
I write those words with the heaviest of hearts. I never met Robert Osborne. I did not actually know Robert Osborne but, like a lot of classic film lovers, I felt as if I did.
Usually, I am not the most patient of film watchers. When I show up for a movie, I want the movie to start as quickly as possible. In theaters, I’m usually the one who is cursing under her breath during the whole spiel about how to safely exit in case of a fire. I once got in trouble in a film class when the professor heard me muttering, “Shut up and start the movie.”
But, whenever I watched a movie on TCM, I always made sure to watch Osborne’s introduction. It didn’t matter what movie he was introducing. Over the years, I watched Robert Osborne introduce everything from acclaimed Oscar winners to quirky grindhouse features. And, without fail, his introductions always made the viewing experience better. It wasn’t just that he was knowledgeable. It wasn’t just that he was erudite. It was that he loved the films as much as I did. Robert Osborne was just as happy to introduce a film directed by Jess Franco as he was to introduce one directed by William Wyler. Regardless of genre, regardless of director, regardless of reputation, Osborne treated all films and all filmmakers with equal respect. Today’s film community, so full of elitism and willful ignorance, could stand to learn a little from Robert Osborne.
I’m going to miss Robert Osborne. In many ways, he was the mentor that every film lover wishes that they could have had.
Don’t get me wrong. I will never stop watching TCM and Ben Mankiewicz is a wonderful host in his own right.
But I will never forget Robert Osborne and I imagine that I’ll never watch or discover another film on TCM without missing him and his articulate love for the movies.
THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS ARE YOUR SUPER BOWL LI CHAMPIONS!!
As you may or may not know, I’m a native New Englander, born and raised in Massachusetts. I watched the Patriots back when, quite frankly, they sucked. It was only when Bill Bellichick became coach and Tom Brady took over at quarterback they turned into an NFL powerhouse. Since then, I’ve watched many a classic football game and enjoyed their victories in Super Bowls past.
But nothing compares to last night. Last night was absolutely incredible. In all my years of watching football, it was… dare I say it?… the Greatest Game Ever!!
I knew the Falcons were no joke, but the way they dominated in the first half was shocking. The party I was at had grown eerily silent, and many people chose to leave after watching Lady Gaga perform. My fellow diehards and I stayed, hoping for a miracle.
We were not disappointed.
Down 28-3 in the third quarter…
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You’re Gonna Make It After All: RIP Mary Tyler Moore
She was America’s TV sweetheart in the 60’s and 70’s. Beautiful and talented Mary Tyler Moore has passed away at age 80, her smile no longer brightening this world. Mary was Laura Petrie, the perky and perfect suburban housewife on THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, then broke new ground as single career girl Mary Richards on THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, both seminal sitcoms from television’s Golden Age of Comedy.
Born in Brooklyn Heights in 1936, Mary became a dancer as a teen, and got her first show business break as ‘Happy Hotpoint’, a tiny dancing elf in TV commercials for Hotpoint stoves. Her next break got her noticed, playing the sexy secretary on RICHARD DIAMOND PRIVATE DETECTIVE, which starred David Janssen. Mary never fully appeared on the show, only her smoky voice and dancer’s legs, and viewers were left to speculate on the rest of the package.
Then came THE…
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2016 IN MEMORIAM (S through Z)
This is the final entry in our tribute to those artists, entertainers, and pop culture figures who passed away in 2016. Let’s all hope the 2017 list is much, much shorter.
Veteran CBS News journalist Morley Safer (“60 Minutes”)
Actress Theresa Saldana (“Raging Bull”, “The Commish”)
DC comic book letterist Gaspar Saladino
Actor Joe Santos (“The Rockford Files”)
Prolific character actor William Schallert
Horror star Angus Scrimm (the “Phantasm” series)
Comedian/actor Garry Shandling
Grand Ole Opry star Jean Shepherd
Actress Madeleine Sherwood (“The Flying Nun”)
Actor/singer/conductor Frank Sinatra Jr.
MMA fighter Kimbo Slice
Actor James Stacy (“Lancer”)
Singer Kay Starr (“Wheel of Fortune”)
Music & film producer Robert Stigwood
Golden Age actress Ruth Terry
Actor/host Alan Thicke (“Growing Pains”, “Thicke of the Night”)
Television producer/executive Grant Tinker
Futurist writer Alvin Toffler (“Future Shock”)
Mexican actress Lupita Tovar (1931’s Spanish language “Dracula”)
Child actor Jerry Tucker of Our Gang
Singer/actress Vanity
British…
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RIP The Unsinkable Debbie Reynolds
One day after the tragic death of her daughter Carrie Fisher, the unsinkable Debbie Reynolds has passed at age 84. I’m not going to update my previous IN MEMORIAM post; Miss Reynolds deserves a post of her own.
One of the last of the old studio contract players, Debbie got good notices in such musical films as THE DAUGHTER OF ROSIE O’GRADY, THREE LITTLE WORDS, and TWO WEEKS WITH LOVE, but it’s her role as Kathy Seldon in SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN that made her a star. This joyful ode to the transition from silent movies to sound isn’t just my favorite musical, it’s one of my favorite films ever! Debbie shines as the ingénue forced to lip-synch for catty star Lina Lamont (the wonderful Jean Hagen), and more than holds her own in the dancing and clowning departments with Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor. Like CASABLANCA and CITIZEN KANE, SINGIN’…
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2016 IN MEMORIAM Part 3 (L through R)
Continuing to pay tribute to those who have departed in 2016:
Musician Greg Lake of King Crimson and ELP
50’s crooner Julius LaRosa
Cartoonist Mell Lazarus (“Miss Peach”)
Actress Madeleine LeBeau (“Casablanca”)
Author Harper Lee (“To Kill A Mockingbird”)
Grindhouse director Herschell Gordon Lewis
Character actor Richard Libertini (“The In-Laws”, “Fletch”)
Singer/songwriter John D. Loudermilk
Rockabilly guitarist Lonnie Mack
ECW wrestler Balls Mahoney
Actor David Margulies (“Ghostbusters”)
Actor Don Marshall (“Land of the Giants”, “The Thing with Two Heads”)
Producer/director/writer/actor Garry Marshall
Beatles record producer Sir George Martin
Soap villain Joseph Mascolo (Stefano on “Days Of Our Lives”)
Singer Gayle McCormick of Smith (“Baby It’s You”)
Comedian Kevin Meaney
Singer George Michael
Grindhouse filmmaker Ted V. Mikels (“The Astro-Zombies”, “The Corpse Grinders”)
Film noir actress Kristine Miller (“I Walk Alone”, “Too Late For Tears” )
Actor/singer Mike Minor (“Petticoat Junction”)
Scotty Moore, guitarist for Elvis Presley
Actress Michele Morgan (“Higher and…
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2016 IN MEMORIAM Part 2 (F through K)
Continuing the roll call of those in arts & entertainment taken from us in 2016. Sadly, another name has been just been added to this list. RIP Carrie Fisher.
Singer Joey Feek
Actor Abel Fernandez (TV’s “The Untouchables”)
Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez
Actor Frank Finlay (“The Three Musketeers”)
‘Princess Leia’, actress/author Carrie Fisher
Jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain
Glenn Frey of The Eagles
Iconic nurse Greta Zimmer Friedman
Character actor Bernard Fox (“Bewitched”, “Hogan’s Heroes”)
Wrestling’s Mr. Fuji
Actress/socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor
Actress Rita Gam (“The Thief”, “No Exit”, “Klute” )
Major League catcher/announcer Joe Garagiola
Actress Lisa Gaye (“Rock Around the Clock” )
Actor Ron Glass (“Barney Miller”)
Astronaut/U.S. Senator/American Hero John Glenn
Wrestler Archie Gouldie, aka The Mongolian Stomper
Singer Gogi Grant (“The Wayward Wind”)
Broadway & Hollywood actress Tammy Grimes
Country legend Merle Haggard
Actor Dan Haggerty (“Grizzly Adams”)
Director Guy Hamilton (“Goldfinger”)
Writer Earl Hamner…
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Song of the Day: Father Figure (by George Michael)
The year of 2016 has taken many of the music scene’s greatest. Prince, David Bowie and Glenn Frey just to name a few taken too soon. Now, George Michael joins his musical brethren as news of his passing on Christmas Day was announced and confirmed.
There’s not much to say other than any kid growing up during the late 80’s knew and listened to George Michael in some capacity or another. While he became famous as part of the British boy band WHAM! it was when he branched out on his own as a solo act that he hit megastar status. His solo debut album, Faith, would reach multi-platinum levels and each single released from the album and each video that ran in circulation on MTV would become instant hits.
My favorite song of his and this goes to his many excellent post-modern videos, would be the third single released from his debut album, “Father Figure.”.
Father Figure
That’s all I wanted
Something special, something sacred
In your eyes
For just one moment
To be bold and naked
At your side
Sometimes I think that you’ll never
Understand me (understand me)
Maybe this time is forever
Say it can be, woah
That’s all you wanted
Something special, someone sacred
In your life
Just for one moment
To be warm and naked
At my side
Sometimes I think that you’ll never
Understand me (understand me)
But something tells me together
We’d be happy, woah baby
I will be your father figure (oh baby)
Put your tiny hand in mine (I’d love to)
I will be your preacher teacher (be your daddy)
Anything you have in mind (it would make me)
I will be your father figure (very happy)
I have had enough of crime (please let me)
I will be the one who loves you
Till the end of time
That’s all I wanted
But sometimes love can be mistaken
For a crime
That’s all I wanted
Just to see my baby’s
Blue-eyed shine
This time I think that my lover
Understands me (understands me)
If we have faith in each other
Then we can be strong, baby
I will be your father figure
Put your tiny hand in mine (my baby)
I will be your preacher teacher
Anything you have in mind
I will be your father figure
I have had enough of crime
I will be the one who loves you
Till the end of time
If you are the desert, I’ll be the sea
If you ever hunger, hunger for me
Whatever you ask for, that’s what I’ll be
So when you remember the ones who have lied
Who said that they cared
But then laughed as you cried
Beautiful darling
Don’t think of me
Because all I ever wanted
It’s in your eyes
Baby, baby
And love can’t lie, no
(Greet me with the eyes of a child)
My love is always telling me so
(Heaven is a kiss and a smile)
Just hold on, hold on
And won’t let you go, my baby
I will be your father figure
Put your tiny hand in mine
I will be your preacher teacher
Anything you have in mind
I will be your father figure
And I have had enough of crime
So I am gonna love you
Till the end of time
(I will be your father) I will be your
(I will be your preacher) Father
(I will be your father) I’ll be your daddy, whoa
I will be the one who loves you
Till the end of time
Through the Shattered Lens 