Deaths in Sept. 2022: Ehrenreich, Shaw, Lewis and Godard

BARBARA EHRENREICH, 81

Author, activist and self-described "myth buster" who is notable works as "Nickel and Dimed" and "Bait and Switch" challenged conventional thinking about class, religion and the very idea of an American Dream.  Died September 1.

BERNARD SHAW, 82

CNN's chief anchor for two decades and a pioneering black broadcast journalist best remembered for calmly reporting the beginning of the Gulf War in 1991 as missiles flew around him in Baghdad.  Died September 7.

I sure remember watching him report the war while at a bowling alley.

RAMSEY LEWIS, 87

A renowned jazz pianist whose music entertained fans over a more-than 60-year career that began with the Ramsey Lewis Trio and made him one of the country's most successful jazz musicians.  Died September 12.

JEAN-LUC GODARD, 91

The iconic "enfant terrible" of the French New Wave who revolutionized popular cinema in 1960 with his first feature "Breathless," and stood for years among the film world's most influential directors.  Died September 13.

About 'It's a Wonderful Life'-- Part 2: Becoming a Classic

When it was first released in 1946, as I said earlier, the movie was not intended to be a Christmas movie.  And, it initially flopped at the box office.  The film's copyright was not renewed.

So, in the 1970s, "It's a Wonderful Life" was free for broadcasters to air repeatedly.  And they did and did and did and did.  So much so, that it either became a classic for some or made others, like my wife, gag.  Fortunately, for some reason, I didn't see it that much.

But, for those of us who are fans of it, we began to notice that this less-than-jolly-ho-ho-ho movie was a great one.  And, a Christmas tradition was begun.  I am surprised that we don't have a cable station offering a 24-hour array like TNT and TBS  do for "A Christmas Story."

NBC currently owns the rights to the film and broadcasts it on Christmas Eve every year (and several other times beforehand).  In 2016, Variety reported that the network's  42nd Christmas Eve showing had  4.5 million viewers.

NBC will again rebroadcast the movie this Thursday from 7 to 10 CST.

--DaCootLife

White Sox Announcers Over the Years-- Part 1: Ken Harrelson

From the March 23, 2018, Chicago Tribune  "33 seasons: You can put it on the board" by Ed Sherman.

"Bob Elson was a study in coolness and restraint.  Harry Caray was a crowd-pleasing provocateur.  Ken Harrelson mixes passion with playfulness."

Ken "Hawk" Harrelson will be returning for his 33rd year and is scheduled to call 20 Sox games this year before becoming a White Sox ambassador.  This will include Sunday afternoon home games, the Sox home opener on April 5 and the September 21-23 Cubs-White Sox series at Comiskey Park.

Harrelson started with the Sox in 1981, when Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn purchased the team and put Don Drysdale (play-by-play) and the "Hawk" (analyst) in the broadcast booth for their  SportsVision cable network.  Harrelson then went to the Yankees for a short time and returned to the Sox in 1990 wher he was lead play-by-play and paired with Tom Paciorek.

--CootSnort

Surviving "Mad Men" Withdrawal-- Part 3

CLASSIC GLASSWARE

"Glassware moved away from color and patterns in the late '50s to mid '60s and became clear and more freeform in the late '60s," says the show's property master.  "All glassware was smaller.  Champagne coupes and pear shapes were still the norm.

BIGGER IS BETTER

"For men, the ties and lapels are getting wider," says costume designer Janie Bryant.  "For women, maxi dresses are getting popular."  Of course, there was those mini skirts earlier.

You can get wide tides for $20-78 at yournecktieshop.com or an Eliza J. print Chiffon maxi dress for $158 at Nordstrum.

I Still have Some Wide Toes.  I mean, Really, Really Wide.  --Cooter

Surviving "Mad Men" Withdrawal-- Part 2

Continued from May 21st entry.

IT'S PSYCHEDELIC TIME

"In season seven, everything about Megan Draper's California home epitomizes what the end of the '60s is about--graphic artwork and bright colors and prints," says Claudette Didul  You can get a Salvador Dali Melting Wall Clock for $17 at wayfair.com. and a Rya rug for $769 at secondshoutout.com.

TYPE ON, BROTHER

"It's a huge compliment to say 'Mas Men' has sparked a trend in vintage office furniture."  The Olivetti typewriters was often used in the 1960s.  And, you can get your own for $495 at mytypewriter.com.

I just watched the final episode again.  I'm Going to Miss It.  --DaCoot

Big Fan of "Mad Men"

I am sure going to miss this show.  For me it was also a trip back to the 60s, a favorite time of mine.  It showed how much things have changed.  back then, most adults smoked and many did so on TV,  It now looks quite strange to see as much smoking and drinking.  Those guys (and gals) almost always had a cigarette or drink in hand.

I liked the road trip Don Draper was on at the end of the show.  Just going from place to place back in the 60s.

Plus, I liked the scene in the American Legion with all those World War II veterans.  Sadly, you rarely ever see a World War II veteran in Legions anymore as they are getting too old.

A Real Trip Back.  --DaCoot

"Mad Men" Withdrawal-- Part 1: Roger Sterling's Martini

From the May 17, 2015, Parade Magazine "Staying Fab After Mad Men Ends edited by Erin Hill.

"From fedoras and mid-century modern to macrame and maxis, Mad Men has showcased 1960s style since it debuted in 2007.  Here's how you can enjoy the Mad Men look even after the Emmy-winning show ends tonight.

Go ahead and cry into your vintage martini glass as we say goodbye to Don Draper and friends on the AMC series' final episode.

DRINKS:  Martinis the way Roger Sterling Likes 'Em.

6 oz. premium vodka or gin
Splash dry vermouth
Olive skewer or twist of lemon peel for garnish

Fill a mixing glass 3/4 with ice.  Add vodka or gin and a splash of vermouth, and stir.  Strain into cilled martini glass
Serve and garnish with an olive, pickled onion or twist.

Recipe from AMC provided by the 21 Club in New York.

How Dry Rog and Don Were.  --Cooter

Back Then, 1962: Wilmington, NC-- Heart of Wilmington Motel and Cable TV

From the April 24, 2012, Wilmington (NC) Star-News. //// APRIL 15, 1962: Construction on the Heart of Wilmington Motel expected to start in June. It was downtown Wilmington's first motel. The rooms had acccess from the outside. It is planned for the area of Third and Grace streets. I found a picture of it on the CardCow site and it was quite impressive looking. I am not sure if it is still there. ///// APRIL 15TH, 1962: Cable TV coming to Wilmington. The Cable Television Company, based at 7 South Second Street bragged that residents would now have access to as many channels as viewers in New York City and Los Angeles. They would now have FIVE channels: WRAL in Raleigh, WECT in Wilmington, WITN in Washington (NC), WNCT in Greenville and WTVD in Durham. //// Wow! Five Channels. A Different Time Indeed. --Cooter

A Short History of Comcast

From Jan. 19,2011, USA Today

Last week, Comcast got approval to buy NBC Universal from the FCC. This will make it one huge corporation.

NBC Universal includes the USA Network Syfy, MSNBC, Oxygen, NBC, ten NBC stations, Universal Pictures and Universal Studios.

here is a short history of Comcast.


1963: Ralph Roberts buys American Cable Systems, a 1,200 subscriber cable TV operation in Tupelo, Mississippi for $500,000.

1969: Company renamed Comcast.

1972: Comcast shares traded publicly.

1988: Comcast buys 50& of Storer Communications and becomes No. 5 cable TV operator.

1997: Microsoft invests $1 billion in Comcast.

2002: Comcast buys out AT&T Broadband cable systems to become nation's largest cable TV operator.

2009: Comcast becomes the nation's largest Internet service.

How Big is Big? --Cooter