Good morning, WA2K listeners and contributors.
edgar, that was a lovely song by Johnny and a wonderful bedtime piece as well. Thanks, Texas.
How about a trip around the world with Stan and Bill this morning, folks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llVYYdNYwcc&feature=related
Great jazz to start the day, Letty.
After all that travelling, here's someone who wants to come home.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua_ODg0FmzQ
My sister loves Mel Torme. He used to have a group called The Meltones. (think that's right)
Thanks, firefly.
Here's one for you from the puppy and me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8myK93FqbYc
FF thanks you for that one. And I'm still glowing, glowing strong--just like these guys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEmK9qFB1Y0&feature=related
firefly, I love Moonglow. Thanks again.
Hey, DownUnderMan. Great medley for the swing era. Hamp is playing vibraphones, I think, and that's quite different from the xylophone.
Wow! That's Steve Allen playing Benny Goodman, and when I searched him out, I found that he died of a massive heart attack as the result of a fender bender.
Well, folks, after reading the news today, I believe that it's "..loco, loco,loco,loco el Mondo.
Funny movie, and just realized that Milton Berle was in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se1HntAeQZs&NR=1
I adore Jonathan Winters. And, do you remember Dick Shawn in this? The original film was much better than the recent remake with Nathan Lane. One of the funniest movies ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K08akOt2kuo
Dave Garroway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Born David Cunningham Garroway
July 13, 1913(1913-07-13)
Schenectady, New York
Died June 21, 1982 (aged 68)
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Occupation Television journalist
Spouse Pamela (?-1961)
Sarah Lee Lippincott (?-1982)
Children David Garroway, Jr.
Paris Garroway
Michael Garroway
Notable credit(s) The Today Show Anchor (1952-1961)
Wide Wide World Host (1955-1958)
David Cunningham Garroway (July 13, 1913 - July 21, 1982) was the founding host of NBC's Today from 1952 to 1961. His easygoing, relaxed and relaxing style belied a battle with depression that may have contributed to the end of his days as a leading television personality--and, eventually, his life.
Born in Schenectady, New York, Garroway was 14 when he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he attended University City High School and Washington University. He began his broadcasting career modestly, starting as an NBC page in 1938, and then graduating from NBC's school for announcers 23rd in a class of 24. Even so, he landed a job at influential Pittsburgh radio station KDKA in 1939. He roamed the region, filing a number of memorable reports from a hot-air balloon, from a U.S. Navy submarine in the Ohio River, and from deep inside a coal mine. Those early reports earned Garroway a reputation for finding a good story, even if it took him to unusual places.
Radio
When the United States entered World War II in 1941, Garroway enlisted in the U.S. Navy, but one trip out to Honolulu convinced the young man that perhaps he was a little better suited for radio instead. The Navy agreed to let him run a yeoman's school instead, and off-hours he hosted a radio show where he played jazz records and reminisced about the old days back in Chicago. After the war, he returned to the Windy City as a disc jockey at WMAQ (AM). On the air, he retained the persona he crafted in Honolulu, to great success in a series of radio programs -- The 11:60 Club, The Dave Garroway Show and Reserved for Garroway. One oddity Garroway introduced on his radio shows was having the studio audience respond to a song number not by applauding but by snapping their fingers. He also was heard often as an announcer on NBC's Monitor.
Television
Garroway was introduced to the national television audience when he hosted the experimental musical variety show, Garroway at Large, telecast live from Chicago. It was carried by NBC from June 18, 1949 to June 24, 1951.
His shows reflected his relaxed, informal style. In 1960 New York Times reviewer Richard F. Shepard wrote, "He does not crash into the home with the false jollity and thunderous witticisms of a backslapper. He is pleasant, serious, scholarly looking and not obtrusively convivial." He was known for his signoff, saying "Peace" with an upraised palm.
Along with Arthur Godfrey, Arlene Francis and Jack Paar, Garroway was one of the pioneers of television talk. Television commentator Steven D. Stark traces the origins of the style to Chicago. Garroway, Studs Terkel and Hugh Downs all hosted relaxed, garrulous, extemporaneous shows in that city in the early 1950s. Earlier radio and television voices spoke with an authoritative "announcer's" intonation, resembling public oration, often dropping about a musical fifth on the last word of a sentence. Garroway was one of the broadcasters who introduced conversational style and tone to television, beginning some broadcasts as though the viewer were sitting in the studio with him, as in this November 20, 1957, introduction for the Today show: "And how are you about the world today? Let's see what kind of shape it's in; there is a glimmer of hope."
Legendary, pioneering NBC President Sylvester "Pat" Weaver picked Garroway to host his new morning news-and-entertainment experiment, the Today show, in 1951. Garroway soon was joined by news editor Jim Fleming and announcer Jack Lescoulie as television's first loose "family" of the airwaves when the show debuted on Monday, January 14, 1952. Though initially panned by critics, Garroway's style attracted a large audience that enjoyed his easygoing presence early in the morning. His familiar "co-host," a chimpanzee with the puckish name of J. Fred Muggs, didn't hurt his genial manner, but his concurrent seriousness in dealing with news stories and ability to clearly explain abstract concepts earned him the nickname "The Communicator," and eventually won praise from critics and viewers alike. At the same time he did Today, Garroway also hosted a Friday night variety series, The Dave Garroway Show, from October 2, 1953 to June 25, 1954, and on October 16, 1955, he began hosting NBC's Sunday afternoon live documentary Wide Wide World, continuing with that series until June 8, 1958.
Garroway had a vast curiosity that led Today wherever his ideas took it--to Paris in 1959 and Rome in 1960; to car shows and technology expos; to plays and movies; and even on board an Air Force B-52 for a practice bombing run--in short, everywhere in the world then accessible to television. When the show couldn't go outside to the world, the world was brought into the studio, evidenced by the parade of politicians, writers, artists, scientists, economists, musicians and many more who visited Garroway and company in the RCA Exhibition Hall, Todays then-home on West 49th Street in Manhattan.
But Garroway's easygoing camera presence masked a man fighting inner demons from several angles. He reportedly developed an addiction to a concoction from his Chicago days, called "The Doctor," composed of vitamin B-12 and codeine; it was said to have begun affecting his mental acuity and his temper. Disagreements with staff members became more frequent, and some days Garroway would disappear in the middle of the show, leaving Lescoulie to finish the live program. Far worse, however, was the April 1961 suicide of his wife, Pamela, plunging Garroway further into depression and mental instability. Eventually, these troubles affected his on-camera performance. A few weeks later, Garroway lay down in the Today show studio, refusing to rise until NBC gave in to his contract demands. The network called his bluff and on June 16, 1961 fired television's "Communicator" from the morning genre he helped pioneer.
Garroway appeared sporadically on other television programs without achieving anywhere near the success and recognition levels he enjoyed on Today. The most viewers saw of him the rest of the 1960s and 1970s was whenever he re-emerged for Today anniversaries. His final such appearance was the 30th anniversary show, January 14, 1982.
He was very interested in astronomy, and during a tour of Russian telescopes, he met his second wife, astronomer Sarah Lee Lippincott. In his final years, he attended astronomy symposia at Swarthmore College and spent time at Sproul Observatory.
Garroway was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Swarthmore, Pennsylvania home July 21, 1982. He had one son, David Jr., and a daughter, Paris. When he married Pamela, he adopted her son, Michael, whom he raised as his own, even after her death. Because of Garroway's dedication to the cause of mental health, his second wife Sarah helped establish the Dave Garroway Laboratory for the Study of Depression at the University of Pennsylvania. He was also honored for his contribution to television with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as well as the St. Louis Walk of Fame. He is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.
Phone keeps ringing
The following is supposedly a true story. To be included, besides being true, the story is most likely strange, weird, surprising, or funny.
Phone Won't Stop Ringing?
Here's What You Do
Leola Starling of Ribrock, Tenn., had a serious telephone problem. But unlike most people she did something about it.
The brand-new $10 million Ribrock Plaza Motel opened nearby and had acquired almost the same telephone number as Leola.
From the moment the motel opened, Leola was besieged by calls not for her. Since she had the same phone number for years, she felt that she had a case to persuade the motel management to change its number.
Naturally, the management refused claiming that it could not change its stationery.
The phone company was not helpful, either. A number was a number, and just because a customer was getting someone else's calls 24 hours a day didn't make it responsible. After her pleas fell on deaf ears, Leola decided to take matters into her own hands.
At 9 o'clock the phone rang. Someone from Memphis was calling the motel and asked for a room for the following Tuesday. Leoloa said, "No problem. How many nights?"
A few hours later Dallas checked in. A secretary wanted a suite with two bedrooms for a week. Emboldened, Leola said the Presidential Suite on the 10th floor was available for $600 a night. The secretary said that she would take it and asked if the hotel wanted a deposit. "No, that won't be necessary," Leola said. "We trust you."
The next day was a busy one for Leola. In the morning, she booked an electric appliance manufacturers' convention for Memorial Day weekend, a college prom and a reunion of the 82nd Airborne veterans from World War II.
She turned on her answering machine during lunchtime so that she could watch her favorite soap opera, but her biggest challenge came in the afternoon when a mother called to book the ballroom for her daughter's wedding in June.
Leola assured the woman that it would be no problem and asked if she would be providing the flowers or did she want the hotel to take care of it. The mother said that she would prefer the hotel to handle the floral arrangements. Then the question of valet parking came up. Once again Leola was helpful. "There's no charge for valet parking, but we always recommend that the client tips the drivers."
Within a few months, the Ribrock Plaza Motel was a disaster area.
People kept showing up for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and Sweet Sixteen parties and were all told there were no such events.
Leola had her final revenge when she read in the local paper that the motel might go bankrupt. Her phone rang, and an executive from Marriott said, "We're prepared to offer you $200,000 for the motel."
Leola replied. "We'll take it, but only if you change the telephone number."
Love that story, bobsmythhawk, I admire that woman.
Remembering Dave Garroway from the Today Show, here's a song about today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa_lkpBVkXU
Since Harrison Ford likes to fly, here's how to do it without wings. I don't watch American Idol, but I can see why Ruben won.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP724jtyDI0&feature=related
And these fellows fly solo--without instruments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgDKtLPp46s
Patrick Stewart is such a great classical actor. A friend recently saw him in Macbeth and raved about it.
Here he is in a lighter vein
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjNKyoRudOQ
And again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb4X2DuLisc
And this one is a great tribute, with great music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc5vjKXGMxg
firefly, Springtime for Hitler was hilarious, and Dick Shawn was soooo cute. Too bad the play was a success. That's what the producers get for trying to fool "angels".
Thanks also to edgar for the Bob Crane song. Tragic ending to a man's life, no?
Will be back later to acknowledge all contributions, but first a recognition to Harrison Ford who is scheduled to do another Indiana Jones flick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1c05_yXmaI
firefly, thanks for posting the "soothing Hawaiian" piece yesterday. I put that one in my favorites on Youtube.
Also, Letty, thank you for the jazz piece from Stan & Bill. That one went into my favorites too! (And I'm picky about what I put in my favorites!)
firefly, you have a wealth of knowledge concerning music. Thanks for the Annie Lennox song; it was lovely.
Patrick Stewart does know how to sing. What a surprise, and he has a sense of humor as well.
Loved your flying Brits. That guy really was great. Need to listen to that one again.
Stray Cat, welcome back, gal. So glad that you liked our songs here on our wee cyber radio. We also solved another mystery. It seems that all of the Romanoffs were found and proved deceased by virtue of dna. (I still think it is fraudulent. Think of all that money in trust in the Bank of England.)
Incidently, I think Gus was looking for you with a song about Viking Cats.
Hi firefly. Glad you liked the story. Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to our dear Letty's abode. I've noticed the ease with which you have blended with the afficianados. I'm sure I speak for all the regulars on the site when I state you are considered an admired friend.
