WA2K Radio is now on the air

Indeed, Raggedy. Perhaps we have a psychic in our studio, unseen and only sensed.

Thought for Today: ``History would be an excellent thing if only it were true.'' - Leo Tolstoy, Russian author (1828-1910).



04/14/05 20:01

Later, I will give a brief overview of the short story, "To Build a Fire, " with a look at the other personalities of cold weather dogs.

Twitch, twitch: Bronze statue of TV witch headed to Salem, Mass.

By Ben Casselman
Staff writer

SALEM, Mass. -- Television's most famous witch is about to park her broom in the city made famous for the 17th century witch trials.

Cable channel TV Land is planning to put a 9-foot bronze statue of Samantha Stevens, the twitchy-nosed character of the 1960s sitcom "Bewitched," in downtown Lappin Park near the Salem Witch Museum.

"We think it's a great permanent home," TV Land Vice President Rob Pellizzi said. "It was just a loved show" that starred the late Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha.

The Salem Redevelopment Authority, the only city agency that must sign off on the project, gave its preliminary approval last night.

The bigger-than-life statute will show Samantha aboard her broom, flying past a crescent moon. An unveiling is planned for June to coincide with the release of a movie based on the television series and featuring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell.

The Puritans might not have thought much of the idea, but modern Salem residents were enthusiastic.

"How cool is that?" said Salem witch Christian Day when told of the plan. "I'm blown away, actually. I think that's awesome."

Day's friend and fellow witch Shawn Poirier agreed.

"Samantha Stevens has done more for witchcraft and magic than any witch I know," Poirier said. "She's the one who, in the '60s, took witchcraft and made it mainstream. She is the official witch of this country."

Redevelopment Authority members and other city officials were also supportive, though for somewhat different reasons.

"I don't think anyone can argue this will be wonderful for tourism," mayor's aide Kate Sullivan said.

Whatever the economic benefits, the statue won't cost the city a penny. The project is entirely funded by TV Land, a cable channel dedicated to classic television shows. It will also pay to maintain the statue.

"We're developing the sculpture," said Pellizzi. "We're paying for the sculpture. We're maintaining it."

The statue will sit at the edge of Lappin Park, at the corner of Essex and Washington streets. TV Land has agreed to make several landscaping changes to the park to protect the grass, and city officials said Robert Lappin, who gave the park to the city, has signed off on the plan.

"Personally, I think it's a good thing for the park, a good thing for downtown," said City Councilor Jean Pelletier, whose ward includes the park.

Not everyone is so enthusiastic.

Patricia Zaido, executive director of the Salem Partnership, a civic group trying to expand tourism beyond Salem's witch image, said the city must be careful not to celebrate its history of persecution. And former Historical Commission member John Carr said he's concerned the statue might be "hokey." But neither Zaido nor Carr is outright opposed.

"It is an important intersection, and whatever goes in that intersection ought to be appropriate," Carr said. "It could be either lighthearted and fun, or it might be kitschy, and the problem is one might work and the other definitely won't."

TV Land has heard those concerns before. The company has built a statue of "Honeymooners" hero Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) at a New York City bus terminal, and Mary Tyler Moore throwing her hat in the air on a Minneapolis street corner. They were huge successes because the sitcoms depicted life in those cities, said Pellizzi.

But true TV fans know "Bewitched" was set in Westport, Conn., and not Salem, though several episodes were set in Salem and some scenes were even filmed there.

Pellizzi said the company preferred Salem to Westport because "we wanted to underscore the magic of it all."

WASTED DAYS AND WASTED NIGHTS

Roy Clark and Freddy Fender at Carnegie Hall
-----------------------------
Wasted days and wasted nights
I have left for you behind
For you don't belong to me
Your heart belongs to someone else

Why should I keep loving you
When I know you're not true
And why should I call your name
When you're to blame for making me blue?

Don't you remember the day
That you want away and left me?
I was so lonely, prayed for you only, my love

Why should I keep loving you
When I know you're not true
And why should I call your name
When you're to blame for making me blue?

Wow!, Bob. Thanks for that statuesque report. Why folks get all up tight over a fun thing is more than I can understand. Salem and its puritan ethic have long been a source of pique for many folks world round. I do believe that Hawthorne changed the spelling of his name because his relative, Haythorne, was a judge at the Salem witch trials.

Great song by Roy and Freddy.

Now don't forget, hawkman, sing something for all of us here tonight. You will, bewitch the audience, of that I am certain.

A brief review of To Build a Fire:

The entire idea behind that short story was a simple statement by Jack London to show the lack of imagination by the man who traveled alone in the Yukon. His dog, an animal who had long ago understood about the dangers of the cold, was his only companion, and reverted to its natural instincts at the end of the story.

For those of you who would like to give it a quick read:

http://mbhs.bergtraum.k12.ny.us/cybereng/shorts/firelndn.html

Your weather lady has been very busy gardening and that continues today.

The weather report is dedicated to all here on WA2K radio--you are what makes these lyrics come alive:


It's A Lovely Day Today
Irving Berlin

It's a lovely day today
So whatever you've got to do
You've got a lovely day to do it in, that's true

And I hope whatever you've got to do
Is something that can be done by two
For I'd really like to stay

It's a lovely day today
And whatever you've got to do
I'd be so happy to be doing it with you

But if you've got something that must be done
And it can only be done by one
There is nothing more to say
Except it's a lovely day for saying
It's a lovely day

[2]
It's a lovely day today
And whatever I've got to do
I've got a lovely day to do it in, that's true

But perhaps whatever I've got to do
Is something that can be done by two
If it is then you could stay

It's a lovely day today
But you're probably busy too
So I suppose there's nothing we can do

For if you've got something that must be done
And it can only be done by one
There is nothing more to say
Except it's a lovely day for saying
It's a lovely day

[3]
It's a lovely day today
If you've something that must get done
Now don't forget two heads are better than just one

And besides I'm certain if you knew me
You'd find I'm very good company
Won't you kindly let me stay?

[4]
It's a lovely day today
And whatever we've got to do
We've got a lovely day to do it in, that's true

And I know whatever we've got to do
Is something that can be done by two

I'll say it's a lovely day for saying
It's a lovely day

Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out

by Bessie Smith



by Ida Cox / B. Feldman
recording of 1929
from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 (Columbia/Legacy 52838),

Once I lived the life of a millionaire,
spending my money, I didn't care
I carried my friends out for a good time,
buying bootleg liquor, champagne and wine

Then I began to fall so low,
I didn't have a friend, and no place to go
So if I ever get my hand on a dollar again,
I'm gonna hold on to it till them eagle's grin

Nobody knows you when you down and out
In my pocket not one penny,
and my friends I haven't any
But If I ever get on my feet again,
then I'll meet my long lost friend
It's mighty strange, without a doubt
Nobody knows you when you down and out
I mean when you down and out

Mmmmm, when you're down and out,
mmmmm, not one penny
And my friends I haven't any,
mmmmm, well I felt so low
Nobody wants me round their door,
mmmmm, without a doubt,
No man can use you wen you down and out
I mean when you down and out

Hi Letty. I'm changing sites tonight and am singing in Nahant as I posted before. First time singing there. The Swedes visiting are Kjell and Marianne who are Solveig's sister Maia's son's mother and father in law. Boy, that wasn't easy to write. None of them including Solveig have ever heard me sing. It should be a real eye opener or ear closer. I'm really looking forward to it with my usual boyish (that's a laugher) enthusiasm.

My goodness, listeners. Diane in her garden singing about the lovely day and Bob recounts with dear Bessie Smith who is feeling down and out. How about a little of both:

When you're down and troubled
And you need a helping hand
And nothing, whoa nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest nights.

You just call out my name,
And you know whereever I am
I'll come running, oh yeah baby
To see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall,
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You've got a friend.

If the sky above you
Should turn dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind should begin to blow
Keep your head together and call my name out loud
And soon I will be knocking upon your door.
You just call out my name and you know where ever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you got to do is call
And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend?
People can be so cold.
They'll hurt you and desert you.
Well they'll take your soul if you let them.
Oh yeah, but don't you let them.

You just call out my name and you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Oh babe, don't you know that,
Winter spring summer or fall,
Hey now, all you've got to do is call.
Lord, I'll be there, yes I will.
You've got a friend.
You've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
You've got a friend.

oops, Bob. I saw that earlier. Don't get stage fright now, just because your kith and kin are there. Sorry that I didn't respond earlier, Boston.

Last weekend I met some Norwegians whose names I cannot all remember but one of them was called Rolf Bjarne- and Synne, I remember her.

Bessie Smith

After You've Gone


by Henry Creamer / Turner Layton
recording of March 2 1927
from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091),

Now won't you listen dearie while I say,
how could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Don't say that we must part, don't break my aching heart
You know I've loved you truly many years, loved you night and day
How can you leave me, can't you see my tears?
Listen while I say

After you've gone, and left me crying
After you've gone, there's no denying
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time, when you'll regret it
Some day, when you grow lonely
You heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
After you've gone, after you've gone away

After I'm gone, after we break up
After I'm gone, you're gonna wake up
You will find, you were blind
To let somebody come and change your mind
After the years, we've been together
Their joy and tears all kinds of weather
Someday, blue and downhearted
You'll long to be with me right back where you started
After I'm gone, after I'm gone away

Oh, indeed, McTag. Synne must have been a looker.

"I love my wife but oh you kid" hee! hee!

My word, listeners. The roaring twenties had just as many rebels as the drop out sixties. Isn't it fun to look at the eras of change from everyone's perspective?

Let's see, Bob. I do believe that Bessie Smith inspired many blues singers like Billy Holiday(lady day) and so many others, even Diana Ross.

I miss Willow because I always thought of Willow Weep for Me when I saw her stage name.

Folks, we here on WA2K have a missing in action list. So if you want to know about an individual who you have not seen in a while, call us.

Weepin' Willow Blues

Bessie Smith

Lord, that weepin' willow and that mournin' dove
That weepin' willow and that mournin' dove
I got a gal up the country, Lord, you know I sure do love

Now, if you see my woman, tell her I says hurry home
(spoken: Aw, sho')
You see my woman, tell her I says hurry home
I ain't had no lovin' since my gal been gone

Where it 'tain't no love, ain't no gettin' along
Where it ain't no love, mama, ain't no gettin' along
My gal treat me so mean and dirty, sometime I don't know right from wrong

Lord, I lied down last night, tried to take my rest
I lied down last night, tried to take my rest
(spoken: What happened, boy?)
You know, my mind got to ramblin' just like wild geese in the west

Gonna buy me a bulldog1, watch whilst I sleep
Gonna buy me a bulldog, watch whilst I sleep
Just to keep these men from makin' this early mornin' creep

Now, if you see my woman, tell her I says hurry home
You see my woman, tell her I says hurry home
I ain't had no lovin' since my gal been gone

You gonna want my love, baby, some lonesome day
(spoken: Yeah!)
You gonna want my love, mama, some old lonesome day
Then it be too late, I'll be gone too far away

Hey, listeners. What happened to Germany? Perhaps we need to do a little dixieland:

Dark Town Strutters Ball


THE DARKTOWN STRUTTER' BALL (Shelton Brooks)

I'll be down to get you in a Taxi, Honey
You better be ready about half past eight
Now dearie, don't be late
I want to be there when the band starts playing
Remember when we get there, Honey
The two-steps, I'm goin' to have 'em all
Goin' to dance out both my shoes
When they play the "Jelly Roll Blues"
Tomorrow night at the Darktown Strutters' Ball...

Believe it or not, listeners, Dino Martin sang that as well. You can't keep good music buried forever.

We interrupt this frivolity and fun for a news update.

SEOUL (Reuters) - The motto for one would-be South Korean driver likely is "if at first you don't succeed, then try, try again another 271 times."



Seo Sang-moon passed the academic part of his driver's license examination on his 272nd attempt earlier this week.


The repairman, from a small town in the southeastern part of the county who will soon turn 70, said he was illiterate and used the test process to teach himself the rules of the road because he could not read them in a manual.


Since the oral exam was launched, Seo took the test as often as he could, paying about $1,000 in fees along the way. Each failure taught him a little more, and after 271 attempts, he was able to get the minimum score needed to pass the academic test.


Test officials were thrilled to see Seo pass.


"He has been coming here for more than five years and we regard him almost as being one of the family," an official from the exam office said by telephone.


Seo said he was preparing for his road test, and was discussing with his wife what kind of car to buy once he get his license. "Driving seems a bit hard. But after trying 271 times to pass the oral exam, what do I have to be afraid of?," Seo said.

My Gawd, edgar. I can't believe that! Talk about persistence, listeners.

Let's give it up for seo, folks.

Do you hear the sound of one hand clapping?

Now for a little movie bit:

The Hitchhikers's Guide to the Galaxy in now playing in theaters near you.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371724/

It seems that Louis Armstrong's recording of What a Wonderful World will be worked into the musical theme.

Back later all, with more galaxy news.

It's a long time tradition in France, older than the two last WW's.

There are many horse butchers here but the tradition is fading. Younger people rarely eats horse.

I do not eat horse meat.

I just knew that Francis would keep us apprised of tradition in France. That's why our fans and audience enjoy his presence here on WA2K radio.

Another bit of news to compliment Bob's witch in Salem:


B.B. King Monument to Be Built in Arkansas

19 minutes ago Movies - AP



LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Arkansas Legislature has approved a $5,000 expenditure to build a monument honoring bluesman B.B. King in the tiny Delta town of Twist.






More than 50 years ago, King's famed guitar Lucille earned its name after a dance hall brawl in Twist. King's trademark Gibson guitars have been called Lucille ever since.


"B.B. put Twist, Ark., on the map," Allan Hammons, interim director of the planned B.B. King Museum in Indianola, Miss., said Thursday. "I think it's very important that the state of Arkansas took the opportunity to memorialize that great American story."


State Sen. Steve Bryles said that he pushed the funding through for the monument because too little is known of King's connection to the state. Bryles also hopes the marker will draw tourists to the area.


The Legislature concluded its session Wednesday.


"We want to make sure we do it tastefully," said Bryles, who has some of his own ideas. "You can make it look like the Gibson Lucille model or it could be something really plain that just contains some writing that explains the story."


Hammons said the $10 million museum and Delta cultural center is set to break ground on June 10. He said Arkansas' efforts highlight another part of King's legacy.


"Fate was kind to him," Hammons said of the 79-year-old blues singer.


"The guitar got a name and Twist was known around the world. It is a piece of American history."

A footnote to Salem witchery.

The witch-hunting hysteria took place mainly in Salem Village, about five
miles from Salem. After several months and about 150 arrests, Governor
William Phips convened a special court in Salem itself for the trails.

And the rest is history.

However...

In 1752, Salem Village changed its name to Danvers and quietly let
Salem go on to fame (or infamy) as "the Witch City".


Home of Rebecca Nurse, hanged for witchcraft in 1692 at the age of 71.
149 Pine Street, Danvers, Massachusetts