WA2K Radio is now on the air

Francis enjoys very much le souvenir, my friend.

Thank you all for the beautiful program of the night!

Ah, bon. Charles Trenet. I like that song better in French.

I have read Jack London, RJB. Many moons ago. A rollicking good read. White Fang and Call Of The Wild. Marvellous.

I must say though, I can't see it as a play. It must have been a difficult job for the playwright, as the books have next to no dialogue....or maybe that's a help?

Fay Wray
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 - August 8, 2004) was a Canadian-American actress, who was born Vina Fay Wray on a ranch near Cardston, Alberta, Canada. Her family moved to the United States when she was three. Although Wray's autobiography discusses her Mormon parentage and makes it clear that she was an ethnic Mormon, she was apparently never baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wray's family lived in predominantly Mormon communities in Alberta, Arizona and Salt Lake City, Utah before settling in Los Angeles, California, where she got her first film work in Hal Roach comedy shorts and in low-budget westerns in the early 1920s.

Wray gained media attention when she was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1926, which landed her a contract at Paramount Pictures.

In 1928, director Erich Von Stroheim cast Wray as the main female lead in his troubled production of The Wedding March, which sent Hollywood in a buzz for its high budget and production values. It was a massive failure (due to the fact that it was silent in a world of new talking pictures), but it gave Wray her first lead role. He also was romantically interested in the lovely Wray, and arranged a rendezvous in Hollywood, but she changed her mind and never showed.

She is best remembered for her role as Ann Darrow, the blonde seductress of a gigantic, prehistoric gorilla in the classic horror/adventure film King Kong (1933), although she never produced the piercing scream for which she was famous. That scream emanated from actress Julie Haydon, and it was dubbed to Wray.

Wray also appeared in over a hundred other films, mostly in the 1930s, including The Four Feathers (1929), Doctor X (1932), The Most Dangerous Game (1932), The Vampire Bat (1933), and Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933). She also appeared in Viva Villa, The Texan, The Conquering Horde, and One Sunday Afternoon. Later in her career, Wray appeared in Small Town Girl, Tammy and the Bachelor, and Summer Love.

Wray was married to John Monk Saunders, Robert Riskin, and Dr. Sanford Rothenberg. She is the mother of Susan Saunders, Victoria Riskin and Robert Riskin Jr.

Her autobiography, On the Other Hand (ISBN 0312022654), was published in 1988.

Wray has a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. She received a posthumous star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto on June 5, 2005.

Wray died at her apartment in Manhattan, New York at the age of 96 of natural causes on August 8, 2004, and was interred at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fay_Wray

Robert Wise
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Robert Wise (born September 10, 1914 in Winchester, Indiana) is an Academy Award winning film producer and director. Wise began his movie career at RKO as a sound and music editor, but he soon grew to being nominated for the Academy Award for Film Editing for Citizen Kane in 1941. As of 2005, he is that film's only living crew member. He took his first directing job with the stylish horror film The Curse of the Cat People in 1944. In 1949 he directed the boxing movie The Set-Up, where his direction of the real-time setting got him noticed.

In the 1950s, Wise proved adept in several genres, from the science fiction of The Day the Earth Stood Still to the melodramatic So Big, to Susan Hayward's Oscar winner in I Want to Live!, for which he was nominated for Best Director.

In 1961, teamed with Jerome Robbins, he won the Academy Award for Best Director for West Side Story, which he also produced. He repeated this achievement in 1965 with The Sound of Music. In the 1970s he directed such films as The Andromeda Strain, The Hindenburg and the first Star Trek film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture. In 1989 he directed Rooftops, his last feature film to date.

Wise is a past president of both the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6338 Hollywood Blvd.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Wise


The Sound of Music

The hills are alive with the sound of music
With songs they have sung for a thousand years
The hills fill my heart with the sound of music
My heart wants to sing every song it hears

My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds
that rise from the lake to the trees
My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies
from a church on a breeze
To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls over
stones on its way
To sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray

I go to the hills when my heart is lonely
I know I will hear what I've heard before
My heart will be blessed with the sound of music
And I'll sing once more

Good morning, WA2K radio fans and contributors.

First I would like to acknowledge John of Virginia's question concerning Jack London. I'm certain that most of us here have read The Call of the Wild, but my favorite by him is "To Build a Fire", especially the line "...he had no imagination...".

edgar, and just why did you play that song, Texas? <smile>

Nice to see both France and Manchester here on our radio.

Bob, I have given your bios a once over, but having arisen a little later than usual, I need to have some coffee and fire up my synapses. You must tell us about your karaoke last evening.

It's a beautiful day here, folks.

Here, England are playing Australia at cricket, and praying for rain. Do the listeners know why?

(Not why they're playing cricket. Why they want rain.)

I often play a song simply because I like it, as in this case.

Good day WA2K! It's a beautiful day here. Hope you're enjoying the same.

I like your bio choices, Bob.

Today's birthdays: (Jose's celebrating twice)

920 - King Louis IV of France (d. 954)
1487 - Pope Julius III (d. 1555)
1550 - Alonso de Guzman El Bueno, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia, commander of the Spanish Armada (d. 1615)
1588 - Nicholas Lanier, English composer (d. 1666)
1624 - Thomas Sydenham, English physician (d. 1689)
1638 - Maria Theresa of Spain, queen of Louis XIV of France (d. 1683)
1714 - Niccolò Jommelli, Italian composer (d. 1774)
1758 - Hannah Webster Foster, American author (d. 1840)
1788 - Jacques Boucher de Crèvecœur de Perthes, French archaelogist (d. 1868)
1839 - Isaac Kauffman Funk, American publisher (d. 1912)
1852 - Alice Brown Davis, Seminole chief (d. 1935)
1886 - Hilda Doolittle, American poet and novelist (d. 1961)
1890 - Elsa Schiaparelli, French couturiere (d. 1973)
1890 - Franz Werfel, poet and author(d. 1945)
1892 - Arthur Compton, American physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1962)
1897 - Hilde Hildebrand, German actress (d. 1976)
1907 - Fay Wray, Canadian actress (d. 2004)
1914 - Robert Wise, American film director
1915 - Edmond O'Brien, American actor (d. 1985)
1917 - Miguel Serrano, Chilean author and diplomat
1920 - Fabio Taglioni, Italian motorcycle engineer (d. 2001)
1922 - Yma Sumac, Peruvian singer
1929 - Arnold Palmer, American golfer
1931 - Philip Baker Hall, American actor
1933 - Yevgeny Khrunov, cosmonaut (d. 2000)
1934 - Roger Maris, baseball player (d. 1985)
1934 - Charles Kuralt, American journalist (d. 1997)
1938 - Karl Lagerfeld, German fashion designer
1941 - Christopher Hogwood, English conductor
1941 - Gunpei Yokoi, Japanese inventor and video game designer (d. 1997)
1941 - Stephen Jay Gould, American paleontologist (d. 2002)
1945 - Jose Feliciano, Puerto Rican singer
1946 - Jim Hines, American athlete
1946 - Don Powell, English drummer (Slade)
1948 - Bob Lanier, American basketball player
1948 - Tony Gatlif, Algerian-born director
1949 - Bill O'Reilly, American journalist, author, and commentator
1950 - Joe Perry, American musician (Aerosmith)
1953 - Amy Irving, American actress
1957 - Siobhan Fahey, Irish singer (Bananarama and Shakespear's Sister)
1958 - Dan Castellaneta, American voice actor
1958 - Chris Columbus, American film director
1959 - Peter Nelson, American actor
1960 - Colin Firth, English actor
1963 - Randy Johnson, baseball player
1968 - Guy Ritchie, British film director
1968 - Big Daddy Kane, American rapper
1969 - Jonathon Schaech, American actor
1970 - Robert Green, American football player
1972 - Ghada Shouaa, Syrian athlete
1973 - Ferdinand Coly, Senegalese footballer
1974 - Ryan Phillippe, American actor
1974 - Ben Wallace, American basketball player
1976 - Gustavo Kuerten, Brazilian tennis player
1980 - Mikey Way, American bassist (My Chemical Romance)
1983 - Christopher Kukstis. American pedagogue, wordsmith, and popinjay

Thank you, Raggedy, for the celeb updates. Fay Wray and her beauty killed the beast. <smile>. I see a short story among her credits that I am quite familiar with--"The Most Dangerous Game". Excellent reading and a marvelous ending. I believe that lightwizard said there was to be a remake of Kong.

McTag, I know almost as much about cricket as I do a "sticky wicket", but I'll guess that like some race horses, England does better in the rain? Either that, folks, or Australia is so good that the Brits hope they can have the game called and thus put off a sure defeat, right?

edgar, I think of Enrico Caruso when I hear that song.

Bob, confession. I never like The Sound of Music.

Right second time, Miss Letty.

England are 2-1 up in the series, a very rare occurrence, and this is the last game.

If Oz win, they square the series and keep the "Ashes" (don't ask)

So if "rain stops play", the match is declared a draw, England win the series and regain The Ashes for the first time in 19 years.

I won't ask about "the ashes" McTag. Instead how about an ashes song? <smile>



Ashes To Ashes
David Bowie


do you remember a guy that's been
in such an early song
i heard a rumour from ground control
oh no, don't say it's true
they got a message from the action man
i'm happy hope you're happy too
i've loved all i've needed love
sordid details following

the shrieking of nothing is killing
just pictures of jap girls in synthesis
and i ain't got no money and and i ain't got no hair
but i'm hoping to kick but the planet is glowing aglow aglow
ashes to ashes funk to funky
we know major tom's a junky
strung out on heaven's high
hitting an all time low
time and again i tell myself
i'll stay clean tonight
but the little green wheels are following me
oh no not again
i'm stuck with a valuable friend
i'm happy hope you're happy too
one flash of light
but no smoking pistol
i've never done good things
i've never done bad things
i never did anything out of the blue
want an axe to break the ice
want to come down right now.

Odd song, no?

On a south of the Mason-Dixon line theme, there is a line from a traditional New Orleans song which goes

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
If the drink don't get ya
Then the women must...."

Well, my goodness, McTag. Why has Miss Letty never heard that little ditty?

Wine, women and song--
They go together well. Right, listeners?

Karaoke last night was a blast. The Beachfront had just the right mix of singing and non singing patrons. too many singers means you don't sing very much. A return for friends Steve and Nadine totally unexpected and a real plus for the place. Steve is a fine singer but Nadine is exceptional. Not only is she a real cutie her range is large and each word is clearly enunciated. You might expect that it would produce a sound smacking of clipped tones but far from it the tones flowed. I told her it reminded me of Linda Ronstadt. Another friend Wes who is an elder had gone off to Florida never to return and was suddenly present. Bill, the owner, said he'd been asking for me. When Wes sings his voice is pleasant but he will falter reaching for high notes he's not capable of reaching. Doesn't matter. The crowd likes him and he receives accolades for courage.

I was ready to wow them with a rendition of Johnny Cash's I walk the line. Not in the book. No problem. Move on to Neil Diamond's America. Not in the book. Move on to Three Dog Night's Just an Old Fashioned Love Song. Not in the book. Finally Bob dylan's Lay Lady Lay beame my first song. Gave up and new song and trotted out Billy Joel's Piano Man, Frank Sinatra's My Way, Elvis' Can't Help Falling in Love and Willie Nelson's On the Road Again.

Al and Belinda attended with Al playing it safe with his collection of country/western songs. Nadine asked me why I didn't take up some of the obvious offers from the ladies. I told her I was waiting for the right one and wouldn't waste my time and that of the offering lady. She got a gleam in her eye which I'm sure means she's going to search out a friend to entice me. Lord save us from well meaning friends.

All in all it was a very satisfying evening with occasional exhilirating spikes.

Ah, Bob. That sounds like a wonderful evening, and yes, Boston. Save us from well meaning match makers. <smile>

Nadine sounds like a vocalist that I would like to hear. Intonation and range is everything, I think, plus a sense of rhythm.

From the Kansas City Star a weather update:



Ophelia strengthens to a hurricane again

TRAVIS REED

Associated Press

- Tropical Storm Ophelia strengthened into a hurricane again Saturday as it charted a course that could lead it to the Atlantic coast.

Forecasters have urged residents from northern Florida to the Carolinas to keep close watch on Ophelia's path over the next few days. A hurricane watch was issued from north of the Savannah River in South Carolina to Cape Lookout in North Carolina, meaning hurricane-force winds of at least 74 mph were possible by Sunday evening.

At 11 a.m. EDT, Ophelia had top sustained winds of 80 mph and was moving northeast near 3 mph. It was expected to stay on that track through the day.

All things being considered, I think I would rather be in Kansas city, listeners:

Great jazz tune that really swings:


I'm goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City, here I come
Yes, goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City, here I come
They got a crazy way a-lovin' an' a I wanna get me some

I was standing on the corner, of 12th Street and Vine
Yeah, standing on the corner, of 12th Street and Vine
With my Kansas City woman an a bottle of Kansas City wine

Well I might take a plane, I might take a train
If I have to walk, I'm going there just the same
I'm going to, Kansas City, Kansas City, here I come
They got a crazy way a-lovin' an I wanna get me some
Oh yeah

Keep your hands off of her, don't belong to you
Keep your hands off of her, don't belong to you
She's mine all mine, no matter what she do

Well I might take a plane, I might take a train
If I have to walk, I'm goin' there just the same

I'm goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City, here I come
They got a crazy way a-lovin' an I wanna get me some
They got a crazy way a-lovin' an I wanna get me some
They got a crazy way a-lovin' an I wanna get me some!
Yeah!

Letty, this isn't quite a New Orleans song, but it's suitably melancholy i think:

Blue Bayou/Roy Orbison

I feel so bad, I got a worried mind.
I'm so lonesome all the time,
Since I left my baby behind,
On Blue Bayou.

Saving nickels, saving dimes,
Working 'til the sun don't shine,
Looking forward to happier times,
On Blue Bayou.

I'm going back someday,
Come what may,
To Blue Bayou.
where you sleep all day
where the catfish play
On Blue Bayou.
Where those fishing boats,
With their sails afloat,
If I could only see,
That familiar sunrise,
Through sleepy eyes,
How happy I'd be.

Gonna see my baby again.
Gonna be with some of my friends.
Maybe I'll feel better again,
On Blue Bayou.

I'm going back someday,
gonna stay on Blue Bayou.
Where the folks are fine,
And the world is mine
On Blue Bayou.
Oh, that girl of mine,
By my side;
The silver moon and the evening tide.
Oh, some sweet day,
Gonna take away,
This hurting inside.
Well, I'll never be blue,
My dreams come true,
On Blue Bayou.

Ah, yit. Our listeners appreciate that song, right folks? Love it, Mr. Turtle.

For some reason, folks, edgar turned my mine to Enrico Caruso, and since we have very little opera on our station, I thought that I would indulge.




(Aida)(Heavenly Aida)

Celeste Aida, forma divina,
Mistico serto di luce e fior,
Del mio pensiero tu sei regina,
Tu di mia vita sei lo splendor.
Il tuo bel cielo vorrei ridarti,
Le dolci breeze del patrio suol;
Un regal serto sul crin posarti,
Ergerti un trono vicino al sol, ah!

SYNOPSES
The Ethiopians have been defeated in battle. Aida, their princess, has been enslaved by the victorious Egyptians, though her identity is not known to them. The Egyptian General Radames falls in love with the beautiful Aida and dreams of setting her upon a throne.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Heavenly Aida, goddess of beauty,
garland of flowers and of bright light.
You are the ruler of all of my thoughts,
you are the splendor of my whole life.
I'll bring you back, yes, to your lovely skies
to the soft breezes of your native land.
I'll place a royal wreath upon your crown,
and build you a throne close to the sun!

I noticed that there will be a rerun of The Untouchables, and in my mind I can see De Niro as Al Capone listening to Caruso sing as tears streamed down his scar face.

and a request from some Italian in our audience:






RECITAR!...
VESTI LA GIUBBA TO PERFORM!...
PUT ON YOUR COSTUME

Consumed with despair on discovering his wife's infidelity, Canio gets ready for performance because the show must go on...

Recitar!... mentre preso dal delirio
non so più quel che dico
e quel che faccio!
Eppur... è d'uopo... sforzati!
Bah! Sei tu forse un uom?
Tu se' Pagliaccio!
Vesti la giubba,
e la faccia infarina.
La gente paga e rider vuole qua.
E se Arlecchin
t'invola Colombina,
ridi, Pagliacco, e ognun applaudirà!
Tramuta in lazzi
lo spasmo ed il pianto,
in una smorfia il singhiozzo
e'l dolor - Ah!
Ridi, Pagliaccio,
sul tuo amore infranto.
Ridi del duol che t'avvelena il cor.

This time, listeners, we won't ask Francis to translate. <smile>

God, I love that aria.