The Beatles exploded into America in the fall of 1963. I want to “Hold Your Hand” hit number one on the all important singles chart. The Beatles and their management knew that they could come to the USA riding that success and catapult to the top. Their performances in February of 1964 on the Ed Sullivan show were ratings blockbusters. The firs …
It is almost 25 years since Diana’s death and she remains a focus of so much attention. We have Netflix’s The Crown, a CNN Documentary Diana, the film Spencer(D’s maiden name) about her family’s Christmas as the Princess. And, believe it or not, the Broadway Musical, Diana is about to open. Diana was 19, when she wed a future King. She won over …
The best Situation Comedies reflect the times and make us think about circumstances and experiences beyond our reality. A rating of the top 100 SCs in Rolling Stone covered a lot of territory. TV fans check it out. The top 5 in descending order are: All in the Family, I Love Lucy, Seinfeld, Cheers, and the winner-The Simpsons. The idea th …
It seems that movies, shows, plays, museums, gardens, and parks are always hyped as being “can’t miss”. I had heard for years about the Green-Wood Cemetery as a place that I had to visit. I was not motivated because I really did not know what all the fuss was about. A week ago, I finally took the plunge. First of all, it is beautiful. Green-W …
The news from the Box Office for Movie Theaters is improving. For each of the last 3 weeks, the 100 million dollar mark was hit for the first time since Covid shut down the in-person movie business. People have been heading to the movies to see James Bond in No Time to Die. The scary Halloween Kills and Marvel’s Venom did very well,too. I wante …
Did you miss the Bagel Festival that was held in Brooklyn last weekend? I did not go but I heard all about it on the WNYC-93.9 show All of It. Bagel purveyors and lovers came out in droves to taste and decide which were the best. The bagel’s first written reference was noted in the Krakow Jewish Council of 1610. The word beigen is the Yiddish w …
The Sopranos took the country by Storm in 1999 and left with a giant Question in 2007. I was hooked and every Sunday was a must watch. HBO subscriptions went through the roof. Talking about the episodes on Mondays with co workers, family, and friends became a routine. Even radio hosts took calls about the previous nights’ escapades and mysteri …
Music has had an ubiquitous influence on our lives and culture forever. I put on music when I come home and when I get into the car. Most shows, movies, and even commercials feature musical backgrounds. Music stimulates, soothes, energizes, and generally makes us feel better. I got hooked on rock and roll via American Bandstand. I purchased my …
I always look forward to the excitement of the Fall Cultural Season. The Sunday New York Times features a bunch of gigantic sections for the New Seasons of Movies, Television, Music, Dance, and Theater. But, the major essay about the fall season has this ominous headline. “The Thrill is Back, So is the Anxiety.” Earlier in the summer, the optim …
I became fascinated by Muhammad Ali in 1960. My father was a huge Olympics fan and the first one we watched together was the Rome Olympics. Ali’s style of punching and getting away from his opponents gracefully was unique. He was 18 when he won the light heavyweight Gold Medal. He quickly turned professional and won his fights as he grew in size …
Many of us, in the Gotham Community, are attending the historic 20th Year Anniversary Game of 9/11 between the Mets and Yankees this Saturday. Baseball has held a special place in American History. It has been a source of camaraderie, literature, art, and fierce fan passion. The decision by FDR to keep the “game” going during World War II was a …
The Tournament starts this week and after a fan-free 2020 event, the crowds will be back in Flushing Meadow. Happily, the final decision to make it a vaccinated event, since the stadium now has a roof, should make for a more relaxed environment. I attended the US Open in its old home in Forest Hills. Back, in the 70’s, I was able to pop in afte …
One of the richest genres of film is the musical biopic. As I researched the topic, I was struck by the volume of writings and lists of the best in this category. Some of the critics chose Funny Girl, the Fanny Brice story, starring Barbra Streisand as number 1. Others chose Ray, starring Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles. Even the classical music “sta …
I was introduced to huge free city concerts in July of 1969. The Rolling Stones performed before me and a half million fans at Hyde Park. I was hooked on the grand scale and energy of the colossal show. Through the years I tried to be at Central Park for the spectacle shows. I saw Elton John, Diana Ross, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, The …
The cultural world is changing quickly. And, COVID has impacted how we consume movies, theater, museums, and books. Using our screens to watch movies, plays, and museum shows has helped us cope. But, how has the book business been impacted by COVID? The Audible book market was exploding before COVID put a dent into car commuting and book lis …
I am the pinch hitter
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