Godspeed Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack, best known for her hits "The First Tine Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly with His Song," died on February 24 2025 at the age of 88. She in November she revealed that she had been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Roberta Flack had been born on February 10 1937 in Black Mountain, North Carolina. She grew up in Arlington, Virginia. She came from a musical family, and she learned to play piano while she was still young. She was only 13 years old when she played the complete Handel's "Messiah" for her church choir. She attended Stevens Elementary School in Washington, DC and Hoffman-Boston High School in Arlington. She was only 15 when she won a full musical scholarship to Howard University.

When her father died when she was 19, Roberta Flack left graduate school at Howard University to take a job as a teacher in Farmville, North Carolina. She taught music as a side hustle, and sang at various nightclubs. It was at Mr. Henry's in Washington, DC that she was discovered by y jazz great Les McCann in 1968. She was signed to Atlantic Records.

Her first single "Compared to What" was released in 1969. The same year her debut album, First Take, was released. Her debut album proved to be a hit, going to the top of the Billboard chart. Her early albums did very well, Chapter Two going  to no. 33 on the charts and Quiet Fire peaking at no. 18. Her first hit single was a cover of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend," which went to no. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.

It was after her cover of Ewan MacColl's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" was used in the movie Play Misty for Me (1971) that the song proved to be her first major hit. It went all the way to no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was not new when it became a hit single. It had appeared on Roberta Flack's first album, First Take, in 1969. It would be followed by "Where is the Love," a song with Donny Hathaway that went to no. 5 on the chart. This was followed by her second no. 1 hit, "Killing Me Softly with His Song." Originally recorded by Lori Lieberman, Roberta Flack's version proved to be a major hit. Later in the decade Roberta Flack would have another hit with Donny Hathaway, "The Closer I Get to You."

Following the Seventies Roberta Flack's hit songs would be more sporadic. "Making Love"peaked at no. 13 in 1982. In 1983 "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" went to no. 16. In 1991 "Set the Night to Music" made it to no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her last single was a previously unreleased 1971 cover of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On," released in 2021. She continued to release albums into the 21st Century, the last being Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings the Beatles.

Roberta Flack received several accolades throughout her career. Because of the awards for "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly with His Song" she became the first artist to win the Grammy for Record of the Year in consecutive years .

It can be said that Roberta Flack's songs defied classification. They were not easily pigeonholed into any one category. They blended elements of jazz, rhythm and blues, and pop into something that was wholly unique. All of this was made possible by one of the warmest, most soulful voices in popular music at the time. With that voice she delivered her songs as if she was singing to the individual listener. Of course, here it must be pointed out that Miss Flack was not merely a singer of romantic songs, as she also dealt with Black empowerment and humanity in general. In the end Roberta Flack was one of the most powerful, most moving singers of the later half of the 20th Century.

The 75th Anniversary of Your Show of Shows

Clockwise from the left, Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, and Imogene Coca

It was 75 years ago today, on February 25 1950, that Your Show of Shows debuted on NBC. It is impossible to overestimate the importance of Your Show of Shows.  It was one of the earliest comedy variety shows and would have a lasting influence on future sketch comedy shows. It introduced the world to performers who would become legends: Sid Casesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris. To this day it is ranked among the greatest shows ever made.

Given the place Your Show of Shows occupies in television history, it should come as no surprise that it was created by two legends. Sylvester "Pat" Weaver was truly pioneering NBC executive. He not only created Your Show of Shows, but also Today and The Tonight Show with Steve Allen, among other programs. Producer Max Liebman could be considered the co-creator of Your Show of Shows. For many years Max Liebman had been the theatre director at Tamiment, a resort in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. He also produced several shows on Broadway.

Max Liebman had earlier created the television variety show Admiral Broadway Revue, which aired simultaneously on NBC and DuMont, making it one of the few shows to air on two different television networks at once. Admiral Broadway Revue could be considered a forerunner of Your Show of Shows in more way than one. Not only was it directed by Max Leibman, but it starred Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. Mr. Leibman had earlier worked with Miss Coca on The Straw Hat Revue at Tamiment and later Broadway. Sid Caesar had also worked with Max Liebman prior to Admiral Broadway Revue. He had worked with Mr. Leibman while still in the Coast Guard in the production Tars and Spars and then on Broadway Make Mine Manhattan. Some of the writers from Admiral Broadway Revue would later work on Your Show of Shows, including Mel Brooks, Lucille Kallen and, Mel Tolkin. Admiral Broadway Revue proved to be popular, but ultimately only lasted form January 28 1949 to June 3 1949. The show was so popular that it increased demand for Admiral television sets so much that Admiral could not keep up with the demand. Admiral then cancelled Admiral Broadway Revues so they could shift the money used for the show into manufacturing TV sets.

The ninety-minute long Your Show of Shows was the second half of a two and half hour programming block called Saturday Night Revue. The first half was hosted by comedian Jack Carter.  The Saturday Night Revue would only last until 1951, but Your Show of Shows proved popular enough to last until 1954. Although best remembered for its comedy sketches, Your Show of Shows not only featured sketches, but also musical numbers, stand-up comedians, and yet other acts. Your Show of Shows featured a wide array of guest performers, including Eddie Albert, Robert Cummings, Tom Ewell,  Nanette Fabray, Nina Foch, Paulette Goddard, Marilyn Maxweell, and yet others. Even Kukla, Fran, and Ollie guest starred on Your Show of Shows.

Of course, the writers who worked on Your Show of Shows are now legendary. Although he was also a member of the cast, Carl Reiner also numbered among the writers on the show. Among the other writers were the aforementioned Mel Brooks, Lucille Kallen, and Mel Tolkin. Among the other writers were Selma Diamond, Danny Simon, and  Neil Simon. Contrary to popular belief, Woody Allen did not work on Your Show of Shows, although he would write for Sid Caesar's specials following the end of Caesar's Hour.

The cast of Your Show of Shows would change very little throughout its run. Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca were with the show from the beginning. Originally they were supported by Tom Avera, who was replaced by Carl Reiner after the first season. Howard Morris joined the show just a little later. Choreographer James Starbuck (another veteran of Admiral Broadway Revue) also occasionally appeared on the show. In addition to Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris the show also included singer Bill Hayes, singer Judy Johnson, The Hamilton Trio, and opera singer Marguerite Piazza.

Of course, Your Show of Shows remains best remembered for its sketches. Among these were sketches featuring recurring characters, such as the Hickenloopers, a mismatched couple; storyteller Somerset Winterset; The Professor, who was seemingly an expert on every subject under the sun, The vocal trio The Haircuts;and yet others. Of course, among the best known sketches of Your Show of Shows were its parodies of movies, TV shows, and plays. Among its most famous parodies is "This is Your Story," a parody of the show This is Your Life. Among the films spoofed on the show was the foreign film and now the classic The Bicycle Thief (1948).

Your Show of Shows remained popular in its fourth season, even though it had declined slightly from its height in the ratings. NBC then decided to spin Sid Casear and Imogene Coca off into their own shows. Caesar's Hour debuted on September 27 1954 and, in addition to Sid Caesar, featured Howard Morris and Carl Reiner. It lasted three seasons. The Imogene Coca Show debutd on October 2 1954 and did not prove as successful as Caesar's Hour. It only lasted one season, despire including Mel Brooks and Bill Dana among its writers.

Your Show of Shows was broadcast live, and all that survives of Your Show of Shows are kinescopes. Sadly, this means that many of the series's sketches are either missing or only partially complete. It was in 1973 that a compilation of ten sketches form the show, Ten From Your Show of Shows, was released theatrically. In 1976 a series of half-hour compilations of sketches from Your Show of Shows were syndicated on American television. It was later run on Comedy Central. Compilations of sketches have been released on DVD.

Your Show of Shows was a truly revolutionary show. It is to sketch comedy shows what I Love Lucy is to sitcoms and Tonight Starring Steve Allen is to late night talk shows. It pioneered everything from recurring sketches to movie parodies and established many of the tropes of sketch comedy shows. TV series from The Carol Burnett Show to The Muppet Show to Saturday Night Live have all been influenced by Your Show of Shows. Its cast would go onto further successes. Carl Reiner would create The Dick Van Dyke Show. Howard Morris would become a successful television director and is remembered as Ernest T. Bass on The Andy Griffith Show. Its writers, from Mel Brooks to Neil Simon, would go onto further success as well. Seventy-five years after it debuted, Your Show of Shows remains one of the most influential shows of all time.

Samsung Should Keep Samsung Messages

Last September on my phone some times when I opened Samsung Messages there would be a prompt at the top of the app urging me to "upgrade" to Google Messages. After this happened a couple of times I went to the Samsung Members Community. There I found many who were complaining about the prompt to "upgrade" to Google Messages and I complained myself. Fortunately, the prompt stopped not long after that. Unfortunately, the prompts started again last week. This time I have complained on both the Samsung Members community and sent feedback to Samsung. Quite simply, I have no desire to switch to Google Messages or ever use Google Messages.

As to the reason for the prompt, last year it seems Samsung made the decision to prioritize Google Messages over their own Samsung Messages. As early as last July,, Samsung Messages no longer came pre-installed on the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6. It was in September that Samsung users (including myself) started getting the prompts to "upgrade" to Google Messages. Last month Samsung Messages was removed from the Google Play Sore, but it remains available on the Samsung Store. What is more, Samsung even updated Samsung Messages last month. It was also last month that Samsung caused some alarm when they said they were sunsetting Samsung Messages. Fortunately, it turns out Samsung had misspoken, as they clarified that Samsung Messages would remain available in the Galaxy Store. At least for now, it seems that Samsung Messages will remain available, even if it does not come pre-installed on newer phones.

Regardless given the anger Samsung users have expressed over the idea of Samsung Messages being discontinued or being forced to use Google Messages, I think it would be unwise for Samsung to discontinue Samsung Messages. Both last September and in the past week there have been a number of posts to the Samsung Members Community complaining about the prompts to "upgrade"to Google Messages. It seems a large number of people not only love Samsung Messages, but they absolutely hate Google Messages and refuse to switch to it. And, quite frankly, I can understand the reason why.

There is a reason I have put the word "upgrade"in quotation marks when discussing prompts to switch from Samsung Messages to Google Messages.From my standpoint changing from Samsung Messages to Google Messages would more properly be termed a "downgrade" It would be switching from a superior app to an inferior one. In my opinion Google Messages has one of the ugliest, most unwieldy interfaces ever made. It is certainly less user friendly than the Samsung Messages' interface. 

Samsung Messages also has features that Google Messages lacks. One can change the background colour of conversations or even add a background image. Samsung Messages has  recycle bin, so one can restore deleted messages up to 30 days. One an even sort conversations into categories. One big advantage for those of us who use other Samsung apps is that Samsung Messages is fully integrated with Calendar, Notes, and so on.

As to Google Messages, the one advantage it has that Samsung Messages does not is that one can easily access Google Messages on Windows PCs. Accessing Samsung Messages on a Windows PC is a bit trickier and requites one install the Link to Windows or Phone Link apps. Another thing Google Messages has that is lacking in Samsung Messages is support for RCS (Rich Communications Services). As for myself, I don't see this as a disadvantage. I do not use RCS myself nor do I wan to. I am perfectly happy with SMS and MMS.

Beyond whatever advantages either app might have, I also have to point out that another reason to use Samsung Messages is that Google already has something of a choke hold when it comes to Android apps. When the last time many people used a maps app other than Google Maps? How many Android users use Meet instead of another video communication app on their phones? Rightly or wrongly, Google has faced antitrust suits. In making Samsung Messages, Samsung provides Google with a bit of competition that it might not have otherwise.

I have used Samsung Messages ever since I first got a smart phone. I have tried out Google Messages and I have never found it to my liking. I consider Google Messages to be a far inferior app to Samsung Messages to the point that if Samsung does discontinue Samsung Messages, I will simply download and install another SMS app. I certainly will not downgrade to Google Messages. What is more, there are apparently many people like me. Given that, Samsung should not only continue to make Samsung Messages, but they should start pre-installing it on their phones again, make it the default messaging app on their phones, and make it available on the Play Store again.

Lynne Marie Stewart Passes On

Lynne Marie Stewart, who played Miss Yvonne on  Pee-wee's Playhouse and Charlie's mom Bonnie on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, died on February 21 2025 at the age of 78.

Lynne Marie Stewart was born on December 14 1946 in Los Angeles. She began her career as one of the legendary comedy troupe The Groundlings, which is where she met Paul Reubenes (best known for his character Pee-Wee Herman) and Phil Hartman. She made her film debut in 1971 in the movie Drive, He Said. In the Seventies she appeared in the movies American Graffiti (1973), Your Three Minutes Are Up (1973), I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now (1975), Tunnelvision (1976),l I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977), Cracking Up (1977), Loose Shoes (1978), and The Last Married Couple in America (1980). She was a regular on the short-lived sitcom Husbands, Wives & Lovers.  She appeared on the TV shows Temperatures Rising; The F.B.I.;, Karen, Hawaii Five-O; M*A*S*H; Quincy, M.E;, Alice;, America 2-Night;and CHiPs.

It was in 1980 that she originated the role of Miss Yvonne, the Most Beautiful Woman in Puppet Land, in Paul Reubens's stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show. HBO taped The Pee-wee Herman Show and aired it as a special the following year. The Pee-wee Herman Show would lead to the development of the live-action, Saturday morning show Pee-wee's Playhouse on which Lynne Marie Stewart once more played Miss Yvonne. She also played Miss Yvonne in the TV special Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse. In the Eighties she was a voice regular on the Saturday morning cartoons The Ri¢hie Ri¢h/Scooby-Doo Show, Laverne & Shirley in the Army, Superman, and A Pup Named Scooby-Doo..  She was one of the cast of the sketch comedy show On the Television. She guest starred on the shows Madame's Place, One Day at a Time, Laugh Trax, Laverne & Shirley, The Jeffersons, American Playhouse, The Duck Factory, Dynasty, Remington Steele, TV 101, A Peaceable Kingdom, Night Court, and The Golden Girls.

During the Eighties Lynne Marie Stewart appeared in the movies Pandemonium (1982),Young Doctors in Love (1982), Weekend Pass (1984), Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1986),\Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986), Summer School (1987), The Running Man (1987), Moving (1988), and  Big Top Pee-wee (1988).

In the Nineties she was a regular on the show Night Stand. She was a voice on the animated cartoon Life with Louie. She guest starred on the shows WIOU, Empty Nest,  In the Heat of the Night, Batman: The Animated Series, Reasonable Doubts, The Ring of the Musketeers,  Herman's Head,  Hope & Gloria, The Tick, Dream On, Suddenly Susan, Caroline in the City, The Secret World of Alec Mack, Alright Already. Almost Perfect, Working,  and The Brian Benben Show. She appeare din the movies Double Trouble (1992), Clear and Present Danger (1994), Twin Sitters (1994), The Crazy Sitter (1994), Dunston Checks In (1996), Guinevere (1999), and Silicon Towers (1999).

It was in 2005 that Lynne Marie Sewart began playing Bonnie Kelly, Charlie's mom, on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Earlier in the decade of the Naughts she was a regular on Son of the Beach. She guest starred on the shows Spin City, The Brothers Garcia, According to Jim, Arrested Development, Significant Others, Grey's Anatomy, The Bad Girl's Guide, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Very Funny Show, American Body Shop, and State of the Union. She appeared in the films Enough (2002) and 50 Ways to Lose Your Lover (2004). She was a voice in the animated movie Barnyard (2006). She appeared as Miss Yvonne in the 2010 revival of The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway.

In the Teens she continued to appear on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. She appeared on the shows Dating After Divorce, Austin & Alley, Good Luck Charlie, Child of the '70s, Benched, 2 Broke Girls, Go-Go Boy Interrupted, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Nobodies, The Cook Kids, and AJ and the Queen. She appeared in the movies Bridesmaids (2011), Sparks (2013), We've Got Balls (2013), and Hickey (2016)/. She was the voice of Aunt Harriet in the animated movies Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016) and Batman vs. Two-Face (2017). In the 2020s she continued to appear on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Lynne Marie Stewart was an incredibly funny woman, one of the funniest comedic actresses to work in television and on film from the Eighties to the 2020s. She was wonderful as Miss Yvonne, consistently cheerful while at the same time engaging innuendo (although they were toned down for Pee-wee's Playhouse. Among her other roles was Barbara, the cheating girlfriend of Squiggy in two episodes of Laverne & Shirley and a nun in an episode of The Golden Girls She had a gift for playing characters who, no matter how briefly they appeared, were always memorable. She was a fantastic talent.

Godspeed Olga James

Olga James, who played Cindy Lou in the movie Carmen Jones (1954), died on January 25 2025 at the age of 95.

Olga James was born in Washington, DC on February 16 1929. Her father was a saxophonist while her mother was a dancer. Her parents separated while she was still young and she was raised by her grandparents. She attended the Julliard School of Music, where she studied opera. Her first professional role came in 1952 when she performed in a production of Four Saints in Three Acts at a festival in France. She toured the Untied States with the all-Black revue Smart Affairs.

Olga James was the third member of the cast of Carmen Jones (1954) to be hired, after Harry Belafonte and Pearl Bailey. She made her television debut in 1955, singing at halftime during a game between the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals. She appeared on The Steve Allen Show and Sunday Night at the London Palladium. She appeared on Broadway in Mr. Wonderful in 1956. During the Fifties she was very much in demand as a nightclub performer.

In the late Sixties and early Seventies Olga James had a recurring role on The Bill Cosby Show. In the Seventies she was the voice of Mrs. Thomas on the animated series Sealab 2020. On stage she appeared in a production of A Raisin in the Sun in London and a tour of The King and I in 1963. In the Sixties and Seventies she appeared in Inner City Cultural Center productions in Los Angeles.

Olga James started training as a therapist in 1983. In 1989 she received a master's degree in psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles.

I am convinced that had Olga James been born in a later time she would have been a major start. She was certainly an incredible talent. She had a high octane voice capable of great range, making her performances in Carmen James particularly impressive. Olga James also had considerable charisma. Personally I found Cindy Lou more appealing than Carmen Jones. While Olga James might not have had a career filled with credits, she will certainly be remembered as a great talent.

Julian Holloway Passes On

Julian Holloway, who appeared in  several "Carry On... films" and  appeared in a number of television shows, died on February 16 2025 at the age of 80 following a brief illness.

Julian Holloway was born on June 24 1944 in Watlington, Oxfordshire. His parents were actors Sterling Holloway and Violet Lane. He grew up in Penn, Buckinghamshire. He attended Harrow School in London, after which he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He was still at RADA when he made his film debut in Dentist on the Job (1961) and his television debut in an episode of The Avengers.He also guest starred on the American shows Fair Exchange and Our Man Higgins.

In the Sixties he appeared in the revue All Square, including a run in the West End at the Vaudeville theatre. He played a small role in The Beatles' movie A Hard Day's Night (1964) as Adrian, the assistant to the clueless ad man Simon Marshall (Kenneth Haigh) who tries without success to tell his boss that it is George Harrison to whom he is speaking. He also appeared in a small part in the Dave Clark Five movie Catch Us If You Can (1965). He made his first appearance in a "Carry On..." film in Carry On Doctor in 1967. He also appeared in the films Five to One (1963), Nothing But the Best (1964), The Knack...and How to Get It (1965), The Pleasure Girls (1965), The Jokers  (1967), Follow That Camel (1967), I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967), Carry On...Up the Khyber (1968), Hostile Witness (1969), The Last Shot You Hear  (1969), Carry On Camping (1969), Scream and Scream Again (1970), and Carry On Loving (1970).

During the Sixties Julian Holloway also appeared on stage in When Did Your Last See My Mother? which was performed by the English Stage Company at the Royal Court and then the Comedy Theatre. He played Corky in the TV series Ukrdige. He guest starred on the shows Our Man at St. Marks, The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre, First Night, The Saint, The Valiant Varneys, Gideon's Way, Pardon the Expression, King of the River, Before the Fringe, The Informer, The World of Wooster, ITV Play of the Week, City '68, The Liver Birds, Parkin's Patch, NBC Experiment in Television, W. Somerset Maugham, and Menace.

In the Seventies Julian Holloway was a regular on the TV show The Punch Review and he had a recurring role on Harriet's Back in Town. He appeared in one episode of the mini-series Elizabeth R. He guest starred on the shows Take Three Girls, The Shadow of the Tower, The Man from Haven, Dead of Night, The Edwardians, Conjugal Rights, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads, Ooh La La!, Bowler, Black and Blue, Helen: A Woman of Today, Marked Personal, BBC Play of the Month, Bedtime Stories,  Wodehouse Playhouse, Warship, Centre Play, Z-Cars, The Sweeney, Public Eye, Wodehouse Playhouse, Ten from the Twenties, Play for Today, The New Avengers, Jubilee, Seven Faces of Woman, Crown Court, BBC2 Play of the Week, Angels, The Professionals, A Horseman Riding By, Tilford's Change, and Keep It in the Family. He appeared in the mini-series Rebecca and the Christmas special Carry On Christmas. Julian Holloway appeared in the movies Carry On Henry (1971), Carry On at Your Convenience (1971), Young Winston (1972), The Stud (1974), The Hostages (1975), Carry On England (1976), Sammy;s Super T-Shirt (1978), Porridge (1979), The Great Rock 'n ' Roll Swindle (1980),  and Rough Cut (1980). Because of star Horst Janson's thick accent, Julian dubbed the voice of the title character in the movie Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974).

In the Eighties Julian Holloway guest starred on the TV shows Plays for Pleasure, Misfits, Minder,      Hallelujah!, BBC Play of the Month, Give Us a Break, Tall Tales & Legends, The Bill, Doctor Who, and The Chief, He appeared in the mini-series Nancy Astor, If Tomorrow Comes, The Endless Game, and A Season of Giants.

In the Nineties Julian Holloway was the voice of the villain Odlaw on the animated series Where's Wally? (Where's Waldo in the United States). He was also a regular voice on the animated series James Bond Jr. and Captain Zed and the Zee Zone. He guest starred on the shows Beverly Hills, 90120; Casualty; The Vet;; and Remember WENN.

In the Naughts he was the voice of Digby on the animated series Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future. He was also a regular on the animated series Father of the Pride. He was a voice in Disney's animated feature film A Christmas Carol (2009). In the Teens he had a recurring voice roles on the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Regular Show. He guest starred on the TV series Summer of Rockets. He appeared in the movie The Rum Diary (2011).

He also provided voices for various video games.

He was the father of model and actress Sophie Dahl with actress Tessa Dahl, the daughter of author Roald Dahl and actress Patricia Neal.

I think it is safe to say that Julian Holloway will remain best known for his various roles in the "Carry On..." films, where he played everything from a licentious bus driver in Carry On Camping to a military medical officer in Carry On England. And while he had a gift for comedy, he could play other roles.While Horst Janson may have provided the face and body of swashbuckling vampire hunter Captain Kronos, it was Julian Holloway who provided his voice. In the New Avengers episode "Gnaws," he played one of two scientists who steal the growth serum they developed from a government lab (while considered one of the worst episodes of the series, Julian Holloway is good in it). Julian Holloway was certainly a talented actor and one who was welcome in any movie or TV show episode, no matter how small his role.

"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)" by The Temptations

While they worked in another styles, The Temptations remain best known for such love songs as "My Girl," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," and "I Wish It Would Rain." Regardless, one of their most remarkable songs was not a love song, but a protest song instead. "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)" remains one of the best known protest songs released by Motown, alongside "What's Going On' by Marvin Gaye.

"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" was written by Motown legends Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Together Messrs. Whitfield and Strong had already written such hits as ""Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got" for Jimmy Ruffin,  "I Heard It on the Grapevine" for Gladys Knight and The Pips (Marvin Gaye's version would be a huge hit for Motown),  "I Wish It Would Rain" (with Rodger Penzabene) for The Temptations, and "Cloud Nine" by The Temptations. Individually or with others, they wrote many more hits for Motown.

It was with their previous songs such as "Cloud Nine" and "Runaway Child" that The Temptations had begun to move away from the love songs they had recorded into a new sound that would be called "psychedelic soul." "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" was the fifth single to be released using this new sound.

Of course, as can be heard in "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today," The Temptations changed not only their overall sound, but their lyrical content. Instead of love and heartbreak, their songs now covered the issues of the day such as civil rights, poverty, drugs, and the Vietnam War. "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" embraced many issues, given it addressed the general state of the United States in the late Sixties and early Seventies. The song makes reference to segregation, pills, taxes, unemployment, and many other topics of the day.

"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today" was recorded at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit on April 12 and 14 1970. The instrumental track was recorded by The Funk Brothers, the group of session musicians who preformed the music on nearly all of Motown's songs from 1959 to 1972. They recorded nearly eleven minutes worth of music, although ultimately only four minutes was use for the single. The entire instrumental track could later be heard on The Undisputed Truth's cover of the  song on their self-titled debut album.

"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)" was released on May 7 1970. It peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart and no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It did well in Britain as well, where it reached no. 7 on the UK singles chart. Although inspired by the events of the late Sixties and early Seventies, "Ball of Confusion ((That's What the World is Today") remains all to relevant today.

Miss Topsy: African American Burlesque Star

When people think of the stars of burlesque, they tend to think of dancers like Gypsy Rose Lee, Lili St. Cyr, Tempest Storm, and Blaze Starr. All of these performers were white, but even in the mid-20th Century there were burlesque stars of other ethnicities. Among the most legendary burlesque dancers was Miss Topsy, one of the earliest Black women to become an international star in the field.

Sadly, while there are quite a few pictures of Miss Topsy to be found online, there is little in the way of information. What little I know abut her I found in social media posts by photographer Neil "Nez "Kendall, a few blog posts, and old newspaper articles found on Newspapers.Com and Newspaper Archive.

Miss Topsy was born Mary Elizabeth Thompson in St., Louis around 1942. She had been a secretary to the assessor in St. Louis prior to moving to Hollywood where she became a pin-up and lingerie model there. She was dancing at a Los Angeles Club when a saxophone player introduced her to talent agent Coralie Jr., who was well-known for launching the careers of offbeat performers. It was not long before Miss Topsy became a star in burlesque.

So popular was Miss Topsy that she was even able to tour the Deep South when many Black performers were not always welcome there. She even performed overseas. She had a long residency at the Raymond Review Bar in London in 1963. In 1964 she performed at the Gay 90s in Minneapolis and even had an article about her published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. In 1968 Miss Topsy performed at the Yum Yum in Kansas City, Missouri. She even danced in such places as France, much of Europe, and Japan. She also continued to be a popular pinup model in many men's magazines of the era. It was in 1973 that she decided to retire. and settle down. She died in 2021

I honestly wish I knew more about Miss Topsy. First, she was born in my home state of Missouri. Second, she was a true pioneer. She was a Black woman who made a name for herself and became a success when  racial segregation was a none too distant memory and discrimination was still a standard practice. She blazed a trail for other African Americans when it came to performing in burlesque. Finally, as one can see from her pictures, she was seriously pretty. I can easily understand why she was so popular.

Lobo, the First Black Western Comic Book Hero

When people think of Black comic book characters, they might think of The Black Panther, Green Lantern John Stewart, The Falcon, or Cyborg, but before any of these characters there was Lobo. Unlike the aforementioned characters, Lobo was not a superhero, but instead a gunslinger in the Old West. He was the very first Black character to have his own title.

Lobo first appeared in Lobo no. 1 (December 1965), published by Dell Comics. Lobo was a wealthy, African American gunslinger who was given the name "Lobo" by the villains in the first issue of the title. Lobo would leave a gold coin with the images of an "L" and a wolf on the foreheads of the villains he defeated.

Lobo was created by writer Don "D. J." Arneson and artist Tony Tallarico, although the two men disagreed on the character's creation.. Mr. Arneson has said that Mr. Tallarico only illustrated the comic book. He denies that Mr. Tallarico created the character, and has said that he plotted the stories and wrote the scripts. According to D. J. Arneson, he had read the book  The Negro Cowboys by Philip Durham and Everett L. Jones and used that as inspiration for the character.  Tony Tallarico claims that he approached D. J. Arneson with the idea.

Unfortunately, Lobo only lasted two issues: Lobo no. 1 (December 1965) and Lobo no. 2 (September 1966). Not only did D.J. Arneson and Tony Tallarico disagree on the creation of Lobo, but they also disagree on why the title came to an end.. According to Tony Tallarico, distributors were returning bundles of the comic books unopened. He claims that after some investigating he discovered that many sellers opposed the idea of an African American Western hero. D. J. Arneson's explanation for the cancellation of Lobo is much simpler. It was simply discontinued because of sales.

While Lobo's title was cancelled after only two issues, the character would not disappear completely. In 2017,m over fifty years after his last appearance, Lobo was revived in All New Popular Comics no.1, which sought to revive many of Dell Comics' characters. In 2018 the collection Fantastic 4N1 included a novella featuring Lobo. 

Although not as well known as The Black Panther, Falcon, or John Stewart, Lobo was historic. He was the first Black character to have his own title and the first Black Western comic book hero. Lobo also indicated the direction that Western comic books in the late Sixties onward would take.  In the Western titles of late Sixties and Seventies, African Americans would play a bigger role, having largely been absent from the Western comic books of the Forties, Fifties, and Sixties.

Happy Valentine's Day 2024

Here at A Shroud of Thoughts it is customary for me to post vintage pinups for certain holidays. Valentine's Day is no different.Here then are this year's pinups.

Barbara Bates

Juile Adams

Yvette Mimieux

Rita Hayworth

Leslie Caron

Ann Miller

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Late Great Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull, the legendary singer known for her version of "As Tears Go By," died on January 30 2025 at the age of 78.

Mariane Faithfull was born on December 29 1946 in Hampstead, London. Her father was Major Robert Glynn Faithfull, who was a British intelligence officer and a professor of Italian literature at Bedford College, London University. Her mother was Austrian aristocrat Eva von Sacher-Masoch, Baroness Erisso. Her early life was spent in Ormskirk, Lancashire and then  Braziers Park, Oxfordshire. Her parents divorced when she was six years old. Her mother moved with young Marianne Faithfull to Reading, Berkshire. Despite her mother's heritage, the family had little money and Marianne Faithful had bouts of tuberculosis as a child.

Marianne Faithfull started her career as a singer,in 1964 when she performed folk music in London coffeehouses. It was in London that she attended a Rolling Stones release party with artist John Dunbar. There she met The Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham. Her first single, "As Tears Go By," was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones recorded their own version in October 1965). It proved to be a hit for Marianne Faithfull, going to no. 9 on the UK singles chart and no. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. Marianne Faithful would have further hits with "Come and Stay with Me." "This Little Bird," "Summer Nights," a cover fo The Beatles' "Yesterday," and "Is This What I Get for Loving You."

Marianne Faithfull's self-titled debut album was released in 1965 and went to no. 15 on the UK albums chart. She recorded over twenty studio albums, the last being She Walks in Beauty in 2021. Marianne Faithfull would have only a few more hit singles following "Is This What I Get for Loving You,"  including "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan," "Broken English," and "Sister Morphine." Among her most significant albums was Broken English, her 1979 comeback album.

Marianne Faithfull also had an acting career. She made her film debut in 1966 playing herself in Jean-Luc Godard's movie Made in U.S.A.. She made her television debut in 1967 in the French TV movie Anna. She appeared in the film I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967), in which  she was one of the first people to ever say the F-word in a mainstream movie. Marianne Faithfull appeared in the films The Girl on the Motorcycle (1968), Hamlet (1969), Ghost Story (1964), Assault on Agathon (1975), When Pigs Fly (1993), Shopping (1964), Moondance (1995), Crimetime (1996), Intimacy (2001), Far from China (2001), Paris, je t'aime (2006), Marine Antoinette (2006), Irina Palm (2007), Faces in the Crowd (2011), and  Belle du Seigneur (2012). She was the voice of a Bene Geesserit Ancestor in Dune (2021). She guest starred in 2001 on the two part Absolutely Fabulous episode "The Last Shout."

Marianne Faithfull also appeared on stage. She made her professional stage debut in Three Sisters at the Royal Court Theatre in London. She also appeared in the productions Early Morning (1968), Hamlet (1969), Alice in Wonderland (1973),  A Patriot for Me, Mad Dog, The Collector, The Rainmaker, The Kingdom of Earth, The Threepenny Opera, and The Black Rider.

Marianne Faithfull was a remarkable singer. Originally she had a melodic voice that was higher on the register. A combination of laryngitis and drug abuse would alter Marianne Faithfull's voice, making it lower and more raspy. In either case she displayed considerable talent, able to evoke emotion in a way few  others singers could. If she became an "It Girl" of Swinging London and a legendary singer, it was largely due to her sheer artistry as a singer.

I'm Back with My Dinosaur Act

My new computer arrived today, so I can get back to writing blog posts on a regular basis. In the next few days I will post my eulogy for Marianne Faithfull and posts in honour of Black History Month. Today was spent setting the new computer up, and I really didn't have much time for anything else. In the meantime, to celebrate getting back to writing A Shroud of Thoughts, here is "Dinosaur Act" by Matthew Sweet.

Jack Lemmon's Centennial

My new computer won't arrive until Monday, but I wanted to acknowledge today, so I am making this post on my phone. You see, it was 100 years ago today that Jack Lemmon was born in Newton, Massachusetts.

Jack Lemmon has been one of my favourite actors since I was a child. Not only was he still making movies when I was growing up, but some of his best-known movies were made in my lifetime. I cannot remember what was the first Jack Lemmon movie I saw. Indeed, his more recent films were being shown on the television network's movie anthologies when I was a kid.

As many of my readers may know, my second favourite movie of all time is The Apartment (1960). C.C. Baxter is always the first character who comes to my mind when I think of Jack Lemmon. C.C. Baxter was one of the many everymen Mr. Lemmon played throughout his career. He was the timid Ensign Pulver in Mister Roberts (1955). He was the hard-working but unlucky Sam Bissell in Good Neighbor Sam (1964). He was the fussy Felix Unger in The Odd Couple (1968). Jack Lemmon had a definite talent for playing average Joes.

Of course, Jack Lemmon could play much more than the average guy. In fact, some of the characters he played weren't very nice. He was the lecherous, somewhat dishonest landlord Hogan in Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963). He played the villainous Professor Fate in The Great Race (1965). He was a hit man for the mob in Buddy Buddy (1981). And while Jack Lemmon may be best known for his roles in comedies, he was impressive in dramas as well. He played alcoholic PR exec Joe Clay in Days of Wine and Roses (1962). In Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) he played a real estate salesman whose career was in decline. In The China Syndome (1979) Jack Lemmon played nuclear power plant shift supervisor Jack Godell.

Ultimately Jack Lemmon appeared in so many great films and played so many great roles that to cover them all it would take a book. From Bell, Book and Candle (1958) to Some Like It Hot (1959) to The Fortune Cookie (1966) to Grumpy Old Men (1993), Jack Lemmon always gave great performances.

Technical Difficulties

Yesterday our ancient laptop went out. In a way, this was not surprising. To give you an idea of its age, its original operating system was Windows 8. Anyway, I ordered a new computer today, but it will be a while before it arrives. I won't be posting too much until then.

Black History Month

Today marks the beginning of Black History Month. Its origins can be traced back to 1926 when African American historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History) declared the second week of February to be "Negro History Week." This week was chosen because it was the week of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass's birthdays, both of which had been long celebrated in Black communities. Over the years Negro History Week increased in popularity. It was in 1969 that both Black students and educators at Kent State University proposed that February be celebrated as Black History Month. It was first celebrated at Kent State University in 1970. Black History Month caught on, and in 1976 Gerald Ford became the first president to recognize Black History Month.

Although I have never made an official announcement that I was doing so, I have observed Black History Month on this blog for years. While I do write such posts at other times of year, each year in February I write at least one post a week devoted to African Americans in popular culture. Over the years I have written about everything from actress Theresa Harris to comic book artist Matt Baker to the legendary Cab Calloway. I intend to observe Black History Month on A Shroud of Thoughts again this year. With diversity, equity, and inclusion having been under increasing attack over the past few weeks, I feel that my annual observance of Black History Month has become much more important than it ever has been before. Here I want to point out that I also observe other commemorative months, such as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May and National American Indian Heritage Month in November, and I will continue to do so. It is important to me that the contributions of multiple ethnicities to American history be acknowledged, particularly given I am part Native myself. No one is ever going to convince me otherwise.

The Late Great Jules Feiffer

Cartoonist and author Jules Feiffer died on January 17 2025 at the age of 95. The cause was congestive heart failure.

Jule Feiffer was born on January 26 1929 in The Bronx in New York City. He took an interest in art when very young, starting to draw when he was only three years old. He also developed an interest in comic strips while he was very young, and he enjoyed such comic strips as Wash Tubs, Our Boarding House, and Flash Gordon. He developed an interest in comic books even before the first appearance of Superman in Action Comics no. 1 (June 1938).

His mother was a fashion designer who made water colour drawings of her designs. She encouraged young Jules Feiffer's interest in art. She gave him a drawing table when he was 13. She also helped him get enrolled in Art Students League of New York. Jules Feiffer graduated from James Monroe High School when he was only 16.

It was following his graduation from high school that Jules Feiffer went to the office of cartoon Will Eisner and asked him for a job. While Will Eisner did not think much of young Mr. Feiffer's artistic ability, he was impressed by the teenager's passion for comics. He then gave Jules Feiffer a job in his studio, doing such things as colouring, erasing, cleaning up, and so on. Over time Jules Feiffer would be given more responsibilities on Will Eisner's comic strip The Spirit. even assisting on stories and drawing. Eventually Will Eisner let Jules Feiffer do his own comic strip that appeared in the back of the Spirit section in newspapers, Clifford, a humour strip centered on a kid by that name.

In 1951 Jules Feiffer was drafted into the United States Army, where he served in the Signal Corps Publication Agency where he worked on training manuals and so on. He was honorably discharged after serving in the Army for two years. It was in 1956 that Jules Feiffer became a staff cartoonist at the Village Voice. He would continue to work for the Voice until 1996 when new owners took over the paper.

While Jules Feiffer was not paid for his work at the Village Voice, he would find an income through his friend Gene Deitch. Gene Deitch had become the creative director at Terrytoons and recruited Mr. Feiffer as one the artists there. While he would not remain with Terrytoons long, he would have one major success in animation. Jules Feiffer wrote the short "Munro," which Gene Deitch directed. It won the 1961 Oscar for Best Animated Film.

As time passed, Jules Feiffer's cartoons would appear in places other than the Village Voice, including Pageant. Playboy, and other publications. Over the years he would also publish several books. Sick, Sick, Sick: A Guide to Non-Confident Living, his first book, was published in 1956. It was a collection of cartoons from 1950 to 1956. Over the years several other collections fo cartoons would be published, including More Sick, Sick, Sick; The Explainers; Hole Me!, and so on. Jules Feiffer illustrated Norton Juster's 1961 children's fantasy novel The Phantom Tollbooth. Jules Feiffer also wrote the novels Harry, the Rat with Women (1963) and Ackroyd (1977). He wrote several plays, including Little Murders (1967), Feiffer's People (1969), and Knock Knock (1976), among others.

Among Jules Feiffer's best known books was the non-fiction book The Great Comic Book Heroes. Published in 1965, it is regarded as the first history of superheroes. Starting with Tantrum in 1979, he wrote several graphic novels. He also wrote several children's books.

Jules Feiffer wrote the screenplay for the adaptation of his play Little Murders (1971) and the movie Carnal Knowledge (1971) and made contributions to the film adaptation of Oh! Calcutta! (1972). He went onto write the screenplays for Popeye (1980) and I Want to Go Home (1989). He also worked in television, writing episodes of such shows as Quest, Comedy Zone, Faerie Tale Theatre, and Great Performances. He was one of the writers on the one hour TV series VD Blues, about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, that aired on PBS in 1972.

Although often described as a cartoonist and author, Jules Feiffer had mastered multiple media He had worked in comic strips, animation. non-fiction, plays, movies, novels, graphic novels, and children's books. Throughout all these media Jules Feiffer tackled institutions, society, and life in general with a sardonic wit. If ever there was an artist who could probe the American psyche with intelligence and even a bit of whimsy, it was Jules Feiffer. He influenced such cartoonists as Paul Karasik, Art Spiegelman, Gary Trudeau, and others. His book The Great Comic Book Heroes was not only the first history of comic book superheroes, but it was also one of the first times that the comic book was treated seriously as an art form. The book would have a lasting influence on comic book writers and comic book historians. Few artists would have the sort of lasting impact that Jules Feiffer had.

8 1/2 (1963)

(This post is part of the Journey to Italy Blogathon hosted by RealWeedgieMidget Reviews and Speakeasy)

Federico Fellini remains one of the most highly regarded directors of all time. Among his most highly regarded films is 8 1/2 (1963). Upon its release it was nominated for five Academy Awards and won the Oscars for Best Costume--Black and White and Best Foreign Language Film. In its native Italy it was nominated for nine Nastri d'Argento and won six. The Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage included 8 1/2 in its list of a hundred Italian films to be saved. In 2022 it was ranked the 6th greatest film of all time in Sight and Sound's director's poll. It ranked 7th in the BBC's 2018 list of The 100 Greatest Foreign Language Films. 8 1/2 (1963) proved influential almost immediately upon its release.

8 1/2 (1963) centres on celebrated director Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni), whose last film proved to be a financial and critical success. Unfortunately, Guido finds himself suffering from a creative block, with little more than a few ideas for his next film, an epic science fiction movie. Making matters worse for Guido is that his life is not going as smoothly as he would like. He is having difficulty with both his estranged wife (Anouk Aimée) and his mistress (Sandro Milo). Both his fans and the press want to know what he is going to do next.

Federico Fellini first outlined the ideas for what would become 8 1/2 in an October 1960 letter to Brunello Rondi, who had collaborated with Fellini on La dolce vita (1960). Some sort of professional man suffering from a creative block has to interrupt his life for two-week curative rest at the baths at Chianciano. Both the professional man's real life and his inner life (his dreams and memories) would be portrayed in the film.

The script for 8 1/2  would take some work. Federico Fellini worked with Tullio Pinelli, Ennio Flaiano, and Brunello Rondi, all of whom had worked with the director on La dolce vita (1960), on the screenplay. It was rewritten three or four times before Messrs. Fellini and Pinelli locked themselves in a pensione outside Rome. There they wrote one final draft. Some changes would be made during the production of 8 1/2. Originally was to end with Guido and his wife in the dining car of a train. While on the train Guido would picture the film's characters smiling at him before the train enters a tunnel. In the documentary Fellini: I'm a Born Liar (2002), Tullio Pinelli took credit for advising Fellini to change the film's original ending for its famous ending on the beach.

Even while the script was being written, Federico Fellini did not have a title for the film. Ennio Flaiano suggested La bella confusione (literally in English The Beautiful Confusion). At last Federico Fellini decided to name the film 8 1/2, given it would be the 8th and a half movie he made (seven feature films and segments in Love and the City (1953) and Boccaccio '70 (1962).

8 1/2 is known for its remarkable cast. Both Marcello Mastrioianni and Anouk Aimée had starred in Fellini's previous movie La dolce vita. Claudia Cardinale, had already appeared in several films, including Il bell'Antonio (1960) and Girl in a Suitcase (1961). Among the notable members of the cast is Barbara Steele, who was already somewhat established as a scream queen, having appeared in the horror movies Black Sunday (1960),  The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), and The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962). In 8 1/2 Barbara Steele played the girlfriend of one of Guido's friends.

8 1/2 was released in Italy on February 14 1963. It received praise from most Italian critics and other critics throughout Europe. Cahiers du Cinéma ranked it at no. 10 on Top Ten Films of the Year for 1963. 8 1/2 was released in the United States on June 25 1963. In the United States it was praised by most critics, with Pauline Kael and Judith Crist being notable exceptions. As mentioned in the opening of this post, 8 1/2 won several awards. It also did well at the box office worldwide and in the United States and Canada.

8 1/2 proved to be influential almost immediately, with films either inspired by it or outright imitating it coming out not long after its release. Among the films that owe something to 8 1/2 are Mickey One (1965), Alex in Wonderland (1970),  La Nuit américaine (1973), All That Jazz (1979), and yet others. It was later adapted as the 1982 Broadway musical Nine.

It should be little wonder that 8 1/2 continues to be popular not only with directors, but other creatives as well. It is safe to assume that many artists can easily identify with Guido, having gone through their own periods of creative doldrums, all the while having to deal with their personal lives. While 8 1/2 may appeal primarily to creative types, it seems likely that it could appeal to other types of people as well. Quite simply, in dealing with his creative block, Guido also seeks to find meaning in his life, something that many people do whether they are store clerks, lawyers, or doctors. Many believe that Guido is Fellini's author surrogate, but it is safe to say that many can identify with the fictional director.

Of course, much of the appeal of 8 1/2 is that it is simply a well-made film. It is a movie with a dream-like quality, even as it weaves together Guido's real life, dreams, daydreams, and memories. This is aided by Federico Fellini's stylish direction, Gianni Di Venanzo's cinematography, and the performances of the entire cast.

Over sixty years after its release 8 1/2 remains regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made. It is not merely a movie about making movies, but about so much more. It is an explanation not only of creativity, but of interpersonal relationships and life itself.

Jack De Mave Passes On

Jack De Mave, perhaps best known for playing Forest Ranger Bob Erickson on Lassie, died on January 16 2025 at the age of 91. He had suffered a heart attack on Thanksgiving.

Jack De Mave was born on December 8 1933 in Jersey City, New Jersey. His father was professional boxer who may have been the inspiration for Clifford Odets's play Golden Boy. His mother was a casting director on Broadway. He studied acting with Herbert Berghof, Mary Welch, and Lee Strasberg. He appeared in local productions with Inger Stevens and Charlton Heston. In 1958 he appeared on Broadway with Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne's final production, The Visit. He made his television debut in The Kraft Theatre  episode "The King's Bounty."

In the Sixties he guest starred on such shows as Surfside 6, Wagon Train , The F.B.I.. Daniel Boone, F Troop, and The Fugitive. He played Forest Ranger Bob Erickson on Lassie from 1968 to 1970. He appeared in the movie Blindfold (1966). In the Seventies Jack De Mave guest starred on the shows Storefront Lawyers; The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Funny Face; The Doris Day Show; Marcus Welby, M.D.; Adam-12; Sierra; The Bob Crane Show; and Ellery Queen. He appeared in the movie 1776 (1972).

In the Eighties Jack De Mave had a recurring role on the daytime soap opera Loving. He guest starred on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. In the Nineties he appeared on the show Days of Our Lives and the movie The Man Without a Face. In the Naughts he appeared in the TV movies Meet the Santas (2005) and Ladies of the House (2008).

In the Seventies he also played The Lone Ranger in a series of commercials for Frito-Lay.

I will probably always remember Jack De Mave best as Ranger Bob  Erickson on Lassie, although he played various other roles in his career. He appeared in two episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show as
Armond Lynton. Armond first appeared as a man whom Rhoda had accidentally run over and who, much to Rhoda's chagrin, turns out to be married. In his second appearance on the show Armond is now single and obsessed with Mary. Jack De Mave gave many good performances in his guest appearances, and he will be fondly remembered for some time to come.

The Late Great Sam Moore

Sam Moore, best known as one-half of the legendary music duo Sam & Dave with Dave Prater, died on January 10 2025 at the age of 89. He had been recovering from surgery.

Sam Moore was born Samuel Hicks in Miami on October 12 1935. His parents eventually divorced and he took the surname of his stepfather, "Moore." He grew up singing gospel music and even sang with such gospel groups as The Gales and The Millionaires. When Sam Cooke left The Soul Stirrers he was offered a place in the group, but turned them down. He met Dave Prater in 1961 at The King of Hearts Club in Miami.

Sam & Dave were discovered by local Miami producer Henry Stone, who signed to Roulette Records. While they saw some regional success with their singles released on Roulette, none of their songs became hits on a national level. It was in 1964 that they were singed by Jerry Wexler to Atlantic Records. While they would remain Atlantic Records artists, Sam & Dave were loaned out to Stax Records in 1964.

Sam & Dave and Stax Records proved to be a potent combination. Their first two Stax singles, "A Place Nobody Can Find" and "I Take What I Want," failed to chart but the third single, ""You Don't Know Like I Know," proved to be a hit. It went to no. 7 on the Billboard R&B chart. Their next single on Stax was not only one of Sam & Dave's bigger hits, but became one of their signature songs. "Hold On I'm Comin'" went to no. 21 on the Billboard singles chart and no. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. They would have several more hits, their two biggest being "Soul Man" and "I Thank You." "Soul Man" went to no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and no. 1 on the Billboard R&B. "I Thank You" went to no. 9  on the Billboard Hot 100 and no. 4 on the R&B chart. Sam & Dave would have a few more minor hits after "I Thank You." Sam & Dave released three albums on Stax, Hold On I'm Comin' (1966), Double Dynamite (1966), and Soul Men (1967). They released two more albums, I Thank You on Atlantic in 1968 and Back at 'Cha in 1975.

San Moore and Dave Prater did not always get along, and in 1970 they split up. Sam Moore formed an act he called Sam's Soul Together 1970 Review. They released three singles on Atlantic in 1970 and 1971. Sam & Dave would eventually reunite, and toured Turkey in 1972 and England in 1973. They also appeared on American television on shows such as Saturday Night Live. In 1974 and 1975 they recorded new songs. their album Back at 'Cha was released on United Artists in 1975. Sam Morre and Dave Prater split up permanently in 1981. According to Sam Moore, he last spoke to Dave Prater when they walked off stage after their final performance, which was at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco.

Sam Moore spent part of the latter part of his life touring. He performed on the song "You're Not Drinking Enough" on Don Henley's album Building the Perfect Beast. In 1986 he re-recorded "Soul Man" with Lou Reed for the movie of the same name. He recorded songs with Bruce Springsteen for Bruce Springsteen's 1992 album Human Touch. His album , Overnight Sensational was released in 2006.

Later in his career Sam Moore appeared as an actor in such movies as Tapeheads (1988), Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), and Night at the Golden Eagle (2001), and an episode of the TV show Tales of the City.

Sam Moore had a strong, yet smooth tenor voice and there can be not doubt that, along with Dave Prater's voice, it was responsible for much of Sam & Dave's success. At Stax they achieved an energetic, beat-driven style that was heavily influenced by gospel; The would prove to be influential and their songs would be performed by many different artists, most notably The Blues Brothers, but also Elvis Costello, Aretha Franklin, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, ZZ Topp, and many others. While Sam & Dave's success was short-lived, their music has lasted.

Leslie Charleson Passes On

Leslie Charleson,who played Monica Quartermaine on the daytime soap opera General Hospital for almost fifty years, died on January 12 2025 at the age of 79.

Leslie Charleson was born on February 22 1945 in Kansas City, Missouri. Her first acting job came when she was a little girl, appearing in a car commercial alongside her mother. Leslie Charleson first appeared on television in 1964 in a recurring role on the soap opera A Flame in the Wind (renamed A Time for Us in 1965). She was a regular on the soap opera As the World Turns and from 1967 to 1970 she was a regular on Love is a Many Splendored Thing. In the Sixties she also guest starred on the TV shows N.Y.P.D., The Wild Wild West, and Mannix. She made her film debut in 1968 in an uncredited role in A Lovely Way to Die.

It was in 1977 that Leslie Charleson began playing Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital, a role she would play until 2023. In the Seventies she guest starred on the shows Adam-12; O'Hara, U.S. Treasury; Marcus Welby, M.D; Search; The Rookies; Emergency!; Cannon; Medical Center; Ironside; F.B.I.; Owen Marshall: Counsellor at Law; The Streets of San Francisco; Kung Fu; Happy Days; Caribe; Medical Story; Barnaby Jones; Bert D'Angelo/Superstar; McMillan & Wife; and The Rockford Files. She appeared in the movies Day of the Dolphin (1973) and Cheering Section (1977).

In the Nineties Leslie Charleson appeared as Monica Quartermaine in a recurring role on the General Hospital spinoff Port Charles. She guest starred on the shows Diagnosis Murder. Dharma & Greg; and Friends. She appeared in one episode of the short-lived primetime spinoff General Hospital: Night Shift.

Not having watched General Hospital regularly, I can't speak to Leslie Charleson's performance was Monica Quartermaine on the show, but I can say that she gave some good performances in her various guest appearances. In The Wild Wild West episode "The Night of Fire and Brimstone," she played Dooley Sloan, the plucky daughter of Dr. Sloan. On Mannix she played a woman who hires Joe Mannix to investigate a case in which her husband was accused of shooting a pharmacy employee. In the Emergency! episode "Women" she played Christy Todd, a reporter assigned to accompany paramedics John and Roy on their rounds. Leslie Charleson always gave a good performance and was always enjoyable to see regardless of the show on which she was appearing.

Movin' On Up: The 50th Anniversary of The Jeffersons

Fifty years ago today, on January 18 1975, The Jeffersons debuted on CBS. While its ratings fluctuated during its run, The Jeffersons ultimately proved to be one of CBS's most successful shows from the 1970s, and ran for eleven seasons. It would also prove successful in syndication as a rerun. It can still be seen on such television outlets as Antenna TV and TV One.

The Jeffersons centred on George and Louise "Weezy' Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford), who move from a neighbourhood in Queens to a deluxe high-rise apartment complex on East 63rd Street in Manhattan. They had a grown son named Lionel (Michael Evans, Damon Evans), who was engaged and then married to Jenny Willis (Berlinda Tolbert). Jenny was the daughter of the Jeffersons' neighbours in the high-rise, Tom and Helen Willis (Franklin Cover and Roxie Roker), an interracial couple who also had a grown-up son, Alan (Jay Hammer). The Jeffersons had a housekeeper, Florence Johnston, who constantly bickers with and insults George, although the two have some fondness for each other. The Jeffersons' next door neighbour was Harry Bentley (Paul Benedict), an eccentric Englishman who works as a Russian language interpreter at the United Nations. Ralph was the apartment complex's doorman, who constantly insisted on being tipped. Charlie (Danny Wells) operated the bar in the Jeffersons' apartment complex.

The origins of The Jeffersons are complicated and go back to the very first episode of All in the Family, "Meet the Bunkers," in which Mike Evans appeared as Lionel Jefferson, a friend of Archie Bunker's daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and Michael. It was Mike Evans who asked his friend Eric Monte to write a script centred around Lionel Jefferson. While the script was never produced, according to Eric Monte it was in this script that the characters of Louise and George Jefferson originated. In 1977 Eric Monte filed a lawsuit against Norman Lear, CBS, Tandem Productions, and Harry Perenchio, alleging that they had stolen his ideas for The Jeffersons, Good Times, and What's Happening!!. He ultimately received a $1 million settlement and a percentage of the residuals from Good Times.

Regardless, Louise Jefferson first appeared in the eighth episode of All in the Family, "Lionel Moves into the Neighborhood." Her husband George, although referred to on the show, would not appear until the fourth season episode, "Henry's Farewell." Norman Lear had wanted Sherman Hemsley for the role of George as early as the first season, but at the time Sherman Hemsley was appearing on Broadway in Purlie and did not want to leave the production. Until Mr. Hemsley was available to play George, George's younger brother Henry (Mel Stewart). Mel Stewart as Henry left All in the Family once Sherman Hemsley was available to play George.

Lionel, Louise, and George Jefferson weren't the only characters on The Jeffersons to have originated on All in the Family. The Willises also first appeared on The Jeffersons, although played by different actors. They appeared in the episode "Lionel's Engagement." Mr. Willis was played by Charles Aidman. Mrs. Willis was played by Kim Hamilton. Lynne Moody played Jenny. The roles wold re-cast for The Jeffersons. It was also on All in the Family that it was established George Jefferson was a dry cleaner.

During the first five seasons of All in the Family Lionel and Louise were recurring characters on the show. George was a recurring character on All in the Family starting with its fourth season. The genesis for the Jeffersons receiving their own show came about due to three Black Panthers who visited Mr. Lear's office. They pointed out that even in his own productions, Black people were portrayed as being poor. With it having already been established that George Jefferson owned a dry cleaning business, it was then easy enough to spin the characters off into their own show. Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernie West were credited as having created The Jeffersons, while Norman Lear was credited as having developed the show.  George and Louise Jefferson's move to the high-rise apartment complex was portrayed in the All in the Family episode "The Jeffersons Move On Up," which aired a week before the debut of The Jeffersons.

The Jeffersons debuted on January 18 1975, following All in the Family. Some critics were not particularly impressed with the show's debut. Frank S. Swertlow of UPI commented, "The Jeffersons should have an option on their old house. Unless the show perks up, the Jeffersons may have to move back to Queens." Associated Press television writer Jay Sharbutt gave the show a mixed review, writing "It was a good finale for a talented cast saddle with a poor script." While some critics may not have been particularly impressed with the debut episode of The Jeffersons viewers seemed to love the show. It ranked no. 4 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1974-1975 season.

The theme song of The Jeffersons, "Movin' On Up," was written by Ja'net DuBois and Jeff Barry. Ja'net DuBois also sang the theme song, along with a gospel choir. Ja'Net DuBois also worked on another Norman Lear sitcom. She played Willona Woods on Good Times.

For the most part the cast of The Jeffersons was stable, although the show saw some changes over the years. Mike Evans left the show after its first season, so that from the second to fourth seasons, Lionel was played by Damon Evans (no relation). Mike Evans returned to play Lionel with the show's sixth season, although he would be absent for the show's ninth and tenth seasons. Despite Lionel being absent from the show for long stretches of time, Berlinda Tolbert remained with The Jeffersons for its most of its run.

Zara Cully was a regular on The Jeffersons for its first four seasons. She had first appeared in the role of George's mother in the All in the Family episode "Lionel's Engagement." She would not appear in the first 17 episodes of the third season due to a case of pneumonia, but returned to the show upon her recovery. She last appeared in the fourth season in the episode "The Last Leaf," which aired three months after her death. She was 86 years old when she died from lung cancer on February 28 1978. No episode was dedicated to the death of George's mother ever aired, although her passing was acknowledged on the show.

Paul Benedict left The Jeffersons in 1981. It was explained that Bentley had moved to the Soviet Union. He returned for the show's tenth season. Marla Gibbs's departure from The Jeffersons would be much briefer. The character of Florence was spun off into her own sitcom, Checking In, on which she was the head of housekeeping at a hotel. The Jeffersons' new housekeeper was Carmen, played by Roseanna Christiansen. As it turned out, Carmen would only appear in two episodes. Checking In received such low ratings that it only lasted four episodes. Marla Gibbs then returned as Florence to The Jeffersons.

Like many of Norman Lear's productions in the early to mid-Seventies, early in its run The Jeffersons dealt with various issues, including alcoholism, crime, gun control, illiteracy, and suicide. While it would still address various issues throughout its run, over time The Jeffersons evolved into a more traditional sitcom, with George Jefferson often coming up with schemes that Tom Willis would bet wrapped up in.

The Jeffersons was still receiving respectable ratings late in its run. For the 1983-1984 season it ranked no. 19 in the Nielsen ratings for the year. Unfortunately, for the 1984-1985 season The Jeffersons slipped completely out of the top thirty in the Nielsens. CBS abruptly cancelled the show without telling the cast, much less allowing the series to have a proper season finale. Isabel Sanford found out the show had been cancelled from one of the tabloids. Sherman Hemsley read about it in a newspaper. Marla Gibbs also read about it in a newspaper. Franklin Cover heard about it on Entertainment Tonight.

The Jeffersons would go onto a highly successful run in syndication. The Jeffersons would be released on VHS and later DVD. It can be watched on multiple streaming services. What is more, the characters would appear again from time to time. In 1993 much of the cast, including Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, and Marla Gibbs, reunited for a stage production called The Best of The Jeffersons. Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford appeared as George and Weezy in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode "Will is from Mars." They appeared again in the series finale of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in which they bought the Banks's house. Sherman Hemsley and Marla Gibbs appeared as George and Florence i the House of Payne episode "Curtis Jefferson."

The Jeffersons would be one of the shows adapted for the series of specials Live in Front of a Studio Audience. Jamie Foxx played George, Wanda Sykes played Weezy, Kerry Washington played Helen, and Will Ferrell played Tom. Marla Gibbs reprised her role as Florence, making her the only one of the original cast to appear on the special. It aired on May 22 2019 on ABC.

The Jeffersons would be nominated for several Emmy Awards with regards to its cast. Isabel Sanford was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series six times and she won once. Marla Gibbs was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Seires five times. Sherman Hemsley was nominated for playing Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series once. The show also won the Emmy for Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Series in 1983.

In some ways The Jeffersons was a groundbreaking sitcom. It was one of the earliest situation comedies to centre on a middle class Black family, an upper middle class one at that. It was the first sitcom to feature an couple in which a white person was married to a Black person (Tom and Helen Willis) as regulars. It was the first Black sitcom to rank in the top five since Sanford and Son and the second longest running Black sitcom (House of Payne beat it by one episode). Some have perceived The Jeffersons as lapsing into stereotypes, particularly in its early days. In the end, The Jeffersons changed the narrative for African Americans on television. It paved the way for the portrayal of Black families who were successful and even affluent. Of course, The Jeffersons remains a popular sitcom as well as a pioneering one. It can still be found on TV outlets to this day.