Seventy Years of "Roll Over Beethoven"

It was seventy years ago today, on April 16, 1956, that Chuck Berry recorded the song "Roll Over Beethoven" at the Universal Recording Corp. studio in Chicago. Supposedly the song was inspired by Chuck Berry's real life. His sister Lucy was trained in classical music, while Chuck Berry was a self-taught rhythm-and-blues/rock 'n' roll performer. 

"Roll Over Beethoven" proved to be a hit for Chuck Berry. It went to no. 2 on the Billboard rhythm and blues chart and no. 29 on the pop chart. It has also been covered multiple times. Even before The Beatles became The Beatles, "Roll Over Beethoven" was one of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrision's favourite songs. They would record it for their second album, With The Beatles, in 1963. Another famous cover of the song was by the Electric Light Orchestra, who recorded it for their 1973 album ELO 2. This version opened with notes from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and included material from the symphony withing the song itself. Released as a single, it went to no. 6 on the UK singles chart. The song has also been covered by such artists as The Flairs, The Vanguards, The Astronauts, The Sonics, Mountain, Climax, Uriah Heep, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Flamin' Groovies, and others.

Without further ado, here is the one and only original "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry.

John Nolan Passes On

John Nolan, who played Geoff Hardcastle on Doomwatch, antagonist John Greer on Person of Interest and Wayne Enterprises board member Douglas Fredericks in Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), died on April 11, 2026, at the age of 87.

John Nolan was born on May 22, 1938 in Westminster, London. His nephews were director Christopher Nolan and screenwriter Jonathan Nolan. In the 1960s John Nolan toured Ireland with a "Fit Up" company. He studied acting at the Drama Centre in London. He was part of the Royal Court Company before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company. He had roles in Julius Caesar, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and other productions. He would later become part of Trevor Nunn’s innovative National Theatre ensemble company.

John Nolan made his television debut in an episode of The Prisoner in 1967. In the late Sixties, he guest starred on Hadleigh and Strange Report. He starred in the mini-series Daniel Deronda and played Geoff Hardcastle on Doomwatch, In the Seventies, he appeared in the mini-series Shabby Tiger and guest starred on Thriller, Marked Personal, The Sweeney, Six Days of Justice, General Hospital, The Sunday Drama, The Rag Trade, 1990, Target,, Return of the Saint, Crown Court, Enemy at the Door, and ITV Playhouse. He appeared in the movie Shabby Tiger. He appeared in the movies Bequest to the Nation (1973), Terror (1979), and The World is Full of Married Men (1980). In 1998, he appeared in the movie Following.

In the Naughts, John Nolan appeared on the shows Victoria and Silent Witness. He appeared in Batman Begins (2005). In the Teens, he appeared as John Greer on the show Person of Interest and the movie The Dark Knight Rises (2012). In 2017, he appeared in the movie Dunkirk.  In 2024, he appeared on the show Dune:Prophecy. 

John Nolan was an incredible talent who could play a wide variety of roles. He was the somewhat irritable, but intellectually curious scientist Geoff Hardcastle on Doomwatch. In Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Returns, he played Douglas Fredericks, the Wayne Enterprises board member who was loyal to the memory of Thomas Wayne and to his son Bruce Wayne. On Person of Interest, he played John Greer, the MI^ officer who comes to serve Samaritan, a super-intelligent but amoral computer system. John Nolan could play any number of roles and play all of them well. 

Actress Jessie Jones Passes On

Actress Jessie Jones, who guest starred on shows from Newhart to Murphy Brown, died on March 20, 2026, at the age of 75 following a long illness. 

Jessie Jones was born on August 21, 1950 in the Texas Panhandle. She attended the University of Texas and began her acting career at a local theatre in Austin. She met Nicholas Hope, who cast her in a play. She moved to New York City to act in the theatre, and then went to Hollywood.

Jessie Jones made her television debut in an episode of Hooperman . In the late Eighties, she guest starred on the shows Newhart, Night Court, Murphy Brown, Designing Women, and Perfect Strangers. In the Nineties, she guest starred on the shows Who's the Boss?, Fudge, Grace Under Fire, The Crew, Caroline in the City, Weird Science, Melrose Place, Unhappily Ever After, and You're the One. She appeared in the movies Switch (1991) and Ed and His Dead Mother (1993). In the Naughts, she appeared on the shows Judging Amy and Cold Case. 

Jessie Jones also wrote plays with Jamie Wooten and Nicholas Hope, including The Sweet Delilah Swim Club, Christmas Belles, and Dearly Beloved. She also wrote episodes of the shows Teacher's Pet and For Your Love. The movie Kingdom Come (2001) was based on the Jones Hope Wooten play Dearly Departed

Godspeed James Tolkan

Character actor James Tolkan, who played Mr. Strickland in the Back to the Future movies and appeared in yet other movies from Wolfen (1981) to Dick Tracy (1990), died on March 26, 2026, at the age of 94.

James Tolkan was born on June 20, 1931 in Calumet, Michigan. He graduated from Amphitheatre High School in Tucson, Arizona in 1949. He served in the United States Navy, but was discharged in under a year due to a heart condition. He attended Coe College and then graduated from the University of Iowa in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts. He then moved to New York City where he studied acting under Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg at The Actors Studio. A classmate was Warren Beatty.

James Tolkan made his television debut in 1960 in an episode of Naked City. In the Sixties, he guest starred on the TV shows Armstrong Circle Theatre and N.Y.P.D. He made his debut on Broadway in 1964 in The Three Sisters. He also appeared on Broadway in Wait Until Dark in 1966. He made his movie debut in the film adaptation of The Three Sisters (1966) and appeared in the movie Stiletto (1969).

In the Seventies, James Tolkan appeared on Broadway in the productions Mary Stuart, Narrow Road to the Deep North, 42 Seconds from Broadway, Full Circle, Golda, and Wings. He appeared in the movies They Might Be Giants (1971), The Werewolf of Washington (1973), The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), Serpico (1973), Love and Death (1975), Abduction (1975), and The Amityville Horror (1979). He guest starred on the TV show Ourstory.

In the Eighties, James Tolkan played Mr. Strickland in Back to the Future (1985) and Back to the Future Part II (1989), and Mr. Strickland's ancestor Marshal Strickland in Back to the Future Part III (1990). He also appeared in the movies Wolfen (1981), Prince of the City (1981), Hanky Panky (1982), Author! Author! (1982), WarGames (1983), Nightmares (1983), Iceman (1984), The River (1984), Turk 182 (1985), Walls of Glass (1985), Off Beat (1986), Top Gun (1986), Armed and Dangerous (1986), Masters of the Universe (1987), Made in Heaven (1987), Split Decisions (1988), Viper (1988), True Blood (1989), Second Sight (1989), Ministry of Vengeance (1989), Family Business (1989), Opportunity Knocks (1990), and Dick Tracy (1990). He appeared on Broadway in Glengarry Glenn Ross. On television, he was a regular on the short-lived show Mary, starring Mary Tyler Moore. He had a recurring role on Remington Steele. He guest starred on the shows American Playhouse, Hill Street Blues, The Disney Sunday Movie, Miami Vice, The Equalizer, Sunset Beat, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

In the Nineties, James Tolkan had regular roles on the short-lived shows The Hat Squad and Cobra. He guest starred no the shows Tales from the Crypt, Tequila and Bonetti, The Wonder Years, Nowhere Man, Early Edition, and The Pretender. He appeared in the movies Hangfire (1991), Driving Me Crazy (1991), Problem Child 2 (1991), Boiling Point (1993), River of Stone (1994), Underworld (1996), and Robo Warriors (1996).

In the Naughts, James Tolkan was part of the repertory cast of the TV series A Nero Wolfe Mystery. He appeared in the movies Seven Times Lucky (2004) and Heavens Fall (2006). In the Teens, he appeared in the movie Bone Tomahawk (2015).

James Tolkan was best known for playing forceful, often intimidating characters, of which Mr. Strickland may be the best example. They were the sort of roles at which he excelled, but he could play other sorts of roles as well. On A Nero Wolfe Mystery alone, he played everything from  FBI Special Agent in Charge of the New York Office Richard Wragg in "The Doorbell Rang" to president of a holding company Avery Ballou in "Death of a Doxy." In Leverage he played evil millionaire Dean Chesney, who actually steals a heart from a young boy desperately in need of a transplant. He could so comedy, and played Napoleon Bonaparte in Love and Death (1975). James Tolkan was an enormous talent and could play a large array of roles. 

"Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)" from Jesus Christ Superstar

I am feeling under the weather due to my seasonal allergies, so I don't feel up to a full post. With Easter Sunday just past and it still being Easter season, I thought I would share my favourite song from one of my favourite Easter movies. "Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)" from Jesus Christ Superstar dramatises the Agony in the Garden of Gethsamane thst Jesus Christ experienced after the Last Supper according to the Gospels. This clip is from the 1973 movie directed by Norman Jewison.

Happy Easter 2026

For many of those who celebrate it, Easter means chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs. Here at a Shroud of Thoughts, we realize there are many who would appreciate cheesecake with their usual Easter goodies. Here, then, are this year's vintage Easter pinups.

First up is Jeff Donnel who is making friends with an Easter bunny.

Here is Phyllis Davis and another Easter Bunny.

Elke Sommer loves her toy Easter Bunny.

Here is Mary Brodel with a little bunny and a really big egg.

And here is Dorothy Hart with a really big bunny and a really big egg.

And here is Ann Miller on an Easter egg hunt! 

Happy Easter!!!!!

"Easter Parade" by Judy Garland and Fred Astaire

Today has been something of a hectic day, so I will leave you with a tune befitting the season. From the 1948 movie of the same name, here is Judy Garland and Fred Astaire's rendition of "Easter Parade" by "Irving Berlin." The song made its first appearance in the 1933 Broadway musical revue As Thousands Cheer.