An Update

For those of you wondering why I haven't posted much this month, I have been under the weather. My tree pollen allergies have gone berserk. At the same time, my blood pressure medication was increased, which resulted in some side effects. I also have  one other health concern, but I am not ready to mention it here until I see my doctor this week. I will tell you I don't think it is anything too serious. Anyway, with any luck I will get back to regularly posting soon.

A Round Up of Posts on the TCM Classic Film Festival 2023

I have never gotten to attend the TCM Classic Film Festival, so I have to live vicariously though my fellow bloggers who do attend. Each year, then, I collect posts on the Festival. Here are some from this year. I will update it as more posts are published.

Backlots:
"2023 TCM Classic Film Festival"
"TCM Classic Film Festival Day 1"
"TCM Classic Film Festival Day 2"

Comet Over Hollywood:
"Comet Over Hollywood: Turner Classic Movies Classic Film Festival 2023"

Laura's Miscellaneous Musings:
"The 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival Day One"
"The 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival Day Two"
"The 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival Day Three"
"The 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival Day Four"
"The 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival Day Five"

Out of the Past:
"2023 TCM Classic Film Festival: Day #1 Recap"
"2023 TCM Classic Film Festival: Day #2 Recap"
"2023 TCM Classic Film Festival: Day #3 Recap"
"2023 TCM Classic Film Festival: Day #4 Recap"

"Here, There and Everywhere" by The Beatles

I have not been feeling well of late, which is why I have not posted much on this blog this week. Tonight I thought I would then leave you with one of my favourite songs by The Beatles and one of my favourite songs written by Paul McCartney. This is an animated video created by the London based firm Trunk Animation. They have also created videos for other Beatles songs, including "Back in the U.S.S.R." and "Glass Onion."

Two Unusual Homes on Late Fifties Sitcoms

The late Fifties was the era of domestic sitcoms like The Donna Reed Show and Leave It to Beaver. The families on these shows generally lived in suburban homes that were almost always two storeys. There were at least two exceptions during this era. One centred on a group of hillbillies who migrated from the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia to a farm in the San Fernando Valley. The other centred on the teenage son of a small town grocer.

The Real McCoys debuted on October 3 19457 on ABC and centred on the family of the title, who inherited a farm in the San Fernando Valley from an uncle. This alone made it different from the many sitcoms set in the suburbs of the time. Further setting them apart was the fact that their house was only a single storey. In the pilot a house on the Iverson Ranch was used. It had appeared in movies from Outlaws of Boulder Pass (1942) to Don't Knock the Rock (1956). For the regular series a house resembling the one on the Iverson Ranch was built on the old RKO Forty Acres lot, that had recently been bought by Desilu. Such classic films as King Kong (1933) and Gone with the Wind (1939) had been filmed there. The first season of The Adventures of Superman and later The Andy Griffith Show and Batman would be filmed there.

As might be expected, the living room on The Real McCoys looked a bit old fashioned, with furniture that probably went back to the Victorian era. The same was true of the bedrooms, down to their wrought iron beds To a lesser degree, the same could be said of its kitchen/dining room. The McCoy's home offered a sharp contrast to the many Mid-Century Modern suburban homes featured on other sitcoms.

While the McCoys lived in the country, the Gillis family on Dobie Gillis lived in the fictional town of Central City. Dobie Gillis centred on the girl-crazy teenager of the title (Dwayne Hickman), who was the son of the owner of a neighbourhood grocery store (Frank Faylen). As was typical of such neighbourhood groceries, the Gillis family lived above the store. This already sets it apart from many domestic sitcoms of the era. Of course, being located above a grocery, the Gillis home was also located in a downtown district rather than a residential area. In establishing shots of the downtown, other businesses are visible, including King Drug Store (a Rexall Pharmacy) and the State Hotel. From various episodes it would appear that Charlie Wong's ice cream parlour, Riff Ryan's Music Store, the Bijou Theatre, and Ziegler's clothing store are all within walking distance of the grocery. Even further setting it apart is that very little of the action on the show actually takes place in the Gillis home. It usually takes place in the grocery or at Central City High (later S. Peter Pryor Junior College), with some scenes at the local ice cream parlour on occasion.

When scenes do take place in the Gillis home, it is often in the dining room/kitchen or Dobie's bedroom. The Gillis home is set apart from the various domestic sitcoms in that its dining room and kitchen are combined, but other than that the dining room/kitchen is similar to what one might see on other sitcoms of the time, complete with a toaster and a refrigerator (albeit a small one). Dobie's bedroom is also what one would expect from a teenager living in the late Fifties. Pictures and sports pennants decorate the wall, and a lamp sets on a night stand by the bed. There is apparently a tree outside the bedroom window, which explains how Dobie's pal Maynard (Bob Denver) is able to enter the room by way of the window (Dobie's room is on the second storey, above the grocery store). The Glllis family does have a living room, although its appearance could vary from episode to episode. Sometimes it has a table for dining when they have guests, sometimes it doesn't. When the table does appear, its position in the living room may vary. What is consistent about the Gillis living room is that it has a couch, several cabinets filled with knick knacks, and armchairs. Like many old-time, downtown stores, the Gillis Grocery also had a basement, as seen in first season episode "The Chicken from Outer Space." In the end, the Gillis home is a sharp contrast to the homes seen on such shows as The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and The Donna Reed Show.

Of course, both The Real McCoys and Dobie Gillis differed from other shows of the late Fifties in other ways. The Real McCoys was the first of the rural sitcoms, which set it apart from the sitcoms set in the suburbs. Although it debuted in 1959, Dobie Gillis had much more in common with such sitcoms of the Sixties as Bewitched and The Monkees than it did Father Knows Best and Leave It to Beaver. I will say that of the two homes I prefer the Gillis home to the McCoys' home. I grew up on a farm and we had a better house than the McCoys, complete with Mid-Century Modern furnishings. Besides, I think it would have been fun living above a grocery store. Think about it. One would never have to go far to get groceries!

The Late Great Newton Minow

Newton Minow, who served as the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (BCC) under President John F. Kennedy, died on May 6 2023 at the age of 97. He remains well-known for his speech before the National Association of Broadcasters on May 9 1961. Officially titled, "Television and the Public Interest," it would become known as "the Vast Wasteland" speech.

Newton Minow was born on January 7 1926 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During World War II he served in the United States Army. Following the war he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University and then a Juris Doctor from  Northwestern University School of Law. He went to work for the law firm of  Mayer, Brown & Platt and then became a law clerk to Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson of the U.S. Supreme Court. He became an assistant counsel to Adlai Stevenson, Governor of Illinois, and was afterwards a partner in  law firm of Stevenson, Rifkind & Wirtz. It was in 1961 that President John F. Kennedy appointed Newton Minow as the Chairman of the FCC.

Newton Minow would have an enormous impact as the Chairman of the FCC. He supported passage of the All-Channel Receiver Act of 1962, which required all television manufacturers to include a UHF tuner on their sets. This made UHF television stations more viable. He was also influential with regards to satellite communications. He pushed through the licence for a test of Telstar that occurred in July 1962.He also campaigned for Congress to pass legislation related to communications satellites. While these achievements are arguably greater that the "Vast Wasteland" speech, Mr. Minow remains best known for that speech. Although the speech is remembered for the phrase "vast wasteland," it was not a condemnation of all television programming. Instead he was reminding broadcasters that they must serve the public interest and as a result they must do better. Indeed,  he cited a number of television shows he considered to be of quality, including Kraft Theatre and The Twilight Zone.

After serving as the Chairman of the FCC, Newton Minow would do further work in communications. He sat on the Board of Governors of National Educational Television and its successor the Public Broadcasting Service. From 1978 to 1980 he was Chairman of PBS. He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Carnegie Corporation, a foundation founded by Andrew Carnegie "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding" and one of PBS's chief sponsors.

Newton Minow later worked as senior counsel at Sidney Austin LLP. Later he served as Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Singapore.

Newton Minow also wrote books, including Inside the Presidential Debates: Their Improbable Past and Promising Future, and Abandoned in the Wasteland: Children, Television, and the First Amendment.

Newton Minow would have an enormous impact, both as FCC Chairman and as a private individual. He was important in the passage of the All Receivers Act, which required all television sets to have UHF receivers. The requirement that all TV sets have UHF tuners would allow ABC to expand until it was finally competitive with NBC and CBS. It would also allow for the proliferation of independent television stations and public television stations. His support of thee Communications Satellite Act of 1962 and INTELSAT helped pave the way for communications satellites. As to his speech "Television and the Public Interest," it would lead to the networks airing more news coverage and educational content throughout the Sixties and Seventies. Newton Minow also supported public television. In the end Newton Minow may have had more impact than any other FCC Chairman. Indeed, he may have had more impact on television and communications than most of those who actually in the industry.

Guy Lee, One of the Actors Who Played Charlie Wong on Dobie Gillis

Guy Lee, Dwayne Hickman,
and Shelia James from Dobie Gillis 

Guy Lee is not among the best known Asian American actors, but he is remembered by many for playing ice cream parlour owner Charlie Wong on the classic sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Guy Lee more or less shared the role with fellow actor James Yagi, and it was not unusual for Guy Lee play Charlie in one episode and then James Yagi to appear as Charlie in the next. Guy Lee was the first of the two play the part, in the episode "Maynard's Farewell to Arms." In the next episode in which Charlie appeared, "The Old Goat," it was James Yagi who played the role. Guy Lee ultimately played Charlie the most, appearing in five episodes. He last appeared in "A Taste for Lobster," episode 38 of the first season. As to James Yagi, he appeared in four episodes as Charlie Wong, last appearing in "The Flying Millicans," episode 18 of the first season. Charlie Wong no longer appeared on the show after the first season.

Aside from The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Guy Lee made two guest appearances on Bonanza (playing a different role each time), and also guest starred on episodes of Richard Diamond, Private Detective; Death Valley Days; Honey West; Ironside; and others. He also appeared in such movies as Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962) and One More Train to Rob (1971).

Guy Lee's biggest impact may have been as an agent who represented such Asian American actors as B. D. Wong and John Lone, as well as an activist. He took over The Bessie Loo Talent Agency, which represented Asian American actors, from Bessie Loo, who had been an actress, when she retired. Guy Lee & Associates was still in operation as of 2019. Guy Lee was a co-founder and board member of the Association of Asian Pacific American Artists, which was founded in 1976 to right stereotyping and promote a more realistic portrayal of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in movies and television. He was among the many Asian Americans who protested the casting of British actor Jonathan Pryce as the engineer in the Broadway production of Miss Saigon rather than an Asian  actor.

Guy Lee died on November 22 1993 at the age of 66 from cancer. While it is likely he will always be best remembered as Charlie Wong on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, he did so much more.

The Late Great Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot, the legendary singer/songwriter who had such hits as "If You Could Read My Mind," "Sundown," and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," died on May 1 2023 at the age of 84.

Gordon Lightfoot was born on November 7 1938 in Orillia, Ontario. His mother encouraged his musical talent and he started performing while still young. He sang in the choir of St. Paul's United Church in Orillia and he performed from time to time on local radio in Orillia. When he was twelve years old he appeared at Massey Hall in Toronto for the first time. In high school he was competed in track-and-field, and even set school records for for shot-put and pole vault. He studied music at the University of Toronto. He was twenty years old when he moved to Los Angeles and studied jazz composition at the Westlake College of Music in Hollywood.

After two years Gordon Lightfoot returned to Toronto. He performed on the CBC television program Country Hoedown as part of the  Singin' Swingin' Eight. He also performed as the various coffee houses around Toronto, both as a soloist and as a part of folk ensembles. His first single, "(Remember Me) I'm the One," was released in 1962. It went to no. 3 on the Canadian singles chart. It was followed by "It's Too Late, He Wins" and "Adios, Adios" that same year. In 1963 he moved to the United Kingdom where he hosted the BBC's  Country and Western Show. He returned to Canada in 1964. His first album, Lightfoot!, was released in 1966. In 1967 he was commissioned by the CBC to write the "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" for the television special One Hundred Years Young, celebrating Canada's centennial. He also performed the song in the special. In 1970 he appeared on the CBC's The Wayne & Shuster Comedy Special.

It was also in 1970 that he signed with Warner Bros./Reprise. This would result in Gordon Lightfoot's first hit in the United States. His single "If You Could Read My Mind" went to no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and no. 1 on the Canadian singles chart. That same year his album Sit Down Young Stranger (from which "If You Could Read My Mind' was from) went to no. 12 on both the Billboard album chart and the Canadian album chart.

The Seventies would see Gordon Lightfoot release several successful albums. He would also have some of his biggest hits during the decade. His song "Sundown" went to no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. That same year "Carefree Highway" went to no. 10 on the chart. The following year "Rainy Day People" reached 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. The year 1976 produced his second biggest hit, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," which peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Seventies marked the peak of Gordon Lightfoot's popular success, but he recorded seven more albums from 1982 to 2020. He also continued to perform and appear on television. Mr. Lightfoot wold also have two acting roles. He appeared in Western Harry Tracy, Desperado (1982) and a 1988 episode of the TV series Hotel.

Gordon Lightfoot was an incredible talent. He was gifted with a rich baritone with which he could convey any emotion. More importantly, he was an incredible songwriter. Mr. Lightfoot told stories with his songs. "If You Could Read My Mind" addressed the failure of a romantic relationship. With "Don Quixote" he dealt with the famous character from Cervantes's novel. "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" told the story of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior on November 10 1975. Gordon Lightfoot was a skilled lyricist who told compelling stories capable of moving his listeners.