THURSDAY and ANOTHER EDITIONS OF.....

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon .

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1)      Since they allow tie-breakers up until the 5^th set at Wimbledon would it not be worthwhile to go all the way and allow them at the 5^th set as well?  If they really want to stick with tradition they should not have tie-breakers at all.   What would the queen say?  She is probably at the Polo Ponies (or is it, as Jackie Gleason famously said  Polloponies)

2)      Why are writers so amazed when Federer loses some tournaments and call it the end of an era.  No player can last forever---none have and 28 is a ripe old age in tennis.

3)      If there are Gay Pride parades should there not be Heterosexual Pride parades?  I doubt it is written anywhere that your sexual orientation, your race, your religion requires an acknowledgement of “pride”---it’s just a fact.  How about a Sunrise Pride Parade---also a fact and it happens everyday.

4)      Never thought I would see the day when a Helen Mirrin film would be panned by the NY Times and compared unfavorably  to some sleaze from HBO billed as a documentary---“Cathouse”.  Her film may be bad but HBO is nothing but a bit of porno on cable.

5)      I am always amazed, when thinking back to some sporting goods stores of yore, that Modells is still there (albeit a corporate giant) when the Davegas, the Vims, and such are gone.  I never would have picked Modell to last---it was the grimiest of them all.  Now it is the ---as Gilbert and Sullivan said---The Model of A Modern Major General (Sporting Goods Store)----overpriced name brands and all.

6)      Speaking of stores of yore---gone but not forgotten---to this person---Lafayette Electronics (you got your tubes tested---not bad---no Urologist needed), Trader Horn, Chock Full O Nuts, The Automat (they still own a lot of the real estate and are the largest purveyor of franchised fast food in NYC), and, of course, all those nice local businesses that are now gone and replaced by the corporate giants---Staples ( for the local stationer), The Corner Kosher Deli—(no one really unless you think Hebrew National is a personal friend), and so many more including the local butcher who recently retired his thumb that pressed on a scale and retired along with that digit.

7)      One has to be amazed how old becomes new---and fashionable and pricey.  “Balaboosta” is a Yiddish expression for “Boss of the House”(usually the woman) and now that the lower East Side is not the land of immigrant tenements anymore but an “in” place there is a restaurant serving the food Mama might never have served at the humble immigrant table and for a much higher price.  Shamefully, named Balaboosta.  I wonder if the clientele even know what the hell that is all about.

8)      In speaking of restaurants let me have a brief remembrance of authentic Hungarian restaurant that had dinners (all prepared individually) from soup to ---well, not nuts but better—Crepes—for 12.95.  The NY Times critic once recalled that is was like a stop at her psychiatrist to recall all those good times of her youth---and a cheaper session.  Mocca.   It was on 2d Avenue and 81^st St in NYC.  Long gone. 

9)      Summer Camps that make the campers stay in semi-rough surroundings and make their own entertainment, offer sports and crafts avoiding the electronic games and pop entertainment are really good character builders.  Also---they should also wait their own tables for some sense of responsibility.   Best to avoid the ones that offer hotel like accommodations ---unless you want to create your own monster.

10)                    Strangely summer camp fees are approaching college tuition.  Maybe they should offer partial life experience degrees---if they offer life experience as described above.

 

Senator Robert Byrd---A Remembrance

There are only a few people who can be leading statespeople (note the political correctness in that word) and also record some brilliant music and all the while still be taken seriously as leading political lights.  Robert Byrd was such a person.

TRADITIONS was on yesterday and had the Senator passed on prior to the program rest assured what you will see below would have been included.  Happily he lived longer than the time that is allotted to the program.

No sense to go into his many accomplishments, his strength of character, his ability to change, and more here since you have probably heard them many times on NPR and the like today.  Briefly--


Raised by and uncle and aunt and dirt poor (his mother died before he was 1), joined the KKK later, apologized later, served in the Statehouse of his state then on to Congress---and now dying as the longest serving Senator.  A Senator who truly embodied the tradition of what the Senate was and should be.  He carried with him a copy of the Constitution and was proud to talk of the equality of the 3 branches of government---and never as strongly as when he chastised the Bush Administration for riding roughshod over the Constitution and the equality of the 3 branches.  He was also one of the rare politicians (statespeople) who was willing to apoligize for mistakes made----KKK,  his vote for Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, and was also willing to name the names in the Bush administration that he felt have usurped the Constitution.  

If you read, a while back, the novel Advise and Consent he was not the Southern senator depicted there.  Truly a man open to change and to honesty---and, finally, we get to what this is about since you can read and hear about Sen. Byrd on radio, TV, and forthcoming books (for sure).  He was a talented musician.

We have Ralph Stanley, The Osbornes, Bill Monroe---but there is also a wonderful practitioner of the form---Sen. Byrd.  In fact, at many of his rallys he performed and was known to say that people of his W Virginia area believe in 2 things---well, maybe a few more but this is a praphrase---God and Robert Byrd. So as to his music---time to see a video of some music he made on a recording issued by County Records---honesty now---what is not on YouTube these days---but the good part is it preserves our history so well.



To be able to be talented in this area and have it respected by his peers and still be a leading and, frankly, honest light in the Senate the Shakespeare comment comes back to us once again---"....when shall we ever see his like again".

THURSDAY--Another Edition of......:

The weekly flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1) The more I think about it the more I realize that radio is what it is supposed to be on WFDU---eclectic, multi-genre, hosts present what they feel appropriate, and, of course, the fact that a real on air person picks up a phone---it really is “The Right Place On The Left Side of The Dial”. The rest is left to your thoughts. Oh---only one fund raiser a year which garners over 90% fulfillment –a record (Simcha had 100%---such a Kvell).


2) The ASPCA should really try to get Brian (of Family Guy) to be their spokesperson. It could be the next evolutionary step for the canine world against the human world.


3) The judge hearing the case for banning drilling in the Gulf rejected the argument because the government did not prove it unsafe. He is now an oil drilling expert I suppose and, as I recall, BP’s work there was also fairly safe---according to them and the government.


4) I bet you cannot guess what company is having a windfall from the publicity regarding how its product helps clean up those poor critters that are oil soaked. Of course they are not going to mention that it, as much else in our lives, is petroleum based.


5) The World Cup is entrancing the world and, while I do believe it more interesting than U S Football, I have to wonder why that is given the lack of scoring and the unending clock. Tennis, to me, is still more fascinating even though I heard that Federer was behind at Wimbledon (and then won) but during a break was concerned about the World Cup scores---eclectic fellow.


6) Tennis, at least, does not puncture anyone’s ear drums with the sounds found in World Cup (horns), Baseball (bugle calls), and oh so many more invasions of those poor overworked aural canals.


7) I know that times and issues are different but one really has to call the Gen. McChrystal business Pres. Obama’s “Harry Truman Moment”—even Lincoln hesitated regarding Gen. McClellan.


8) In the continuing quest for the answers to Bob Dylan’s ever so deep questions ( some covered in the last few weeks) the question now is ---why won’t he work on Maggie’s Farm anymore? Seemed like it worked out, metaphorically, quite well for him during the heyday of the folk protest movement that he seemed to want to rise above.


9) That was a great documentary about Bill Kunstler on POV this past week. What a wonderful project his daughters created---warts and all. That is real honesty. Just like the daughter of Ramblin’ Jack Elliot a few years back.


10) I liked what the lady who handles jury selection said when she got to the question about waiving your Jury fee---“..never saw anyone say yes to that and if they did I would have to wonder about their competence to serve”. Great sense of humor from truly not over-worked civil servant.

11)  You have to hand it to the Brits and Wimbledon---no tie breakers for them.  Now we have the longest game ever played---time now to sing "Tradition"

THURSDAY--Another Edition of......:

The weekly flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon .

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......




1) It always surprises me when you see some educated people you expect to know certain things---and don’t and then find people less educated—and they do. One of the true cliches in this world has to do with books and their covers. It also works for books.


2) However the NY archaic divorce law debate ends it just proves Robert Klein’s brilliant song last week (HBO) correct with regard to gay marriage---they should be allowed to be as unhappy as anyone else.


3) It’s getting to look a lot like recent old times with this administration. Charismatic leadership and dynamism ended with Harry Truman (which was begat by FDR) and briefly resurrected by Ronald Reagan (in the passing of time which is now history).


4) Yesterday was Bloomsday---obscure but commemorated over the world. I wish I had known James Joyce since an aunt and uncle did and he was, besides, a great writer a humanitarian who effected the saving of many—well, some—Jews from that nasty Adolf.


5) Oh glory the Shinecock Indians are now recognized as a tribe and they can now fulfill their dreams by going back to their traditional way of life---Casinos. Oh glory to the great spirit.


6) Don’t “Day Traders” have something in common with “Day Gamblers” in Vegas and AC? Don’t call them investors unless you want to call the Vegas crowd “wheel” or “card” investors.


7) Do new ideas for TV programs really run out? Given this period it seems so---and you do not have to look even past 10-15 years.


8) PBS is to be congratulated for having no commercials---merely fund-raisers every other week recycling past programs and appearance by guys in bad hairpieces. I always look for the copyright date on their credits---if it is within the past 2 years it is truly an arousing moment. Yep---you got it right!


9) Alex Trebeck has no great talent and that is his great talent which has kept this program (Jeopardy) on since the first contestant---not sure if it was before his time---I believe it was Abraham who talked a bit about Sarah and the desert in his brief interview. A very “shtubbable” lady who blessed him with many children---and they all got into the college of their choice—only one available at the time—as he stated. CDU---Canaan Desert University. They had a major in sand. They also had a nice radio station==WCDU---followed thousands of years later by one with very close call letters and located next to many “Lantsmen”.


10) More questions about some Dylan lyrics—it was already asked about How Many Roads Must a Man Travel until he gets a GPS, The Answer is Blowing in the Wind---but, what is the question—and now one has to wonder about that Blue Eyed Son---everything that happens to him causes a Hard Rain to Fall. Would that he had an umbrella---or a helmet since this could be a hailstorm. So many questions and so few answers for such a deep thinker.

THURSDAY--Another Edition of......:

The weekly flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1) It is strange that Helen Thomas said what she did since she should have a better grasp of historical fact since she looks like she has been around since the beginning of recorded history.

2) You have to wonder why someone with a somewhat sterling career insists on clouding it just as that sun is setting and she is going the way of print media---sad about print media, not sad about such a person.


3) Pixies, Gorillaz, Klaxons (OK you probably never heard of them---neither did I) have cancelled their Israeli tour along with Elvis Costello (OK you heard of him) because of the Flotilla incident; so, I wonder what made some mindless music makers mavens of monumental moments in diplomacy.


4) If Hamas had its way the groups that would have toured would have had no place to tour.


5) How sad it is that all those suicide bombers and terrorists got to the Pearly Gates (or wherever they were supposed to go) and discovered that it was not Virgins but Virginians ---and they beat the hell out of them. They really should have had a spell check on their marching orders. As to Virgins---don’t these folks ever want anyone with experience?


6) It always surprises me when I think something or somebody is universally known and it turns out people never heard of it or that person. I guess that brings us back to the old Odd Couple expression from Felix (Tony Randall) –“Never assume—it makes and ass out of u and me”


7) A program at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Newark) has a program for dying patients that you should read about in the NY Times (6/8/10). It will bring, not only a tear or two, but might make you wonder how you can get involved in something like this.


8) It is great to see the positive theater review in the NY Times that starts with “.... a new hero has come to town and his name is Hershelle. Hershelle Ostropolier.”. Either they agreed with me---or more likely me with them---though check below and see it here first.


9) How many people recall this holiday---Juneteenth Day? We’ll address that this Sunday on Traditions.


10) If the answer is blowing in the wind then where did the question come from---and what was it?

REVIEW---THE ADVENTURES OF HERSHELLE OSTROPOLYER

A bit of a tongue twister to the uninitiated to be sure. A simpler and briefer start to this is to tell you that it is now playing at the National Yiddish Theater (Folksbiene) in the Baruch Center for The Arts  in NYC (25th St. /Lexington Ave.).  The brief run ends on June 27.2010.

This is a musical play based on a real, supposedly, folk hero of a play written by Moishe Gershenson.  The cast includes--and not in order of appearance---Mike Burstyn (Hershelle), I W Firestone (Reb Kalmen) Dani Marcus (Tsipke), Daniella Rabbani (Dvoshe) and a bevy of other talented artists.

If the children of Tevya were orphans and one of them wanted to marry this might well have been her story.  A comedic tale in the tradition of Fiddler, Gilbert and Sullivan, and totally Yiddish in concept with music to add to that concept. And also totally equal to the power and story line of Fiddler on the Roof thanks to this brilliant cast and the interpretation of the director.

An opening number featuring the entire cast singing the number in Yiddish and each chorus of that in English is musically brilliant and then shifts to the entrance of the two lovers singing entirely in Yiddish (fear not---supertitles in English and Russian (?) for that and the rest of the show.  Enter, then, our hero---Hershelle (Mike Burstyn) in a number that will floor anyone who sees it. 

The two lovers have, of course, a problem and the only thing standing in their way is Reb Kalmen---the Pawnbroker who holds the ring of the girl's grandmother that is needed for the wedding and can only be returned to her. She, however, is dead.    

What transpires to bring off a wonderful wedding thanks to Hershelle and to the many characters he creates to fool, not only, Reb Kalman, the pawnbroker and miser (I W Firestone), Genendl (Lori Wilner), Zaydl (Steve Sterner) and the redemption of Kalman in the likes of Scrooge is a wonderful tale filled with some joyous music that will have everyone's feet tapping.

While Mike Burstyn will totally grab you with his solo numbers---and even his Michael Jackson "moonwalk"--there are numbers that have the power to move you in so many ways---Meshuge, Koynim (where are the Customers) , and so many more.  

Eleanor Reissa directed and choreographed this production and Zalmen  Mlotek (with thanks to his mother for initially starting the project---years ago) is the musical director for the Folksbiene.

The credits could go on for a long time since the lighting, stage setting, and all the other accoutrement need for for such a production are endless but, suffice it to say, here are some credits"

Lighting:   Kirk Brookman
Costumes   Gail Cooper Hecht
Scenic Designer: Roger Hanna


This production runs through June 27 and tickets can be purchased by calling 646 312-5073 or go to www.folksbiene.org