An Addition You Will Enjoy

Perhaps I should have shown a crystal set. In biblical terms Crystal Sets begat classic radio which begat classic TV which begat crap TV which now begat Internet Videos. I believe that is a quote from Bill Hahn 13:1 of a testament no one ever heard of.

The new means of communication and narrow focusing of it is a long way from the days of B/W TV when the announcer held up a hand lettered sign about next days limited and pathetic programs. Also a far cry from the halcyon days of radio entertainment which is now replaced---with the exception of one or two places (OK WFDU and NPR)--with canned schlock and sometimes abusive and insulting schlock.

The new means are truly an amazement and something that now makes us all journalists but also makes one wonder about the truth. The nice part is that it allows for some nice features to be shared with others. This is what I have tried to do now on this site---and on The Daily Rooster.

Scroll down on the right side and see some Memorable Moments via You Tube. They will be updated on a regular--but not a daily-basis. You will see this on The Almost Daily Rooster as well. Shortly there will be different ones each site.

A usage hint. If you just want the audio you can hear it by clicking on the picture of the frame you want. If you want to see the video merely scroll to the top of the screen once you hear the audio and the video will be playing there. Enjoy some memories and sometimes some newer material. Hopefully some surprises will be coming on a fairly frequent basis.

As to the picture at the top of the beauty from the 1950s. We could do a whole riff on obesity since the advent of remote controls for TV. At least Mr Couch Potato had to put the beer down for a moment to walk over to the TV to change the channel from NBC to The Dumont Network back in those days. Now he just sits there with his remote and he still cannot find The Dumont Network---but he can find hundreds of other channels. Is there a Beer Channel? If not yet there will be.

Merry Month of May Memories and Mentions

If April Showers bring the May Flowers then, I suppose, after all the inundation in April we should soon be in a wilderness. But May also brings us more.

Happy Birthday wishes ---and I am late on this--to Pete Seeger (5/3). A true icon of more than just "folk" music. His activism and creativity in involving multitudes is the most impressive thing. Music, as he has said, is the universal language but he speaks it to us to do more than show a musical skill or embellish some old "front porch" song. His constant dedication all these years to this wonderful age he has achieved is something to marvel and celebrate.

This is a picture of him in a much earlier time---around 1956. Nice artifact from--credits now--Wikipedia. Look closely at the image and look at the center of the picture. Yes---Eleanor Roosevelt. The first female (unofficial) President---in many a person's mind.
The other birthdays celebrated at this time were not as noteworthy. For one there is your less than humble author (5/2)

and an old friend and performer who you may have heard years back on WFDU--Jon Stein (5/3). Of more import is the great singer, actor, and man of so many varied talents and humanity pictured below:

















Theodore Bikel (5/2) now 83 years of age. Still, happily, going strong.

We leave this area blank to admire talent of such long standing.

Moving on, let us now make mention some of the newer people that have given us some wonderful new products of their talents. We start with Work O The Weavers . Their newest CD is a delight and it was a pleasure and honor to debut it on both TRADITIONS and SUNDAY SIMCHA. It covers the music that is traditional, some later Jewish melodies, and, above all, songs that hope for peace. All done in a style that would make The Weavers proud. As has been shown by the comments of Pete Seeger and Fred Hellerman. WE'RE STILL HERE is the name of this brilliant new piece that they have given us. I suppose the best thing that can be said is that while exploring new territory the tradition of The Weavers truly lives on with this amazingly talented group that emulates but does not imitate. That is a big distinction. They honor them and capture their spirit.


Another new work that should be mentioned is one that I am not ready yet to tell you of----the madcaps will be joining me soon to talk of it. Suffice it to say your sides will ache and 911 may have to be called.

On a more serious note I would recommend a few pieces of work that are truly worthwhile to add to your collection and they will be attributed to your interests in either TRADITIONS or SUNDAY SIMCHA:

George Burns I Wish I Were 18 Again (Traditions/Sunday Simcha)

Debbie Friedman One People (Sunday Simcha)

John Prine Standard Songs For Average People (Traditions)

Mike Stevens/David McLean Old Time Mojo (Traditions)

There are many more worthwhile artists to appreciate and they will be covered at a later time. Meanwhile--stay tuned for the news of upcoming guests, features, and visit that Old Rooster---for other topics.

Some Upcoming Appearances and A Few Other Bits of Minutae

First, my thanks to those of you who visited the The Almost Daily Rooster site recently. The last entry was something I feel strongly about and is better published there than here. Hopefully you agreed. If not it is perfectly understandable. Leave any comments you like.

The May 6 SUNDAY SIMCHA program has a surprise or two. One is a piece you were not, I think, expecting. We will have a contest to see if you can recognize the person doing the piece. Tune in to hear it. The rules are (for a randomly selected CD) an e mail with the performer's name must be rcvd. prior to posting the playlist on this website. Basically, that means prior to the end or Sunday May 6.

Thanks to you who wrote some e mails supporting my stand on not playing Jackie Mason on the program. There are just some things that are too far over the top in bad taste to warrant such artists air-time. It is not censorship. It is merely a host's decision on what is good taste and what is not.

TRADITIONS on May 6 will also have a few interesting artifacts as always. While I do not plan on any guests this Sunday---lots of music that will present some new material and also re-visit some people who, while they were played plentifully when the CDs were new have not been played in a while.

If you have any requests just e mail me in advance.

A brief update now on some future guests---- Toward the end of May Modern Man plans to visit us on the occasion of a brand new CD to be released. Their 3d. The former Testostertones are in rare firm. This CD mixes their brilliant comedy material with some nice balladry.

The picture is from their appearance on April 28 at Bodles Opera House. That is Deborah Holland with them for the finale. She was with us on April 22.

I also have to thank them for the kind birthday wishes and cake there and I did make my wish. While I did not reveal it I have to say the George Wurzbach was wrong when he said "...you did not get it---David is still here".

At the beginning of June A visit by Laurie Lewis is anticipated along with some live music by her and some of her band.

Laurie's latest CD is a great mix of Bluegrass and some "folk" oriented material that blends it all. She is also a person that you will find of great interest ---not in the Police sense--with her varied interests and activities.

Finally, if you click on the right side of the screen check out some of the new photos that have been added to the Rogues Gallery.

A Bit of Nostalgia for Radio and Early TV

A few thoughts occurred to me that I wanted to reminisce with you about. Since this spot is one I really wanted to save for the 3 radio programs (Traditions, Tabletalk, and Sunday Simcha) I thought it best to make you look to the right and click on the link for THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER. Besides--I get you to go there a bit as well. I think you will like what you see.

On the subject of radio you might like to visit the Public Radio Talent Quest site and check out my entry. I have to tell you that to vote you have to register and that some of the entries are just great---some---you have no idea how awful they can be.

For the reminiscences---enough now about radio---check the right side of the screen---The Almost Daily Rooster.

AN EVENING OUT SUGGESTION

Saturday April 28 seems like a good evening to get out. Just the thing I should do and leave my cave.

OK it has a nice water view but it will be a pleasure to leave the darkness and dankness behind for an evening of addressing the important issues of the day.

Modern Man will be addressing these pertinent matters that evening at Bodles Opera House. Some matters that really need expounding are the living conditions in retirement homes in Florida, the depth of Bob Dylan's thoughts, and so many more. Not the least of which have to do with the difficulty of Internet dating and clothing optional venues.

This---is the motley crew---no---that was a rock group---Modern Man. Who, hopefully, will bring enough laughter so that I will be able to keep the waves from entering my cave when I return to it and await another evening that could be this good.

Really wants to make me move to Orange County where there is such great entertainment. Orange County, California has the babes though. So---what to do. Back to the cave later to mull it over.

As to Chester. So rare to see a town named after Matt Dillon's deputy.

With the Three Magnificent Makers of Musical Humor there is the most wonderful and, dare I say, beautiful and talented, guest I had on TRADITIONS this past Sunday. Deborah Holland fills out the bill with her great new songs and some of her old compositions. Deborah has her music featured on TV programs such as My Name Is Earl, has appeared with Letterman, and happily for us she is now coming to Matt Dillon's deputy's namesake city. How rare an occurrence is that?

Her latest CD which--surprisingly--will be available is a gem. Wait till you see it there. I won't talk of it here.

I have bigger fish to fry. Me. It is my Birthday weekend (well, close) and I anticipate that after I tell the gang they will regale me with a rousing rendition of ".For He's a Real Pain In The Ass Fellow".

So, finally to Bodles Opera House (and I hope someone can explain why the name) it is in Chester NY and all the info you need is on the link above. Driving time from Bergen and Rockland is only about 45 minutes. Historic time---well, you do step back about 100 years. Great time machine and a great visit to a wonderful nostalgic past with some great modern performers. What could be better. Perhaps a Chinese Dinner.

THEODORE (GOTTLIEB)--A REMEMBRANCE

Before the month of April leaves us with its cold and chill this year I thought it a good time to remember a performer of cold and chilling tales -----THEODORE--later known as BROTHER THEODORE. He died in April, 2001 at age 94.

This was originally supposed to be posted on THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER. Since, however, that I had the pleasure and honor of an interview with this wonderful performance artist for TRADITIONS it seemed more appropriate to do this item on this site.

Let us start at the end, even though my first contact with him came in the 1950s at midnight in Greenwich Village. We start at the end with my interview with Theodore. This interview revealed so much of him, his great intellect, and tragic history that I had never known of.
This all came about on an evening when I attended a performance by THEODORE at the, then, 13th St. Rep and was delighted to see that some people brought other generations in to see this man. THEODORE was at that time 92 years of age.

Some 2 months after that evening I was able to meet with him at his tiny apartment on 74th Street in NYC. We talked for over an hour in this tiny apartment lined with an amazing array of books covering so many varied subjects. The sign of more than a performer. A wonderful intellect.

We spoke of many topics and his history. A tragic one that he overcame with the most profound accomplishments.

THEODORE and I spoke of his birth in Germany before the Nazi onslaught, his family's hugely successful publishing business, their incarceration and ultimate deaths in Dachau. He told us of his release because of his promise to turn over all their assets to the Nazi regime and his emigration to Switzerland, Austria and, finally, to the U.S. Here he worked as a janitor at Stanford U. and also did a bit of chess playing---and hustling--amongst the students. He was an expert chess player. THEODORE had gotten married at some point during that time but it ended in divorce after he moved to NYC. He had played a few bit parts in some B movies and also in an Orson Welles film before that.

Once in New York he worked at restaurants while polishing some material which he performed in very small venues. As he says, his audience was one---his ex wife and she only came because he gave her comps. Well, probably another reason she became an ex.

Today most people know THEODORE only as BROTHER THEODORE because he is mostly known for his appearances on TV with the likes of Letterman, Griffin, and Steve Allen.

A good time to jump back now to the 1950s. Before TV's dominance and when Greenwich Village attracted the strange and interesting performers at hours that were well beyond "prime time" on TV. Before Andy Kaufman and before Sacha Baron Cohen there was THEODORE. Midnights at The Circle In The Square. Picture it. You are young, you bring your date at midnight to this place in Greenwich Village and you are confronted with THEODORE. He was, what is now called a performance artist. It wasn't called that in those times.

A description since he cannot be seen again: A darkened room, one spotlight (or as the person introducing him says---he taught me all there is to know about lighting), and a man in a black outfit and hair combed to a point on his head. Then the stories---Dr. Herman Rashoko of the shredded fingernails, the parents of THEODORE who produced and sold Oleum Canus (Oil of Dog Vitamins) , the sad story of his love for Bernice --the dead Bernice, and let us never forget that THEODORE love his raincoat. That is a story unto itself and goes well with his diatribes--believed by many in the audience---of leaving the stage because of the insolence of the audience and the constant "neckering" of the young couples which are annoying to him.

Time goes one and THEODORE has midnight performances at Carnegie Hall---yes, before Andy Kaufman. And just as well attended and followed by the attracted cult.

TV brings him into a whole new world of fame. Larger than the loyal followers of the 1950s. Merv Griffin, David Letterman, and more. Now he becomes BROTHER THEODORE. He explained that in my interview with him. He had left the Merv Griffin show one day and someone stopped him (dressed in his usual black)---you are--or what is it---Father----oh---and THEODORE said---I am Brother Theodore. It stuck.

A few more films followed. Not memorable. Such as "The Burbs". Enough said there. Yet his appearances on David Letterman and Merv Griffin always surprised viewers for their unexpected moments. Such as Alexander King did in and earlier day with Jack Paar. Those days are now, sadly, long gone. The days of artists presenting totally unrehearsed and brilliant commentary that is unscripted.

Allow me a few personal thoughts about Theodore (Gottlieb) now.

At age 92 I was so delighted and honored that I finally got to meet someone who I so admired in my youth. My youth---great term. Makes me sound like an elder statesman and, frankly, 11 years ago seems like yesterday. In any case, moving on, I was both delighted and shocked when I arrived at THEODORE'S simple abode. A man who has been on national TV, Carnegie Hall Concerts, Greenwich Village programs, and myriad other projects living in this sad and simple little one room apartment in New York City. We can do jokes about what an apartment in NYC costs that is small later---THEODORE was there before that and he was not in a mansion or in an expensive co-op. A Rent Controlled (stabilized) unit. Yet, his apartment was lined with what I mentioned earlier. Intellect. His history was tragic and yet he overcame it. To the delight of many and those many did not even know his tragic past. I, for one, am humbled that he shared that with me.

THEODORE had his lighter moments. Let me offer a few: After we stopped recording he told me of his 35 year old girl friend and showed me pictures of her. He was concerned that she might find a younger man. I pointed out that might well be someone 85---so why worry! He laughed and said that he was afraid that he was boring---only interesting on stage. I, then, pointed out to him that his"boring" is more exciting than some younger people who watch nothing but boring TV. Last I heard they were still together.

THEODORE---my remembrance of you, my youth, and a wonderful performance artist before the term came into common usage. And I still wonder if you really are going to leave the stage---but my date is still hanging on to me in fear of you----Bless You---and you did not even sneeze!

You have, sadly, left the stage of life but your wit, characters, and persona live on.