A Rememberance of A Wonderful Comic Series and One of Its Leading Ladies

Hard to believe that BBC series "Are You Being Served" was shot during the late seventies and early eighties and still does not seem dated. It is sad to report that Wendy Richard (Ms Brahms) passed away this past week at the relatively young age of 65. After the ill fated sequel to AYBS she starred in other British programs---East Enders for over 20 years and also very politically active.

One other of the memorable characters in the series left this world in 2007---John Inman who played the character of Mr. Humphries and in later years was a leading Pantomime Dame in the UK.

With demise of Ms Richard perhaps upon her entry into those pearly gates Mr. Inman might use the famous words of AYBS scripts: "...Are you free Ms Richard"

Enjoy a few brief moments remembering these venerable artists in the following video:

Gentle Humour from Gentle People---perhaps a good epitaph---and if any of you have ever viewed the series you will recall the memorable moments of the "young Mr. Grace", Mrs. Slocumbe's pussy, and Capt. Peacock's self importance.

As to Program Notes please let me remind you of a few things and dates:

March 8 John O'Malley joins me on Traditions

March 22 Buskin & Batteau join me on Traditions---hey---why does one guest call for "s" as in joins and 2 guests get no "s" as in join---no "S" **t

March 29 The Traditionsfest at the Hurdy Gurdy

Coming up: The Creator of Red Rock Rondo----perhaps even THE Creator---we have contacts

For Sunday Simcha:

March 8 Some comments and music to talk about an event coming up that commemorates the Orchestra of Women at the Birkenau Concentration Camp---and a brilliant Cello Concerto by Saint Saens.

Also a discussion of the wonderful film by Yale Strom---The Last Klezmer---along with music from Yale Strom and his group---Hot Pstromi.

I can only ask now---Are You Being Served?

AN ANNOUNCEMENT AND SOME NOSTALGIA

You probably know that on March 29 Ron Olesko and I will be hosting a benefit concert that will be taking place on that afternoon at 2 PM in Fairlawn NJ at the facility used by the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club ( you can click on that link to see the line-up and buy tickets. It is a benefit for WFDU---lot of work but it sure beats hounding you on the air---don't you think? And look at the enjoyment you will get for a fraction of what you would pay to see these people in their usual venues in NYC---and they are donating their time and talent---TOM CHAPIN, JULIE GOLD, CHRISTINE LAVIN, ABBIE GARDNER & ANTHONY DACOSTA, GATHERING TIME, PAT WICTOR in no particular order. They appreciate the station and its programming as much as you all do and they are taking time out of their busy schedules to donate their time and talent for this---and also allow Ron and I to banter with them on the stage. I hope banter is the right word---I know it is for me and a few of the guests.

Now for the nostagia.

Are any of you railroad buffs of the great days of railroading. I know I am. I used to go to summer camp on a steam train, went to Calif. in the 1950s on the NY Central to Chicago and onward with some great trains like the Zephyrs and Sunset Ltd.---and never forget the Southern Crescent through New Orleans from the West Coast and the City of New Orleans of the Illinois Central (as made famous by Steve Goodman).

Enjoy now a look at the past glory days railroading (which Europe & Japan still enjoy) and mail to me at wfdutraditions@yahoo.com or comment here with requests for RR songs and I will put together a nice set of that material when I accumulate your choices. I shall also be announcing this on TRADITIONS on 2/22/09.

So there you have it. The glorious days of railroading and there you are. Surely there are glorious days of flying but for some reason railroading still sticks in the mind of the songwriters and nostalgia buffs. "Leaving on a Jet Plane" does evoke an image. But, honestly, are you as moved by that as you are by the image of, say, Steve Goodman's "City of New Orleans" or some of Hank Williams RR pieces among others.

So if you have RR songs you want on Traditions do e mail me at wfdutraditions@yahoo.com or leave a comment here if you like.

A few thoughts to think about---they do not have to be RR songs from the U S . The songs can be from anywhere---think Marais Miranda---or any other nation you may conjure in your mind that makes you reminiscent of railroading. A few thoughts you might consider---Night Train To Memphis, Pan American, Train To Kimberley, Midnight Special, Wabash Cannonball, and I know you will surely want City of New Orleans---shall we stick with dear departed Steve on this?

A FEW PROGRAM UPDATES & A VISUAL TREAT

You are all aware that I host SUNDAY SIMCHA (which airs 10-11 AM ET) as well as co-hosting TRADITIONS (which airs 3-6 PM ET).

During our fund raising time both programs suffered from the neglect of our regular features which now are back in full force----like it or not. You know---Comedy Corner (Sunday Simcha) and Story Songs and a look back at that old Dave Miller slogan for WPAT in the '50s--Thrills of The Hills, Tops in Pops and Best in The West(Traditions). Since so many of you have helped support both programs I can only say---once again--thanks for your support and you have kept something you want on the air-waves. Here now is a bit of a rare treat by two great musical stars---the late (sadly) Bruce Adler and Mike Burstyn---Mike you will recall was a guest of mine on Feb. 22 and is now appearing in LANSKY in NYC at St. Lukes Theater.

Who knows maybe this will encourage those of you who listen only to TRADITIONS to join me on SUNDAY SIMCHA as well. I was quite delighted to find a few of our pledgers to that program (Sunday Simcha) were not of the Jewish faith and crossed the proverbial cultural aisle to sample the things we offer---just as on TRADITIONS we offer secular and non-secular material in all shapes and sizes---even 1/2 sizes which I can get you wholesale.

I hope you enjoyed that and perhaps you will go to see Mike Burstyn in a non musical treat---LANSKY.

As to TRADITIONS a bit of exciting news to impart to you. David Buskin what scamp from Modern Man has now reunited with his long time compatriot Robin Batteau and so---Buskin and Batteau are back and will be my guests for some live music and banter on March 22. Do not miss this and try to not reminisce over the earlier program I hope you were tuned in for---SUNDAY SIMCHA.

I suppose a picture of David and Robin should be included----

photo by Jake Jacobson

Since the picture shattered no mirrors I am guessing it is OK to publish it here.

I have to admit that what I say at the end of the Sunday Simcha hour is truly correct---"...the eclectic weekend sound of WFDU." Look at an earlier post and you will see to what I refer---also some pix of people who's reflection does appear in a mirror---mine---only after sundown.

Finally let me just add that if you have any requests for particular pieces for either program you can comment here or e mail them (look at that screwing the PO out of 42 cents) to these addresses:

SUNDAY SIMCHA sundaysimcha@yahoo.com

TRADITIONS wfdutraditions@yahoo.com

A FINAL FUND RAISING THOUGHT

A few ---very few--have taken advantage of the e mail option to pledge to TRADITIONS & SUNDAY SIMCHA. Certainly I thank you and all those truly generous souls that I have had the pleasure of speaking with when they call for their pledges (and requests). Speaking of requests---stream of consciousness you know---I will do both Miriam Makeba and Odetta this week---bad choice of words---I will play their music as per requests. Trust me I am not a necrophiliac---which brings to mind the joke of the fellow who goes into a bar with his very---very--- young date. She is perusing a newspaper and says to him--"....it says here you are a pedophile". He replies "...pretty big words for a young girl like you".

Enough of the bad humor. I thank all of you who have called and all of you ---the very few of you---who have pledged to the e mail address. Leet me once again say that you can write to me with a pledge that I shall enter in the station's log of donors by sending me an e mail to wfdutraditions@yahoo.com or if you care to pledge to Sunday Simcha then to: sundaysimcha@yahoo.com .

I know many of you call because you are listening on air but I have heard from some people that listen on the Internet at http://www.wfdu.fm/ --- California and Israel to be exact. SO---a few more---let me be specific--for TRADITIONS----My great thanks. For SUNDAY SIMCHA--You have performed a Mitzvah-=--Alevai.

A final thought---next week, as you see below, Mike Burstyn joins me on SUNDAY SIMCHA and Tom Paxton joins me on TRADITIONS. Think about this---if this show did not draw listeners they would not want to be here and, frankly, they would be right and the programs(s) would lose the support of the station and properly so. You would also lose the one thing that you find on non-commercial radio ===the thing you don't find on satellite or commercial radio----interesting conversation with interesting guests and a mix of music and musings from your never so humble hosts. I shall spare you pictures of those characters but some are on the Playlist page---and I and you love them all.

A FEW PROGRAM UPDATES

As you are aware that WFDU is in the midst of its annual fund raising drive----a short 2 week stint. Your support is certainly welcome--and some of you have been very generous and that is what lets us keep doing some of the things we do and also make guests happy to be on the program due to the enthusiastic and interested---and interesting---audience. So---more about fund raising later.

FEBRUARY 22 will be the first Sunday after the drive ends and both SUNDAY SIMCHA and TRADITIONS will be having some truly interesting guests on the shows.

SUNDAY SIMCHA :

MIKE BURSTYN will be joining us to talk about his latest work---LANSKY. LANSKY is now playing at St. Luke's Theater in NYC and I can tell you it is a riveting one man show that shows all sides of Meyer Lansky ---the mob brains and also the only person denied entrance to Israel under the Law of Return.

Hope you will be listening for Mike's insights into the character and how he does this mesmerizing performance. You might want to visit Mike's Website and learn even more about the performance---and Mike. You can order tickets at 212 239-6200.

You may recall he was my guest a while back when he performed at the Folksbiene in On Second Avenue.

TRADITIONS : I cannot say more than these two words---



TOM PAXTON



Tom joins me that day in a pre-recorded interview with lots of music. We had a conversation---a better word for this than interview--prior to a concert he did in Paramus NJ at the end of January. Suffice it to say it was a sold out hall and Tom was in great form.

We spoke about his music--naturally--his collaboration with George Wurzbach and also his friends of yesteryear and now. Social issues were not left out of the conversation, I assure you.

Tom Paxton is, besides being a great performer, a prolific composer, also ---should have saved this for Sunday Simcha--a real "Mensch".

We have come to the end of this trailer for coming attractions and just want to urge you to call in the next few weeks with a pledge---whatever you can afford (believe me I know, personally, it is tough these days) and think of how we offer interesting radio without reimbursement. A commercial radio station pays but you don't get this---you get commercials and music you don't really want. You can e mail wfdutraditions@yahoo.com to make your pledge or sundaysimcha@yahoo.com for that program---just give me your name, address, and amount and the station will send you a pledge envelope---credit cards accepted---joyously.

INAUGURAL NOTES

This space is devoted to notes and updates on the various programs ---TRADITIONS and SUNDAY SIMCHA--along with news of events of interest relating to those programs. Let me then direct you to THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER which you can also reach via a link on the right side of this page---or by clicking above.

A few thoughts on the inaugural events of today which seemed more appropriate for that site and also, honesty now, to steer you to that page for some other topics.

Finally, I want to say how delighted I was to introduce Modern Man last weekend at the Acoustic Cafe and to meet many of the attendees who welcomed me back to the local airwaves. The Acoustic Cafe has a wonderful line-up planned and it is truly a great venue to visit. Check the website linked in the title.

NOW go over to THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER and see if you agree with me---if not, feel free to comment.