Helen Forrest: You Made Me Love You

Helen Forrest singing You Made Me Love You with the Harry James Orchestra.

She was signed by Artie Shaw in 1938 and went on to record with Benny Goodman, Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. Helen sang with Dick Haymes on some duets which became popular.

Even though her name is not recognized as well as Peggy Lee, Dinah Shore, Doris Day, Helen O’Connell and other female big band singers she was as talented as any of them.

I can remember when the late Town Talk sportswriter Bill Carter was talking about Harry James coming to Alexandria during the big band revival.

Duane Yates: I’ve Been Loving You Too Long

The late Duane Yates singing his blue-eyed soul rendition of I’ve Been Loving You Too Long as he remembers the Fabulous Boogie Kings who have have passed away over the years.

Ironically Duane died on May 23, 2009 at the age of 65 at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria.

He graduated from Pineville High School in 1962 and had sang The Lord’s Prayer at the 40th class reunion in 2002.

The following obituary from the Bunkie.com website gives more details on his life and his funeral:

http://www.bunkie.com/Personals/Obits/Main.htm

Ronnie Milsap: 40 No.1 Singles

Ronnie Milsap recorded his first song in 1963 and 47 years years later is still recording and is third among country singers with forty No.1 hits.

Ronnie Milsap singing the great 50′s revival song Lost in the 50′s which reminds listeners of the music of six decades ago.

Ronnie singing the country classic Legend In My Time.

Ronnie singing a pure country song The Girl Who Waits on Tables on the Porter Wagoner Show in 1973.

Ronnie singing a medley of his hits during a 1978 concert in Holland.

Note: My wife is having a total colectomy on Monday so I may not be posting for a couple of weeks or more.

Nixon-Khrushchev Kitchen Debate

Vice President Richard Nixon and Premier Nikita Khrushchev of Russia became embroiled in a debate at the World's Fair in Moscow on July 24, 1959.

Vice President Richard Nixon cut the ribbon to open the American display at the World’s Fair in Moscow on July 24, 1959. He was showing Premier Nikita Khrushchev the Russian leader an American home when he and Khrushchev started arguing about the merits of their countries.

Khrushchev particularly enjoyed waving bye bye to the American way of life alluding to the thought that Russia would surpass the United States and leave us in the dust.

Less than a year later Russia would shoot down American pilot Gary Powers who was piloting a U2 spy plane sending the two countries into the Cold War.

This video of the Kitchen Debate shows Vice President Richard Nixon and Premier Nikita Khrushchev in their famous debate that took place in the American display at the World’s Fair in Moscow on July 24, 1959.

The Lighthouse – Buddy Mullins

Buddy Mullins singing the southern gospel classic The Lighthouse one of the most loved songs ever recorded. Mullins sings the song with the late Kenny Hinson’s wife in the audience. Hinson had died of cancer.

The Ryman Reunion Homecoming Concert is my favorite of the Gaither homecomings. Christianbook.com has clips of the songs which were sung at the concert and the sound of these great songs will evoke memories of southern gospel at its best.

http://www.christianbook.com/bill-gaither/ryman-gospel-reunion/7474000458/pd/CD5383

Quinn Sullivan: Electric Blues at its Best

Quinn Sullivan who will be 11 on March 26 has been playing the guitar since the age of three.

Blues singer-guitarist Buddy Guy has spotlighted Sullivan in his concerts. Sullivan plays riffs that accomplished guitarists can only dream about.

Playing this well at an early age should be a springboard to a long and successful career. He first appeared on national television in 2006 on the Ellen DeGeneres show and has since appeared on the Today and Oprah Winfrey shows.

The following videos show how his career has evolved since 2006:

Buddy Guy introduces Sullivan at the age of 8 during his concert in 2007 and Guy is amazed at his talent at such an early age.

Sullivan singing his life story showing he is not only a great guitarist but can sing the blues with the best of them.

It will be interesting to watch and listen to Quinn Sullivan as his career continues to grow and he has a bright future ahead of him and should be able to make a living for years to come playing the electric blues on his guitar.

Cigarette Advertising

20,679 physicians recommend Lucky Strikes for less throat irritation because the4y are toasted.

Cigarette advertisers give their brand of cigarettes credit for winning the war against Hitler.

This cigarette ad says to smoke Lucky Strikes to be your level best but they may be referring to someone who died of lung cancer lying in their coffin.

Blowing smoke in someone's face is a good way to get slapped.

I like Ronald Reagan but can't condone sending a carton of cigarettes for a Christmas present.

Since more doctors smoked Camels that should correspondingly mean that more doctors died of lung cancer.

Maybe they should tell on tombstones what brand of cigarettes a person smoked that died of lung cancer so everyone will know not to smoke that brand..

Checker Motor Company: Manufacturer of Checker Cabs

This Checker Cab is typical of the cars manufactured by the Checker Motor Company which went out of business last month but hadn't manufactured a car since 1982.

The Checker Motor Company which manufactured Checker Cabs no longer exists after folding in January. The company was founded in 1922 and manufactured cars for commercial and consumer use with the Checker Cab its most recognizable vehicle.

I can still remember the cabs waiting for busses to unload at the Continental Trailways Bus Station on Jackson Street in Alexandria, Louisiana.

A Checker Cab pictured in the glory days of the Checker Cab company.

There was a taxicab war in Chicago which is evident in these reports:

At that time Chicago’s Teamsters, Chauffeurs and Helpers Union was vying for control of the unrelated Checker Taxi association, and on June 6, 1923 union organizer Frank Sexton was shot and killed by gunmen opposed to unionization. The United Press wire reported:

“MAN SHOT TO DEATH IN CHICAGO QUARREL

“Affair Apparently Outcome of Clash Among Taxi Drivers

Chicago. June 7, 1923 (UP) – Frank Sexton, declared by police to be connected with a labor union, was shot to death early today by two taxicab drivers in a pool room on West Division street. Authorities said the murder was apparently the outgrowth of a war between independent and union drivers on “Checker” taxis. About a dozen drivers were arrested for questioning.”

The following day Morris Markin’s home was bombed as reported by the Associated Press:

“FURIOUS WAR FOR CONTROL

“SLAYING AND BOMBINGS OCCUR IN CITY OF CHICAGO.

“Two Factions of “Checker” Drivers Fighting for Control—Attempt to Wreck Home of Head of Taxi Company.

“CHICAGO, June 8, 1923 (AP) – An alleged Checker taxi taxicab driver’s war blamed by police for the slaying Friday of Frank Sexton, ‘union slugger’ resumed today in bombing of the home of Morris Markin, president of the Checker Taxicab Manufacturing company. The residence was partially wrecked and Markin and his family thrown from their beds.

“Two factions of the “Checker” drivers are fighting for control of the manufacture of the taxis which involve a cooperative scheme, according to Markin. Two men arrested for the Sexton shooting also gave police this reason for the ‘war.’”

Agents representing the State’s Attorney General rounded up Jack Rose, Sexton’s alleged shooter, and thirty other suspects, all believed to be involved in the conflict. Markin believed he was targeted as he had refused to “play ball” with the Teamsters and their violent criminal elements.

During one of Rose’s preliminary court hearings, Patrick Sexton, Frank Sexton’s father, shot and killed Rose as he was being led from the courtroom:

This website gives more details about the taxicab war plus has a fine collection of photos of Checker Cabs over the years.

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/c/checker/checker.htm

Watergate Almost Didn’t Happen

Checkers the family dog of the Richard Nixon family was the focus of Nixon's famous "Checkers speech" during the 1952 presidential campaign.

There have been many famous dogs of politicians over the years but Richard Nixon’s dog Checkers is probably the only one to have a speech named after it.

The New York Post had printed an article questioning why Senator Nixon had a trust fund for the election campaign. Today it is normal procedure for political candidates to have a fund available for future political endeavors.

Some Republicans wanted General Eisenhower the Republican presidential candidate to remove Nixon from the ticket but Eisenhower stuck with Nixon who went on national television to defend himself from those attacking him.

Nixon brought up the family dog Checkers in the speech saying that Checkers had been given to them after his wife Pat had mentioned that their kids had wanted a dog.

If General Eisenhower had removed Nixon from the ticket we almost certainly would never have had the Watergate scandal that ended Nixon’s presidency in 1974.

It was a stroke of genius on the part of Nixon to go on national television to stop the attacks on his character and he and General Eisenhower would win a landslide victory a few weeks later in the general election of 1952 defeating the Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson.

This website has a transcript of the Checkers speech:

http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/nixon-checkers.htm

Mr. Monk: The Obsessive Detective

Detective Adrian Monk portrayed by Tony Shalhoub in the midst of his crime solving routine in a Monk episode.

Monk aired the first time on July 12, 2002 and remained on the USA Network till December 4, 2009 when it finished its eighth season.

Actor Tony Shalhoub was Mr. Monk and had previously played Anthony Scarpacci on Wings from 1991-1997.

Detective Adrian Monk was the quintessential wacky detective that solved crimes on the USA Network crime drama Monk.His wife Trudy was killed in a parking garage explosion and Adrian Monk was never the same after that day.

Sharona Fleming as portrayed by Bitty Schram on Monk and reportedly left the show during the third season due to a contract dispute.

Traylor Howard portraying Mr. Monk’s assistant Natalie Teeger after Bitty Schram left Monk during its third season.

He couldn’t even function on his own as he needed an assistant to hand him disinfectant wipes after he shook hands with anyone and drive him to wherever he needed to go. Mr. Monk would even stop to straighten pictures on the wall if they were crooked. One time he noticed two glasses with one having more liquid than the other so he kept transfering the drinks to the other glass till the two glasses had the same exact amount in them.

One of the funniest shows was when Mr. Monk freaked out when there was a garbage strike in San Francisco and garbage was piled up all over the city. Since he was a cleanliness freak he found it hard to concentrate on crime since the garbage strike was the main thing on his mind.

First Assistant Leaves Show

Monk’s first assistant Sharona Fleming portrayed by Bitty Schram left the series after 38 episodes. It was rumored that she had sought more money but the network claimed they were going in a different creative direction. Regardless she and Monk had excellent chemistry but his new assistant Natalie Teeger played by Traylor Howard made a seamless transition to the show.

Schram was more of the flashy type while the demure Howard played the role as his assistant till the last episode aired last December.

Actor Ted Levine portrayed Captain Leland Stottlemeyer who called on Mr. Monk whenever there  was a crime that needed to be solved. He tried to overlook Monk’s eccentric behavior since he knew that he was a top flight detective who would solve the case in the end.

Stottlemeyer had the double duty of keeping his right hand man Lt. Randall Disher who was a bit on the eccentric side himself and Monk in check. In one episode Randy insists on carrying around a huge fountain drink and slurping on the last of the drink.

It angered the captain so much that he started sticking pens in the side of the drink cups so the drink would empty faster. He was a straight man for both Randy and Mr. Monk setting them up for the big laughs.

Randall Disher portrayed by Jason Gray-Stanford was the scatterbrained lieutenant who arrived at crime scenes with Captain Stottlemeyer.

Jason Gray-Stanford did an excellent job of portraying Lt. Randall “Randy” Disher on Monk. He stopped just short of overshadowing Mr. Monk. He was known for overlooking the obvious at a crime scene and writing his crime reports in a way that would be of no use to anyone reading it later.

Both of his assistants appeared in one of the last episodes of the series as Sharona Fleming returned to San Francisco to take care of some business. Sharona and his present assistant Natalie Teeger clashed over Mr.Monk and especially when Natalie found out that Mr. Monk has paid more to Sharona because she had a child.

His psychiatric sessions with his psychiatrists were exercises in futility for both him and the psychiatrist. The first psychiatrist was  Dr. Charles Kroger but when he died in 2008 of a heart attack Hector Elizondo finished the series as Dr. Neven Bell after the death of Kamel.

Since we missed almost all of the first seven seasons we are now recording any Monk shows being shown on any network or station. We have encountered very few shows that we have already seen. With a treasure trove of episodes still unseen we can look forward to enjoying Monk for many years to come and will be looking for the actors in the show as they show up on other shows.

Health Update On LC Football Player Harold (Bruce) Broussard

Former Louisiana College football player Harold (Bruce) Broussard had cancer surgery during the past year and had to undergo radiation therapy. The radiation therapy has worsened a pre-existing lung problem.

Please remember Bruce in your prayers and I want to thank Jim Jossick for relating this information to me.

Both of them were my football heroes and I remember  them from their football days at Louisiana College in the 50′s.

My dad Dr. Paul R. Godfrey was a chemistry professor at Louisiana College and I hung around the football field a lot over the years even during practices.