George Strait singing his 1987 No.1 hit All My Ex’s Live in Texas.
An interesting note is that he was stationed at Schofield Barrracks, Hawaii as a member of the 25th Infantry Division in the 70′s where I was stationed during the 60′s.
Monthly Archives: October 2010
Gene Watson: Farewell Party
Gene Watson singing Farewell Party his No.5 hit from 1978. Watson hasn’t had a top 10 hit since 1988. His last album A Taste of the Truth has been called the album of the decade by some country music experts. His music is particularly liked today in Ireland.
Alan Jackson singing his audio only version of Farewell Party.
Audie Murphy: World War II Hero
Audie Murphy was most decorated soldier of World War II.
Audie Murphy was born in Kingston, Texas on June 20, 1925. He had a troubled childhood having to drop out of school when in the fifth grade due to his father abandoning the family.
He earned a dollar a day for picking cotton and plowing the fields. One of his hunting companions said Murphy didn’t miss when he shot while hunting. His friend mentioned this fact to Murphy and he replied that his family doesn’t eat if he doesn’t kill animals.
Things would get even worse for Murphy when his mom died when he was only 15 in 1941. When Pearl Harbor was attacked Murphy attempted to enlist in the military but was rejected because he was only 16 at the time.
In 1942 his sister adjusted his birthdate to make him appear to be 18 and he was admitted into the Army after being rejected by the Marines and Army paratroopers for only being 5 foot 5.
He passed out during a drill at Camp Wolters, Texas and his commanding officer tried to transfer him to cooks and bakers school. Murphy would have none of that since he wanted to be a combat soldier so was sent to advanced infantry training at Fort Meade, Maryland.
His first combat was during the invasion of Sicily when he killed two Italian officers on horseback which won him a promotion to corporal.
Murphy had to fight his way out of an ambush at Salerno when his unit was attacked by German soldiers. He was rewarded with a promotion to sergeant after the battle.
When his best friend was killed by a German soldier who was faking surrendering Murphy opened fire on the German machine gun crew which had killed his friend and killed all of them and then used their machine guns and grenades to destroy other German positions winning him the Distinguished Service Cross.
He showed his shooting skills at the Battle of Holtzweir when he only had 19 of 128 soldiers available for combat. He ordered the other eighteen soldiers to fall back while he begin gunning down the Germans and used a burning tank’s guns to mow down even more Germans.
Only then did he call his eighteen soldiers in the rear to rout the Germans out of their position as the Germans exited the area. His valor in this battle earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor. Even more impressive was the fact that the temperature was minus 14 degree fahrenheit and 24 inches of snow was on the ground during this battle.
Murphy was then removed from the front lines and promoted to first lieutenant on February 22, 1945 about three months before the end of the war in the European theater. He received 33 U.S. medals and received every medal that was possible to win.
He was 5 foot 5 and 110 pounds when he enlisted but was 5 foot 7 and 140 pounds by the time he ended his three year enlistment.
Murphy alone was credited with knocking out six tanks and killing 240 soldiers. He was discharged from the Army on September 21, 1945.
Like most combat veterans Murphy experienced post traumatic stress from being in combat. He had to relive his wartime experiences as he acted in To Hell and Back which was highest grossing movie for Universal Studios till Jaws surpassed the $10 million box office total of the Murphy film.
Murphy appeared in 44 feature films during his 25 years in Hollywood. In addition to acting he was a country music songwriter writing the Jerry Wallace hit Shutters and Boards.
He developed a close friendship with Jimmy Hoffa and was working to have him released from prison. In fact he talked to Grady Partin who had testified against Hoffa to recant his testimony.
Murphy’s life would come to an end when the private plane he was in crashed into Brush Mountain close to Catawba, Virginia.
For more details and links about Audie Murphy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Murphy
Ray Price and His Big Band Live:
Ray Price appearing with his Big Band live in 2009. Price will be 85 in January and is in his seventh decade as a country music singer. It has been 54 years since his first No.1 hit in Crazy Arms when it reached the top of the charts in 1956.
Happy Days Father Tom Bosley Dies at 83
Tom Bosley who is best known for his portrayal of Howard Cunningham the husband of Marion Cunningham and the father of Richie and Joanie Cunningham in Happy Days has died of lung cancer at the age of 83 but cause of death was heart failure.
Bosley appeared as the father of a typical family in the midwest during the 50′s. He and his wife let Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli live in their house at one point in the series creating many great comedy situations.
Happy Days was shown on the ABC television network from 1974-1984. It has been 36 years since the show made its debut on television.
The Father Dowling Mysteries featured Bosley as a Catholic priest which aired from 1987-1991.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 1, 1927 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Television fans have lost two icons in Barbara Billingsley and Tom Bosley in less than a week. Once more we are reminded of how much we loved the shows filmed in the 50′s like Leave it to Beaver and Happy Days which was filmed in the 70′s but was about a typical family living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin during the 50′s.
Barbara Billingsley Mom on Leave it to Beaver Dies at 94
Barbara Billingsley who portrayed June Cleaver the mom on Leave It To Beaver has died at the age of 94.
Barbara Billingsley the beloved mother on Leave it to Beaver has died at the age of 94 in Long Beach, California.
I can still recall seeing my first Leave it to Beaver show back in the late 50′s and how I have never tired of the show over 50 years later.
Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best and Andy Griffith Show were the best shows when it came to parents dealing with different situations their kids would find themselves in.
Even though the emphasis was on humor there still were real life lessons being taught in those shows. I will never forget Ward and June Cleaver raising their kids the best way they knew how and loved them no matter what kind of predicament they might have gotten themselves into.
Hugh Beaumont who portrayed Ward Cleaver had died 28 years ago at the age of 73 while visiting a son in Munich, Germany.
Leave it to Beaver ended after six seasons with 234 episodes having been filmed during its run. One of the reasons it was canceled was due to Jerry Mathers retiring from acting to be a freshman in high school.
Tony Dow who is now 65 and played Beaver’s brother Wally on the series and Jerry Mathers is now 62. Barbara Billingsley, Dow and Mathers all appeared in the The New Leave it to Beaver television show from 1985-1989.
Although Mrs. Billingsley has died along with her TV husband Hugh Beaumont and the boys are much older we can still go back to the days when the first show was filmed in 1957 whenever it is shown in reruns.
Annette Funicello: From Mousketeer to Beach Blanket Bingo
- Annette Funicello as she appeared as an original Mousketeer on the Mickey Mouse Club after being discovered by Walt Disney and would later star in movies with Frankie Avalon.
While looking at the birthdays next week saw where Joanie of Happy Days will be 50 next week and that Jeanie C. Riley of Harper Valley PTA fame will reach retirement age of 65 next week. Pam Dawber who portrayed Mindy on Mork and Mindy will be 60 next week.
The name that really jumped out at me though was Annette Funicello who will be 68 next week.
Annette was discovered by Walt Disney at a dance recital in Burbank, California and was chosen to be on the original Mousketeers on the Mickey Mouse Club which made its debut in 1955.
Annette Funicello singing her hit Tall Paul which topped out at No.7 on the record charts.
Annette and Frankie Avalon sing a medley of songs in this 1965 video.
Annette singing I’ll Never Change Him in Beach Blanket Bingo in 1965.
Annette announced in 1992 that she had multiple sclerosis. She had kept it a secret since 1985 but when some people think her inability to walk was caused by alcoholism she revealed her illness to the world.
In addition to combating her illness she lost her mother Virginia Funicello at the age 86 in 2007 and her father Joe Funicello at the age of 93 in 2009.
Her last featured movie appearance was Back to the Beach with Frankie Avalon in 1987. She did make a cameo appearance in Troop Beverly Hills in 1989 which was her last movie appearance.
Annette and Frankie Avalon appeared in a Full House episode in 1991.
Annette dancing on a Mickey Mouse Club episode demonstrating her ballet skills which caused her to be discovered by Walt Disney.
We may never see Annette again in a television show or on a movies due to her multiple sclerosis but we have memories in the videos and movies she left behind.
Happy 68th birthday Annette!!
Statue of Liberty Conceived in 1865, Dedicated in 1886
The Statue of Liberty was conceived in France in 1865 but wouldn't be completed till 1886 in New York harbor twenty one years later and has welcomed visitors to the United States for the last 124 years and was the first thing many immigrants moving to the United States saw.
The Statue of Liberty was first conceived at a dinner party in France in 1865. It would be ten years later in 1975 before the construction of the statue was begun.
Early fundraising attempts did not go well. Governor Grover Cleveland of New York who would later become the 22nd and 24th president of the United States vetoed a proposal granting $50,000 toward the construction of the Statue of Liberty. Ironically President Grover Cleveland participated in the dedication on October 28, 1886 despite having have vetoed the bill raising money for the statue when governor of New York.
Joseph Pulitzer started a drive to raise $100,000 for the construction of the statue. Residents at a home for alcoholics in Brooklyn donated $15 and they were one of the larger contributors since 120,000 donors donated a total of $102,000.
Countless immigrants to the United States have been welcomed to our country and New York City as they enter the New York harbor. It is considered by some as the most iconic landmark signifying the freedom Americans have experienced with the Liberty Bell perhaps being first or second most significant landmark representing the freedom Americans cherish to others.
The torch was seldom illuminated during World War II due to wartime blackouts.
Due to structural problems the Statue of Liberty was restored from 1984 till it was rededicated by President Ronald Reagan in July of 1986. It is scheduled to be closed again in 2011 for construction of an emergency staircase to expedite evacuation of the landmark.
This photo shows Statue of Liberty standing while the Twin Towers are burning on September 11, 2001 after the terrorist attack.
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 make Americans appreciate even more our freedom and the Statue of Liberty standing in New York harbor remind me of the immigrants who have moved to the United States to make a new life and have become citizens of the United States.
The Statue of Liberty has also welcomed many of our troops returning from war overseas and is a symbol of the liberty those soldiers from all the branches of the armed forces have fought for and in too many cases have fought and died for.
God bless America!!
Elvis Presley: How Great Thou Art
Elvis Presley singing How Great Thou Art in June of 1977. Elvis died two months after singing this song.
Talley Trio and Jason Crabb: Searchin’
The Talley Trio does a great job on Searchin’ but when Jason Crabb takes the stage and when he and Lauren Talley both are featured at the end the song has an even bigger impact on the southern gospel fans at the concert.
Dr. Joyce Brothers: Boxing Expert, First TV Psychologist
Dr. Joyce Brothers appearing on the $64,000 Question in 1955.
Dr. Joyce Brothers celebrated her 83rd birthday last month. She is mostly known as a psychologist who appeared on many television shows and was a prolific writer having written many advice books.
However she was only known in 1955 as a boxing expert on $64,000 Question on which she won the top prize in the boxing category. She reportedly did not want to have boxing as her category but when the sponsors insisted on it she delved into boxing books and with her fantastic memory became an expert on boxing.
When the quiz scandals broke she insisted she had won on the level and after an investigation of her appearances on $64,000 Question it was decided that she had won fairly without any cheating.
The producers did attempt to oust her from the show but she kept on winning because they couldn’t trip her up because of her superior knowledge of boxing.
She claims to have been the first television psychologist when she had her first advice show on a New York television station and she had already earned her doctorate in psychology from Columbia University two years before her $64,000 Question appearance.
This very short clip from Happy Days shows Dr. Brothers making a blooper.
The following article gives more details about her life and some of her quotations:
Doctors Still Making House Calls
I can remember back in the 50′s when my baby sister fell out of her high chair and broke her arm that the family doctor came to the house to check on her.
Over the years the practice of doctors making house calls has decreased steadily although some doctors even today are making house calls.
We can all recall television shows and movies when doctors were shown holding their black bags making house calls and the doctor was almost always an older and very kind person. There was no waiting when the doctor came to your house except waiting for him to drive to your house.
Anyone who has waited in an emergency room for three or four hours only to be told they have an infection would appreciate going back in time to a kinder and gentler time when doctors made their rounds door to door instead of having a waiting room full of patients who are anything but patient after waiting a long time to see the doctor and then are herded into the doctor’s office for a very brief visit so the doctor can get to the next patient.
Doctors have been recently returning to making house calls like this New Jersey doctor:
Andy Griffith Show: Floyd the Barber
Howard McNear who portrayed Floyd the barber on the Andy Griffith was an actor in old time radio, television and movies but will be most remembered for appearing on Andy Griffith.
Andy Griffith fans remember Howard McNear playing Floyd Lawson the barber on the Andy Griffith Show but he was also appeared in 1,042 old time radio programs according to radiogoldindex.com. He appeared in 80 episodes of the Andy Griffith Show.
He portrayed Doc Adams in the radio version of Gunsmoke and appeared in numerous old time radio shows from 1937-1961 and was still starring in the radio version of Gunsmoke when he made his first appearance on the Andy Griffith Show. He later would appear in six episodes of the television version of Gunsmoke.
His barbershop was a gathering place for the men in town to discuss what was going on in Mayberry at the time.
McNear appeared in films from 1930′s till the 1960′s. He sometimes portrayed villains in the movies which doesn’t seem possible since Don Knotts said that McNear playing Floyd the barber wasn’t much of a stretch since he was like that in real life.
He was born in Los Angeles on January 27, 1905 and died in San Fernando Valley, California at the age of 63 from complications due to the stroke on January 3, 1969
He suffered a stroke during the third season that made him unable to walk so he appeared sitting down in his scenes till he left the show after the 1967 season.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Borrowed Brunette
Perry Mason was telecast on the CBS television network from 1957-1966.
Raymond Burr will always best known for his portrayal of Perry Mason in the CBS television series Perry Mason from 1957-1966.
As far as I know Perry Mason cannot be seen on any television network today according to
This episode from the series titled The Case of the Borrowed Brunette was originally shown on December 31, 1959 according to cbs.com but it is listed as being shown first on January 10, 1959 by other internet sources and was the 52nd episode of the 271 episode series.
http://www.cbs.com/classics/perry_mason/video/
Our Tax Dollars at Work
No wonder cities and states are broke with employees double dipping and our tax dollars being wasted. This article at msnbc.com has several examples of our tax dollars being wasted. One former police chief in Phoenix, Arizona received a one time payment of $562,000 then started drawing a $90,000 a year pension and went back to the trough for even more money by being hired as public safety manager at $193,000 a year.
This former police chief by himself in one year will have been paid $845,000.
In California one of the hardest hit states in the economic downturn there are government employees receiving pensions and going back to work and now are getting unemployment checks from the state of California.
With unemployment at the highest in years this is no time for city and state governments to let former government workers use our tax dollars for their financial gain.
There needs to be some fiscal responsibility but who is honest enough to see that it happens?
http://redtape.msnbc.com/2010/10/20-government-workers-with-super-sized-pay.html
Red Skelton: Pledge Of Allegiance
Red Skelton explains each word of the Pledge of Allegiance in this video from the January 14, 1969 Red Skelton Show on the CBS Network.
100 Best Selling Music Artists in U.S.
The Beatles have sold more record albums than any other artists inside the United States having sold 177 million albums.
Only five artists or groups have sold over 100 million copies of their albums. The Beatles lead with 177 million albums sold with Garth Brooks second with 128 million albums sold. Next is Elvis Presley with 121.5 million in sales. Led Zeppelin is fourth in sales at $111.5 million. The Eagles have sold 100 million of their albums.
Frank Sinatra who had reportedly recorded 70 albums in his career is surprisingly No.71 on the list with $27 million in sales.
The complete list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists_in_the_United_States
1960 One Hit Wonders
Wikipedia has a list of one hit wonders for 1960′s but I have to question why the Temptations would be included on this list. I can understand the Hollywood Argyles being included with their Alley Oop recording since I never heard from them again.
Alley Oop was a hit by the Hollywood Argyles in 1960 and the lead vocalist Norm Davis made the hefty sum of $25 for singing in the recording. The singers weren’t even an official group since they only got together for studio recordings.
The singers were drunk on cider by the time the song was recorded according to Wikipedia.
An interesting note about Alley Oop is that it was the first song played on WLS radio in Chicago when it changed from a farm format to rock and roll.
The Alley Oop comic strip which originated in 1932 was the inspiration for the song written by Dallas Frazier.
This list of 1960′s One Hit Wonders will bring back memories to those of us who were living at the time:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1960s_one-hit_wonders_in_the_United_States
Lindy Hop Fast Dance Finals 2006
This has been posted again back in the early days of this website when there less than 1,000 readers a month. With over 6,000 visitors in September this will give more visitors a chance to see these great Lindy Hop dancers from the 2006 Fast Dance Championship.
