Month: May 2006

Mel Blanc

… the voice of Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Private Snafu, Sylvester, Tweety, Yosemite Sam, Pepe Le Pew, Foghorn Leghorn, Speedy Gonzalez, Marvin Martian, Wile E. Coyote, Tasmanian Devil, Barney Rubble, Tom, Jerry, Woody Woodpecker’s laugh and Jack Benny’s Maxwell automobile was born on this date in 1908.

Blanc was in a serious automobile accident in 1961 that left him comatose. Unable to bring him out of the coma for weeks, in desperation the doctor finally said to him, “How are you today, Bugs Bunny?” Blanc reportedly answered, “Eh…just fine, Doc,” in his Bugs voice and began to recover.

Mel Blanc died in 1989. His epitaph reads: “That’s All Folks!”

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (West Virginia)

… was so designated on this date in 1963. It had been proclaimed a national monument in 1944.

Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers in the states of West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis, John Brown, “Stonewall” Jackson, and Frederick Douglass are just a few of the prominent individuals who left their mark on this place.

The story of Harpers Ferry is more than one event, one date, or one individual. It involves a diverse number of people and events that influenced the course of our nation’s history. Harpers Ferry witnessed the first successful application of interchangeable manufacture, the arrival of the first successful American railroad, John Brown’s attack on slavery, the largest surrender of Federal troops during the Civil War, and the education of former slaves in one of the earliest integrated schools in the United States.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Tenzing Norgay

… of Nepal and Edmund Hillary of New Zealand become the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest (29,035 feet/8,850 meters) on this date in 1953. The mountain is called Chomolungma (“goddess mother of the world”) in Tibet and Sagarmatha (“goddess of the sky”) in Nepal. It’s growing/moving about 6 cm a year.

George Everest (1790-1866) was the British Surveyor General of India (1830-1843). (He pronounced his name E-ver-est, not Ev-er-est as we know it.) Everest’s successor named the mountain for the surveyor.

JFK

Were he still alive, John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States, would be 89 today.

Archer City

Golden Globe and OscarTuesday Evening, May 23. NewMexiKen is looking at an Oscar — and a Golden Globe. They’re sitting on the mantle above the fireplace at the Lonesome Dove Inn in Archer City, Texas. That’s novelist, essayist and screenwriter Larry McMurtry’s hometown of Archer City — the real town from The Last Picture Show.

The Oscar I’m looking at is McMurtry’s for co-writing the screenplay for Brokeback Mountain — with Diana Ossana, based on the story by E. Annie Proulx. McMurtry has left the award to the safekeeping of Mary Webb, operator of the Lonesome Dove Inn. It fits nicely with the theme of her Bed and Breakfast — the Terms of Endearment Room, the Cadillac Jack room, Hud’s Library, and so on, all named for McMurtry works. (Lonsome Dove was McMurtry’s Pulitizer Prize-winning novel.)

Booked UpIn addition to the Inn, Archer City features McMurtry’s bookstore Booked Up. Actually it features Booked Ups 1 through 4 with several hundred thousand used books, including many rare and collectible volumes. The stores occupy four separate buildings near the town square — Booked Up 1 was once the Ford dealer.

Archer City appears much as it did in the 1971 film The Last Picture Show. A town of about 1,800, there is still just the one stoplight. When NewMexiKen tried to wait this evening to let cars continue before I sauntered across at that, the only controlled intersection, I was encouraged by a driver to go ahead. And after crossing I was told to “Have a nice eve-nin.”

I was having a nice evening. It was a gorgeous, warm star-filled night, perfect for a walk in a storybook place.

The Virginian

… considered the first serious western, was published on this date in 1902. The novel by Owen Wister sold 300,000 copies in its first year. The University of Wyoming (the novel is set in Wyoming) has an online exhibit concerning The Virginian. According to the site:

Since its 1902 publication, The Virginian has left a lasting impact upon the American cultural landscape. In earlier years after its publication, The Virginian did much to popularize the American West. As a result, a romanticized view of the West became an integral part of the American popular imagination and cultural identity. In recent years, The Virginian has come under scrutiny. Wister’s portrayal of the West is seen by many as a myth at odds with reality.

When the San Francisco Chronicle listed the 100 best Western works of fiction in 1999, Wister’s novel was 46th.

The Greatest Athlete of the First Half of the 20th Century

… was born near Prague, Oklahoma, on this date in 1888. His Sac and Fox given name was Wa-Tho-Huk (Bright Path). We know him as Jim Thorpe.

Thorpe was named by ESPN as the 7th greatest athlete of the 20th century (after Jordan, Ruth, Ali, Brown, Gretsky and Owens). Read the biographical essay, Thorpe preceded Deion, Bo.

A couple of items from the biography:

  • Thorpe won both the decathlon and the pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm. Swedish King Gustav V told him, “Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world.” Thorpe reputedly replied, “Thanks, king.”
  • Jim Thorpe was a twin. His brother Charles died of pneumonia at age 8.

A Test of Our Character

Paul Krugman:

Why, after all, was Mr. Gore’s popular-vote margin in the 2000 election narrow enough that he could be denied the White House? Any account that neglects the determination of some journalists to make him a figure of ridicule misses a key part of the story. Why were those journalists so determined to jeer Mr. Gore? Because of the very qualities that allowed him to realize the importance of global warming, many years before any other major political figure: his earnestness, and his genuine interest in facts, numbers and serious analysis.

And so the 2000 campaign ended up being about the candidates’ clothing, their mannerisms, anything but the issues, on which Mr. Gore had a clear advantage (and about which his opponent was clearly both ill informed and dishonest).

Or, as The Daily Howler sums up Krugman’s point:

Why did those idiots [in the press] sit and jeer Gore—then invent all those stories about him? (Al Gore said he discovered Love Canal!) Krugman offers an explanation. He suggests they hated Gore because they’re idiots—and because Gore isn’t.

Long distance information, give me Memphis, Tennessee

Photos of two historic buildings — shrines really — in Memphis, Tennessee, one happy and one tragic.

Sun Studio

Sun, the recording studio where Elvis Presley made his first recordings — and so did Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. Arguably, where rock and roll began.

Lorraine Motel

Martin Luther King Jr. was on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in April 1968 when he was assassinated.

Photos taken by NewMexiKen May 25, 2006.

Shiloh National Military Park

Shiloh CannonShiloh was the beginning of total war.

According to James M. McPherson in Battle Cry of Freedom:

The 20,000 killed and wounded at Shiloh (about equally distributed between the two sides) were nearly double the 12,000 battle casualties at [First] Manassas, Wilson’s Creek, Fort Donelson, and Pea Ridge combined.

Shiloh Green TreesThis morning Shiloh (Tennessee) was green and lush and quiet, the opposite of April 6-7, 1862, when it was smoke and chaos and violence. After a brief film (which had to have been produced 50 years ago — its colors faded, its actors stilted and poorly made-up), NewMexiKen and Dad took much of the auto tour, from the Tennessee River at what was once Pittsburg Landing, past the Union’s last line of defense to Shiloh Church (where the 1862 log building sits next to an active church).

Often at battlefields I am able to imagine the scene. How realistically is another question, but at least I can picture what I think it might have been like, or at least feel the sense of the place. Sometimes, however, the imagination just isn’t sufficient, or the place doesn’t move me. For some reason Shiloh National Military Park was like that today.

Background: The Union Army, under Grant, was encamped in a poorly chosen position at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. They were attacked by Confederates under Johnston and Beauregard early Sunday, April 6, 1862. By the end of the day, Confederates had catured the key position of Shiloh church and driven Union lines nearly to the Tennessee River. Grant, reinforced by Buell, counter attacked Monday morning, regained the lost ground, and forced the Confederates to retreat to Corinth, Mississippi. It was ostensibly a Union victory, though Grant was faulted for a lack of precaution that led to the first day’s disaster.

NewMexiKen

… is still trying to catch up and tell you about the first part of the current trip — the Pecos River and Bosque Redondo, Billy the Kid’s grave, Archer City’s delightful Lonesome Dove Inn and Booked Up.

In time. In time.

Along the way I did observe some remarkable ranches — the kind with their own landing strips. As a result I’ve decided we need to spruce up things around this blog. First step, a name change.

I’m thinking “NewMexiKen Land & Cattle Co.”

(The first of the ranches linked-to above claims about 180,000 acres. The second, 245,000 acres.)

Meanwhile …

Rihanna’s “SOS” gives way to “Ridin'” by Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone as the number one tune in the land.

According to Billboard’s Chart Beat, “Ridin'” is Motown’s 38th number one, ranking it sixth among the labels:

Columbia (95)
RCA (60)
Capitol (50)
Atlantic (42)
Epic (40)
Motown (38)

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Stadium Arcadium holds on as the number one album.

Little Rock 49 years later

Two photos from Little Rock, Arkansas, taken today.

Little Rock Central High School

The magnificent Little Rock Central High School, scene of one of the first great segregation confrontations when, nearly 50 years ago, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus resisted the enrollment of African-American students in the previously all-white school. Ultimately President Dwight Eisenhower sent 1,000 members of the 101st Airborne to help maintain order.

Nine students enrolled that September (1957).

Little Rock Nine

The original nine are portrayed by this artwork on the north side of the Arkansas State Capitol. With each is a plaque with a current quotation or remark, many of them moving.

Driving around Little Rock (or anywhere) most of us realize how far America still needs to go on matters of race. Even so, for one like NewMexiKen who can remember that original confrontation 49 years ago, the commemoration of the students at the Capitol is remarkable.

Corinth, Mississippi

Long-term readers of NewMexiKen (both of them) will, I hope, recognize that through all the wisdom, whimsy and half-witted nonsense there are actually some consistent themes — a great love for America, its cultures, history, music and people. Those themes all seemed to come together for me in an emotional way this balmy evening in Corinth, Mississippi.

Corinth Bluegrass

First, at the Cross City Grille in downtown Corinth, it was the incredible catfish cakes and fried green tomatoes (and the not half-bad Blue Heron wheat beer from Lazy Magnolia Brewing). Then it was the amateur bluegrass concert in the parking lot of South Bank across the street. Finally it was the freight train moving through Corinth (as the musicians played). It was Corinth’s role as the rail crossing (hence, Cross City, its first name) that marked it for the Union Army in 1862 and that led to the Civil War’s first great battle, the Battle of Shiloh.

Is this a great country, or what?

That’s the group Heartland in the downtown Corinth South Bank parking lot.

It’s the birthday

… of Ian McKellen. Gandalf and Sir Leigh Teabing is 67 today. McKellen has been nominated for two Oscars, one each for best actor and best supporting actor.

… of Frank Oz. The voice of Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Cookie Monster, Bert, Grover, Yoda and so many more, is 62 today.

… of Mike Myers. Austin Powers and Shrek is 43.

Miles Davis was born on this date in 1926. The web site for JAZZ A Film By Ken Burns has a brief introduction to Miles Davis.

Babe Ruth hit the 714th (and last) home run of his career on this date in 1935.

Robert Allen Zimmerman

… was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on this date 65 years ago. That’s Bob Dylan, of course.

From the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

Bob Dylan is the pre-eminent poet/lyricist and songwriter of his time. He re-energized the folk-music genre, brought a new lyrical depth to rock and roll when he went electric, and bridged the worlds of rock and country by recording in Nashville. As much as he’s played the role of renegade throughout his career, Dylan has also kept the rock and roll community mindful of its roots by returning often to them. With his songs, Dylan has provided a running commentary on a restless age. His biting, imagistic and often cryptic lyrics served to capture and define the mood of a generation. For this, he’s been elevated to the role of spokesmen – and yet the elusive and reclusive Dylan won’t even admit to being a poet. “I don’t call myself a poet because I don’t like the word,” he has said.

From the All Music Guide entry by Stephen Thomas Erlewine:

Bob Dylan’s influence on popular music is incalculable. As a songwriter, he pioneered several different schools of pop songwriting, from confessional singer/songwriter to winding, hallucinatory, stream-of-conscious narratives. As a vocalist, he broke down the notions that in order to perform, a singer had to have a conventionally good voice, thereby redefining the role of vocalist in popular music. As a musician, he sparked several genres of pop music, including electrified folk-rock and country-rock. And that just touches on the tip of his achievements. Dylan’s force was evident during his height of popularity in the ’60s — the Beatles’ shift toward introspective songwriting in the mid-’60s never would have happened without him — but his influence echoed throughout several subsequent generations. Many of his songs became popular standards, and his best albums were undisputed classics of the rock & roll canon. Dylan’s influence throughout folk music was equally powerful, and he marks a pivotal turning point in its 20th century evolution, signifying when the genre moved away from traditional songs and toward personal songwriting. Even when his sales declined in the ’80s and ’90s, Dylan’s presence was calculable.

On May 24

… the first passenger railroad in the U.S. began service between Baltimore and Ellicott’s Mills, Maryland, in 1830. That’s 13 miles.

… the first telegraph message was transmitted by Samuel F. B. Morse in 1844. Sent from Washington to Baltimore it said, “What hath God wrought!”

… the Brooklyn Bridge opened on this date in 1883. Click here for every fact you ever needed to know about this landmark.

… the first Major League Baseball night game was played in Cincinnati in 1935. The Reds beat the Phillies 2-1. The Reds played seven night games that year (one against each National League opponent).

Tommy Chong, he’s Chong of Cheech and Chong, is 68.

“Radar,” that is Gary Burghoff, is 63.

Tools of Ignorance

Tools of Ignorance
 
 
 
Guess whose 5-year-old grandson has put on the “tools of ignorance”? That’s what they call the catcher’s gear. His mom says he loves the position because “he realized the catcher gets to put a hurtin’ on people.”

Five. He’s five.
 
 
 
 

On the road again

Long-term readers (both of you) may remember last summer when NewMexiKen took a road trip with Dad. We went across Glen Canyon Damn, through Utah, (here and here), Idaho, across Oregon through Portland to Astoria, then back down the Pacific Coast via Redwoods and San Francisco.

This summer our trip is even longer — from Albuquerque to Virginia and back by car. It began yesterday, Tuesday, and will continue for about two weeks. As this is written we are in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I’ll catch you up as time and energy permit.