Ozzie and Harriet: A old TV friend rediscovered

 From 1952 until 1966 "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" aired on TV. That's a long run. I remember the show from reruns but it never seemed to gain the status of cult following to me and the reruns weren't around much. Maybe it is because the rights to the show were held by Ozzie Nelson himself and syndication from a big studio was not in the cards.

Once in a while we got a glimpse of some faded print or a few selected episodes when the show ran on the Disney Channel years ago. There are also a lot of public domain type DVDs out there that are so washed out you can't tell whether you are watching Ozzie or Harriet!

Apparently for years the heirs of the Nelsons have been working on getting the series released on DVD and it is finally here...at least the first few seasons. 

Of course the Nostalgic Rambler wanted to see this show so the DVDs are part of our daily viewing for now. Season One is on the agenda. It is really a charming show but very slow moving. The opening of the show features the lengthy "here's Ozzie...here's Harriet...here's David...here's Ricky..." which is gets kind of old after the first few shows...we KNOW who they are! The camera doesn't really move around much. "I Love Lucy" was also filmed around this time and you can sure tell the difference between the way the camera angles were thought out on "Lucy" compared to O&H.   

It's fun to watch for famous guest stars...or actors who were not house hold names yet. A very tiny Jerry Mathers aka the Beaver makes an appearance for instance as a trick or treater in a Halloween episode and Ellen Grandma Walton Corby plays Harriet's aunt in a show.

I imagine the later seasons may attract more DVD interest as heart throb Ricky Nelson starts his singing career. In season one he is a little boy far from any imagination of rock star status. The shows revolve around simple themes and yes they are very corny for our times...but as times get more and more complicated it is a great escape to the 1950s past of huge houses, housewives that look like they are ready to appear on a fashion show, men dressed in suits, and kids who are so polite and sweet you may need your diabetic medication. You gotta love the Nelsons and Ozzie and Harriet is a great series to discover for the first time or re-discover again. 

Although a few sponsor tags were left in, it would have been nice to see the original commercials...and there aren't any extras on the DVD but it's worth a look. An MPI Home video release.

Songsmith Jimmy Van Heusen

Through my life I have enjoyed singing (mostly to myself) and many of my favorite songs were originally sung by the likes of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra and....many of those were written by the one and only Jimmy Van Heusen.

Although his name has been familiar to me, I didn't know much of his background. And unlike some of the other songwriters of the 40s and 50s, Van Heusen has not been as recognized as other guys like Irving Berlin or Rodgers and Hammerstein.   

Van Heusen wrote a lot of the songs made famous by Bing Crosby such as "Swinging on a Star" and one of my favorites, the title song to the movie "Going My Way" with Bing and Ingrid Bergman. 

After the Bing era, he became pals and was the main tune-smith for Sinatra.  Jimmy was quite the womanizer and the quote from Sammy Cahn is that Frank "wanted to be Jimmy Van Heusen, but he couldn't pass the physical." Gotta love that one. Poor Frank!

Compared to many famous composers there isn't too much available on Jimmy Van Heusen. Apparently he was a private man and even though he drafted a biography, it was never released. A great biography by Christopher Coppula called "Swinging on a Star" is out there. There was also a PBS special showcasing his life awhile back...but good luck finding that on Youtube or on DVD. 

I have one of his record albums where he plays the piano. It all sounds so effortless. Truly amazing how he came up with so many beautiful melodies.

Since he never had any children, Jimmy's legacy is now under the wings of his nephew, who didn't have anything to do with the music business but is now keeping his memory alive. Very cool and very fascinating. Why didn't I have an uncle who wrote tunes? Not fair!

Jimmys birth name was Chester Babcock. He took his "Van Heusen" moniker from the shirt company, so I guess I'll have to start wearing Van Heusen shirts to support the legacy of yet another one of my idols. I wonder if Jimmy wore Van Heusen shirts!?

Lucy and Desi, A MUST see....Amazon's documentary review

 Since I was a boy I was fascinated with anything that had to do with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Their iconic show "I Love Lucy" has been a constant in an ever changing life. Every time someone writes a book or puts out a movie about them or the show, I get hyper critical as these are "my" people and I want it to be right.

Lucie Arnaz did it right in her 1993 Documentary "Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie." It had many gems including those beautiful color silent family movies of the couple and their family. It's been many years since that documentary was made. What else needed to be told? 

I was not a fan of Amazon's movie "Being the Ricardos." It took too many liberties in telling the story. My review of that film would be a Ricky Ricardo "eye yay yay yay yay."  And yes, since I have devoured every book, newspaper, magazine article and TV interview since the 1970s and watched their work incessantly, any little discrepancy irks me. 

That being told, the newest entry in the Lucy/Desi story is the Amy Poehler production called simply "Lucy and Desi". The simple title is almost as iconic as Desi's book which he called "A Book"... because he said that is what it was!

There's an old big band song that has the lyrics "it seems to me I've heard that song before...." and that's the way I felt about much of Poehler's "Lucy and Desi."  Many of the audio excerpts, pictures and interviews were very familiar. She had access to a lot of material however that was "new", provided by Lucie Arnaz. That made all the difference. That audio of Lucy and Desi telling their stories was woven together in a delightful way. She uses clips of "I Love Lucy" very cleverly to move the story of the real life couple along. It's all the same story I've heard so many times but this time it is fresh once again. So I give it a thumbs up/must watch for old Lucy fans like me or people who say "Lucy Desi who?"  In my mind, I fancy myself as an expert in the area of Lucy and Desi and could have easily put together this documentary. Even though Poehler didn't ask me for any advice (tongue planted firmly in cheek as I write this....) she did great. What a "wundaful" job she did with "my" people's story. 

I found it amusing that on "I Love Lucy" there were three writers for the first few years and a staff of experts you can see on the show credits that run for a few seconds to list them all. This documentary production had a zillion producers/directors/advisors and even make-up people. My my, have times changed! 

I forgive Amy for using the syndicated opening of "I Love Lucy" in telling the story but of course the heart on satin is so iconic that that opening just HAD to be featured. I guess the folks in the documentary COULD have been watching a rerun!

I hope newer generations will continue to discover "I Love Lucy." Despite all the Amazon hoopla, Sirius/XM "Let's Talk with Lucy" show and interest in their lives, I am amazed at bloggers and commentaries of younger people who have never even seen an "I Love Lucy" episode. It just isn't on all over the TV as it was when I was young. 

For anyone out there who wants a few gems from my archives, here are a few links.

My blog where I have digitalized some of my Lucy/Desi archives (I have so much more and really need to start this up again...but time slips away...)  Lucy Archives

An audio interview from Desi recorded off of the TV onto my little cassette player as he visited Detroit for his book promotion (I am so proud that the TCM podcast used my Lou Gordon Show audio....even though I wasn't mentioned....)   Desi Arnaz in Detroit 

And here's a show I just uploaded. It's Desi's radio show Your Tropical Trip

Life has been busy. I am uploading a lot of my old radio airchecks of big band and nostalgia music of the 1940s and 50s, realizing that even though they are from the 1980s,  they are so old now they are a piece of history. Preserving this material for future generations is a goal.  

Oh, and if someone is doing yet another Lucy/Desi project, I'm available! ;)

Remembering WKBD Channel 50, Detroit's Greatest TV Station

 When I was growing up in the Detroit area in the 1960s and 1970s, broadcasting already fascinated me.  Right down the road from my grandparent's house was WKBD Channel 50.

That's where all the TV shows we watched as kids came from, everything from I Love Lucy to Speed Racer.  This wonderful world of television was where I wanted to work.  What a great goal!

Years later and after 4 years of college to learn the broadcasting trade, Channel 50 wasn't interested in hiring me. What a sad thing that was. Anyhow, the legendary station is still there and has always been in the back of my mind.

I did a previous blog about my fascination with "I Love Lucy" which Channel 50 broadcast ad nauseum back then.  When "Lucy" star Desi Arnaz came to town I recorded the audio of his appearance on the famous "Lou Gordon Show" which is on Youtube here. Gordon was a controversial talk show host on Channel 50 and even for today's standards would be considered rude. He even got poor Desi upset by the end of his visit!  The video tapes of Gordon's show were apparently not saved so my audio might be the only copy of Desi's visit to Detroit. 

I was pleased to discover that author Christopher Lock has just published a brand new book on Channel 50.  It's not a boring look at the station today, which is now nothing like it was in the 1960s and 1970s...this book takes us back to the "golden years" of WKBD, with pictures and details of most of the programs that were on back then. 

If you'd like to be transported back to the baby boomer 60s and 70s of Detroit TV, you will love this time capsule. The book is available on Amazon and click on the link to watch Mr. Lock's  Howell Library Talk about Channel 50.

I think he included most of what I remember except for Snipets! 

Memories of Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School in Southfield, Michigan

             A Visit to Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School in Southfield, Michigan

On a recent vacation to my hometown Detroit area, I stopped by Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary school in Southfield. Sad to say, but it is abandoned, closed and run down.

I was a student there when it opened in 1970 and recently found the dedication program my parents attended in 1971. 

Eisenhower was a great Elementary school. I fondly recall sitting in the "commons" area watching the fledgling PBS TV system for the "Electric Company."  The art classes offered everything from a kiln to fire our clay projects to learning paper mache'.  I remember music class and letting us bring in our favorite 45s to play in class. I was already then a mini nostalgic rambler as I brought in songs from "My Fair Lady" or Vaughn Monroe!  I played floor hockey in the gym and gave a performance or two on the stage there for various Christmas programs, probably playing the accordion.

Since we were the first group there, we spruced up the side of the property by planting trees as a student body.  I think we even had a garden.

We raised money for the projects by bringing in popcorn poppers from home and selling popcorn in school. Can you believe it?!

The former President Eisenhower had passed away in 1969 and he was very well loved, thus naming the school after him. Some of the quotes from the dedication ceremony celebrate the man. From his first inaugural address this quote "Almighty God...Give us the power to discern right from wrong...to work for men everywhere."  Powerful words today that probably wouldn't be tolerated.

"Ike", as he was known, said "there is nothing wrong with America that faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure."  Wow.

Eisenhower Elementary school is falling apart, much like the values the Ike and the 1950s when he was president idealized.

I'm a bit sad.... 

Star Trek Continues

In the prehistoric days when I was a kid, I would set my cassette recorder next to the TV set and record the sound of "I Love Lucy." Then I'd listen to those tapes for hours. A wonderful Desilu Production.  I made my own Lucy posters and shirts (long before Lucy memorabilia became popular)

In the prehistoric days when Vic Mignogna was a kid, he would set his cassette recorder next to the TV set and record the sound of "Star Trek." Then he'd listen to those tapes for hours. A wonderful Desilu Production. Vic sewed his own Trek costumes and as a child became a miniature Captain Kirk during his playtime. 

As the years went by I watched "I Love Lucy" and memorized much of the dialog.

As the years went by Vic Mignogna watched "Star Trek" and memorized much of the dialog.

I always thought it would have been awesome to be able to visit Desilu and see "Lucy" being filmed. I wasn't even born then, so end of that story.

Vic Mignogna was so into his favorite show he decided to become Captain Kirk and finish the five year mission of the Starship Enterprise.  He came up with a show called "Star Trek Continues." The show stars Mignogna as Kirk and features a painstakingly accurate reproduction of the sets. The scripts are well written. The music and editing very much in the style of the 1960s original show.

You may not have heard about this show as it's what is considered a "fan film", not produced by the folks who now own Star Trek. The show is so realistic in its re-creation, about the only thing missing is  the credit "A Desilu Production" at the end.  (Lucy...why did you sell Desilu??? Your heirs could REALLY be rich now...).

Mignogna calls "Star Trek Continues" his love letter to Star Trek and it's a very expensive love letter as it is all non profit. After the first episode which he financed himself, fans donated to continue production.

You can find the shows at www.startrekcontinues.com or on Youtube.

Recently my wife and I had the chance to visit the set of "Star Trek Continues" at the Neutral Zone Studios in Kingsland, Georgia.  This was a special fan appreciation day as it isn't a tourist attraction open to the public. It was a surreal experience and felt like being on the Enterprise. Vic Mignogna was there and proudly showed us the sets. 

                                        Vic Mignogna on the set of Star Trek Continues

                                                             Here I am roaming the corridors of the Enterprise

                                                                   Transporter room

                                                         Beaming my wife somewhere

                                                                               Captain Jeff  on the bridge.

                                                                             Sick Bay

                                                                                      Vic in engineering
The show has been out of production for several years already. The man who now owns the studio now is paying out of his pocket to keep the sets intact.  Hopefully concerned fans will keep this gem alive with donations.

Since the show was filmed, there have been changes in the rules regarding fan productions so there will be no more big scale productions like "Star Trek Continues". I guess that means I can't decide to built a replica of the Ricardo apartment set and play Ricky Ricardo... but then, I don't think I could perfect a Cuban accent anyway. I might have been able to sing Babalu though.... It would have been cool to be on the set of the Tropicana....

By the way Vic who was the brains behind "Star Trek Continues" has done lots of other things including singing and voicing anime cartoons. He  is a Christian and graciously has allowed the radio station I run to air his "Gospel of John." A very interesting and talented man. Or as Spock would say "fascinating."

The Nostalgic Rambler reviews: Bing Crosby Swinging On A Star The War Years by Gary Giddins

I have always loved reading biographies. Some of my favorites include "A Book" by Desi Arnaz, "At Random" by Bennett Cerf and " Act One" by Moss Hart. Several years ago author Gary Giddins came out with a book about the early career of Bing Crosby entitled "A Pocketful of Dreams".  I've enjoyed that book immensely over the years and have waited impatiently for the next volume on Bing's life.

Well, years later it is finally here and Giddins has captivated my reading attention again. This time the book focuses on 1940 until 1946.

I soon turn 55 and lament the boring world of entertainment we live in, from the here today gone tomorrow celebrities to the rap music I have to listen to being blasted from cars next to me at the stop light. Little do the people around me know that in MY car I am probably listening to an old Kraft Music Hall broadcast with Bing or another one of my singing favorites.

These days people my age and younger MIGHT know Crosby for his Christmas music which seems to pop up annually, even if it's just White Christmas.

Hopefully there are still enough people out there who know who Bing Crosby was or are interested in knowing who he was. Gary Giddins deserves kudos (and money income) from this book!

This book is fascinating because it not only portrays Bing through the war years but weaves a portrait of some of the people who were part of his life and times.  It is captivating reading about how Bing interacted with some of his fans including a couple of sisters who followed him around innocently. Some of the songwriters and film folk who were in his circle include Jimmy Van Heusen and Leo McCarey. Those people probably aren't household names anymore but even so the way they wove their craft and their intricate personalities come through in the commentary. I loved it. Most all of the stars of the time are mentioned including Bob Hope and Ingrid Bergman. Name dropping always impresses me. The book isn't just about Bing but the people and events that made up the years from 1940-1946. Sometimes a history lesson, sometimes entertainment show biz lore, sometimes facts and figures.

Bing Crosby seemed to get a bad rap after he died. His son wrote a scathing book and I remember another bio called "The Hollow Man."

Bing was definitely complex. This book presents him in all of his various traits and I have to say it is quite positive. I didn't know Bing was so involved in entertaining the troops during WWII... just as much as Bob Hope who seemed to make a life career out of letting everyone know it. Bing also valued his fans and corresponded with many of them, often for years. His "icy" side could also come through, which makes the book all the more an interesting read. He definitely was not a one dimensional man.  His wife was an alcoholic long before anyone knew what to do with that. Bing coped by staying away and making movies.

The book also features some excerpts from letters Bing wrote during those years and they are often self effacing and fun. I have always loved the Crosby vocabulary. He certainly knew how to use the English language and even invented words of his own.

Thanks Gary Giddins for transporting me to a time where I fit in. I wasn't even alive then but the names and music are all very relevant to me. It was great fun to whirl through the book and captivate myself in the people and storyline.  Don't know if Giddins is planning another volume. I hope so but if it's like the time between the first and this one, I'll have lots of time to savor this new edition for years to come.