The brain – or more specifically, the memory – is a magnificent thing. A few weeks ago, I saw mention of singer Peggy “Is That All There Is?” Lee and it flashed me back to childhood and the 1960s. “There she is – there’s Peggy!” They pointed at the television excitedly. Mom and Dad were proud of their classmate, who had graduated from St. Mary’s High School in New Haven and went on to perform on stage and screen (large…
“These perm rods I’m using on your hair? These are my Anne Bancroft rods.” That statement caught my attention even more than the smelly perm treatment Michael squirted on my hair. “Anne Bancroft? The Miracle Worker actress? The Graduate? Mel Brooks’s wife?” Yup. One and the same. And that’s how I first learned about Michael Rasor’s “other life.” His hair salon’s name – The Rasor’s Edge – was enough to hook me. He operated a little shop at the other…
Gosh, I miss Robin Williams. He’s been gone for nearly six years. But today is his birthday, so let’s celebrate his life. What an amazing actor and improviser! What a comedian … and humanitarian. My brother Dave’s daughter, Becky, met Robin by chance back in 2002. You know, she’s really not a pushy dame, but she couldn’t pass up the chance to meet him. Here’s Becky’s recollection of that day: I met him while traveling to San Francisco with my…
Who remembers Dan Quayle? (This isn’t a political commentary – promise!) In case you don’t remember him, he was the nation’s 44th Vice President, under President George H.W. Bush. And he was born in Indiana. My first job out of college was in radio news in a little community called Tell City, Indiana. Named for William Tell, there were lots of apples and arrows about town, especially in the logos for local businesses and schools. The first few months I…
Happy Birthday, Della Reese. Born on July 6, 1931 in Detroit, she passed away in 2017. She grew up to be a household name. A singer, TV and film star, talk-show host, minister. My first year at Indiana University, Della Reese performed in the “Little 500 Variety Show” at the IU Auditorium. So did the Singing Hoosiers. Ms. Reese was kind enough to allow us to queue up at her dressing room door if we wanted to say hello and…
Today, the world lost one of its most influential loudmouths. At age 84, Larry Kramer wasn’t expected to live forever. But his larger-than-life persona certainly made it seem that way. And what is my connection with the renowned playwright and AIDS activist? My younger brother was his personal trainer for several years. My brother Bill got to know Larry through their mutual friend Rodger McFarlane. If you’ve seen the HBO version of Larry’s A Normal Heart, you probably loved the…
I wish I could remember who pointed this out years ago, but I think it was one of these ladies: This photo takes me back to the summer after my folks moved to Fairfield for the second time. It was following my sophomore year at IU, and I’d invited several high-school friends (from our first round in Fairfield) over for lunch. One of them noticed a certain lamp. “Isn’t that the lamp from the Dick Van Dyke Show?” What?! To…
Veta Louise Simmons, I thought you were dead! That is one of many funny bits from the play Harvey. Elderly, yet still glamorous, snooty Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet knows how to make an entrance. Her niece, Veta Louise, also up there in years, is mortified that Aunt Ethel might find out about Harvey. Veta’s brother, Elwood, has befriended Harvey, who just happens to be a 6’3″ white rabbit, visible only to him. If you haven’t seen the 1950 movie, rest assured…
Here’s something I never expected to find in our family’s archives: A letter from a princess. The letter is undated, but I’d guess it was written toward the end of the 1980s. Written on the back of the folded blue stationery, it clearly states: Important. Do not throw away. I recognize that handwriting. Grandma Cassidy added the note to make sure this treasure wasn’t swept away and lost by someone with too little curiosity. The letter from the princess was…
Last night on Twitter, a new trending term – Not Tom Hanks! – suddenly appeared. Sadly, one of our generation’s finest actors and his wife, Rita Wilson, had both tested positive for the Coronavirus. Coincidentally. I’d mentioned the Forrest Gump actor the other day to a friend. Tom Hanks has done such a good job of keeping his nose clean, so to speak, over the decades. He’s chosen great roles and, presumably, turned down crummy ones. And he’s genuinely a…