Archive for January, 2008
Pictures From My Fourth Birthday (Sort Of)
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008
Just when I didn’t think I had anything of the kind, I discovered a few snapshots nestled into one of my Grandma Range’s photo albums. Actually, the photos were taken at Bill and Dottie’s house in New Lebanon for a joint celebration of my birthday and my cousin Rob’s birthday, which happens to fall 13 days after mine on October 15. Rob was turning seven and I was turning four. In truth it was probably Rob’s celebration, but since I was a little upstart – they threw me a bone and put my name on the cake and let me help blow out the candle. Read the rest of this entry »
Two Lovely Ladies From the 1940’s Films
Monday, January 14th, 2008
For years, Laurel and Hardy’s films from the 1940’s have been picked on, put down, and shunned by most Laurel and Hardy fans. In recent days, the films have seen new life by getting very nice DVD reissues and have been re-evaluated by many fans who now consider them small masterpieces in their own right. I typically try to stay out of any discussion on the merits (or lack of them) of the 1940’s films. Mostly because I simply don’t care. The films are what they are and they now more than sixty years old…so what does it really matter? Some are crap, some have their moments, and some I completely enjoy – all while recognizing that none of them live up to the standards set in the 1930’s films made at the Hal Roach Studios. Read the rest of this entry »
A Visit With Beverly Crane and Jack Taylor Rounds Out 1995
Sunday, January 13th, 2008
Usually the week between Christmas and New Years is reserved for eating leftovers, playing with new toys, lamenting the removal of decorations, and generally no excitement whatsover. This week in 1995 would have been no exception had it not seen a visit from my friend and a fellow Son of the Desert member from Seattle, Washington. Jack Taylor was in Cincinnati visiting his wife Cathy Ledbetter-Taylor, who was touring as an oboe player with the production of Miss Saigon, so he decided to swing by Dayton and hang out with me for a couple of days. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m Walkin’
Saturday, January 12th, 2008
I’ve always been proud that my first words came relatively early at about nine months and I began taking my first steps and walking alone at ten months and eleven months respecitvely. Proud as if these accomplishments came as a result of some intense training and unprecedented skill levels. The fact is that I was simply ready to it and from that point on whenever I was ready to do something, I simply would do it. Read the rest of this entry »