(In Part I of this essay, the origins of the rock star figure in Western culture were examined, beginning with Elvis and leaving off with the Beatles’ triumphal debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.) To be sure, America’s youth…
Author: Soref
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Sydney the psychiatrist from MASH dies at 95
Not only did I not do the math and realize that Allan Arbus was Diane Arbus’ husband, but I didn’t realize he was 95 years old. That makes him only three years younger than Col. Potter (Harry Morgan b. 1915) when he played Sydney on MASH! He seemed more like Hawkeye’s age.
RIP Chrissy Amphlett of the Divinyls
Saddened to hear of the passing of Chrissy Amphlett at 53. She seemed like the real deal. The Divinyls, known mostly for their single, “(When I Think About You) I Touch Myself,” never quite got the recognition they deserved.
Chrissy Amphlett, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, was diagnosed with breast cancer but was unable to receive chemotherapy or radiation due to her MS.
Rockford Redux: Link to B.B. Olshin’s Heartfelt 2012 Piece on the Rockford Files
Wow! A week after my own post on the Rockford Files, I came across this wonderful piece by someone named B.B. Olshin. It’s eerily similar to mine in some places, and much better articulated and thought out in other parts.…
Don Ho – Who Is the Lolo Who Stole My Pakalolo
Who Knew Don Ho Worked Green??
TV Invented the Rock Star (Part I)
Rock stars. Is there even such a thing anymore? The answer seems to be no, at least not in the traditional sense. There are YouTube sensations and American Idol winners, but they’re more like karaoke performers with choreography. Beyond that,…
Cyprus in Simpler Times (A Photo Essay)
It’s not often that Cyprus is in the news, and if it is it’s usually not good news; now for instance. I had a chance to visit Cyprus some 26 years ago(!) and enjoy the beauty of an unspoiled Mediterranean…
Ray Bradbury (1920-2012)
For as long as I’ve been around, Ray Bradbury has been there as an esteemed literary elder. Even back in the Seventies, a time when American society was especially divided and polarized, Bradbury was a transcendent grandfather figure, respected by…
Be There, the Ides of March
Beware the Ides of March, particularly for those of you named Julius, or Ethel for that matter. The rest of you are probably alright. The Ides of March is upon us, marking the beginning of the week when I traditionally…
Film Review: “Echo Park” (1986)
The opening title lets us know right away that this is an ’80s film made in the era of Swatches, Nagel prints, and neon fonts–well before anyone even knew what a font was. The Tangerine Dream-like original score reminds us…