Update 6-17-03


Hi,

Lets start with the Thanks:

From Marc Jonas:  Thanks for the good wishes on my daughter's bat mitzvah.  I guess I'm a long way from retirement.

And from Ellen Epstein Silver:  Thanks for the birthday wishes.  (Of course, I blew it with Ellen.  I actually saw her on her birthday, which happened to be Father's Day, and I remembered to say "Happy Father's Day" to her husband Alan, which was easy to remember, because two of their three daughters were also there -- the third had just left.  But I forgot about Ellen.)

Speaking of which, I recently sent Nancy Garfield a copy of an album we'd both liked in high school.  She wrote back, "How come I can sing along with lyrics I haven't heard in almost 40 years, but I can't remember why I just went down the basement?"

(That's why we don't have basements in California.)

Other semi-personal correspondence I'm rude enough to share:  Following Linda Cohen Greenseid's compliment to me, I wrote:  It's an illusion, of course, that I can solve problems.  And if I'm quick to reply, it's only because, at the moment, I have a bit of free time.  Or, at least, I've happened to be free when you've been asking questions.  But if I could solve problems, there wouldn't be any George Bush, father or son.

Linda wrote back:  No problem with the Bushes, #41 & #43:  my dentist does magic tricks while you're sitting in the chair waiting for things to dry.  I'll just ask him to
make them disappear.  I'll explain that it's for medicinal purposes and the good of mankind.  I'm sure he'll comply; he's a kind man.

Other, less vaudevillesque news:

From Janet Hernandez:  I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to all who have them in this month of June.  I am one of them, and mine is the 21st, the first day of summer.  Have a great summer, friends.

(Happy birthday, Janet.  Of course, I'll forget I said that in five minutes.)

From Barnet Kellman:  Okay, I've gotta say it -- if Rich hadn't gotten to answer Bittman's quiz before we all saw it (I think that's called insider trading) I could have answered with the title of Buddy Hackett's show Stanley, which I loved and remembered Carol Burnett from.  I've always thought Buddy was the funniest guy on earth this side of Guberman and Bittman, who were, you'll remember, a famous vaudeville team in the Forest Road playground.  I'm pissed about the Buddy Hackett play and musical.  I didn't know about them, and I'm mad that Jerry didn't invite me.  But he did take a bunch of kids (me included) to Ebbetts Field for his birthday, and we sat on top of the Dodger dugout and met Johnny Podres.  I'll never forget that. Thanks, Jerry.  Also, I'd never heard of Marc Bittman, but I did ask my daughter's gym teacher, Martine Bittman, if she was related to Jerry.  She never heard of HIM!
      On another note, MAZEL TOV to Marc Jonas on your daughter's bat mitzvah.  It seems like 5 minutes ago my oldest was having hers -- now she's driving!

Related, from Steve Gootzeit:  I've always used Stanley as a top trivia question for early TV, but my favorite was the identify of the first TV Life of Riley (not William Bendix).  Anyone know?  Bonus points for identifying the one season it aired.
(I won't answer this.  I definitely knew the answer once, and am pretty sure I still do.  But I'd have to go on Google to confirm it.)

Also related, from Donald Faber:  Just for the record, I personally knew all the Buddy Hackett trivia without conducting further research.  And, as I once wrote Jerry Bittman, I once caddied for him and Jan Murray when I was in 7th or 8th grade, at one of the private clubs in the Five Towns.  I don't remember which one, but my banker-uncle in Lawrence was a long-standing member at one of the clubs, and it embarrassed him that I might caddy at his club.  So it was the other one (probably the "Jewish" one) -- I've always been a real minority in this life.  When I worked in the William Morris Agency mailroom, I think I was the only WASP employed in the entire company at that time (excluding those mummified theater agents, like Charlie Baker and Judy Abbott).

(Two more people I'll have to go on Google to identify.)

A harder, more immediate question, from Fran Bellucci Johnson:  I was wondering if any of the film people could tell me some things about a movie being made here in
Wamego.  That's Kansas, just so everyone knows.  It is the second film by a local, Steve Balderson.  The first, Pep Squad, was shown at a film festival, and was supposed to have generated good responses.  It's on video in this country and in theaters overseas.  Has anyone heard anything about it?  I haven't seen it, and just found out it's on video.
   The current film is called Firecracker, and is set in Wamego.  It is about a murder here years ago, involving a carnival.  The leads are Dennis Hopper, Karen Black, and a local 18-year-old.  Jerry Magma is the co-producer and Mike Patton (Faith No More) is working on the movie.  Except for the first two, these names mean nothing to me, though I have heard of the band.
    So, can anyone tell me anything about an unknown writer, director, producer, and the people involved?  Is Steve as good as his father thinks he is?  Any information, or speculation, will be welcome.  Thanks.

(I went on Google and sent Fran some interviews with Steve Balderson I found there.  I also passed the question on to Barnet, who quickly answered:  "Sorry -- I've never heard of any of these people (save Karen Black and Dennis Hopper) or projects.  Sounds pretty indie to me."
If anyone else has information, please write Fran at:  bellucci04@yahoo.com   And let the rest of us know, too.)

From Allen Moss:  Hello from Maine.  Hope all is well.  I have been sorting through some of the digital pix of my trip, and have attached another for your future "gallery showing" of Moss pictures.  This mutha was an absolutely stunning male leopard that we found while traveling in a very isolated part of the Serengeti.  Our guide Robert, with his astounding vision, saw him from an incredible distance.  It was just us and the leopard ... a wonderful encounter.  Go with the magnification -- he really is a stunner!
      All else is fine.  Headed to New York next weekend for my semi-annual trip to see a Broadway show.  This time it's Gypsy.  It is going to be a very quick three-day trip.  No time for Valley Stream this time.  Warm Regards.

(More neat pictures I gotta find room for.  I'll just have to let some of our high school teachers go.  Let's see ... who gave me a D?)

From Zelda White Nichols:  I just have to tease you, Jerry, about Nebraska, because it's a family thing.  As I've mentioned here before, my husband is from Geneva, Nebraska, and he still has family back there.  Actually, I do sometimes envy that quieter and more innocent country lifestyle.  You can't beat that Nebraska corn-fed beef or Runza's (never had 'em anywhere else).  So even though I tease, it is with affection for the state.  Good people come from Nebraska.  I know -- I married one.

From RoseMarie Cassillo:  Hi.  I am sorry I haven't been in touch, but a family member has been extremely ill, and it has been a nightmare around here.  He has had 13 heart attacks, kidney failure, and was almost in a diabetic coma, all in 18 months.  So please forgive me for not being social.  I am looking forward to the next reunion.

(And I'm sure we all hope he is holding even.)

Two pieces of actual, important business, first, from Carol Bunim Okin:  Please update my e-mail address on the home page to:  theokins@optonline.net   Thanks.

(The important point here is that I thought I'd just successfully updated all the home page addresses.  But if I made one mistake, I probably made two.  So if you could each check and make sure your address is right, that would be great.  You only need to tell me if I'm wrong.)

Finally, from Roz Minsky Bobrow:  I have to ask -- how does one go about updating their bio material?  I am sure many of us have had lots of things happen in their lives since the reunion, and I personally would like the opportunity to update my "stuff."
For now -- my husband and I are both traveling to Israel this month.  He is going to an Ulpan (Intensive Hebrew Learning Program) for two weeks.  My daughter Rachel and I are traveling to London for a wedding, and then joining Alec in Israel.  If anyone thinks I am not nervous, they are wrong.  I am, but "going" is something we feel we need to do.  We want to show our support for Israel to our family and friends here and in Israel.  ONE HAS TO DO WHAT ONE HAS TO DO.  Regards to all.

(Best wishes for traveling anywhere outside the United States just now, or even outside your home.  Cats thumped and scurried on the roof last night, and I leaped from my chair, positive it was an earthquake.  I can't imagine constantly thinking it might be a bomb.
As for updating the bios:  that's easy -- just send me the new material.  Words are much simpler to add than pictures.  They take up less space.)

The home page:   http://hometown.aol.com/falcons1965a


Rich