Update 10-19-10

Hi,

First, lightly echoing Marc Jonas' opinion from last week, this, from Robert Fiveson:  Unlike some people I know who are clawing at denying we are aging, I embrace it -- perhaps because, so far, I have been blessed with a horse's constitution.  But I have to say that reading this last update was depressing:  cataracts, cancer, bowel movements -- jeesh.  Thank god these letters don't include photos.  In any case, I want to put my vote out there now, before any mass die-off, that we have our 50th reunion at Lourdes.

Slightly related to that, from Steve Goodzeit:  Speaking of Clara Hoogenboom -- she said something in class that I have never forgotten, although I cannot recall the context.  She said that we did not yet know how enjoyable it is to be around young, vital people -- the implication being that health issues for yourself and for those that you care about have not yet entered your lives.  I liked her a lot and thought she was an interesting person.

Absolutely unrelated to that, but following what Ryki Zuckerman wrote last week, from Peggy Cooper Schwartz:  My husband and I saw the film Howl last week, and I thought it was excellent.  With a stellar cast, it portrayed Allen Ginsberg's censorship trial in the 1950s.  James Francisco was teriffic as Ginsberg,  David Strathairn and Jon Hamm were opposing lawyers, and Bob Balaban was the judge.
    The film meant so much to me because I actually met Allen Ginsberg in November 1964.  In September 1963, high school junior year, my family moved to Princeton, New Jersey, and my senior year, I was features editor of the Princeton High newspaper.  Bob Dylan was performing at Princeton's McCarter Theater, and, somehow, I was able to get an interview with him in his dressing room before the concert.
    As I walked in for my interview, Bob Dylan couldn't have been nicer.  He said, "So nice to meet you, and I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Allen Ginsberg."  The interview was short and sweet.  Dylan was very kind, and Ginsberg had a twinkle in his eye and would add helpful comments about what I should write down.  It was truly one of my life's great moments.  A little later, Dylan's "Bringing It All Back Home" album was released, and there was a photo on the back of the album of Bob Dylan and Allen Ginsberg -- and it was taken during my interview!
A bit of business -- a change of address for Terry Shields.  His new address is:  terryshields2@comcast.net

A gentle maternal pitch, from Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  My son, Mike, is a published author now -- his book is titled True Hip Hop, and it includes his photos of the top name performers in Hip Hop.  It also includes his "conversation" about them and his experiences "shooting" them.  The book's being released on October 26th, and it can be purchased at all the book-selling sites.

The promised article from the September 29th Variety, about Deborah Oppenheimer:  NBC U Int'l TV unit taps exec veepee -- Oppenheimer ran WB-based Mohawk for 14 years.  By Michael Schneider
    Veteran TV producer Deborah Oppenheimer has been named exec VP of NBC Universal Intl. TV Production.  Oppenheimer, who ran Bruce Helford's Warner Bros.-based Mohawk Prods. shingle for 14 years, will open an L.A. office for the international production unit.  She'll report to London-based NBC U Intl. TV Prod. prexy Michael Edelstein.
    Edelstein, who took over the division earlier this year, said he originally expected to keep a close eye on talent and agents in L.A. and New York. But his London duties and the time difference made that difficult.
"In building this business, much of my intention is to focus on the rest of the world," he said.  At the same time, Edelstein said he heard rumblings that Oppenheimer was looking to get back into TV.  During her stint at Mohawk, Oppenheimer oversaw series such as "The Drew Carey Show" and "George Lopez."  "I was intrigued by this international production model," Oppenheimer said.  "I get to take my experience and the relationships I have and use them in a new and different way."
    Oppenheimer will keep an eye on finding U.S. writers and talent who might be looking to develop projects for the overseas market, while also helping NBC U Intl. bring foreign formats to the U.S.  Oppenheimer will serve as a liaison between the international arm and NBC Entertainment/Universal Media Studio's Angela Bromstad (who spent time in London in the job now held by Edelstein).
    Edelstein said he's particularly interested in bringing U.S. comedy showrunners to the U.K.  "There's a desire by U.K. broadcasters to figure out the writers' room," he said. "Deborah has a background in that which I don't have.  And there are now so many instances of comedy writers creating dramas.  We'll be looking to her ability to grab those comedy writers who are looking to write something more substantial than just setup-punchline."
    Oppenheimer will spend time getting to know English-language territories such as the U.K., Canada and Australia, where Edelstein is looking to make a big production push.  Besides her time at Mohawk, Oppenheimer also produced the documentary "Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport," which won the Academy Award for best doc in 2000.  In addition, she spent time as vice president, pay and cable TV, at Lorimar -- producing fare for HBO, Showtime and PBS -- and was VP of production at Lorimar.

Finally, Emily Kleinman Schreiber has compiled the notes people sent Booker Gibson for his 80th birthday into a small memory book for him.  Here are some of the entries.  More in the coming weeks.
    From Laura Jean Higgins '76:  What a fabulous picture of you, and you haven't changed a bit.  I will always remember your passion for music and how you opened my eyes to appreciate all kinds of music in the same way.  How lucky I feel to have had such a wonderful teacher pave my way to enjoy music in my life.  Thanks for bringing music to my heart in such a meaningful way.  From the looks of you, music does a body good.
    From Jon Rosen '61:  Boy, I would love to be there for your 80th, but it's just a bit too far to travel from Seattle.  Instead, I'm sending you my best, and I am looking forward to seeing you and catching up at our class of '61 reunion next year.
    From Karen Grimm ’64:  Everything I know about music I learned from you in junior high.  Too bad you couldn’t teach me to carry a tune, too.  I always wanted to be a gospel singer -- or an ice skater, or an ice skater skating to gospel music.
    From Janet Schroeder Crucet ’71:  Happy 80th Birthday to one of my favorite teachers at South!  You are an inspiration.  Your love of music is contagious, as is your enthusiasm about life.  I am very privileged to know you.  I hope that you have many more birthdays and that you continue to play piano at The Irish Coffee Pub, so that I get to see you from time to time
    From Al Raitano '61:  I wish you a very happy birthday.  Would you like to gig with me when we have our fiftieth reunion?  I'll sing if you play the piano.
    And from Eileen Howell '64:  Happy 80th, Mr. Gibson!  I can't tell you what fun it has been to get to know you at the alumni meetings.  Being with my classmates again and talking about shared experiences at South allowed me to recall many things about your classes -- having to listen to WQXR, opera reports, Coke bottles.  My clearest memory is being in seventh or eighth grade, sitting in the first row by the door, and passing out the wonderful music books with all the opera stories and biographies of composers.  I remember how much I wanted to take those books home.  I wish you a very happy, healthy and musical 80th birthday.

The South '65 e-mail addresses:  reunionclass65.blogspot.com

The South '65 photo site:  picasaweb.google.com/SouthHS65


Rich