Veterans’ Circle

It was usually quiet when these gentlemen met to shake hands and to relive some moments of shared sacrifice. It was always the same – in amongst tress and seated around an oversized redwood picnic table. It began with twelve, and now the years had taken half of them away. Nevertheless, each Memorial Day remained…

Toughest Assignment

(Be Yourself) The toughest assignment for an actor is to remain natural. As a young director, I was warned by mentors to try to avoid asking actors to be themselves. I was told that many actors haven’t a clue as to who or what they really are. In fact, I was told that many actors…

Immigrant Heroes

No one loved American comic heroes more than our earliest immigrants. Across the board, almost without exception, the neighborhoods of our new Americans fell in love with the bigger-than-life characters who single-handedly were there, on this good earth, for the sole purpose of protecting them. CIRCA 1930 At a time when little or nothing was…

Fathers and Sons — Boys of a Feather — #42: A New Joy to Share

Humbly forwarded without your request, a simple opinion of the “what’s missing in today’s society” and perhaps, also the “what’s missing in the new flick 42.” I haven’t seen the movie yet, but God forgive me I’ve become one of the things I dislike most, a critic. The only difference between me and the other…

Aromas

Even non-coffee drinkers will admit to enjoying the first smell of coffee as it wafts its way to wherever they happen to be. Think about it, when have you ever heard someone complain about the awful aroma of that stinking dark black stuff? Walk into any recording studio early in the morning and the usual…

| | | | | | | | | | | | |

Number 42 – But Who’s Counting?

Lincoln Terrace Park – Brooklyn, New York A ten to twelve mile hike – who knew? As I abruptly dug the hole for my brand spanking new, fifteen gallon Ficus Benjamina tree, I figured it out. Dad had been up to one of his many tricks as we walked and we talked on the way…

A Wonderful Advantage To Have (If you make use of it)

(PssSt, I certainly did.) Now playing, for your listening enjoyment, the one and the only Ella Fitzgerald, “The Bird, Charlie Parker,” Benny Goodman’s “Jazz at Carnegie Hall,” Mr. Lionel Hampton, Harry James, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, and Lena Horn. CIRCA 1948 — Dorsey High School — my alma Mater   Many years later, I can rhapsodize,…

Leadership (Or Not)

 Seek the best rulers; People do know that they exist. They love and they praise; Next they fear, Or, for many, soon to be reviled. When they do not command the people’s faith, Some will lose what little faith they had in them forever. They resort to oaths! But, of the best when their task…

Preemptive Strike

We had a kid at P.S.233 in Brooklyn, New York who was our confirmed hero and leader. His name (for short) was Newtie. Newtie was big for his age and had the courage in his soul to match his God-given size. When you’re eight, or ten, an eleven year old is for sure one of…