Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Chico and Harpo Marx

There was a very enjoyable recent posting on Michael Coston’s nostalgia-oriented blog, “Master of My Public Domain.” (http://masterofmypublicdomain.blogspot.com/)

Michael’s 6/22/09 post concerned the music of Chico and Harpo Marx, and included several YouTube videos featuring scenes from Marx Brothers films.

He wrote, of Harpo: “Make no mistake, Harpo was a killer harpist, able to play sweet or hot, as the situation demanded. His `jazz’ renditions of classic tunes are unforgettable.”

And of Chico’s wonderful piano playing, he wrote: “His routines were choreographed comedic masterpieces…”

Here's the link to the 6/22 post:

http://masterofmypublicdomain.blogspot.com/2009/06/musical-marx-brothers.html

In November, 2008, as previously noted, the blog featured a kind review of “The Lucky Strike Papers.”

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

"Radiogram" magazine, June issue

I am quite delighted about an article which appears in the June issue of “Radiogram,” the magazine of the prominent OTR (Old Time Radio) organization SPERDVAC (the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy).

The article says: "Two recently published books are required reading this summer and deserve places on any OTR and early television bookshelf." One of the books referred to is “The Lucky Strike Papers.”

The book, the magazine says, is “a fascinating look at the early years of live television…” The story says: "Those truly interested in the transition, as it were, from radio to television in the late 1940s and early 1950s will find the work most interesting." The article notes (to my added delight) that a “comprehensive review of the book” will appear in a future issue of the magazine.

To learn more about the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy, which is based in California, please go to: http://www.sperdvac.org/