On Hearing Beethoven's Allegretto, First Heard 52 years Ago

"One of the happiest products of my poor talent." Ludwig von Beethoven

Last evening we attended a concert by the Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra, our local community orchestra. The concert included Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, in A Major, Op. 92. The moment the Allegretto began in the second movement I was transported back to over 50 years ago. I was about 10 when my elementary school class went to hear the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra play, and this was one of the pieces performed in the Young People's Concert.

I remember this so clearly because I had recognized the theme and told those around me I had learned the theme on the piano. I have always loved this music. I found a nice article about the Seventh Symphony at this NPR article.

I found the picture postcard of Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, NY where I heard my first concert.

From their webpage, I learned that the Kleinhans Music Hall opened on October 12, 1940 with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's first concert. The building was designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen to resemble the body of a string instrument. Read more here. It is located on what was originally a park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux in 1868.

The history of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra shows the music director I would have seen was Josef Krips. We moved in June 1963, and I am sure my Fifth Grade class attended the concert.

Farewell letter from music director Krips

I also learned that since their inception in 1935 they held youth concerts with 1,200,000 students having attended!!!

1950 children going to Young Persons Concert at Kleinhans Music Hall

"All tumult, all yearning and storming of the heart, become here the blissful insolence of joy, which carries us away with bacchanalian power through the roomy space of nature, through all the streams and seas of life, shouting in glad self-consciousness as we sound throughout the universe the daring strains of this human sphere-dance. The Symphony is the Apotheosis of the Dance itself: it is Dance in its highest aspect, the loftiest deed of bodily motion, incorporated into an ideal mold of tone." Richard Wagner

From My Files

I have been tossing and organizing. I found my high school newspapers. I was in journalism and the newspaper staff for three years. 

A great fashion ad! 

But also in these old school newspapers were articles about the social issues that had become youth culture issues.

 In 1970 Earth Day came to school. I still have my Give Earth a Chance button!

Anti-war demonstrations took place across the country on October 15, 1969. Including in the Royal Oak, MI Memorial Park.

 A special edition of the paper came out after on April 22, 1968 about the assassination of
 Rev. Martin Luther King.

 I had not remembered the hiring of the school's first African American teachers in 1969.

And I sure didn't recall writing this article on student's reaction to including minority studies in the curriculum. (Note: I had an elective history class in Modern History that included reading about the creation of Unions and on Civil Rights. Rad.)

An article that totally threw me was in the March, 1970 issue: The KKK had visited KHS! The student reporters, one of whom was a good friend, reported that the head of the Michigan KKK (who admitted to being a bigot) was promoting Gov. George Wallace for president in 1972. He said the American Independent Party was for the "white, lower-income, middle class American".

I had not realized when I picked up these papers that I would be gaining insight into the social issues of my high school years.

'New' Vintage Fabric

My new quilt friend Theresa brought in some vintage fabrics from one of her friends. We all took home something.

There were many 8" squares.

And some various scarps.

 Like this polished cotton.

 I got about a yard of this!It isn't new reproduction fabric. How old is it?

Friends at a Facebook antique quilt group had quilt a discussion about its age.

The print pattern has been around since the 19th c.; it is similar to fabrics common around 1910-9120, but was reproduced in the 1980s. If it were darker, with the dye having bled through to the back, it would indicate an Indigo dye. I knew it was not Indigo. Since it was cut along one side I don't know the original width, which would--perhaps-- have helped date it. It could be from the 1890s to the 1980s!

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A 1911 Boy's Handkerchief, Polar Exploration, and Walrus Hunting

I love this handkerchief I bought from eBay many years ago. A card shows it was from Howard White, and a on a paper is written, "Howard from Uncle Eddie, Dec. 25, 1911."

In 1911 polar exploration was romantic and dangerous. Polar Explorers were the Astronauts of the 19th c. It was only two years before, in 1909 that Robert Peary reached the North Pole after years of failure.What child's imagination would not have thrilled to the portrayed polar walrus hunt, the men surrounded by icebergs?

Although the walrus on the handkerchief are Arctic animals it was the South Pole that was in the news in 1911. British Robert Falcon Scott was trudging across Antarctica in a race to the South Pole, arriving on January 17, 1912 only to discover that Norwegian Roald Amundsen had reached the pole first, on Dec. 14, 1911. Only 11 days before Eddie was given this handkerchief.

Scott never made it back. As a girl I read and reread about Scott's expedition in dad's book The Great White South by Herbert Ponting. He was my ultimate tragic hero.

I Was A Card Carrying Member of "U.N.C.L.E."

I have a small collection of vintage television star photographs. My cousin Debbie told me how to write to studios for autographed photos when we were in junior high.

My favorite television show in 7th grade was The Man From U.N.C.L.E. When other kids were going to the Boy-Girl Dance on Friday evening I was at home riveted to the television. The show was big, big, big among us kids. Most of the girls swooned over David McCallum but I preferred Robert Vaughn. McCallum was too cool.(These days I enjoy McCallum as Duckie, Dr. Mallard on N.C.I.S.-he can't get away from shows made up of initials!)

I got an envelope with two color photos and 'membership' card and rules.

No, the signatures are printed on the photo cards. The enclosed membership card reads,

United Network Command for Law Enforcement
This is to certify that _____has qualified for service with U.N.C.L.E. and may be called to active duty with his section on 12 hours notice. (Y3K7-Hazardous Duty)
Norman Felton, Section 1, Number a. Policy and Operations
Boris Ingster Section 2, Number 1 Operations and Enforcement

Note that the member is referred to as "he." Norman Felton was the producer of UNCLE as well as Dr. Kildare, starring Richard Chamberlain, which I watched with Mom.

Also included was a form to join the "Inner Circle."

**U.N.C.L.E. Inner Circle**

Classified Material +++Destroy if Nervous

Attention U.N.C.L.E. Enthusiasts!!! Otherwise known as fans of Robert Vaughn, David McCalum and Leo G. Carroll!!! Otherwise known as Napoleon Solo, Illya Kuryakim and Mr. Waverly!

Congratulations--You are now eligible to become a member of the U.N.C.L.E. Inner Circle!!! And received the following U.N.CL.E. goodies-- an autographed 8x10 color photo of secret agents Solo, Kuryakin and Waverly; an I.D. card in full color, proving your loyalty to U.N.C.L.E.; and a giant journal containing the inside story behind "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."

Plus...Photos and secret specifications of the fabulous U.N.C.L.E. gun, together with classified bulletins about upcoming shows throughout the year!!! And...you may be asked to help promote "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." in your neighborhood!!! How about that???

It's easy to join, too. Simpy mail your membership dues of $2.00 per year to Central headquarters and Squadron Leader Mark Whitsett, Re., Mild-mannered machine-gunner recently appointed to head this super-secret arm of U.N.C.LE. Inner Circle!!! You'll be sensational!!! (Last one to join is a T.H.R.U.S.H.!!!) Please allow sufficient time for delivery of your first goodies!!! 

Squadron Leader Mark Whitsett, Ret.

U.N.C.L.E. Inner Circle

Central Headquarters Box 704

Beverly Hills, California 90211

Foreign members may send 20 coupon response international available at your local post office. (Mexico and Canada use money orders)

Don't you love all those !!!!  I did not send in my $2.00. I doubt I could have scrapped up $2.00 in 1964. My allowance in high school was $2.00 a week; in junior high I likely didn't even get an allowance! According to The U.N.C.L.E. Timeline the Inner Circle was created in 1965.

Bewitched premiered in 1963 and I was a big fan. The show was funny and Samantha was amazing and beautiful and smart. Darrin was pretty lucky she gave him the time of day; he was snarky and old-fashioned and a wet blanket.This photo of Montgomery must have been for the men.

This pic is actually hand signed, "To Nancy, with my sincere best wishes, Tony Franciosa"! I remember he was on a TV show, but for the life of me I can't figure out what it was.

In 1963 Inger Stevens starred in The Farmer's Daughter . I kind of remember the show.

Who is Van Williams? And why did I send for his photograph? What was he in around 1963? I don't even KNOW. I see on IMBD he played a character named Ken Madison on Surfside 6 and also on Seventy Seven Sunset Strip (which I know I watched, I still remember the theme song). Otherwise I am a big blank. But hey, he's pretty cute.

My writing for television star photos was short lived. In Ninth Grade I decided to give up television! I had too much to do: play the piano, read books, day dream, write in my journal. Once in a while I did homework. I did watch one show: Star Trek. Yes--I was an original Trekkie from the beginning.

Live Long and Prosper
R.I.P. Leonard Nimoy

Children's Handkerchiefs

Children's handkerchiefs are whimsical, sweet, educational, or representative of child life. I have a small collection.

This new hanky was bought at an Amish store

A hanky about 100 years old with a tale of pirates on the seas

Tom Lamb was a popular artist

another Tom Lamb

The whole tale of Puss in Boots on one hanky!

A 19th c handkerchief teaching about birds

A German folk character on 100 year old hanky

Tom Lamb

1880s hanky

How Many Lives Does It Take To Appreciate What You Have?

Repeat by Neal Pollack employs the stock plot devise of a man who gets to relive his life (think Ground Hog Day) until he gets it 'right.'


Brad Cohen is feeling pretty down on the eve of his 40th birthday. Life did not turn out the way he expected. He was a bright kid, went to the right schools, got the job of his dreams...then tanked. An agent contacts him; she thinks that his one book is Hollywood material. He uproots his 'witch' herbalist wife and their two girls for the Coast, only to end up writing scripts for a lame cartoon show. After ten years he is still hawking TV show scripts to unreceptive ears and living in a hellhole of an apartment while his wife supports them with her concoctions.

Cohen's wife brews up something special for him. He wakes up in-utero, with the mind of a 40 year old man, unprepared to relive his life from the beginning.

Cohen endeavors to make better choices this life round, and for the next hundred or so lives, for he has been stuck in a perpetual time loop that runs from 1970 to 2010. Yoga is the only thing that brings him peace during his last lives.

The ending recalled to mind A Christmas Carol: he wakes with an attitude adjustment, and it was accomplished in one night!

Satirist Pollack is often funny. Sometimes the joke goes on too long---such as Brad's 40 year old interest in sex being stymied in a prepubescent body. I am not sure if this treatment of the repeated life has much new to say, but I did enjoy it and it was a light, quick read. It left me with a positive attitude, an affirmation of life. And that is priceless in these complicated and bewildering days.

I received the ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Repeat
by Neal Pollack
Lake Union Publishing
ISBN: 9781477821336
$14.95
Publication March 24, 2015