THE SINGING SIDE OF GOMER PYLE

Here is a great article from The Geezer Music Club. You can find more infomation HERE

One of the most amazing voices in the 1960s came from a person that you didn't expect to have such a great voice. The voice belonged to Jim Nabors, who died over four years ago now.

Although he became famous playing a hayseed, the Alabama native had a college degree in business, and during the 1950s spent some time in New York and later Nashville, where he began working behind the scenes in TV. Later in the decade he moved to the Los Angeles area, where he continued in similar jobs but also began to work part-time in area night spots. Although his club appearances were mostly about him singing, he also threw in some comedy bits that hinted at the future Gomer Pyle. Eventually Andy Griffith caught his act and hired him for what was supposed to be a one-shot appearance on his TV show. Nabors proved to be so popular with viewers that he became a regular on the show, and a couple of years later starred in a spin-off of his own, Gomer Pyle USMC.

Even though Nabors had exhibited his deep baritone elsewhere, including the occasional TV variety show, he didn’t really attract a lot of notice for it until he got the opportunity to break out in song on his own show, early in its fourth season. Most fans of Gomer Pyle USMC had no idea what they were going to hear, but they were floored when he performed a booming version of “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha.

Nabors continued to show up in various acting roles for many years, but his singing gradually became the driving force in his career. He hosted his own TV variety show for a while and has appeared in other venues too, but his biggest success has probably been in record sales. In addition to ballads and show tunes, he’s had countless best-selling albums of inspirational songs, and has enjoyed especially strong sales with holiday albums. He remains a fan favorite...

THE MUSIC MAN: A 1962 REVIEW

Here is the original review of the classic 1962 musical The Music Man from Variety Magazine on December 31, 1961...

Allowing something of slowness at the very start and the necessities of establishing the musical way of telling a story, plus the atmosphere of Iowa in 1912, that's about the only criticism of an otherwise building, punching, handsomely dressed and ultimately endearing super-musical.

Allowing something of slowness at the very start and the necessities of establishing the musical way of telling a story, plus the atmosphere of Iowa in 1912, that’s about the only criticism of an otherwise building, punching, handsomely dressed and ultimately endearing super-musical.

Call this a triumph, perhaps a classic, of corn, smalltown nostalgia and American love of a parade. Dreamed up in the first instance out of the Iowa memories of Meredith Willson, fashioned into his first legit offering with his long radio musicianship fully manifest therein, the transfer to the screen has been accomplished by Morton DaCosta, as producer-director.

DaCosta’s use of several of the original Broadway cast players is thoroughly vindicated. Paul Ford is wonderfully fatuous as the bumptious mayor of River City. Pert Kelton shines with warmth and humanity as the heroine’s earthy mother.

But the only choice for the title role, Robert Preston, is the big proof of showmanship in the casting. Warners might have secured bigger screen names but it is impossible to imagine any of them matching Preston’s authority, backed by 883 stage performances.

1962: Best Adapted Music Score.
Nominations: Best Picture, Color Costume Design, Color Art Direction, Editing, Sound

The Music Man

PRODUCTION: Warner. Director Morton DaCosta; Producer Morton DaCosta; Screenplay Marion Hargrove; Camera Robert Burks; Editor William Ziegler; Music Ray Heindorf (arr.); Art Director Paul Groesse

CREW: (Color) Widescreen. Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1962. Running time: 151 MIN.

WITH: Robert Preston Shirley Jones Buddy Hackett Hermione Gingold Paul Ford

A TRIBUTE TO VERA LYNN: ONE YEAR LATER

Dame Vera Lynn had a very full life, living until 103. However, it is still amazing that it has been one year since her death. We will remember her always...

SPECIAL REPORT: STEEL CITY CON IN PITTSBURGH - JUNE 12, 2021

Due to covid, the Steel City Con in Pittsburgh - one of the biggest showcases of autographs, comics, and memorabilia was cancelled three times. Thankfully, the show went on finally on the weekend of June 11-13. This was my first venture to the Steel City Con, and it was a lot of fun. A lot of starts appeared, and I have to admit I was a bit star struck.

The biggest name at the convention was 90 year old William Shatner. It was hard to see him unless you bought an autograph, and he was behind a plexiglass like he was the Pope. The star though with the biggest line was Matthew Lillard. He starred in such movies as "Scream" and "Scooby Doo" among many others.

I am an old school autograph collector who used to write to the stars in order to get autographs so I do not like to spend a lot of money. I did treat myself to get the autograph of Alanna Masterson. She played the character of Tara on The Walking Dead from season 4 to season 9. She was one of the nicest celebrities I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and she not only chatted with me for a few minutes but she was excited to take a selfie!

Myself with Alanna Masterson

On the far end of the spectrum though was comedian Jon Lovitz. He starred on Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990, and he has also appeared in countless movies. He was the most miserable celebrity there. He never smiled, and although these comic conventions are the pillar of a career, Lovitz looked like he did not want to be there. I would not waste money on his autograph.

Crabby Jon Lovitz

I spent most of the time looking at the rows and rows of vendors, and took pictures from the stars from afar. It was a great time, and so much funny. They are having another convention in August, but I think I'll wait until next year for my next one...

Timothy Busfield

Matthew Lillard

Mickey Dolenz

Jamie Farr

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS: NAT KING COLE

Here is an interesting article from a New York City magazine article that published on April 11, 1956. The article shows how far we have come on race relations and also how little we have come as well. It is hard to believe that an entertainer such as Nat King Cole would have to deal with something like this...

FINAL RESTING PLACES: ROSEMARY CLOONEY

Rosemary Clooney was born in Maysville, KY in 1928. She was a singer and actor. Her hits include "Come On-a My House" and "This Ole House." She appeared in the movies "White Christmas" and "The Stars are Singing." She also had her own variety show "The Rosemary Clooney Show."

The Rosemary Clooney Music Festival started in 1999, and is held anually in Maysville. .In 1994 she made her final film appearance in Radioland Murders. In 1995 she guest-starred in the NBC television medical drama "ER" and for her performance, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. In 1999 she published her second autobiography, "Girl Singer: An Autobiography," that described her constant battles with addiction to prescription drugs for depression, and how she lost and then regained a fortune. The same year, she founded the Rosemary Clooney Music Festival, held annually in her hometown of Maysville, Kentucky, performing there every year until her death. 

In 2001 she was diagnosed with lung cancer and died at her home six months later at the age of 74. Her life was dramatized in the 1982 made-for-television movie, "Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story," played by actress Sondra Locke. She received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002 and in 2003 she was inducted into the Kentucky Women Remembered exhibit and her portrait by Alison Lyne is on permanent display in the Kentucky State Capitol's rotunda in Frankfort. She was the aunt to Academy Award-winning actor George Clooney and mother-in-law to singer Debby Boone.

The grave of singer Rosemary Clooney is located in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Maysville, KY. This gravestone is located on the northern edge of the cemetery. There are no signs to locate the grave. Her headstone is very simple.There are many families buried together in this cemetery. It was suggested by the groundskeeper that more of the Clooney family is planning to be burried here...