Another vintage shot, Mrs. Tarbrake's class

English 1963 - with Nellie Tarbrake
Originally uploaded by Brite Lights photos.

JAMESTOWN, NY - I missed the Tarbrake experience in 9th grade. I had Mrs. Pascuillo (sp?) who was quite pleasant, though not nearly as supportive as a Mr. Coleman from 8th grade.

Mr. Coleman was really into fiction and whatever I wrote, he praised highly and made me read for the entire class. He only lasted a year or two, I believe. Although not a very large fellow, he had a grip like a vise and more than one male in the class felt Mr. Coleman's hand on the back of their neck if they were not paying attention. One fellow - I can only remember that his first name was Ralph - got his face smashed down on the surface of the desk when he muttered 'asshole' in reference to Mr. Coleman, not knowing Coleman was standing right behind him.

Ralph left class with a bloody nose and I'm not sure Mr. Coleman was there the next fall.

But neither was Ralph.

I don't remember what we read in 9th grade, certainly no Shakespeare. In fact, I'm not sure I remember reading any Shakespeare in high school. Villanova required reading most of Shakespeare's plays, four or five per semester. No wonder I wanted to drop out and go to Mexico.

And writing essays that year with a ball point pen! I hated (and hate) writing anything with a pen, other than taking notes. When I was a junior in high school, after completing Mrs. King's typing class, my mother bought me a typewriter and the rest is history. Gawd that typing class was awful, too, but to this day I can type like a demon if I need to. I remember taking a speed reading class, too. That class was useful in the long run. Just yesterday I had to write a 500-word story about a 40-page report on student enrollments at California colleges. I scanned the report and did my 500 words in under an hour. Later this morning I'll read it to see if it makes any sense.

Today's song is one of the sillier ones we heard in 1963. But damn, I actually remember most of the lyrics.

Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport
by Rolf Harris

SPOKEN:
There's an old Australian stockman lying, dying. He gets himself up
onto one elbow and 'e turns to his mates, who are all gathered around and 'e says:

Watch me wallabies feed, mate
Watch me wallabies feed,
They're a dangerous breed, mate
So watch me wallabies feed
Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down

Keep me cockatoo cool, Curl,
Keep me cockatoo cool
Ah, don't go acting the fool, Curl
Just keep me cockatoo cool
Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down

'n' take me koala back, Jack
Take me koala back
He lives somewhere out on the track, Mac
So take me koala back
Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down

Let me abos go loose, Lew
Let me abos go loose
They're of no further use, Lew
So let me abos go loose
Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down

And mind me platypus duck, Bill
Mind me platypus duck
Ah, don't let 'im go running amok, Bill
Just mind me platypus duck
Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down

Play your didgeridoo, Blue
Play your didgeridoo
Ah, like, keep playin' 'til I shoot thru, Blue
Play your didgeridoo
Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down

Tan me hide when I'm dead, Fred
Tan me hide when I'm dead
So we tanned his hide when he died, Clyde
And that's it hangin' on the shed!!
Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down

Does anyone remember Jack Rose?

Shop class -1961
Originally uploaded by Brite Lights photos.

JAMESTOWN, NY - In 7th or 8th grade, many of us had a mechanical drawing teacher named Jack Rose who wore glasses that were so thick, they gave new meaning to the expression Coke-bottle lenses.

But I remember a little refrain we used to chant, quietly, about him:

Jack Rose sat on a tack,
Jack Rose

I'm sorry Jack, but it still makes me laugh.

Shop classes in general weren't much fun for me, though when Douglas Brandow dropped an entire drawer of type and spent the rest of the semester sorting it, well, that was kind of amusing in a sad way.

But mechanical drawing was different, and when I have to build something I tend to sketch things out - just like Jack Rose taught me.

In one of my newspaper postings, I had to design pages, placing photos and stories and other elements and I quickly learned that the precision mechanical drawing required was needed in newspaper and print production, too.

Jack Rose had kind of a good sense of humor, and named his daughter Seena.

Seena Rose?

Oh boy...

Here's today's song, which has nothing to do with shop class or the photo that Steve Sewell sent around that is posted here. But it's one that should bring back a few stray memories.

Those Oldies But Goodies
by Nino & The Ebb Tides

Those oldies but goodies remind me of you
The songs of the past bring back memories of you
I always remember the first night we met
The songs they were playing
I never will forget

I always will treasure them so close to my heart
They always will haunt me although we're apart
Each time that I hear them a tear's bound to fall
Oh, I love those memories that I, I recall

Those oldies but goodies remind me of you
The songs of the past bring back memories of you
Forever they will haunt me but what can I do

Those oldies but goodies remind me of you

SPOKEN:
"Yes, dear, they are playin' our songs
And they will always remain our songs
And each time that you hear them
I hope that you, too,
Will cherish the wonderful memories that our love once knew
For these songs are but a symbol of the love that I have for you"

Those oldies but goodies remind me of you
(Oldies but goodies remind me of you)

The junior high band, Memorial Day, 1961

Band -1961
Originally uploaded by Brite Lights photos.

JAMESTOWN, New York - Steve Sewell not only has joined the email list, he's joined the list of people sending in photos.

Today's photo comes from Steve and here's what he has to say about it:
-----------
This one was from Memorial Day 1961 and was the Junior High Band out in front of the main driveway to the school. The front row is (L to R) Mr. Vorberg (who was only there for a year, I think -- it was Ed Turner's band at the end of the day), Lee Johnson, Greg Batchelder, me (Steve Sewell), and Paul Slocum, and I can't make out who was in the rear rows.
===========

I didn't play a musical instrument in high school - big mistake I realize now - but it didn't fit and I thought I didn't have much musical talent.

So, when I turned 50, I said I three goals: Become fluent in a foreign language, publish one of my novels & learn to play an instrument - any instrument.

Well, I can get by in Spanish ok. My French won't get me the best table in Toulouse, but it's functional. One novel is ready to go if I can find a publisher. And the music? Well, I have an Ipod and download a lot, if that counts.

I tried to learn to play a keyboard some years ago and gave up, eventually giving the keyboard to my granddaughter who isn't too inspired yet to learn it. But she's only seven years old.

So here's today's tune, dedicated to the band:

Artist: Wings Lyrics
'Band on the Run'

Stuck Inside These Four Walls, Sent Inside Forever,
Never Seeing No One Nice Again Like You,
Mama You, Mama You.
If I Ever Get Out Of Here,
Thought Of Giving It All Away
To A Registered Charity.
All I Need Is A Pint A Day
If I Ever Get Out Of Here.

Well, The Rain Exploded With A Mighty Crash As We Fell Into The Sun,
And The First One Said To The Second One There I Hope You're Having Fun.
Band On The Run, Band On The Run.
And The Jailer Man And Sailor Sam Were Searching Every One

For the band on the run, Band on the run, Band on the run, Band on the run

Well, The Undertaker Drew A Heavy Sigh Seeing No One Else Had Come,
And A Bell Was Ringing In The Village Square for the rabbits on the run.
Band On The Run, Band On The Run.
And The Jailer Man And Sailor Sam, were searching every one

For the band on the run, Band on the run, Band on the run, Band on the run

Well, The Night Was Falling As The Desert World began To Settle Down.
In The Town They're Searching For Us Every Where, but We Never W Ill Be Found.
Band on the run, Band on the run

And The County Judge, who held a grudge
Will search for evermore
For the band on the run, Band on the run, Band on the run, Band on the run

1968's Martin Luther King Memorial Race

Jim Carr's latest toy
Originally uploaded by Brite Lights photos.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. - The photo with today's listing is of the two motor vehicles in Jim Carr's Phoenix garage.

He's fond of red, apparently.

And in a few emails back and forth, he reminded me about the 1968 Martin Luther King Memorial Race around Chautaqua Lake. I had my 14-year-old cousin as co-pilot (and to open the beer for me as I drove). He had a tough job holding his own beer without spilling while passing one to me.

I sure would have liked piloting one of Jim's current rigs on that race, but it's hard to slam beer riding a motorcycle.

Here's Jim Carr's account of the race:

========================
By JIM CARR

This is a short story about boys, cars, and how crazy we were, before responsibilities.

To the best of my recollection, this is what happened:

It was a Sunday afternoon, in the spring of 1968... Martin Luther King had been assassinated, and it was some relatively foolish, reckless, and crazy young adults looking for something to do. The next thing was we were racing, and it was called “The Martin Luther King Memorial Race”.

The drivers and their cars:

John Rupp.
Volkswagen Convertible.

Mike Fitzgerald.
A green Triumph Spitfire(top down, of course).

Bud Hooper.
A blue Chevrolet Camaro.

Jim Carr
A red Chevrolet Chevelle.

There were co-pilots and/or passengers. There names have been omitted, to protect the innocent.

The Start:
I’m not exactly sure where we started (likely the Big Tree or Triangle), but the race was in the counter clockwise direction around Chautauqua Lake, through Jamestown, Fluvanna, Bemus Point, Mayville, Chautauqua, Stow, Ashville, and finishing in Lakewood. I also have no recollection of what happened between the start and Stow, but have vivid memories of the finish. I can, with some confidence, assure you that the lead position changed numerous times.

The finish:
As the finish was approaching, from the back of the pack, Parnelli (aka, John Rupp) as he was often referred to, passed lines of cars, on the hills between Stow and Lakewood. People out for their Sunday drive, returning from church or Sunday afternoon lunch, or just out enjoying the great spring day, were rudely awakened as they came over the top of a hill to find a Volkswagen coming at them in their lane, with no intention of getting out of the way. Numerous cars left the pavement for safety and protection from this wild man, who was only interested in “The Joys of Victory”. There would be no “Agony of Defeat”.

The winner of the 40+ mile race, in memory of Martin Luther King, was a somewhat late model Volkswagen convertible, driven by the not so famous driver, John “Parnelli” Rupp.

Horsepower didn’t prevail. It was a strategy, a will to win, and someone who was just plain crazy.

===========================

So today's song, in honor of that race, a song that was popular and no doubt heard at least once - if not a lot more - on the trip:

Jumpin' Jack Flash
The Rolling Stones

Watch it
I was born in a crossfire hurricane
And I howled at my ma in the drivin' rain
But it's all right now
In fact it's a gas
But it's all right
I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash
It's a gas, gas, gas

I was raised by a toothless bearded hag
I was schooled with a strap right across my back
But it's all right now
In fact it's a gas
But it's all right
Jumpin' Jack Flash it's a gas, gas, gas, gas

I was drowned, I was washed up and left for dead
I fell down to my feet and I saw they bled
I frowned at the crumbs of a crust of bread
I was crowned with a spike right through my head
But it's all right
In fact it's a gas
But it's all right
I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas, gas, gas
Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas
Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas
Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a gas

'Pretty Woman' gets everyone out dancing

Roy Orbison
Originally uploaded by Brite Lights photos.

VALOIS, New York - My right knee feels like Jim Lindell tackled me full force. No, I wasn't playing football last night, it was a party here at Seneca Lake with a couple of hundred folks ranging from toddlers to great-grandmothers.

And the band - what a great band! - Steve Southworth and Rockabilly Rays, pounded on one great song after another for three hours.

No wonder my knee hurts.

At first, not too many people were out dancing. Everyone was milling around, sloshing down beer or box wine. (OK, the toddlers weren't...) Then those first few notes of 'Pretty Woman' sounded and there was a stampede to get the dance floor.

I've never seen so many guys playing the air guitar. (Maybe that's how I hurt my knee, doing that Chuck Berry dance move...)

The neatest thing was everyone was out there for that song, and continued for most of the rest of the evening. Of course, it was freezing outside of the covered area where the band was.

I've collected almost all of Roy Orbison songs and read biography of him written a few years after his death in 1988. He died at 52! And remember the dark glasses he wore performing? They became his trademark after he went to perform one night and couldn't find his regular specs. So...the shades became an Orbison trademark.

Today's song, of course, is Pretty Woman...

Pretty Woman
Roy Orbison

(Words and Music by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees)

Pretty woman, walkin' down the street
Pretty woman the kind I like to meet
Pretty woman I don't believe you, you're not the truth
No one could look as good as you---mercy

Pretty woman won't you pardon me
Pretty woman I couldn't help but see
Pretty woman that you look lovely as can be
Are you lonely just like me---

Pretty woman stop awhile
Pretty woman talk awhile
Pretty woman give your smile to me
Pretty woman yeah, yeah, yeah
Pretty woman look my way
Pretty woman say you'll stay with me-ee
Cuz I need you, I'll treat you right
Come with me baby, be mine toni-i-ght

Pretty woman don't walk on by
Pretty woman don't make me cry
Pretty woman don't walk away, hey----
OKIf that's the way it must be---
OKI guess I'll go on home, it's late
There'll be tomorrow night, but wait
What do I see?
Is she walkin' back to me?
Yeah, she's walkin' back to me
Oh, oh, pretty woman