I’ve never been a big Donald O’Connor fan, but it’s about time I remedied that failing. This video (from the 1953 movie “Call Me Madam”) goes a long way towards converting me. It features Donald, supposedly drunk, making impossible moves … Continue reading →
Now Jennifer Holliday pulls out of her inauguration gig, apologizing to the LGBT Community for her “lapse of judgment” in agreeing in the first place. This sort of thing is becoming more and more common. It’s “you’re either with us … Continue reading →
It seems that Monica Crowley may have plagiarized a substantial portion—amounting to “thousands of words”—of her doctoral dissertation. According to Politico: An examination of the dissertation and the sources it cites identified more than a dozen sections of text that … Continue reading →
I’ve been reading this collection of essays about the poet Robert Frost. It’s an older book that I took out of the library, and although it was edited in 1962 the essays in it are mainly from the 1930s, 1940s, … Continue reading →
There’s a big mystery under the Antarctic ice: Scientists believe a massive object that could change our understanding of history is hidden beneath the Antarctic ice. The huge and mysterious “anomaly” is thought to be lurking beneath the frozen wastes … Continue reading →
The other day I was taking a walk, listening on my iPod to some ballet music, and I suddenly wondered—for no particular reason—whether the Eliot Feld ballet “Intermezzo” might have made its way to YouTube. During the 70s I had … Continue reading →
“Fancy Free” was one of Jerome Robbins’ earliest most successful and appealing ballets—and since he’s choreographed many successful and appealing ballets, that says a lot. I’ve been looking for some footage of the original cast from 1944, and I’m happy … Continue reading →
…(which I was)…yesterday I was in a jewelry store and a truly ghastly Christmas carol wafted through the air. It sounded like someone’s drunken uncle. It sounded a bit like Tom Waits, but not quite. “Is that Bob Dylan?” I … Continue reading →
I’ve seen the wonderful Balanchine ballet “Concerto Barocco” many times, but never with Suzanne Farrell, one of the greats. Despite the poor quality of the footage of her in the video later in this post, it is extraordinary to watch. … Continue reading →
And, since he’s Leonard Cohen, he explains it very, very well: And what about the charge that his singing causes people to feel suicidal? Exactly. As for me, I happen to think that Leonard Cohen’s renditions of his own songs … Continue reading →
[Please scroll down for ADDENDUM at end of post.] Who? Joan Baez and Judy Collins. And they look and sound pretty good, considering. Pretty darn good. They’re not what they were at their peak, of course. But who is, at … Continue reading →
George Balanchine’s “Serenade” is one of my very favorite ballets. It’s the perfect marriage of music, choreography, costumes, mood, and lighting, casting a spell on all who watch it. Here are two short but fascinating videos that feature some visuals … Continue reading →