Although my family now owns a beautiful Golden Retriever named Molly-and for 14 years before that, another Golden named Kacie, I grew up with cats-or I should say CAT (George Meloon). It’s fair to say that I love critters of all kinds, but I think that most people can be divided into two groups:
1)Cat People
2)Dog People
These groups each tout the virtues of their preference-and at the same time discredit the merits of the OTHER group. Dogs are friendly, cats are aloof. Dogs require walking and help relieving themselves, cats are self-sufficient. Dogs are good with children, cats can be dangerous.
While my cats have all been rather social, the bad rep of a few tends to be spread across all cats in general. My wife, for instance, is NOT a cat person. When she married me, it was for better or worse, which in my case was that I came equipped with Eunice the Cat. While Eunice is now destroying furniture in heaven, she co-existed with Kacie for several years with no issues, other than the fact that the dog (entering the house as a puppy which had previously been ruled with an iron paw by Eunice) was scared to death of the cat. This made for many embarrassing moments for a dog that eventually became about 8 times bigger than the feline she was afraid of---it never dawned on the hound that she could have snapped Eunice in two once fully grown--great entertainment for us, which of course is the entire point of having a pet.
If you love cats, you will love the following video clip. If you HATE cats, you will still love the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvo-g_JvURI
If you’d like this blog in your box daily, just let me know! Tim.moore@citcomm.com
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Sea Dogs Media Home Run Derby
Well, yesterday was my big day. The day every boy dreams of…walking to the plate of a big ballpark, bat in hand and taking in the roar of the crowd as he approaches the batters box to face an ace hurler….
WAKE UP!!!!
OK, so it wasn’t Fenway Park—but it was the beautiful Hadlock Field, home of the Portland Sea Dogs, the Red Sox AA Team. And maybe the crowd wasn’t exactly ROARING-as they were just starting to arrive for a 6pm game. Spotty at best for the expected 5:20pm start. And maybe I wasn’t facing an ace pitcher. It was a pitching machine, but let’s not let reality get in the way of my fantasy, allright?
The event was what is billed as the First Annual Media Home Run Derby, pitting area radio and TV people against each other for bragging rights-plus the use of a skybox for an upcoming Sea Dogs game. I can assure you that NONE of us were disappointed that this display of athletic prowess was scheduled before the stands were full of people.
First of all, to call it a “Home Run Derby” was in itself a laugher. Not one of us got close to putting one over the wall. The point system was as follows:
Hit in the infield: 1point
Hit that makes the outfield: 2 points
Hit that flys to the outfield: 5 points
Hit that rolls to the wall: 10 points
Hit that strikes the wall in the air: 20 points
Home Run: 40 points
Each batter received 2 practice hits, then 3 swings that would count.
As I walked to the plate, wearing my Varitek Red Sox shirt, I was hoping that I wouldn’t mimic his hitting in 2008. All I wanted was contact. It wasn’t lost on me that I was standing in the very spot where players like Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Jacoby Ellsbury stood (among countless other big league stars)
First practice pitch—WHIFF!!!!!
OK…concentrate Tim….the eyes of my colleagues are upon me! Luckily, I connected on the next practice pitch and went three for three on the ones that counted. Two were hard shots into left field and one was a fly ball into left (I’m a natural pull hitter) That was good for a total of 9 points. Not enough to make the top three, but luckily nowhere near the bottom of the scoring either. I don’t remember who was where in the final totals, but everyone had a terrific time!
For me, it truly was great fun-and I was given a Sea Dogs cap as a souvenir—I was so pumped I wanted to get into the game! Sea Dogs were a winner over the Rock Cats! Thanks to the Seadogs for a terrific event—and just look out for ol’ Mr. T next year!
Check out the video of the Sea Dogs Experience below to get a feel for how great it is to see a game at Hadlock!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BieU-GGM2wA
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
GO SEA DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAKE UP!!!!
OK, so it wasn’t Fenway Park—but it was the beautiful Hadlock Field, home of the Portland Sea Dogs, the Red Sox AA Team. And maybe the crowd wasn’t exactly ROARING-as they were just starting to arrive for a 6pm game. Spotty at best for the expected 5:20pm start. And maybe I wasn’t facing an ace pitcher. It was a pitching machine, but let’s not let reality get in the way of my fantasy, allright?
The event was what is billed as the First Annual Media Home Run Derby, pitting area radio and TV people against each other for bragging rights-plus the use of a skybox for an upcoming Sea Dogs game. I can assure you that NONE of us were disappointed that this display of athletic prowess was scheduled before the stands were full of people.
First of all, to call it a “Home Run Derby” was in itself a laugher. Not one of us got close to putting one over the wall. The point system was as follows:
Hit in the infield: 1point
Hit that makes the outfield: 2 points
Hit that flys to the outfield: 5 points
Hit that rolls to the wall: 10 points
Hit that strikes the wall in the air: 20 points
Home Run: 40 points
Each batter received 2 practice hits, then 3 swings that would count.
As I walked to the plate, wearing my Varitek Red Sox shirt, I was hoping that I wouldn’t mimic his hitting in 2008. All I wanted was contact. It wasn’t lost on me that I was standing in the very spot where players like Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Jacoby Ellsbury stood (among countless other big league stars)
First practice pitch—WHIFF!!!!!
OK…concentrate Tim….the eyes of my colleagues are upon me! Luckily, I connected on the next practice pitch and went three for three on the ones that counted. Two were hard shots into left field and one was a fly ball into left (I’m a natural pull hitter) That was good for a total of 9 points. Not enough to make the top three, but luckily nowhere near the bottom of the scoring either. I don’t remember who was where in the final totals, but everyone had a terrific time!
For me, it truly was great fun-and I was given a Sea Dogs cap as a souvenir—I was so pumped I wanted to get into the game! Sea Dogs were a winner over the Rock Cats! Thanks to the Seadogs for a terrific event—and just look out for ol’ Mr. T next year!
Check out the video of the Sea Dogs Experience below to get a feel for how great it is to see a game at Hadlock!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BieU-GGM2wA
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
GO SEA DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
What Was It Like To Be At Ford's Theatre?
Can you imagine being in the audience for “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington 144 years ago TODAY?
A range of emotions were experienced-from elation that the Civil War was officially over, to the thrill of knowing the President of the United States was in the audience—and then the confusion as you witnessed John Wilkes Booth leap to the stage after shooting Abraham Lincoln. Then came the horror and realization that you had witnessed the murder of our Chief Executive.
If you’ve ever been to Ford’s Theatre, you know it still has a eerie feeling about it. Same for the house across the street when Lincoln died the next day-where the blood-stained pillow that was next to his head is preserved in a glass case.
April 1865 was a momentous 30 days in our history, but perhaps no day remains burned in our national psyche as that of April 14th, where the President, truly relieved and, according to his wife, truly happy-met his violent end. The plot, of course, was extensive-as Secretary of State Seward was also a victim and the Vice President was supposed to have been.
Watch the video clip below for further background:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qAeFjCscRY
I have often thought that I would have liked to have been in Washington on that fateful night, but only in hindsight can one truly appreciate the man and the President that Abraham Lincoln was. At the time, emotions on his term was mixed-and it’s hard to believe that many in the nation (even above the Mason-Dixon line) rejoiced at the news.
If you’d like to have my blog in your box daily, just e-mail me: tim.moore@citcomm.com
A range of emotions were experienced-from elation that the Civil War was officially over, to the thrill of knowing the President of the United States was in the audience—and then the confusion as you witnessed John Wilkes Booth leap to the stage after shooting Abraham Lincoln. Then came the horror and realization that you had witnessed the murder of our Chief Executive.
If you’ve ever been to Ford’s Theatre, you know it still has a eerie feeling about it. Same for the house across the street when Lincoln died the next day-where the blood-stained pillow that was next to his head is preserved in a glass case.
April 1865 was a momentous 30 days in our history, but perhaps no day remains burned in our national psyche as that of April 14th, where the President, truly relieved and, according to his wife, truly happy-met his violent end. The plot, of course, was extensive-as Secretary of State Seward was also a victim and the Vice President was supposed to have been.
Watch the video clip below for further background:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qAeFjCscRY
I have often thought that I would have liked to have been in Washington on that fateful night, but only in hindsight can one truly appreciate the man and the President that Abraham Lincoln was. At the time, emotions on his term was mixed-and it’s hard to believe that many in the nation (even above the Mason-Dixon line) rejoiced at the news.
If you’d like to have my blog in your box daily, just e-mail me: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Monday, April 13, 2009
Masters Classic Choke
Indulge me with another GOLF blog, OK?
After watching Kenny Perry self-destruct yesterday, I can at least now appreciate those golfers of great skill who manage to control their nerves enough to get through the final holes without becoming unglued.
It was sad to see Kenny Perry follow a near ace on the 16th hole—with a pair of bogeys on the last two holes-forcing a playoff with Chad Campbell-and the eventual winner, the Argentinean Angel Cabrera. Perry was rock solid throughout the tournament-making his way across Augusta National with solid play. Not a birdie machine, he grew his below par score of –12 by generally not giving up bogeys or worse. That is..until the final two holes. He would have been the oldest player to EVER win a major tournament of any kind-and at 48, he may never get another chance. Like all of us weekend golfers, he will spend much time pondering the “what ifs” of those last two holes. A par on either would have garnered the coveted (albeit ugly) green jacket.
But it was not to be.
Chad Campbell could have had it too, but he squandered his second shot on the first playoff hole and then failed to save par. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, for all of the hype and early round heroics-also failed down the stretch. Phil choked with mis-hits at Hole #12 and a missed eagle putt at 15, I believe. It is notable that as poorly as Tiger played (for Tiger anyway), he was still only 4 shots short of making the playoff.
Angel Cabrera, whose unathletic frame used to be accompanied by multiple packs of cigarettes chain-smoked in a round—managed to fool everyone and steal the tournament crown from those who the pundits said were a lock. Every weekend golfer should learn from one thing from his performance: YOU ARE NEVER OUT OF IT UNTIL EVERYONE IS DONE!
Rewind to the first playoff hole, 18, re-played. Angel hits his tee shot into the woods, then proceeds to ricochet his second off a few trees. Meanwhile, both Perry and Campbell are sitting pretty in the fairway with their tee shots. Who, at THAT moment, wouldn’t have bet a million dollars that Cabrera would be out?
Well, he wasn’t….and the perseverance to have NOT given up at that point makes his eventual victory even more deserved!.
So, Kenny Perry wasn’t the oldest Masters winner ever---but the youngest winner ever-Tiger Woods---did it on this date 12 years ago! His record 270 still stands, as does the 12 stroke margin of victory. Below is a “Masters Moment” that recounts that achievement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75h5QEeKL7Q
If you’s like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Next up-The Players Championship!! I’ll be rooting for Kenny Perry!
After watching Kenny Perry self-destruct yesterday, I can at least now appreciate those golfers of great skill who manage to control their nerves enough to get through the final holes without becoming unglued.
It was sad to see Kenny Perry follow a near ace on the 16th hole—with a pair of bogeys on the last two holes-forcing a playoff with Chad Campbell-and the eventual winner, the Argentinean Angel Cabrera. Perry was rock solid throughout the tournament-making his way across Augusta National with solid play. Not a birdie machine, he grew his below par score of –12 by generally not giving up bogeys or worse. That is..until the final two holes. He would have been the oldest player to EVER win a major tournament of any kind-and at 48, he may never get another chance. Like all of us weekend golfers, he will spend much time pondering the “what ifs” of those last two holes. A par on either would have garnered the coveted (albeit ugly) green jacket.
But it was not to be.
Chad Campbell could have had it too, but he squandered his second shot on the first playoff hole and then failed to save par. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, for all of the hype and early round heroics-also failed down the stretch. Phil choked with mis-hits at Hole #12 and a missed eagle putt at 15, I believe. It is notable that as poorly as Tiger played (for Tiger anyway), he was still only 4 shots short of making the playoff.
Angel Cabrera, whose unathletic frame used to be accompanied by multiple packs of cigarettes chain-smoked in a round—managed to fool everyone and steal the tournament crown from those who the pundits said were a lock. Every weekend golfer should learn from one thing from his performance: YOU ARE NEVER OUT OF IT UNTIL EVERYONE IS DONE!
Rewind to the first playoff hole, 18, re-played. Angel hits his tee shot into the woods, then proceeds to ricochet his second off a few trees. Meanwhile, both Perry and Campbell are sitting pretty in the fairway with their tee shots. Who, at THAT moment, wouldn’t have bet a million dollars that Cabrera would be out?
Well, he wasn’t….and the perseverance to have NOT given up at that point makes his eventual victory even more deserved!.
So, Kenny Perry wasn’t the oldest Masters winner ever---but the youngest winner ever-Tiger Woods---did it on this date 12 years ago! His record 270 still stands, as does the 12 stroke margin of victory. Below is a “Masters Moment” that recounts that achievement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75h5QEeKL7Q
If you’s like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Next up-The Players Championship!! I’ll be rooting for Kenny Perry!
Friday, April 10, 2009
I Love The Masters!
I look forward to this week all year long! The world’s best golfers converge on Augusta National Golf Club for the Masters.
Contrary to popular belief, this is NOT a “PGA” event. In fact, the PGA has always been a bit jealous of the standing that the Masters holds in the hearts and minds of golfers worldwide. The Masters, born from legend Bobby Jones-is an independent event of the USGA-and a profitable one at that!
Naturally, the focus is on Tiger Woods, playing in his first major tournament following a season-ending knee operation. This, of course occurred AFTER he won the U.S.Open in dramatic fashion last year with a bum leg.
Who knows if Tiger will be able to pull it off? At this writing, he is into his second round and is several strokes off the lead. If anyone can do it, he can. There are other stories worthy of attention.
Greg Norman at 54, qualifying after his 3rd place finish in the British Open last year-has endured his share of pain at Augusta National. Besides a couple of runner-up finishes, his lingering legacy (and one that may unfortunately define his career) may be the complete MELTDOWN he suffered in 1996. He entered the final round with a 6 stroke lead and proceeded to become completely unglued-losing to Nick Faldo. Along with new wife, former tennis great Chris Evert , Norman has his “mojo” back and could contend this week.
There’s Padraig Harrington, who won the last two majors, looking for the “Paddy Slam”. Add to the mix names like Phil Mickelson, defending champ Trevor Immelman-and even aging former title holders like Larry Mize, who scored well enough in the opening round Thursday to be just a few strokes behind.
Here’s a little Masters clip of the AMAZING Tiger Woods chip in 2005 on Hole 16 to get ya juiced!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qkBFGpNPC0
No matter the spread-and no matter who wins, there will be drama galore-and long after the hidden eggs have been found and the chocolate bunnies consumed, my Easter Sunday will be capped off with TV viewing of final round Masters action!
If you’d like my blog in your box, let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
FORE!
Contrary to popular belief, this is NOT a “PGA” event. In fact, the PGA has always been a bit jealous of the standing that the Masters holds in the hearts and minds of golfers worldwide. The Masters, born from legend Bobby Jones-is an independent event of the USGA-and a profitable one at that!
Naturally, the focus is on Tiger Woods, playing in his first major tournament following a season-ending knee operation. This, of course occurred AFTER he won the U.S.Open in dramatic fashion last year with a bum leg.
Who knows if Tiger will be able to pull it off? At this writing, he is into his second round and is several strokes off the lead. If anyone can do it, he can. There are other stories worthy of attention.
Greg Norman at 54, qualifying after his 3rd place finish in the British Open last year-has endured his share of pain at Augusta National. Besides a couple of runner-up finishes, his lingering legacy (and one that may unfortunately define his career) may be the complete MELTDOWN he suffered in 1996. He entered the final round with a 6 stroke lead and proceeded to become completely unglued-losing to Nick Faldo. Along with new wife, former tennis great Chris Evert , Norman has his “mojo” back and could contend this week.
There’s Padraig Harrington, who won the last two majors, looking for the “Paddy Slam”. Add to the mix names like Phil Mickelson, defending champ Trevor Immelman-and even aging former title holders like Larry Mize, who scored well enough in the opening round Thursday to be just a few strokes behind.
Here’s a little Masters clip of the AMAZING Tiger Woods chip in 2005 on Hole 16 to get ya juiced!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qkBFGpNPC0
No matter the spread-and no matter who wins, there will be drama galore-and long after the hidden eggs have been found and the chocolate bunnies consumed, my Easter Sunday will be capped off with TV viewing of final round Masters action!
If you’d like my blog in your box, let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
FORE!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Beatles Breakup!
It was on this date in 1970 that Paul McCartney announced the breakup of the greatest rock band the world has ever known. Of course, by then the cracks were already showing in the Beatles relationships.
First, it was the almost constant presence of Yoko Ono in the studio that rankled the other three fourths of the Fab Four. John and Yoko were inseparable, but the bizarre behavior that led to the installation of a bed for Yoko in the Abby Road studios was symptomatic of the many idiosyncrasies that drove a wedge into the creative juggernaut that took the world by storm a mere six years earlier.
While fans mourned the breakup-and many blamed Ono directly, the truth was that all four Beatles had become different people with different aspirations. All four members dabbling with drugs only accentuated the problems that were already lying close to the surface.
John was less inclined to create music that was “pop” in the sense that it needed to be a “hit” with a mass audience. Paul, ever the capitalist, felt the opposite. For George, a growing resentment of his pecking order in the band, especially with regard to songwriting was beginning to surface. His gravitation to Eastern philosophy and music, while influencing all of the Beatles-still separated him from the rest. As for Ringo, sheer boredom from being excluded from so much but the actual recording in the studio finally took its toll.
And then, there were the business deals. Below is a clip of an interview with John and Paul regarding the Apple label and associated businesses. When you look closely, you can see already see the strain, even though this interview was conducted in 1968:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYMWofSqWNQ
Luckily for us, the recorded legacy of the magic created by the Beatles will be with us and enjoyed by millions forever. The Long and Winding Road had to come to an end someday…and that day was today, some 39 years ago.
If you’d like my blog in your e-mail box, just let me know! Tim.moore@citcomm.com
First, it was the almost constant presence of Yoko Ono in the studio that rankled the other three fourths of the Fab Four. John and Yoko were inseparable, but the bizarre behavior that led to the installation of a bed for Yoko in the Abby Road studios was symptomatic of the many idiosyncrasies that drove a wedge into the creative juggernaut that took the world by storm a mere six years earlier.
While fans mourned the breakup-and many blamed Ono directly, the truth was that all four Beatles had become different people with different aspirations. All four members dabbling with drugs only accentuated the problems that were already lying close to the surface.
John was less inclined to create music that was “pop” in the sense that it needed to be a “hit” with a mass audience. Paul, ever the capitalist, felt the opposite. For George, a growing resentment of his pecking order in the band, especially with regard to songwriting was beginning to surface. His gravitation to Eastern philosophy and music, while influencing all of the Beatles-still separated him from the rest. As for Ringo, sheer boredom from being excluded from so much but the actual recording in the studio finally took its toll.
And then, there were the business deals. Below is a clip of an interview with John and Paul regarding the Apple label and associated businesses. When you look closely, you can see already see the strain, even though this interview was conducted in 1968:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYMWofSqWNQ
Luckily for us, the recorded legacy of the magic created by the Beatles will be with us and enjoyed by millions forever. The Long and Winding Road had to come to an end someday…and that day was today, some 39 years ago.
If you’d like my blog in your e-mail box, just let me know! Tim.moore@citcomm.com
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Baseball Is Back!
Great to see the Boston Red Sox opened the 2009 campaign at home with a big win over the defending American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays yesterday, 5-3!
Beckett throws a terrific game, AL MVP Dustin Pedroia hits a homer-as does Jason Varitek—and a game postponed from Monday starts the season off right!
There is no other game like baseball-combining the fascinating aspects of the game itself-with the community-building facets that have made baseball truly America’s pastime !
It was on this date in 1974 that Hank Aaron broke the all-time home run record belonging to Babe Ruth by slapping #715 out of the park-the video is below in a tribute to the Atlanta Brave superstar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FlP_r1-lPU
Regardless of what happens to the Sox this year, I’ll be there-cheering them on all the way—and enjoying the chatter with friends and family about our “boys of summer
Beckett throws a terrific game, AL MVP Dustin Pedroia hits a homer-as does Jason Varitek—and a game postponed from Monday starts the season off right!
There is no other game like baseball-combining the fascinating aspects of the game itself-with the community-building facets that have made baseball truly America’s pastime !
It was on this date in 1974 that Hank Aaron broke the all-time home run record belonging to Babe Ruth by slapping #715 out of the park-the video is below in a tribute to the Atlanta Brave superstar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FlP_r1-lPU
Regardless of what happens to the Sox this year, I’ll be there-cheering them on all the way—and enjoying the chatter with friends and family about our “boys of summer
Friday, April 3, 2009
No More Superstars?
It’s entirely possible that there will never be another SUPERSTAR musical performer.
Now that’s a rash statement, but the evidence leans that way.
Why?
Well, the complete fragmentation of pop culture into ever smaller slices of a pie that used to be a homogeneous group is virtually guaranteeing that the lack of MASS EXPOSURE will make the outcome (no standout artist or group) a moot point.
Consider the history of the megastar in our culture since the age of mass media.
1940’s-Frank Sinatra
1950’s-Elvis Presley
1960’s-Beatles, Rolling Stones
1970’s-Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Elton John
Bruce Springsteen(fragmentation starting?)
1980’s-Michael Jackson, Madonna, Billy Joel, Bon Jovi. Police, etc
From here, things really splinter-and even in the 60’s, you could add in the Beach Boys, etc. There are a lot of people left out—and groups like U2 that span more than one decade. The point is that the fragmentation of media, which first shows up as radio “formats”-created subsets of fans and “superstars” only within that smaller group of fans.
It was on this date in 1956 that Elvis appeared on the Milton Berle Show-a show that was watched weekly by a HUGE percentage of the American population (hence no fragmentation) Ed Sullivan garnered the same huge audience, especially when the Beatles showed up. The Elvis appearance on Milty's show is featured in the clip below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcG0gnld6OI
As we continue to move into our own little world of musical niches, we isolate ourselves from the commonality of experience that was actually defined by LESS CHOICE. All of America watched “I Love Lucy”---were we complaining that we only had two or three channels to choose from?
No! We were grateful for this new medium called “television”.
The huge audiences garnered by “American Idol” are today's closest example of a pervasive media experience. You can always find someone to talk to at the office about “Idol”. Not as easy to find someone who watched “Ultimate Kick Boxing”. With music, it’s getting harder to find an artist whose popularity transcends formats (or iPod barriers!) to be known and enjoyed by masses in numbers large enough to make that artist a superstar.
And I think we are the worse for it.
If you’d like my blog in your inbox daily, let me know! Tim.moore@citcomm.com
.
Now that’s a rash statement, but the evidence leans that way.
Why?
Well, the complete fragmentation of pop culture into ever smaller slices of a pie that used to be a homogeneous group is virtually guaranteeing that the lack of MASS EXPOSURE will make the outcome (no standout artist or group) a moot point.
Consider the history of the megastar in our culture since the age of mass media.
1940’s-Frank Sinatra
1950’s-Elvis Presley
1960’s-Beatles, Rolling Stones
1970’s-Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Elton John
Bruce Springsteen(fragmentation starting?)
1980’s-Michael Jackson, Madonna, Billy Joel, Bon Jovi. Police, etc
From here, things really splinter-and even in the 60’s, you could add in the Beach Boys, etc. There are a lot of people left out—and groups like U2 that span more than one decade. The point is that the fragmentation of media, which first shows up as radio “formats”-created subsets of fans and “superstars” only within that smaller group of fans.
It was on this date in 1956 that Elvis appeared on the Milton Berle Show-a show that was watched weekly by a HUGE percentage of the American population (hence no fragmentation) Ed Sullivan garnered the same huge audience, especially when the Beatles showed up. The Elvis appearance on Milty's show is featured in the clip below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcG0gnld6OI
As we continue to move into our own little world of musical niches, we isolate ourselves from the commonality of experience that was actually defined by LESS CHOICE. All of America watched “I Love Lucy”---were we complaining that we only had two or three channels to choose from?
No! We were grateful for this new medium called “television”.
The huge audiences garnered by “American Idol” are today's closest example of a pervasive media experience. You can always find someone to talk to at the office about “Idol”. Not as easy to find someone who watched “Ultimate Kick Boxing”. With music, it’s getting harder to find an artist whose popularity transcends formats (or iPod barriers!) to be known and enjoyed by masses in numbers large enough to make that artist a superstar.
And I think we are the worse for it.
If you’d like my blog in your inbox daily, let me know! Tim.moore@citcomm.com
.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Birth Of The American Cinema
It was on this date in 1902 that the very first movie theatre opened in the U.S. It was (appropriately) in Los Angeles—in a tent! It was called the Electric Theatre and admission was about 10 cents!
My, what a long, long way we’ve come in a little over a hundred years! From “Kinetoscopes” developed by people like Thomas Edison—to the digital creation and transmission that we enjoy today! Short films of less than a minute were shown before vaudeville acts. From there a system of renting the films came into existence and was the precursor for the way it’s done today.
Can you IMAGINE what it would be like to yank a turn-of-the-century citizen into an IMAX theatre—or any other—to witness the films we have today? Aside from the content onscreen-cars, computers and machines of all sorts that didn’t exist back then—to the incredible special effects that most of us take for granted!
View this movie trailer for the new Transformers sequel and try to put yourself in 1902 shoes watching this very clip! Think of how you would react if you saw this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmgbbGJW6ZE
I, for one, appreciate the enormity of putting such a production together, for even a couple of seconds of action on the screen could take weeks or MONTHS of work or programming to accomplish. Although I disapprove of the real destruction that occurs to make movies, the computer-generated effects now mean that a lot less material is actually wasted in the making of today’s thrillers!
If you’d like my blog in your inbox daily, just drop me a line: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Lights, camera, ACTION!
My, what a long, long way we’ve come in a little over a hundred years! From “Kinetoscopes” developed by people like Thomas Edison—to the digital creation and transmission that we enjoy today! Short films of less than a minute were shown before vaudeville acts. From there a system of renting the films came into existence and was the precursor for the way it’s done today.
Can you IMAGINE what it would be like to yank a turn-of-the-century citizen into an IMAX theatre—or any other—to witness the films we have today? Aside from the content onscreen-cars, computers and machines of all sorts that didn’t exist back then—to the incredible special effects that most of us take for granted!
View this movie trailer for the new Transformers sequel and try to put yourself in 1902 shoes watching this very clip! Think of how you would react if you saw this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmgbbGJW6ZE
I, for one, appreciate the enormity of putting such a production together, for even a couple of seconds of action on the screen could take weeks or MONTHS of work or programming to accomplish. Although I disapprove of the real destruction that occurs to make movies, the computer-generated effects now mean that a lot less material is actually wasted in the making of today’s thrillers!
If you’d like my blog in your inbox daily, just drop me a line: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Lights, camera, ACTION!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
A Non-Smoking April Fools Day
Here’s hoping you were NOT a victim of an April Fools Day prank today! Gotta keep your guard up-as there is nothing “practical” about being the butt of a practical joke.
It was no joke on this date in 1970 when President Nixon signed legislation banning cigarette and cigar advertising from TV and radio. At the time, tobacco companies represented the largest advertising category on television.
Despite growing evidence that tobacco was linked to cancer, the powerful industry lobby worked overtime to thwart efforts to restrict advertising of their products. Nixon himself was an avid pipe smoker, but decided that the influence exerted over children by the broadcast media was pervasive enough to warrant a total ban.
As a former smoker, radio guy and advocate of free speech, I have always been critical of the selective ban this law represented. Print media was still free to accept advertising-heck, the cigarette companies could put a full page ad in “Children’s Highlights” magazine if they wanted to, but a late night TV show watched by adults was banned from airing any such ad. In fact, the last TV commercial for a cigarette aired during the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson at 11:50pm on January 1, 1971
Having said that, I was surprised at seeing the following TV commercial for Winston cigarettes----where the pitchmen were none other than The Flintstones! Watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZvHiiWFbBU
Perhaps the regulators had a point after all. While the absence of TV and radio ads didn’t curb appeal and demand for the product (it may have enhanced it), the recent data showing declines in young people starting to smoke is good news….and THAT’s no April Fools joke!
If you’d like my blog in your inbox daily, let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
It’s free…and so far, not banned by any federal law that I’m aware of.
It was no joke on this date in 1970 when President Nixon signed legislation banning cigarette and cigar advertising from TV and radio. At the time, tobacco companies represented the largest advertising category on television.
Despite growing evidence that tobacco was linked to cancer, the powerful industry lobby worked overtime to thwart efforts to restrict advertising of their products. Nixon himself was an avid pipe smoker, but decided that the influence exerted over children by the broadcast media was pervasive enough to warrant a total ban.
As a former smoker, radio guy and advocate of free speech, I have always been critical of the selective ban this law represented. Print media was still free to accept advertising-heck, the cigarette companies could put a full page ad in “Children’s Highlights” magazine if they wanted to, but a late night TV show watched by adults was banned from airing any such ad. In fact, the last TV commercial for a cigarette aired during the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson at 11:50pm on January 1, 1971
Having said that, I was surprised at seeing the following TV commercial for Winston cigarettes----where the pitchmen were none other than The Flintstones! Watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZvHiiWFbBU
Perhaps the regulators had a point after all. While the absence of TV and radio ads didn’t curb appeal and demand for the product (it may have enhanced it), the recent data showing declines in young people starting to smoke is good news….and THAT’s no April Fools joke!
If you’d like my blog in your inbox daily, let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
It’s free…and so far, not banned by any federal law that I’m aware of.
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