O’Connoradioland for September 26, 2011
Hi, welcome to more fun and games—Week 19– at the drive-through window of Minimal Expectations. Man, a few more weeks and we’ll be at our six monthaversary. Where has the time gone? Just havin’ too much fun here.
Hope your pro/college/high school teams are all doing well. The poor Chiefs seem to have a permanent dark cloud hanging over them. With three key players out with major injuries it is just plain hard to be very good. They had some nice moments against the Chargers, but still no win. I still think they could win 4 or 5 games, though, with some luck and creative player shuffling. Remember, that’s how Jamaal Charles became a star last year: he took over for guys with injuries.
This week I want to tell you a little bit about Great Bend Community Theatre and their upcoming funny production ‘Don’t Talk To The Actors’, which will be presented at the Crest Theatre in Great Bend on Thursday, Friday and Saturday October 6th, 7th and 8th at 8 pm each evening, and also a Sunday Oct. 9 matinee show at 2 pm. It’s a great show about the New York theatre scene. I believe the Great Bend Tribune will have a complete story with pictures in their Sunday Oct. 2nd edition.
Tickets go on sale to the public Monday Oct. 3rd at the Crest. The box office is open daily from noon to 1 and also an hour before each performance. Going to live theatre is a great evening’s entertainment, whether it’s ‘date night’ or just an evening out with friends. Great Bend Community Theatre really works hard on delivering a quality performance, too. I personally have heard many rave reviews about their performances from people who have seen a lot of shows in major cities. They often say our ‘product’ is just as good. I know you will be impressed, too.
After being at the Crest with my wife (da Manager) for a couple of years now, I’m always surprised to hear people say they didn’t know the Crest was still open. Yes, it is, and it’s used not just for live theatre, but for large group events of all kinds, even weddings! Call Sally for rental information. The theatre number is 792-4228.
Okay, we’ll get toTrivia Land in a minute here, but first here are my latest five tunes on my 100 All- Time Favorites List:
1. ‘Choo Choo Ch’Boogie’ by Louis Jordan. Wanna know who Chuck Berry’s hero and major influence was? He’ll tell you Louis Jordan every time. Louis was very big in the 40s and early 50s with a hot band and funny songs you could dance to. Listen to his stuff and you can hear the oncoming train of rock and roll. Louis’s songs have recorded by hundreds of artist from pop to country. The country swing group Asleep at the Wheel has recorded at least three of them that I know of.
2.‘Palisades Park’ by Freddy ‘Boom Boom’ Cannon. Few songs evoke the fun of an amusement park when you’re about 16 years old better than this 2-minute masterpiece. Cotton candy for your ears.
3. ‘Take Five’ by Dave Brubeck. An innovative modern jazz genius, Dave Brubeck recorded this quirky-rhythmn classic in 1959 and had a major hit on the pop and jazz charts with it. Unforgettable melody line. You hear the first five or six notes and you know immediately what it is, even if you haven’t heard it for years. The original album is still available at many on-line music sites.
4. ‘Your Song’ by Elton John. Elton and co-writer Bernie Taupin wrote dozens of great hits, but this is still one of my favorites. The song really connects with the listener, which is what any good piece of music is supposed to do.
5. ‘Bits and Pieces’ by the Dave Clark Five. These guys did NOT play subtle rock and roll. They loved loud, rambunctious right-in-your-face pop-rock, songs that had great hooks and were dance floor-friendly. Before the Rolling Stones hit it big, the “DC Five”as they were known, were second in popularity only to the Beatles.
Alright, we have some major trivia mavens on-line with us here this week. Congratulations to Chris, who scored another win with his correct identification of ‘China Grove’ as the little Texas town immortalized by the Doobie Brothers. Chandler also got it right, but a day later than Chris.
In the Know Your Downtown category, KP answered the question about the former location of Brown’s Shoe Fit; it was at Broadway andMain, until the building housing it and another store burned, I believe in the 80s. Congratulations, KP. Wear the mantle of trivia fame proudly.
Which leads me to our next question: What OTHER business was destroyed in the same fire that claimed Brown’s?
And our music question of the week: in what song did Loretta Lynn mention Kansas’ capitol city? Yeah, think about that one for a while.
Well, it’s been a pleasure interfacing with you this week. Visit us again. As per usual, leave your comments below, and e-mail me with questions/suggestions at [email protected].
Till we meet again I remain your humble servant,
John