Album Cover to Donna Summer's Greatest Hits

This week’s My Vintage Video is a tribute to the Queen of Disco.
Donna Summer died today at the age of 63.

What’s your fave Donna Summer tune?

First Harper Trophy Edition, 1989

A friend from college told me about this classic children’s book, “A Hole is to Dig: A First Book of First Definitions.”
The text is by Ruth Krauss; the illustrations are by Maurice Sendak.
The book was first released in 1952 and has been reprinted numerous times.

Upon hearing of Sendak’s death last week, I pulled this book from my shelf and the illustrations brought a smile to my face.
I love the joy and innocence on their kid’s faces.
And Ruth Krauss’ pithy definitions are so eloquent and thoughtful.

A party is to say how-do-you-do and shake hands

Bob Stewart, the TV game show producer, died on May 4th at the age of 91.

He was the creator of such legendary programs as “To Tell the Truth” and “The $10,000 Pyramid.”

We honor him with My Vintage Video clips from two other shows he created: “Password” and “The Price is Right.”

Downie Bros. Circus Program 1931

Here’s a fun lot of circus magazines/programs I bought last year at the flea market.

While I know of Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey, I’ve never heard of the circuses produced by the Downie Bros or Hagenbeck-Wallace.

I read online that at its peak Hagenbeck-Wallace ran the second-largest circus in the US, second only to Ringling Bros.
I couldn’t find any information on the Downie Bros. however.
If you’ve heard of either of these circus troupes OR have a circus story to tell, please share!
We’d love to hear from you.

And last year I wrote a post on the 1944 Hartford circus fire.
Click here to read that post.

Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1933

Ringling Bros-Barnum & Bailey Circus Magazine 1942

Marvel’s The Avengers opens this weekend and one comic book hero saving the day is the Incredible Hulk!

Let’s look back to a younger, slightly slimmer, animated Hulk.
Here’s the opening to the 1966 cartoon version of this Marvel Comics superhero.

BATMAN FACT: The Batman distress signal made its first appearance in Detective Comics #60 in February 1942.

From Batman Daily Strip October 28, 1943

Every so often I come across a video and think, “Wow, I had no idea this existed.”
Case in point: Van Morrison on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand in 1967.
Clearly, both Van the Man and Dick Clark didn’t have much to say to each other as you’ll see about 3 minutes in.

London: The Swinging City

During the week of April 15, 1966 Time Magazinze featured the hip, happening city of London.
The 12-page spread captured the mood and feel for the city.

One paragraph begins:
Perhaps, nothing illustrates the new swinging London better than narrow, three-block-long Carnaby Street,
which is crammed with a cluster of the “gear” boutiques where the girls and boys buy each other clothing.

Boutique on Carnaby Street

Robert Fraser, owner of the Fraser art gallery is quoted as saying, “Right now, London has something that New York used to have; everybody wants to be here. There’s no place else.”

Lady Jane Ormsby Gore and Michael Rainey at the Fraser Gallery

After a late night of recording or concerts, members of rock’s royalty like The Beatles and Rolling Stones would hang out nightclubs like the Ad Lib and The Scotch.

The Scotch Disoctheque

On April 20, 1912, Fenway Park became the new home of the Boston Red Sox.

The team opened the park with their first home game of the season by playing the New York Highlanders (soon to become the Yankees).
John F. Fitzgerald, Boston’s then-mayor, threw out the first pitch.
The Sox went on to win the game 7 to 6.

One hundred years later, the ballpark is still home to the Red Sox.
This week’s My Vintage Video is a tribute to the ballyard.

Zeitz writes how the flapper was born and how she became the prime mover and shaker in the 1920s.
The Roaring Twenties was a decade of fun and naughtiness.

This is a breezy and enlightening book about the glitzy fashion, the sultry nightclubs and the so-called inventors of the flapper mystique.

I’m in the midst of reading how Zelda and her beau, F. Scott Fitzgerald, become the defining characters of the era.
Others soon to make an appearance are actress Louise Brooks, designer Coco Chanel and writer Lois Long of The New Yorker.

Clara Bow Bids Adieu to 1927

LIFE magazine February 18, 1926