General "RIP" announcements that might be of interest

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    Thanks for the kudos.


    Just a clarification - Shirley Jones played the female lead (Laurie) in the film version, and Gloria Grahame played the part Celeste originated in '43...Ado Annie, the 2nd female lead.


    I played Curley in summer stock (semi-pro production) in 1979, right out of high school. I was offered the understudy role for Curly in the National Touring Company's revival of Oklahoma, but since I was going to the University of Tennessee on a voice scholarship that fall, I (right or wrong) turned it down.


    I was the first person in my family to attend college, and I fell that was most important.

    Well Tennesseean,
    I had a long answer for you, and it is no longer available! It has been a long time since I was 17 or so, (I am 62 now). I guess I forgot a lot about Oklahoma, although you have brought it mostly all back talking about it.
    I used to play golf with Gordon when he came to Atlanta, (I was the Jr. City Champ and was assigned to him once to show him around the Atlanta CC. Anyway, he and Gene Kelly had always been favorites of mine. I loved Gordon's voice.....even his speaking voice. Those were his drinking days though and he had fallen into the city by city Theater Under the Stars type of thing. When I went to Palm Springs to be golf pro at Mission Hills CC, I don't think he was in good shape then. Besides, I ran in the Sinatra, Hope type circles and he didn't. So, I never saw him there. Was very glad to hear he had stopped drinking after I left The Springs, I believe.
    WOW, so you had a voice like Gordon's? And could act to boot? That is fanTAStic. Do you do city shows now? Must have been a terribly hard choice to make. A chance at fame and fortune, or the fulfillment of a family dream. I am sure your family was very happy with your decision. But, I imagine you have wondered all your life. Was it worth it......just wondering myself as I gave up a career in golf.


    I have seen a few places where they say the best songs are Oklahoma and I Can't Say No. But, I STILL find myself, all of a sudden singing, Oh What a Beautiful Morning and can just see Gordon with his smile wide and his face a beaming. I mean, "the corn is as high as an elephant's eye"....such a good song. R and H were quite a team. Did you have a favorite song? Loved Poor Jud is "daid". WOW, still can't believe it. That was quite something Tenn. Thanks so much for posting. I practically DRUG it out of you with my mistakes in casting, LOL. Thanks again, KPKEITH


    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    Gordon McCrae has been a favorite of mine for many years. He had such a flexible voice, with a great range.


    I studied opera at UT, and was (and am to this day) a choral director for churches, civic choruses, and men's and women's barbershop choruses. I taught school for a good while (music, of course), and that (and barbershop) took me to LA.


    That's where I got to know lots of industry people, and taught private voice lessons for many years. There are lots of things (musically) through the years that have been VERY fulfilling, but I haven't the space (and the readers no patience!) to share all the great things that have happened to me as a result of my decision to go to school, rather than "trod the boards" all over the country at age 18!


    I wasn't in a mature enough place in life to handle that type of "worldly" exposure!

    WOW again, Tenn! If you ever want to share them, there are Private Messages, and I would love to hear about them. Shoot, we may have known some of the same people in the LA area. I was there when Sinatra made his first pitiful attempt at a comeback with Old Blue Eyes, (think that was what the show was called....think it was at Caesars. Have an old tape of it around somewhere as we all flew over for it. Ya know, he said that Vic Damone had the best "pipes" in the business.....just had absolutely no stage presence...nice guy though. My aunt studied Opera in college. She was considered to have a real shot at it. Then she married an Episcopal minister, got pregnant, and 3 children later, it was too late. She kept her voice until she was about forty or so, then she stuck to just singing regular songs at which she was very good. You know, Pavoratti came to the Hotel one time for a couple of days. I had loved him. By the time he left, that had done a complete turnaround. NEVER have I met such a rude, demanding man in my whole life, and I have been around and around, LOL!
    KPKEITH Really would love to hear your stories. And you are right....at 18, with the kind of influences out there, you might not even still BE here!

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    I did a Master Class with Pavoratti many years ago, and he was VERY rude, condescending, and, quite honestly, not very bright.


    I MUCH prefer Placido Domingo, both as a singer (much more vibrant voice), and as a musician. He was a classically trained pianist before he EVER started singing. He was a really good conductor as well.


    I'll send you a PM sometime with some of my experiences in LA. It was NEVER boring!

    Well, glad to know that Pavorotti wasn't so horrible because he didn't like our hotel. Domingo is superb! Didn't know about the piano part.


    Is Chasen's still there? Is Holmby Hills still way upper class? Friends lived up above the Hollywood Sign or somewhere way up the hill. Billy came down in his Rolls and met us at a liquor store to guide us up there, LOL! KPKEITH
    OK, no more OT. PMs. Sure we probably know some people together.

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    This is late but just saw it. Go to minute 5 in this interview with Ernest Borgnine. Whoever was interviewing him, might have been his sons?.....well, let's say they didn't have a CLUE about Duke, but there are a couple of good stories about them and the showing of True Grit.



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    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    Found this also.


    The Navy Band wishes to pay great respects to the family of Ernest Borgnine on his passing. The Navy veteran and honorary Chief Petty Officer was a tremendous friend of the band, visiting us for 2 of the US Navy birthday concerts. Fair winds and following seas, shipmate. (Photo by Mark Faram)


    KP

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    That was an interesting clip with Ernie. I enjoyed it, but really wanted to smack that interviewer in the head. "Big Jake? The Shootist? McLintock?" COME ON MAN! REALLY?


    Mark

    "I couldn't go to sleep at night if the director didn't call 'cut'. "

    LOL,Mark, that is why I said they didn't have a CLUE about Duke. I believe they were his son and a friend.....after the Duke part, you hear one say, "Heh Dad, ask this guy how far it is to the 188". Very possible he might have meant I-88. Anyway, I think they were just kids. I got a real kick out of watching him obviously having a great time driving and talking about old times. What a fine laugh old Ernie had. Sounded great when he said Duke fell on the floor! How goes it BUD? KP


    Quote from dukefan1

    That was an interesting clip with Ernie. I enjoyed it, but really wanted to smack that interviewer in the head. "Big Jake? The Shootist? McLintock?" COME ON MAN! REALLY?


    Mark

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    I kept yelling at the clip, "Ture Grit!, True Grit!" It didn't work. They kept naming the other movies. I am glad someone finally got it. What a dumb group of people. Interesting that Ernie couldn't recall the movie either, but he knew it wasn't the other movies. But a really cool story on that. Thanks.

    Cheers :cool: Hondo



    Quote

    "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it"

    - John Wayne quote

    Sorry there May2. I didn't know of her or the series, but I know how you must feel. I cried all day when Dan Blocker and Ward Bond died. DUKE had to die on my Mom's birthday. She was 57. She was one of his biggest fans.
    Sleep with the angels Miss Rees. KPKEITH

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE