WARD BOND "saddled up" and headed out 52 years ago today. I always write a little piece on him for this the anniversary of his death 11/5/1960. This year, I was guest author on Speakeasy.
Article is here if you want to read it. Kristina had some great stuff on the Classics also. Feel free to comment...good or bad....have to learn somehow.
Always enjoyed Gary Collins....whatever he was in. He seemed timeless in a sense. Don't know why he died so early, but it seems a shame. Wonder if he was in complete retirement. I know Jimmy Stewart did that.....only came out for The Shootist because Duke begged him to, LOL.
Anyway, enjoy your new found peace, Gary, and thanks for all the fun and entertainment you gave me. Keith
Alex Karras, "What a great guy he is", says my old friend, Wayne Swinford, and once pro football buddy of Alex'.
I remember him best for his role of George Zaharious, the husband of probably the most fantastic woman athlete in the world. She won more events and dominated more sports than is even imaginable today although she died of cancer in her forties. Alex was excellent in his role of the ex- professional wrestler who won Babe's heart. The woman who played Babe Didrickson Zaharious was Susan Clark who became Alex' wife in real life and was at his bedside with family when he died at home.
He was also the color analyst on Monday Night Football with Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford.
Will call Wayne now and tell him how sorry I am. Alex Karras, once called, "The Gentle Giant"! Keith
Very sad indeed. Think I had every album he ever made..incredible range. And he was hilarious on his TV show, and had some of the very best guests.
I had just written him hoping to get a response with some lines for My Gibbons book. He and I spent most of the time together at the opening of Jilly Rizzo's new place in the Springs. The photographer seemed to follow us everywhere we went for some reason or other. Still hope to get the archives of that company....there are lots of photos that I never bought still out there.
His Christmas shows with his family and that of the Osmonds were always favorites of mine.
He did a movie with the song "Almost There"......still love that along with so many more of his. Great loss for me and I know for lots of others. Sing on with the tall guys Andy! KP Gave him a putting lesson in Atlanta once before the Atlanta Classic Golf Tournament!
Well Lance, you were A Team's "antagonist" the season before my good friend, Jack Ging took over from you as General Bull Fullbright. Jack was playing Lt. Quinlan in Riptide 1984-1985 when offered your role in A Team. So, he was killed off in Riptide by none other than your A Team Sidekick, Carl Franklin. Picture of Jack Ging now....will be 81 shortly. Enjoyed your part in show business Lance. Have fun with the gang.
Keith
LOL, a nice little difference in our ages! Yep, Mickey's knees never quite quit bothering him. But, he could stand for hours at a bumper pool table if there were some "suckers" to play with! I think most of them didn't mind losing just because they were playing with Mickey Mantle. Have an old pic of him somewhere......will have to dig it out. '
Love the old ball players. My grandparents used to go to Cuba years ago to watch the Dodgers' spring practice. Havana was a most spectacular vacation spot then. When there was a Dodgers' game on, grandchildren were banished outside! The whole team and staff knew Nana and Grandpa quite well. Of course that was before the blockade and WELL before your time. Keith
Being from Maryland, I am really sad to hear about the passing of Art Modell. He was loved here in Baltimore for bringing football back to this town after the Colts left. I wish he had lived to see himself inducted into the football Hall of Fame. He deserves to be in there.
Mark
Hi Mark, did you follow the Colts in 1964? My first Husband, Bob, and I were good friends with Lou Kirouac who played for the Colts under Shula. I believe he played for the NY Giants, and I KNOW he kicked for the Falcons as we went to some games with his wife. He knew Mickey Mantle well and when Mickey opened a clothing store in Atlanta, we went with Lou to the grand opening. After that, Mickey was a regular at Billou's, Lou's bar, as were we, when he was in town. Trivia, sorry, Keith
Man, used to love Joe South. Had some great social minded songs back in the late 60's, Games People Play, These Are Not My People, Birds Of A Feather. A few years later, he did Don't It Make You Want To Go Home, Walk A MIle In My Shoes, and my personal favorite, The Clock On The Wall.
That is when we knew him at the clubs around Atlanta. He sang a lot of those songs but they were just getting popular then.......no where near like they are now. And a lot of folks outside of the deep south didn't really know of him much. I wonder how many more great songs he would have written if he hadn't gotten so addicted for so long. Wish his bro Tommy would have hung in....never knew why he committed suicide, but he used to have the same girl around every time we saw him....,.last few times before I moved, I didn't see her. I always wondered. Keith
WOW, never sawJ. look like that. Must have been after his return.
This is how he looked around the end of the 60s. His brother, Tommy was a drummer for his band most of the time and committed suicide in the early 70s....don't think it helped Joe's drug habit much. But, he eventually beat it, returned and was awarded by Nashville and many others for his contribution to music.
Oh, so he WAS the one I was afraid he was. He was SUPER in Green Mile. Shoot, now I want to see it again, Sad thing as Keith says. But I am sure he has friends awaiting him! Thanks for warming my heart with your performance, and thanks so much for saving the mouse. Sure thing YOU will never be forgotten by film buffs! Other Keith
Tragic to lose someone so young!
RIP Michael
And another Atlanta great bites the dust. But what a time he had. Joe South and Billy Jo Royal were around Atlanta a lot. Billy kept his ocelot at my veterinarian's hospital when he was out of town. I worked there in the summer. Boy, did I hate it when it was my turn to take the big cat out for his walk! He didn't like anybody but Billy Jo. Oh, he would purr, and rub up against Billy Jo, but he would hiss, spit and try to bite me, LOL, and I am usually great with animals!. Joe came with him once to pick up the cat. And, of course we saw them around the clubs here and there. Boy, the man wrote some great songs. The clubs were small enough so that you could interact with the entertainment usually if they were the friendly sort. And these guys were. They would finish a set and instead of disappearing backstage, would come out into and mix with the crowd until the next show. Got to see them a lot in the old days. Sure can't say he didn't leave a legacy. I believe his songs will be brought back and sung forever. Have fun with your buddies gone before you Joe, and thanks for all you left us! Sorry, never have been able to say the RIP bit! Keith
We have lost the greatest explorer of the 20th century. - Thank You, Mr. Armstrong for what You did FOR ALL MANKIND!
I was six years old, as Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, and I never will forget the day, when he did his small step, that was a giant leap for all of us! He was one of our best men! I never knew Mr. Armstrong and I never met him in person, but the news about his death makes me very sad.
Wow, you are a Young fellah, 
I was playing bridge with my future husband and our two best friends. We stayed up all day and night, playing and watching!
RIP Phyllis,
Posted the day before by The Tennesseean
Missed this. Never cared a lot for Phyliis Diller until I saw her perform at Disneyworld in Orlando. She was the headliner, and what a fantastic show she put on. We had almost decided not to go and to go back into the park, but we changed our minds. I am sure my friends are glad we did, as I am. have some pictures of that somewhere......well still going through years of them...may find them. Sure put on a super show for us Phyllis, and we will be forever grateful! KPKEITH
Well, William, you had a great life....glad your wife was still with you. I greatly enjoyed your career on the screen. Thanks, Keith
Well, Carlo, I suppose you are noted for a great many fantastic things, but I can't thank you enough for creating ET. After I saw that movie by myself, I greatly enjoyed taking many different people to it just to see the reactions on their faces as in the closet scene. Why I am laughing just thinking about it. What a super great movie. Last ones I showed it to was my parents, and my father even loved it. AlMOST got the tears instead of the shaky little laugh. ET was and IS real in my mind today!
Here's to you Kitty and all your fans! Keith
Forgot to thank you May 2 for posting. Never realized the scope of Tony's career, but that happened with a few of Gibbon's friends. All he cared about was whether they could and liked to play golf! For over a year, one fellah who visited us a lot told tons of jokes, and I thought he was a comedian. Long story, but found out later he was a singer and had made one of my parents' favorites, Old Black Magic, a big hit. Funniest things happened at that penthouse, LOL! KP KEITH and thanks again!
Gosh, I didn't realize he was still alive. Most of My Gibbons' friends died a while ago. Wonder if he was lucid. I could've interviewed him over the phone. Only time I saw him was when he visited St. Louis. Well, we did run into him in the Springs at Jack London's before Dominique and his wife bought it. Their party joined ours....Kirk Douglas was with him and I believe, but not positive, Cyd Charise was also....yes she was, and it was the first time I had met her although I had known Tony for quite a while. I never knew Tony as anything except as a friend to Gibbons who usually showed up in town with some other celebrity. They always stayed at the Chase Park Plaza just down the street a ways from Gibbons' penthouse. We either ordered in from Stan Musial's or I would cook, depending on what everyone wanted, (seafood was my specialty). Gibbons' had a mini "restaurant" kitchen in the penthouse at 300 South Grand.
When Kirk found out I was the pro at Mission Hills and ran the pro shop, he began buying all his golf clothes from me......and was one of the first celebrities who didn't ask for a discount because he WAS one, LOL. So, old Tony is gone. BOY, he almost lived as long as Bob Hope! Hope his last days were peaceful. Muchisimo gratzie, Tony for lots of fun times! KPKEITH
I believe same thing with Ward Bond and Clark Gable. Gable had a heart attack a few days after Ward and lived about 11 days. They were great friends, also. OK, come and get me Tenn., LOL. KPKEITH
It's interesting. R.G. was a very close friend of Andy Griffith's, and they died within a few weeks of each other.
Either I didn't read these before, or we are having a mass "epidemic" of dying entertainment folks! SCARY. I don't watch the news, so.....I about afraid to read these posts!
