May 18 2009 - post earthquake edition

How did you like that shaker last night? That tremor took me by surprise, and I thought that we were actually going to have a Northridge-type Earthquake; but as it turned out, it was a mere 4.7, which is far from the 7.1 shaker that occurred over 15 years ago in Northridge.

Well, after some twenty-two straight 5-day work weeks, this is the last one before the 3-day weekend, which begins Friday evening. And also the unoffical start of the summer season as well.

I don't know if I will have any travel plans that day - considering I was out with an illness this past weekend, I may have to postpone that for the following week while I make up what I needed to do this past weekend get done this coming weekend, if that makes any sense.

There is a birthday today, to a good friend. We go back some 27 years - way back to the old Sunrise Mountain days (which seems like a century ago these days)...liked each other a lot, hung out regularly; even taken her home a few times in the Scout. While we did have some rough spots here and there, I knew then and I know today that she's a true friend and a class act. The shaving cream incident in 1983 - still one of the best moments ever...hooking up with her and Shawn Arnold while on my 10-speed in '82...and lastly...Graduation Day in 1985, when she, JT and Martita were there...I think I still have photos, if not the negatives, from that day, which I will share in the future.

Today, Brenda Mills has done quite well for herself - a very thoughtful person with a lot of positive sayings, a la Lydia Cornell...but also a girl who likes to live it up too, as we should all do. Age means absolutely nothing - its how you really feel that counts, and I think each and every one of us should follow that trait. Happy Birthday, my friend.

Enjoy the week, everybody.

May 8 2009 edition

Before I begin, happy birthday to my nephew Kyle, who's 22 today.

As I stated in facebook, I have the Uniden radio - kinda fitting since Uniden announced TWO new radios would be out; one would have 25,000 channels. I'm happy with what I have - L.A. is big, but 6,000 channels is good.

A few things to pass on: The Dallas Cowboys, KRLD and Brad Sham are back together again after an absence of some 17 years. It was recently announced that KRLD-FM would be the new home of the Cowboys Radio Network. Brad will begin his 30th year with the organization, the longest of any sportscaster with the team; and chances are he will be heard both on KRLD-AM and KRLD-FM; both owned by CBS.

For the first time in what seems like an eternity, Vin Scully brought back his old phrase "How Do You Do!", after the Diamondbacks turned a triple play against the Dodgers during a May 4th game. The phrase now is used by Verne Lundquist and USC's Pete Arbogast; although Arbo is better known for the phrase than Verne is. And yes, I use it myself.

The Obama administration has done quite well in its 100+ days; and now, Barack has decided to re-open the Statue of Liberty, which itself has been shut down since the Sept 11 2001 terrorist attacks. Now if Barack can only bring the length of Daylight Time back to what it used to be (first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October), all would be right in the World.

Outside of all that, not much to talk about this time around. Facebook has been an amazing site; brought me back with great friends I've known from the old Sunrise Mountain days - and I hope to mix the old friends with the new ones. Lydia Cornell, thank you my friend - you truly are heaven sent.

Bye for now,

Rob

Remembering Jack Barry

Twenty-five years ago today, May 2, 1984; television lost one of its pioneers, not only in TV but in the game show world as well.

I found out about his death in the R-J that day. "Game Show Host Dies of Heart Attack" was the headline, and Jack Barry's face was in it. A part of my youth died as well. Like him or hate him, Jack was a pioneer not only in game shows, but as well as children's programs during the early days of television - some of which was way ahead of its time (e.g. Winky Dink and You). He was the co-creator of "Concentration" along with Dan Enright and Robert Noah, among others. Above all of that, he was famous for two game shows: "Twenty-One" and "The Joker's Wild". His latter program was a few steps below "Jeopardy!" in the difficulty of questions (most were easy, some were toughies, as Jim Perry used to say); nonetheless, it was a classic - which is still remembered today.

The one thing that Jack will be remembered for is his comeback after being "blacklisted" in the late-1950s in his indirect involvement in the rigging of "Twenty-One". Barry I still feel had no clue what was going on until probably when the investigations into that game show began, however in 1978 he did admit he had knowledge that there was rigging involved, but covered for the company for protection. Jack did find work in Canada afterwards and came here to California in the early-1960s, which perhaps was the best decision he ever made in his career.

Among other things, he owned a radio station in Redondo Beach, ran a cable TV system, was branching out in movies, and towards the latter years of his life renewed ties with NBC in the development of game shows to compete with the likes of Reg Grundy, Mark Goodson, and Bob Stewart. Lastly, he was a father of four children - Jeff, Jon, Douglas and Barbara - the latter three worked with Jack at Barry & Enright Productions.

Jack's death, at the age of 66, was the beginning of the end of B&E. Many of the prominent staffers at B&E resigned, including Richard S Kline and Gary Cox, among others. Jim Peck was to have been Barry's permanent replacement on "The Joker's Wild", however, Dan Enright felt that Bill Cullen was a better choice - and he was chosen to keep that program going for the final two years. Interestingly enough, instead of renaming the company Dan Enright Productions, Dan chose to keep the B&E name instead. As it turned out, the company ceased operations in 1992, shortly before Enright passed away.

Anyway, that was quite a surprise to this 17-year-old at the time. I knew Jack would retire soon, maybe give it one more year then pass the baton to Jim Peck - but it didn't happen.

With that said - prayers go out to Jack's survivors - including his widow Patte, and his four aforementioned children. He will not be forgotten.