Back in the 1950s musicals played a much larger part in popular culture. When My Fair Lady finally opened in New York and the original cast album was released (in monophonic only, as stereo was only beginning to gain traction; a stereo recording was made and released a year or so later), it was the … Continue reading My Fair Philly – Part 2
Philadelphia
My Fair Philly – Part 1
Before the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady opened in New York City in 1956, it had a tryout period, first in New Haven and then a four week run in Philadelphia’s Erlanger Theatre. The Erlanger Theatre was located on the northwest corner of 21st and Market Streets where it opened in 1927 as … Continue reading My Fair Philly – Part 1
Slinky
I remember getting a Slinky when we still lived in the Great Stone House on the farm back in the mid-1950s. It was fun watching it make its way down the staircase. I don’t know what ever happened to that Slinky; probably eventually went the way of all toys. During my last couple of years … Continue reading Slinky
Ya Gotta Breathe!!!
It’s the Philly 10K again! Its starting time was 7:30 at 8th and South, so I saw the preparations when I took my morning walk. When I went to the Acme a bit later, it had started but hadn’t reached Christian Street yet. On my way back, however, it was in full swing, so I … Continue reading Ya Gotta Breathe!!!
Death of an Alleged Sexual Predator
There’s an obituary for Richard Glanton, who died of a heart attack at 79, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, and buried in the eleventh paragraph is this little nugget: He ended a workplace sexual harassment suit with a private settlement in the early 1990s What a way to bury one of the stories that had the … Continue reading Death of an Alleged Sexual Predator
Animal Free Zone
A few blocks from me there is a fenced-in playground where people have been taking their dogs in the early morning to allow them to run free and play. Later in the day, children are active in a variety of sports activities. Recently I noticed a sign on the fence. I think that sign is … Continue reading Animal Free Zone
My War with the City
All right, it’s not really a war. It merely feels like one. It all started when I bought this house six years ago. My realtor warned me that I was paying too much, but I had my reasons. I was anxious to get out of Center City. I liked living in Center City, and it … Continue reading My War with the City
Task Is at It Again
Once is not enough apparently as far as Task is concerned. You may recall that the television series Task, which was broadcast on HBO, did some filming in my neighborhood a couple years ago, although in the finished series, I never was able to identify which scenes those were. I assume that filming must have been … Continue reading Task Is at It Again
The Fourth
As the Fourth of July is nigh, Philly is in the midst of its fourth heat wave of the season. The image below shows Fahrenheit on the left and Celsius on the right. The Celsius scale looks so much better right now. Last night it was still 90° F at 9:00 PM. Happily my AC … Continue reading The Fourth
Reminiscing about the Hundred Steps
There’s another article about the Hundred Steps in Billy Penn, and it got me to reminiscing about when I used to live in the house right at the top of the Steps. In 2004 the Steps had fallen into disrepair, so that summer there was a major effort to refurbish them. The workers would start … Continue reading Reminiscing about the Hundred Steps