Anonymous Guest Post

This comment came up in, of all places, an audio group I follow. It was written by someone who worked at a legendary, now-defunct Boston loudspeaker company. I thought it would be worth posting here.

Most of those billionaires are libertarians who keep copies of Ayn Rand’s novels and nonfiction in a small bookcase in their bedrooms. Each of them sees themselves as versions of John Galt, a superior human being who has contempt for most of mainstream humanity, especially the inept losers who are struggling to survive.

Scratch a Republican and under the scratch you will either find an evangelical or a libertarian. Scratch either of those and underneath the scratch you will discover a fascist.

Socially, the chaotic and nasty situation we have in the USA today is an amplified version of what the country has been all along. Note that the rest of the world is no better, just less lucky.

I essentially agree with him. Although, since Trump’s return to power, I’m not sure we’re all that lucky anymore.

Journey to the Center of 1968

Denro favors 1969 as the peak year for popular music, but I keep returning to 1968. That was the year of ‘Classical Gas’, ‘Love is Blue’ and the outstanding ‘This Guy’s in Love With You’. But ’68 also had the flip side of music, revealing the growing tension between Top-40 AM and nascent Underground Radio on FM.*

It began a year earlier with the Doors and the Jefferson Airplane. The Summer of Love in ’67 also had a hard edge. It came into very compelling full view in ’68.

The first time I became aware of “album cuts” was in 1967, with the Doors’ ‘Light My Fire’. Other records followed in ’68. Two examples include the Chambers Brothers.

And, in what is perhaps the ultimate example of the changes brought about in the Sixties, an era of change that I maintain can never be repeated, there is this AM single/FM album gem.

I didn’t even include Cream, but you’ll find them in this playlist that shows why I can never let go of 1968.

* The phenomenon of album-centered underground FM radio resulted from a unique and coincidental timing of events — The undeniable shift in the music industry; an FCC mandate requiring unique FM programming; and Vietnam Vets returning home with Japanese stereo receivers, which upended the American hi-fi market and marked the end of true mono-mixed singles.

Wearing Lipstick in Bed

Another 1953 movie of interest with Jean Peters is Niagara, although it’s Marilyn Monroe who gets top billing.

Marilyn is certainly given a very memorable introduction.

But Blonde Bombshells, even Marilyn, have never been my type. For me, it’s Jean who’s the hook in Niagara.

It’s unfortunate the movie was made in 1953. It deserved to be filmed in a widescreen format, and a year later it would have been. The casting of Casey Adams (real name Max Showalter) as Jean’s husband is curious, because he was rather apparently gay.

Not Framed for Murder

I don’t have Noir Alley framing sequences with Eddie Muller introducing this movie, A Blueprint for Murder. It’s from 1953 and stars Jean Peters, which is all the intro I need!

Jean Peters, who became Mrs. Howard Hughes, had one of those perfectly beautiful and captivating faces I admire so much.

Jean Peters

The closest comparison I can think of today, that won’t be a surprise to my buddy Bismo, is Rebecca Ferguson.

Rebecca Ferguson

I have known one woman who had comparable beauty. I have a photo of her at age 25 that would be a perfect match to those images of Peters and Ferguson, but I’d be in big trouble if I shared it.

Then, of course, there is incomparable Prue.

Prudence Bury, age 17