Author: DOuG pRATt

Two Guys, One Gay, on Route 66

George Maharis, left, as Buz Murdock and Martin Milner as Tod Stiles in 1960 with their Corvette from the television show “Route 66.” Mr. Maharis received an Emmy Award nomination in 1962 for his work on the show.Credit…CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

George Maharis has died at the very advanced age of 94. From the NYTimes, where that publicity photo came from, I learned that Maharis was gay. (Bring back white sidewall tires!)

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/28/arts/television/george-maharis-dead.html

Curiously, there’s no direct mention of his orientation in the Hollywood Reporter obituary, despite it having been relevant to his leaving the series.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/george-maharis-dead-route-66-star-1235502542/

Maharis’ character was obviously based upon Jack Kerouac, with co-star Martin Milner looking like Brian Wilson’s older brother who wasn’t in the Beach Boys. The pilot episode of Route 66 is excellent, with strong adult content. The memorable theme was by Nelson Riddle, who wrote the equally memorable theme to the Batman TV series.

CORRECTION: A certain gentleman going by the name of “Denro” says, “Riddle me this, Nelson. The Batman theme was written by Neal Hefti!” Here are some Batunes that Riddle did compose, borrowing liberally from Hefti’s ditty:

From WABC to WRKO

Rewound Radio is playing Musicradio WABC airchecks from the ’60’s and 70’s for its Memorial Day Weekend programming.

Click to go to Rewound Radio

As I have said here many times, WABeatleC was the sound of my childhood in Connecticut. Listening to WABC was my inspiration for wanting to work in radio when I grew up.

After my family moved to Massachusetts, I listened to WRKO in Boston on my bedside GE AM radio. Here are some RKO airchecks from my peak years of listening to the station, before buying my first stereo and tuning the Pioneer SX-440 receiver to WBCN FM. At one point, a bit of a commercial with WABC’s Dan Ingram can be heard.

A Brief Close Encounter

I was with my son at a comic/media convention held in a Cambridge, MA hotel. Standing with one foot on the first step of the long staircase up to the mezzanine, I had a hand on the railing. My head was turned to talk to my son about confirming when and where we’d meet later.

There was a tap on my shoulder. I turned my head and Morena Baccarin, coming down the stairs, was only an arm’s length away — her arm — in front of me. She was beyond stunning to behold, and I was unable to suppress my immediate reaction. I gasped and exclaimed, “WOW!” Morena smiled, said thank you, and I got out of her way. Whether looking at a woman or at a work of art, world-class beauty is best appreciated in person.

That pleasant moment happened less than halfway between Baccarin appearing in the Firefly TV series in 2002 and the first Deadpool movie in 2016. Good thing I was less decrepit than I am now, and in marathon running trim. I’d have felt like a jerk if she hadn’t acknowledged my spontaneous compliment!

Patio Progress

Day #3. A new walkway will lead down to a patio.

The materials are the same as were used for the front walkway that was built last year.

See that area next to the steps? That’s where I’ll set up the portable screen for the hoped-for movie nights.

The portable projector’s contrast ratio isn’t the best, so dark scenes can appear a bit washed out, but cartoons look okay even in bright daylight.