DOuG pRATt – Page 592 – Prattling Before the Pratfall

Snoopy Goes To China

The Iconix Brand Group is selling its 80% interest in the ‘Peanuts’ property, and some likely buyers are in China. The other 20% is owned by the Schulz family.

The Maus That Roared

Click here to hear a BBC conversation with Art Spiegelman. The first volume of his epic work “Maus” is already 30 years old.

Hello Again, One Last Time

Herb Oscar Anderson passed away this morning. In the 1960’s HOA was the Morning Mayor of New York on 77 WABC, the legendary radio station that inspired me to get into the business.

Herb didn’t share an appreciation of Sixties youth culture and music with his fellow WABC jocks, in particular Cousin Brucie and Dan Ingram. His taste ran more to Lawrence Welk, but being a fan of the Lennon Sisters myself that’s fine with me, and I enjoyed hearing HOA every morning while getting ready for school.

Herb was the #1 morning DJ in New York when he decided to leave WABC in September, 1968. Harry Harrison was hired away from WMCA to take over the highly-coveted shift, and a month later my family moved from Connecticut to Massachusetts.

Big ego, little man

The Apprentice President. You’re impeached!

Gimme Some Lovin’, My Boy Lollipop

A few years ago, a retired A&R man (artists and repertoire) named Chris Peers contacted me, requesting help putting him in touch with Prue, which of course I was glad to do. Peers was involved with Chris Blackwell and Island Records at the beginning, before branching out on his own. One of the acts he worked with was the Spencer Davis Group, with Stevie Winwood, as he explains in this video. Peers told me that he had a heck of a time pitching the band in America, before finally landing a deal with United Artists.