Thursday, December 10, 2020

Fifteenth Holiday Spectacular - 2020

Well, it’s that time of year. Welcome to my 15th, yes 15th, Holiday Spectacular. To celebrate, I kind of broke a rule this year, but, it’s my blog, so there are no consequences. Actually, I’m breaking another rule. I’ve always wrote these Holiday Spectaculars in one straight shot without thinking beforehand what I would write about. But, this year I had some stuff I never posted left over, seeing how I spent most of the last few months writing about politics and social issues, and I threw in some other stuff. I’d rather not have written all that political stuff, to tell the truth, but felt I should. I am sure more people probably read a single tweet from the least famous Kardashian than all the people who have ever read my long-ass blog posts by a multiple, but, still, it probably was, for a few weeks, the most visits to my blog I’ve ever had. Then again, so what? If I did it for fame I’d be sorely disappointed. The other rule I’m breaking is I’m posting early in December, because I really have a lot of Xmas shopping to do.

Another rule I’ll be breaking this year. I won’t be making everything red and green (not sure if I’ve always done that) because, I’m aware that it makes it harder to read, and, I just don’t feel like it. Last, no top 20 Xmas songs this year because I don’t think they’ve changed much or at all since last year. So . . .

Let’s start with something Chrissmassy. A nice Xmas Eve murder, because you might enjoy it, but also because many have actually have heard a version of it and didn’t know it:

Stack

It was the night before Xmas, 1895, and in St. Louis, Missouri, Lee Preston (whose nickname was “Stack” or maybe it was “Stag” – it was a long time ago) and his friend, Billy Lyons, went out for a drink. They were not good guys, being notorious underworld characters. Stag was a pimp and a gambler. He was also a carriage driver, which sounds incongruous, but, so it was. It’s not clear why they called him Stag or Stack – maybe because he went “stag, that is, without friends, maybe he took it from a well-known riverboat captain, maybe from a riverboat itself, a floating brothel. No one really knows and it doesn’t really matter much. He was 30 years old that year. He was also captain of a group known as The 400 Hundred Club (which, at least outwardly, was a moral society for young black men), although I’m not really sure what the “captain” of a club is. He also was one among a group of pimps known as the Macks, who were famous for their outlandish dress habits, not that different from nowadays. It is said that on this Xmas Eve, Stack was wearing a black dress coat, gray striped pants, an embroidered yellow shirt with a high collar and an elaborate red vest, not to mention shoes with mirrors on them so they’d flash when he walked. Gold rings, a cane . . . and a Stetson, which is the important part.

Stack and Billy went to a bar at a brothel appropriately nick-named “The Bucket of Blood,” although I have a feeling that wasn’t the only bar to bear that name. Anyway, Stack (a Democrat) and Billy (a Republican) got to drinking and then arguing over politics. Apparently, Stack smashed Billy’s bowler hat. Billy, who, naturally, was displeased, grabbed Stack’s Stetson off his head and demanded satisfaction. So, Stack clobbered him on the head with his gun, and on top of that, shot him in the stomach. He was not a nice man, but, to be fair, it was a Stetson, and you know it just brings the gunfighter out in some people.

Sure enough, Billy dies, one of five men in St. Louis that Christmas Eve, and Stack, who got his Stetson back, fled, but was later arrested. He was tried twice. In the first trial, in 1896, his lawyer was Nat Dryden, a white lawyer who was famous as the first lawyer to get a conviction of a white man for murdering a black man. And he did well for Stack. He claimed self-defense and the jury was hung. Seven said it was murder, two said it was manslaughter and three wanted to acquit him. The next year, 1897, he was tried again. Unfortunately, Dryden is unavailable, having died from drinking too much.

This time the jury quickly came to a verdict of murder. Stack gets 25 years. But, then . . . he is pardoned by the governor in 1909.  But then . . . he gets in trouble a couple of years later – just another murder, but this one during a robbery, and goes back to jail. In 1912, he dies there of tuberculosis.

So, what’s this all got to do with Xmas? Well, the shooting was on Christmas Eve and it’s just an excuse to tell the story. But, I did say some of you probably heard a version of this story without knowing the back story, and that’s true. The same year – before Stack was even tried the second time - one Prof. Charlie Lee played variations of a song called Stack-a-Lee at the Kansas City Negro Press Association. And it took off like wildfire. The lyrics change a lot and even the song title – Ballad of Stackerlee, Ballad of Stagalee, Stack O’Lee Blues, Stack-a-Lee and Stacker Lee, Stagolee, etc., also became common. In 1931 Woody Guthrie records two different version – one he calls by the name you know – Stagger Lee. Too many artists have recorded it to list on a Holiday Special (one website lists I believe 426 versions), but just of people you might know of other than Guthrie - Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Pat Boone, The Isley Brothers (their guitarist was Jimmy Hendrix), Ike and Tina Turner, James Brown, Elvis!!! (not released, but on bootleg), The Grateful Dead, the Clash, Neal Diamond and Tom Jones. Not to mention Louis Armstrong, who I you heard of, played coronet on a recording by an early successful female blues singer named Ma Rainey, who I doubt you’ve heard of. Oh, and as a side project while he was with the Stones, Bill Wyman and the Bootleg Kings. And even Bob Dylan. Done? No. Huey Lewis & the News. And many more, of course. Maybe the most famous version is by the otherwise unknown Lloyd Price (now unknown - he's actually in the RnR HOF) who went number one with it in the year of my birth, 1959.  If you watch professional wrestling you might remember two wrestlers, Junkyard Dog and Koko B. Ware, both of whom did a turn as masked wrestlers named Stagger Lee. He’s mentioned in books and movies. Really, for a hoodlum who died over a hundred years ago who has no claim to fame except murder - he’s all over the place.

I’m done with fun facts about Stagger Lee. I just remembered he has an historical marker on his grave. Unless I kill someone, I won’t. Rot in hell you murderous bastard!!! But Merry Xmas. 

_______________

That’s it for Xmas stories. I had another ready, but I know your ADHD tendencies. So, just going to go for two top ten movie lists, because who doesn’t like them.

First list is the greatest movie themes (or kind of themes) in my lifetime. As usual, it is an official list, which means you may not differ with it. If I just say the name of the movie, it’s the theme song. I’ll try to mention if it’s another song from the film.

1.     The Good The Bad and The Ugly - The Ecstasy of Gold – Enrico Morricone. I don’t know if he is the greatest film composer ever – but he’s got to be top three. The Ecstasy . . . is so good, I have it two spaces above the actual theme.

2.     The Pink Panther – Henry Mancini. It’s best listened to while watching the animated openings for the movies.

3.     The Good The Bad and The Ugly – Main theme – More, iconic original break through music by Enrico Morricone

4.     Jaws – John Williams. I love Williams too. I have a feeling most people would say he was the greatest ever, and could be. Some claim he rips off classical music, but I have heard the similarities and I’m not bothered by them. He’s a classical composer. This was not among my favorite movies nor my favorite music. But, it deserves its spot.

5.     RockyGonna Fly Now. Bill Conti. On my workout list. I don’t know if there is any movie with music that makes you want to fight as much. Or run up stairs.

6.     Star Wars– John Williams. Unforgettable.

7.     James Bond Theme - Monty Norman (although John Barry, who did most of the soundtracks, says it was him). This is the theme music that runs through the films, or many of them anyway.

8.     Chariots of Fire – Vangelis (although I have to agree with Stavros Logaridis, another Greek composer, who unsuccessfully sued Vangelis for plagiarism, that it does sound a lot like the Logaridis' piece "City of Violets," composed the same year).

9.     The Exorcist - Tubular Bells – Mike Oldfield. This had to be on the list. Absolutely Iconic.

10.  Raiders of the Lost Ark – John Williams. Yes, on my workout list.

Runners up

Dr. ZhivagoLara’s Theme – Maurice Jarre

Goldfinger – John Barry, who wrote a lot of the Bond and other music.

The Magnificent Seven - Elmer Bernstein.

Superman– John Williams. Also, really inspiring and . . . on my workout lift. If the Theme to Superman doesn’t make you lift more, you are lost.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind – John Williams.

The Mission – Enrico Morricone.

Beverly Hills Cop - The Heat is On – I thought it was written by Glen Frey, but it’s not. He just performed. Harold Faltermeyer (Top Gun also) and Keith Forsey, a musician, both more successful than you’d imagine, composed it. It’s not your typical theme music.

Footloose – Kenny Loggins.

Ghostbusters – Ray Parker, Jr. (Elmer Bernstein wrote the music score for the film).

Flashdance - Giorgio Moroder (who, hard to believe, maybe invented both disco and electric dance music – neither of which I enjoy much; I have to research that someday), Keith Forsey and Irene Cara (who wrote the lyrics and performed it).

The Bodyguard - I will always love you – Dolly Parton wrote it, but, if not for Whitney Houston and this film, how many would know it? It’s not the theme song, but it epitomizes the movie.

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King - Into the West – Howard Shore, Annie Lennox, Fran Walsh - Played over the credits. Still brings a tear to my eye – every time.

Stripes - Stripes March. You know, the Bill Murray and Harold Ramis movie. I think it was the first time I saw John Candy too. But, great music by Elmer Bernstein, yet again.

Rocky III. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor. Another great song.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Second list – Top ten Tom Hanks films. This is also an official list, though I expect controversial:

1.     You’ve Got Mail. The real stars were the Ephron sisters, who wrote the screenplay, but Hanks and Ryan were perfect. I honestly don’t understand why most people I know seem to prefer Sleepless in Seattle, a great romcom, but one which doesn’t make my list. I actually loved Hank’s performance in You’ve Got Mail. My favorite scene with him is when he, Joe, and his father, Nelson (Dabney Coleman), are discussing his elder’s latest break up:

Nelson Fox: “I just have to meet someone new, that's all. That's the easy part.”
Joe Fox: “Oh right, yeah, a snap to find the one single person in the world who fills your heart with joy.”

Nelson Fox: “Well, don't be ridiculous. Have I ever been with anyone who fit that description? Have you?”

But, it’s really not the dialogue that got me. It was the perfect look of epiphany on Hank’s face.

2.     Forrest Gump. I didn’t really like this the first time I saw it. Then, when I saw it on tv, I realized it was not only full of movie gimmicks, but it was a great love story.

3.     Apollo 13. I have a confession. The first time I saw the title on a movie theatre pylon, I thought – Wow, that’s a lot of sequels for a movie. How come I never heard of it? Awesome movie though. Best moment. Hanks play astronaut Jim Lovell, trapped up in a space ship. His wife goes to the nursing home to comfort Hanks’ elderly mother. She doesn’t need it. “Don’t you worry,” she tells her crying grand-daughter. “If they could make a washing machine that flies, my Jimmy could land it.”

4.     Bridge of Spies. Based on a true story about a spy exchange, Hanks’ character, a real life lawyer named James B. Donovan, is the man who made it happen. Hanks didn’t even have the best role. But, this is his best movies, not roles.

5.     Road to Perdition. Hanks plays a gangster who wants to change. Nothing new here, but great movie and performance.

6.     Nothing in Common. Usually not my type of movie – an adult man getting to know his aging father better. But, that aging father was the greatest, Jackie Gleason, and together they were some team.

7.     Bachelor Party. A very silly movie with a young Tom, but very funny. Hanks played the straight man, the nice guy.

8.     Splash. The one that made him famous. Sought of The Little Mermaid.

9.     A League of their Own. Again, I rating the movies, but this was his best performance, I thought, out of a lot of great ones. A baseball burnout who coaches a woman’s team.

10.  Captain Phillips. Another true story, this one of a ship’s captain held by Ethiopian pirates and rescued by Navy Seals.

I know you are going to argue about some of these, because I didn’t put Saving Private Ryan on it, Castaway, or other great movies. It’s a top ten list and these are them. Hanks made a lot of great movies and is maybe one of the ten most likeable celebrities in the world.

____________________

Here’s my biggest Xmas surprise. It’s been a long year and a tough one for many people. I don’t have much to complain about personally, but, overall for the country (and many other countries), it was more than rough. Certainly it is the most difficult year for the country in my lifetime and that includes during the Vietnam War, the Watergate years and 9-11, not to mention Iraq and Afghanistan.

So, I’m keeping it short and ending it with a poem I wrote this year. Not really. I can’t write poetry that doesn’t begin with “Roses are red,” or “There once was a man from . . .“ But as inspiration, I will repeat (not the first or last time) my favorite real poem, that is, not including Dr. Seuss. It never gets old. I always tell people I send it to, you don’t have to live up to it (he didn’t), but you can aspire to it. I should probably end it like this every year.

If by Rudyard Kipling 

If you can keep your head when all about you   
    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,   
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
    But make allowance for their doubting too;   
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
    Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
    And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;   
    If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;   
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
    And treat those two impostors just the same;   
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
    And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
    And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
    To serve your turn long after they are gone,   
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,   
    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
    If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,   
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,   
    And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Happy Holidays. See you next year.

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I started this blog in September, 2006. Mostly, it is where I can talk about things that interest me, which I otherwise don't get to do all that much, about some remarkable people who should not be forgotten, philosophy and theories (like Don Foster's on who wrote A Visit From St. Nicholas and my own on whether Santa is mostly derived from a Norse god) and analysis of issues that concern me. Often it is about books. I try to quote accurately and to say when I am paraphrasing (more and more). Sometimes I blow the first name of even very famous people, often entertainers. I'm much better at history, but once in a while I see I have written something I later learned was not true. Sometimes I fix them, sometimes not. My worst mistake was writing that Beethoven went blind, when he actually went deaf. Feel free to point out an error. I either leave in the mistake, or, if I clean it up, the comment pointing it out. From time to time I do clean up grammar in old posts as, over time I have become more conventional in my grammar, and I very often write these when I am falling asleep and just make dumb mistakes. It be nice to have an editor, but . . . .