Two Passings

With Massachusetts Ties

There were a couple of deaths recently with ties to familiar places. Walter Cronkite, the pioneering TV newsman, died last week. He was a frequent visitor to Massachusetts, especially Martha's Vineyard, and used to go sailing off the Massachusetts coast. Personally I remember him best as the guy that used to do the space flight coverage I used to watch as a kid.

Cronkite was not the best TV journalist of his generation, that honor would go to David Brinkley. In retirement Cronkite became known as the "the most trusted man in America" but I never knew what that meant. I mean he primarily read aloud news that was gathered by others. On the occasions when he did seem to be acting on his own behalf, he showed a very strong preference for the Democrat Party. That partisan side of him went a bit too far when at the height of the Monica Lewinsky scandal he let his reputation for integrity be exploited by the Clintons by taking them for a highly publicized ride off Martha's Vineyard on his boat.

More than "most trusted man in America" I would have called him "the TV journalist most trusted to take the side of the Democrats." 

Another person with a local connection who died recently was Frank McCourt (above) author of the Pulitizer Prize winning book Angela's Ashes. McCourt didn't write the book until after he retired as a school teacher at age 65, making his career a Cinderella example for all writers of how big time success can strike at any age. He also appeared in the 2004 Holyoke Saint Patrick's Day parade. Springfield City Councilor Kateri Walsh, was there and was quoted about McCourt's visit:

Walsh admits that some Ambassador Award Recipients, on first contact, have not heard of Holyoke or the parade. With some explanation, though, they are usually won over and decide to participate.

“The people that turnout, it just creates a memory for them that helps us,” said Walsh. “One Ambassador Award winner helps you next time. I remember Frank McCourt walking down the streets of Holyoke and he couldn’t believe the number of people on the parade route.”

 

Rainy Walk Through Amherst

We've had too much rain this summer, but it was so hot yesterday (by New England standards) that today's rain actually feels refreshing. Unless of course you're on vacation.

The rain was so intense at one point this afternoon that lower Cottage Street was flooded.

As people shopped in downtown Amherst, they left their umbrellas outside the door.

Peeking in at The Pub I see all the free papers for the taking.

Say what you will about the death of print but the little freebies appear to be still hanging in there.

The paving project appears to be wrapping up at the edge of downtown.

This Fearing Street party house still has their Christmas lights up in July.

Fearing Street has a few of Amherst's oldest trees on it. If only those trees could talk.

At UMass these women were walking with matching official UMass umbrellas. 

Things got so wet that the ducks left the UMass pond and explored the land. 

Happily tomorrow is supposed to be a sunny day. 

Today's Video

Some people are very very angry and this music comforts them even as it feeds their anger. 

Radio Daze

A few old pics.

Going through some of my old photos, I came across this shot of former WHYN radio personality Fred King, sitting at his desk in the WHYN studios in 1999.

King started at the station in 1969. Here he is around that time (right) with fellow WHYN legend Larry Kruger. 

These were the top ten songs in the Pioneer Valley in the summer of 1969.

WHYN - RADIO 56
IN SPRINGFIELD, MASS
56 FUN HITS FOR THE WEEK
July 25, 1969

1. In The Year 2525 - Zager & Evans
2. Ballad Of John & Yoko - Beatles
3. What Does It Take - Jr. Walker & All Stars
4. My Pledge Of Love - Joe Jeffrey Group
5. Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town - First Edition
6. Put A Little Love In Your Heart - Jackie DeShannon
7. Get Together - Youngbloods
8. First Hymn From Grand Terrace - Mark Lindsay
9. Soul Deep - Box Tops
10. Honky Tonk Woman - Rolling Stones

To see the rest of the list click here.

What I remember most about Fred King is the morning he got fired from WHYN. I was in the studio to do The Reporter's Roundtable starring Kateri Walsh which aired early Sunday mornings but was actually recorded on Friday. Many times when Kateri and I arrived for taping King and his sidekick Bo Sullivan were just getting off the air, so we sometimes chatted with them.

Radio is a notoriously cutthroat business, where people are routinely fired out the door under the flimsiest of pretexts. It isn't even a case of "what have you done for us lately" but more like "what have you done this week?" No matter how long or how loyally you have served a station, you are always just one ratings slip or one hot young competitor away from being bounced from your job.

One morning Kateri and I arrived as the morning show was ending and we heard that Fred King had received a notice to report to the office. When Kateri and I emerged from the studio an hour later, there was Fred King in the lobby with his arms filled with the contents of his desk, waiting for the elevator to come and take him out of the building as a former employee. Even by radio standards, the firing of King shocked industry insiders up and down the Valley. When Kateri realized what was happening and saw King departing the station he had served for decades for the final time, she turned to me and exclaimed, "That was fucking cold!" It was the first and last time I ever heard Kateri Walsh swear.

Republican Presidential nominee John McCain (above with prospective running mate Mitt Romney) is coming to Massachusetts next Wednesday. For all the details click here.

Here is an old picture I came across, taken by Jay Libardi, of me and a bass I caught in Lake Quaboag in North Brookfield. It says on the back it was taken in 1988. 

This afternoon I went to the afternoon tea at Amherst College's Robert Frost Library. It was well attended. 

It wasn't all tea and cookies. There were little displays set up about human rights.

There was also a display for Jack Kerouac Day, which is March 12th.

 



How will the Valley be celebrating that? I'll be sure to tell you all about it! Meanwhile, at UMass I saw that someone had vandalized one of the benches in front of Bartlett Hall. 

That kind of damage to the campus is rare. It is the dorms that the students tend to trash, especially when the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins or a UMass team of any sort is either victorious or defeated.

Oh well, let me just leave you with the number one song in our Valley in the summer of '69.