Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Happy Garish Day

It's still May 10, at least where I am, so I can wish a Happy Birthday to one of the world's great voices, Gary Owens. Folks who lived in Los Angeles in the sixties probably knew him first as the witty radio personality on KFWB and then on KMPC. Folks outside L.A. probably knew him first as a cartoon voice (Space Ghost and Roger Ramjet, to name two) or as the on-air announcer for Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. He's also had an astounding career as an off-camera announcer, an actor, a TV host, a straight man for folks like Jonathan Winters, an Avon lady, a grilled cheese sandwich, a small carry-on bag, etc. The guy does everything and he does it so well that a prolonged period of unemployment for him is when he finishes one job at 11 AM and doesn't have anything else until after lunch.

I've known Gary since I wrote gags for him in 1970 and in a business full of jealousy and backstabbing, I've yet to hear an unkind word about him from anyone. He's a true gentleman, and I'll be interviewing him and reviewing his past on a spotlight panel at this year's Comic-Con International. For now, I'll just say Happy Birthday, Gary...and may your drelbs all be friendly.

• Posted at 9:31 PM · LINK

Recommended Reading

It's amazing...but we're still learning jaw-dropping things about Richard Nixon.

• Posted at 4:22 PM · LINK

Recommended Reading

Robert Dreyfuss on how Iraq is turning into a Vietnam-style quagmire. If someone can point me to a good article of the opposite stance, I'd like to link to it, too.

• Posted at 9:43 AM · LINK

Another Public Appeal

Shelly Goldstein (chanteuse extraordinaire) is looking for MP3 files of old commercial jingles from the sixties that were recorded by pop stars of the era. Petula Clark did some. Dusty Springfield did some. Who else did some? More important, do you have MP3 files of them? If so, drop me a line and I'll pass the info on to her. She's also looking for the audio of the commercial with the tag line: "My wife — I think I'll keep her!" Shelly has an actual need for this material.

• Posted at 1:16 AM · LINK