Hello, this is Shady Del Knight blogcasting live from the
brand spanking new headquarters of Shady's Place, the spin-off
of Shady Dell Music & Memories. As you can see, I am still here -
brand spanking new headquarters of Shady's Place, the spin-off
of Shady Dell Music & Memories. As you can see, I am still here -
still puffing my pipe - ready, willing and able to continue serving
as your master of ceremonies as we begin the next leg of our
journey. I'm sure you read the announcement over on SDMM
as your master of ceremonies as we begin the next leg of our
journey. I'm sure you read the announcement over on SDMM
stating that I resigned my host post and was replaced by
William Frawley. It was bogus, a hoax - a fake story
cooked up by my special guest. We'll meet him
right after this message from Mallard Airlines.
"Mallard Air... fly safe. Stay funky."
William Frawley. It was bogus, a hoax - a fake story
cooked up by my special guest. We'll meet him
right after this message from Mallard Airlines.
"Mallard Air... fly safe. Stay funky."
Obviously that was a fake message about a fake airline.
It's the kind of gag routinely sprung on readers by my
special guest, a man who seems to have adopted the
slogan "A deviant mind is a terrible thing to waste."
Landing an exclusive interview with this gentleman
was a major coup and I consider myself lucky. He's
the wizard behind the curtain, the brains behind the
blog, the man who for the last ten years has been
working hard to educate and entertain you.
To launch Shady's Place in style, I am proud to introduce
the creator of Shady Dell Music & Memories and
Shady's Place, Tom Anderson. Welcome, Tom!
Well, thank you very much, Shady! It's a pleasure
to meet you and it was nice of you to invite me on
as your first guest as we kick-off year eleven.
It's exciting to know that from now on your
posts will originate from our new facility,
Shady's Place, aka SPMM (Shady's
Place Music & Memories).
S.D. KNIGHT: Love that new blog smell. :)
ANDERSON: Good one! Do you realize that in the ten years we have been working together, this is the first time we have actually come face to face?
S.D. KNIGHT: I never gave it much thought until now but, by golly, you are correct, sir! This is the first time that you and I have ever been in the same room at the same time.
ANDERSON: This should lay to rest those pesky rumors that we are the same person. :)
S.D. KNIGHT: Tom, let me ask you this, and I know the readers must be wondering about it, too. Why did you choose to pull the plug on Shady Dell Music & Memories and move your operation across town to Shady's Place?
ANDERSON: Well, first of all, I wouldn't say that I "pulled the plug" on Shady Dell Music & Memories. The old blog is still there, ten years of material, and will remain intact. The old site will now serve as a reference source where people can learn about the Shady Dell and its owners John and Helen Ettline. They can also read about Margaret Schneider, whom we affectionately nicknamed "The Oldest Living Dell Rat." Margaret's father, George Brown, built the Dell, and his family became its first occupants in 1913 before the start of World War I. Margaret and her family resided at the Dell through The Roaring Twenties. Visitors can also trace the history of the Dell over the period it was owned by the Spangler family during the Great Depression. Of course, SDMM also contains thousands of music reviews, tributes to some of my favorite people, and parodies of popular movies and TV shows. There's a link to Shady Dell Music & Memories in the sidebar of Shady's Place.
S.D. KNIGHT: So why the new blog name and new address... and why now?
ANDERSON: I'm glad you asked those questions, Shady, just as we rehearsed. :) Here's the thing. From the time it opened in the 1940s until it closed in the 90s, The Shady Dell remained at the same location. During the years I attended, The Dell hardly changed a bit. Some would say the place wasn't much to look at, but it was ours and we loved it. My original intention was to do the same thing with Shady Dell Music & Memories - to keep it modest and maintain the same look year after year. However, as my ten year blog anniversary approached, I began to think it was time for a change, time to add some color and a more evocative header. Instead of tinkering with the existing blog I decided to make a clean break and start fresh at a new address with a new name and an updated look.
S.D. KNIGHT: Would you care to mention a couple features of the new design?
ANDERSON: Brown is the new black, Shady, and I selected a rich brown and blue combo that I hope most readers will find pleasing to the eye. As you might have noticed, the post field is wider at Shady's Place and therefore less scrolling is required. The expanded column also allows me to embed videos at a width of 560 pixels. The narrow column at Shady Dell Music & Memories made it necessary to shrink videos to 420 pixels to fit the format.
S.D. KNIGHT: Okay, Shady's Place is easy on the eyes and easy to use, but what about the content? Can readers of Shady's Place expect to find the same type of stuff they enjoyed at Shady Dell Music & Memories?
ANDERSON: Absolutely! Shady's Place will pick up where Shady Dell Music & Memories left off. My mission over the next ten years will be to continue to honor John & Helen Ettline and Margaret Schneider, to share stories about the Shady Dell, and to present a wide variety of music, something for every taste. This year I will be launching six new interactive series that will allow you, the reader, to play Top 40 DJ and introduce records "on the air." As was the case on SDMM, many of the posts here at Shady's Place will be laced with humor. As the blog description indicates, Shady's Place means good friends, good tunes and good times. Here at SPMM we will relive happy memories, make new ones and remain forever young.
S.D. KNIGHT: Hold that thought, Tom, because we need to take another pause for
the cause. I'll be back with my special guest Tom Anderson right after this word from
Top Brass hair dressing.
BARBARA FELDON
1964 Top Brass commercial
And we're back with Tom Anderson, creator and author
of Shady Dell Music & Memories and Shady's Place.
Tom, I couldn't help noticing that the Shady's Place
address is a mysterious series of letters:
tctgyb.blogspot.com
Is that what is called an initialism?
tctgyb.blogspot.com
Is that what is called an initialism?
That's correct, Shady, and that Top Brass
commercial we just watched offered a clue.
The purring kitten in that old TV spot is
Barbara Feldon, the actress who played
Agent 99 on the spycom Get Smart.
"Barbara" or "Barbra," as the case
may be, is the operative word here,
because the letters in the Shady's
Place address are an initialism of
a quote from one of my favorite
movies, Night of the Living Dead.
"They're coming to get you, Barbra!"
(tctgyb.blogspot.com)
Very clever, my friend. Hey, thanks so much for
being with us today, Tom, and for introducing our
new Shady's Place hangout. I look forward to
collaborating with you in the coming years
to make SPMM a fun place to visit.
The pleasure was all mine, Shady, and thank you for your outstanding service as the emcee of Shady Dell Music & Memories and your pledge to continue on as the face of Shady's Place. Here's to ten more years!
Now let's wrap up season 11 - ep. 1, the first
post originating from the new and improved
Shady's Place, with videos featuring two
more memorable Barbs:
BARBRA STREISAND
(PAN'S PEOPLE)
The song "Stoney End," written by Laura Nyro, was first recorded in 1968
by Peggy Lipton (Julie on Mod Squad) and released as a single at Christmas
that year during the first season of her hit (and hip) counterculture cop series.
Peggy's a fine singer and I love her version, but the record failed to rise above
#121 on the Bubbling Under chart. Two years later, Barbra Streisand covered
the song on a single that made the top 10. They're coming to get you, Barbra!
Look! - there they are now - the Pan's People dancers on Top Of The Pops!
"Stoney End"- Barbra Streisand
(Jan. 1971, highest chart pos. #2 Adult Contemporary,
#6 Hot 100, #27 UK, perf. by Pan's People on
Dec. 30, 1971, ep. of Top Of The Pops)
(Jan. 1971, highest chart pos. #2 Adult Contemporary,
#6 Hot 100, #27 UK, perf. by Pan's People on
Dec. 30, 1971, ep. of Top Of The Pops)
BARBARA GEORGE
From the church choir to your ears, by George, via good old New Orleans style
rhythm and blues. My last Barbara achieved the biggest hit of her career with
a song she wrote, a cooking R&B number inspired by the traditional hymn
"Just a Closer Walk with Thee." Here now is Barbara George with her
1962 R&B chart-topper "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)."
"I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)" - Barbara George
(Jan. 1962, highest chart pos. #1 R&B/#3 Hot 100)
(Jan. 1962, highest chart pos. #1 R&B/#3 Hot 100)
If you like the all new Shady's Place then please remember to follow, subscribe
by email or bookmark, because this is where I will be posting from now on.
I look forward to seeing your face
in my little space -
Shady's Place!
(Shady and Tom chant in unison)
HAVE A SHADY DAY!
Awesome! Very handsomely designed— but I’ve been duped! Where’s Fred?
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant idea to have Shady Del Knight interview Tom Anderson to launch the new blog! I never thought I’d see those two characters come face to face! lol
It was nice of you to indicate in the heading that Shady’s Place is dedicated to Margaret Schneider as well as to the Ettlines. The sidebar pictures are wonderful and the new layout is much easier to follow and easier on the eye. I’m looking forward to cruising along with the new staff of DJs, too.
I enjoyed these Barb songs. I haven’t heard that one by Barbra Streisand in ages and always liked it— and I love the sound of New Orleans brought to us by Barbara George. That fake airline commercial was convincing and had me fooled for a minute there— very clever! lol.
Congratulations on your new beginning in your new blog headquarters— Shady’s Place!
Hi, Kathryn!
DeleteWelcome welcome welcome to Shady's Place! Thank you for being the early bird as I begin the next phase of my blogging adventure at my new headquarters up here in the penthouse suite on the 40th floor. Be careful not to lean against the walls. The paint is still wet. :)
I'm happy to know you appreciate the new layout, color scheme and sidebar picture gallery. I'm glad you got a kick out of my exclusive Shady Del Knight - Tom Anderson interview. If you ask me, those two are like peas in a pod. :)
Yes indeed, Margaret Schneider, The Oldest Living Dell Rat, will be honored on this blog along with the Ettlines, and Kathleen Mae Schneider will continue to bring her mother's stories to life in chapters of her series In-Dell-ible Memories.
I can't wait to get S-P-M-M Radio on the air. "The Shady Bunch" deejay staff will be spinning the greatest records you ever heard along with the greatest records you never heard. Stay tuned for these six new interactive shows that let you play Top 40 DJ!
Thank you again, Kathryn, for your ongoing support, and especially for putting up with me this last year as I worked on two blogs simultaneously. I appreciate your patience!
Ha - you sure fooled me! That last post on SDM&M gives new meaning to the term "fake news!" And the Mallard Airline opener had me laughing out loud. What a hoot!
ReplyDeleteI shouldn't be surprised. I can tell this new shift will be just as much fun as the last 10 years of posts. I can't wait to see what you've got in store for us - twisted or otherwise!
There's so much to take in, that I'd like to return after seeing and hearing everything a second time. I'll be back when the seat belt reminder light goes off....!!
Hi again, Kathleen!
Delete(We need to stop meeting like this. :) Welcome to Shady's Place, dear friend! I am very happy to have you over as I begin anew in my brand spanking new blogging headquarters.
Yessum, there was an abundance of fake news over on that SDMM post - false rumors galore. Shady Del Knight is alive and kicking and will remain at the helm as the host with the most. I'm glad you got a chuckle out of the fake airline spot created for "Frequent Flyer," a song from the 2014 album White Women released by the Chromeo, a Canadian electro-funk duo from Montreal.
Thank you again for joining the fun on day one here at Shady's Place, dear friend Kathleen. When you return, please examine our new furnishings and take a moment to run your hand over the thickly-cushioned luxury seats made of rich Corinthian leather. :)
Have a great day and I'll see you later, dear Kathleen!
I'm glad I've found your new place, and love the new look. Now I shall follow you!
ReplyDeleteHi, Joey!
DeleteThanks so much for coming over, my good friend across the pond! I'm glad you like the look of my new "crib." Thank you very much for subscribing to Shady's Place. I look forward to entertaining you here. I'll see you next time, Joey. Again, thanks for following me!
I like the look of your new space. And I'm glad you explained your thinking in creating one. I may eventually do the same for Mama Diaries, since both of my kids are teenagers and only have a few more years before they leave the nest. Looking forward to more of your music, humor, and stories.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sherry!
DeleteI'm getting carpal tunnel from jumping back and forth and writing replies on two blogs this morning, but I am so glad you came over to see my new headquarters. This penthouse suite cost me a pretty penny (literally one cent) but I regard Shady's Place as an investment, one that I hope will draw interest. (See what I did there?)
I'm thrilled that an artist such as yourself likes the look of Shady's Place and that you look forward to following my posts here. If you elect to revamp Mama Diaries, you know I will be there with bells on.
Thanks again, dear friend Sherry, and enjoy the rest of your week!
It occurred to me while I was eating lunch that I had not officially wished you a "Happy Blog Birthday." So I had to stop by and fix that.
DeleteThis will be easy for me to remember. It's my son's birthday and my best friend's birthday as well. Good choice on the date. :)
Hi, again, dear Sherry!
DeleteThat's correct, July 20 is the old blog's birthday and the 26th is the launch date of Shady's Place. I'm happy to know it will be an easy date for you to remember. Happy birthday to Bubba!
It was sweet of you to return, dear friend Sherry. I very much appreciate your visits and comments. Enjoy your week. Come back and see me next Thursday and bring Shultz along with you because Shady's dog Toto will be hosting! :)
Correction: My next post, with Toto as host, will be published next Wednesday, August 1, not Thursday, Aug. 2, as previously stated.
DeleteHi Tom, Clive , William!
ReplyDeleteI love the new look (and no, not because my pic will be immortalized forever! LOL !) The new format has great eye appeal along the same humor, music and interesting info! Here’s to the new look! Looking forward to reading all your future excellent blog posts for the next 10 years +++!
Loved that song “Stoney End”, just never knew the name! ( the Commercials were quite comical ,too!)
P.S. “Never grow up, never grow old!”
Toni Deroche
Hi, Toni!
DeleteThank you very much for reporting in, dear friend! Welcome to Shady's Place! Here you will find a Tom and a Shady, but no Clive Pomeroy, no William Frawley and no Mrs. Patmore. If you haven't already guessed, I made a bunch of stuff up in my post on SDMM. I tend to lie a lot :)
My dear, you deserve to be immortalized here on SPMM. If not for you, if not for your tireless efforts, taking hundreds of pictures of the Dell ten years ago, neither of these blogs would even be possible. I am in your debt, dear friend.
I'm so glad you consider the new layout and color combo pleasing to the eye, and glad you enjoyed listening to "The Barbra" doing her hit cover of a song originally waxed by Peggy Lipton of Mod Squad. Here is Peggy's version. I think it deserved to be a hit, or at the very least deserved to make it out of the Bubbling Under basement!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEXDWeAbBlA
Thank you for recalling my slogan, one that I started using in the early days of SDMM and one that I will repeat on SPMM:
"Never grow up, never grow old."
As you can tell from this morning's two posts, I am in no danger of growing up any time soon. :)
Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Toni!
Shadester!!! I love it! I feel right at home and I really enjoy the new digs. Your staff and pictures are hilarious- especially Toto Moto.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard this song from ol Babs! I love Barbara. She is one of a kind.
I am excited to see what all you have in store for this new blog. Congrats on having your Grand Opening. Now where is my balloon and free hot dog?
Hi again, dear Holly!
DeleteThank you for fighting crosstown traffic to get here to my new labyrinth (and your new home away from home) - Shady's Place!
For you to express that you already feel right at home here makes me happier than I can say, Holli, because that has always been my goal. I never take blogging or myself too seriously, and the tone of my twin posts gives you an indication of what you can expect in the weeks, months and years to come.
That cover of "Stoney End" by Barbra brushed the top 5 on the Hot 100, and Peggy Lipton's original is also excellent, in my opinion. Peg's platter shoulda been, coulda been and woulda been a hit. It's a mystery that it wasn't considering the fact that her hip TV series Mod Squad was becoming a cultural phenomenon by the time her single was released.
Due to an unexpected vendor's strike, there are no hot dogs or balloons for the kiddies today. I'm working on it! :)
Thank you again for being such a great friend Holliwood, and thanks for choosing to follow Shady's Place Music & Memories. See you next time when Shady's dog, Toto Moto, will be guest host!
Correction: My next post, with Toto as host, will be published next Wednesday, August 1, not Thursday, Aug. 2, as previously stated.
DeleteI was worried, but I should have known that things were only going to get better. Love the new layout, and except for one, the pictures. Especially like the graffiti on left as it makes me feel like being back at the Dell. Tell your buddy Jerry Blavat, that after seeing his picture, I am going to dig out his "For Lovers Only" albums and spend an hour or two with the foxes and coyotes. I am really looking forward to the new era and your continued excellent and very enjoyable blog. Jerre
ReplyDeleteHi, Jerre!
DeleteThanks so much for joining me at my new location, good buddy! I am thrilled that you like what you see here at Shady's Place. I take it you are okay with the fact that Fred Mertz will not really be taking over as emcee. :) Shucks, who could ever replace that lovable pipe puffer Shady?
I'm glad you took a look around and appreciate what you see on the left and right sides of the screen, including pictures of "The Shady Bunch" - my friendly staff of writers, photographers, contributing editors and S-P-M-M Radio deejays. I am very excited to get started entertaining you with these six new interactive top 40 radio shows, Jerre. Buppy will be delighted too, I'm sure, because, with the Jerre Blavat and Hy Lit shows in particular, I will be getting back to the doo-wop basics more so than I was in recent years on SDMM.
Please don't downplay your role as a member of The Shady Bunch, Jerre. You provided me with tons of seed material to get the old blog started ten years ago. Without your input and support I would have "tunnel vision" and only know about the Dell what I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears in the years I attended. You, Ron and Greg helped me fill in the gaps, and that's why I am proud to honor the three of you as contributing editors in the sidebar.
Thanks again for being here on day one of the new Shady's Place, good buddy Jerre. Stay tuned, because one week from today Shady's dog, Chief Petting Officer Toto Moto, will be my guest host. Enjoy the rest of your week, Jerre!
Correction: My next post, with Toto as host, will be published next Wednesday, August 1, not Thursday, Aug. 2, as previously stated.
DeleteThis is more like it. Don't have time right now to listen to all the Barbaras or Barbras (not even my favorite Barbra, Streisand) but I promise I will this weekend.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I find pushing the following button or icon or whatever you call it so much easier than trying to remember a blog address, but that's just me.
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for joining me here as well as there, good buddy! Seems like you aren't quite ready to unfriend me yet. :) I'm glad, because I enjoy entertaining you.
I didn't know that Barbra Streisand is your favorite Barb. Come on back when you have time and listen to her song while you watch the Pan's People dancers hoof their way around the deck of a ship in a segment from Top of The Pops.
This post runs a full week, good buddy, so you have plenty of time to return. I actually registered this blog nearly ten years ago as a "practice blog" to see what works and what doesn't. The first thing that came to my mind back then was "They're coming to get you, Barbra" and that's how I came up with the address. I do not expect you to remember it. I see you already subscribed so you're good to go.
Thanks again for coming, good buddy Kirk!
Cautiously pawing through your new blog, Sir … Good luck, eh? cat.
ReplyDeleteHi, cat!
DeleteHow are you, dear feline friend? As you can see, I am still here, and I'm very happy that you are, too! The blog world benefits from your poetry and your selection of music, dear friend!
I hope you like my new surroundings here at Shady's Place and that you will make SPMM your new home away from home. I see that you already clicked to follow me here and I thank you, dear friend cat!
Will have 2 sit under da porch 4 a while and think about it. cat.
DeleteAOK, cat!
DeleteThink away. I await your verdict, dear friend. :)
… if I meow 4 water, will U bring me sum? cat.
DeleteYessum, and a hunk of tuna, too, and I will scratch behind your ears if you like! :)
DeleteI like the new blog and its new look, Shady! (and I've already followed so I won't miss any future posts)
ReplyDeleteLove that Mallard Air clip. It's a shame real instructional videos aren't that entertaining - more folks might pay attention. (then again, some might be... I haven't flown in a couple of years and it was a flight where the attendant still walked us through it)
I don't remember Top Brass, but I certainly remember Agent 99!
Good luck with your new venture here, Shady. I'm along for the ride. :)
Hi, Kelly!
DeleteIt is so nice of you to join me over here, dear friend! I am honored to have you aboard for the ride as the starship Shady's Place leaves the launch pad on a mission to educate and entertain.
Thank you for clicking to follow along. I wouldn't feel complete without having you with me, Kelly. You are lots of fun and we have identified a lot that we have in common in the year or more that we've been friends.
Who wouldn't want to fly Mallard Air? It looks like every flight turns into a party. I'm glad you enjoyed that clip by Chromeo made to promote the song "Frequent Flier" and their 2014 album White Women. I well remember Barbara Feldon as the sassy spokesmodel for Top Brass in the early and mid 60s. As Agent 99 on Get Smart, Barbara was an early role model for women, depicting a new breed of female smarter than many of the men around her including Maxwell.
Thank you again for your ongoing friendship and support, dear friend Kelly. It means a lot to me. See you next time When Toto Moto guest hosts!
Fabulous, Shady!Terrific new digs, and I love what you've done with the Place ;-) I can tell already this will be like peering into a precious box of keepsakes, and now I'll know when you post!
ReplyDeleteTop Brass sure had sass, and before today I don't think I ever knew who sang Stoney End but it was the first time I ever picked up a hair brush - er, microphone ;-) Good times!
Hi, diedre!
DeleteThank you very much for coming over here, dear friend! I'm very pleased to see you again today and to know you're with me as I begin the next leg of my blogging journey here at Shady's Place.
Yessum, Shady's Place boasts a two tone paint job, a border of nostalgic wallpaper on the left side and a few other touches that I hope will make coming here fun for you. Several of the pictures you saw a few days ago on my 10th anniversary post are now on permanent display here in my sidebar including those paying tribute to John & Helen Ettline and Margaret Schneider. I will never lose sight of my Shady Dell roots. Again and again I will honor these Dell V.I.P.'s at Shady's Place.
I'm glad you recall Barbara Feldon's Top Brass ad campaign. I'm glad you now know that it was Barbra Streisand who had a hit with "Stoney End." Check out the original version by Peggy Lipton when you get a chance. It is another great recording. With your hair brush microphone and my air guitar we could have made beautiful music together, dear friend diedre. :) Thank you again for coming by on day one and helping me to get Shady's Place off to a great start. I appreciate it, dear friend! Toto Moto's coming up next in her first stint as guest blogger in six years, so stay tuned!
Well Shady Tom, I've been here, typed a comment, then somehow kicked it out, sheesh! So, after a short break, I'll try again.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulous blog! I do love your color palate and the graffiti behind your colors! This is quite an impressive change! And, I have scrolled up and down your sidebar-enjoyed the mix of old and new. Kudos to the Shady Bunch! I know we're going to get some great vibes from them.
The interview between you and Anderson was very informative...knowing what surprises we are in store for! lol! Of course you launched of with a fun video, "Chromeo's In-Flight Safety video-how cool was that! And, sending various "Barbara's" our way was pretty clever!
I remember Barbara George's "I Know". It was so popular, and all of us girls could identify with it, as we danced and chuckled with it! And, I haven't heard Streisand's "Stoney End" in ages either! It is fun that you included "Night of The Living Dead" which is a film that is still much watched, but, honestly, I couldn't stand to watch it after the first time!
This is quite a pleasant surprise, Shady! I'm so glad to have been invited to the opening! I know it will be a hit! Congratulations, best wishes, and "go for it!" Take care dear friend, see you soon!
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteThank you very much for making good on your promise to return and check out my new blogging headquarters, dear friend! I am very happy to see you and to know you like what you see here at Shady's Place! I have been "painting and decorating" this place for more than a year now, and it gives me great pleasure to finally open the doors for business. There will also be a grand opening celebration with pony rides, games of chance, clowns, mimes, jugglers, a dunk tank, dixieland jazz band, free hot dogs and balloons for the kiddies. You're invited, but please bring a covered dish. :)
I'm delighted to know you appreciate the colors I chose, the band of graffiti art down the left side of the page and the picture gallery on the right. I have guest hosts galore coming up in the months and years ahead, including Kathleen Mae Schneider with her outstanding series In-Dell-ible Memories, and you won't want to miss the interactive top 40 DJ shows on S-P-M-M Radio and my "more music - less talk" format.
I'm glad you got a kick out of Chromeo's "Frequent Flyer," enjoyed hearing Barbra's "Stoney End" hit for the first time in a long time, and that fond memories were triggered as you listened to Barbara George's hit "I Know."
Thanks again, dear friend Suzanne. Thanks a billion with a "B' for your steadfast friendship. It will be a joy to have you along for the ride as I entertain you from Shady's Place from now on. I see the name "Susan" on my Rodentia Intelligentsia roster and that must be you. :) Enjoy the rest of your week, try to stay cool over there in that triple digit heat, and I will see you back here for my next post when Shady's dog, blog mascot and Chief Petting Officer Toto takes over as host! :)
Tom: I love it! The new Shady's Place is sure to be as big a hit as the SDMM. I so love the color scheme too! Very interesting shades of blue and brown...and you know me, I'm into color!
ReplyDeleteI recognized the graffiti wallpaper even before I scrolled down to find full swatches of it. And it's not lost on me the section of the wall graffiti that lies between the header photo and the current post happens to be my favorite: the dancer's skirt where some Dell Rat long ago hilariously scribbled the word "schmuck". Tell me that was intentional...because if it was, it's brilliant! If it's not and it just happened that way, wow, how cool is that?! haha
Your inaugural post is fabulously entertaining. I very much enjoyed the interview between you and Shady ... which, btw, was also a shock to see him here, being that you told us one of my favorite beloved actors, William Frawley (aka Uncle Charlie) was going to be hosting. I always knew him as "Uncle Charlie" on My Three Sons. I didn't know Bub was his name on the show. That was a great show! Thanks for the reminder as I'll have to see if I can find reruns on Netflix or Hulu or Roku.
It was nice to learn the reason for the new blog. And I totally dig the wider post field and the fact that videos can be embedded with an extra 140 pixels! Well done!
I LOVED the Barbara Feldon "Top Brass" commercial! You know I love vintage and throwback advertising. Feldon is fabulous in the spot and the premise is actually quite good using the messy lion mane and greasy slick-back bear to describe unpleasant and unappealing hair styles and conditions. The sad part though is that I suspect the props were an actual taxidermied lion, bear and tiger. Back then, animal welfare, rights and conservation hadn't made it into the global consciousness yet. So although the commercial is good, it left that bitter aftertaste. It was what it was back then. We can only learn from history...
I also really enjoyed the clip from Night of the Living Dead and the story behind the blog address. "They're coming to get you Barbra" is certainly classic. That's another one I'll have to try to score on Netflix, etc. I honestly don't know if I've ever seen the movie in its entirety...
(PARDON THIS INTERRUPTION: I did it again. My comment was too long so I’ve had to split it into 2 comments. This is 1 or 2. Stand by for Part 2…)
(MT Comment Continued, Part 2 of 2):
DeleteVery clever tie-ins with the Barbra/Barbara songs! While I've been exploring your new digs, I've listened to Barbara Rogers "I Know" at least 4 times already (and it's playing again in my headphones right now) and have listened to Babs' "Stoney End" twice (the first time I watched the entire video and the Pan's People dancers doing their thing on the ships deck and landing pad) and also Peggy Lipton's version twice too! You're right, I'm super surprised that Peggy's version didn't get beyond the Bubbling Under chart... I forgot that she was a singer too. I'm a huge Mod Squad fan and only recently discovered the series airing on some cable channel (can't remember which one right this second but I have several seasons recorded on one of my TiVos!).
In fact, if you were to do a Battle of the Bands using both of these versions (Babs v "Julie"), I'd be hard-pressed to choose which one I like better.
I'm on my fifth time listening to it right now and I'm still trying to figure out what the song is about. Curious I went to Wikipedia and on the Barbra Streisand Stoney End album page, it was noted that fans asked her what the song was about and she said she still didn't know! At least I'm in good company in my ignorance here... So, do you know what it's about??
I have also really enjoyed spending time on your sidebar, looking at all the nostalgic photos and meeting The Shady Bunch (great name for the Shady's Place staff!). Hey, speaking of the Brady Bunch, did you see the famous Brady house from the series is on the market right now?? I saw some pics of the interior and it's completely different from the show's interior shots as those were all filmed at a studio sound stage. If you missed it, here's a link to some photos.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/07/26/miley-cyrus-lance-bass-among-those-interested-in-buying-brady-bunch-house/
I'm sure there may be better ones out there but I just quickly googled it just to provide a link for you. After all, it's 4:45 in the morning and I need to get back to bed. I have two dogs arriving in a few hours...
CONGRATULATIONS Tom, on your new "hot spot"! The place looks TERRIFIC! I'm sure we're all in for a great experience here at Shady's Place. I look forward to your many posts to come.
Until next time, rock on my friend...
Michele at Angels Bark
Hi again, Michele!
DeleteMy goodness, dear friend. I am amazed at your dedication. You stayed up most of the night to visit my two sites and write tremendous comments. I hope you got enough sleep to be able to function today. Again I thank you for coming through as a friend in a big big way!
I am thrilled that you appreciate the new Shady's Place. "Deep greens and blues" are the colors James Taylor would choose, and I added a rich brown to the mix to make the sidebar pictures pop. I have a theory about the word "Schmuck" written on the skirt of the dancer in that Shady Dell wall mural. I am thinking "Schmuck" might not have been a slur at all. It might have been the person's actual name, a name of German (Pennsylvania Dutch) origin. German names abound in the York area. I estimate that 90% of my classmates in school had German names, and so I think "Schmuck" might have been the graffiti writer's last name. In those days, at least in Central PA, it was common for kids to call each other by their last names. My buddies called me "Anderson," not Tom. Therefore, if that guy wanted his buddies to know who signed the wall, it would make sense for him to write his last name. That's my theory, anyway. I looked it up and found these surprising facts: "Schmuck is a surname of German origin. As a noun, it means jewelry; as an adjective, it means neat in the sense of clean, tidy, or having a simple elegance. The name is commonly seen on signs and billboards in Germany and Austria related to the merchandising of precious jewelry." So "Schmuck" could be considered a good thing, a compliment instead of a put-down. :)
I need to correct your memory about My Three Sons, dear Michele. From 1960 to 1965 William Frawley played the boys' live-in maternal grandfather and housekeeper "Bub." When Frawley became ill (he died in March 1966) he was replaced on the series by William Demarest who played Bub's brother, "Charley" aka "Uncle Charley." So I think you were remembering the later seasons of My Three Sons.
I never gave it much thought until now, buy you are probably right about them using actual taxidermied animals in the Top Brass spots. Big game hunting was "in" back then. Trophy animal heads on walls and a bearskin rug on the floor in front of the fireplace were common sights in movies, TV shows and ad campaigns. Pin-up artists of the period often had their models pose with the hides and heads of animals. Today most of us react negatively when we gaze at those images.
Night of the Living Dead is available in its entirety on YouTube. I highly recommend this original black and white version and not the colorized version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA5kk8LB7BQ
next...
I'm pleased to know your ears match mine on the Peggy Lipton version of "Stoney End." Peggy's recordings were not zesty, not fiery. Her style was more subdued, laid back and "cool" like her Julie Barnes character on Mod Squad. It makes me happy to know you think Peggy's version could have collected her share of votes against The Barbra in a BOTB competition. I read the song's lyrics. They seem to be about a girl who came from poverty and, with the help and encouragement of her mother, strives for a better life. She apparently puts her faith in a man who ultimately betrays her. She realizes she needs to do it on her own, pick herself up and find her own way as an independent woman, not one who is dependent upon a man. She is determined that her life will not come to a stoney end as did her mother's life. Something like that. Do you agree?
DeleteI'm glad you like my concept of The Shady Bunch. That Brady Bunch house does look completely different on the inside. They only used exterior shots for the TV series, correct? I'd like to buy the White house - not the one in D.C. - the one in Albuquerque - The Walter White house! :) Did you know that a fan once threw a pizza pie up on the roof of that famous house? :)
Michele, thanks a billion with a "B" for giving me this tremendous psychological boost as I begin a new phase of my blogging journey. This means a lot to me. You mean a lot to me. Again, thank you. Dog lover that you are, you will surely want to see my next post when Shady's dog - blog mascot and Chief Petting Officer Toto - takes over as host. See you then, dear friend! :)
I'm so happy to support you on this new exciting venture Tom! I'm with ya all the way...
DeleteRock on, my friend...
Thank you again, dear Michele! I am honored to have a friend like you in my corner. I hope you got some rest after pulling an all-nighter to write your comment at Shady's Place. I hope you and your dogs are having a fine weekend. Bring Luca and Picasso along with you next week to meet guest blogger Toto Moto. :)
DeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteOh, you stinker! You fooled me good with your hoax on SDMM. In all fairness, I knew whatever you did or didn't do in this case would be brilliant and sure to entertain. :)
I love the new layout of your brand new blog home! I prefer this color scheme much better. The black background and colored font was often hard on the eyes at time.
Your mewsic selection this morning is all new-to-me. I enjoyed the fake airline commercial as well as the vintage one with Barbara Feldon. I remember watching "Get Smart" when I was a kid. I wondered what was up with such a strange URL and appreciated knowing the reason behind your madness. :)
I subscribed to your new blog straight away so I won't miss a single post. I need those emails to keep me on track with my favorite blog buds. I appreciated being included your blog roll lineup. What an honor, my friend!
Well, here's to another 10-years of good mewsic and memories on SPMM! I'm so glad you didn't step away from blogging like I was fearing that you might with your cryptic message in your previous post from today's special announcement. Have a rockin' good weekend, dear friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteWelcome welcome welcome welcome welcome to the all new Shady's Place, dear friend! By now you know that humor and the element of surprise are trademarks of my blogging style. Secretly I have been preparing Shady's Place for more than a year. As my 10th anniversary approached, the date I chose to make the switch to the new site, I couldn't help pulling a little prank on you and leading you to suspect that I was calling it quits entirely. It's good to know that you care if I stay or go. I am very proud of the wonderful, warm friendship you and I forged more than three years ago and continue to maintain. I would not want to continue this journey without you, Cathy.
I'm glad you appreciate the color scheme. It's funny how this whole thing came about. Around a year and a half ago, one of my readers on SDMM complained that it strained her eyes to read my bright white text on a black background. I suppose I took her complaint to heart because, soon after, I made the decision to fix that problem. I came up with the idea of switching to a brand new blog with a more interesting layout and header and a color combo that would be easier on the eyes. Years earlier I had established tctgyb.blogspot.com as a practice blog, a private place to experiment and try out new ideas, comedy sketches and layouts. I decided to develop the site into Shady's Place and here we are.
The Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo uses humor in many of their videos. They have a great sound, don't they? Would you believe that Top Brass girl Barbara Feldon - Agent 99 from Get Smart - is now 85 years old? Time marches on!
Once again, Cathy, thank you for sticking with me as I begin this new phase of my blogging adventure. It makes me very happy to see your name on my Rodentia Intelligentsia roster, and I am proud to include CAAC on my "Follow These Leaders" blog roll. Stay tuned for my next post, next Wednesday, when Chief Petting Officer Toto Moto will introduce my staff of Shady's Bunch deejays. Have a safe and happy weekend, dear friend Cathy!
Tom,
DeleteWOW, I didn't know that Barbara Feldon is still around but 85 isn't that old compared to the oldest Dell Rat who lived more than 100 years. Every time I think about Margaret I have to smile. What a lovely soul!
I shall look for your Wednesday post to show up in my in-box. I can't wait to meet all the Shady Bunch (I love this!). I'll see you mid-week. Have a good day!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThanks for popping, in, dear friend! I am very happy to have you back over here as we begin a new week. You're right. When I was young, a person who reached age 85 was considered quite old - ancient. Centenarians like Margaret Schneider and actors and actresses like Kirk Douglas, Olivia De Havilland and Marsha Hunt are reminding us that it is possible to reach triple digits. I am proud to display images of Margaret in my new sidebar to serve as inspiration.
Thank you again for dropping in, dear friend Cathy, and have a wonderful week ahead!
Hey (You'll Always Be Shady To Me)Shady,I'm glad you'll still be doing
ReplyDeleteyour thing under a new name. I've always looked forward every week,
to see what you're up to, and what your discussion will be.I'll still be around every week to join in with your musical discussions. OUTSTANDING
TOM!! (I would miss you terribly if you went away) So, Congrats on your new blog.Dave
Hi, Davy!
DeleteThanks a lot for coming over to wish me well as I launch my new site Shady's Place Music & Memories. It's good to know that you plan to stick around. As I told Dell rat Jerre (above), the best is yet to come. My six new interactive DJ shows on this blog will bring you more of the music guys like us knew and loved in old York, across Central PA, the Delaware Valley and up and down the East Coast. That means a heaping helping of old gold soul, R&B and doo-wop. As I always did on the old blog, I look forward to your comments which offer important info, trivia and insights.
Don't worry, good buddy. I assure you that Shady is still your host here at Shady's Place. "Fred's Place" didn't sound quite as exciting. :) Thanks again for your support, Dave. Stay tuned for more fun in my next post coming next Wednesday! :)
Love the new look! Love the new vibe! Change is good for the soul and helps keep you young so I'm excited to visit your new pad and still learn and enjoy new songs, artists and of course your sense of humor! I remember the commercial and these songs featured. Babs came out with that number the year I graduated high school..where has the time gone? Well, I'll still hang out here at Shady's Place for the next decade..God willing and the creek don't rise! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteI am thrilled to welcome you into my new Shady's Place headquarters, dear friend. Thanks for staying up late to have a look and a listen!
I'm glad you find Shady's Place pleasing to the eyes and ears. I'm happy that you remember that popular commercial for Top Brass hair dressing. I remember it inspiring numerous parodies in the mid 60s. The Streisand recording "Stoney End" is a seldom heard oldie, at least I hadn't heard the song or even thought about it in decades. It popped into my head recently as I rifled through my mental files searching for Barb songs for this post.
It's great to know you plan to stick around and follow Shady's Place on its 10 year mission to educate and entertain. I would not want to take this trip without you, one of the best friends of my life. Please come back next Wednesday (and bring Arnie with you) because Shady's dog, Toto, will be guest host.
Thank you again for burning the midnight oil and exploring my new site, dear friend YaYa. Enjoy your weekend!
Clive Pomeroy? All this time I was wondering if that might be Hugh Beaumont, who played Ward Cleaver on Leave It to Beaver (though I don't recall him ever smoking a pipe on that show.) Another possibility was Kennedy Era comedy album star Woody Woodbury, though I just now looked him up online, and he doesn't look anything like that picture. still, that leer...
ReplyDeleteWell, as old Get Smart fan, I certainly know Barbara Feldon. I think I've seen that commercial before on some sort of retrospective. She's practically purring there.
I've seen Night of the Living dead several times, but confess I didn't remember that girl's name was Barbra. Or any of the characters name for that matter. George Romero was the director. I remember THAT at least.
Barbara George is new to me, but after listening to that, I'm already a fan.
Finally, Streisand. It was a hit for her, and that's all well and good, but anyone could have sung that song. As I said here not too long ago about Mariah Carey, I prefer the ballads. But a hit is a hit, and I liked the dancers.
Hi, again, Kirk!
DeleteShady Yellow (no relation to Shady Seaweed who bears a strong resemblance) welcoming you back to Shady's Place. Thanks for returning to the scene of the grime, good buddy!
I'm pretty sure Ward Cleaver smoked his pipe in the den... privately... with the doors locked so that he could remain "undisturbed" as he puffed away, gazing into his lava lamp and listening to his Sun Ra albums. :)
Barbara Feldon is now 85 years of age, Kirk. Beam me up, Scotty!
As you know, I lived in Central PA. Around Halloween 1968 I took my girlfriend to a drive-in theater to see Night of the Living Dead. Imagine how creeped out we were to watch that flick and see the "fake" but very realistic sounding news reports of flesh eating ghouls terrorizing Pennsylvania communities. I grabbed my girlfriend's arm, whimpered like a little girl and pleaded with her to "save me, save me!" For some reason, we never went out again. I guess you could say I was "ghosted." :) Night of the Living Dead remains one of my favorite films of any genre and it must be watched in B&W for the sake of realism.
I'm delighted to know you enjoyed Barbara George along with Barbra Streisand's hit single interpreted by the Pan's People dance company on Top Of The Pops. Anyone could have sung "Stoney End," Kirk? Even Boris Karloff? :)
Thank you again for coming back to share more info and have some more fun. Stay tuned for my next post next Wednesday when I will introduce my first SPMM guest blogger - Toto Moto. Hope to see you then, Kirk. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Thoughts of both new and old times passed through my mind when I visited Shady's Place several more times. I don't want to pass up the chance on this inaugural post to reflect on them, and try to express why this blog is so personally meaningful.
ReplyDeleteLike the changing seasons, this new and improved venue for your Shady Dell tributes and recollections is invigorating. I agree wholeheartedly with other readers that the new layout design is like a welcome breath of fresh air. Also like them, I'm grateful that some things didn't change - namely the innovative ways of presenting material. I couldn't imagine Fred Mertz as host, but if anyone could have done it, it would have been Shady! Speaking of him, I'm SURE glad he isn't the same person as you, Tom. If that was so, I would have thought you had a split personality!
Just as you linked the "Barbaras" in your mind, and even used one of them as your new blog address, I found other associations, mainly with what this place means for me, as I'm certain it does for a lot of other visitors.
Of course, I am delighted and very grateful to see some of my favorite pictures of Mother and our family along with other Dell luminaries as I scrolled down the page. Being able to honor her by writing about her life here is such a rewarding experience! Should she be here and I showed her those pictures, I know she would have not fully grasped why her life is being showcased. Apart from her father building the Shady Dell and living there until she was ten years old, she couldn't understand why she was special to so many of us. Nevertheless, she was pleased that she and her family brought a good influence into the world, and she reveled in her "fame".
So I guess going forward, documenting her life means not only honoring her, but encouraging others to listen to the elders in their midst, learn from them, and importantly, write down their stories for posterity. One of Mother's beliefs ingrained in me, and the very one that contributed to her incredulity and humility, was that every life has value and fits into God's plan somehow, whether we realize it or not.
The second thought that enters my mind goes back in time to ancient Greece, and the myth of Orpheus. I guess most people wouldn't see that story's connection to Shady's Place, but I do! The story tells of the power of Orpheus, a wonderful musician, to charm wild animals and the hardest case of all - the devil himself.
When I visit this blog as I have the last eight years, I listen to the featured music each week. Some is familiar, and some is new to me. I laugh at the play on words and the comical surprises. Shady's creativity and wit is sharper than ever! Through the comments of other readers who now seem like a community of friends, I see how the blog brings back memories of their youth or encourages the younger readers to learn about music written and performed before their time. For those of us who missed it the first time around, it represents learning of the highest order, and helps us to stay young at heart.
So I guess what I'm trying to say, is that this blog, like Orpheus's golden lyre, can charm us and lift our spirits up from some of the most "hellish" times in our lives. Thank you, Tom, for starting a new season of growth and adventure in this new place. I look forward to being here in the years ahead, both as a reader and contributor, and eagerly anticipate the enrichment it gives to all our lives!
Hi, Kathleen!
ReplyDeleteI can't get the reply box to work and so I am using the comment box instead. Welcome back, dear friend! I am very grateful that you made time to return and share more of your thoughts and feelings as together we begin a new phase of our blogging adventure in this little space called Shady's Place.
It makes me very happy to be receiving positive feedback about our new headquarters. I have been painting, wallpapering and hanging pictures for more than a year now! :) Artist that you are, your compliments about the layout and look of the new site are appreciated.
I am also glad that you reinforced the fact that Shady Del Knight and Tom Anderson are indeed two distinctly different people. How else could they have appeared face to face in the same room and conducted an interview? This Q & A session between Shady and Tom was a long time coming - ten years in the making. It is a meeting more historic than Donald and Kim, the rapport achieved greater than that between Trump and Putin. Proof came at the conclusion of the interview when Shady and Tom reportedly bear hugged for a full thirty minutes!
Thank you for sharing more memories of Mother along with her wisdom. I can't wait to see how future chapters of Mother's life story, presented in your series In-Dell-ible Memories, will look printed on this new site with a wider text field and a blue background. Your series will surely take on a whole new look and will be even more exciting to read.
Word play and comical surprises are my bread and butter. I don't ever want to be caught taking myself or my blog too seriously. The only thing I do take seriously is fun, and I that is why I spend a considerable amount of time on each post striving to make it something special.
You are correct, Kathleen. There are three categories of readers - boomer age kids who remember some or most of the artists and recordings I post, younger readers who don't know the music but enjoy being exposed to oldies and learning about them, and boomers like you who, for one reason or another, missed most of this material the first time around and appreciate the opportunity to fill in the gaps. I welcome you one and all and thank you for taking an interest in what I am doing here. Thank you very much for suggesting that this blog, like Orpheus's golden lyre, can help lift spirits. That has always been one of my primary goals. Life is tough enough for all of us. I want Shady's Place to be an oasis, your home away from home. That is what the original Shady Dell offered teens, the chance to forget their troubles for a while, relax, blow off steam, laugh, talk some trash, listen to great music, dance, sing and have some fun. If people pick up good vibrations while they are here, if they enjoy interacting with me and with you and with other friends they spot in the crowd, and if they leave here entertained or having learned something new and interesting, then I will have accomplished my goal.
Thank you again for returning to post additional remarks, dear friend Kathleen. With your generous assistance and your exceptional talent we will make many new memories here at our new stomping ground, Shady's Place. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and the week ahead, and don't forget to check back here next Wednesday when Shady's pooch, S-P-M-M Radio personality Toto Moto, will take over as guest host. I hope to see you then!
I am so confused but the way my mind works now this seems so normal.
ReplyDeletecheers, parsnip
Hi, Gayle!
DeleteWelcome to the all new Shady's Place, dear friend! Thanks for coming over!
I'm sorry about the confusion, and I hope from now on I will be seeing your smiling face here in my little space - Shady's Place.
Thank you for your visit and comment, dear friend Gayle!
I got distracted by the chicks in baby doll outfits on that carrier..hahahaa. Yes, late but loving the new blog and style. I can read it well and will enjoy your future posts
ReplyDeleteThank you, Birgit!
DeleteI'm very happy to see that you checked out some of the posts you missed. Welcome to Shady's Place, dear friend! :)