In April of 1969, when I was 16 years old, I went to Wrigley Field for a Cubs game against the New York Mets. I got to the game right when the gates opened at 9:30am, with the game not starting until 1:30. I loved to run around the ballpark taking photos and getting autographs of my favorite players.
I wandered over the to the right field bullpen where the young Tom Seaver and Jerry Grote were signing autographs. They couldn't have been nicer. Both of them posed for photos and signed my program.
Then I went over to the Mets dugout where manager Gil Hodges was signing along with Ron Swoboda. The Mets of 1969 were great to us Cub fans. They signed for all of us, including broadcaster Lindsay Nelson.
The Mets won the World Series that season. But in April of that year, no one expected them to do much. The Cubs, my team, were the ones expected to win the pennant.
Wrigley Field, back in the 1960's was simply a magical place. I met Jackie Robinson there in 1968, along with Satchel Paige in 1970, in addition to Stan Musial. Celebrities like that were always walking around the ballpark before the game. Hope some of you Cubs or Mets fans will read this...
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Meeting Nelson Rockefeller in the 1968 campaign
Nelson Rockefeller, loaded with charisma and electricity, ran for president in 1968, and I met him at the Hotel Gary in Gary, Indiana when I was 15 years old. I had met Bobby Kennedy
earlier in the year and Rockefeller was so similar. That personal power, the undeniable charisma, was part of his appeal.
He went into the hotel with Gary mayor Richard Hatcher, then he came out of the hotel, and when he did, there were ahout 150 people, including me, wanting to shake his hand and meet him before he got on his campaign bus.
Rockefeller appeared and he was engulfed by the crowd. A police officer assigned to him was pushed back about 5 feet.
There are people who are energized by large crowds and others who are exhausted by them, and Rockefeller just loved the energy and with a big smile he said 'hi' to all of us in that thick New York gravelly accent of his. I managed to get right up to him and what a thrill that was for a freshman in high school.
He finally made it onto the bus and was signing autographs through the window and I was snapping away with my instamatic camera as the crowd pushed against the bus.
All these years later, I have heard that the Hotel Gary was turned into a senior citizens center and Nelson Rockefeller died about 10 years after that campaign appearance.
Thanks for listening.
earlier in the year and Rockefeller was so similar. That personal power, the undeniable charisma, was part of his appeal.
He went into the hotel with Gary mayor Richard Hatcher, then he came out of the hotel, and when he did, there were ahout 150 people, including me, wanting to shake his hand and meet him before he got on his campaign bus.
Rockefeller appeared and he was engulfed by the crowd. A police officer assigned to him was pushed back about 5 feet.
There are people who are energized by large crowds and others who are exhausted by them, and Rockefeller just loved the energy and with a big smile he said 'hi' to all of us in that thick New York gravelly accent of his. I managed to get right up to him and what a thrill that was for a freshman in high school.
He finally made it onto the bus and was signing autographs through the window and I was snapping away with my instamatic camera as the crowd pushed against the bus.
All these years later, I have heard that the Hotel Gary was turned into a senior citizens center and Nelson Rockefeller died about 10 years after that campaign appearance.
Thanks for listening.
Meeting Robert Kennedy-1968-Unforgettable
I was 15 years old in 1968, and Robert Kennedy was running for President, and his campaign came through my hometown of Gary, Indiana. The Indiana Primary was coming up and I rode my bike about 5 miles to 10th street where his car was supposed to drive by.
Sure enough, Bobby Kennedy and Ethel (who was pregnant with her last child, Roary, at the time) came around the corner onto 10th street. I cannot even begin to tell you how much unbelievable charisma Bobby Kennedy had. People surrounded the car. He was smiling and shaking hands. Ethel was just trying to shield her eyes from the sun which was directly in her face.
Kennedy had this raw, positive, power that just made people cheer when they were around him. Everyone was just thrilled to meet him.
Kennedy had finished shaking hands with us and the car started inching away, speeding up along 10th street. People were literally chasing after his car, and the last thing I saw him do was that famous habit of his of taking his right hand and sweeping his hair out of his face.
There was a media car behind Kennedy, filming his every move. There was no security at all around him. How times have changed.
All these years later I wish someone in the Kennedy inner circle would have convinced him not to run for President. Perhaps he would still be with us today.
Sure enough, Bobby Kennedy and Ethel (who was pregnant with her last child, Roary, at the time) came around the corner onto 10th street. I cannot even begin to tell you how much unbelievable charisma Bobby Kennedy had. People surrounded the car. He was smiling and shaking hands. Ethel was just trying to shield her eyes from the sun which was directly in her face.
Kennedy had this raw, positive, power that just made people cheer when they were around him. Everyone was just thrilled to meet him.
Kennedy had finished shaking hands with us and the car started inching away, speeding up along 10th street. People were literally chasing after his car, and the last thing I saw him do was that famous habit of his of taking his right hand and sweeping his hair out of his face.
There was a media car behind Kennedy, filming his every move. There was no security at all around him. How times have changed.
All these years later I wish someone in the Kennedy inner circle would have convinced him not to run for President. Perhaps he would still be with us today.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Backstage Memories of Styx-1981
I worked for an album-rock station back then and I would go backstage to interview the top rock bands of the day which included Foreigner, the J. Geils Band, and Styx. Styx was touring and drawing tremendous audiences, most of them young girls between the ages of 12 to 17.
I went backstage and met Dennis DeYoung, the lead singer, who gave me a fine interview, along with Tommie Shaw.
When Styx took the stage there was a giant TV screen behind the band and when the TV screen focused in on Tommie Shaw, the young girls, thousands of them, screamed with delight.
I had never heard such noise before and I had to cover my ears. Every time Shaw did something the girls just went crazy, about 15 thousand of them, and I thought the roof was going to collapse.
It must have been like this for the Beatles, I thought, as Styx played their hits.
That year, 1981, I covered the appearances of ZZ Top, J. Geils, REO, Billy Squire (The Stroke),
and Foreigner among others.
And now, all these years later, these band members are probably in their 50's and middle-aged.
I wonder what they think now of their incredible ride at the top back in the early 80's.
I went backstage and met Dennis DeYoung, the lead singer, who gave me a fine interview, along with Tommie Shaw.
When Styx took the stage there was a giant TV screen behind the band and when the TV screen focused in on Tommie Shaw, the young girls, thousands of them, screamed with delight.
I had never heard such noise before and I had to cover my ears. Every time Shaw did something the girls just went crazy, about 15 thousand of them, and I thought the roof was going to collapse.
It must have been like this for the Beatles, I thought, as Styx played their hits.
That year, 1981, I covered the appearances of ZZ Top, J. Geils, REO, Billy Squire (The Stroke),
and Foreigner among others.
And now, all these years later, these band members are probably in their 50's and middle-aged.
I wonder what they think now of their incredible ride at the top back in the early 80's.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Backstage Memories of Foreigner-1981
My job back then was to go backstage and interview these top flight bands for the radio and I will never forget seeing the guys from Foreigner, just before they were to go onstage before 15 thousand fans, just lying there on these couches, almost like they were completely exhausted, which they were.
It was about 15 minutes before they went onstage, and I asked them, while they were lying there, looking so tired, how they managed to perform their music. To a man they said it was their fans. All the shows, the non-stop traveling...all of that brought on an exhaustion which was hard to describe.
Foreigner was the number one band in the world at that point, and I watched them as they walked to the stage, their bodies slumped over, their heads down. Then the thousands of waiting fans, seeing them, roared their approval and Foreigner came to life.
The cheers from the crowd literally lifted them, infusing them with an energy that seemed totally vacant only minutes before.
They played their string of hits, and I watched from just offstage how they sucked in the energy from those loud cheers and gave it right back to them.
And then the concert was over. Foreigner left the stage and I could see how high they were from the crowd noise, their clothes drenched with sweat. Then I watched as the crowd filed out, the roadies started dismantling the massive stage amplifiers and then it was just almost total silence.
It was amazing. Just a short hour ago, the stadium had pulsed with energy, and now, nothing.
Foreigner was off to another city, and another stadium filled with cheering fans. And the next band was coming in. A band called Styx, which meant more interviews for me and more backstage memories.
It was about 15 minutes before they went onstage, and I asked them, while they were lying there, looking so tired, how they managed to perform their music. To a man they said it was their fans. All the shows, the non-stop traveling...all of that brought on an exhaustion which was hard to describe.
Foreigner was the number one band in the world at that point, and I watched them as they walked to the stage, their bodies slumped over, their heads down. Then the thousands of waiting fans, seeing them, roared their approval and Foreigner came to life.
The cheers from the crowd literally lifted them, infusing them with an energy that seemed totally vacant only minutes before.
They played their string of hits, and I watched from just offstage how they sucked in the energy from those loud cheers and gave it right back to them.
And then the concert was over. Foreigner left the stage and I could see how high they were from the crowd noise, their clothes drenched with sweat. Then I watched as the crowd filed out, the roadies started dismantling the massive stage amplifiers and then it was just almost total silence.
It was amazing. Just a short hour ago, the stadium had pulsed with energy, and now, nothing.
Foreigner was off to another city, and another stadium filled with cheering fans. And the next band was coming in. A band called Styx, which meant more interviews for me and more backstage memories.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Meeting Charles Lindbergh-Unforgettable
The year was 1973, and Charles Lindbergh came to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, appearing there at the Student Union Building. I was a student at Indiana at the time, and a young college radio broadcaster as well, I received a call saying to get to the Student Union building fast. Charles Lindbergh would be there for a special reception.
I got there, and went to the reception room. About 50 people were there and I can't begin to tell you the charisma that Charles Lindbergh possessed. He literally filled the room with his presence. No one could take their eyes off him. I was literally overwhelmed. A man right out of my history book!.
He gave a short speech on protecting the environment to our small group. He didn't want any questions about his 1927 flight but people asked anyway.
He was taller than I expected. He looked about 6 foot 4 or 6-5. But that distinctive voice was the same. I shut my eyes as he spoke, remembering his voice from those old newsreels from the 1920's.
Lindbergh was quite an old man by then and he wasn't going to live much longer, but while I looked at him I couldn't help but think of him as that young hero from 1927. Everyone in the room felt that way. People followed him out as he got into a waiting Rolls Royce, and then it was over.
I would compare his charisma to that of Bobby Kennedy, who I met during the 1968 campaign, and also Muhammad Ali, who I also met in 1968 at his house in Chicago. Lindbergh had just incredible personal power. Thanks for listening.
I got there, and went to the reception room. About 50 people were there and I can't begin to tell you the charisma that Charles Lindbergh possessed. He literally filled the room with his presence. No one could take their eyes off him. I was literally overwhelmed. A man right out of my history book!.
He gave a short speech on protecting the environment to our small group. He didn't want any questions about his 1927 flight but people asked anyway.
He was taller than I expected. He looked about 6 foot 4 or 6-5. But that distinctive voice was the same. I shut my eyes as he spoke, remembering his voice from those old newsreels from the 1920's.
Lindbergh was quite an old man by then and he wasn't going to live much longer, but while I looked at him I couldn't help but think of him as that young hero from 1927. Everyone in the room felt that way. People followed him out as he got into a waiting Rolls Royce, and then it was over.
I would compare his charisma to that of Bobby Kennedy, who I met during the 1968 campaign, and also Muhammad Ali, who I also met in 1968 at his house in Chicago. Lindbergh had just incredible personal power. Thanks for listening.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Howard Cosell-Unforgettable Memory-1988
The year was 1988 and I saw Howard Cosell sitting in the lobby of a hotel in downtown Milwaukee. I was used to seeing Cosell surrounded by fans clamoring for his autograph and media types following him for interviews. There was always so much commotion around him. But when I saw him, he was sitting by himself and no one else was around.
I had to remind myself that he had been off Monday Night Football for 5 years and these days he was busying himself by attending charity events.
I approached him and told him how much I liked what turned out to be his last TV show, 'Speaking of Everything', which was a TV version of his radio show 'Speaking of Sports' which had lasted for decades.
He thanked me and we shook hands.
As I left the lobby, I turned around and looked at Cosell one last time, and my mind raced through his incredible career, which at that point in 1988, was pretty much over.
All those wild interviews with Muhammad Ali, Monday Night Football, all the boxing matches he had called 'Down Goes Frazier!', and his legendary coverage at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, which for some reason, has faded witth time.
I had to remind myself that he had been off Monday Night Football for 5 years and these days he was busying himself by attending charity events.
I approached him and told him how much I liked what turned out to be his last TV show, 'Speaking of Everything', which was a TV version of his radio show 'Speaking of Sports' which had lasted for decades.
He thanked me and we shook hands.
As I left the lobby, I turned around and looked at Cosell one last time, and my mind raced through his incredible career, which at that point in 1988, was pretty much over.
All those wild interviews with Muhammad Ali, Monday Night Football, all the boxing matches he had called 'Down Goes Frazier!', and his legendary coverage at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, which for some reason, has faded witth time.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Rich Mullins-Unforgettable Memories
I first met Rich Mullins in 1979 when I was living near Cincinnati. At that time he was not well known and hadn't recorded any albums. He was a friend of someone in our small bible study, and one night Rich showed up at the house and told us, all 6 of us, that he had written some songs and wanted to play for us. He sat down at this rickety old piano in the living room and belted out 'Sing Your Praise to the Lord'. When he finished playing no one applauded. We just sort of looked at eachother and shook our heads. The music was so powerful.
Over the next 2 years, Rich came to our small bible study and played for us. None of us knew, in our small group, that in a short time he would be playing alongside Amy Grant and people like that.
Rich just brimmed with self confidence and after he finished playing he would talk to us about Jesus Christ. I spent many evenings talking to Rich about the Lord and then in 1981 he released his first album, a locally distributed record called, 'Behold the Man', which I still have.
Rich was just so down to earth. After one of his exhausting tours, he would simply crash on the living room floor at our friend's house.
His death, of course, just took our breath away. I just couldn't believe it. None of us could. We all still miss Rich. He left us with such a rich body of wonderful songs, and his death has left a real void with all of us. God bless.
Over the next 2 years, Rich came to our small bible study and played for us. None of us knew, in our small group, that in a short time he would be playing alongside Amy Grant and people like that.
Rich just brimmed with self confidence and after he finished playing he would talk to us about Jesus Christ. I spent many evenings talking to Rich about the Lord and then in 1981 he released his first album, a locally distributed record called, 'Behold the Man', which I still have.
Rich was just so down to earth. After one of his exhausting tours, he would simply crash on the living room floor at our friend's house.
His death, of course, just took our breath away. I just couldn't believe it. None of us could. We all still miss Rich. He left us with such a rich body of wonderful songs, and his death has left a real void with all of us. God bless.
1970 Paramount Studios Memory
What would it be like to meet Lucille Ball, Leonard Nimoy, Peter Graves, Danny Thomas, Mike Connors, Gale Gordon, Angela Cartwright, Rosey Grier and comedian Jack Carter, within about 90 minutes? I did that in the unforgettable summer of 1970. I was all of 17 years old and had flown out to Los Angeles for a two week vacation to visit a friend and his family who had moved out to the west coast.
Somehow, my friend's father got his son and I passes to go to Paramount Studios, which was closed off to the public. So there we were, two teenage guys showing up at the Paramount gate and the security guard waved us in.
We had no tour guide, we were completely on our own, so we went into the first building we saw, and walked right onto the set of "Here's Lucy", starring Lucille Ball. Lucy was standing about 10 feet from us going over some script changes. She had her back to me, and when she turned around I was startled. Lucy wore no makeup that day and she looked totally exhausted. It was then that I saw just how tiring television series work really was.
For the next 40 minutes all I heard was Lucy's commanding voice. My friend and I sat on these benches reserved for a studio audience, but since it was a rehearsal day, we were the only 'audience' so we sat right in front.
I could tell that Lucille Ball threw her whole self into that show. There were circles under her eyes and she looked so tired but she kept going over the script, over and over again. Gale Gordon, her co-star, knew his lines and sat in front of us. When the rehearsal was over Lucy walked right over to my friend and I and asked 'Did you think it was funny?'...We were so starstruck that we just sort of nodded our heads but didn't really answer.
From there we left and walked into the studio of 'Mission Impossible'. They were filming that day and we got to meet Peter Graves and Leonard Nimoy, who had joined the cast after Star Trek had been cancelled only a year before. Graves was dressed in a tuxedo and they were filming a restaurant scene. Over and over they filmed under hot lights and I remember how Graves loosened that tuxedo, sweating heavily, when the filming finally ended.
The next building had Mike Connors starring as 'Mannix' and we watched that. Once again I was quickly reminded how exhausting this work was. Connors was going over his script and looked so unbelievably tired, I sort of really felt for him.
And then 'Make Room for Grandaddy;' starring Danny Thomas, Marjorie Lord, and Rosey Grier. We watched as they rehearsed, standing only a few feet from them. They didn't notice us at all as they concentrated on their lines. I stood there just overwhelmed that I was seeing all of these legendary stars. Their charisma was just overpowering.
Comedian Jack Carter came by as well.
I also saw Star Trek stuff. The series had been cancelled the year before but there were Star Trek trash cans lying around, labelled 'Trek Trash'. I still wonder what was in those cans.
Then it was time to leave. Even now, over 35 years later, the memories are just as strong as if it happened yesterday.
Somehow, my friend's father got his son and I passes to go to Paramount Studios, which was closed off to the public. So there we were, two teenage guys showing up at the Paramount gate and the security guard waved us in.
We had no tour guide, we were completely on our own, so we went into the first building we saw, and walked right onto the set of "Here's Lucy", starring Lucille Ball. Lucy was standing about 10 feet from us going over some script changes. She had her back to me, and when she turned around I was startled. Lucy wore no makeup that day and she looked totally exhausted. It was then that I saw just how tiring television series work really was.
For the next 40 minutes all I heard was Lucy's commanding voice. My friend and I sat on these benches reserved for a studio audience, but since it was a rehearsal day, we were the only 'audience' so we sat right in front.
I could tell that Lucille Ball threw her whole self into that show. There were circles under her eyes and she looked so tired but she kept going over the script, over and over again. Gale Gordon, her co-star, knew his lines and sat in front of us. When the rehearsal was over Lucy walked right over to my friend and I and asked 'Did you think it was funny?'...We were so starstruck that we just sort of nodded our heads but didn't really answer.
From there we left and walked into the studio of 'Mission Impossible'. They were filming that day and we got to meet Peter Graves and Leonard Nimoy, who had joined the cast after Star Trek had been cancelled only a year before. Graves was dressed in a tuxedo and they were filming a restaurant scene. Over and over they filmed under hot lights and I remember how Graves loosened that tuxedo, sweating heavily, when the filming finally ended.
The next building had Mike Connors starring as 'Mannix' and we watched that. Once again I was quickly reminded how exhausting this work was. Connors was going over his script and looked so unbelievably tired, I sort of really felt for him.
And then 'Make Room for Grandaddy;' starring Danny Thomas, Marjorie Lord, and Rosey Grier. We watched as they rehearsed, standing only a few feet from them. They didn't notice us at all as they concentrated on their lines. I stood there just overwhelmed that I was seeing all of these legendary stars. Their charisma was just overpowering.
Comedian Jack Carter came by as well.
I also saw Star Trek stuff. The series had been cancelled the year before but there were Star Trek trash cans lying around, labelled 'Trek Trash'. I still wonder what was in those cans.
Then it was time to leave. Even now, over 35 years later, the memories are just as strong as if it happened yesterday.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Muhammad Ali-1968 memory
In 1968, when I was 15 years old, I was staying at my grandmother's house on the southside of Chicago when she casually mentioned to me, 'Oh, by the way, Muhammad Ali just moved into the neighborhood.' My dear old grandmother, who was never a sports fan, showed me Ali's house after I begged her to do it. Ali's house was at a busy intersection on Jeffrey Boulevard, near a city park where I learned to play Little League baseball.
I was nervous as I walked up the few steps to his front door. A few seconds later the front door opens and Ali is standing there. He wasn't wearing a shirt and had a towel draped over his left shoulder.
I shyly asked him for an autograph and while he signed my mind raced through his incredible career up to that point. The great fights against Liston and Patterson and his wild interviews with Howard Cosell, and the latest fight right before I met him, his victory over Zora Folley.
Even at that young age, I felt Ali's intense charisma as he handed me the autograph and shut the door.
As I was leaving, I saw Ali get inside a white Volkswagen and I went over and shook hands with him and thanked him, and as he drove away, little did I know that his greatest fights were still ahead of him. In 1971 against Joe Frazier and 1974 against George Foreman.
I was nervous as I walked up the few steps to his front door. A few seconds later the front door opens and Ali is standing there. He wasn't wearing a shirt and had a towel draped over his left shoulder.
I shyly asked him for an autograph and while he signed my mind raced through his incredible career up to that point. The great fights against Liston and Patterson and his wild interviews with Howard Cosell, and the latest fight right before I met him, his victory over Zora Folley.
Even at that young age, I felt Ali's intense charisma as he handed me the autograph and shut the door.
As I was leaving, I saw Ali get inside a white Volkswagen and I went over and shook hands with him and thanked him, and as he drove away, little did I know that his greatest fights were still ahead of him. In 1971 against Joe Frazier and 1974 against George Foreman.
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