On the road

All these examples do NOT imply that gasoline is cheap;

It just illustrates how outrageous some prices are....

You will be really shocked by the last one!!!!

(At least, I was...)

Compared with Gasoline......

Think a gallon of gas is expensive?

This makes one think, and also puts things in perspective.

Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 $10.32 per gallon

Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 .........$9.52 per gallon

Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 .... $10.17 per gallon

Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 . $10.00 per gallon

Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 . $33.60 per gallon

Vick's Nyquil 6 oz $8.35 $178.13 per gallon

Pepto Bismol 4 oz $3.85 .. $123.20 per gallon

Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 $84.48 per gallon

And this is the REAL KICKER...

Evian water 9 oz $1.49..........$21.19 per gallon!

$21.19 for WATER

And the buyers don't even know the source.

(Evian spelled backwards is Naive.)

Ever wonder why printers are so cheap?

So they have you hooked for the ink.

Someone calculated the cost of the ink at................

You won't believe it...................

But it is true........................

$5,200 a gal. (five thousand two hundred dollars)

So, the next time you're at the pump,

Be glad your car doesn't run on

Water, Scope, or Whiteout, Pepto Bismol, Nyquil

Or God forbid, Printer Ink!!!!!

Just a little humor to help ease the pain of your next trip to the pump...

And - If you don't pass this along to at least one person,

Your muffler will fall off!!

Makes one stop and think, doesn't it?

Here's a Groovy Greeting from River Road - via TAMAQUA! and my good friend Curt Williams. Turn on your speakers and click http://badaboo.free.fr/merryxmas.swf for an extra little holiday surprise.

Hope you enjoyed Santa and his reindeer back-up group.

Speaking of reindeer, did you know that while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the Summer each year, MALE reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of Winter, usually late November, to mid December.

FEMALE reindeer RETAIN their antlers until after they give birth in the Spring.

Therefore, every song you've ever heard about Santa's reindeer - ALL the reindeer, from Rudolph to Blitzen HAD to be girls!

And the lady who sent me this info added this: Only WOMEN would be able to drag that fat guy all over the world in one night without getting lost.!

Be sure to tell your grandchildren.

By the way - do you remember the first letter you ever wrote to Santa? I remember mine. It occurred in the 2nd grade. Our teacher promised that if we wrote to St. Nick she guaranteed it would be on the way to the North Pole that very morning. Quite a guarantee, considering I sent a letter to Alabama recently, by Priority Mail and it took seven days to get there. (Is the Post Office using reindeer?)

Back to the 2nd grade project. We all wrote our letters and the teacher bundled them up and put them in a paper bag. She then marched us down to the basement (where my father was in charge) and he gave us a spectacular treat; he opened up the massive doors to the huge furnace and we got to see a 10 foot bed of hot coals, various colors dancing above it as the various gases burned. What a sight.

THEN our teacher threw in our bag of letters to Santa into the furnace, and asked us to run outside with her. When we got there, she pointed to the smoke coming from the chimney and said "Look, there they go - your letters to Santa - they're on the way to the North Pole." And, we believed it! Well, I know I did. Talk about Air Mail.

I was telling this story to a friend the other day and he had this comment: You were nine? " Wow, writing a letter was tough then - wasn't everyone using quill pens in those days?"

I ignored the insult and told him we all used pencils.

Spooky Sites in North Wilmington

The Great Pumpkin, in disguise.

This pumpkin is the Cat's Meow

Never take candy from a stranger.

A spider with his own web site.

This is Boris The Butler, on sale at Finders Keepers inBellefonte. He moves his head and even speaks.

Now if he could only sing "Ghoul of My Dreams"

"Soup's On" Or is that a bowl of Ghost Toasties?

Air Travel Can Be Scary

In my early days, working (?) as a deejay at WILM, I discovered the man they called “The World’s Greatest Entertainer”, Al Jolson.

It wasn’t really Al – it was Larry Parks in “The Jolson Story” and they had him lip sync songs pre-recorded by Jolson. Parks, everyone agreed, did a fabulous job. The story line: Jolson as a youngster, learning church music from his father, a cantor, then discovering the music he really loved, music that would make him want to leave home and strike out on his own.

The predictable conflicts followed, the father trying to make him give up “the devil’s music” and dedicate his singing to God.

Jolson leaves home anyway and – you guessed it, becomes a star.

The movie was such a hit, there was a sequel: “Jolson Sings Again”, but this time – no Larry Parks, it was the man himself and people got to see the real thing.

The two movies put Jolson back on the charts. His Decca recordings were being heard frequently on the airwaves. Frankly, I thought he was the freshest talent I’d heard in a long time. I featured his recordings on a daily basis: “Let Me Sing And I’m Happy”, “Swanee”, “My Blushing Rosie”, and so many more.

Years later – when computers, and the Internet arrived, I learned of The International Al Jolson Society – and joined immediately.

The organization issues a “Jolson Journal” about 2 or 3 times a year – great stories about his career, offering videos and CD’s of his work, radio shows he did – I think he did 99 for Lifebuoy Soap.

He also did numerous guest appearances, many with Bing Crosby. He headlined The Kraft Music Hall – bantering with the acerbic Oscar Levant.

The Jolson Society holds an annual convention – and this year I got lucky. It was held at The Ramada near Philadelphia. At their annual get-togethers they always put on a great evening of entertainment, usually featuring someone who can sing just like Jolson. The night I attended it was Tony Babino, and let me tell you – he nailed Jolson’s voice to a fare thee well, and he must have sung for an hour and a half. Then he took requests.

Photo of Babino in action, with Al looking on. (click to enlarge)

The evening got off to a rousing start when The Avalon String Band marched into the ballroom, and as it’s often said, “there’s nothing like a Mummers String band for color and crowd appeal.”

They played a long set and had some members hitting the dance floor to such tunes as “Baby Face”, “Happy Days Are Here Again”, and a lot of songs Jolson was famous for.

In the film, “The Jolson Story”, one of my favorite scenes has Jolson, as a boy- played by Scotty Beckett- singing “When You Were Sweet Sixteen” from the balcony during a vaudeville show. He not only wows the audience but he also wows the man on stage at the time, who quickly realizes the value of having this kid as part of his act..

In that scene, the beautiful voice on “Sixteen” was supplied by a man named Rudy Wisler – and, believe it or not – Rudy was on stage at the Ramada the night I was there. He’s one heck of a lot older – but the melodic voice is still there. And he proved it by doing “Sweet Sixteen” – the song they all wanted to hear – and many, many other hits from the past.

Wisler at the Ramada, relaxing after his set. (click to enlarge)

Another gentleman who is often featured at these conventions is Bill Campbell of Scotland. Campbell can also do a mean Jolson imitation– and has attended every convention for the past 11 years – sometimes even wearing a kilt – which I don’t think Jolson ever did.

My photo of Campbell, taken during intermission. (click to enlarge)

The dinner, by the way, was excellent – and service was friendly and fast – considering the large crowd in attendance.

Every table had a number –and the name of a Jolson song. Our table was SWANEE, #19 , and it was a lively bunch. We enjoyed a lot of laughs together - and some good old Jolson nostalgia.

To all the people who worked hard to make the Philadelphia gathering a success, I say “thank you”, and I’m sure I speak for many, many others.

In a weekly update to the Jolson web site, Marc Levy writes:

“On May 23, 2006, three days before Al Jolson’s 120^th birthday, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York City signed into law a bill that included a provision to name the section of Broadway in front of the Winter Garden Theatre as “Al Jolson Way.”.

One of the most eloquent backers of the proposal was Joseph Ciolino, Assistant Professor at New York University, and lecturer in Music History at the New School University. Here is part of a letter he wrote supporting the idea.

“Although often confused and labeled as a racist because of his use of “Blackface”, nothing could be further from the truth. During the l9l0’s and 20’s, a different time and society existed that saw Blackface as meaning something entirely different. Blackface was a tool, not be belittle a race of human beings, but to free the actor and to enable him to “take on” the characteristics inherent in the “mask” as in the traditions of Greek theater and of the Commedia dell Arte. His stage persona was likened by critics to that of the Harlequin, and was never done for the purposes of maligning the black race but, Jolson and his audience thought, for ennobling it.”

I recently came across an old autobiography of Bob Hope in the Brandywine Hundred Library on Foulk Road. I was amazed to read that even Hope did Blackface in his early vaudeville days. Hope and his partner made one big mistake: they didn’t use burned cork:

On June 6, at Ingleside’s Downs Cultural Center on Franklin Street, I had the pleasure of being the M.C for a program by the DEL TONES, a barbershop group from Newark Delaware.

They have a great blend of voices – a standout tenor, a good baritone and a wonderful bass section. It’s a bunch of guys who obviously enjoy putting on a show. The audience loved it.

The Downs auditorium provides a nice intimate setting , good acoustics, seats about a hundred or so – and is a great place to present entertainment. The microphones always work, the activities director, Alfredda, makes you feel right at home, and the audiences always seem to enjoy being there. Two bus-loads of people were brought in from Foulk Manor North and South to share in the fun.

Here are the Del Tones, and the first man on the left is their leader, “Bud” Bratton.

The barbershoppers open the show with a musical "Hello" - and that's followed by a tune called "Chordbuster March.' This really gets your attention.

Then, it's right into a medley of old Civil War Songs: "Aura Lee", "Love Me Tender" (didn't know this went back to Civil War days) and, two more evergreens, "I've Been Workin' On The Railroad" and "Shenandoah.

Following those, they got to the songs everyone came to hear - real barbershop stuff: Sidewalks of New York, My Wild Irish Rose, Wait Til the Sun Shines Nellie and one that was new to lots of folks, Yona From Arizona.

I'll say this - it's a brave group - they did two songs I never heard any barbershop group try: "Under The Boardwalk" and "The Banana Boat Song."

In between their songs, I got to chat with the audience - tell them some of my favorite jokes and stories, and comment on some of their offerings.

I joined them on stage for this photo at the end of the show.

And they didn't forget top include some love songs, a couple of inspirational melodies, something patriotic - and to end the vening, what else....Good Night Ladies.

After the concert, Ingleside's congenial hostess, Alfredda, joins a few barbershoppers for cookies and punch.

And, finally, here is Alice, one of the lovely ladies at Ingleside who made sure everyone got their fair share of cookies and punch.

The Northern Delaware Oratorio Society

presents

A Child Shall Lead

at Dickinson High School Auditorium

What an afternoon of beautiful music!

The entire stage of the Dickinson High School auditorium was filled with talented performers. It was the Northern Delaware Oratorio Society annual concert, and joining them, The Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus, and Chamber Orchestra.

Together they presented “A Child Shall Lead”.

I have never been to a concert where so many of my favorites were on one bill.

The concert opened with Mozart’s Te Deum, written when he was 13.

Then, Sheila Bourgeault, NDOS Artistic Director and Conductor had the distinct pleasure of introducing two soloists, soprano Christie Finn, and baritone Jason Buckwalter. It was a proud moment for the conductor; Christie and Jason had been her students when she taught at Kennett High School.

Baritone Buckwalter and the chorus did two selections, both from “Elijah”. Ms. Finn did the beautiful Laudate Dominum by Mozart.

Buckwalter’s warm, confident voice has a wide range, his diction is excellent–I understood every word, and Ms. Finn literally soared on the Laudate.

Then the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus took over, scoring big with their offerings: Two pieces from Vivaldi’s Magnificat, followed by Pie Jesu, featuring perfect accompaniment by Seth Kelley on French Horn. Their next offering was new to me, “House Blessing” by David L. Brunner. They had fun with an old Stephen Foster tune, “Old Dan Tucker.” and ended with a Spiritual, “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burnin’.”

The combined choirs then ended the first half of the program with an unusual, but lovely arrangement of “Amazing Grace,”

After a short intermission, the Oratorio group, the Kennett Children’s Chorus, soprano and baritone soloists accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra and organist Helen C. Carrell, performed “Mass of the Children” by Rutter.

A great way to mark the 36^th anniversary of the Oratorio Society, presenting, in the words of Ms. Bourgeault, a “celebration of youth.”

Enter……Bob Dilworth

I never hear the magnificent Kimball organ at Dickinson that I don’t want to tell everyone what a great service I think “Bob” Dilworth did for, not just music in Delaware, but for the young students who worked together to bring that unique instrument to Dickinson High School.

Bob and I are friends from way back – I won’t say how far back, but I got to know Bob and his wife Marilyn when we both attended the same church in North Wilmington.

A lot of people know how that Kimball organ made it from the Boyd Theatre to Wilmington (what an organ transplant that was) but it’s a story worth repeating

It was installed in the Boyd theatre in 1928, designed to accompany silent films – but talkies had arrived, so, according to my program notes, “it was used before, between, and after films, and had its own radio show.” In the mid 30’s, again quoting program notes, “the theatre changed hands and the new owners offered the organ for sale to any charitable organization that could use it. Dickinson applied and got the organ.”

Enter, Bob Dilworth. He and a group of Dickinson students dismantled the organ at the Boyd, trucked it to Wilmington and put it all back together in the Dickinson auditorium. What a jig-saw puzzle that must have been!

The Dickinson organ is the fourth largest theatre organ in the world.

The Choir's Most Recent Photo

Janet J. Witman, Harpist

Some bunny left some beautiful Easter Eggs at this home on the Philadelphia Pike, near Super Fresh.

Join me for a visit to the Philadelphia Flower Show, where the Taylors of Penny Hill, Wilmington and Newark, were winners of a major award. Several tables in three different color combinations made many visitors stop to take it all in. Adding to the spectacular table arrangements were the beautiful hanging baskets.

More photos from the Philadelphia Flower Show. Two big favorites: Wisteria and Amaryllis.

This gorgeous Azalea looks like one we have in our back yard which involved none of my expertise. It was planted by my late brother-in-law, Joseph Fraczkowski. Thank you, Joe.

And, below, one of my favorite photos, pure tranquility, wouldn't you agree?

This was an eye-catcher; topiary usually is when done by master. Or a Mrs.

And below, how about this wind blown tree? Well, believe it or not, it was made from copper-covered wire.

And, after miles of walking through the Philadelphia Flower Show exhibits, we exited to the unscented air of downtown Philadelphia, a brief look at the city sky line, I think that's the Arch Street Methodist Church, and then my first visit to the Reading Terminl Market. My first thought: So little time, and so much food.

In late September, it was off to Greece for a cruise of the Aegean Isles. The flight from JFK took us to Athens and our cruise ship, the Serenade. The ship, and the food they offered did not come up to my expectations, but the daily excursions were memorable: Mykonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi/Ephesus, Rhodes, Patmos and my personal favorite, Santorini. The people we met, and the merchants, were extremely friendly but I must say some of the islands had more jewelry stores per square foot than I could handle. The weather? A little rain the first day, and then warm sunny skies every day until we left; just what you need for beautiful panoramic photos. All the buildings in Greece looked as if they were designed by Modigliani, and you can’t beat that.

The Acropolis, Parthenon and, below, a stadium in Ephesus.

Note the party tables being set up in the foreground. A local hospital was preparing for a big fund raiser. Lots of beautifully decorated tables, loaded with tasty Greek food, and nearby, a small music combo was conducting a sound check before the show.

As you can see, Greece is a photographer's delight.

Surrounding the Greek islands, the bluest water I've ever seen.

And, finally, my favorite photo: Four Greek guys having lunch in a tavern on Santorini Island. They were kind enough to allow me to snap the picture.

Wound up the month of July by taking a trip to Longwood Gardens. The "Something New?"All their beautiful plants and flowers. My digital camera couldn't snap them fast enough.

The "Something Old?" SOUTH PACIFIC, by the Brandywiners. I think it was their 74th Annual production.

Marierose Gardner, playing the part of nurse Nellie Furbush, was the hit of the show - with Bloody Mary, played by Mardian Bleiberg Berman, coming in a close second. I thought the entire cast was great. Director Henry Porecca did a marvelous job of moving those Sea

bees and Nurses around that large stage.

And the gentleman who played Emile de Becque, Jim Smith, did a beautiful job. I remember Jim from shortly after the day he was born. We lived two doors from the Smiths in Vilone Village. In those days he was "little Jimmy Smith" to us, but when he walked out on that Longwood stage he looked more like Paul Bunyan. Great stage presence, good voice and what beautiful music to sing: Some Enchanted Evening, This Nearly Was Mine, and in one scene, he even mocks Nurse Nellie by doing a chorus of her "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair.

Thank you, Brandywiners, for keeping alive some of the music that many of us still love. For a couple of hours you really had me believing there was an island called Bali Hai.

What a way to spend a hot July day - strolling through Longwood, where tranquility reigns supreme, a dinner and drink at the Terrace Restaurant, and a Bloody Mary that really made the evening complete.

Next year's show is another winner, "My Fair Lady".

Now, some photos of the gardens of Longwood.

The MS Venizia

On April 23, it was off to Venice by Lufthansa jet from Newark, J.J. Once in Venice, we boarded our flat-bottomed boat (MS Venezia) and cruised the PO River to 7 lovely Italian towns: Murano, noted for beautiful decorative glass, then to Burano, where everyone, it seemed, was busy turning out items made of lace - and selling it in the town square. Then on to Ferrara, with wide boulevards and impressive palaces. Other towns visited were Mantua, Parma (lots of parmesan cheese there,) Ochiobello, Revere and then Padua. Final two days were spent in Venice.

Dinner onboard

Glass Factory and Venitian Glassblower

The major attraction in Venice is former Palace of the Doge - attracting millions of people every year to San Marco Square. On our trip through I saw one little boy who apparently had his full of walking that day and was dozing under a bench. (Dozing at the Doge?)

Near the Grand Canal in San Marco Square, the gondoliers, picking up and dropping off passengers.

My favorite photo from Venice. The Bridge of Sighs. If I'm not mistaken, it inspired a movie. When prisoners went across that little bridge, they were on the way to the dungeon. Looking out those little windows they probably did sigh; it would be the last time they'd see Venice.

In Venice, when you leave your hotel, you're confronted with a canal, not a street. To get to the other side you have a decision to make: Row vs Wade.

Took this photo near The Delaware Art Museum on Bancroft Parkway - and there are six or seven more just as beautiful.

The Circle Singers entertained members of the Claymont AARP on Thursday, April 14. It's always a great audience and the group enjoys performing for them. We sang there earlier in the year, so it's always nice to get invited back. We've also been invited to visit again in November to give them our Golden Days of Radio Show.

Also in the audience, Frank and Pat LePore, celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Bob Morrow, Program Chairman of the Claymont AARP, said the members all look forward to a visit by the Circle Singers.

More members of that wonderful audience at the Claymont AARP show

Below Circle singers Marilyn Siers and Maryann Nelson, chatting with a friend, Molca Budin.

The CIRCLE SINGERS perform at a J.C.C. Candlelight Supper

Wednesday, April 6, the CIRCLE SINGERS singing group, without Cynthia Miller, who is recovering from surgery, did a one-hour show of songs and jokes at the Jewish Community Center on Garden of Eden Road.

Before taking the stage, we were treated to a wonderful dinner of fresh fruit appetizer, baked fish stuffed with spinach, some roasted new potatoes and the best sautéed mushrooms I’ve eaten in a long, long time.

Everyone had a wonderful time, it was a” full house” and after the show I got to chat with the Assistant Activities Director, Iris Tocker and one of her assistants, Chloe Wragg.

The big discovery of the night, for me, was when I discovered the JCC building was designed by none other than world- famous architect I.M. Pei.

The man who headed up the building committee way back then was David Braunstein, who was seated at our table, along with his wife Doris, the Lamplighters violinist. David recalled what a delight it was to work with Pei and his assistants.

L to R: Iris Tocker, Assistant Activities Dir., Miss Chloe Wragg, one of her assistants, and yours truly.

Several years ago, while attending a meeting of the American Cancer Society at Riverside Hospital, I saw a couple of bunny rabbits dressed up as man and wife, crafted by a woman who worked at the hospital. I congratulated the woman on her craftsmanship and asked her to make one for me. Here is what she fashioned. If you look real close you'll notice she's holding a baby bunny and the baby is holding a bottle.

Beautiful music at Dickinson High School

Sunday, April 10, I went to hear the Northern Delaware Oratorio Society sing the Faure Requiem, and present the area premiere of “Mass, Op. 130,” by Joseph Jongen.

I would stop what I was doing any day of the week to hear the Faure. I love it. And with the big Kimball organ at Dickinson High, plus harp, providing the accompaniment , it was magnificent.

Faure had a wonderful way of making sopranos sound almost angelic, especially in the Introit, “Grant them rest eternal, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them” and again in the final movement, “In Paradisium.”

I had the feeling that conductor Shelia Grady Bourgeault had the choir right in the palm of her hand throughout the entire concert and the singers gave her more than just notes, they gave her what I think Faure had in mind.

The soloists, Patricia Hoy Conrad, J. David Angerer, Kevin Botbyl, Thomas Conrad and Judith W. Fullhart, and harpist Cheryl Dungan Cunningham, were great..

Made two presentation on The Early Days of Radio this week. The first to a group at the Wilmington Senior Center, l90l N. Market Street, where Gretchen Broadwater is the Activities Director. Met a lovely lady named Anna Hatzel, pictured with me below, who will be celebrating her 94th birthday this coming July. She told me her mother lived to be l04.

Below, on the left . . . .Photo from a recent trip to London. Note street sign. My original idea here was to be surrounded by 23 empty bottles of Schlitz, holding the 24th., using the caption:

Above, on the right . . . A digital photo of Peterhof Castle, something Peter The Great never had. But then again, he had the castle....,in Petersburg where we also had the pleasure of visiting the Hermitage.

Beautiful monument in Helsinki to honor Jean Sibelius. We were told that it contained 527 pipes. I took their word for it. Our guide also told us the townfolk were disappointed, they wanted something more lifelike. So the sculptor produced this. Now that's an accommodating sculptor!