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Monumental Clarity
There is a major anachronistic flaw in the movie trailer for “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.” It shows a completed Washington Monument. On my last visit, I learned that an anti-Catholic group called the Know Nothings halted construction of the monument in 1855. It wasn’t completed until December 1884, almost 20 years after Lincoln’s death.
One of the comments I made on Twitter about the film caught the attention of Kate Reagan, the director of public relations and marketing at Lincoln Memorial University. She emailed to tell me about the new “Abraham Lincoln at the Movies” exhibit in the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum on the Harrogate campus. A year-and-a-half ago, my wife and I visited the museum to see a replica of Lincoln’s casket.
Kate suggested I record a public-affairs interview Steven Wilson, the curator of LMU’s museum. During the program, I got to gripe about the “Vampire Hunter” trailer in between my questions about Lincoln’s funeral and other bits of historical trivia. We also talked about “The Conspirator,” a movie I saw a year ago. I enjoyed the conversation and thought you might too.
Frank Murphy Interviews Steven Wilson of LMU - Lincoln in the Movies Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadMake Way for Ducklings
Until last night, I had no clue that ballerinas put a mixture of Baby Orajel and Preparation H on their sore toes before dancing. My wife picked up that tidbit in a backstage conversation with the mother of a dancer in the Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association production of “The Ugly Duckling” and “Masquerade.”
It was moments after the curtain closed last November on “The Nutcracker” when my friend Heather Tang enlisted me to be the narrator for “The Ugly Duckling.” The adaptation of the famous fable was paired with a ballet called “Masquerade.” They had a matinee and an evening performance yesterday. Kylee Haskell and Julianna Romanoski, the same two girls who alternated the role of Clara in “The Nutcracker,” alternated the role of the Ugly Duckling between the two shows.
Sharon Nicklow-Cousins directed the ballet from a script by ORCBA’s Brian Quist and Glenn Arnold. Heather and Sharon gave me free reign to interpret the script as I liked. I only changed a few words here and there. My main contribution was to give the Old Duck a voice that was supposed to sound like Julia Child but came out sounding like a Monty Python character. When the Ugly Duckling encounters other animals after fleeing from the farm, I gave a ridiculous French accent to the leader of a flock of wild ducks. At one point during the evening performance, I may have referred to some farmyard chickens as “Angry Birds.” I got the idea from seeing some kids playing the popular game on their iPad between shows.
All of the folks at ORCBA were remarkably kind and gracious to me. They put my name in the logo on the t-shirt and on the cover of the program. They put my photo and bio inside the program as well. I had to smile when I realized that most of the bio came from my Wikipedia entry.
Donna Jett, the mother of ballerina Sarah Jett, sent me several of her photos from the evening performance for use in this blog post. Sarah and Jenny Collins alternated the roles of the Lark and the Duckling-turned-Swan. Sarah and Jenny also danced the lead roles in “Masquerade,” which was directed by Molly Koon Quist. They played two women competing for the affection of a Gentleman Suitor, played by Taylor Gober.
A to Z in the USA
A St. Louis real estate agent emailed me about a journalist moving from Los Angeles to Knoxville. I’ve known Bruce Butler, the real estate agent selling Aunt Dee’s condo, since the days when he worked for a radio syndication company in L.A. He wrote to me to say that he had a St. Louis friend whose daughter had graduated from the University of Southern California and was moving to Knoxville to start a new job at the ABC affiliate. He asked if I could suggest any places downtown where she might want to live.
I was reminded of a loft-warming party my wife and I attended several years ago. Larsen Jay had moved into the then-new Sterchi Lofts. One of the other guests was Larsen’s future wife, Adrian MacLean, who was a reporter for WATE. They had only just met a few days earlier when Adrian did a live shot from the grand opening of the Sterchi Lofts.
A couple of weeks after receiving Bruce Butler’s email, I got an email from Alexis Zotos, immediately followed by a notification from Twitter that she was now following me. Alexis wrote that she was getting settled in her new place and her new job at WATE. As it turned out, she chose not to live downtown. She’d found a place near where some of the other reporters lived.
I followed her back on Twitter, which is how I knew to keep an eye out for her report on Ole Smoky Moonshine during last week’s “6 Around Town” episode on East Tennessee History. Having lived in California and being familiar with Ole Smoky, I was amused by the thought of what Alexis’ SoCal friends must have thought.
Catch and Release
Today’s post was a collaborative effort. On May 8, Jennifer Alexander and I will co-emcee an event for the release of the new Jefferson Bass novel, The Inquisitor’s Key. Jennifer wrote the first draft of a press-release and sent it to Jon Jefferson, Danielle Bartlett of Harper-Collins and me for input.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York Times Bestselling Authors Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass to speak in Oak Ridge, TN for the release of The Inquisitor’s Key.
New York Times bestselling authors Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass will speak and sign books at a fundraising event at New Hope Center in Oak Ridge (602 Scarboro Road, Oak Ridge, TN) on May 8 at 7:00 p.m. to launch the latest Body Farm novel, The Inquisitor’s Key by Jefferson Bass. Tickets will be available for sale starting Monday, April 2 at 8:00 a.m. online at www.boneszones.com or by phone at (865) 556-BONE (2663).
Proceeds from the Jefferson Bass event will be divided among three charities: United Way of Anderson County Y-12; Friends of Literacy of Knoxville; and the William M. Bass III Forensic Anthropology Building.
Jefferson Bass is the writing team of Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. Dr. Bass, a world-renowned forensic anthropologist, founded the University of Tennessee’s Anthropology Research Facility, better known as “The Body Farm.” Jon Jefferson is a veteran journalist, writer and documentary filmmaker.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Priority general admission tickets are available for $30.00 per person. Overflow general admission tickets are available for $15.00 per person. The latest Jefferson Bass novel, The Inquisitor’s Key, as well as previous Body Farm novels will be available for purchase at the event. Books may be purchased with cash or credit card. You may also purchase an autographed copy of the book in advance when purchasing tickets online from www.bonezones.com.
Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson will speak about their new book and the scientific research behind it. Following their remarks, they will answer audience questions. A book-signing for ticket holders will be offered immediately following the presentation.
Ritzy Quackers
“There once was an ugly duckling, with feathers all stubby and brown,” sang Danny Kaye in the film “Hans Christian Andersen.” The movie was one of my family’s favorites when I was growing up. The story of the ugly duckling has been on my mind because of my plans for the weekend.
The Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association invited me to be the narrator for their production of “The Ugly Duckling.” At the rehearsal last weekend, I thought about how much my wife will enjoy watching the performance this Saturday. Many of the dancers also appeared in “The Nutcracker” last December. The music consists of selections by Vivaldi, Nedbal and others. There’s a piece of Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” at the point the Duckling realizes her true self.
Performances are at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 at the Oak Ridge High School auditorium. ORCBA’s Facebook page lists several area merchants who are selling discounted tickets to the show. It also has photos from the first dress rehearsal. The costumes for the ducks, chickens and other creatures are terrific.
Sphygmomanometer Significance
Dollywood officially opens for the season today after a preview day for season pass holders yesterday. On Wednesday, they allowed local radio personalities to ride the new Wild Eagle, the first wing coaster to open in America. A similar ride will open at Six Flags Great America in May.
As I mentioned the other day, Dollywood’s public relations department mounted a camera on Wild Eagle’s front seat and had the deejays ride in the second row. Star 102.1 posted two of the videos on YouTube, including one of Dave Fennell and me on the new coaster.
Soar Stomach
How old is too old to ride roller coasters? The AARP says you’re never too old. I’m not sure that I agree. I have very much enjoyed zip-lining in recent years but roller coasters may have passed me by.
Although I was fine the first time I rode Mystery Mine five years ago, I wasn’t so lucky a week later at a Dollywood media event. I rode Mystery Mine two times, back-to-back and then had an unfortunate bout of nausea in a colleague’s car on the way home. Yesterday I rode Wild Eagle during a special media preview. The park opens for the season this coming weekend. We were allowed to bring a guest. I invited my friend Dave Fennell, who happened to have already taken the day off because he had a morning appointment in Sevierville.
The public-relations department had placed lights and a camera on the front seat of the Wild Eagle train. During the day, various media members rode in the second row, Dave and myself included. Our reactions were videotaped and the tape was given to Star 102.1 for use on their website. I felt good during the ride itself. I was joking with Dave about how they should take passengers’ blood pressures during the ride. The idea came to me because I could feel the blood rushing to my head during the loops, rolls and twists.
Wild Eagle is an excellent coaster. I was reminded of my first experience with a smooth, steel coaster, which was the Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens. I loved it, but that was a long time ago. After yesterday’s ride, I felt overheated and clammy. On the way home, I stopped at a Pilot in Seymour and used one of my precious coffee refill coupons to fill my mug with ice and water. I rested a few minutes before getting back on the road. I was even happier than usual to get home and take my nap.
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