Dedicated to Pop Culture in all its forms
Among the many things for which the legendary comedy troupe Culture Clash (Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas, and Herbert Sigüenza) remained remembered is their 1993 sketch comedy television show that aired on Fox stations. It remains historic as one of the earliest shows to showcase Chicano talent. What isn't as well remembered is that Culture Clash almost had a show before the classic sketch comedy…
Tedde Moore, who played teacher Miss Shields in A Christmas Story (1983), died on August 5, 2026, at the age of 79. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2009. Tedde Moore was born on April 11, 1947, in Toronto. Her father was actor Mavor Moore. Her mother was Darwina Faessler Moore. She attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and graduated in 1967. Not long after graduating…
Reggie Bannister, best known for playing Reggie in the Phantasm movies, died on August 9, 2026, at the age of 80. In 2016, he had been diagnosed with both Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease. Reggie Bannister was born on September 29, 1945 in Long Beach, California. He was only three years old when he sang "If I Knew You Were Coming, I'd Have Baked a Cake" on the Los Angeles area program…
I finally broke down and created a TikTok account. My brother has been on TikTok for ages and I also have several friends on it. It then made sense for me to get my own account. So far I have enjoyed TikTok. I was under the impression that one could only post videos to it, but one can post photos as well. Also, unlike Instagram, TikTok allows for a variety of aspect ratios where videos are…
Gregorio Cortez is a folk hero among Mexican Americans along the Rio Grande border in Texas. In 1901, he was questioned by Sheriff W. T. (Brack) Morris regarding a reported horse theft. When asked by Sheriff Morris's interpreter Boone Choate if he had traded a horse, Gregorio Cortez truthfully told him, "No." Mr. Cortez had traded a mare (in Spanish, yegua ), which in Spanish is distinct from a…
Abbe Lane, the singer and actress who performed with her husband Xavier Cugat and appeared in both movies and on television, died on April 25, 2026 at the age of 93. Abbe Lane was born Abigail Francine Lassman on December 14, 1932, in Brooklyn. She was raised in Manhattan. Her show business career began when she was only four years old, and a child she appeared on both radio and in the 1938…
Yesterday marked the 60th anniversary of the release of The Beatles' album Revolver . It is my favourite Beatles album and I consider it the greatest album ever made. It is also one of two Beatles albums on which my favourite song is by George Harrison. In the case of Revolver , it is "Taxman." Today I will share with you another song "Here, There and Everywhere." It is my favourite song by Paul…
Scott Hylands, who starred on the show Night Heat and appeared in the movie Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1969), died on July 29, 2026, at the age of 83. In October 2021, he had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. Scott Hyalnds was born Scott Hyalnds Douglas in Lethbridge, Alberta on February 27, 1943. His father was killed in action during World War II. His mother was a public health nurse and…
Sonny & Cher It was on this date that The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour debuted on CBS. In many ways, along with The Flip Wilson Show , it was a last hurrah for variety shows. The format had been popular on American television from their inception in the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s and 1960s, but while the 1970s the majority of variety shows saw only moderate success. Some only lasted a few…
Longtime Turner Classic Movies viewers may recall that the channel showed documentaries on weekends under the title Films on Film . On September 4, 2026, Films on Film is returning to TCM, although with a slightly different format. Films on Film will feature a documentary followed by movies dealing with the subject of the documentary. It will be hosted by Ben Mankiewicz and airs at 8:00 PM…
It was sixty years ago today that the feature film Batma n (1966), based on the TV show of the same name and starring Adam West and Burt Ward, premiered at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas. At the time, it was not unusual for television shows to be adapted as movies with most of their original cast intact. Dragnet , The Lineup , Our Miss Brooks , and The Munsters had all seen big screen…
Antoinette Bower, who guest stared on such shows as The Twilight Zone , The Wild Wild West , and Star Trek , died on April 30, 2026, at the age of 93. Antoinette Bower as born on September 30, 1932, in Baden, Germany. Her mother was German, while her father was English. She was educated in England. Her family later moved to Canada. Following World War II, she was a field language supervisor and…
As many of you know, I hate summer. About the only things good about it are flowers, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Other than that, it is a hot, miserable, muggy time of year when there's way too much daylight and far too many allergens. Of course, it doesn't help that many of the people who meant the most to me died in the summer. Anyway, this summer has been worse than most. So many of my…
Louise Lasser, best known as the star of the show Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman , died on July 6, 2026, at the age of 87. Louise Lasser was born on April 11, 1939, in New York City. Her father, S. Jay Lasser was a tax expert who wrote the book Everybody's Income Tax Guide. Louise Lasser studied political science at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. While there she took part in the…
TCM Summer Under the Stars returns to Turner Classic Movies next month. Like many TCM fans, I always look forward to it, my only caveat being that Noir Alley is off for a whole month. Regardles, this year has some of my favourite stars and there are also several days devoted to stars who are entirely new to Summer Under the Stars. These include Diane Keaton, George Hamilton, Marie Windsor, Bonita…
Freddy Cannon, best known for such songs as "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans," "Palisades Park," and "Action," died on July 17, 2026, at the age of 89. He also appeared on Svengoolie and wrote the songs "Svengoolie Stomp" and "Hey, Svengoolie" for the show. Freddy Cannon was born Frederick Anthony Picariello, Jr. on December 4, 1936, in Revere, Massachusetts. He grew up in Lynn, Massachusetts. His…
It has been another long, hot day and I don't feel up to a full-fledged post today. I plan to eulogize Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon tomorrow. He died on July 17, 2026 at the age of 89 after a brief fight with cancer. I've enjoyed his songs since childhood, when I would hear them on oldies programs and oldies radio stations. More recently, I enjoyed his appearances on Svengoolie , for which he wrote…
Today has been a long, hot day, so I don't feel up to a full blog post. It was today in 1968 that the animated movie Yellow Submarine , based on music of The Beatles, premiered at the London Pavilion at Piccadilly Circus. I will then leave you with the song from which the movie takes its name and which inspired much of its plot.
Hal Williams, who played Officer Smitty on Sanford and Son , Lester Jenkins on 227 , and Harley Foster on The Waltons died on July 15, 2026, at the age of 91. Hal Williams was born on December 14, 1934 in Columbus, Ohio. He worked as a corrections officer and then a postal worker before deciding to go into acting. He made his television debut in a bit part in the special Swing Out, Sweet Land in…
Sam Neill, known for playing Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park movies and appearing in movies from The Hunt for Red October (1990) to Event Horizon (1997), died on July 13, 2026, at the age of 78. Sam Neill was born Nigel John Dermot Neill on September 14, 1947, in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. His father was a New Zealander stationed with the Royal Irish Fusiliers. His mother was…
Randolph Mantooth, best known for playing paramedic Johnny Gage on the classic television show Emergency! , died on July 9, 2026, at the age of 80. The cause was complications from pneumonia. Randolph Mantooth was born Randy Mantooth on September 19, 1945, in Sacramento, California. His father was of Cherokee and Seminole descent. By the time he turned 18, Randolph Mantooth had lived in 24…
I never had the honour of knowing actress Joanna Pettet, who appeared in the movies The Group (1966) and Casino Royale (1967) and several guest appearances on television, but I had many friends who were also friends with her. It is for that reason that I know that she was not only a beautiful and talented actress, but a warm, sweet, and approachable human being. She truly cared about her friends…
Yesterday I ceased being a customer of U.S. Cellular after twenty years and five months. It was in May 2024 that T-Mobile announced a plan to acquire both U.S. Cellular's customers and its stores, as well as 30% of the company's spectrum wireless licences. The deal would be closed over a year later, in May 2025. The plan was to transition U.S. Cellular customers over to T-Mobile. That happened…
Joby Baker, who appeared in the three Gidget movies and starred on the short-lived sitcom Good Morning World , died on June 22, 2026, at the age of 92. His Good Morning World costar Ronnie Schell died ten days before him. Joby Baker was born on March 26, 1934, in Montreal,Quebec. His mother died when he was very young, and the family moved to Oahu, Hawaii. Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, he…
It was 250 years ago on this date that the Declaration of Independence was signed, marking the founding of the United States of America. I know that many people aren't particularly in the mood to celebrate today. Much of the country is suffering from extreme heat. The economy is not particularly good. There is widespread political division. And a certain individual who shall not be named has…