I’m fascinated by facts like this. What is so very normal for us today was once new, unusual and kind of a wonder.
Now we have DVRs to record our favorite shows (and bypass annoying commercials) but back in the early days of television commercials were extremely rare.
According to Ad Age, this was likely the first TV commercial to ever air – a :10 second image with a simple voiceover saying “America runs on Bulova time.”
“Evidence is mounting that [TV] will gain little headway for ‘the duration,'” Ad Age wrote in June 1941 following the FCC’s approval of commercial TV.
The next month, on July 1, Bulova aired what’s considered the first TV commercial. The grainy, shaky, 10-second spot ran during an afternoon Dodgers-Phillies game on NBC-owned WNBT. There’s a simple outline of the then-48 states splashed with the face of a Bulova watch. A voiceover from pioneering announcer Ray Forrest (re-enacted in the version above) says: “America runs on Bulova.”
The commercial cost Bulova about $4 and at best was seen by just a few thousand people who owned a TV set in the New York market where it aired.
Lynne Wintersteller stars as “Dolly Levi” in HELLO, DOLLY! at Sacramento Music Circus
These past few weeks I’ve been working at Sacramento Music Circus, one of the premier professional summer theaters in the country, handling the choreographer duties for Hello, Dolly! starring the luminous Lynne Wintersteller.
This is my fourth season at SMC, and my second collaboration with the organization’s Artistic Director, Glenn Casale.
The process of assembling this fab team was really about as smooth as you can get. The principals are all top notch New York City based actors, and the dancers (my primary connection) were a dream. The day after I would give notes, you could see the info digested, processed and applied. Everything just kept getting better.
As a choreographer my biggest challenge was taking my 20 years of experience with Hello, Dolly!, utilizing primarily the original choreographic ideas of the great Gower Champion, and adapting those intentions into a production that plays in the round. Also, while I adhere to the Champion style, I did create new steps in several sections to further the storytelling.
For example, a few of the sections of the “Waiters Gallop” are completely brand new because I really wanted to focus on what the text says about the waiters of the Harmonia Gardens restaurant – that they are “the fastest waiters in New York.” Often, the “Gallop” gets treated a bit like “circus” tricks for no reason other than to be athletic or showy. I wanted every section to hone in on the idea of speed and skill.
Also, most productions switch out lots of props during the 7 sections of the “Waiters Gallop.” But when doing Dolly in the round, offstage prop tables would be located up the 100+ feet aisles. There was no time to run the male dancers up and down the aisles. So, I went back to the foundation of what we were trying to communicate and, using Gower Champion’s style and vocabulary, built new sections with the emphasis on true dancing.
For more info head over to Sacramento Music Circus’ website. If you really want a terrific all-American way to start your 4th of July weekend, this is really the ticket.
Here’s a bit of what the critics said:
From the Davis Enterprise: “With direction by Glenn Casale, choreography by Randy Slovacek and costumes by Marcy Froehlich, this production is just stunning. Each of Dolly’s musical numbers is a show-stopper, perhaps most of all “Before the Parade Passes By,” an amazingly choreographed number that ends Act 1. The dancing of the six waiters in the Waiters’ Gallop is stunning and when Dolly makes her entrance to the title song, well … you know you are seeing classic theater.”
From Sacramento Press: “Among the musical highlights are the songs “Before the Parade Passes By,” “It Only Takes a Moment” and, of course, the title tune. Several dance set pieces are outstanding, especially “Elegance” and “The Waiters’ Gallop,” which features some pretty amazing coordination. The choreography is by Randy Slovacek and the striking costumes are by Marcy Froehlich. Glenn Casale, who in his 20 years with Music Circus and Broadway Sacramento has directed more than 50 productions, creates joy in bringing this delightful show to life. His direction is perfection.”
From Sacramento365.com: “While the choreography and staging was exemplary throughout, the performances of “The Waiters Gallop,” and “Hello, Dolly!” were my favorites. As the cast sings and dances across the stage, the members of the audience around me lit up with excitement and cheer. When a production has the power to do this you know it’s a great show. I can’t recommend Music Circus’ production of Hello, Dolly! enough.”
From BroadwayWorld: “Glenn Casale’s direction and Craig Barna’s musical direction hit a sweet spot with an ensemble whose vocals blend beautifully and an outstanding orchestra. Inventive choreographer Randy Slovacek also takes full advantage of the athletic cast and the Music Circus aisles and round stage in routines that ultimately steal the spotlight in a lively and enthusiastic production.”
From the Sacramento Bee: “The Music Circus at its best – as it is with the current “Hello Dolly!” – casts a warming glow. A title as venerable and familiar as “Dolly!” feels known, but what sure-handed director Glenn Casale’s lustrous production accomplishes is not reinvent the classic but reveal its greatness.”
Here’s some production photos (click pics to enlarge) and a video montage of the show. You can see some of my work there in “Put On Your Sunday Clothes,” “Dancing,” “Before The Parade Passes By,” “The Waiters Gallop,” and the title tune “Hello Dolly.”
Big step forward for LGBT rights today as the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution by a vote of 23 to 18 to create an LGBT rights “watchdog.”
The person appointed to this role will be known as an “independent expert” and the position is charged with monitoring “violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”
This was the most ambitious effort yet to advance LGBT rights within the United Nations system, and the resolution included the strongest language to date suggesting LGBT rights should be a concern of international human rights law.
While we condemn violence against people based on sex or any other physical or mental characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity, this resolution goes way beyond seeking to end violence and unjust discrimination. The main objective of the resolution is to appoint a global LGBT “Czar” who will investigate alleged rights violations by governments and individuals against LGBT people.
Everyone knows that this is intended to be a tool to try to force such things as same-sex marriage, cross-gender bathroom use, LGBT “rights” indoctrination education, and much more upon countries around the world in the name of preventing discrimination and violence.
The new series will be produced by Legendary Television. Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, the screenwriting team behind the films “Dracula Untold” and “Last Witch Hunter,” will write the new series, with “Prison Break” veteran Zack Estrin set to serve as showrunner. The three will executive produce alongside Synthesis Entertainment’s Kevin Burns and Jon Jashni , Applebox’s Neil Marshall and Marc Helwig. Marshall is also set to direct several episodes of the show. The series is set to premiere in 2018.
“The original series so deftly captured both drama and comedy, and that made it very appealing to a broad audience,” said Cindy Holland, Netflix vice president of original content. “The current creative team’s reimagining of the series for Netflix is sure to appeal to both fans who fondly remember the original and to create a new generation of enthusiasts around the world.”
Created by Irwin Allen, the original “Lost in Space” aired for three seasons, from 1965 to 1968 on CBS. The series told the story of the Robinson family, explorers stranded in space far from their home. The original also spawned a 1998 feature film starring William Hurt, Gary Oldman, Matt LeBlanc, Heather Graham and Mimi Rogers.
Perhaps the sit-in did accomplish something on the issue of common sense gun control.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has apparently agreed to allow a vote in the House on legislation designed to keep suspected terrorists from buying guns.
According to The Hill, Ryan told Republicans on a conference call “that the House will take up a terrorism package that will include measures to disrupt radicalization and recruitment, as well as a provision to prevent suspected terrorists from purchasing guns.”
Exactly which bill the House would take up was unclear from the conference call, The Hill reported. Because it’s unclear which bill will be brought to the floor, The New York Daily News noted that Ryan could “select a bill considered too weak by most Democrats.”
If the bill is too weak, there is a possibility that House Democrats will continue to protest in one way or another until a better bill is brought to a vote.
Today Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced the recommendations from the working group formed last summer on the lifting of the ban on open transgender service. This announcement includes recommendations, plans and timeline to when transgender service members will fully be able to serve openly and authentically.
OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Matt Thorn issued the following statement: “OutServe-SLDN applauds and welcomes Secretary Carter’s announcement today. Every day, an estimated 15,500 dedicated, proud and courageous transgender service members have been forced to live quietly and serve in righteous indignation, anticipating the end of the discriminatory ban on open trans service to be lifted in the Armed Forces.
“Transgender service members have been awaiting this announcement for months and years: it has long been overdue. Secretary Carter, with his statement, has given a breath of relief and overdue respect to transgender service members who have been and are currently serving our country with undeniable professionalism, the utmost respect and illustrious courage, with the caveat to do so silently.
“Today, we mark history, once again, by ending the need to serve in silence. Today, we say (in the words of Attorney General Loretta Lynch) “we see you” and regardless of your gender identity we welcome you to serve this country with honor, dignity, courage and above all openly and honestly.
SPARTA, the largest organization of actively-serving transgender military members today celebrated the Pentagon’s announcement confirming that transgender Americans will be able to serve their country on equal footing with other service members.
“Secretary Carter today fulfills his promise that every American who is qualified to serve will be allowed to serve, said former Army Captain Sue Fulton, President of SPARTA. “The thousands of transgender soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen – and their commanders – have one less burden on their shoulders today. We are grateful to the military and civilian leaders in the Department of Defense who worked so hard to get this right.”
Not only is Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning now the first openly gay head of a branch of the U.S. military, he will also be the first to attend a major LGBT pride event on July 15/16 in San Diego.
Via press release:
On the heels of his historic confirmation by the U.S. Senate as the 22nd Secretary of the U.S. Army, Eric Fanning will take the stage as keynote speaker at Friday’s rally and serve as one of San Diego Pride’s Hon. Grand Marshals for the parade on Saturday.
San Diego Pride made history in 2011 with over 200 active duty service members from every branch of the military marching before the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and again made history in 2012 when the Pentagon allowed active duty service members to wear their uniforms for the first time in any US Pride.
“From José Sarria, to Harvey Milk, to Eric Fanning, LGBT service members and Department of Defense civilians have been a crucial part of the fabric of our movement and this nation,” said Fernando Lopez, San Diego Pride Director of Operations. “San Diego has such a vibrant LGBT service member and veteran community, we know his presence is going to mean the world to so many. It is an incredible honor to host Secretary Fanning at San Diego Pride.”
“I am humbled to be the keynote speaker and an honorary Grand Marshal. As our community moves forward, we strive for full inclusion of all Americans who can do the job, and just want an opportunity to serve the Nation they love,” said Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning.
The Spirit of Stonewall Rally, will take place at the Pride Festival Mainstage at Marston Point in Balboa Park, Friday, July 15, at 6:00pm. More info at www.sdpride.org/rally
The Pride Parade will kick off at 11:00am, Saturday, July 16 in Hillcrest, and starts at the intersection of Normal St, and University Ave. More info at www.sdpride.org/parade
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (L) with presumptive GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump
Well, you saw this coming.
Even though they ran against each other in the GOP primary, Donald Trump and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have been long-time friends. Christie was one of the very first to jump behind Trump as the presumptive Republican presidential candidate.
Political insiders have speculated Christie has been angling for some prominent Cabinet position in a possible Trump administration. In addition to veep, folks have pondered an Attorney General appointment.
Mr. Christie is among those being vetted as Mr. Trump’s possible running mate, according to people briefed on the process, and Mr. Trump has said in interviews that Mr. Christie would have a prominent place in a Trump White House.
Already, Mr. Christie has begun the task of designing a government on Mr. Trump’s behalf. Tapped to lead Mr. Trump’s transition efforts, Mr. Christie has taken a role that some of his allies liken to that of a White House chief of staff, soliciting views on what a potential Trump administration should look like.
Mr. Christie has taken the transition process firmly in hand, according to people familiar with his activities, which have been kept from public view so far. He has enlisted his former top aide in Trenton, Richard H. Bagger, to help manage the transition team.
Behind the scenes, Mr. Christie has prodded his fellow governors and Republican political donors to line up behind a candidate many view with distaste. He has made only modest headway in the last few months: Mr. Trump has struggled badly with fund-raising and Mr. Christie has pleaded with donors, in personal phone calls and fund-raising events, to give him a second look.
