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I knew he was a tightwad but had no direct contact with him since I was just a kid and a lowly 'minion'. His reputation was a formidable one with the whole cast, and
I was aware that everyone tried to stay out of his way. I often wondered how
Chuck Livingstone got as uptight as he was. I attributed it to the stress of putting on a live show M-W-F X3/night and then again for the 'Hornet' and the 'Yukon' on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Perhaps it was G.W.!
As you can imagine, looking back over the entire run of the show, I have countless occasions to recall with fond memories, however, at the time, they were more stressful than pleasant...though the happy moments do linger as well.
Thanks, too, for the article and nostalgia of Baker's Keyboard Lounge where my wife and I went often when we were courting and able to get a way for a night out.
Gladys Horton, who helped launch the girl group era of the '60s with her sassy, girlish lead vocal on the Marvelettes' "Please, Mr. Postman," died in Los Angeles.
Now, I have a question. With all of the hoopla about the
Green Hornet movie and the recent marathons of the
1960s Green Hornet TV series on the Sci-Fi (Sy-Fy)
channel, my mind takes me back to Detroit in the 1960s.
During the time I worked for Michigan Consolidated Gas Company in their beautiful building at 1 Woodward Avenue, I met MANY memorable people. One of those people was a fellow who told me he was one of three writers who were involved in The Lone Ranger, the Green Hornet and at least one or two other famous series. If I remember correctly, he told me that these three writers were known as The Triumvirate.
During the time of the preparation for the TV series, this man asked me to help him print up some Green Hornet logos for the show and these were done right there on the 6th Floor of the MichCon Building.
The one thing I can't seem to recall now is the exact spelling of his name. I believe it was either Ray Muer or Ray Muir. He was a very classy, distinguished, well-dressed fellow and I sometimes had lunch with him at The Top of The Flamerestaurant on the top floor of the MichCon building. I can tell you that he was a kind of mentor because he encouraged me to write professionally. He knew a lot of people in Hollywood and was always telling me I should write movies! Because of his encouragement, I actually sold my first major magazine articles in the 1970s and have been writing ever since. Frankly, I owe him a lot for his advice and encouragement. Right after the TV show logos were done, I was drafted and shipped off to Viet Nam. I never saw him again and I always wondered what happened to him. Does anyone know?
One of our neighbors, Jerry Musetti, (Denby, Jan. 1951) was a contestant on Bowling for Dollars (eMail Inbox, Feb 2011). He got the right number of strikes and ended up with a new Corvette!
Jerry and his wife, Barbara (Gadowski), (Denby, June 1954) lived just a few blocks from us here in Utica. We bowled in a league with them for about five years. Jerry and Barb were both above-average bowlers, and their team won the championship one of those years.
Ralph Irish
Utica, Michigan
I am 58 years old and have lived in Dearborn since 1954. I remember Muirhead's (Feb 2011 issue) store like it was yesterday. They sold just about everything, but in the basement was the TOY department...with every type of toy imaginable!
My dad would take me there every couple of months or so to buy a toy for me.
It was heaven for a kid! At Christmas, we would wait in line for a sleigh ride (on tracks) to take us to an igloo to see Santa. Then, our family's picture would be taken on the sleigh with Santa. At Easter, it was with the Easter Bunny.
Those of us who lived in Dearborn in the 50's & 60's were so lucky to experience those special times unique to our city.
Ken Ellegood
Soupy with Miss Crazy Stick and the toy on October 13, 1959.
(Click photos to enlarge)
Eileen --
Does anyone remember the Crazy Stick? It was probably made in Detroit by a man named Mr. Silverman. It was demonstrated on the Soupy Sales show on WXYZ Channel 7 on October 13, 1959 by Miss Crazy Stick, the beret costumed character in one of the photos with Soupy. She was Charlotte Stepniak, my birth mother who lived in Hamtramck. I don't have a memory of this, but I watched the show. Who didn't? I would really like to find a Crazy Stidk, if anyone has one. It was supposed to be the next big toy craze, like the Hula Hoop.
Mesha Provo
Sewanee, TN
BOWLING FOR DOLLARS
MUIRHEAD'S TOY DEPARTMENT
On a recent trip to Palm Desert CA, I had the good fortune of spending
several hours with Harry Jarkey, a former Detroit TV celebrity
who was quite popular around town in the late 1950s.
I was joined by former Detroit TV anchorman and
radio host Michael Collins who interviewed Harry at length,
while I captured everything on video. Harry was
very excited that Michael and I were there to record his memories.
But, what made this visit even more special is that Harry is a
delightful 97-1/2 years old and still as sharp as a tack.
Harry told us about his lifelong friendship with Danny Thomas,
another former Detroiter, and that his first cousin was Dinah Shore.
He and Joanne Leduman, his lovely companion of 40 years,
met when both of them performed in the same show in Detroit.
They've lived in Palm Springs since Harry retired in 1975.