May 3, 2013
A Byrd’s Eye View N
e
w
s
l
e
t
t
e
r
ABOUT MOVIES, TV, ARTS AND EVENTS IN THE VALLEY
42 Shows The Courage of One Man And The Humility In All of Us. by Art Byrd
A Quote By
A majority of sports movies have uplifting moments that have audiences cheering. The down and out wide receiver catches the winning Hail Mary pass. A washed up fighter beats the world champion with an unrelenting heart. Some of those moments can be fictional, but some sports moments really happened. One true sport story is finally being told. 42 is the story of Jackie Robinson, who was the first African-American to play in the major leagues in 1947. Many people would like to be the first in most situations. Jackie Robinson's first is one that no one would want. It took a special person to endure racial slurs, blatant racial acts and being told that you don't belong because of the color of your skin despite your obvious talent. 42 wasn't just an educational lesson on a great man but civil one. The story starts as Branch Rickey, the Brooklyn Dodgers owner, played brilliantly by Harrison Ford (Raiders of the Lost Ark), announces to his executives that he plans to bring a black player to the Dodgers. The executives try to talk him out of it. He forges ahead looking at all the black players playing in the Negro league. They find Jackie Robinson who plays shortstop for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues. He is not just a baseball player, but at UCLA, he played four sports and was a commissioned Army officer. Although, he was court-martialed for his refusal to sit at the back of the bus.
“What's important is to be able to see yourself, I think, as having commonality with other people and not determine, because of your good luck, that everybody is less significant, less interesting, less important than you are.” Actor Harrison Ford (Star Wars) who stars in the movie “42” playing in theaters now.
May 3, 2013
Chadwick Boseman (The Express) plays Jackie Robinson and looks like a young Robinson which brings believability to the movie. The movie takes us from Robinson’s first meeting with Rickey to winning the divisional games to reach the World Series. 42 has some intense scenes with Robinson confronting racism such as having to leave a house because a mob was coming to get him, a petition by his own team not to play with him and almost being arrested for playing in a game in the South. The movie’s most intense scene came when Robinson was batting against the Philadelphia Phillies, when their manager Ben Chapman played by Alan Tudyk (Suburgatory) goes into a N-word tirade that is hard to watch. The slurs continues as Robinson known for his temper doesn't confront Chapman and walks away. He leaves the dugout and takes out his frustration with the bat on the walls of the stadium walkway. Rickey approaches him and explains why he cannot give up no matter what people say to him. This was a touching moment between Robinson and Rickey. There is one particular scene that shows of how racism is passed on. A father and son are sitting in the baseball stadium for a game. The son says how he wants to see one player play that day. During the game, Robinson comes to bat and the father starts to yell the N-word along with others. The son looks around and then starts yelling the N-word, too. 42's cast is excellent with Nicole Beharie (American Violet) as Robinson's wife, Rachel, Andre Holland (1600 Penn) as sportswriter Wendell Smith and Lucas Black (Friday Night Lights) as Dodger’s shortstop, Pee Wee Reese. I'm glad 42 gave us a brief look at Robinson's brave and extraordinary life by showing just the start of his major league baseball career. It gave the movie, a chance to take its time instead of rushing to get everything in. The look of 42 is beyond amazing with its details of various stadiums, locations and wardrobe. 42 shows the courage of a man who took a bat and hit home runs instead of taking that same bat against the head of racists. The film is a timeless lesson for all the humanity inside all of us.
May 3, 2013
The Cleveland International Film Festival Santa Delivers Some Great Cinematic Presents For An Audience of Over 93,000. By Art Byrd The Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) takes place ever year as winter is giving way to spring. Film Festivals are like Christmas to me, leaving great cinematic presents under the tree. This year, the Cleveland International Film Festival Santa was very good to me. The festival had 180 features and 165 short films from 65 countries. I didn’t see 1/10th of the films in the festival, but the ones I saw were amazing and tugged at my emotions. During the festival’s first week, I started on Saturday with my friend, Patty and her friend, Stacey. We went to the shorts program and saw an animated short called A Family Man about a son remembering how his father worked in a boiler room room and his relationship with his family. It was a heartwarming story. Festival short programs are a roller coaster ride as you can watch something animated, comedy to a tragic stories all within 90 min. The next short was The Radar about a strange group of people who try to get rid of a police radar that they keeps catching them. This was such a funny film and it was shot with the camera in one position throughout the whole film. I really like true stories that I would have never known about if I had not seen it at the festival. She, Who Excels In Solitude fit the bill. The story was about two women in a secret government program for female astronauts in the 1960s. The film starts out with us not knowing exacting what the movie was about, then slowly it started to reveal itself. I love this short because it showed the strength of women especially in the 60s. Later, Patty, Stacy and I saw the Hollywood shorts. These shorts are fun because they feature actors we've seen in bigger films. One of the shorts stood out for me. In the short film, The Procession, Lily Tomlin was wonderful as the mother of Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family) as both are forced to go to a funeral of someone they didn't know. They are in the procession of cars going to the cemetery. They start to argue and lose the hearse at a red light. They don't know which cemetery to go to, so they make a right turn and the rest of the cars in the procession start following them. It was such a funny time to watch them freaking out because of the situation. The Procession was voted one of the top shorts of the CIFF. I was surprised by the interest in the film called Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp. The documentary film told the story of Robert Beck whose traumatic childhood leads him to a street life of pimping. Later, he would write well-received paperback novels on street life. Iceberg Slim's on camera interviews were insightful and revealing. The after the film, the Q&A with Iceberg Slim director Jorge Hinojosa is just one of the reasons why going to a film festival is an unique cinematic experience. The Cleveland International Film Festival had a record-breaking attendance of 93,732. I was glad that I was one of the many who got some amazing cinematic presents that the CIFF left under the tree..
May 3, 2013
Five Guys Packs Burger Punch with Fun By Monnie Ryan Editor's note: To read the full version of this review, visit http:// mahoningvalleyeats.blogspot.com Honestly, I could probably live the rest of my life without having another hamburger. Some of that is because I just don't eat much red meat any more, but I suspect another reason is that I so miss the wonderful “loose meat” Maid-Rite sandwiches from Greenville, Ohio, near the farm where I grew up. That said, every once in a while I do get a hankering for a burger, whether it be plain with mustard, lettuce and tomato or a fancy job topped with bacon and/or bleu cheese. Generally, I satisfy the urge at Gasoline Alley in Niles or Fudruckers in the Eastwood Mall. But when we spotted a Five Guys Burgers and Fries near the Walmart store on Elm Road in Cortland a while back, I said, "Let's give it a try." For the record, the whole Five Guys thing started in Arlington, Va., in 1986; today, there are more than 1,000 locations nationwide and another 1,500 or so under development, or so the website says. The restaurants are relatively small, but quite colorful and fun. Food is packed in brown paper bags, and you can grab a free container of peanuts in the shells from a huge bin. Huge bags of potatoes are stacked to form the entrance to the order-your-own counter. Five Guys also is known for fries, which come in a big plastic cup reminiscent of Idora Park. Although this is a neat place for kids, it's not the least expensive burger joint on the block; our bill at our first visit was $17.74 including tax for two "regular" hamburgers, one order of fries, one large soft drink and one bottle of water. But those regular burgers ($4.89 at the time of our first visit and $5.29 at our second) are double patties, and all the fixin’s are free, including jalapenos, tomatoes, grilled mushrooms, pickles, relish and a variety of sauces. The "little" burger, which is a single patty, would have been quite sufficient for me and I'm sure would be enough to satisfy youngsters. Comparatively, a regular bacon cheeseburger (now $6.69), a kosher style hot dog is $3.59 and a grilled cheese $3.59. There's a veggie burger as well ($2.99) into which you can put any or all of the vegetables that are on the menu into a bun. In Austintown, I tried the kosher hot dog topped with onions, jalapenos and mustard. The dog is split in half lengthwise and grilled, exactly the way I do them at home. Jack got a hamburger with his favorite grilled onions and mushrooms as he did at Cortland, noting - as he did then – that it’s really nice to get all those toppings at no extra cost. Five Guys Burgers and Fries Cortland: (330) 372-0232;Austintown: (330) 953-2880; Boardman: (330) 629-8038
May 3, 2013
The Striker Strikes Historic Chord 4 stars (out of 5) By Monnie Ryan Here’s little-known fact: I am not - let me repeat that, not - a history buff. Back when I finished the first of what would be three basic history classes in college, in fact, I changed my major simply so I could avoid taking the other two (yes, really). So when I saw the period setting of this book, the fifth in Clive Cussler's series featuring early 1900s detective Isaac Bell, I was more than a little reluctant to start reading. Then I learned that it takes place in and around the coal mines of West Virginia and Pennsylvania not far from my home at a time when labor unions were trying to gain a foothold. Vilified by mine owners, union organizers were targeted, roughed up and even killed as they attempted to win higher pay and safer working conditions for workers in this extremely hazardous, but exceedingly profitable, industry. This is the fourth in the Bell series written in collaboration with author Justin Scott, an established writer of several novels under his own name and the pen name Paul Garrison - for whatever that is worth. Bell, who is relatively fresh out of an apprenticeship at the Van Dorn Detective Agency, is hired to find unionist saboteurs in the coal mines. In the process, he witnesses an accident that he believes wasn't an accident at all - and sets off to get to the truth. Doing so pits him against very ruthless and powerful people who, especially in the days of crooked politicians and coal industry magnates, will stop at nothing to keep the "working man" in his place and keep racking up enormous profits to fund their private yachts, elegant mansions, steamboats and special railroad cars. I admit reading was a bit of a slogfest for me, but only because the dialogue is in keeping with the times. But it was totally fascinating and expertly crafted; I'm sure a great deal of research went into the writing and many of the happenings are based - though perhaps loosely - on real events. There really was a Henry Clay Frick (a bad guy in this book has a similar name) who was a major American industrialist and financier during the coal-coke-steel industry's early years, for instance - at one time he was considered the most hated man in America. It was also quite interesting to see names of places very familiar to me: Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle, the Monongahela and Ohio rivers on which barges tote coal to big cities like Cincinnati (perhaps stopping for water in Steubenville, Ohio). Heck, I even got a chuckle or two, such as when a powerful judge pronounced, "Nothing becomes Pittsburgh like the leaving of it!" All in all, it's an excellent read - and for those who love history and whodunits, it's ideal. The Striker by Clive Cussler (Putnam Adult, March 2013); 384 pp.
May 3, 2013
What’s Happening Around The Valley: May 4 - May 9 On Going: The McDonough Museum of Art: Spring Graduating BFA Exhibition The McDonough Museum of Art presents the Spring Graduating BFA Exhibition currently running through Friday, May 10th. This exhibition displays works in various media by the seventeen students graduating this semester from the Department of Art at Youngstown State University. Museum hours and more information about the exhibit are available at (330) 941-1400. The McDonough Museum of Art is located at 525 Wick Avenue in Youngstown
Saturday, May 4th Mill Creek MetroParks:The 3rd Annual Fitness Together 5K Walk and Run Fitness Together and Mill Creek Metro Parks presents the 3rd Annual Fitness Together 5K Walk and Run on Saturday, May 4th at 9 a.m. at the Wick Recreation Area at 1861 McCollum Road in Youngstown. Registration for this event is available at Fitness Together in Canfield and Poland, and at Second Sole in Boardman. More information about this event is available at (330) 702-3000. The Ward Beecher Planetarium: Seasonal Skywatch The Ward Beecher Planetarium, on the campus of Youngstown State University, presents Seasonal Skywatch on Friday, May 3rd and Saturday, May 4th at 8 P.M. both nights. Seasonal Skywatch deals with locating planets and constellations, constellation lore and current space events. More information about this program is available at (330) 941-1370. The Artists of the Mahoning Commons: Spring Open Studio and Art The Artists of the Mahoning Commons is presenting their Spring Open Studio and Art sale on May 4th and 5th at Mahoning Commons, Ward Bakery Building at 1024 Mahoning Avenue, Youngstown from Noon- 5 p.m.
Wednesday, May 8th Victorian Tea Party Youngstown South Christian Women’s Connection is having a Victorian Tea Party from 11:30 a.m -1:30 p.m at Avion on the Water, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road, Canfield. More information call 330-788-2340. Thursday, May 9th The Youngstown State University Alumni Lecture Series: Behind the Scenes Look at YSU Theater The Youngstown State University Alumni Lecture Series presents a Behind the Scenes Look at YSU Theater by Dr. Scott Irelan and Jane Shanabarger on Thursday, May 9th at 6:30 P.M. at Ford Theater Stage in Bliss Hall. Networking and hors d'oeuvres begin at 5:30 P.M., followed by the lecture and Behind The Scenes Tours by Dr. Irelan, the chair of the theater department and director of productions, and Jane Shanabarger, Associate Professor and Costume Designer for the department. Reservations and more information about this lecture are available at (330) 941-3497.
May 3, 2013
On Stage New Castle Playhouse: 9 To 5, The Musical New Castle Playhouse (NCT) presents 9 To 5, The Musical, running weekends from Friday, April 26th through Sunday, May 12th at the Augustine Auditorium. 9 To 5, The Musical, tells of three female coworkers who are pushed to the boiling point by their egotistical, lying boss and conspire to get even with him and together take control of the company. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinees will begin at 2 p.m. Tickets and more information are available at (724) 654-3437. NCT is located at 202 East Long Avenue in New Castle, PA.
The Victorian Players: The Fantasticks The Victorian Players are staging The Fantasticks from May 3 through May 19. The original production ran in New York for 42 years and then brought back. Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees starting at 2:00 p.m. Adult tickets are $10.00 with Student and Senior Tickets being $8.00.Group rates are available as are special student group rates. Call the reservation line at 330-746-5455.
The Victorian Players is located at 702 Mahoning Avenue in Youngstown.
Easy Street Productions: Pump Boys and Dinettes The original cast of Pump Boys and Dinettes is back together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its 200 performance run with Easy Street Productions during the 1990’s. Pump Boys takes place in Grand Ol’ Opry country, at the Double Cupp diner and the neighboring gas station. It is enjoyment for the whole family. The Easy Street revival of this popular musical will performed at the Ford Family Recital Hall. Show dates and times are 8 p.m. May 3; 10 p.m. May 4; 7 p.m. May 5; 8 p.m. May 10 and 11; and 2:30 p.m. May 12. Tickets are $28 ($23 for seniors and students; $15 for children 12 and under), and go on sale at 9 a.m. Friday. Group discounts are available. For reservations, call the Easy Street box office at 330-743-8555. The Ford Family Recital Hall is located at 260 W Federal Street, Youngstown.
May 3, 2013
On Stage 34 West Productions: Sock Hops and Soda Pops 34 West Productions is presenting Sock Hops and Soda Pops, a feel good musical. You can come to the show dressed in your 50’s garb and have fun, laugh and dance. The fun and dance happen at the Dutch Village Inn on May 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. For more information and tickets call 330-482-5050 ext 310 the Dutch Village Inn is located at 150 E. State, Route 14. Columbiana.
UpComing The Oakland Center for the Arts: The Children’s Hour Lillian Hellman’s play The Children’s Hour is being presented by The Oakland Center for the Arts from Friday, May 10th through Saturday, 25th. The story is a 1934 drama telling about an all-girls boarding school run by two women and the damage that can be done when an angry student runs away and begins lying to prevent having to return to the school. Evening performances are at 8 p.m. Reservation and more information is available at 330-746-0404 The Oakland is located at 220 West Boardman Street, Youngstown.
Youngstown Playhouse: Legally Blond the Musical. Youngstown Playhouse is staging Legally Blond the Musical. The story is based on the novel Legally Blonde and the 2001 film of the same name. It tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner. She discovers how her knowledge of the law can help others. Legally Blond starts its run on May 10 to 19. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
YSU’s Dance Ensemble Performs This Weekend The YSU Dance Ensemble is presenting its annual spring concert on May 3 and 4 in YSU’s Bliss Hall’s Ford Theater. The concert will showcase the talents of 37 students as they perform twelve dances in genre including Jazz, Tap, Modern, Musical Theater and Hip Hop. The tickets are $10 general public. Tickets for all YSU students, seniors, YSU faculty and staff are $5.00. The concert gets underway at 7:30 p.m.
May 3, 2013
A Film About A legendary Actor Needs Your Help A documentary about Jester Hairston called Amen-The Life and Work of Jester Hairston is in need of raising money for stock footage and music rights. Mr. Hairston was known for his work with Negro Spiritual in films and internationally recognized as a composer, conductor, actor and an educator. Also, he starred in several popular radio and television series like Amen as Deacon Rolly. Mr. Hairston was one of the founding members of The Screen Actors Guild. Click on igg.me/at/hairston-doc to find out more about Mr. Hairston from a movie trailer by Editor Lillian Benson.
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/JesterHairstonFilmProject, www.jesterhairston.org for more information. Call To Artist For Legally Blonde Exhibit Art Youngstown Inc. and the Youngstown Playhouse is looking for artists to submit their interpretation of blondes. The artwork will be displayed during the run of Legally Blonde:the Musical at the Playhouse opening May 10th through May 19th. There is a submission fee per artist includes up to 7 pieces. All submission must be delivered to Youngstown Playhouse on Saturday, May 4th between 4 p.m and 7 p.m. The Playhouse is located at 600 Playhouse LN, Youngstown\\More information email j_szabo@sbcglobal.net or call 788-5678/
Oldies with Sugar Bear Brings Back The Music That Made You Groove and Move If you want to dance and move your groove thang.
Listening to Oldies with Sugar Bear will having you doing that. Join Greg “Sugar Bear� Andrews every Saturday from 10 a.m- 12 Noon on AM 1570 WHTX in Warren, Ohio.
May 3, 2013
PRIVACY POLICY Some of you on A Byrd’s Eye View newsletter mailing list came to us from other e-mails sent to us regarding stories about Arts events in the area. We thought you would be interested in reading about additional Arts-related information of interest in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys, and added you. However, if you no longer wish to receive the newsletter, simply send a blank e-mail to artbyrdagain@yahoo.com with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
The e-mail addresses we have are NEVER shared in any way with anyone, nor are they sold. All copies of the newsletter are sent as blind carbon copies, so that no one receiving the newsletter knows the addresses of anyone else receiving it. If you have received this free newsletter as a forward and would like to subscribe, please send a blank e-mail with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line to artbyrdagain@yahoo.com.
Excerpts from A Byrd’s Eye View can be read in The Review, Newspaper, available throughout the Valley and online at http://www.thereviewnewspapers.com/
Movie reivews from A Byrd’s Eye View can be read in The Buckeye Review Newspaper, available throughout the Valley at various newstands.
Like us on
Art Byrd Jr. has won awards as a filmmaker and journalist. After working many years as a videographer and director for WFMJ TV News, he retired from broadcasting to share his experience and insight with students as an instructor at Youngstown State University. Art has written and produced numerous Indie films, which have been shown at prestigious film festivals. In addition to teaching and writing/ producing A Byrd’s Eye View newsletter, Art also does freelance media work. He is based in Youngstown, Ohio.
Monnie Ryan retired in 2003 after 14 years as managing editor of The Business Journal in Youngstown, where she continues to contribute to the print and online editions. Articles she has written have appeared in more than 20 national publications and at several travelrelated Web sites, and she has won numerous awards for photography. Contact her at mryan62692@aol.com.
Type in A Byrd’s Eye View