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October 8, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 3
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Volume 27 Issue #44
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ETSU to Participate in Release of ‘Johnson City Sessions’ Box Set music, and documented the music repertoires and styles of numerous talented semi-‐ professional and amateur musicians from across the region. The new box set from Bear Family Records will include all the extant recordings from the 1928 and 1929 Johnson City Sessions—100 recordings on 4 CDs by such acts as Charlie Bowman, Clarence “Tom” Ashley, the Grant Brothers, and the Roane County Ramblers— and a 136-‐page hardcover book about those sessions authored by Olson and Russell. During the reception, Dr. Ted Olson, an ETSU faculty member in Appalachian Studies, will introduce Tony Russell, his collaborator on both “The Johnson City Sessions” and “The Bristol Sessions” CD box sets. Olson and Russell received a Grammy nomination in 2011 for Best Album Notes for their co-‐authorship of the book accompanying “The Bristol Sessions.” That box set also
This ad appeared in October 1928 in the Johnson City Chronicle East Tennessee State University will participate in the worldwide release of Bear Family Records’ box set of “The Johnson City Sessions 1928-‐ 1929: Can You Sing or Play Old-‐ Time Music?” with a reception on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 4:30-‐ 6 p.m. in the Reece Museum. The event is free and open to the public. Call (423) 439-‐4392 for further information. The Johnson City Sessions followed on the heels of the 1927-‐1928 Bristol Sessions, often called “The Big Bang of Country Music.” The Bristol Sessions were responsible for launching the careers of two famous musical acts, Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family, as well as increasing interest in the musical style that came to be called country music. Under the watchful eyes of legendary Columbia Records scout Frank B. Walker, the Johnson City Sessions represented a fascinating and eclectic range of Appalachian
Charlie Bowman -‐ photo courtesy of Dave Freeman
Roane County Ramblers -‐ photo courtesy of Dave Freeman received a Grammy nomination in 2011 for Best Historical Recording. Russell is a British historian of American vernacular music ϐ subject. He will relate how he became involved in researching American music and will share details of his experiences in what he calls “old-‐time music archaeology.” The ETSU Old Time Pride Band, led by Assistant Professor Roy Andrade, will perform a sampler of music from the “Johnson City Sessions” recordings. Also attending will be Tom McCarroll, son of Uncle Jimmy McCarroll, who led Sessions stars The Roane County Ramblers. Other events surrounding the launching of the CD include an appearance by Russell and Olson, as well as Richard Weize of Bear Family Records, on the “Studio One” live radio show on WETS-‐ FM (89.5 FM), ETSU’s public ϐ ǡ ǡ Oct. 19, at 1 p.m.The ETSU Old Time Pride Band will perform selections from the Johnson City Sessions on the show. Also, at 7 p.m. that day, there will be a Johnson City Sessions Box Set Release Party at the Down Home with performances of 1920s-‐era Appalachian music by Hello Stranger, the Corklickers, the ETSU Old Time
Pride Band and the ETSU Blues Band. Tickets for the event are $20. On Sunday, Oct. 20, beginning at 5 p.m., there will be a special V.I.P. gala event at The Venue featuring a gathering of family members of the original Johnson City Sessions musicians. This event is open to the public and will feature music by the Bowman Family and the ETSU Blues Band. At 7 p.m. that evening, a recording of the syndicated “Mountain Stage” radio show will be held in the Martha Street Culp auditorium in ETSU’s D.P. Culp University Center. Featured performers include Tim O’Brien, Darrell Scott, Sarah Jarosz, Old Man Luedecke, The Deadly Gentlemen and the ETSU Old Time Pride Band. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Call (423) 439-‐8587 for ticket information for both of the Sunday events. Individuals who have questions concerning access or who wish to request disability accommodations, such as accessible seating, alternative formats for materials or sign language interpreters should contact ETSU Disability Services at (423) 439-‐8346 by Wednesday, Oct. 9. Attempts ϐ Ǣ Continued on page 5
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Continued from page 4
however, requests made after Oct. 9 are not guaranteed. Copies of the Johnson City Sessions box set will be available for purchase at the above-‐
October 8, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 5
Byrd Moore and His Hot Shots (left to right, are Byrd Moore, Clarence Greene, Clarence Ashley) photo Courtesy of the Charles K. Wolfe Collection
described events, and copies can also be purchased at Nelson Fine Art Center in downtown Johnson City, at the Birthplace of Country
ϐ Bristol, and via various on-‐line retail outlets.
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Legion Street Pool Annual Fishout October 12th Legion Street Pool will be ϐ on Saturday, Oct. 12, with 2,000 rainbow trout up for grabs in Johnson City’s annual “Say YES to Fishing, Say NO to Drugs”
ϐ Ǥ ͵ǦͳͶ invited to participate from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in this free event. Poles and bait will be provided, and hundreds of prizes will be given. Volunteers will clean the ϐ take them home to cook! Then, on Sunday, Oct. 13, the rest of the community is invited ϐ for a donation of $10 per hour
ȋ ϐ program). Fishing will take place from noon until 5 p.m.
“Say YES to Fishing, Say NO to Drugs” was started in 1989 as a way to get area youths involved
in a fun, wholesome activity. “We want to encourage young people’s interest in the positive things life has to offer, and to discourage involvement with drugs,” said Johnson City Police Chief Mark Sirois. The program has seen broad-‐ based community support ever since. Area sponsors provide prizes, exhibits and activities for participants. Local volunteers donate their time to work the event, along with representatives from the Johnson City Police and Fire departments, Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department, Washington County ǯ ϐ ǡ National Guard. For more information, contact the Johnson City Police Department at (423)434-‐6122.
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16th Annual Wildlife Weekend October 11 & 12 Steele Creek Park
The 16th Annual Wildlife Weekend has been scheduled for October 11 and 12, 2013. The City of Bristol Tennessee along with the Friends of Steele Creek Nature Center and Park are the sponsors of the jam-‐packed weekend. The event begins on Friday evening at 6:30 PM at the Lodge located within Steele Creek Park with a talk by John Pickering of Discover Life organization. Mr. Pickering is also associated with the University of Georgia. The annual Art and Photography Show will be awarding prizes to the winners of the show during a reception, sponsored by the Friends group. The day will end with a Moth Party hosted by Mr. Pickering. The entire Weekend’s activities are free to the public. On Saturday morning the program will begin with an Early Bird Walk and Bird Banding, other walks will be taken ϐ ǡ fungi, animal tracking and the creek. A Geology Hike and Cave Crawl will be hosted mid-‐afternoon by Jeremy Stout, the parks’ Naturalist. Space is limited for this program requiring pre-‐registration. There will be ongoing exhibits and activities from 10 AM to 2 PM. Some of those activities include Skins and Skulls with the Gray Fossil Site, Fossil Casing ǡ ϐ display with Nancy Barrigar, Birds of Prey with Bays Mountain hosts, Hands on Museum, Nature Crafts and Fossils with J.R. Arnold. Check in for all activities
are at the Steele Creek Park Lodge. Call 423-‐989-‐5616 or visit the Nature Center for more information. Bring your own lunch and enjoy the beauty of Bristol’s Steele Creek Park.
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Bear Grass Acoustic Coffeehouse October 9th, 10pm
Troy,  NY-Ââ€?based  indie  quartet  Bear  Grass  has  announced  the  pre-Ââ€?release  of  their  full-Ââ€?length  album  Stories  in  Books.   The  album  will  be  available  from  their  Bandcamp  page.   The  lead  single  “Lazy  Makeâ€?  is  currently  available  for  free  download.   Bear  Grass  blends  elements  of  folk,  rock,  and  homespun  trip-Ââ€?hop  to  add  new  texture  to  the  quirky  artistry  of  Katie  Hammon.  Drawing  ‘Â? ‹Â?Ď?Ž—‡Â?…‡• Ž‹Â?‡ ƒ—”ƒ ‡‹”• ƒÂ?† ›‡ ƒÂ?ÇĄ –Š‡ music  is  sometimes  dark,  but  always  captivating  and  melodic. Stories  in  Books  is  not  a  debut  album,  but  it  feels  like  one  to  the  band.   Katie  Hammon  has Â
been  writing  music  as  Bear  Grass,  mostly  as  a  solo  act,  since  2007.   She  is  well  known  around  the  Capitol  Region  music  scene  for  her  bands  Slender  Shoulders  and  Bear  Grass,  and  as  a  founding  member  of  the  Albany  Music  Coalition.  Hammon  also  has  a  long  history  of  collaboration  with  Matthew  Carefully,  where  she  met  bassist  Mitch  Masterson  and  drummer  Ian  White.   She  enlisted  Stephen  Stanley  on  guitar  and  Tommy  Krebs  on  backing  vocals,  synth,  and  percussion  and  made  Bear  Grass  a  band.   Quickly  grabbing  a  few  coveted  local  gigs,  the  group  recently  played  alongside  the  likes  of  Man  Man  and  Sgt.  Dunbar  and  the  Hobo  Banned  at  the  Capital  Region’s  Annual  Restoration  Festival.   The  new  line-Ââ€?up  also  comprised  the  backing  band  for  Matthew  Carefully’s  contribution  to  the  well-Ââ€?received  If  You  Wait  Long  Enough  „‡Â?‡Ď?‹– …‘Â?’‹Žƒ–‹‘Â? ˆ‘” ‹ŽŽ –”ƒ––‘Â?Ǥ ‡ƒ” ”ƒ•• ‹• “—‹‡–Ž› …‘Â?Ď?‹†‡Â?– ƒ„‘—– –Š‡ ”‡…‡’–‹‘Â? ‘ˆ –Š‡‹” latest  work,  Stories  in  Books. Find  more  information  at  www.beargrasssongs. com,  beargrass.bandcamp.com,  and  www. facebook.com/beargrassband.
The Blue Moon Presents
A Castaway Murder Mystery The  Blue  Moon  Dinner  Theatre  presents  an  original  comedic  murder  mystery,  MULLIGAN’S  ISLAND  AND  THE  LAGOON  OF  DOOM,  playing  live  on  stage  Fridays  and  Saturdays  now  through  October  19th   at  215  East  Main  Street  in  Downtown  Johnson  City.   One  fateful  day  several  years  ago  the  S.S.  Anchovy  was  lost  at  sea  with  all  hands.  Today  a  Luxury  time  share  company  is  scouting  what  appears  to  be  a  deserted  jungle  island  but  when  they  discover  signs  of  life  they  scheme  to  get  the  island  to  –Š‡Â?•‡Ž˜‡•Ǥ ‘Â?‡ Œ‘‹Â? –Š‡ Ž‘˜‡ƒ„Ž‡ „—Â?„Ž‹Â?‰ Ď?‹”•– mate  Mulligan,  the  Short  tempered  Captain  and  the  rest  of  the  Castaways  in  Mulligan’s  Island  and  the  Lagoon  of  Doom! “Our  themed  menu  of  roasted  pork  with  a  Polynesian  sauce  and  a  dessert  of  banana  cream  pie  set  the  mood  for  the  showâ€?  Say’s  Blue  Moon  Artistic  Director  Edward  Breese  “  While  the  trivia  and  crime  solving  make  it  a  wonderful  interactive  experience  for  the  the  whole  family.â€?     The  Mulligan’s  Island  Cast  includes  Clayton  Van  Huss  as  the  Captain,  Edward  Breese  as  the  Billionaire,  Nancy  Hope  Major  as  Dovie,  Stephanie  Sherwood  as  Virgina,  Ashley  May  King  as  Carrie  Anne,  Sean  Read  as  The  Doc,  Dave  Carter  as  the  yacht  skipper,  Katie  Runciman  as  Miss  Hooper  and  Dan  Ott  as  Mulligan. Â
Enjoy  a  full  night  of  entertainment  all  in  one  place.  A  delicious  meal  followed  by  a  fun  show,           Tickets  are  just  39.99  plus  tax  and  can  be  purchased  by  going  online  to  www.bluemoondinnertheatre. …‘Â?‘” „› …ƒŽŽ‹Â?‰ –Š‡ „‘š ‘ˆĎ?‹…‡ ƒ– ͜ʹ;njʹ;ʹnjͳ;͡ͲǤ Meal  upgrades  and  vegetarian  options  are  available  with  a  24  hour  notice.  The  Blue  Moon  is  currently  a  BYOB  facility.
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Michael McDonald
Niswonger Performing Arts Center October 8th, 7:30pm
Multi-‐talented music entertainer Michael McDonald will appear Tuesday, October 8th at 7:30pm at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, TN. Two notes. That’s all it takes to recognize the voice of Michael McDonald. From ‘70s-‐era Doobie Brothers classics such as “What A Fool Believes” and solo hits like “I Keep Forgettin’” through highly-‐acclaimed ǡ ϐ Ǧ Grammy-‐winning McDonald is that rare thing in contemporary pop… an artist whose work is both timeless and ever evolving. With his husky soulful baritone voice, Michael McDonald became one of the most distinctive and popular vocalists to emerge from the laid-‐back California pop/ rock scene of the late ‘70s. McDonald found the middle ground between blue-‐eyed soul
and smooth soft rock, a sound that made him a star. Add his formidable songwriting and keyboard skills, and you have an artist who has been a singular musical presence for four decades. After singing backup on several Steely Dan albums in the mid-‐’70s, Michael McDonald joined the Doobie Brothers in 1977. He was largely responsible for moving the group away from boogie rock and toward polished, jazzy blue-‐eyed soul. As a member of the Doobie Brothers he recorded some of his best-‐ known songs such as “Real Love”, “Takin’ It to the Streets”, “Little Darling”, “It Keeps You Runnin’”, “Minute by Minute” and “What a Fool Believes” (which became a number one single in the U.S. and earned him a 1980 Grammy Award for Song of the Year along with co-‐writer Kenny Loggins). At the same time he appeared as
a session singer and piano player for artists such as Christopher Cross, Stephen Bishop, Bonnie Raitt, the rock band Toto and Kenny Loggins. McDonald co-‐ wrote “You Belong to Me” with Carly Simon which appeared on the album “Livin’ on the Fault Line”. McDonald disbanded the group in 1982 to pursue a solo career, which was very successful. He released his solo debut, “If That’s What It Takes”, in 1982. The record climbed to number six on the strength of the number four single “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near),” which also crossed over into the R&B Top Ten. In 1983, he had another Top 20 pop hit (and a Top Ten R&B hit) with his duet with James Ingram, “Yah Mo B There.” During the next two decades he continued to perform and collaborate with other artists. In 2003 he began releasing a hugely popular series of recordings devoted to the Motown catalog, beginning with 2003’s “Motown”. “Motown Two” and “Soul Speak” followed in 2004 and 2008 respectively. Michael McDonald will perform at Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Tuesday, October 8th at 7:30pm. Tickets are $60 for orchestra and mezzanine level seating and $50 for balcony seats. Tickets may be purchased online at www. npacgreeneville.com, in person ϐ ǡ calling 423-‐638-‐1679. NPAC offers online seat selection and Ǧ Ǥ ϐ hours are Monday through Friday, 10am until 5pm. The 1130 seat performing arts center is located adjacent to the campus of Greeneville High School in Greeneville, TN. For venue information, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.npacgreeneville.com
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Cellist Cherylonda Fitzgerald Johnson City Symphony October 12th With a theme of Dreams and Inspirations the Johnson City Symphony opens its 44th season on October 12. Opening Night: Tragedy to Triumph features cellist Cherylonda Fitzgerald. Under the direction of Music Director and Conductor Robert J. Seebacher, the JCSO will present music by Antonin Dvorak and Jean Sibelius. The concert is sponsored by Mountain States Health Alliance. Cherylonda Fitzgerald, principal cellist for the JCSO, also performs with the Kingsport Symphony of the Mountains and the Asheville Symphony. She teaches at ETSU and Milligan
College, as well as giving private lessons. She is also a founding member of The Paramount Chamber Players, a group of musicians dedicated to sharing chamber music with local audiences. Antonin Dvorak, considered one of the great Czech composers, wrote two cello concerti, but the Concerto for Cello in B minor is the most well-‐known. One of the themes of this concerto suggests Ǣ memorial to Dvorak’s sister-‐in-‐ law, who apparently was the real love of his life and who died while Dvorak was in America. There is love and longing in this piece as
well as anguish for her loss. Jean Sibelius, as is Dvorak, is inextricably tied to his country of origin, Finland. Even though his Symphony No. 2 in D Major was written while Sibelius was living in Italy, this piece was quickly perceived by Finns as a protest against the incursions of neighboring Russia. There is another interesting parallel between the two composers and their music in this concert: â his sister-‐in-‐law, and—according to his wife—Sibelius’ theme was his response to the suicide of his sister-‐in-‐law. The two works show us both tragedy
and triumph, the theme of the upcoming concert. The October 12 concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Mary B. Martin Auditorium of Seeger Chapel at Milligan College. Individual concert tickets are $35, $30 for seniors (65+), and $10 for students. Season tickets are still available online at www. jcsymphony.com or by calling ϐ Ͷʹ͵Ǧ 926-‐8742. Tickets for the entire
season range from $70 to $150. The symphony accepts Master Card, Visa, and Discover. Free bus service is available from Colonial Hill, leaving ǣͳͷ Ǥ ǤǢ Appalachian Christian Village, ǣ͵ͲǢ ǡ ǣͶͷ p.m. Concerts are partially funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
October 8, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 11
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Dylan Jane
Acoustic Coffeehouse October 11th Philadelphia, Pennsylvania— Singer-‐songwriter Dylan Jane tours the South in support of her new record. A rising favorite in parts of Pennsylvania, she hopes to extend her audience further. Although Dylan worked on her ϐ musicians to get a full rock sound, what’s struck a chord with most people is the stripped-‐down folk approach she aimed to capture with her most recent release. “Songbook Chapter One” is immediately available for digital download through the host site Bandcamp. It features eleven acoustic tracks and some of her best work to date. Her tour will showcase her songwriting even up to her current works in progress, taking her through seven states from West Virginia to Louisiana. For a full bio and links to all her music please visit DylanJaneMusic.com
33 Years
Acoustic Coffeehouse October 13th, 10pm
33 Years is an Alternative Country duo featuring Paula & Kevin Tolly. After passionately pursuing their solo careers, we found a beautiful and energetic new sound as they blended their visions and voices to create 33
Years. Paula’s smooth voice is complimented by Kevin’s charismatic guitar riffs and the duo is brand new to the South Florida music scene! In addition to their original songs, expect 33 Years to cover some of your favorite artists including Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, The Band Perry and many similar artists. “My songs talk about real things,” says Paula Tolly. “Things that I’ve been through or I’ve witnessed through my friends and family – even current events in the world today. If I feel it, I can sing it and make anyone believe it.” As a singer -‐ songwriter team, the duo is currently working on a catalog with a top Nashville producer. Come on out and experience a little 33 Years!
Page 12, The Loafer • October 8, 2013
Abingdon Marketplace
Cash Mob October 12th, 3pm Abingdon Main Street is sponsoring Abingdon’s second Cash Mob on Saturday, October 12, at3:00 p.m. The business to be mobbed is Abingdon Marketplace located at 280 W Main Street. A cash Ǧ ϐ people gather in a public place and dance or sing in a spontaneous fashion. Instead of dancing or singing, a cash mob crowd gathers to spend at least $20 at a locally owned business. According to Abingdon Main Street Director, Susan Howard, cash mobs were initiated to help small businesses ϐ Ǥ Dz been tough on a lot of our local businesses. This is a way to show the Marketplace that we value
them as one of our local businesses.” Anyone who wishes to participate in the cash mob should meet at the Marketplace front door just before 3 p.m. on October 27. “You can spend more if you want,” says Howard, “but we ask that you spend at least $20. In addition to spending a little money, participants should introduce themselves to at least three people they didn’t know before the event. We want this to be fun!” After the cash mob, Abingdon Main Street encourages shoppers to eat dinner at one of the local restaurants nearby. For more information, please contact Abingdon Main Street at 276.492.2237 or by email atadvance@abingdon-‐va.gov.
Local Entertainer to Play at WWII Memorial October 11th A local entertainer and his band will travel to Washington, DC on October 11 to honor our country’s veterans. Jerry Pierce & The Nightlife Band will be aboard the Northeast Tennessee Honor Flight bus along with 26 war veterans. The group will stop in Bedford, Virginia to tour the D Day Memorial on their way to Fairfax, Virginia. On October 12 the Ǣ at the WWII memorial Pierce is scheduled to play Taps in memory of Tennessee military
members who are deceased and for those who are MIA. Saturday night the traveling veterans and guardians will join the members of the American Legion Post 177 to enjoy an evening of entertainment by Jerry Pierce & The Nightlife Band. When asked for a comment Pierce stated he considers it a great honor to have been chosen to participate in such a wonderful program. “Our veterans gave so much to our country, to us. It’s great to be able to give something back”.
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Harvest of Souls II LampLight Theatre
Are you ready to enter the Mortality Room and come face to face with fear? This Halloween season debuts yet another new Mortality Room production at LampLight Theatre. The Fall brings great harvest festivals to many small towns. But to Kingsport, it brings terror to the characters in “Harvest of Souls II.” This production sheds some light on the history of “All Hallows Eve” steeped in pagan customs. Tattie Bogal (An evil scarecrow) will introduce you to Samhain (Demon of the Dead), a host of Demon Scarecrows, and of course, Muck Olla (The Boogey Man – Reaper of Souls). Beware of other creatures that go “bump in the night.” Scarecrows are somewhat whimsical and are known for chasing crows away. They are traditionally symbols of protection. This is not the case for our menacing, ghoulish creatures in this Ǥ ϐ love to intimidate audience members and those who enter the Mortality Room. “Harvest of Souls II” is not a show for the weak at heart. What you see isn’t necessarily reality. When you step into the Halloween expose, Tattie Bogal will entice you to enter her twisted world. If you aren’t careful, Muck Olla will deceive you into believing his lies as
he unleashes his plethora of demonic spirits. When this hellish troupe comes to town for the second year, several teenagers who have forgotten the aftermath of the previous year’s festival are hoodwinked by the power of The Boogey Man who is out to reap their souls. Some fall prey to his traps. Little do they know the eternal impact that this encounter will have on their mortal lives. Their destiny in the “after-‐life” hangs in the balance as ϐ of principalities and dark forces. Mortality Room’s “Harvest of Souls II” is NOT for everyone. Due to its true-‐ to-‐life situations and scary images, this show is rated PG-‐13. Performances will be October 11-‐13, October 18-‐ 20, October 25-‐27, and October 29-‐ 31. There will be shows nightly at 6:30 p.m., and two shows on Fridays & Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. The show’s seating is general admission with a suggested donation of $8. No reservations are necessary, however they are recommended in order to guarantee times and seating. For Reservations and information please contact the LampLight box ϐ ȋͶʹ͵Ȍ ͵Ͷ͵Ǧͳǡ through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit www.lamplighttheatre.com.
Page 14, The Loafer • October 8, 2013
Blessing of the Animals Virginia Intermont College October 9th, 12:15pm
Virginia Intermont College will host a “Blessing of the Animals” on Weds., Oct. 9 to commemorate the Feast of Saint Francis, the Patron Saint of animals and the environment. Rev. Christina Patterson, College ǡ ϐ short biblical readings and a blessing. The short ceremony begins at 12:15 p.m. in the Quad. The VI community and the public are invited to bring their furry, feathered or scaly friends. “This is our second year of the tradition on campus, but the blessing of animals is an ancient practice of the church and remains popular among liturgical congregations such as the Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran churches,” said Patterson. “It is a tradition of Christians honoring the gifts in our lives and celebrating God’s creatures who serve as companions and friends to us. This event is part of VI’s quest ϐ to introduce students to different expressions of those faiths.” Patterson also noted that the new Pope admires Saint Francis so much that he took his name when he became Pope. “Pope
Francis says he admires Saint Francis because he spent his life advocating for the poor and for animals.” Last year, VI’s Blessing of the Animals drew many canines and a few felines among pet owners from the College community. Some students even served as surrogate handlers for the pets of friends and faculty who couldn’t attend. Everyone enjoyed the chorus of barks and meows as some pets stayed with their owners throughout the day. This year’s event is sure to
make for another engaging and festive day with our furry friends on campus. Everyone is invited and those without pets are welcome to come out and watch. Founded in 1884, Virginia Intermont College is a private, coeducational college in Bristol, Va., with a longstanding commitment to the liberal arts education. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, VI offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 40 academic concentrations.
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October 8, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 15
Elvis Extravaganza
Kingsport Renaissance Center October 12th, 7pm R&M  Tribute  Entertainment  presents  the  4th  Annual  Elvis  š–”ƒ˜ƒ‰ƒÂ?œƒ Č‹ ‡Â?‡Ď?‹– for  Veterans)  at  the  Renaissance  Center  in  Kingsport,  Tennessee  on  Saturday,  October  12  at  7:00  PM.  The  show  will  feature  four  of  the  top  Elvis  Presley  Tribute  Artists  in  the  world.  Each  tribute  artist  will  perform  for  30  minutes  in  a  stage  show  style  performance  piece  as  The  King  of  Rock  n  Roll. Location  for  the  event  is  the  Kingsport  Renaissance  Center,  1200  East  Center  Street,  Kingsport,  TN  37660. The  Kingsport  Renaissance  Center  is  a  facility  which  serves  the  community  as  a  center  for  the  arts  and  senior  citizen’s  activities,  and  as  a  facility  for  business  meetings,  parties,  receptions,  classes,  showers,  and  day  long  seminars  with  breakout  rooms.  It  is  managed  by  the  City  of  Kingsport’s  Cultural  Services  Division  as  part  of  Parks  and  Recreation. Â
The  facility  includes  a  350-Ââ€?seat  theatre,  three-Ââ€? story  sky  lit  atrium,  art  gallery,  gymnasium,  meeting  rooms  and  ‘ˆĎ?‹…‡•Ǥ Š‡ ‹Â?‰•’‘”– Renaissance  Center,  formerly  the  John  Sevier  School,  was  renovated  in  1991  and  now  stands  as  one  of  Kingsport’s  most  prominent  landmarks. ETA  Ronnie  Miller  from  Maryville,  TN  will  be  hosting  and  co-Ââ€?hosting  will  be  Kingsport,  TN’s  own  ETA  Jim  Fields.  Also  starring  in  person  as  Elvis  Presley,  with  a  full  concert  style  show,  will  be  Doug  Thompson  from  Pigeon  Forge,  TN  and  Terry  Turner  from  Lincoln,  AL.  A  great  portion  of  the  proceeds  from  –Š‹• •Š‘™ ™‹ŽŽ ‰‘ –‘ „‡Â?‡Ď?‹– –Š‡ ƒ•– Tennessee  Veterans  Association.  Last  year  over  $2,000  was  raised  for  the  Veteran’s.  For  more  information  call  Missy  Miller  ~  865-Ââ€?684-Ââ€?6082  or  Mary  Sue  Fields  ~  423-Ââ€?863-Ââ€?6843  or  email:  tribute.entertainment@yahoo.com
Trapt
Capones’s
October 9th Trapt  will  perform  at  Capone’s,  227  E.  Main  Street,  on  Wednesday,  October  9th.  Tickets  are  $12  in  advance  and  can  be  purchased  online  at  www. caponesjohnsoncity.com.  Doors  open  at  7pm  and  show  starts  at  9:00pm.  Ages  are  18  and  up. Â
Trapt  is  a  rock  band  from  Los  Gatos,  California  that  was  formed  in  August  1997,  while  the  band  members  were  still  in  high  school.  In  1998,  after  much  success  at  playing  local  venues,  the  band  opened  for  other  up  and  coming  acts  such  as  Papa  Roach. Š‡› ”‡Ž‡ƒ•‡† –Š‡‹” Ď?‹”•– …† ‹Â? ͳ͝͝͝ ƒÂ?† followed  with  two  more  albums  which  landed  them  a  record  deal  with  Warner  Brothers  Records.  The  band  released  a  self-Ââ€? titled  album  on  November  5,  2002  which  produced  three  singles  including  their  best  known  hit  “Headstrong.â€?  Their  latest  album  “Rebornâ€?  was  released  on  January  22,  2013.
Page 16, The Loafer • October 8, 2013
Benefit Concert for Isaiah Vahzant WoodStone Deli October 11th
ϐ Vanzant October 11, 2013 3500 Fort Henry Drive, Kingsport, TN 37664 LIVE MUSIC (starts at 9:00 pm) BY Elijiah FeelGood
We are honored that Elijiah FeelGood is playing ϐ Ƭ what would have been their ϐ family. Please come out to help raise money for the Vanzant family. All proceeds at the door go directly to the family. Donations can also be given at the deli. We will have door prizes!!! Brandon and Brandy Vanzant live in Piney
Flats, TN. They recently received the worse possible news for their seven year old son, Isaiah. He has leukemia and they had to go immediately to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. He has had two surgeries and received chemo in the Ǥ ϐ of chemo didn’t work and now they have to treat more aggressively. Although they never receive any bill from St. Jude’s for Isaiah’s treatment, their other daily bills continue to come in. We want to help ϐ Ǥ Their son needs their support and they need to focus on their sick child, not to be worried about how their bills at home are being paid.
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October 8, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 17
Stories from the Pumpkin Patch
Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site October 12th, 4-8pm
As the October days become shorter and the evening shadows become longer, Tipton-‐Haynes State Historic Site is preparing for the 19th annual Stories from the Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, October 12 from 4 to 8 p.m. As always, the festival promises delights and frights for guests of all ages. During the daylight hours, children can enjoy small crafts and carnival games as well as light and friendly tales in the corn crib and. Once night falls the festivities continue with historical interpretation, ǡ ϐ ǡ and candlelight cave tours. Throughout the entire evening families can enjoy tractor-‐ pulled hayrides, a hotdog roast ϐ ǡ cooked treats the cabin. The 2013 festival lineup features a variety of vibrant and innovative storytellers from around the region including
Carolina Quiroga-‐Hurtado and Libby Tipton of the ETSU TaleTellers. During the daylight hours Carolina and Libby will enthrall younger guestswith their interactive and engaging stories and after dark they will captivate older children and adults with tales of ghosts and mysteries in the candlelit cave. Civil War interpreter Wes Spurgeon will welcome guests to the historic house where he will be recounting stories based on ǡ ϐ the Confederate Army and eldest son of Landon Carter Haynes. Other storytellers include local musician and interpreter Tim Pharis and writer Emily Katt. Admission is $5.00 for adults and $2.50 for twelve and under. This price will include all activities and a hot dog roast with all the trimmings. For additional information, please call 423-‐926-‐3631.
Page 18, The Loafer • October 8, 2013
ArtShare 2013 TCPC Photo Contest
J
Viking Hall October 12 & 13
ArtShare  2013  “Celebrating  the  Spirit  of  Artistsâ€?  is  an  inaugural  event  at  Viking  Hall,  Bristol,  Tennessee,  that  will  feature  many  regional  artists  as  well  as  the  6th  Annual  Twin  City  Photo  Club  Contest  and  its  200-Ââ€? plus  entries. One  of  the  featured  artist  is  Stuart  Engel  from  the  ZaPow!  Gallery  in  Asheville,  NC,  He  has  been  painting  and  drawing  all  of  his  life.  He  grew  up  in  the  Washington,  DC  area,  and  moved  to  Boulder,  Colorado  in  the  late  1970s,  where  he  began  his  career  as  a  professional  artist.   “I  am  inspired  by  music,  color,  and  the  search  to  capture  the  movement  and  feeling  of  the  moment,â€?  Engle  said.  “I  mostly  paint  in  oils,  but  use  other  mediums  when  the  mood  strikes.â€?  “Music  is  incredibly  important  to  me,â€?  said  Engle,  who  has  a  passion  for  rock  and  roll  artists.  A  highlight  of  his  career  is  meeting  and  having  artwork  signed  by  Led  Zeppelin’s  Robert  Plant.   Other  works  of  rock  icons  include  Bob  Dylan,  Jerry  Garcia,  Neil  Young  and  Pink  Floyd. “My  compositions  and  subjects  are  quite  eclectic,â€?  Engle  said.  “I’ve  never  been  one  to  stick  to  one  theme.  I’m  excited  to  sit  in  front  of  a  blank  canvas  and  not  know  exactly  what  will  be  coming.â€? Another  featured  artist  will  be   pottery  artist  Eloise  Collier,  featured  at  Woolworth  Walk  in  Asheville,  NC.   “What  drives  me  is  being  totally  present  in  the  here  and  now,â€?  said  Collier,  who  has  studied  sculpture,  ceramics, Â
painting  and  photography.   “When  I  am  working  on  a  piece  of  art,  everything  else  fades  and  I  exist  only  in  the  moment  of  creation.â€? At  the  moment  she  is  concentrating  on  three-Ââ€? dimensional  tiles,  painting  up  to  20  layers  of  latex  rubber  onto  the  model  of  durable  stone  compound.   She  layers  paint,  glaze,  metal  leaf,  stain  and  even  wax  to  bring  out  each  piece’s Â
own  distinct  personality. Another  unique  artist  will  be  Lisa  Shell  of  Kingsport,  TN,  who  uses  only  reclaimed  materials  in  her  creations  she  calls  “New  Life  Art.â€?  She  uses  materials  such  as  newspaper,  dirt,  can  lids,  coffee  grinds,  plastic  bags  and  even  junk  mail,  and  her  creations  are  in  repurposed  frames  rescued  from  dumpsters  and  yard  sales.  Some  of  the  other  artists  include  multi-Ââ€?media  master  ƒ– ‡••‡‡ ‘ˆ „‹Â?‰†‘Â?ÇĄ ‹”‰‹Â?Â‹ÂƒÇ˘ woodworker  Kenneth  Jones  ‘ˆ ‹Â?‰•’‘”–ǥ Ǣ ‘„ ‡˜‡”Ž› of  Star  Trails  Downtown  Art Â
ÂƒÂŽÂŽÂ‡Â”Â›ÇĄ ‹Â?‰•’‘”–ǥ Ǣ ƒÂ?† Â?‘”‡Ǥ Vendor  space  is  still  available  for  this  inaugural  event.   Check  out  some  of  the  artists  work  at  Facebook  ArtShare  2013.
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October 8, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 19
Woman In Black
Johnson City Community Theatre Beginning October 11
The Woman in Black, a Ghost Play, will be the next production offered at the Johnson City Community Theatre (JCCT). Adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the novella The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. Proud and solitary, Eel Marsh House surveys the windswept reaches of the salt marshes beyond Nine Lives Causeway. Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor, is summoned to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow, the house’s sole inhabitant, unaware of the tragic secrets which lie hidden behind the shuttered windows. It is not until he glimpses a wasted young woman dressed all in black at the funeral that a creeping sense of unease begins to take hold. This feeling is deepened by the reluctance of the locals to talk of the woman in black – and her terrible purpose. Years later, as an old man, he recounts his
experiences to an actor in a desperate attempt to exorcise the ghosts of the past. The play unfolds around the conversations of these two characters as they act out the solicitor’s experiences on Eel Marsh all those years ago. The Woman in Black plays for three weekends on Fridays and Saturdays from October 11 to October 26 at 8 pm with one matinee on Sunday, October 20 at 2 pm. Reservations can be made by going online to www.jcct. info or calling 423-‐926-‐2542. The Woman in Black ϐ production in JCCT’s 101st season, making JCCT the longest continuously running theatre organization in the state of Tennessee and one of the longest running theatrical organizations Ǥ Ǥ ǯ ϐ was in 1885, and has an unbroken record of continuous seasons of produced plays and musicals since 1912. The Woman in Black has the distinction of being the second longest running play in London’s West End and is celebrating its 25th year playing there. Over 7 million people have lived to tell the tale of one of the most exciting, gripping and successful theatre events ever staged. Unanimously acclaimed, The Woman in Black combines the power and intensity of live
theatre with a cinematic quality ϐ Ǥ It gives audiences an evening of unremitting drama as they are transported into a terrifying and ghostly world. JCCT’s production of The Woman in Black is headed by director Lindy Ley. “I think one of the things that’s really special about this show is that it’s performed by just two actors,” Ley said of the JCCT production in rehearsal, “ It gives the show this really great intimate energy -‐ it’s easy to feel connected to the actors on stage. The two men doing the show, Larry Bunton and ǡ ϐ actors, and they have a really wonderful dynamic together. And the writing is absolutely incredible. Every day while we rehearse -‐ even very early in the process -‐ we all get chills.” The cast features veteran actors Larry Bunton and Andy Cobble as the two man team under Ms. Ley’s
direction. They are understudied by Richard Lura and Richard Nave. Supporting Ms. Ley on her directing team are assistant director/stage manager Richard Nave, lighting designer Sabra Hayden, costume and makeup designer Derek Smithpeters, and sound designer Adam Honeycutt. “We have a great team assembled for both onstage and off,” added JCCT Artistic Director Thomas Townsend, “All of them are very talented and bring some very innovative ideas to JCCT. The Woman in Black is the scariest play I have ever read. And, it is scary in the way a good ghost story should be, with suspense, chills, and much spine tingling. The whole theatre is energized with the idea of bringing this modern gothic tale to life. Personally, I can’t wait for the audience to jump out of their skins.” The Woman in Black is made possible, in part, by support from
the Tennessee Arts Commission, the Arts Builds Community Grant, and the Johnson City Area Arts Council. JCCT is a proud member of the Johnson City Area Arts Council and the Johnson City/ Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Mountain States Health Alliance is a proud sponsor of JCCT’s 101st Season. The Woman in Black is sponsored in part by Celebrate. JCCT will hold performances of The Woman in Black on October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, and 26 at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, October 20 at 2:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $12.00, with discounted tickets of $10 for students (with a valid id), seniors (55 and up), and active military. For more information on JCCT performance dates, tickets, auditions, or volunteer opportunities, please go online to www.jcct.info or call JCCT at 423-‐ 926-‐2542. Reservations can also be made online by clicking on the reservations link.
Page 20, The Loafer • October 8, 2013
Swaptober Fest
Art Swap in Historic Downtown Bristol October 12th 9am to noon On Saturday, October 12, from 9 a.m to 12 noon, Believe in Bristol’s Arts & Entertainment District and Arts Alliance Mountain Empire will be hosting Swaptober Fest, a fun swap meet for artists of all types! “Art swaps are a great way for local artists to meet each other, to talk about art and the arts scene here in Bristol, and most importantly to barter for some great art!” says René Rodgers, Associate Director of Believe in Bristol. “We had ϐ Ǧ during State of the Arts Weekend, where people both traded and bought art, and we’d like to build on that experience with this Swaptober Fest.” At this event, you can swap paintings, photographs, or sculptures, along with any unneeded tools or art supplies. But you don’t have to stop there – the swap is
also for the whole range of the arts, so it ϐ ǡ ǡ ǡ jewelry, and much more. We want you to be creative in what you offer to trade! And more good news! There will be no registration charge, though space is limited so please do register your interest with Believe in Bristol. You will just need to bring your own table and chairs so that you have space to display your art or supplies. Swaptober Fest will also be open to the public, so don’t be afraid to barter! What else do you need to know? We will be setting up at the Country Music Mural Stage at the Farmers’ Market, 810 State Street, in Historic Downtown Bristol. Set-‐up time on Saturday, October 12 will be from 8 a.m to 9 a.m., and clean-‐ up/pack-‐up from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. Please be aware that the Farmers’ Market will already be up and running by 8 a.m., and therefore there may not be space to pull up in front of the Country Music Mural stage. Alternate unloading zones include the area behind the market where the transit buses come and go, or you can park on State Street, where you can unload and then bring your table and swap items to the stage. For more information or to register, please contact René Rodgers of Believe in Bristol at 276-‐644-‐9700 or rrodgers@ believeinbristol.org.
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October 8, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 21
Quilt Trail Open House October 12th The Quilt Trail is celebrating 10 years and over 100 sites along the clothesline of quilt barns in Carter, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington Counties. Tickets are now on sale for an anniversary Open House along the Trail, Saturday October 12. During the Open House, 30 quilt sites will host a regional heritage festival, opening their doors to show off their farms, quilts, historic homes, and local goods. Online information, schedule, and day pass purchasing at Ǥ Ǣ County, day passes ($10) are available at Tennessee Quilts. This September the Quilt Trail welcomed its 110th site, Cleek Farms in Kingsport. “I did not dream it would be anything like this,” says Settle. “We thought this would be something for locals to drive around and see on a Sunday afternoon.” The latest extension of the organization’s promotional efforts was deployed to the Apple
app store this summer: Follow the Quilt Trail mobile app is now available for free download on iPhone or iPad. Whether you learn about the Trail from a map or from an app, ϐ County is host to twenty-‐four quilt sites. How do you plan your Open House visit? Day passes ($10) for the Open House come in the form of a commemorative Passport, complete with pages to get stamped during the Open House. The Passport contains the schedule of events at participating sites, which runs from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Along the way visitors will discover historic home tours, local fall goods for sale, antique quilt shows, old timey demonstrations, Tennessee Fainting Goats, refreshments, and much more. Visitors are encouraged to purchase the Passport and plan their day in advance. AmericInn is the local
accommodation sponsor, offering a special overnight rate for Open House ticket holders. The Open House will be preceded by a Farm-‐to-‐Table Dinner and Fundraiser for the Quilt Trail and the Appalachian RC&D Council on Friday Oct. 11, at the historic Embree House & Farm in Telford. Dishes will showcase farm ingredients from the 6-‐counties that host the Quilt Trail, such as Shell Mill (Jonesborough) grits and apple chutney from Unicoi County. The suggested $75 donation will ensure that the Appalachian RC&D Council can continue to promote agriculture and heritage in Washington County and through out the region. The founder of the original Quilt Trail in Ohio, Donna Sue Groves, will be the special guest of honor that weekend of the 11th and 12th of October. She will give the evening
address on October 11th. During the Open House on the Quilt Trail she will be signing copies of her co-‐authored book, Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement (with Suzi Parron, 2012, Ohio University Press) at Tennessee Quilts. Tennessee Quilts, Farm Credit Mid-‐America, First Bank & Trust
Company are lead sponsors of the anniversary celebration weekend. All ticket proceeds, as well as all donations, go to the Appalachian RC&D Council’s tax-‐deductible programs that improve rural economy while protecting natural and cultural resources. www.ARCD.org
Page 22, The Loafer • October 8, 2013
Unusual Week of Spaceflights Decades Apart
This week marks the dates when a half-‐dozen manned ϐ ϐ ǯ direction of the Space Age. From the space propaganda ploys that the Soviet Union used to garner world-‐wide support for the supremacy of Socialism, ǯ ϐ moonship Apollo, to the baptism of a third country in outer space, manned spacecraft made headlines this week from the 1960s to 2005. Each manned space mission
is full of danger and executed by fearless men and women. You could even call crazy a few of the space stunts pulled by the Soviet ϐ manned space travel. The Cold War rivalry between the USSR and USA included an undeclared Moon Race that America waged openly while the Soviet Union worked under the cloak of secrecy. When the moon lander named Eagle settled on the solid lava Sea of Tranquility on July 20, 1969, the ceremonial planting
of the American Flag by the two ϐ to the Soviets and their inferior space program. Though the Soviet Union denied the Moon was their goal when Apollo 11 grabbed the world’s attention, they failed only because their gigantic N-‐1 moon rocket didn’t work and NASA’s Saturn V rocket did. The world knew little about the Soviet Space program until the political changes in the USSR in the 1990s that lead to American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts sharing Space Shuttle rides to the MIR Space Station. And when the truth was told, the Soviet Union covered up many failures, exaggerated accomplishments and deceived NASA in pioneering areas of space that could have cost American lives. In the 1960s, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev used the space program as his own toy, demanding certain attempts Dzϐ dz propaganda machine of the superiority of Communism to the rest of the world. No mission in space history may have been more dangerous
ͽ ϔ transmission from space
ϐ Ǧ man spacecraft Voskhod 1. After six successful missions from 1961-‐63 of the single seat Vostok ϐ famous woman, Khrushchev wanted to beat America to the ϐ Ǥ spaceship was enlarged for two cosmonauts, but America’s Apollo was a three-‐man moonship, and Khrushchev ϐ Russian. So dangerously, spacesuits were abandoned and three seats were crammed into a
space the size of a car front. The cosmonaut pilot was joined by the spacecraft designer and a doctor, who constantly monitored their health. The trio of cosmonauts walked to their Voskhod 1spacecraft in woolen workout sweats and soft shoes, openly smiling, waving and acting like it was business as usual-‐-‐but inside they had to be scared to death. The Oct. 12, 1964 launch of Voskhod 1 and three space travelers was hailed around Continued on page 23
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Continued  from  page  22
the  world  as  proof  the  Russians  had  the  fast  track  to  the  Moon.   After  24  hours  the  spaceship  successfully  landed  with  special  retro  rockets  that  braced  the  impact  on  solid  ground.   The  six  previous  Vostok  cosmonauts  had  ejected  from  their  spacecraft  during  descent  and  parachuted  to  the  ground  separate  from  their  capsule.  (This  was  a  secret  kept  from  the  world  until  the  1980s!)  So  it  was  somewhat  of  ƒ Â?‹”ƒ…Ž‡ –Šƒ– –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– ƒ––‡Â?’– ƒ manned  landing  of  a  spacecraft  ™‘”Â?‡† Ď?Žƒ™Ž‡••Ž›Ǥ But  the  three  cosmonauts  were  later  shocked  to  return  to  ƒ”–Š ƒÂ?† Ď?‹Â?† –Šƒ– Š”—•Š…Š‡˜ had  been  deposed  on  a  silent  coup!  They  were  later  feted  in  Moscow  by  new  Premier  Leonid  Brezhnev  and  his  Alexi  Kosygin,  both  future  players  in  world  affairs.  Another  Soviet  spectacular  in  October  1969  showed  that  the  Soviets  were  indeed  eyeing  a  Moon  landing  after  the  success  of  Apollo  11  in  July  that  year.   ‘” –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– –‹Â?‡ –Š‡› Ď?Ž‡™ –Š”‡‡ spacecraft  in  orbit  at  the  same  time.  Soyuz  6  was  launched  Oct  11  with  two  cosmonauts,  probably  to  observe  the  docking  of  Soyuz  7,  launched  Oct.  12  with  three  cosmonauts,  and  Soyuz  8,  launched  Oct  13  with  two  more  spacemen.    Space  insiders  could  tell  something  wasn’t  right  when  none  of  the  Soyuz  docked  with  each  other,  considered  a  necessary  step  to  logistics Â
ISS  in  2000 of  a  Moon  voyage.   But  when  the  spacecrafts  returned  to   Earth  on  separate  days,  the  Soviet’s  Tass  News  Agency  simply  reported  that  rendezvous  maneuvers  had  been  performed  and  the  space  spectacular  of  three  spacecrafts  and  seven  cosmonauts  were  world  Ď?‹”•–•ǥ •Š‘™‹Â?‰ –Š‡ ’”‘‰”‡•• ‘ˆ Socialism.  What  really  happened  was  the  failure  of  docking  mechanisms  to  work  on  Soyuz  7  and  8.   But  there  was  no  tunnel  in  the  docking  colar,  it  merely  held  the  spacecraft  together.   Cosmonauts  were  to  practice  spacewalk  transfers  between  the  two  docked  Soyuz  spacecraft,  with  Soyuz  6  watching  and  possibly  docking  later.   This  was  the  technique  to  be  used  for  the  trip  to  the  Moon.   A  cosmonaut  blasting  off  the  Moon  would  leave  his  moonship  and  spacewalk  to  the  lunar  orbiting  Soyuz  with  one  or  two  cosmonauts  inside.  The  Soviets  had  successfully  transferred  two  crew  members  from  Soyuz  5  to  Soyuz  4  in Â
January  1969.   But  those  plans  never  came  to  fruition  in  lunar  orbit.   Once  beaten  in  the  Moon  Race,  the  Soviets  professed  that  they  never  intended  to  go  there,  but  instead  wanted  to  occupy  Earth  orbit  with  space  stations.   And  they  spent  the  1970s  orbiting   a  series  of  space  stations  called  Salyut,  followed  in  the  1980s  by  the  legendary  Mir   Space  Station. Â?Â‡Â”Â‹Â…ÂƒÇŻÂ• •’ƒ…‡Ď?Ž‹‰Š–• –Š‹• week  of  October  include  the  Â?ƒ‹†‡Â? Ď?Ž‹‰Š– ‘ˆ –Š‡ ’‘ŽŽ‘ Command  Module,  the  mother  ship  of  America’s  moon  program.  Following  the  fatal  Apollo  1  Ď?‹”‡ –Šƒ– Â?‹ŽŽ‡† –Š”‡‡ ƒ•–”‘Â?ƒ—–• in  January  1967  during  a  launch  pad  test,  18  months  passed  before  the  improved  Apollo  7  was  launched  on  October  11,  1968.   The  spacecraft  performed  Â?‡ƒ” Ď?ÂŽÂƒÂ™ÂŽÂ‡Â•Â•ÂŽÂ›ÇĄ ƒÂ?† –Š‡ three  astronauts  were  world  celebrities  as  they  sent  back  –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– ÂŽÂ‹Â˜Â‡ÇĄ …‘Ž‘” ‹Â?ƒ‰‡• ˆ”‘Â? a  spaceship  orbiting  Earth.   But  a  cold  bug  had  bit  the  crew,  and Â
during  the  last  days  of  their Â ÍłÍ˛ÇŚÂ†ÂƒÂ› Ď?Ž‹‰Š– ˜‡–‡”ƒÂ? ‡”…—”› and  Gemini  commander  Wally  Schirra  became  irritable  and  combative  with  mission  control,  as  did  his  space  colleagues  Walt  Cunningham  and  Don  Eisele.   ‘Â?‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡Â? ‡˜‡” Ď?Ž‡™ ‹Â? •’ƒ…‡ again.  The  International  Space  Station  orbits  the  Earth  17  times  a  day  from  a  height  of  about  250  miles,  and  has  been  continuously  occupied  by  at  least  two  people  for  since  2001.  It  was  on  October  11,  2000  that  a  construction  mission  of  a  Space  Shuttle  undocked  from  the  ISS  without  leaving  someone  behind. Atlantis  was  the  Shuttle  that  Ď?Ž‡™ ƒÂ? ‹Â?’‘”–ƒÂ?– –”—•• „‡ƒÂ? –‘ the  American  Unity  and  Russian  Zarya  modules  that  made  up  the  Ď?‹”•– •‡‰Â?‡Â?–• ‘ˆ –Š‡ Ď?Ž‡†‰‹Â?‰ ISS.   Seven  astronauts  on  Atlantis  took  part  in  two  spacewalks  and  several  excursions  inside  the  two  modules  to  ready  the  ISS  for  permanent  occupancy.   Once  bitter  rivals  in  space,  America  and  Russia  were  now  the  major  partners  of  a  17-Ââ€?nation  effort  to  build  and  maintain  the  ISS. Finally  in  our  look  back  at  manned  space  history  this  week,  on  Oct.  11,  2005,  a  third  player  in  the  manned  space  scene  emerged  as  a  serious  one  as  China  launched  two  men  aboard  their  Shenzhou  7  spaceship.   The  “taikonautsâ€?  performed  tests  on  their  new  spaceship,  and  had  few  problems  during  the  very  •—……‡••ˆ—Ž Ď?‹˜‡ †ƒ›• ‹Â? ‘”„‹–Ǥ China  has  vowed  to  be  a Â
major  factor  in  manned  space  endeavors,  announcing  plans  for  permanent  space  stations  like  the  ISS  as  well  as  their  intent  to  go  to  the  Moon.   Methodically  China  has  placed  one,  two,  than  three  taikonauts  in  space,  and  recently  completed  a  second  visit  to  their  small,  box-Ââ€?car  sized  space  station.  China  has  included  –™‘ ˆ‡Â?ƒŽ‡• ‹Â? –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– Â?‹Â?‡ people  it  has  sent  to  space. While  once  rivals  America  and  Russia  have  laid  their  political  differences  aside  to  build  together  the  ISS  and  explore  space,  the  Chinese  are  in  alliance  with  nobody.  The  second  decade  of  the  21st  Century  has  America  in  a  strange  predicament.   With  the  Space  Š—––Ž‡ Ď?Ž‡‡– Â?Â‘Â–ÂŠÂ„ÂƒÂŽÂŽÂ‡Â†ÇĄ has  no  spacecraft  as  the  new  4-Ââ€?man  Orion  is  in  development  maybe  until  2017.   Americans  travel  to  the  ISS  via  a  $50  million  seat  aboard  the  three-Ââ€?man  Russian  tried-Ââ€?and-Ââ€?true  Soyuz  spacecraft.   China  copied  the  Soyuz  design  in  their  Shenzhou  spacecraft,  but  relied  in  their  own  technology  to  build  the  Long  March  rocket  booster  for  manned  mission.  As  China  gains  more  experience  in  space,  it  is  gathering  a  toe-Ââ€?hold  for  future  dominance  in  Earth  orbit—a  stated  goal  by  it  leaders.   Just  what  military  implications  that  might  have  is  anybody’s  guess.   But  one  thing  is  for  certain,  once  a  world  leader,  America  is  sadly  lagging  in  its  commitment  to  human  space  exploration.
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Celestial  events  in  the  skies  for  the  week  of  Oct.  8-Ââ€?14,  2013,  as  compiled  for  The  Loafer  by  Mark  D.  Marquette. This  week  is  for  some  moon  gazing  as  our  natural  satellite  begins  its  monthly  movement  across  our  evening  skies.   Turn  those  binoculars  you  use  for  sports  events  or  bird  watching  upward  to  our  Moon,  and  be  amazed.   And  in  any  telescope,  there  is  so  much  more  to  see.   The  line  between  daylight  and  night  on  the  Moon  is  called  the  “terminator,â€?—and  on  Earth  it’s  twilight.  Here  is  where  the  longest  shadows  are  cast,  giving  the  greatest  amount  of  detail.   You  might  see  a  mountain  peak  catching  sunlight  in  the  black  side  of  the  terminator,  and  two  hours  later  see  the  whole  mountain  as  daylight  progresses  quickly  on  the  Moon. Tues.  Oct.  8 Venus  is  below  the  crescent  Moon,  a  celestial  conjunction  that  is  a  good  photo  opportunity.   Put  a  tree  or  building  in  the  foreground  to  make  the  scene  more  interesting.  A  high  ISO  (like  1,000  or  more)  and  long  exposure  (like  30  seconds)  on  a  tripod  is  a  good  place  to  start—just  experiment  as  you  can  see  your  digital  results  and  shoot  for  free! Wed.  Oct.  9 Â? –Š‹• ʹͲͲ͝ †ƒ–‡ ‹Â? •’ƒ…‡ Š‹•–‘”›ǥ ǯ• ‘‘Â?nj‘”„‹–‹Â?‰ •ƒ–‡ŽŽ‹–‡ …‘Â?Ď?‹”Â?• the  existence  of  huge  reservoirs  of  ice  inside  craters  at  the  north  and  south  poles.  These  craters  never  see  sunlight  and  are  minus-Ââ€?200  below  zero  all  the  time,  so  ice  might  be  laying  on  the  surface.   But  most  of  the  lunar  ice  is  buried  beneath  –Š‡ •—”ˆƒ…‡ ‘ˆ Ď?Ž—ˆˆ› •‘‹Žǥ …ƒŽŽ‡† ”‡‰‘Ž‹–ŠǢ „‡ƒ– –‘ †‡ƒ–Š „› Â?‹ŽŽ‹‘Â?• ‘ˆ ›‡ƒ”• ‘ˆ bombardment  by  micrometeorites. Thurs.  Oct.  10 If  you  see  some  meteors  streaking  through  the  night,  they  might  just  be  some  cosmic  debris  from  the  Southern  Taurid  Meteor  Shower.   These  swift  and  bright  meteors  are  remains  of  a  comet  called  Encke,  and  with  the  gibbous  Moon  setting  before  midnight,  the  mid-Ââ€?morning  peak  is  a  favorable  one  with  up  to  10  meteors  an  hour  expected. Fri.  Oct.  11 The  Moon  is  at  First  Quarter  today  at  7:02  pm,  making  an  exact  right  angle  with  the  Earth  and  Sun,  directly  south  in  our  early  evening  sky.  This  date  is  also  important  ‹Â? •’ƒ…‡ Š‹•–‘”› ˆ‘” ˆ‘—” Â?ƒŒ‘” ‡˜‡Â?–• ‹Â? Â?ƒÂ?Â?‡† •’ƒ…‡Ď?Ž‹‰Š–ǣ ‹Â? ͳ͝͸ͺ Â?‡”‹…ƒ Žƒ—Â?…Š‡† –Š‡ –Š”‡‡njÂ?ƒÂ? ’‘ŽŽ‘ Íš ‘Â? ‹–• ‹Â?ƒ—‰—”ƒŽ Ď?Ž‹‰Š– ‘ˆ –Š‡ Â?‘–Š‡”•Š‹’ ˆ‘” –Š‡ Ď?Ž‹‰Š– –‘ –Š‡ ‘‘Â?Ǣ ‹Â? ͳ͝͸͝ –Š‡ ‘˜‹‡– Â?‹‘Â? Šƒ† –Š”‡‡ •’ƒ…‡…”ƒˆ– ‹Â? ‘”„‹– ƒ– ‘Â?…‡ǥ ‘›—œ ͸ǥ Íš ĆŹ Íş ™‹–Š •‡˜‡Â? …‘•Â?‘Â?ƒ—–• Â–Â‘Â–ÂƒÂŽÇ˘ ‹Â? ʹͲͲͲǥ ’ƒ…‡ Š—––Ž‡ ‹•…‘˜‡”› ™‹–Š seven  astronauts  was  launched  as  the  last  construction  mission  without  occupants  ‹Â? –Š‡ Â?–‡”Â?ƒ–‹‘Â?ƒŽ ’ƒ…‡ –ƒ–‹‘Â?Ǣ ƒÂ?† ʹͲͲ͡ǥ Š‹Â?ƒ Žƒ—Â?…Š‡† Š‡Â?œŠ‘— ͸ ™‹–Š –™‘
cosmonauts  performing  a  spacewalk  on  just  the  nation’s  second  manned  foray  into  space.  That’s  19  different  space  travelers  on  this  day  in  history. Sat.  Oct.  12 On  this  1964  date  in  space  history,  the  Soviet  Â?‹‘Â? Žƒ—Â?…Š‡† –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– –Š”‡‡njÂ?ƒÂ? …”‡™ ‹Â?–‘ orbit.   Built  for  two  cosmonauts,  the  chief  designer  of  Voskhod  1  was  crammed  inside  like  a  sardine  to  perform  a  propaganda  stunt,  making  the  world  think  the  Soviets  were  ahead  of  America  in  the  Moon  Race. Sun.  Oct.  13 On  this  1968  date  in  space  history,  Apollo  7  „”‘ƒ†…ƒ•– –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– Ž‹˜‡ –‡Ž‡˜‹•‹‘Â? ‹Â?ƒ‰‡• ˆ”‘Â? ‘—–‡” •’ƒ…‡Ǥ Š‡ –Š”‡‡ ƒ•–”‘Â?ƒ—–• Ď?Ž‘ƒ–‡† ‘„Œ‡…–• in  weightlessness,  cut  up  and  turned  the  camera  back  on  the  Earth. Mon.  Oct.  14 The  Moon  is  a  gibbous  phase  entering  the  constellation  Aquarius,  who  carries  water  across  the  sky.   Full  Moon  on  Oct.  18th  will  be  the  Hunter’s  Moon.
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Rush
Director Ron Howard brings the world of Formula 1 racing ϐ “Rush”, and I will say right away ϐ ǣ Ǥ ǯ ϐ ǡ but when the speakers nearly blow off the theater walls, you know the volume is high. If Howard was going for the “you are in the middle of the action” feeling, he has succeeded. “Rush” stars “Thor” actor Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt, a British Formula 1 driver who was considered a sex symbol in 1976, ϐ Ǥ Bruhl) stars as the main rival of James, Niki Lauda, an Austrian from a wealthy family, who is no glamour and all business. ϐ
life racers, and after seeing photos of the real Hunt and Bruhl, Ǥ ϐ follows the two drivers during the 1976 season when both are willing to risk everything to become world champion. The road to the 1976 race season was interesting for both Hunt and Bruhl, as both men had many challenges to overcome. Bruhl actually comes into the 1976 season as world champion out to defend his title against rival Hunt. During a race Bruhl wanted to cancel due to horrible weather, the reigning champion crashes and nearly dies. Bruhl is badly burned, and after being sidelined for 6 weeks, he shocks everyone by returning to the track for the
ϐ so he can hold off Hunt, who has been gaining points on him. The showdown race results in a surprise ending, and Hunt and Bruhl are both let with satisfying results. The main actors are both wonderful in their roles, and are never upstaged by the racing, even though lesser actors may have been left in the rubber burns of the action. ϐ and Bruhl is as entertaining as the actual racing, and the real story here is the love/hate relationship between the two rivals. The two kept each other in their best form during their drive to succeed.
ϐ on a true story, and even though I am not a Formula 1 racing fan, ǡ ϐ wonderfully entertaining. The real life Hunt passed away at the age of 45, but Bruhl is very much
alive at the age of 64. It’s a shame Hunt is not able to see this part of his life depicted ǡ ϐ it was at times. Ron Howard has
ϐ emotional impact as thrilling action, and as a result “Rush” ϐ Ǥ (Rated R) B+
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Twenty Years of Very Dangerous Days
One  of  the  most  important  lessons  I  ever  learned  as  a  kid,  was  that  both  laundry  day,  and  garbage  day,  are  very  dangerous  days.  If  you’re  of  a  certain  generation,  you’ve  picked  up  on  what  the  above  is  a  reference  to.  A  line  repeated  by  Rocko,  the  main  character  on  the  1990s  animated  series  Rocko’s  Modern  Life,  which  celebrated  its  20th  anniversary  this  past  month.  If  you’ve  read  my  column  for  any  long  amount  of  time,  you’ve  heard  me  mention  this  series  before.  It’s  one  of  my  favorites,  and  my  absolute  favorite  cartoon  series.  Considering  it’s  from  that  golden  age  of  TV  cartoons  that  was  the  90s,  the  fact  that  20  years  later  the  series  is  starting  to  get  it’s  due  is  high  praise  indeed.  For  the  uninitiated  Rocko’s  Modern  Life  is  about  the  daily  adventures  and  life  experiences  of  Rocko,  a  wallaby  who  just  immigrated  from  Australia  to  the  city  of  O-ÂTown.  Alongside  Rocko,  there’s  his  dog,  Spunky,  and  his  two  best  friends.  Heffer,  an  overweight  steer  that  was  adopted  by  a  family  of  wolves,  and  Filburt—Woody  Allen  in  turtle  form  (who  would  later  go  on  to Â
marry  a  cat  with  a  hook  for  a  hand,  named  Dr.  Hutchinson).  Rocko’s  next  door  neighbors,  a  pair  of  toads  named  Ed  and  Bev  Bighead,  have  a  mixed  relationship  with  their  young  friend.  Mrs.  Bighead  likes  Rocko.  Mr.  Bighead,  however,  despises  him.  Rocko’s  Modern  Life  was  unique  in  the  sense  that  most  of  it’s  humor  came  from  surreal  parody  and  satire.  The  satirical  elements  focusing  on  cultural  commentary.  A  running  target  being  the  LQĂ€XHQFH RI FRUSRUDWH $PHULFD RQ the  world.  Mr  Bighead  works  at  Congolm-ÂO,  a  company  with  no  obvious  purpose,  whose  logo  is  the  world  as  the  olive  in  a  martini  glass,  with  the  motto  “We  own  youâ€?.  Also,  somewhat  notorious,  is  the  series  use  of  adult  humor.  Jokes  that  went  over  our  heads  when  we  ZHUH NLGV QRZ ODQG ÂżUPO\ LQ WKH middle  of  our  faces.  A  smart  series,  with  a  moderate  bit  of  edge  for  the  time,  most  of  which  still  holds  up.  One  of  the  most  popular  episodes  of  the  series,  is  the  third  season’s  “Wacky  Dellyâ€?.  The  episode  not  only  stands  out  as  one  of  Rocko’s  ¿QHVW EXW DOVR DV RQH RI WKH ÂżQHU episode  of  the  era,  as  it’s  a  direct Â
satire  on  the  industry  of  television  animation.  In  the  universe  of  O-ÂTown,  Ed  and  Bev  Bighead  have  a  son,  who  they  initially  disown,  Ralph  Bighead.  Ralph  rejected  his  father’s  corporate  work  life,  and  headed  out  to  Hollowood  to  become  a  cartoonist,  creating  the  wildly  popular  animated  series  “The  Fatheadsâ€?  (to  add  to  the  meta  elements  of  it  all,  Ralph  Bighead  is  voiced  by  Rocko  series  creator,  Joe  Murray).  “Wacky  Dellyâ€?  begins  with  5DOSK ÂżQDOO\ DW WKH HQG RI KLV contract  for  “The  Fatheadsâ€?,  and  looking  forward  to  having  the  freedom  to  go  out  and  create  real  art.  However,  his  contract  with  the  network  states  he  owes  them  another  series.  Instead  of  spending  his  time  tied  down  to  another  long  running  series,  Ralph  invites  Rocko,  Heffer,  and  Filburt—the  biggest  fans  “The  Fatheadsâ€?  have—out  to  Hollowood  to  create  his  next  TV  series  for  him,  thinking  it  will  be  such  a  disaster,  the  network  will  have  no  choice  but  to  cancel  the  series,  freeing  him  from  his  contract.  In  a  true  “Springtime  for  Hitlerâ€?  moment,  the  show—which  is  all  about  deli  meats—becomes  a  massive  hit.  Ralph,  shocked  by  his  throw  away  series  sudden  success,  does  all  he  can  to  sabotage  production.  Over  exposing  negatives,  and  at  one  point  telling  the  boys  to  just  run  a  half  hour  shot  of  a  jar  of  mayonnaise.  Each  time,  the  moves  are  viewed  as  genius  works  of  television,  the  shot  of  mayo  being  declared  “a  powerful  Warholian  tributeâ€?.  When  the  last  time  you  saw  a  reference  to  Andy  Warhol  in  a  children’s  cartoon?  Therein  lines  the  genius  of  Rocko’s  Modern  Life.  It  was  a  show  that  was  not  concerned  with  “how  to  keep  kids  captured  for  half  an  hourâ€?,  but  rather  a  show  where  the  brilliant  creative  team  were  trying  to  make  each  other  laugh.  Joe  Murray  assembled  an  amazing  team  of  creative  talents  to  helm  this  series.  This  is  why  we’re  still  celebrating  the  show  twenty  years  DIWHU LW ÂżUVW JUDFHG RXU VFUHHQV Unlike  some  shows  we  watch  as  kids,  that  we  later  shudder  at  as  adults,  Rocko’s  Modern  Life  still  entertains  us.  In  an  era  in  which  children’s  TV  animation  was  an  embarrassment  of  riches,  people  DUH ÂżQDOO\ VWDUWHG WR UHDOL]H ZKDW a  gem  Rocko’s  Modern  Life  was.  See  you  next  week,  follow  me  on  Twitter  @ThatAndyRoss.
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Halloween Horrors, Part Two: I Am Legend: Remembering Richard Matheson Š‡ ™‘”Ž† ‘ˆ Š‘””‘” Ď?‹…–‹‘Â? ƒÂ?† Ď?‹ŽÂ? ™‘—Ž† „‡ ƒ ˆƒ” †‹ˆˆ‡”‡Â?– ’Žƒ…‡ were  it  not  for  the  considerable  contributions  made  by  Richard  Matheson  during  his  productive  63-Ââ€?year  career.  When  he  died  this  past  June  at  age  87,  horror  and  •…‹‡Â?…‡njĎ?‹…–‹‘Â? ˆƒÂ?• Ž‘•– ‘Â?‡ ‘ˆ their  best  friends.  So,  for  this  installment  of  “Halloween  Horrors,â€?  let’s  spend  a  little  time  remembering  Matheson’s  legacy. The  shadow  cast  by  Matheson  over  horror  is  so  large  it’s  hard  to  know  where  to  begin  in  recounting  Š‹• ‹Â?Ď?Ž—‡Â?…‡Ǥ ‘” starters,  consider  that  he  wrote  sixteen  episodes  of  the  iconic  “Twilight  Zoneâ€?  TV  series,  as  well  as  most  of  the  memorable  opening  and  closing  monologues  spoken  by  Rod  Serling  for  each  episode.  Six  of  his  novels  were  adapted  as  now-Ââ€?classic  horror  Ď?‹ŽÂ?Â•Č„ÂƒÂ?†ǥ ‘ˆ …‘—”•‡ǥ the  novels  themselves  are  classics  in  the  Ď?‹‡Ž†Ǥ ‡ ‹• ’ƒ”–‹ƒŽŽ› responsible  for  launching  the  career  of  Steven  Spielberg,  and  countless  horror  writers  and  Ď?‹ŽÂ?Â?ƒÂ?‡”•ǥ ˆ”‘Â? Stephen  King  to  Rob  ‘Â?„‹‡ǥ Šƒ˜‡ –‡•–‹Ď?‹‡† –‘ –Š‡ ‹Â?Ď?Ž—‡Â?…‡ ‘ˆ Matheson  on  their Â
work.  And,  his  legacy  lives  on  in  his  family,  particularly  in  his  son  Richard  Christian  Matheson,  who  ‹• ƒ ’”‘Ž‹Ď?‹… ÂƒÂ—Â–ÂŠÂ‘Â”ÇĄ Ď?‹ŽÂ?Â?ƒÂ?‡”ǥ and  musician  who  regularly  plays  rock’n’roll  with  Stephen  King  and  Dave  Barry  in  the  “Rock  Bottom  Remainders.â€?  One  of  my Â
favorite  horror  novels,  a  scary  reworking  of  the  Frankenstein  story,  is  his  Created  By,  and  I  recommend  you  read  it  too. Most  horror  movie  and  literature  historians  trace  the  beginnings  of  the  modern  zombie  image  to  George  Romero’s  infamous  1968  movie  “Night  Of  The  Living  Dead.â€?  According  to  no  less  authority  than  Romero  himself,  he  got  his  ideas  from  reading  Matheson’s  ground-Ââ€?breaking  1954  novel  I  Am  Legend,  which  was  given  the  movie  treatment  several  –‹Â?‡•ǥ Ď?‹”•– ‹Â? Dz Š‡ Last  Man  On  Earthâ€?  (1964),  featuring  one  of  the  very  best  Vincent  Price  p e r f o r m a n c e s ,  then  in  1971’s  “The  Omega  Man,â€?  starring  Charlton  Heston,  and  most  recently  in  the  lame  Will  Smith  version,  “I  Am  Legendâ€?  (2007).  So,  considering  the  phenomenal  popularity  of  zombies  in  the  past  few  years,  we  all  owe  a  very  large  debt  to  Matheson’s  pioneering  efforts  in  creating  our  modern  image  of  the  walking  dead.
One  of  my  favorite  “guilty  pleasuresâ€?  is  a  delightful  1974  made-Ââ€?for-Ââ€?TV  movie,  “Trilogy  of  Terror,â€?  starring  Karen  Black  and  directed  by  Dan  Curtis.  This  trilogy  features  Black  playing  four  roles  in  stories  based  on  Matheson  short  stories.  Š‹Ž‡ –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– –™‘ ƒ”‡ ƒ Ž‹––Ž‡ lackluster,  yet  very  entertaining  and  diversionary,  it  is  the  last  one  that  is  most  remembered  and  discussed.  Matheson’s  short  story  “Prey,â€?  is  about  a  single  woman  who  buys  a  Zuni  warrior  doll  for  her  anthropologist  Ď?‹ƒÂ?Â…Âą ƒÂ?† Â†Â‹Â•Â…Â‘Â˜Â‡Â”Â•ÇĄ Â?—…Š –‘ her  displeasure,  that  the  doll  is  possessed  and  very  much  wants  her  dead.  In  the  TV  adaptation,  “Amelia,â€?  we  are  treated  to  a  bravura  performance  by  Black  (the  only  human  actor  in  the  sketch),  who  is  chased  around  her  apartment  by  the  deadly  †‘ŽŽǥ …—ŽÂ?‹Â?ƒ–‹Â?‰ ‹Â? ƒ Ď?‹Â?ƒŽ confrontation  that  features  one  of  the  most  chilling  scenes  in  the  horror  genre.  Also  on  my  list  of  favorite  Matheson  adaptations  is  “Duel,â€?  another  made-Ââ€?for-Ââ€?TV  movie  starring  Dennis  Weaver  (of  “Gunsmokeâ€?  and  “McCloudâ€?  fame),  playing  David  Mann,  an  electronic  salesman  who  is  terrorized  on  a  road  trip  by  a  monster  truck  driven  by  an  unseen,  yet  very  demonic  driver.  Like  “Trilogy  of  Terror,â€?  this  mini-Ââ€?masterpiece  features  a  minimal  cast,  with  more  than  95%  of  it  consisting  of  Weaver,  his  Plymouth  Valiant  and  the  omnipresent  truck.  This  little  1971  gem  was  directed  by  a  rookie  named  Steven  Spielberg,  who  claimed  this  terrifying  road  movie  was  the  inspiration  for  his  1975  blockbuster  “Jawsâ€?  (just  replace  the  monster  truck  with  a  monster  shark,  and  the  rest  is  history).  “Duelâ€?  is  often  —•‡† ‹Â? Ď?‹ŽÂ? •–—†‹‡• …Žƒ••‡• as  a  demonstration  of  how  to  effectively  use  cuts  and  unique  camera  angles  to  produce  genuine  suspense  and  terror.  A  must-Ââ€?see  for  any  horror  and  thriller  fan. Needless  to  say,  Matheson’s  Â?‘•– •‹‰Â?‹Ď?‹…ƒÂ?– …‘Â?–”‹„—–‹‘Â? to  television  was  his  sixteen  “Twilight  Zoneâ€?  episodes,  the  ‹Â?Ď?Ž—‡Â?–‹ƒŽ •‡”‹‡• –Šƒ– ”ƒÂ? ˆ”‘Â? 1960-Ââ€?1965  and  now  available  24/7  on  a  screen  near  you Â Č‹Â–ÂŠÂƒÂ?Â?• –‘ ‡–Ď?Ž‹šǥ ‘— —„‡ǥ ƒÂ?† other  sources).  Although  they  are Â
all  worthwhile,  my  Matheson-Ââ€? penned  episodes  are  “Nightmare  at  20,000  Feet,â€?  perhaps  the  most  famous  of  all  episodes,  starring  William  Shatner  as  a  –‡””‹Ď?‹‡† ƒ‹”’ŽƒÂ?‡ ’ƒ••‡Â?‰‡” ™Š‘ sees  something  a  little  weird  on  –Š‡ ™‹Â?‰ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ’ŽƒÂ?‡Ǣ Dz ‘”Ž† Of  Difference,â€?  my  personal  favorite,  starring  Howard  Duff  who  makes  the  alarming  discovery  that  his  “realâ€?  world  is  nothing  more  than  a  movie  •‡–Ǣ Dz ‹––Ž‡ ‹”Ž ‘•–ǥdz –Š‡ ‡’‹•‘†‡ that  inspired  “Poltergeist,â€?  the  1982  movie  produced  by  Spielberg  and  directed  by  Tobe  ‘‘’‡”Ǣ Dz ‘”Ž† ‘ˆ ‹• ™Â?ÇĄÇł ƒ humorously  terrifying  little  story  about  a  man  (Keenan  Wynn)  who  discovers  that  whatever  he  dictates  into  a  machine  become Â ÂƒÂŽÂŽÇŚÂ–Â‘Â‘ÇŚÂ”Â‡ÂƒÂŽÇ˘ ƒÂ?† Dz Š‡ Â?Â˜ÂƒÂ†Â‡Â”Â•ÇĄÇł a  neat  little  companion  to  the  aforementioned  “Amelia,â€?  featuring  Agnes  Moorehead  as  its  only  actor,  a  woman  who,  without  dialogue,  confronts  what  she  perceives  as  an  alien  invasion  of  her  home.  Without  fear  of  contradiction,  we  can  perhaps  say  that  Rod  Serling’s  little  series  inspired  more  horror  writers  and  directors  than  any  other  pop  culture  phenomenon  before  or  since.  And  Richard  Matheson  was  in  many  ways  the  glue  that  held  the  series  together,  particularly  in  light  of  the  fact,  mentioned  previously,  that  he  wrote  Serling’s  opening  and  closing  monologues  for  nearly  every  episode.  While  Serling  wrote  the  majority  of  the  episodes  themselves,  it  was  writers  like  Matheson  and  Charles  Beaumont  that  helped  shape  the  series  and  gave  it  such  a  unique  vibe  that  resonates  to  this  day. I  could  devote  the  remaining  three  columns  in  this  series  to  Richard  Matheson’s  other  accomplishments,  such  as  “The  Amazing  Shrinking  Manâ€?  and  “The  Legend  of  Hell  House,â€?  but  I  will  let  you  do  your  own  investigating.  I  certainly  hope  you  will  take  some  time  this  week  to  watch  or  read  some  of  Matheson’s  work.  There  is,  after  all,  no  excuse  not  to  see  some  of  it,  because  you’re  carrying  much  of  it  around  in  your  pocket  right  now.  So  do  a  little  less  texting  and  a  little  more  Richard  Matheson  viewing. See  you  next  week  with  Part  Three.
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