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Saturday, March 19, 2011:
Both of my locks on my front door bit the dust today. So in order to maintain peace of mind, I had to call out from work tonight. I've only done that once before in the 21 years I've worked there. So my plans are to write up a few posts for future editions of my blog Inner Toob and to listen to "Vin Scelsa's Idiot's Delight" in real time.
You can as well - Vin is on WFUV 90.7 FM, public radio from Fordham University. And if you're out of the listening range, you can hear him online from at wfuv.org.
Streaming content costs money, however, and with the latest idiocy (NOT "Iddiocy"!) from the Republican-controlled Congress slashing all funding for NPR, WFUV could use your help.
But at least consider contributing to the NPR outlet in your area. Don't let "them" kill something so vital!
Thanks!
Stuck at home tonight? On a Saturday?
Well, you're the lucky one, because tonight's the HBO premiere of the 'Pee-Wee Herman Show', as taped on Broadway!
Here are a couple of videos to get you ready.....
It's pozz'ble, just pozz'ble that there's an alternate TV dimension for theatrical programs recorded live on stage - a world in which productions of Sondheim's "Into The Woods", "Passion", and "Sweeney Todd" co-exist with staged versions of Arthur Miller's "Death Of A Salesman" and many of the Shakespeare plays.If so, "The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway" would share that world with them.....See ya! Wouldn't wanna be ya!
This just cracks me up....
BCnU!
Here are three other YouTube videos celebrating "The Celestial Toymaker" story from 'Doctor Who'.......
BCnU!
With the passing of actor Michael Gough, Toobworld Central wants to pay tribute with a few posts about some of the TV characters he played.
Perhaps the most famous is "The Celestial Toymaker" from 'Doctor Who'. It was a multi-part story involving the First Doctor and his Companions Stephen and Dodo, but only the last chapter remains.
Still, YouTube does supply a few summaries for the episodes that are lost. So here's "The Celestial Toymaker" - the first three episodes presented as audio summaries and then the original fourth episode, "The Final Test".
EPISODE ONE
EPISODE TWO
EPISODE THREE
And now, the conclusion, the only episode known to exist....
EPISODE FOUR
BCnU!
In his later years, the late Michael Gough's most famous role was that of Alfred Pennyworth, the butler and confidante of Bruce Wayne in three theatrically-released movies. ("Batman", "Batman Returns", and "Batman & Robin")
But the character is a true multiversal, not only exisitng in the Cineverse, but he has a counterpart in an alternate TV dimension - most likely the "Evil Mirror Universe". (It can't be Earth Prime-Time, because he existed on the Main Toobworld back in the 1960's.....
Here's the video evidence:
And here's a behind-the-scenes look at Gough's work in fleshing out the character....
BCnU!
In memory of Michael Gough, who passed away on Thursday.....
LEO TOLSTOY
"Young Indiana Jones: Travels With Father"
AS PLAYED BY:
Michael Gough
From Wikipedia:
Leo Tolstoy, or Count Lyev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (September 9, 1828 – November 20, 1910), was a Russian writer. His literary masterpieces "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina" represent, in their scope, breadth and vivid depiction of 19th-century Russian life and attitudes, the peak of realist fiction.
Tolstoy's further talents as essayist, dramatist, and educational reformer made him the most influential member of the aristocratic Tolstoy family. His literal interpretation of the ethical teachings of Jesus, centering on the "Sermon on the Mount", caused him in later life to become a fervent Christian anarchist and anarcho-pacifist. His ideas on nonviolent resistance, expressed in such works as "The Kingdom of God Is Within You", were to have a profound impact on such pivotal twentieth-century figures as Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Many consider Tolstoy to have been one of the world's greatest novelists.
Tolstoy died in 1910, at the age of 82. He died of pneumonia at Astapovo train station, after falling ill when he left home in the middle of winter. His death came only days after gathering the nerve to abandon his family and wealth and take up the path of a wandering ascetic, a path that he had agonized over pursuing for decades. He had not been at the peak of health before leaving home; his wife and daughters were all actively engaged in caring for him daily. He had been speaking and writing of his own death in the days preceding his departure from home, but fell ill at the station not far from home. The station master took Tolstoy to his apartment, where his personal doctors were called to the scene. He was given injections of morphine and camphor.
From the Indiana Jones wiki:
The world-wide trip that Henry Jones, Jr. embarks upon in the early 1900s next takes him and his family to Russia. A fit of clumsiness lands Junior into hot water with his father. Not bearing any more punishment, Indy runs away into the Russian countryside. He encounters an odd, cantankerous old man named Leo Tolstoy, who is in full agreement that hell is other people. Both are running away to seek a simpler life. They cross the countryside, encountering colorful Gypsies and avoiding fierce Imperial Cossack troops. The hardships of the journey make Indy homesick, but he won't soon forget his journey with the stubborn old man.
During that time with Tolstoy in 1910, Jones traded a number of baseball cards with legendary author Leo Tolstoy in return for his family bible.
Here's a detailed description of their meeting, from "The Indiana Jones Timeline" compiled by Allen Lane:
Late Summer (1910):
Indy and his family are staying in Russia with friends of his father's who invited them to their daughter's wedding. Indy tries to behave himself and enjoy the wedding at the same time, but fails to do so. He leans against a cart with crystal on it which send it crashing into a passing waiter. Indy's father takes him out into the hall to reprimand him. He tells Indy that he is to stand in the hall and not move, however, Indy disobeys him. As he walks into an adjoining room, he brushes against a handle attached to the rope a huge chandelier is hanging from. The handle comes unlocked and the chandelier crashes down onto the wedding cake. Indy's parents look on in disbelief and his mother brings him to his room. Indy apologizes to his mother, but she tells him that his father will deal with him in the morning. Indy, feeling he is being treated unfairly, climbs down a gutter drain outside his window and runs away. The next morning, Miss Seymour wakes Indy's parents to tell them that Indy is gone. Indy's father begins to search for him. Indy, sleeping in a haystack, is awoken by a small weasel. He tries to shoot it with his slingshot, but hits an old man who was also sleeping in the haystack. The old man advances on him swinging a stick and yelling in Russian. Indy says that he doesn't speak Russian, so the man starts yelling at him in English. The man says how he hates young people and walks off with Indy's slingshot. Indy follows him trying to get his slingshot back. The man tells him to stop following him, but Indy refuses. The man gives him back his slingshot and tells him to get off his side of the [road]. Indy walks with him (on his side of the [road]) and explains how he is running away back to America. When Indy questions why the man doesn't want to turn Indy into his parents the man says that he never did what he was supposed to do and he is also running away. Indy doesn't believe him because he's old. The man asks him if he thinks only little boys are driven crazy by their parents. Meanwhile, Indy's parents are getting extremely worried about him. Indy asks the man if he is going to miss anyone. The man says he'll miss his dogs. Indy says he misses his dog also. Indy's sole comes off his book and the man says he'll fix it. The man shows Indy his prize possession, his bible. Indy shows him his baseball mitt and ball. He explains to him the basics of the game and shows him his baseball card collection. Indy says he wouldn't give up his prize card for all of the gold in China. The man says he feels the same way about his bible. With Indy's boot fixed, the two continue on their way. 
They begin to feel hungry and Indy starts eating the apple he brought with him. He offers the man one bite, but the man manages to eat half of the apple with his one bite. Indy complains, but the man tells him that things should be divided each according to his needs. Since he is bigger than Indy, he requires more. Indy states that it was his apple, but the man says that it grew on a tree in the ground and belongs to the world. Indy says he will never share anything with him again. The two continue on in silence as it begins to thunder. Indy's father says that he should never have brought Indy along on his trip through Europe. Miss Seymour says that every boy runs away at some point; even he did. Indy's father claims that it wasn't the same when he ran away. Indy and the man reach a village and the villagers rush to great the man yelling, "Tolstoy!" Indy is amazed at how friendly the people are to Tolstoy. The villagers welcome "Count" Tolstoy into their inn and give him food to eat. Indy watches from the window as rain begins to pour down on him. Tolstoy yells at him to get inside and stop making him feel guilty. Once Indy finishes the meal he asks if Tolstoy is some kind of king in disguise. Tolstoy tells him that he wrote a few books years ago, but they weren't very good. He tells Indy that he is running away to nowhere in particular. He just wants a simpler life, closer to God. Indy tells him he can run away to New Jersey with him and Tolstoy agrees. The Russian police arrive looking for Tolstoy and tell him they are here to take him back to his family. Indy flips the table up and knocks down the police. In the confusion, he and Tolstoy escape. Indy's father becomes increasingly worried about the dangers that Indy might encounter and blames himself for Indy running away. As Indy and Tolstoy hide in a barn, they watch as Imperial Cossack troops ride by. Tolstoy tells him that they are ruthless and are used by the government to ride themselves of "certain unfortunate ethnic groups." Indy finally places the name "Tolstoy" and asks if he is the author of "War and Peace". Indy says his father thinks he's great, but Tolstoy says his father is an imbecile. Tolstoy says they should head for the train station. On the way, they stop so Indy can teach Tolstoy about baseball. Indy says it's too bad Tolstoy wasted all those years writing because he could have been a great hitter. A group of gypsies pass by and give the two of them a ride. That night, Tolstoy tells everyone a scary story around the campfire. While they all dance around the campfire, the Cossacks attack, killing many of the gypsies. Tolstoy is knocked down by a Cossack on a horse, but Indy rescues him. The two flee as the camp is set on fire. Indy brings Tolstoy to a church, but the monk tries to throw them out thinking they are beggars. Indy tells him that the man is Tolstoy and they try to help him. As Tolstoy comes to, he realizes where he is and runs out. He tells Indy that they drive people away from God and he'd sooner die than receive help from them. Tolstoy falls unconscious in a field nearby and Indy screams for help. Some men hear him and bring Tolstoy inside their house. The next day, Indy asks Tolstoy why he hates the church so much. He says that they diminish God by claiming to speak for him. He tells Indy not to try to see God through spectacles borrowed from the church, but instead through his own eyes. Meanwhile, Miss Seymour isn't feeling well from all of the worry. Indy's father just wishes he could talk to him and begins crying. Indy and Tolstoy arrive at the train station just as the train leaves. Indy notices that Tolstoy is not doing too well. He tells him that he doesn't think he is up to the trip. Tolstoy gets angry as Indy tells him that he thinks he should return to his family. Tolstoy agrees to go as long as Indy will return to his family as well. Indy's father and mother are looking in on Miss Seymour who is bedridden when a hotel clerk knocks at the door to tell them that Indy has been found. Indy's mother makes his father promise that he won't be too hard on him. Indy's parents arrive at Tolstoy's estate and are reunited with Indy. Indy apologizes for running away. Before he can accept, Indy's father spots Tolstoy and is amazed. 
Indy introduces his parents to Tolstoy. After they leave, Tolstoy goes inside to rest. Indy's mother asks where Indy got the bible he has. Indy says he traded Tolstoy his baseball card collection for it. Tolstoy takes out the baseball cards and enthusiastically reads through them. (YOUNG INDIANA JONES - TRAVELS WITH FATHER)For more of Mr. Lane's excellent work re: Indiana Jones:http://www.innermind.com/youngindy/info/indy.htm
BCnU!
Johnny Appleseed died on this date in 1845.....
AS SEEN IN:
'Shelley Duvall's Tall Tales And Legends'
AS PLAYED BY:
Martin Short
From Wikipedia:
Johnny Appleseed (September 26, 1774 – March 18, 1845), born John Chapman, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. He became an American legend while still alive, largely because of his kind and generous ways, his great leadership in conservation, and the symbolic importance he attributed to apples.
He was also a missionary for the New Church, or Swedenborgian Church, so named because it teaches the theological doctrines contained in the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. 
There is some controversy and vagueness concerning the date of his death and his burial. Harper's New Monthly Magazine of November, 1871 (which is taken by many as the primary source of information about John Chapman) says he died in the summer of 1847. The Fort Wayne Sentinel, however, printed his obituary on March 22, 1845, saying that he died on March 18:
"On the same day in this neighborhood, at an advanced age, Mr. John Chapman (better known as Johnny Appleseed).
The deceased was well known through this region by his eccentricity, and the strange garb he usually wore. He followed the occupation of a nurseryman, and has been a regular visitor here upwards of 10 years. He was a native of Pennsylvania we understand but his home—if home he had—for some years past was in the neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, where he has relatives living. He is supposed to have considerable property, yet denied himself almost the common necessities of life—not so much perhaps for avarice as from his peculiar notions on religious subjects. He was a follower of Swedenborg and devoutly believed that the more he endured in this world the less he would have to suffer and the greater would be his happiness hereafter—he submitted to every privation with cheerfulness and content, believing that in so doing he was securing snug quarters hereafter.
In the most inclement weather he might be seen barefooted and almost naked except when he chanced to pick up articles of old clothing. Notwithstanding the privations and exposure he endured, he lived to an extreme old age, not less than 80 years at the time of his death—though no person would have judged from his appearance that he was 60. "He always carried with him some work on the doctrines of Swedenborg with which he was perfectly familiar, and would readily converse and argue on his tenets, using much shrewdness and penetration.
His death was quite sudden. He was seen on our streets a day or two previous."
BCnU!
The two-part "Candy Man" episode of 'N.Y.P.D.' had a great guest cast: James Earl Jones, William Devane, Julius Harris, Tom Aldredge, Barbara Colby, and Rudy Bond. (Harris, Devane, and Barbara Colby are pictured above with stars Robert Hooks and Frank Converse.) 
Devane played a member of Phoenix House named John, a former drug addict trying to get his life turned around after nine years of shooting junk into his arms. Since the episode took place in 1967, that means he had been a drug addict since at least 1958. (Who knows when he actually stopped using the stuff?)
What we didn't know until an episode several months later was that his full name was John Laney and that he was married to a woman named Barbara. Through the auspices of Phoenix House, John Laney straightened himself up enough to land a really good job which took him out of town a lot. 
At some point in 1968, Barbara Laney thought Detective John Corso had come to her home to investigate her involvement in a ring of housewives turned prostitutes, so once she let him into her house, she ripped her own bathrobe and screamed assault. 
John Laney howled for Corso's blood over the alleged attack, which may have been fueled by his recognition of Corso from the burglary investigation conducted against Phoenix House members several months earlier. If so, he hid it well. As for the cops, they never recognized him; it's true it had happened some months before and they deal with a lot of people every day. But then again, they might not have seen the Phoenix House members as individuals, just a bunch of addicts..... SHOWS CITED:'N.Y.P.D.' -"Candy Man, Parts One & Two""The Screaming Woman"
BCnU!
Back in 1968, a couple of NYC housewives on a gentrified street of brownstones was running a prostitution ring out of their homes. At least one of them was doing it without her husband's knowledge and only when he was out of town on business.
But one day he came home early and caught her with a guy who had been sent over by her "pimp" working out of the local bar. Luckily for that guy, the 'N.Y.P.D.' was already there to arrest her, so once they were let into the house by "The Screaming Woman", they were able to stop her husband from beating the "client" to death. 
It looks like the cops let the "john" get off with a warning, which was a godsend for his future political career. Because that "john" turned out to be a future state governor, Eugene Xavier Gatling (as seen on 'Benson'). 
BCnU!
