Mr. Pop History – That is correct – as Perkins died of AIDS back in 1992. His wife, Berry Berenson, had no idea how he became infected, but later it was revealed he was gay – even had a pre-marriage liaison with music great Leonard Bernstein.
She would perish in a 9-11 plane.
If we only had the medications we had today. Back in the 1980′s and 1990′s, AIDS was certain death.
Mr. Pop History – From the Mr. Pop Week Of December 1, 1952… London was invaded by a thick polluted fog between Dec. 3 and Dec. 7. So thick, many couldn’t see their shoes. The initial death count was 4000 – but further studies say that eventually passed to 12,000 lost lives.
The fog turned out to be a mix of sulphur dioxide and coal smoke – along with common auto and industrial pollutants. The catalyst was stagnant air caused by a cold front.
Exactly 10 years later – another deadly London Fog – this one claimed 136 lives.
Something to think about next time you put on that London Fog coat.
Mr. Pop History – Apparently, sales of iPods are way down. Thanks to smarter phones such as Apple’s own iPhone and of course, the Android phone. Sales of iPods are down 20% from a year ago. I love my iPod – great device and easily managed through iTunes.
Speaking and the Android phone, – theyre the leaders at 29% of all smartphone sales. Apple’s iPhone AND Blackberry hold 27%. And you thought Blackberry was out of the picture!
Gary West – www.mrpopculture.com
I’m not the biggest fan of the way TV and movies are primarily shot these days. There’s way too much jiggling of the camera – up, down and sideways. That’s because, thanks to MTV – it seems our attention span is much less. So, when we see a simple shot like standing in one place,talking – we see the camera jerking – left – right, right-left, up-down, sideways – you name it. YIKESSS!!!
And, it’s everywhere now. TV, movies, commercials. Separately – another trend – I especially “love” the sideshot of somebody talking into another camera.
That’s another great effect – to keep our attention. You know what it really is? Fill. Just fill. A boring commercial or interview – but it needs this.
My-my what has it all come to.
Back to the subject – the first TV show to use this type of jiggling shoulder-camera effect (thank goodness it quickly went away) was the 1970′s ABC-TV series “Kolchak The Night Stalker” starring Darren McGavin. Yes, the 1970′s – way before MTV. But, on Kolchak, it was used for effect – not because its audience needed a constant moving camera to keep their attention.
Gary West – www.mrpopculture.com Thank you Robert Neill.
Mr. Pop History – “Bullwinkle” the moose was based from a Berkley, CA car dealership. The voice of Bullwinkle was that of Bill Scott, who with Jay Ward, created “Rocky and Bullwinkle.”
Mr. Pop History – Their last film was 1949′s “”Love Happy.” Groucho went into TV and “You Bet Your Life.” and Chico did some TV and live dates. Harpo was guest starring on shows such as “I Love Lucy.”
But, they did get together one more time. It was 1959 on CBS-TV’s GE Theater and “The Incredible Jewel Robbery.” Harpo was a bad guy, Chico was a cop and Grouch is seen at the end, a cameo in a police line-up.
Mr. Pop History – That hip music you hear a lot on sports-TV and stadiums – that was a trend from the 1990′s when songs such as “Rock And Roll Part 2″ by Gary Glitter became hip and fashionable.
But – it seems the same music is being played everywhere, so – add this to your rotation.
Here’s another one you can put on that list. No one has it. It’s Mr pop guaranteed to get them up and dancing between innings or between kick-offs at live stadium sporting events.
The Mr. Pop Culture Sport Stadium Tune… Sports Music – wwwmrpopculturecom
Mr. Pop History – Some of the radio boards bring up a consistent subject – pop music on radio today has very little in the way of presentation from air talent (use to be called DJ).
That’s true. A good pop music radio personality today is measured in a totally different way. If they get the job done, they’re labeled good to great. Back when personality pop radio was king, “getting the job done” was kind of an insult. It said – you could get by. So, what are the differences between say, a 1960′s, 1970′s pop radio personality (DJ) and today’s talent?
1) Your own personality came through between the music. Your own. You weren’t reading Hollywood gossip all the time. You had you’re own take on things – at that very moment. Very spontaneous.
2) You could read a live commercial between songs – complete with music underneath – and be entertaining. And, leaving the audience wanting more. Not many today can even read a live commercial without flubbing the words.
3) You could work the format between music and commercials – be part of it all.
4) You could talk and entertain between songs. There were fewer music sweeps (songs-in-a-row) so you were as important as the music and station jingles. You were part of the presentation.
5) Then – DJ’s did “shows” – today, they do shifts.
6) Bigger than life – Pop radio DJ’s were true stars.
Here’s a great example of a personality DJ and high-profile radio station. Listen to Jack Spector of WMCA, NY back in 1965. The presentation and style is nothing less than exciting and Jack keeps everything moving forward. BTW – the crackle you hear was from area lightening storms. A typical summer afternoon in the New York area. Yes, on AM radio – you can hear approaching lightening storms!
Mr. Pop History -
Karen Carpenter shows-up on a Los Angeles-based record label, Magic Lamp. She recorded four songs and the best of them is something called, “Looking For Love.” Not a bad song, but it did nothing on the charts.
To me, it’s an interesting take on Karen’s vocals. You can tell it’s her, but sometimes not.
This was three years before The Carpenters were signed to nearby A&M records and became superstars. It was a long way though between 1966 and 1969 – and that’s another story.
Here’s Karen Carpenter – “Looking” For Love” from 1966.
Gary West – www.mrpopculture.com
Mr. Pop History -
Back in the summer of 1974, Maria Muldaur scored her only hit – one you do hear on the radio, “Midnight At the Oasis. Not too much is known, so I went back to 1974 to dig out some information.
She grew in Greenwich Village, NY and landed in the middle of the folk revival, spending lots of time at Washington Square.
Actually, the album from which this hit came, “Maria Muldaur” spent 41 weeks in the Billboard top 100.
She did six years with the Jim Kewskin Jug band, then met Geoff Muldaur, married – and they made two albums before that marriage went south. She later moved to Woodstock where she did lots of working with area artists such as Ry Coder and Dr. John.
Mr. Pop Culture Report
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