"Mack the Knife" from "The Threepenny Opera"

I was talking with my son this week via Instant Messenger as we do almost on a daily basis and I asked him to visit the new Tuxedo Junction website and The Palomar. He visited both and was very impressed.

As we were texting back and forth, I brought up the idea of writing a piece about Sinatra and suggested that he participate in the project with me since he is a big Sinatra fan. I thought it would be a good idea to hear the views from his generation about the big band era and specifically Sinatra himself. Here is some of that conversation:

Spencer Smartt: My next piece for next weekend is planned to be about Sinatra. How about writing a couple of paragraphs on what you think of Sinatra and his music and I will include it in the piece?

Marco: You should write a piece on the history of “Mack the Knife”, better known as The Threepenny Opera by by German dramatist Bertolt Brecht and composer Kurt Weill, which premiered in 1928. The Nazis later banned it.

Original Poster from Berlin (1928)

Spencer Smartt: That’s a great idea!

Marco: The music itself is almost 200 years old now; it has a long history back to the 1700's as "The Beggar's Opera." Throughout its years, it has had a great impact on how society views its underclass. It parodies capitalism, and created one the most recorded songs ever, especially as a swing song or a big band song.

Spencer Smartt: That being “Mack the Knife”?

Marco: Yes, and it also moves emphasis on these pages from the artists to the artwork itself, cuz honestly the artwork is more famous than the artist.

Spencer Smartt: Which version of the video should I use Ella, Frank, Louie Armstrong or Bobby Darin's version?



Marco: Tough question. I'm very partial to Sinatra's version but that is because I like Frank. But I realize that Darin's version is “THE” benchmark. What makes it tough though are the other two. Icon's in their own right you know. It’s hard to dismiss any one over the other. But I would have to say Bobby Darin for no other reason than Sinatra gives him tribute first in his version.



Spencer Smartt: Okay that sounds fair.

Marco: Old Satchmo, Louis Armstrong and Bobby Darrin did this song nice, Lady Ella too, they all sang it with so much feeling that Old Blue Eyes said in his version, “He ain’t gonna add nothing new”.


Spencer Smartt: I still want to add some of your comments about Frank because it will show how Big Band music transcends generations.

Marco: How does a 60 year old view big band compared to a 35 year old and how do big bands influence 15-18 year olds?

Spencer Smartt: Now that’s a very good question! Let’s talk about that for a minute! Why do you think the song “Mack the Knife” continues to transcend generation to generation?

Marco: Or more important how do those three generations view a character like Macheath?

Spencer Smartt: The main character of "The Beggar's Opera" is a swashbuckling thief called Macheath. He's a dashing romantic, a gentleman pickpocket, a Robin Hood type. Why do you think Brecht turns Mack into a scoundrel who kills eleven people, seven children, two women and two old men and rapes a young widow all in one song and why do you think he continues to be immortalized in this song?

Marco: Well I don’t know if a comparison to Robin Hood is fair. Robin Hood was a good guy from a noble family that endeavored to do good things for the downtrodden. Macheath, however, is a bad guy. He comes from the underclass and only endeavors to help his own people and only if it benefits himself. I think this is one of the reasons for its longevity.

Most of us can’t relate to the Robin Hood type. But we all like to see someone from the lower station in life who is able to right the wrongs of the “the Man”, and we are often willing to overlook some of the bad. A modern example would be the popularity of Don “the Dapper Don” Gotti.

I think that Brecht’s liberties with the character speak to the uncertainty of his time. As much as the folklore of Robin Hood speaks to its time and that Gotti was a product of his times, so was Macheath a product of his time. This can be seen as Macheath transforms to Mackie Messer and then Mack the Knife.

Spencer Smartt: Do you think that had the “Three Penny Opera” not been revived during the Big Band era that it could have had the impact today that it had back then?

Marco: I think that the story risked moving into relative obscurity had it not been revived. The beauty of both "The Beggar’s Opera" and "The Threepenny Opera" is that both try to use some of the musical features of their period. "The Beggars Opera" tended to use music popular already during the very early 1700’s. "The Threepenny Opera" used the original Gay music but used musical influences of the early 1900’s to tell its story.

Spencer Smartt: Of the 23 pieces of music which compose "The Threepenny Opera," why do you think the “Ballad of Mack the Knife” became the hit that it did and continues to be recorded by every generation!

Marco: Well like I had mentioned earlier, it is people like this that we relate to, or often wish we could relate to, because they tend to be one of us. There is a certain familiarity I think, that people want to have with the anti-hero. It helps also when someone like Sinatra can come along and propel him into a sense of cool that still remains modern.

Spencer Smartt: I think Frank and Jimmy [Buffet] might be a good version. It ties two generations together, what do you think?



Spencer Smartt: In Brecht and Weill’s first performance in Berlin (1928), Lotte Lenya played the role of “Jenny” and was present in the studio in 1954 when Louis Armstrong recorded “Mack the Knife” where he improvised the line "Look out for Miss Lotte Lenya!" and added her name to the list of Mack's female conquests in the song. What are your thoughts’ about Lotte Lenya and her role as Jenny in 3PO?

Marco: The nice thing about this song is that it allows this type of improvisation. It is at the core of what the original Beggar’s Opera was about. Using a little bit of new along with something already there. Each subsequent version of the songs builds on what is already in place. Sinatra took his liberties by recognizing Elle, Bobby Darin and Louis Armstrong.

Lotte Lenya, circa 1928

Lotte Lenya, circa 1963

Marco: Dad, have you heard of a new rising star by the name of Michael Bublé?

Spencer Smartt: As a matter of fact I have! I see here (viewing Wikipedia site) that in 2000 Michael Bublé was invited to sing at the wedding of Caroline Mulroney, daughter of former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney, where he sang “Mack the Knife". What is your take on his performance?

Marco: I bet George Bush wishes Sinatra could have belted out "Mack the Knife" at Jenna’s wedding! I think this makes sense though. Bublé is such a hit in Canada, and such a smooth crooner -- who wouldn’t want him to sing at a wedding? And I don’t think early comparisons to Sinatra are unfair either. That he sang "Mack the Knife" only solidifies the argument that everyone wants to identify with such a fun bad-guy.



I asked if he had heard the music of Renee Olstead. He had not! She is a young lady who will turn 19 in June and who at 14 could knock your socks off! She is without a doubt the best example of how big band and swing transcend the generations.

I don’t think I have ever heard a better version of “Summertime” than the one she does. If you haven’t heard her music you are missing a real treat!



About that Sinatra piece? I will get back to that soon. (Hopefully with Marco’s thoughts on Frank.)

I want to thank my son for his input and congratulate him on his graduation from George Mason University this week after nine grueling years of night school. That’s tenacity!

Best wishes!!

Spencer "Wolf" Smartt
Dallas, Texas
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I'm in Heaven

Somebody pinch me, cause I think I died and went to heaven.

Hi, youse guys, "Brooklyn in the 50's" here, checking in for the second time.
As I sit here trying to concentrate on this post, Major Miller is playing in the background, complements of the Arnold Dean Playlist Player and George "The Genius" Spink, (a million thanks George).

Whod'a thunk I'da been so lucky to grow old with the same music I loved as a kid. Betch'a Hip Hoppers won't be as lucky.

Hey Wolf! You Out There?

Got you comment, (thanks), and responded, but probably screwed up somewhere in sending it along, sorry. I'm still new at this BS, (Blogging Stuff). Please be patient with me, I'll get the hang of it.

You said you'd be interested in hearing my stories. My response was:

"My story is much too sad to be told, practically everything leaves me totally cold."

Nothing better then a little trivia to start off a friendship.

Give me the Artist, (hint; male), and the Title. I'll cut you a break on the Album and Label, (though something tells me you'll know those too).

Gotta run now. "The Bride" (my Childhood Sweetheart since 1958), is calling me to stir the sauce and drain the pasta and (Oh Yeah, open the wine).

More on the joys of growing up in "Brooklyn In The 50's"....

Tom Cicconetti
"Brooklyn in the 50's"
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
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Four Playlist Players Now on The Palomar

You'll now find four Playlist Players on The Palomar, located near the bottom of the page in what Blogger calls "The Footer" or, as my buddies in Chicago might call it, "Da Footer."

The Playlist Players include:

1. The Palomar Playlist Player
2. The Tuxedo Junction Playlist Player
3. The Arnold Dean Playlist Player
4. Remember When? Playlist Player

These Players are each configured to work manually. To enjoy these four Playlist Players, simply go to the bottom of The Palomar (hit CRTL+END), scroll up, and click the "Play" button on the Playlist Player you wish to hear.

Notice the scroll bar on the right-hand side of each Player. Touch it with your cursor and slide it up and down until you find something you wish to hear, then click that selection. Or, just click the "Play" button on a Player and let each selection play one after another. Sit back, relax, and have a swingin' time!

There are enough broadcasts in these four Playlist Players to entertain you nonstop for weeks to come! Have a big band marathon! Enjoy them!

Please let me know how you like these Playlist Players. If you wish to know more about these Players, visit the Project Playlist, which I used to build these Players.

You'll also find these four Playlist Players on Tuxedo Junction by visiting this URL:

http://tuxjunction.net/playlists.htm

Later this month, I'll reinstall the individual MP3 players in our entries on The Palomar.

Cordially,

George Spink
Moderator - The Palomar
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A Tribute to the Few Who Remain

During the last year we have covered many of the greats of the Swing Era, most of whom have us long ago. I thought it might be fun to see who of the thousands of vocal stars, band leaders and sidemen are still with us. Most of those who remain came to stardom late and most survived by making the transition from the Swing Era to the sounds of modern jazz or rock n'roll. I’m sure most of you know and remember the great music they have left us. We certainly hope for the best for each of them.

Let’s take a quick peek at six of these fabulous people:

Buddy DeFranco

Buddy DeFranco - (born February 17, 1923) a clarinetist who came to the Swing Era in its waning years -- and perhaps the only major jazz clarinet player to adapt to the change in music from big band to the new age of jazz and bebop.

DeFranco was also perhaps the only viable bebop clarinetist who carried bebop to its extreme in modern Jazz. In 1950 he joined the famous Count Basie Septet, spending a year with the band, and was also the leader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 1966 to 1974. DeFranco also performed with Gene Krupa, Charlie Barnet, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson and many others. He has released dozens of albums as a leader. Buddy was told by Glenn Miller in the late 30’s to “Stick around kid, someday you’re going to play in my band!”

Les Elgart

Larry Elgart (born March 20, 1922) is a bandleader who, along with his brother, Les, recorded the original rendition of "Bandstand Boogie", theme to the long-running teen dance show, American Bandstand. Both brothers began playing in jazz ensembles in their teens. Larry played with jazz musicians such as Charlie Spivak, Woody Herman, Red Norvo, Freddie Slack, and Tommy Dorsey.

In the mid-1940's, Les and Larry started up their own ensemble, hiring Nelson Riddle, Bill Finegan, and Ralph Flanagan to arrange tunes for them. Their ensemble was not successful, and after a few years they scuttled the band and sold the arrangements they had commissioned to Tommy Dorsey. Both returned to sideman positions in various orchestras.

In 1954, the Elgarts left their permanent mark on music history by recording
"Bandstand Boogie" for the legendary television show hosted by Dick Clark on ABC-TV for 32 years. Larry has continued to tour internationally and record well into the 2000's.

Ray Anthony

Ray Anthony (born January 20, 1922) is a bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor. He played in Glenn Miller's band from 1940-1941 before joining the U.S. Navy during World War II. In the early 1950's, Ray Anthony and His Orchestra became very popular with recordings of dance songs such as "The Bunny Hop" and the "Hokey Pokey," as well as the theme music from the TV series "Dragnet."

In 1955, Anthony married sex symbol actress Mamie Van Doren and began expanding his own acting career. Anthony appeared in several films during the late 1950s, including "The Five Pennies" where he portrayed Jimmy Dorsey. Anthony and Van Doren divorced in 1961, and Anthony's brief film career ended at about the same time. However, he continued his musical career and had another hit record with "Fallout," the theme from the "Peter Gunn" television show. Anthony has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is still active as a bandleader and musician.

Jo Stafford

Jo Stafford (born November 12, 1917) is a pop singer whose career spanned the late 1930's through the early 1960's. She is greatly admired for the purity of her voice and is considered one of the most versatile vocalists of the era. Stafford was born to Grover Cleveland Stafford and Anna York Stafford, a distant cousin of Sergeant Alvin York.

During the Great Depression, she abandoned the idea of becoming an operatic vocalist and joined her sisters Christine and Pauline, "The Stafford Sisters," which performed on Los Angles radio station KHJ. When her sisters married, the group broke up and Stafford joined a new vocal group, The Pied Pipers, singing with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra.

In 1944, Stafford left the Pied Pipers to go solo. She hosted the Chesterfield Supper Club. In the 1950's, she had a string of popular hits with Frankie Laine, six of which charted; their duet of Hank Williams' "Hey Good Lookin'" made the top ten in 1951. Her best known hits were "Jambalaya," "Shrimp Boats," "Make Love to Me," and "You Belong to Me".

In 1966, Stafford went into semi-retirement, retiring completely from the music business in 1975. Stafford wouldn't perform again until 1990, at a ceremony honoring Frank Sinatra. As of 2005, Stafford continues to operate Corinthian Records. In 2006, she donated her library and her husband's to the University of Arizona.

Kay Starr

Kay Starr - (born July 21, 1922) is a jazz and popular singer. Her family moved to Dallas, Texas during the Depression. Kay's aunt Nora was impressed by her 7-year-old niece's singing and arranged for her to sing on a Dallas radio station, WRR (A Classical Music station today). At 15, she was chosen to sing with the Joe Venuti orchestra. Although she had brief stints in 1939 with Bob Crosby and Glenn Miller (who hired her in July of that year when his regular singer, Marion Hutton, was sick), she spent most of her time with Venuti until he dissolved his band in 1942.

Her career declined in the late 1950's but she continued to work. As of 2007 she resides in Bel Air, California. Married six times, Starr has a daughter and a grandchild.

Lena Horne

Lena Horne (born June 30, 1917) is a singer and actress of African-American and Cherokee descent. She has recorded and performed extensively, independently and with other jazz notables, including Artie Shaw, Teddy Wilson, Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, and Charlie Barnet. She currently lives in New York City and no longer makes public appearances.

Her uncle, Frank S. Horne, was an adviser to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In 1934, Lena Horne joined the chorus line at the Cotton Club in New York City. Lena Horne toured with bandleader Charlie Barnet in 1940-1941, but she disliked the travel and left the band to work at the Cafe Society in New York. She made her debut with MGM in 1942's "Panama Hattie" and became famous in 1943 for her rendition of "Stormy Weather" in te film "Cabin in the Sky."

By the mid-1950s, Horne was disenchanted with Hollywood and increasingly focused on her nightclub career. She was blacklisted during the 1950s for her political views. In 1989, she received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1998, at the age of 81, Horne released another studio album, entitled "Being Myself." Her last album, " Seasons of a Life," was released on January 24, 2006.

I hope you enjoyed this brief narrative about these wonderful greats as much as I did doing the research. All of their bio’s can be found at Wikipedia or the numerous other links on the internet.

Spencer "Wolf" Smartt
Dallas, Texas
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What Was Going on in the World When You Showed up?

1947 was my year! World War II had been over for two years!

• Frankie Laine and Frank Sinatra were the top male vocalists in the country! Sinatra had a hit movie showing called “It Happened in Brooklyn” with his lifelong friend Peter Lawford as co-star.

• Dick Haymes and Betty Grable were starring in “The Shocking Miss Pilgrim.”

• Some of the future musical greats that were to come on board that year were Elton John, Emmylou Harris, Arlo Guthrie, Carlos Santana and Don Henley of The Eagles.

• 1947 was the year the musical world lost such musical greats as Sonny Berman, George Ritter von Trapp and the great Jimmie Lunceford.

• On July 8th, a UFO crashed in the desert near Roswell, NM.

• The “Black Dahlia” referred to the murder of aspiring actress Elisabeth Short in L.A.

• Al Capone died at his home in Miami.

• In January the first official meeting of the Los Angeles Friars Club was held at the Savoy Hotel in Beverly Hills. Al Jolson, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, George Burns, George Raft, George Jessel, Jonie Taps, Harry Cohn, and Abbot and Costello were the first members inducted.

• The film "The Best Years of Our Lives" won the Academy Award for best picture. Oscars also went to its director, William Wyler, lead actor Fredric March and supporting actor Harold Russell. Olivia De Havilland won best actress for "To Each His Own." Anne Baxter won best supporting actress for "The Razor’s Edge."

• India gained its independence.

• An audience at the Hollywood Bowl heard President Truman’s daughter, Margaret, give her first public concert as a singer.

• Baseball great Jackie Robinson was named 1947 "Rookie of Year."

• New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia (1933-45) died.

• "You Bet Your Life," starring Groucho Marx, premiered on ABC Radio. The show was transferred to TV on NBC in 1950 and lasted until 1961.

• Howard Hughes piloted his huge wooden airplane, known as the Spruce Goose, on its only flight, which lasted 70 sec. over Long Beach Harbor in California.

• Buffalo Bob Smith (1917-1998) and puppet Howdy Doody starred on the first nationally broadcast children’s TV show. It ran to Sep. 30, 1960.

• James Michener wrote "Tales of the South Pacific" for which he won the 1948 Pulitzer Prize. It was the basis for the Broadway musical "South Pacific."

• The new Florida Foods Co. changed its name to Minute Maid. Their initial powder orange juice proved more drinkable as a juice concentrate. Founder John Fox hired Bing Crosby as his 1st spokesman.

WOW! What a year! Sixty one years ago some of you were out swinging to the dying sounds of the big band era! Music was about to take a whole new direction! Rock and Roll had begun to break out around the country! A “new” jazz was also making itself known as well!

But even through it all Swing survived, as it does today!

Spencer "Wolf" Smartt
Dallas, Texas
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Greetings, Everyone!

I'm the new kid on the block.

Just joined The Palomar and looking forward to the great music.

Been a slave to the Tuxedo Junction rotating playlists for years and can't wait for the new website to be completed.

More about my background at a later post. Just wanted to say "Hi" and get acquainted this morning.

Tom "Brooklyn in the 50's" Cicconetti
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
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That's All

Hi, George,

I read your email saying that Mike Rapchak died a couple of years ago. Wasn't he the gent who came to our aid when I first "met" you on your Swingin' at the Junction blog?

It may have been another iteration in your continuing search for the best method of encouraging fans to share their big band music memories, but I was reminiscing about leaving my job as a night-time deejay at KGPH in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Driving back to my dormitory at Arizona State College, listening to all the radio stations I could possibly receive, I would tune to one of the clear-channel (not capitalized, as is the humungous holder of licenses for more than 1000 radio station) stations, usually KSL, Salt Lake City.

The theme song for an all-night program called Music 'Til Dawn was a certain arrangement of That's All. If I am not mistaken, Mike came to our rescue with a cut of Nick Aquaviva's arrangement, the same one used on that fine old radio show.

Seems rather poetic, right now.... That's All.

Thanks for this avenue of memories, George!

Still happy in Tucson!

Larry Schnebly
Tucson, Arizona
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The Resurgence of the Theremin

[George suggested I repost this on the Palomar so the readers here could see it. I first posted it on George's Blog a couple of days ago.]

The Theremin is a musical instrument you'll instantly recognize by its sound, particularly if you're a fan of 1950s sci-fi films like The Day the Earth Stood Still or the TV series The Outer Limits. It makes a warbling, haunting electronic sound that sci-fi directors of the era clearly associated with space and the future.

As the BBC points out in this clip, Russian Leon Theremin (Lev Termin if you're transliterating the Russian) invented the Theremin in the 1920s and originally marketed it as the Etherphone because of the way it sounded. Theremin used two oscillators and two antennas in the instrument he designed. To vary the volume, you move a hand near one antenna. Then to vary the pitch, you move your other hand near the other antenna. It's one of the few musical instruments you play without touching it. For that reason, it's not an easy instrument to play.

Some indie rock bands have been using the theremin. Liam Finn, son of Crowded House's Neil Finn, has been known to play one from time to time. Liam appeared recently on David Letterman to promote his LP. That's right--his LP. He didn't play the theramin on TV, though.

You can buy a Moog Etherware Thereminat retailers like Amazon for less than $400. Companies like Moog and Longwave make them. In fact, synthesizer pioneer Robert Moog, who died in 2005, was so inspired by the theramin that it was the first product he built and sold.

Some current theremins use light sensors rather than RF antennas to track the movement of your hands, and can be made quite small as a result. But I still think the coolest ones are the old-fashioned kind.


Source: Violator3 via Flickr.

Alan Morrison
Santa Clara, California
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More Records Showing Up

I have picked up over 4,000 78 rpm records this week. While there is a wide mish mosh of different era records in this collection, I have picked through some of the Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, and other bands. I have also picked up only my 5th Brunswick "remake" Bing Crosby record. These records appear to be remakes of his early stuff, ranging from about 1929, when he was singing with a male vocal group, to his early crooning days.

I also have, interestingly enough, one from the late 20's, I believe, a Victor Orthophonic of that group with Bing Crosby singing "Mississippi Mud". It's kind of a jazzy vocal record, and, they are trying to sound like "darkies".

"When the sun goes down, the tide goes out, the darkies gather 'round, and, they all begin to shout.. Hey! Hey! Uncle Doug! It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud. It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud...."

I'm more amazed every day at the different recordings made. I have also been discovering a few minor pieces done by vocalists, and, using big bands for background instrumental. In the next few days, I'll pull some of those out, and, list a couple of the titles, company, and, matrix number.

I have weeks ahead of me to go through this collection of records to see what exactly is there, but, I, personally, am kind of excited about the project. In there, of course, are a number of record sets by some of the popular big bands and vocalists.
Just as a matter of light interest, I have also picked up a Bing Crosby set of religious songs, some of it to a somewhat jazzy swing.

Well, I have a lot to learn, but, I thought you folks might be interested in hearing about this find....

How did I find these old records?

In a very small newspaper article last Sunday, it was stated that our last big record, CD, DVD dealer needed to get rid of about 10,000 78's and a very large pile of 45 rpm extras.

Well, I high-tailed it out there on Wednesday of this week. In the article, it said it was primarily big band era stuff. Someone had already gotten there, and, picked up about 1,000. I packed up about 2,500 of them that day. Then, on Saturday, I picked up close to another 2,000 of theme.

It's actually going to take me at least several weeks to go through the boxes of records..

Actually, I have several means of playing the records. I have a more deluxe child's record player for my first test playings. For actual enjoyment, I usually use one of my tube-type Newcomb transcription record players with the GE magnetic cartridge. These machines have variable speed, which helps for the different speed variations.

I keep alot of my favorite records in four-drawer filing cabinets, most in jackets to protect them. I have my big band records in their own drawer along with my Spike Jones records. I'm trying to get enough records by each band, vocal group, etc., to make it worth while to put them on a list according to artist. Haven't done any of that yet. I keep most of my rock 'n roll 78's in their own drawer. I collect many types of records, and, am trying to keep them in their own dedicated areas. I also have many albums of 78's, mostly on open shelves, and, in a few dedicated record cabinets. I also collect LP's, 45's, cylinder records, and, Edison Diamond Disc records. I also have a small handful of late, very rare Edison Needle type lateral 78's, electrically recorded, primarily about 1928. Mostly dance bands, jazz, and some comedy.

Well, I hope this gives you an idea of the monumental task ahead of me... But, I love records, and, as my name states, I am a music fanatic!

Bill Cahill
St. Petersburg, Florida
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Nelson Riddle and Tommy Dorsey

Hi, George,

I was buying an iTunes cut tonight, "On the Sunny Side of the Street." While singing with a group my wife has pulled together, I was reminded of this song, and Sy Oliver's great arranging jobs with Tommy Dorsey.

That got me looking further and I wound up in Wikipedia after a while, and I came across something which probably everyone in the business knew/knows ... that Nelson Riddle was a member of one of those Dorsey combinations of outstanding musicians ! I just had never SEEN that before!

Here's the quote from Wikipedia:

"Another member of the Dorsey band probably spent considerable time observing and listening to Sy Oliver's striking arrangements: trombonist Nelson Riddle, whose later partnership as Sinatra's major arranger and conductor is considered to have revolutionized post-World War II popular music."

I thought I followed big band stuff pretty well as a kid in the 40's and 50's....but obviously there was a large hole in my knowledge.

Thanks for keeping this working, George!

Still happy in Tucson!

Larry Schnebly
Tucson, Arizona
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