Eventually we are all in a sense, “gone with the wind,” now that is so for the great Olivia de Havilland, who died at the age of 104 yesterday in her adopted city of Paris, France.
Alas with what she left us–“Melanie” in “Gone With The Wind” and so many other great performances, that “wind” of performance/memory whisks her back.
Additionally, Ms. de Havilland fought for actor’s rights and they all owe her so much. Hopefully she gets the appreciation, the similar fighter, Curt Flood does not get from the pampered, spoiled, vastly over paid baseball players of today.
Let me channel “Melanie’s” good nature brought to us so beautifully by Olivia de Havilland in “GWTW” and cite her two Academy Award winning performances.
The first was for “Each To His Own” in 1946 and the second for her unforgettable performance in “The Heiress” with greats Ralph Richardson and Montgomery Clift (talk about acting chops!).
She was incredible in the 1948 film, “The Snakepit,” one of the first to delve into the world of mental illness.
I will include my three previous posts (in chronological order) that (more than) mentioned her name. She was incredible and lived long, her great work which also included stage and television, longer–something for which to be extremely grateful.
Watching “Gone With the Wind” on TCM
The Great Actress Olivia de Havilland is 99 Years Old/Young
Watching “The Big Valley” Notes
Olivia de Havilland pictured above. Imagine if you will, the acting greats that will greet her there, including her sister, Joan Fontaine, now the two on a different plane.
What turned out to be the great player, Mickey Mantle’s last major league game, was played on Saturday September 28, 1968 at Boston’s Fenway Park.
Mantle popped out to the Red Sox shortstop Rico Petrocelli in the top of the first inning and was replaced at his announced position first base by Andy Kosco in the bottom of the first inning.
Mickey did not play in the season finale the next day and announced his retirement in spring training in March 1969.
Fenway Park, pictured above.
A manifestation of all going on is that for the second time in 3 days, a defending Washington D.C. title team from 2019, will play its 2020 opening game.
Surely, two title teams from the same city/area have never opened their subsequent seasons in such proximity.
The title team opening play today, as the 24th WNBA season commences amidst all, is/are? the Washington Mystics, as they meet the Indiana Fever.
The ’19 title winning, wild card Washington Nationals opened their next season 2 days ago and play their second game in front of the “cardboard fans” today.
Imagine writing this script, after the Mystics at home and the Nationals on the road claimed 2019 titles, in “winner take all”/decisive final round games!
Before last season, only one Washington D.C. baseball team had won a World Series.
That team, the Senators, won it all in 1924 and won the pennant in 1925.
They opened their season after the title, as the Nationals did last night, with a loss to the New York Yankees, scoring just one run. That time (1925), the D.C. team was on the road, losing (5-1) at Yankee Stadium.
The ’25 Senators, again as defending champions, also had their home opener vs the Yankees. This time, behind the great pitcher, Walter Johnson, the Senators won (10-1).
Walter Johnson, pictured above.
I really enjoyed watching the great (1956) film, also a great play–“Tea And Sympathy,” yesterday on TCM.
The timeless story about not “fitting it” and said repercussions, is superb.
A pair of “Kerrs,” (Deborah and John) not related are the stars.
I recall the superb film critic, Jeffrey Lyons referring to Ms. Kerr as “Car as in star,” which I believe was a studio promotion, but has served me as a pronunciation guide for the fantastic, sensitive performer.
John Kerr, (I think pronounced the same as “basketballers with many titles accrued in different capacities,” namely Steve and John “Red” Kerr,) is the male lead and gives a superb performance.
More with names; as I cite two more in what was a great cast, first Leif Erickson, whose performances and frame stood tall, although he was not the one, who discovered “The Americas.”
Darryl Hickman (brother Dwayne portrayed television’s “Dobie Gillis”), also gives a nice performance in the highly acclaimed “Tea And Sympathy.”
Today another great episode of “What’s My Line?,” this one from September, 1965.
Muhammad Ali is the mystery guest.
Panelists, in order of their introduction, are Arlene Francis, Joe Garagiola, Dorothy Kilgallen and Martin Gabel.
John Charles Daly is the show’s host.
The triple play (top 5, the Dodgers had leadoff man Maury Wills on second, second place hitter Jim Gilliam on first and by definition, the third place hitter was at bat) was engineered as Elio Chacon made a leaping catch on a line drive, went to Felix Mantilla to double off Wills and he threw to a stretching Gil Hodges, to triple off, Gilliam.
Willie Davis, who wore #3, was the batter.
Chacon, Mantilla and Hodges were the first three batters in the Mets’ lineup.
Davis homered T9, for the game’s final and decisive run.
Gil Hodges, pictured above hit 3 home runs in that May 30, 1962 doubleheader, moving him into a tie with Mets broadcaster, Ralph Kiner for the most home runs by a National League right hand hitting batter, at that time.
Each had 369 home runs, which was tenth on the all-time list, at the time.
I will never know but perhaps we were on the road in or even toward Washington D.C. that Memorial Day (Wednesday May 30th) in 1962.
It seemed and there was a triple play turned by the first year, eventual (40 wins, 120 losses) New York Mets vs the L.A. Dodgers, who lost a decisive unscheduled third playoff game for the N.L. flag to the San Francisco Giants.
More on the play, game and notes in upcoming posts.
Elio Chacon, pictured above made a great leaping catch to start that triple play.
My head was “up” but not in the right “up,” as I “mainlined” sports (on a lighter occasion, a dissertation on three great ’62 baseball teams) and not the cause and inherent courage of one so great, as John Lewis.
No matter the “push back,” no matter your other politics or even your “micro” world in this time of trouble, one can admire a life that did, a life of courage, a life that endured despite…. (read it, acts of violent cruelty and hate).
Thus, with more to follow in a less cryptic remembrance, I salute the great John Lewis, who died yesterday at age 80.
As I wrote/typed the person on “the other end,” quickly was redeemed from not knowing who John Lewis was.
The person quickly ascertained and spoke “we can all learn from him,” John Lewis.
Andy B Sports 