I was tremendously moved as Fred Guttenberg spoke from the heart and against the National Rifle Association lobby last night at The Center For Jewish History, (15 West 16th Street– quite an impressive place in which one can lose oneself in their superb archives section).
Perhaps you are one seeking perspective, reality, emotion— consider that a rabbi satisfied him with a “reason,” his brother Michael Guttenberg, one who helped during the events of 9-11, died from cancer, age 50 in 2017 as a result.
Mr. Guttenberg, a passionate, eloquent driven advocate for gun control whose passion is to break the National Rifle Association lobby, however, can not find a “reason” for his daughter Jaime, being taken in a mass shooting.
As I watched and listened, my own emotions and life on the “endless loop,” Fred endures involving Jaime’s death, I do see a process in this because the man Fred Guttenberg, has his/the cause.
He will keep going, fighting for what he believes, history to be on his side and not those who “take to rake” the earth’s spoils.
As you do, Mr. Guttenberg– love your wife Jennifer and son Jesse. Another “J,” Jaime is watching and Fred will get his “J,” it is called justice, if in addition to any political reality involving senseless guns violence and use, we all improve in the category, of caring for others.
Center for Jewish History • 15 West 16th Street, NY, NY 10011
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense In America
Orange Ribbons for Jaime | #orangeribbonsforjaime
After six full weeks (the last 21 days of April, first 21 days of May—April games “shower” and “flower” more games in May) of at least one playoff game each day in either the NBA or NHL, there were none last night.
Three of the four final round participants in the two leagues are known as Golden State (Warriors) will be in their fifth straight NBA final, while the Boston Bruins are in their third in nine seasons.
Meanwhile the St. Louis Blues, last in the final 49 years ago when they were swept by the Bruins (Boston went (2-6) in 8 final round appearances, in the 47 completed seasons in which the Blues failed to make the final ’71-2018) will be Boston’s opponent, as the two great sports cities meet for the eleventh time in a final (Boston has won 7 of the 10).
Action in the one “semi” still going, resumes tonight (no game in either league tomorrow, Sunday and Tuesday) as the Milwaukee Bucks (2-6) in previous “semis,” host the Toronto Raptors (0-1) in such series, in the seemingly pivotal fifth game of a (2-2) series.
This is the first of nine Bucks’ semi-final series, in which the home team has won the first four games, just the second to be (2-2) and only the fifth not to be (3-0).
Toronto, where the first ever NBA, then the BAA game was contested between the Toronto Huskies, in their lone season (’46-’47) and New York Knicks, is bidding for their first road semi-final round win (0-5).
TV/(Why even call it the tail at this point?!) “Wags” 10 off days for the Bruins, 9 for the Warriors and 5 for the Blues!
The St. Louis Blues advanced to their first NHL final series since 1970, when they represented the expansion division, NHL West, winning their semi-final series vs the San Jose Sharks, in 6 games.
As was the case in 1970, the Blues will meet a “streaking” Boston Bruins’ team in the NHL final, this one not beginning until Monday night, which is 5 days hence.
In ’70 the Bruins won their last 10 games en route to their first title in 29 years, the last 4 vs the Blues.
This season the Bruins, who also swept the Blues in the ’72 semis, also en route to another Bobby Orr led title, go into the final with seven straight victories and will be decent sized, series favorites.
However, the Blues have already written quite a story in coming from last place in the whole league, to this final round appearance.
I will have many more notes in the days ahead and look forward to what I believe will be an intriguing NHL final.
The Golden State Warriors advanced to their fifth straight NBA final series, winning (119-117), as 3 point favorites at Portland (Trail Blazers) last night, completing a 4 game sweep, in their semi-final series.
Steph Curry and Dray Green led the way as the Warriors joined the legendary Boston Celtics, who advanced to the NBA final, double the number the Warriors have achieved, from (1957-1966), winning 9 of the 10 final series.
Golden State is (3-1) in the 4 final series, all vs the Cleveland Cavaliers, going (12-3), winning titles in ’15,’17 and ’18 and dissipating a (3-1) series lead, losing in seven games, in 2016.
Steph Curry, pictured above.
This past weekend I saw the affable, talented Kenny Kramer (“The Real Kramer”) and host /proprietor of “The Kramer Reality Tour,” which is a fantastic, reasonably priced choice in New York City entertainment.
The meeting rekindled my fond memories of “The Tour,” as well as giving me a chance to speak with the “cut above,” Kenny Kramer.
If you are a fan of the seminal show “Seinfeld,” “The Kramer Reality Tour” is as the Seinfeld network (NBC) coined regarding Thursday night shows past (I believe including “Seinfeld”), “MUST SEE”/MUST DO!
There is so much information about the show, a great tour on a comfortable bus, many great sights and a chance to savor that legendary delicious soup.
The 3-hour tour starts at The Producer’s Club Theater (358 West 44th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenue).
Book online at Kenny Kramer’s Home Page (by the way, an incredible site maintained by Kenny Kramer). Reservations are a must!
Tours are also available for private parties and corporate events.
Click Here for Kramer’s Reality Tour
Information and On-Line Booking
Kenny Kramer and that famous diner outline (take the tour and find out/pass the diner’s location) are pictured above.
Tim Conway, a comedic great, died this past week, at the age of 85.
Among other tremendous achievements, he was part of the outstanding “Carol Burnett Show.”
Last night, I saw Mr. Conway seated next to another comedy legend, Richard Pryor on the Tonight Show, starring Johnny Carson. That was truly great television.
Much has poured in regarding Tim Conway’s career. What I will add from a moment in time when I met Mr. Conway, is something, I hope and know will add to that which Tim Conway was as a person.
Some years back at “The Book Expo” in New York City, Conway had signed books, taken pictures and spent a long full day promoting his excellent book, “What’s So Funny.”
I hoped for a few words from Mr. Conway, but was told by others that he was finished talking/doing and other.
In a calm, yet firm voice, that I will never forget, this brilliant man said “I think we have time for one more.”
Thank you Tim Conway for that kindness and all your wonderful work.
Tim Conway and Andy B.
There is a ways to go, however, with original NBA “semis”series, big favorites, Golden State (Warriors) and Milwaukee (Bucks) ahead (2-0), it is very likely to be a Warriors/Bucks NBA final, in 2019.
The franchises at one time together in the NBA West, (the Warriors, originally in Philadelphia, were once in the NBA East, but left to the west 7 seasons before the Bucks entered the league in 1968-1969) met in three consecutive NBA quarterfinal rounds, from (1971-1973).
The first two series were 5 game(s) Bucks’ victories (one can only hope for that money losing number of games for Disney, if and likely when, the teams clash in the ’19 final.) In 1973 the Warriors won the quarterfinal series in 6 games.
Milwaukee, an incredible (10-1) (10-1), the latter vs the spread, in these ‘offs, won their lone title going (12-2) in the ’71 playoffs. Both the Bucks and Warriors lost semis to the Lakers, after their series victories vs the other, in ’72 and ’73.
The only other post-season meeting between the Milwaukee and Oakland areas was in the second Super Bowl, that after the 1967 season and more specifically the Green Bay Packers classic “Ice Bowl” win vs the Dallas Cowboys.
In that second Super Bowl, the Milwaukee area Packers ripped the Oakland Raiders (33-14), in what was Vince Lombardi’s last game as Packers’ head coach.
Click below to view, among other video highlights, Travis Williams’ (#23) touchdown run vs the L.A. Rams, in the 1967 Western Conference title tilt, which was played in Milwaukee.
Eventually, ’twas Milwaukee/Green Bay vs Oakland in the final.
Tonight in St. Louis, the home team, Blues will attempt to even their NHL semi-final series, vs the San Jose Sharks.
Logan Couture, who has been brilliant and leads NHL ‘offs goal scorers with 14, tied game 3 with a goal in the last minute, before Erik Karlsson’s disputed goal, his second of the game, won it for the Sharks, who have home advantage and a (2-1) series lead.
San Jose 6’d the Blues in the ’16 semis, the only time in the team’s 26 completed seasons, in which they made the NHL final. Pittsburgh (Penguins) 6’d them in the subsequent final series, winning the first of back to back crowns.
The Blues have not made the NHL final series since making them in their first 3 seasons, all as a member of the expansion NHL West, whose winner was granted a final series berth automatically.
St. Louis had some gallant efforts, but lost all 12 of its final series games (’68-’70).
They have lost in their 4 semis since that time, all in a different number of games— in 4 straight to the eventual champion, Boston Bruins in ’72, in 5 to the eventual champion, Colorado Avalanche in ’01, in 6 to the Sharks who as cited above lost the ’16 final series to the Penguins and in 7 to the Calgary Flames in ’86. Montreal (Canadiens) won the ’86 final series vs Calgary.
The legendary Blue Note jazz club in New York City, pictured above.
Click below to view Elton John perform “That’s Why They Call It The Blues”
Elton John – I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
Last night’s Athena Theatre/Athena Writes performance of “A Deafening Silence Part 1,” at Symphony Space, was highly moving, entertaining, and at times humorous, all while addressing some really disturbing realities.
Kudos to the entire production for bringing such subjects into the open. Yes I am being general, however, know I am calling for activity, if not actual activism.
On Monday, I cited many people involved in what proved to be a great night of theater, today the titles and authors of the seven, approximately ten minute plays, which were truly inspirational on many levels.
The titles include “35,” by J.D. Stewart, which I will state, deals with the reality, that in seventy percent (35) of the U.S. fifty states, conversion therapy is legal.
Other titles and authors: “Beta Testing” by Jenny Lyn Bader, “Genuinely Here” by Kate Thomas, “Mimo” by Luis Roberto Herrera, “T.V. Man” by Joey Mata, “Wishbone” by Yasmine Lever (in this one Ms. Lever wrote the phrase “vacuous shark,” which is a brilliant observation on so many/much), and “Super Blood Wolf Man” by Jared Michael Delaney.
I suggest checking on all these fine works for more information. One way is to press “read more” under “description,” after clicking the link below.
A Deafening Silence | Symphony Space
It is always great to watch the Alfred Hitchcock directed “Strangers On A Train” as I did yesterday on TCM.
In doing so, I found some “tidbits” worth pointing out.
Two members of the cast Marion Lorne, who played Robert Walker’s character, Bruno Anthony’s mother and Kasey Rogers “Miriam” in the film, later had regular roles on the fine television show, “Bewitched.”
Lorne a long time performer was awarded a posthumous Emmy Award for her supporting role as “Aunt Clara” on Bewitched. Nobody else played “Aunt Clara” after Lorne’s death.
Ms. Rogers was the second “Louise Tate” on Bewitched.
A similar character to “Aunt Clara,” “Esmeralda” was played by Alice Ghostley, with whom Ms. Lorne appeared, in the seminal film, “The Graduate” which came out in 1967, a year before Marion Lorne passed away.
Andy B Sports 