Read This!
In the current issue of the Post, the Bookshop.org staff picks ten new books you should check out. And here are a half dozen more!
Up with the Sun by Thomas Mallon. The terrific novelist and journalist mixes fact and fiction in this novel about the life of Dick Kallman, a Broadway singer and actor who starred in the short-lived ’60s sitcom Hank and was murdered in his home in 1980.
Old Babes in the Woods by Margaret Atwood. This is a book of short stories by the acclaimed author of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Blind Assassin.
Spillane: King of Pulp Fiction by Max Allan Collins and James L. Traylor. This is the definitive biography of the incredibly popular creator of the Mike Hammer novels. Collins knew Spillane and has taken over the writing of the novels, so he knows his subject well.
Fools Die on Friday by Erle Stanley Gardner. Besides the Perry Mason novels, Gardner also wrote a series of books featuring the crime-solving duo of Bertha Cool and Donald Lam. Raymond Chandler called this one the best in the series, and it’s in print again for the first time in 50 years.
Every Man a King by Walter Mosley. This is the sequel to Mosley’s first Joe King Oliver novel, Down the River Unto the Sea, and has the investigator taking the case of a white nationalist accused of murder.
Dinner with the President by Alex Prud’homme. The subtitle of this book is “Food, Politics, and a History of Breaking Bread at the White House,” and that’s a great summary.
The Art and Life of Charles M. Schulz
Another new book I told you about a few months ago is Charles M. Schulz: The Art and Life of the Peanuts Creator in 100 Objects. It’s a sort-of-memoir of the cartoonist, whose work appeared in the Post, via 100 important objects in his world. CBS Sunday Morning has a nice feature on Schulz that includes an interview with his widow Jean and a visit to the coffee shop he went to every morning.
Uploaded to YouTube by CBS Sunday Morning
Goodbye, Matterhorn
Do you enjoy Toblerone, the delicious Swiss chocolate-and-almond bar with a picture of the Matterhorn on the package? Well, soon you’ll have to enjoy it with a picture of a different mountain on it.
The company that makes the candy bar, Mondelez International, is moving some of the production out of Switzerland, and by law, Swiss symbols can’t be used on products unless a certain percentage of the manufacturing of the product is done in the country.
By the way, Boston Baked Beans candies (which I love!) aren’t made in Boston.
Headline of the Week
“Do Not ‘Push a Slower Friend Down’ If You Encounter a Bear, National Park Service Warns”
RIP Tom Sizemore, Robert Blake, Topol, Ted Donaldson, Gary Rossington, Michael Rhodes, David Lindley, Robert Haimer, and Sara Lane
Tom Sizemore appeared in such films as Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, Devil in a Blue Dress, Heat, Natural Born Killers, Strange Days, and True Romance. He died last week at the age of 61.
Robert Blake’s best known role was probably on the ’70’s action show Baretta, but he was a child star before that, appearing in several Our Gang shorts and the Red Ryder films. He also appeared in movies like In Cold Blood, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Pork Chop Hill, This Property is Condemned, and The Lost Highway. He died Thursday at the age of 89.
Topol — real name Chaim Topol — won acclaim for his role as Tevye in the stage and screen versions of Fiddler on the Roof. He also appeared in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, The Public Eye, Flash Gordon, and two ABC miniseries, The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. He died Thursday at the age of 87.
Ted Donaldson was a child actor who appeared in the “Rusty the Dog” series of films. He also had roles in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Once Upon a Time, and Mr. Winkle Goes to War. He played the role of Bud on the radio version of Father Knows Best. He died last week at the age of 89.
Gary Rossington was the last surviving member of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd and played guitar on “Free Bird,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “What’s Your Name,” and “Gimme Back My Bullets.” He died Sunday at the age of 71.
Michael Rhodes was a session musician who played bass on such songs as Shawn Colvin’s “Sunny Came Home,” Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance,” and two versions of “How Do I Live,” one by LeAnn Rimes and one by Trisha Yearwood. He died Saturday at the age of 69.
David Lindley was also a session musician who played guitar on several Jackson Browne songs, including “Running on Empty.” He also played with Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt (“You’re No Good”), and Rod Stewart (“Tonight’s the Night”) and released several solo albums. He died last week at the age of 78.
Robert Haimer was one half of the novelty song duo Barnes & Barnes (the other Barnes was actor Bill Mumy), known for the song “Fish Heads.” He died last week at the age of 69.
Sara Lane played Elizabeth Grainger on the TV western The Virginian. She died last week at the age of 73.
This Week in History
The Boston Massacre (March 5, 1770)
Five civilians, including Crispus Attucks, were killed by Redcoats. You can take a tour of the area today, at the corner of State and Congress in Boston.
Harry F. Young Dies in Fall During Movie Promotion (March 5, 1923)
Young was a stuntman who climbed a hotel in New York City to promote Harold Lloyd’s comedy Safety Last, which featured Lloyd’s classic scene of climbing a building and hanging from a clock. During the stunt, in front of many spectators, Young fell to his death.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Canada Dry (March 3, 1934)
Canada Dry is the official ginger ale of News of the Week, and it’s always great to see ads from decades ago for a product that’s still around today.
Sunday Is National Ginger Ale Day
You might think that there can’t be too many recipes that feature ginger ale, beyond “open up a bottle and pour it into a glass with ice.” Maybe some cocktail recipes. But you’d be wrong!
Food.com has a recipe for Pam’s Gingerale Chicken, while The Soccer Mom Blog has Ginger Ale Carrots. AllRecipes has a classic ginger ale glazed ham recipe called Grandma’s Ham, and Dutch Oven Daddy has these Dutch Oven Potatoes, which not only uses ginger ale but also bacon and cheddar cheese and sounds fantastic.
Cocktail? Food & Wine has a classic Dark ’n Stormy.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
Set Your Clocks Ahead (March 12)
Do it on Saturday night before you go to bed. But just an hour!
95th Oscars (March 12)
Will Everything Everywhere All at Once win Best Picture? Will there be lame dance numbers? Will somebody come up on stage and slap someone? Tune in to ABC at 8 p.m. ET to find out!
Become a Saturday Evening Post member and enjoy unlimited access. Subscribe now
Comments
Thanks for the video links on Harry Young who fell to his death filming ‘Safety Last’ of all things! Horrible irony.