News of the Week: Flannel Shirt Weather, Matthew Perry, and David Copperfield and the Vanishing Moon

Finally, It Feels Like Fall

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the Earth seeking successive autumns.”
– George Eliot

It took a while, but fall is here.

Seriously, it has been a weird season so far in Massachusetts. Warm temperatures (it was 80 on Saturday), lots of rain, and fall foliage that was about as colorful as a film noir. But everything has finally kicked into gear, with crisp temperatures and New England leaves getting their trademark hues of gold and burgundy.

I know that there are some people who like to see 80-degree temps at the end of October. Like everyone on the local news, who complains when fall comes around and is downright giddy when the temperatures are much warmer than they should be (oddly, right after a report about climate change).

Is a temperature of 50 degrees that cold? At the end of October? In New England?

No trick-or-treaters again this year, for the 23rd year in a row. My sister had about a dozen. Maybe it was too cold? (I mean for the parents, not the kids.) Perhaps it’s because I’m on the second floor near a lot of businesses that are closed at night and it’s a little too dark.

Or maybe it was the big sign I put out front: “Hey kids, this year I’m giving out kale chips!”

David Copperfield is Going to Make the Moon Disappear

Hey, he once made the Statue of Liberty vanish in front of a live audience, so what makes you doubt he can do this?

70 Years of Frank Sinatra (on Capitol, That Is)

Fall, to me, means Frank Sinatra. I’m perfectly aware that I can listen to him during the other seasons, but for some reason I associate Sinatra and other singers of American standards (Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Jeri Southern, Peggy Lee, etc.) with the fall (and winter). Spring and summer are reserved for rock and pop.

(Hey, we all have our quirks.)

There’s a terrific new box set of Sinatra’s Capitol recordings titled Platinum. If you’re a fan it’s a must-get set, because it has several never-before-released songs and outtakes from recording sessions. And if you’re not already a Sinatra fan? It’s the perfect introduction because this has much of his best work. It’s available at the official store and streaming on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, and other platforms.

Uploaded to YouTube by Frank Sinatra

Headline of the Week

“Banana Tried To Give Police The Slip”

RIP Matthew Perry, Bobby Knight, Richard Moll, Tyler Christopher, Stephen Kandel, Arnold Diaz, Frank Howard, Bertie Bowman, Aaron Spears, Judy Nugent, and Joan Evans

Matthew Perry was best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends. He also appeared on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Go On, The West Wing, and the Odd Couple remake, as well as in movies like The Whole Nine Yards and Fools Rush In. He died Saturday at the age of 54.

Bobby Knight was the successful (and controversial) Hall of Fame basketball coach at Indiana University. He died Wednesday at the age of 83.

Richard Moll played Bull on Night Court and appeared on dozens of other shows and in such movies as House, Caveman, and The Sword and the Sorcerer. He died last week at the age of 80.

Tyler Christopher had roles on General Hospital and Days of Our Lives and made appearances on Charmed, CSI, JAG, and other shows. He died Tuesday at the age of 50.

Stephen Kandel was a veteran TV writer who wrote for such shows as Star Trek, MacGyver, Batman, I Spy, Mission: Impossible, Sea Hunt, Gidget, and many others. He died last month at the age of 96.

Arnold Diaz was the reporter who did the “Shame on You!” consumer watchdog segments for various stations, including WCBS, ABC, and WNYW, winning multiple Emmys. He died last week at the age of 74.

Frank Howard was a big home run hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Senators. He died Monday at the age of 87.

Bertie Bowman started a job sweeping the steps of the U.S. Capitol in 1944 and then joined the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 20 years later. He retired in 2021, making him the longest-serving black staffer in history. He died last week at the age of 92.

Aaron Spears was a drummer who played with such people as Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Usher, Lil Wayne, and Carrie Underwood. He died this week at the age of 47.

Judy Nugent portrayed the little girl who flew around the world with Superman on The Adventures of Superman. She also appeared on The Ruggles, The Lone Ranger, The Mickey Mouse Club, and Lassie and in movies like Magnificent Obsession, Angels in the Outfield, and The Big Clock. She died last week at the age of 83.

Joan Evans appeared in such movies as On the Loose, It Grows on Trees, Roseanna McCoy, and Edge of Doom. She died last month at the age of 89.

This Week in History

War of the Worlds Broadcast (October 30, 1938)

Supposedly the Orson Welles radio drama “panicked the nation,” … but did it really?

“Dewey Defeats Truman” Mistake (November 3, 1948)

Why did anyone think that Thomas Dewey would actually win when he had a mustache?

This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Flannel Shirts (November 1, 2003)

What you need on these cold fall nights is a Norman Rockwell flannel shirt!

October is National Bread Month

What would make the new fall feeling mentioned above complete? How about the smell of freshly baking bread wafting throughout your home?

Here’s a recipe for Cinnamon Raisin Bread, and here’s one for Savory Onion Bread from Allrecipes. Taste of Home has recipes for French Loaves, Pumpkin Bread, Oatmeal Dinner Rolls, and Apple Bread, and Food Network has one for Brioche.

And if you don’t want to bother making your own bread, you can always buy candles that smell like it.

Next Week’s Holidays and Events

Turn Your Clocks Back (November 5)

But just an hour! (And do it on Saturday night, right before you go to bed.)

Election Day (November 7)

Here’s a list of the various elections happening in your state.