Random Thoughts
According to this fact check, Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” sees a surge in popularity during a solar eclipse.
Another fact check: The most popular month to put up a Christmas tree is December.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane names are out. No “Bob” on the list because that was retired years ago, and no “Robert” either. But “Beryl” is on there as well as “Ernesto.”
If you missed your chance to drive the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, maybe you can get a job driving the Planters NUTmobile.
Something I just realized: I haven’t cooked an egg in over 10 years.
Fact check: The most popular day to go to church is Sunday.
I’m sorry, but if you have one million unread emails (and you decide to just trash them without reading them), maybe email isn’t for you.
I always have the same two or three meals for dinner. Am I in a rut or is that dedication?
Fact check: People get wet when they take a shower.
Just to clarify: I don’t eat raw eggs. I mean I haven’t eaten eggs at home at all in over 10 years.
Well, Technically, This Is Still a “Family” Question
Usually, Abby answers letters from readers that have to do with relationships, family, work, those sorts of things. But once in a while she has to figure out what to say to someone whose grandfather tells them that he has kept his father’s body and skull in the backyard of the family home for the past 50 years.
Finally, a Congressional Gold Medal for All the Rosies
Mary Doyle Keefe was the model for Norman Rockwell’s iconic painting, but there were actually many Rosies, as this CBS Sunday Morning feature explains.
Uploaded to YouTube by CBS News
Headline of the Week
“Kids Rode Alligators at This Forgotten Calif. Amusement Park”
RIP Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Peter Higgs, John Barth, Lynne Reid Banks, Bruce Kessler, Jerry Grote, Eli Noyes, and O.J. Simpson
Clarence “Frogman” Henry had a hit in 1956 with “Ain’t Got No Home,” which showcased his unique vocal range, and “(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do.” He died Sunday at the age of 87.
Uploaded to YouTube by Clarence “Frogman” Henry – Topic
Peter Higgs was a Nobel-winning physicist who predicted the existence of a new particle that explained how other particles acquire mass. It became known as the Higgs boson, or “God particle.” He died Monday at the age of 94.
John Barth was an influential writer known for such postmodern novels as The Sot-Weed Factor and Giles Goat-Boy. He died last week at the age of 93.
Lynne Reid Banks wrote the novels The Indian in the Cupboard and The L-Shaped Room. She died last week at the age of 94.
Bruce Kessler directed dozens of TV shows, including The Monkees, It Takes a Thief, I Dream of Jeannie, McCloud, and The Commish. He died last week at the age of 88.
Jerry Grote was the catcher on the New York Mets’ 1969 championship team. He died this week at the age of 81.
Eli Noyes was a pioneer in stop-motion and clay animation. He worked on several projects including MTV’s Liquid Television and several shows for Nickelodeon. He died last week at the age of 81.
Many younger people may know O.J. Simpson only from his 1990s murder trial and later legal troubles, but before that he was a star NFL running back for the Buffalo Bills, an actor, and a TV commercial regular. He died Wednesday at the age of 76.
This Week in History
Twinkies Invented (April 6, 1930)
They were created by a worker at the Continental Baking Company in Schiller Park, Illinois, who was trying to figure out what to do with the machines that made strawberry shortcakes when strawberries weren’t in season.
Contrary to popular belief, they don’t last forever.
Apollo 13 Takes Off (April 11, 1968)
And two days later, astronauts Jack Swigert and Jim Lovell said “Houston, we’ve had a problem here.”
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Vacation Plans by Ben Kimberly Prins (April 9, 1960)
This teacher has her passport out and is planning a cruise to exotic foreign ports. Just how much did teachers make back then? Or were foreign cruises really cheap?
Things to Make with Twinkies
I haven’t bought Twinkies in years, either. I like them, but they get to be too much after one. I bet they’d be even better as part of a dessert.
Like this no-bake Twinkie Cake from Southern Plate or this Twinkies Banana Cream Pie from Taste of the Frontier. How about these Twinkie Pancakes from Hostess or a cocktail or two made with or inspired by Twinkies?
Or you could just try to make your own, courtesy of Leite’s Culinaria.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
Income Taxes Due (April 15)
In most states it’s the 15th, but residents of some states have a little more time.
Boston Marathon (April 15)
It’s the 128th running of the annual race.
National Columnists Day (April 18)
Buy something special for your favorite newspaper, magazine, or website columnist. Maybe even one who writes for the Post!
Become a Saturday Evening Post member and enjoy unlimited access. Subscribe now
Comments
Usually you get it right, but I caught a misprint; Apollo 13 was launched in 1970, not 69. I remember, I was about nine. And there had been a Total Solar Eclipse a few weeks before!
Yours,
Kenny
We’ve got an alligator farm in Hot Springs Arkansas that been here since like 1905. It’s still here and is across the street from the old spring training field where quite a few MLB teams started spring training. Babe Ruth hit HR 573 feet into the alligator pond
It looks like I did. I also wanted to mention the California alligator farm amusement park (per link) that pre-dated Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland, by many decades. I was not aware of it before. As a Los Angeles native, I’m surprised. I know about so many places otherwise here, before my time. It’s one of the reasons I love mid-century films shot in L.A., just to get a glimpse here and there of such places, and the wonderful vibe of what it once was.
So many wonderful places that were very charming, visually unique, and fun at one time, before it was destroyed with monstrous overdevelopment of overdevelopment. Today, a few, weak partial traces remain. Very generic, including all the tent cities, sidewalk situations you’re likely to see in most cities now. Really expensive, dangerous and third world. I’m glad it was great for my parents and grandparents though.
@Bob McGowan, Jr.: You missed the the cruise ship brochure in the open drawer!
Honest to God Bob, I just never know WHAT I’m going to find in your Post column from week to week. Your random thoughts are always wonderful. The Planters NUTmobile (different link) is very comparable to the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile. Still though, this week, the Dear Abby ‘family question’ does take the cake.
Great feature on the real life ‘Rosie the Riveter’ women. I watched this CBS report just now after one on ABC News the other night. I’m glad they’re getting the recognition now they should have about 79 years ago, but better late than never. One thing not covered is that after the war, women were funneled back into being wives and mothers only, unless widowed or working only until they got married.
The ’70s and women’s liberation were ‘credited’ for women going back into the workplace in mass numbers. That’s true in some respects, yes, but the abrupt ending of the mid-century post-WWII economy in 1973 with the oil shocks, bad inflation and stagnant wages FORCED women to work whether they wanted to or not. Dad’s salary alone was no longer enough on its own, and never would be again. Now, both are barely (or not) enough.
Have to say, I love just about every one of Bruce Kessler’s TV shows! Thank you for including him here. Also love the 1960 Ben Prins cover you selected. At first glance it looks like a nice mid-century class and teacher. But there’s always something more. I can see the passport above her open drawer, and evidently planning a trip outside the U.S., but couldn’t tell it was a ‘cruise’ to a foreign port or place versus a plane flight from the picture.