When You Lock in Freshness, You Set Yourself Free
I can’t remember the last time I bought Tupperware, but I still feel rather sad that the company has filed for bankruptcy.
Don’t people store leftovers and other things in plastic containers anymore? I’m a single guy and not really a “keep food in containers in the fridge” type of person.
Well, many people do, but many of them are using other brands, some of which are cheaper knockoffs of the original and easier to find. The company says that what were once strengths for the company – direct sales and Tupperware parties – became weaknesses, and that they got into the retail store/online game way too late.
They’re trying to stay in business while they look for someone to buy the company, but said they are closing the last Tupperware plant in South Carolina and laying off the plant’s employees.
Did you know that Tupperware still has thousands of employees around the world and hundreds of thousands of independent sales reps that sell the products?
I don’t know why they wouldn’t find a buyer. It’s one of the most recognizable brand names, and some smart people in business could really do something with it. Maybe new owners could create a team of online “Tupperware influencers,” or maybe rename the job of selling the product a “side hustle.” That seems to be a popular thing now, side hustles.
Mad Magazine at the Rockwell Museum
We told you about this back in June, but this week CBS Sunday Morning’s David Pogue went to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts to check out the Mad exhibit, which runs until October 27.
Uploaded to YouTube by CBS Sunday Morning
Wait … How Many New Movies?
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well, if you consider October part of Christmas, which Hallmark Channel obviously does.
That’s when their new Christmas movies start. But they have to start that early because this year they have 47 – yes, 47! – new holiday films to binge. That’s a lot of tinsel and cookies. They turn these things out faster than Little Debbie makes those Santa-shaped brownies.
This year there’s also a new reality show titled Finding Mr. Christmas, where 10 hunks (their word, not mine) live in a house and compete to be the winner. The last man standing gets a starring role opposite Jessica Lowndes in the Christmas movie Happy Howlidays.
I’m guessing there’s a dog in it.
Is Time Travel Real?
The answer is no, but that doesn’t stop many believing in it.
There are YouTube videos and various publications online that post stories about time travelers popping up in old photos. Oh look, that woman is talking on an iPhone 80 years ago! Wait, that guy looks like he’s dressed in modern clothes in the 1920s! It’s amazing how many stories there are like this.
The latest: People think this 1941 photo shows a kid with an iPad. Forget the fact that it looks more like a binder or notebook than an iPad (and also forget the fact that if it was an iPad, what OS or network would he be using in 1941?); people want to believe (or maybe they’re gullible).
I’m more impressed at how the kids in the photo are dressed.
If I could go back in time I’d go back to last year and make sure I didn’t say anything negative about the new CBS reboot of Matlock. I watched it and it’s really good! And the first episode has an incredible plot twist at the end that takes the show in an unexpected direction.
Taylor Swift Songs Sung by a Crooner
Have you heard of Matt Dusk? He’s a singer in the style of Sinatra/Bublé who has released a bunch of great albums over the years. But what would it sound like if someone like Dusk sang a Taylor Swift song? Well, it would sound like this.
RIP Kathryn Crosby, Jay J. Armes, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Valarie D’Elia, David Graham, Roger Palm, Mercury Morris, Adrian Bailey, and Michael Loewenstein
Speaking of crooners, Kathryn Crosby was the wife of Bing Crosby and (as Kathryn Grant) an actress who appeared in such films as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, The Phenix City Story, Anatomy of a Murder, The Big Circus, and The Brothers Rico. She also appeared on Bing’s Christmas specials with their kids. She died last week at the age of 90.
Jay J. Armes – real name Julian Armas – lost both of his hands in an accident at the age of 11 but went on to become an internationally known private eye and actor. He even had his own action figure (which I owned as a kid). He died last week at the age of 92.
Barbara Leigh-Hunt appeared in such movies as Frenzy, Billy Elliot, and Vanity Fair as well as several British TV shows. She died earlier this month at the age of 88.
Valarie D’Elia was a veteran travel reporter. She died earlier this month at the age of 64.
David Graham was a voice actor who worked on such shows as Peppa Pig, Doctor Who, Thunderbirds, Stingray, Supercar, and Fireball XL5. He died last week at the age of 99.
Roger Palm was one of the drummers for ABBA in the 1970s. He played on “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia.” He died last week at the age of 75.
Mercury Morris was a star running back on the Miami Dolphins’ undefeated 1972 team. He died last week at the age of 77.
Adrian Bailey was a Broadway actor who appeared on stage in Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Sophisticated Ladies, Jelly’s Last Jam, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and other musicals and plays, as well as the movies The Wiz and The Josephine Baker Story. He died Sunday at the age of 67.
Michael Loewenstein designed the original set for the Siskel & Ebert movie review show, as well as the sets for other PBS shows including Soundstage and Kukla, Fran, and Ollie. He died last month at the age of 90.
This Week in History
“Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus” Editorial (September 21, 1897)
I’m not sure why The Sun ran this editorial in September. Then again, I’m not sure why Hallmark Channel shows Christmas movies in October. Anyway, it was written in response to a letter by eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon. The original letter was returned to the family; it was appraised on Antiques Roadshow and is now worth almost $50,000.
By the way, O’Hanlon’s cousin was George O’Hanlon, the voice of this guy.
Perry Mason Premieres (September 21, 1957)
The first episode to air was “The Case of the Restless Redhead,” but that wasn’t the first one filmed. The pilot episode was actually “The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink” (you can tell it was the first because Raymond Burr’s hair looks different and the show feels different too), but they decided to air the other one first and keep “Moth-Eaten Mink” until the 13th episode.
Many of the stories from Perry Mason episodes were originally published in the Post.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: McGregor Sweaters (September 25, 1948)
It’s fall and it’s getting cooler, so I’m declaring that sweater season has officially begun.
Fall Recipes
Summer food is boring. All those salads and “light” meals. Fall is when things really start to come alive, eating-wise. So, here’s a list of cold weather-ish recipes for you to try.
Curtis Stone’s Beef Stew and Southern Biscuits
Bon Appétit’s Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
Food Network’s Skillet Rosemary Chicken
The Pioneer Woman’s Chili Mac and Cheese
Smitten Kitchen’s Mom’s Apple Cake
Curtis Stone’s Banana Bread with Lots of Toasted Walnuts
I like my banana bread without walnuts, but if you like them, there are a lot.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
Ask a Stupid Question Day (September 28)
There’s a saying that goes, “There’s no such thing as a stupid question,” but I think we all know that’s not true.
Vice Presidential Debate (October 1)
The debate between J.D. Vance and Tim Walz airs on all of the usual networks at 9 p.m. Hey, maybe the moderator will ask them a stupid question!
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