The Customer Is Always Right
I’ve never been to Cracker Barrel.
That sounds like the title of someone’s memoir, but it’s a statement from me.
I’ve been to a lot of restaurant chains: Applebee’s, Outback Steakhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Denny’s, Olive Garden, Friday’s, even Hooters (I went there for the articles). But Cracker Barrel is one that has escaped my travels. There are only a few in Massachusetts, and none of them are near me.
So, I really can’t comment on the food or the decor. It’s the latter that has longtime customers in an uproar lately. Several of the locations have been redesigned. They’re now lighter and brighter, with new furniture, and even the knick-knacks on the wall have been replaced or at least reduced in number. It’s less cluttered. For people who loved the old Cracker Barrel, this is not only a bad idea, but they’re also destroying what made the chain so special in the first place.
It’s worth noting that so far, it’s only a few dozen of the 600 locations that have been redesigned. Of course, it’s also worth noting that this is probably the first round, and they’ll be updating all of them in the future, if the redesign turns out to be popular with most customers.
World’s Ugliest Dog?
I often cover the World’s Ugliest Dog contest, and I have to say, I’ve seen worse-looking dogs than this year’s winner, Petunia.
Robert Charles Howe
In 2018, I told you about Robert Charles Howe, an 18-year-old who won a “Draw Like Norman Rockwell” contest in 1972 and appeared on To Tell The Truth. I told you that if I ever found video of his appearance, I’d post it in a future column. This week’s column is that column!
Uploaded to YouTube by BUZZR
Sadly, Howe died of a stroke in 2002. He was only 48 years old. Here’s a documentary about Howe that was made in the 1980s.
Uploaded to YouTube by Edward Howe
Headline of the Week
“AOL Will End Its Dial-Up Internet Service (Yes, It’s Still Operating)”
RIP James Lovell Jr., Bobby Whitlock, Danielle Spencer, Alfie Wise, and Kelley Mack
James Lovell Jr. was the commander on the Apollo 13 mission that suffered a dangerous explosion. He was played by Tom Hanks in the movie of the same name. He said the famous line “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” He died last week at the age of 97.
Along with Eric Clapton, keyboardist Bobby Whitlock was the cofounder of the band Derek and the Dominos. He also played with George Harrison, Sam & Dave, The Rolling Stones, and Dr. John. He died Sunday at the age of 77.
Danielle Spencer played sarcastic younger sister Dee on the sitcom What’s Happening!! She died Monday at the age of 60.
Alfie Wise was a regular on the Burt Reynolds show B.L. Stryker and many of his movies, including The Longest Yard, Hooper, The Cannonball Run, Smokey and the Bandit, and Starting Over. He died last month at the age of 82.
Kelley Mack appeared in such shows as The Walking Dead, Chicago Med, and 9-1-1. She also did several commercials. She died earlier this month at the age of 33.
This Week in History
Sunset Boulevard Released (August 10, 1950)
To coincide with the classic film’s 75th anniversary, there’s a new book out titled Ready For My Close-Up, and there’s also a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. Here’s CBS Sunday Morning on the film and a new version of the Broadway play.
Uploaded to YouTube by CBS Sunday Morning
Watts Riots (August 11-16, 1965)
The almost week-long uprising in the Watts section of Los Angeles started after a 21-year-old black man was pulled over for drunk driving.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Swift & Company (August 10, 1946)
As far as I can ascertain, Martha Logan was the name given to the Swift home economics team led by Beth Bailey McLean, and wasn’t a single real person. But there was a “Martha Logan” who appeared on the late 1940s homemaker show Swift Home Service Club. So, I’m confused.
National Bacon Lovers Day
It’s Wednesday the 20th.
Last night I almost bought vegetarian bacon. It was “applewood smoked.” But I put it back. I like soy burgers but I’m not sure how soy bacon is. Has anyone ever tried it?
This Bacon, Cheddar, and Apple Bake from the Kentucky Cooks: Favorite Recipes From Kentucky Living uses real bacon, and so does the Bacon Mac and Cheese from Dinner at the Zoo. Something About Sandwiches has The Perfect Bacon Sandwich, Serious Eats has The Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburgers, and Food Network has this Bacon and Egg Fried Rice.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
Tell a Joke Day (August 16)
Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two tired!
National Tooth Fairy Day (August 22)
It’s also on February 28, which means that kids get money two days of the year. Of course, that also means they have to give up two teeth.
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Comments
That’s the beginning of the end for cracker Barrel people in the south like things that remind them how they grew up
You certainly kept your word Bob, on posting the Robert Charles Howe episode of ‘To Tell The Truth’ when you found it. Your 7 year persistence paid off. Howe came across as the most knowledgeable and Rockwell-like from the start. I’m glad he had such a good rapport with Rockwell and the Post, of course.
At least #1 knew the Post was published in Indianapolis, and the publication frequency. #2 was caught off guard on a couple of questions, but faked it fairly well under fire. I truly believe that if Howe had been born decades earlier, he would have been among the Post’s stable of (weekly) cover artists like Stevan Dohanos, Richard Sargent, Kurt Ard and so many others.
This episode of ‘Truth’ really gave the newly refreshed Saturday Evening Post excellent, positive publicity. The episode that featured Stevan Dohanos did not, unfortunately. Thanks for the ‘Sunday Morning’ segment on ‘Sunset Boulevard’. There’s no actress that can touch Gloria Swanson. but the stage productions keep it alive in the public consciousness, which leads back to the 1950 film.
Nancy Olson from the film just turned 97 and is incredible!! Just 6 months younger than my mom, it does makes me wonder ‘what if?’, but it was not meant to be. I wish her many more happy, healthy years. Definitely.