It’s Not the Heat …
Here’s a modest proposal: Everyone who has air conditioning but still complains about the heat and humidity should be in jail.
Seriously, what’s with you people?
I know friends and family who have air conditioning in their homes, in their car, and at work, but they still complain about how hot it is. I guess it’s really hot in the walk from their air conditioned car to their air conditioned home? When I invite them to switch places with me for the rest of the summer and live in my air conditioner-less second floor apartment, they grow mysteriously silent.
Of course, even throwing these people in jail wouldn’t be enough punishment because the jail would probably be air conditioned.
Anyway, try to stay cool. I find that Lindy’s Homemade Italian Ice works wonders.
The Marriage of the Year
This is a love story.
The two are from different worlds. He’s from the world of sports, and though he has had some losses and a year where he thought they were “never, ever getting back together,” he was told to “shake it off,” and when he did, he became champion again and again.
Nobody thought the union would last as long as it has. A couple that’s in the public spotlight a lot? Those relationships never last. But on July 4th weekend, the two got together in New York and tied the knot. It was even covered on national television. It’s a “love story” for the ages, one that can fill the “blank space” in our hearts.
That’s right, I’m talking about the marriage of Joey Chestnut and hot dogs.
Chestnut ate 66 hot dogs and buns in ten minutes. It’s his 18th title. He didn’t match his 2021 Nathan’s record of 76 (nor the record of 83 he set in 2024, the year he didn’t participate in the Nathan’s contest, instead competing in a Netflix battle with rival Takeru Kobayashi), but I remember Roger Federer wasn’t quite the same when he got older so it happens to all of the great athletes.
American Movies
I really don’t understand how the New York Times can ask “experts” about the movies that define America and none of them mention It’s a Wonderful Life.
But I don’t want to single out the New York Times because The Hollywood Reporter made a similar list, and didn’t mention it either.
You’re Not Going to Get Me to Celebrate Summerween
Please don’t try to make “Summerween” a thing. Please.
As you can probably guess from the name, it’s an additional Halloween that you celebrate during the summer. It’s from the Disney series Gravity Falls, which ran for two seasons about a decade ago.
Halloween during the summer? It’s too hot to wear a costume, and all of that chocolate would melt.
I don’t like when people try to merge two different things from two different parts of the year into something. SiriusXM now has a Christmas music station you can listen to 365 days of the year, which means you can listen to “Winter Wonderland” right now, in the heat of July. Hallmark shows Christmas movies all the time, and I’m beginning to see Christmas episodes of TV shows (which stations used to skip in non-Christmas months) running all year long. That’s not right.
RIP Bonnie Tyler, Louise Lasser, Joby Baker, Robert Kimball, Wilford Lloyd Baumes, Brian Potter, Kjell Nilsson, and Tom Ligon
Bonnie Tyler was best known for her hit songs “Total Eclipse of the Heart (Turn Around)” and “Holding Out for a Hero.” She died on Wednesday at the age of 75.
Uploaded to YouTube by Bonnie Tyler
Louise Lasser was probably best known as the title character on the quirky soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, but she also starred in several Woody Allen (her ex-husband) films, Rude Awakening, Crimewave, and Coffee, Tea, or Me? She also had roles on Girls, St. Elsewhere, and It’s a Living. She died Monday at the age of 87.
Joby Baker appeared on the 1960s sitcom Good Morning World (with Ronnie Schell, who passed away just two weeks before Baker). He started as a standup comic and opening act for Abbott and Costello. He also appeared on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Perry Mason, in the Gidget films, and in several Disney movies. He died last month at the age of 92.
Robert Kimball was a musical theater historian who brought to the public’s attention several long-lost songs by Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, and Lorenz Hart. He died last week at the age of 86.
Wilford Lloyd Baumes created The Love Boat and produced such shows as Wonder Woman and Bridget Loves Bernie and TV movies like QB VII, Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway, and Who Is the Black Dahlia? He died last month at the age of 86.
Brian Potter, along with partner Dennis Lambert, wrote several memorable songs, including “It Only Takes a Minute” (Taveres), “Two Divided by Love” (The Grass Roots), “One Tin Soldier” (from the film Billy Jack), and “Don’t Pull Your Love” (Hamilton, Joe Frank, and Reynolds). He and Lambert also produced Glen Campbell’s Rhinestone Cowboy album and wrote songs for The Righteous Brothers, The Four Tops, and others. He died last month at the age of 87.
Kjell Nilsson was the Swedish bodybuilder who played Lord Humungus in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. He died last week at the age of 76.
Tom Ligon appeared in the acclaimed film Bang the Drum Slowly and Paint Your Wagon and in such TV shows as The Young and the Restless and Oz. He died recently at the age of 85.
This Week in History
Stephen Foster Born (July 4, 1826)
He composed such classic American songs as “Old Folks at Home” (a.k.a. “Swanee River”), “Camptown Races,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Oh! Susanna,” “Beautiful Dreamer,” and “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair.”
First MLB All-Star Game (July 6, 1933)
It was played at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The American League beat the National League 4-2.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Lady Borden Minted Pineapple Ice Cream (July 9, 1960)
Pineapple and mint are two flavors I had not thought of putting together in an ice cream.
July Is National Ice Cream Month
In honor of that Lady Borden ad, I looked for some ice cream recipes that had unique flavors and ingredients.
How about Homemade Avocado Ice Cream from Hass Avocados or this Roasted Garlic Ice Cream with Raspberry Preserve Ribbon from Farm to Philly? Food52 has a No-Churn Tortilla Chip Ice Cream, Country Living has Sweet Corn Ice Cream, Drizzle & Dip has Blueberry Ice Cream with Maple and Cinnamon, and Running to the Kitchen has Sweet Potato Ice Cream (with cream cheese!).
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
MLB All-Star Game (July 14)
This year it’s being played at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia and airs on Fox at 8 p.m. ET.
National Nude Day (July 14)
I don’t even want to know how you’re going to celebrate.
Become a Saturday Evening Post member and enjoy unlimited access. Subscribe now
