saturday: but beautiful

1) The lyrics encourage us to take a chance on love. What’s something you’ve done recently that took you outside your comfort zone? How did it turn out?

I’ve had to create some pretty hardcore boundaries lately, and I’ve had to do that in ways that are more aggressive and confrontational than I’m typically comfortable with. I’m not usually terribly harsh, at least not with individuals within my circles, but I’ve had to be. Was it the right thing to do? Absolutely. Comfortable, hell to the no.

2) Bing Crosby introduced “But Beautiful” in the 1947 film, Road to Rio. Name another movie song that became a hit.

Oh, so many… but here’s one that’s a time-honored favorite, from Saint Dolly…

 
3) Bing’s leading lady in Road to Rio was Dorothy Lamour. When she was a teenager, she worked as an elevator operator. With the advent of user-operated/push-button elevators, few elevator operator jobs remain. What’s another job that was once commonplace, but has virtually disappeared?

Lamplighters. With electric streetlights the norm, lamplighters are all but obsolete. The days of having to walk around the neighborhood to light the wicks of streetlights are another thing of the past.

4) Road to Rio was one of seven Road movies Bing Crosby and Bob Hope made together. They were one the most financially successful comedy teams in history. What movie or TV show always makes you laugh?

I’ll give you my top five…

1. Living Single: I stand on the hill that this is one of the most underrated TV shows ever. Such a great show!
2. The Brady Bunch: Taking it back old school.
3. Three’s Company: John Ritter… need I say more?
4. Scrubs: Loved this show.
5. M*A*S*H: An all-time favorite, it was equal parts hilarious and serious.

5) Crosby’s given name was Harry but he acquired the nickname “Bing” because as a kid he was a fan of a comic strip character named “Bingo.” As a child, did you read the newspaper?

Mostly the PARADE insert. As I grew into my teens, I read it more often.

6) His 1942 version of “White Christmas” is still one of the best-selling records of all time. He was a movie star, nominated three times for the Oscar, winning once. Can you name another performer who has been successful both acting and singing?

The aforementioned Dolly Parton comes to mind. Queen Latifah from Living Single, Cher, Lenny Kravitz, Barbra Streisand… I could go on for hours!!

7) Bing loved golf and enjoyed traveling the world, playing at different courses. If today you were to receive an airline ticket to any city in the world, what destination would you choose? What would you be certain to see/do there?

It’s a toss-up between Dublin to learn about my ancestral roots, Tokyo to experience the culture and food, and Saigon for the same, the latter especially because I speak Vietnamese. Or maybe Stockholm because I’ve always wanted to see Sweden

8) In 1947, when “But Beautiful” was a hit, Farrah Fawcett was born. She became famous for her bathing suit poster, her blonde hair, and a 70s TV show. Without looking it up, do you know the name of that television series?

I remember that poster well. I’m fairly certain my dad had it somewhere. And the show… Charlie’s Angels. I was a child of the 1970s; Farrah Fawcett is an icon.

9) Random question — Are you someone who makes things happen, or someone things happen to?

A little bit of both, I guess. There’s a joke in my family, that of my birth not of my marriage, that there is a family cloud that hovers over one of us at any given time. If most of us are in good places, something is going on with that one person. So that’s fun!