hey, hey, we're the Monkees

They called these guys the pre-fab four - Beatle's knock-off for television.  With the huge success of The Beatles, someone had the big idea  to create their own fab four band version of A Hard Days Night for TV.  The concept was sold to Screen Gems and attempted to cast the already established band, Lovin' Spoonful, to be the band.  Spoonful was under contract with another company at the time and couldn't sign on with Screen Gems.

Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork were hired to be a boy band grooving to prerecorded music played by studio session artists.  But The Monkees quickly emerged with a sound of their own.  It wasn't long before they wanted to have more input in production - and eventually won out.  Micky, Michael, Peter and Davy didn't want to just play like they were a band - they wanted to be a band!

The 'pre-fab four' developed their own unique sound - a band different than the The Beatles.  In fact, The Monkees rubbed shoulders a good bit with and befriended members of The Beatles.  Once Michael Nesmith asked John Lennon  "Do you perceive us to be a cheap imitation of The Beatles, your movies and records?"  Lennon replied, "I think you're the greatest comic talent since the Marx Brothers. I've never missed one of your programs."

George Harrision understanding that the pre-fab band were having to produce a TV show, produce their own albums as well as tour stated that "It's obvious what's happening, there's talent there. They're doing a TV show, it's a difficult chore and I wouldn't be in their shoes for the world. When they get it all sorted out, they might turn out to be the best."  Later, Peter Tork played Paul McCartney's five string banjo on Harrison's Wonderwall Music album.

What started out to be a knock-off band for TV - turned out to be a new and fresh voice in American pop music.  Every now and then I'll hear one of their songs on the radio and appreciate them more than I did when I was a kid.  These four talented young men seized an opportunity and fought to make more of it.  The Monkees became a real band - a notable place in Rock and Roll history.  You guys made us believers.

Rest in peace Davy Jones.

saturday morning cartoons

I woke up early and spent the morning in the den with my girls and watched a Warner Brothers DVD collection Loony Tunes.  I was taken back to my youth when all my siblings huddled together on a blanket on our living room floor on Scenic Hwy.  Hanna Barbera had yet to churn out a slew of cheaper Saturday morning animated features.  The Bugs Bunny Show ruled Saturday mornings.

Wild Wild West

Television Westerns were waning by the late 60's.  I guess everyone was getting tired of the genre.  Cowboys had dominated the little screen from the beginning.  It got to where cowboys were becoming passé and spies were all the rage.  Thanks to a character named Bond - James Bond who changed the landscape of television.

So it was inevitable that someone in TV land did their best to resell the old west as a new kind of west.  We were introduced to West - James West...a cowboy spy.  My favorite character in the series was Wests thespian sidekick - Artemus Gordon.  Artemus was a master of disguise and added a comedic aspect to the show.

The Wild Wild West was much like the Man From Uncle spy television series that ran about that time.  This wasn't just a Western-Spy show, the show ventured into some real bizarre-o Sci-Fi-ish shows.  Yet it was the science fiction element that I believe really separated Wild Wild West from other spy shows of that era.  Wild Wild West often had a Twilight Zone feel to it.

Though the shows writing weakened down the dusty trail, I would most definitely like to revisit the first couple of seasons again.  It's been a long long time since I've seen The Wild Wild West.   I'd like to go back there someday.
 

How The Grinch Sole My Heart

Boris Karloff and Christmas?  Theodor Seuss Geisel (alias: Dr. Seuss) was deeply concerned that Karloff's voice might be a bit too scary to use as the voice of the Grinch.  Too scary for us?  Dr. Seuss must not have understood that even at our young age, we baby-boomers loved Karloff as much as we loved green eggs and ham.  Karloff after all played our most favorite and most famous monster of all time - FRANKENSTEIN!!!!  Karloff made monsters, and great mad scientist - but we knew the old man had to be a nice man off set and he was.  In fact, Karloff did love kids.

What a voice!  The 1966 children's book adaptation far surpasses the remake starring Jim Carrey back in 2000.  The original Grinch not only had the incredible dark creepy voice of Karloff, but was directed by the man who brought us Bugs Bunny, Tweety Bird & Daffy Duck  - Mr. Chuck Jones himself.  Suess, Karloff & Jones - what a trio of unique talent!

My kids found an old VHS copy of How The Grinch Stole Christmas in an ornament box this year.  We all sat down and watched it together.  I don't think anyone will ever surpass the original telling of a furry green fellow's phenomenal redemption.  The Carrey version is good and the kids enjoy watching it, but for me - this old Grinch will always remain my personal fave.

Digger's Chigger

Last night I was rummaging through old color slides that I inherited from my Uncle Pat.   I ran across this great shot of Brooky back in July of 1970 - his Senior year at Gadsden High.  I've always have loved VW's since I was a kid.  This was the bug that won me over.  These days I tool around in a '73 Superbeetle.  As much as I love my car, I wish I had an older model like the one pictured here.

This particular car was named Digger's Chigger.  Back in the day Brook wore an Austrailian wide brimmed hat known as a 'bush hat', 'slouch hat' or a 'digger'.  A 'chigger' of course  is a little red bug that bites.  Hense the name Digger's Chigger.