One of the photos in my Jack Webb/Dragnet collection
For all you Dragnet Fans...
While preparing my Sept. 1954 post a few weeks ago that included the showing of Dragnet at the Palace, I had a few things that I didn't have time to post. So seeing as it's Friday, we'll make it a Sgt. Friday Friday.
As I mentioned, I've been a big fan of Dragnet and Jack Webb since seeing the 1960s revival on TV. Locally the reruns appeared on Channel 43. They had a big effect on me and probably shaped a lot of my longstanding attitudes about drugs and the law.
Anyway, for some reason Dragnet seemed to figure prominently in my life during the latter part of my high school days. Besides watching the Dragnet reruns on TV, I bought an old Mad paperback (at the Book Seller Paperback Exchange on Griswold) that included a hilarious parody of the 1950s version of the show. Here it is, courtesy of Bart Solenthaler's flickr page. I love the preoccupation with cigarettes (which is understandable since the show was sponsored by a cigarette company).
I also remember seeing a Dragnet parody with Daffy Duck and Porky Pig for the first time back then. It was one of the cartoons in rotation on The Porky Pig Show, which I watched a little bit each day while getting ready to head off to Admiral King High School.
All this Dragnet influence inspired me to do a short arrangement of the Dragnet theme (complete with Dum-de-dum dum) for the Admiral King High School Marching Band trombone section to play at appropriate times during football games.
Meanwhile, a few of my A. K. high school buddies (especially Scott Welko) and I were becoming familiar with the old comedy records of Stan Freberg, which contained – what else? – several Dragnet parodies. Here's one of the most popular ones: Little Blue Riding Hood (1953).
Since then, I've continued to be a big fan of Dragnet and own all the DVDs of the 1960s revival, as well as both the 1954 movie and the 1966 TV movie (that didn't air until 1969). I have a small collection of Dragnet items including books, a few photos and even a replica Badge 714 (Sgt. Friday's) pin.
Publicity photo for Dragnet 1969
Of course, the badge is in miniature. Otherwise, I'd be guilty of violating Section 2913.44 Ohio Revised Code – Personating an officer, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
The 53rd Annual Woolly Bear Festival is coming up this Sunday in my town of Vermilion, so it's a good time to look back at how and when it all got started.
What follows are clippings from the Journal going back to 1973 (the first year of the festival, when it was located in nearby Birmingham) through 1981 (the first year it was held in Vermilion).
The first mention of the Woolly Bear Festival was in the Fireland News column, followed by a few more blurbs in other Journal column. As noted, the festival originated as a Florence Elementary PTA affair.
October 4, 1973
October 11, 1973
October 13, 1973
In 1974 Channel 8 weatherman Dick Goddard, in his second year of involvement with the festival, really helped generate a lot of publicity for it.
October 16, 1974
October 21, 1974
But by 1975, coverage of the event appeared to once again be limited to a single column mention.
October 8, 1975
The 1976 Woolly Bear Festival had a nice roll call of TV and Radio celebrities that were to appear at the event.
October 13, 1976
October 18, 1976
It seems that the Journal sent a photographer to the festival each year, but didn't always devote a lot of space for additional coverage. Here's the 1977 photo from the event.
Sept. 28, 1977
The Sixth Annual Woolly Bear Festival in 1978 finally warranted a nice article in the Journal.
October 1, 1978
The Journal continued this level of coverage in 1979.
Sept. 20, 1979
In this article from 1980, the Journal provides a comprehensive look at how the festival got started.
October 9, 1980
It notes, "The idea for the festival was conceived eight years ago as a fund raising project for the Florence Parent-Teacher Group. Club officers Maureen Coe, Pat Mazzoni and Gay Zurcher (wife of television newscaster Neal [sic] Zurcher) were tossing around ideas on how to make money. They came up with the Woolly Bear Festival. Zurcher was able to help persuade Channel 8 meteorologist Dick Goddard become the official host of the festival."
By 1981, the festival had become so big and so popular that a move to a bigger venue was needed; thus the move to Vermilion.
Continuing our celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Ohio Turnpike, here's an ample sample of vintage postcards featuring the iconic highway. I've included the postmark date when available.
As you can see, there were a variety of cards with a "Greetings From..." theme.
1955
1956
1957
1959
1963
1965
The tollbooths appeared on a few.
1956
So did the original service plazas.
And of course, the turnpike itself appeared on the most cards. And as you'll see, the "Skyline Arch" located between the old Exits 10 and 11 was a favorite subject.
