saturday 9

 

But Beautiful

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

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? this week I tried a teaching method I've never tried and it was successful--my students appreciated that I told them we were trying something different and I asked for their feedback about what they got out of the lesson.

 

2) Bing Crosby introduced "But Beautiful" in the 1947 film, Road to Rio. Name another movie song that became a hit. Eric Clapton's "Change the World" comes to mind

 
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? live radio announcers--it's all satellite or recorded, and not local.  That makes me sad since one of my first jobs was as a radio DJ "I'm Paula Daniels on your AM dial" (they made up names for us)

 

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? oh, how I loved "Mork & Mindy"

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? I read parts of it--like the comics, Dear Abby, horoscope, and movie or book reviews

 

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? Barbra Streisand

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? I would go to Dublin or London because I when I went I didn't fully appreciate all there was to see and do

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? Charlie's Angels

9) Random question -- Are you someone who makes things happen, or someone things happen to? in this past year I'll say someone things happen to--although everything (knock wood) is turning out fine!  (I'm still in treatment for neovascular AMD with active CNV, so we'll see what happens there)