by Kevin Burton On the next-to-last night of our Upper Midwest vacation we found ourselves watching the clothes go round. We were in Norfolk, Nebraska, boyhood hometown of Johnny Carson, when we gathered our quarters and the Tide Pods Jeannette had bought for the occasion, and took advantage of the Hampton Inn’s coin …
Category Archives: media
Visiting Johnny Carson’s Boyhood Home Town
by Kevin Burton There was a time when one man captured this nation’s attention, made us laugh and in a way, held us together. And that national smile began with the first five notes of that song, The Tonight Show theme. “Daaaaa dum dum daaaa daaaa….” You heard those notes and …
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The Bible Is What’s Happening Now
by Kevin Burton The late comedian Flip Wilson had an ongoing gag featuring a hip, fast-talking preacher who strayed for comedic effect, far from a right interpretation of the Bible. His Flip Wilson Show aired Thursday nights on NBC from 1970 to 1974. The recurring preacher segment came from what he called “The …
Up All Night And Original Thinking
by Kevin Burton I’m sitting in the dark, on the couch my mom gave us. I hear the sound of a train in the distance. There is romance, poetry in the sound. I’m in the Man Cave and it couldn’t be mancavier. Two smallish beacons of light accompany the night without interrupting …
So Tomorrow, Is It Fall Or Is It Autumn?
by Kevin Burton I hear you asking, should I say “fall” or “autumn” beginning tomorrow as the season changes? I hear you asking this because my hearing is good. It’s my vision that isn’t so good. Both my vision and hearing are selective, as my wife will tell you, and as you …
Bills, AFL And I Get Good Start To Season
by Kevin Burton Super Thursday anyone? Yeah, you’re used to Super Sunday. Big meals, commercials as big deals and oh yeah, a football game, the Super Bowl. Did you ever want to skip the five months of preliminaries and cut straight to the chase? Ever want to skip all the insurance commercials …
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“Best Of My Love,” Pure Joy In 1977
by Kevin Burton Their gospel wailing and harmonies brought out the emotion from listeners in their native Chicago. People confided as much to their mentor/father Joe. That’s why when the singing Hutchinson sisters needed a new name for the group, they called themselves The Emotions. Forty-five years ago, their “Best Of My …
Pastore: This One Belongs To The Lord
by Kevin Burton On opening day 1979 the great Tom Seaver of the Cincinnati Reds didn’t have it. His early exit led to the major league debut of Frank Pastore. Pastore was born on this day in 1957. He had an early exit from life, at age 55, and he sort of predicted it on …
Hey Sports Nut, Could You Give Up ESPN?
by Kevin Burton What was previously unthinkable, now I don’t even think about. I’m talking about a ravenous, red-blooded American sports fan giving up ESPN. I did that, we did that, years ago. This comes up because it is football season now, or close enough. The pre=season pro games have started. The …
Did Gilbert O’Sullivan Launch Disco Era?
by Kevin Burton There have been many theories to explain the rise and fall of disco music. Here’s a new one for its rise: Disco music exploded in the mid-70s as a direct result of “Alone Again Naturally” by Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan. OK, so I can’t prove I’m right, but you …
