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[Online "Wiki" Encyclopedia] --
Pre-Code Hollywood refers to the brief era in the American film industry
between
the widespread adoption of sound in pictures in 1929
and the
enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines, popularly known as the "Hays Code", in mid-1934.
Although the Code was adopted in 1930, oversight was poor, and it did not become rigorously enforced until July 1, 1934, with the establishment of the Production Code Administration (PCA).
...Strong female characters were ubiquitous in such pre-Code films as Female, Baby Face, and Red-Headed Woman. Gangsters in films like The Public Enemy,
Little Caesar, and Scarface were seen by many as heroic rather than evil. Along with featuring stronger female characters, films examined female subject matters that would not be revisited until decades later in US films.
Nefarious characters were seen to profit from their deeds, in some cases without significant repercussions, and drug use was a topic of several films.
Many of Hollywood's biggest stars such as Clark Gable, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Blondell, and Edward G. Robinson got their start in the era.
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People keep saying this phrase "quid pro quo" for what Trump did, or tried to do, with Ukraine -- while I was listening to news analysis and making a bowl of Grape Nuts, was thinking, it's not quid pro quo -- he didn't try to trade -- "if you do this, I'll do that," like an up-front bargain ...
-- apparently it was an aid package from U.S. to Ukraine already approved by Congress which Trump tried to sort of interfere with, by saying in essence, "You know that aid package you're getting to defend yourself from Putin & Russia -- yeah, you'll get that if you help me smear Biden."
Like the president was -- interfering -- cutting in on -- American aid to another country, trying to piggyback his own personal political interests onto it.
I think -- it would be like if my boss said to me on Friday, "You will get your paycheck if you agree to write me a check for $64.50."
Like a kickback.
-------------------------------------
Kickback.
Extortion.
Smear.
...? ...Geez, I expect people to start using terms like "racket" and "stool pigeon" any minute now....
Where are we, in an old pre-code gangster movie?
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When they had the Woodstock music festival, I had a geographical problem.
I was in Ohio.
Woodstock -- with
Janis Joplin
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Richie Havens ("Freedom -- freedom...!")
Country Joe & the Fish ("One-two-three -- what are we fightin' for?...")
Jimi Hendrix
was in upstate New York.
It was a map problem.
I was on the wrong part of the map -- across two state lines from Woodstock...
(If only I'd had access to some Rock And Roll G-P-S...)
Yeah, there's a guy with a ticket to Mexico
No, he couldn't look much stranger
Walkin' in the hall with his things and all
Smilin' - said he was the Lone Ranger
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What is the magic of a song? ...The magic of sky -- of an evening -- a burst of understanding?
"Coming into Los Angeles -- bringing in a couple of keys..." Arlo Guthrie performed that song onstage at Woodstock.
I would have loved to be there. I was elementary-school age when the Woodstock music festival was held. I remember being in our small living room with my dad -- the black-and-white TV was on, news about this unique, independent, "groovy" music event was crackling from the speaker.
My dad was standing up because he wasn't Sitting-Down-To-Watch-TV, he was passing through the room and stopped to listen.
He frowned and looked worried, staring at the screen: "Too many people," he said in a tone of worry and slight, controlled foreboding.
Sounding uneasy, he said, "They've got too many people together in one place... something could go wrong."
He watched some more. "It's too much. [pause, watching & listening] -- Too many people" -- and he left the room to go about his business.
I always listened to my dad's opinions and pronouncements, but I had an unexpressed desire to be there, even though I knew it wasn't happening.
I wished I was a few years older, and -- at Woodstock.
Woodstock was in New York State.
I was in northeastern Ohio.
The only contact I had with Woodstock was that black-and-white news report.
A pretty boring memory -- but I did not forget it over many years, until I finally got to see the movie Woodstock (documentary filmed in 1969 -- NOT a movie "about" it) on the A & E channel in the 1990s.
"New York State Thruway's closed, man!"
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Reading Comments on You Tube one night, I came across one where a lady wrote,
----------------- Let me tell you the secret to our long marriage: we never talk about our marriage, and we never talk to each other unless it is necessary. --------------------
That sort of runs counter to the typical advice people hear:
"Communication!"
"Communication!"
"It's all about COMM - UUUNNN-IH -- CAAY -- SHUNN!!!!"
LOL
Advice: How can you solve a problem if you don't talk about it?
Real Life: One person telling the other person, "There's a problem, and you're it. You need to change because I say so."
There's an actual Broadway play -- for real, in real life -- titled,
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
I have never seen this play, but isn't that a great title? (Maybe we don't need to see the play, the title tells it...)
________________________________
Monica: "Do you think we talk about our relationship enough?"
Chandler: "Yes. Do we have any fruit roll-ups?"
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A relationship that has grown from honesty, trust, and mutual support is impervious to outside caprice.
The demanding, attacking caprice is like a snowflake falling on an 80-degree patch of sunshine.
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...and how about proposing a federal law that says something like --
--------------------- The laws, policies, and rules pertaining to firearms in congressional office buildings and the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., shall be the same as laws, policies, and rules pertaining to firearms in the American state with the least restrictive such laws, policies, and rules. -------------------------
Last night I saw a little bit of the Lewandowski "Yes, I am a liar" testimony in the House Judiciary Committee on Hardball -- a commentator said one U.S. representative was trying to buttress Mr. Lewandowski's statements and claims...
Thought -- oh my gosh, it's another word to be added to our list of words that we hardly ever say or write in real life, but you hear them in politics and journalism: we can add
buttress
to the list which so far includes
taut,
staunch, and
bolster.
Buttress:
noun
any external prop or support built to steady a structure by opposing its outward thrusts, especially a projecting support built into or against the outside of a masonry wall.
any prop or support
verb (used with object)
to support; prop up
to give encouragement or support to (a person, plan, etc.)
synonyms for buttress
encourage, hearten, support, inspirit, brace, back up, reinforce, shore up
origin of buttress
1350 - 1400; Middle English, butres
Old French (arc) boterez...equivalent to boter - abutment
(online dictionary)
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Last week when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would bring background checks to a vote only if President Trump promised to sign it, some commenters and Senate leaders who support background checks were criticizing McConnell's position:
however, it seemed to me like maybe the majority leader was holding the president's feet to the fire to make sure if the Senate Republicans pass the bill, the president follows through and signs it. (This would add extra incentive for Senate Republicans to vote for it.)
You could look at it as McConnell pushing Trump for support of background checks.
So I was kind of unsure of why that criticism was coming around. Maybe I don't understand....
-----------------------------------
Two other thoughts on gun violence:
1. Years ago I wrote on this blog that if our U.S. congressmen and senators don't get their act together to take action on a variety of issues, business could lead the way. (Business, and -- the State of California, lol...)
And then Walmart said the other day they were going to do something -- headlines up today:
"Walmart will stop selling some guns and ammo in wake of shootings"
"Nation's largest retailers wade into gun politics"
2. I heard (probably on "Hardball With Chris Matthews") that there was some Mom organization taking stands on gun violence
issues -- and I remembered in the 1980s, the Mothers Against Driving Drunk..."MADD." That was huge.
And I thought, Instead of "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming," it'll be -- "The Moms Are Coming, The Moms Are Coming."
Today, this headline:
"Moms Demand Action pushes stores to ban open carry"
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Internet Comment of the day:
"If could somehow fashion weed into a gun, I could get it legalized."
Coming in from London, from over the pole
Flyin' in a big airliner
Chicken flyin' everywhere around the plane
Could we ever feel much finer?
Comin' into Loss An-gel-eez
Bringin' in a couple of keys
Don't touch my bags if you please, mister customs man
Yeah, there's a guy with a ticket to Mexico
No, he couldn't look much stranger
Walkin' in the hall with his things and all
Smilin' - said he was the Lone Ranger
Comin' into Loss An-gel-eez
Bringin' in a couple of keys
Don't touch my bags if you please, mister customs man
Hip woman walkin' on the movin' floor
Trippin' on the escalator
There's a man in the line and she's blowin' his mind
Thinkin' that he's already seen her
Comin' into Los Angel--eez
Bringin' in a couple of keys
Don't touch my bags if you please, mister customs man
Comin' in from London, from a'over the pole,
Flyin' in a big airliner --
Chicken flyin' everywhere around the plane,
Could we ever feel much finer?
Comin' into Los Angeles --
Bringin' in a couple of keys --
Don't touch my bags if you please, mister customs man
Yeah, alright
---------------------------
song by Arlo Guthrie
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I was thinking about three words:
staunch
tout
bolster.
----------------------------------
These three words, we hardly ever see them in print and we hardly ever say them, or hear others say them -- unless we're listening to news about politicians.
When I listen to commentary on You Tube sometimes, I notice in talking about politicians and their activities and quotes and speeches, people use the words "tout" and "bolster." And when referring to a politician or voter, they will sometimes be described as "staunch."
"a staunch Republican"
"a staunch Democrat"
"a staunch supporter"
And it's the politicians themselves who are described sometimes as "touting" or "bolstering" things.
These are not commonly used words: I mean, if someone at your work said, "Come on in my office, I want to bolster something," you'd be like, "Excuse me?"
For "tout" it's --
"he touted his accomplishments in the area of local economic development"...
"Bolster" --
"they attempted to bolster support by promising jobs"
bolster: sustain; strengthen; prop up
U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy, bolstering his support among West Virginia voters
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on You Tube:
The Streets of San Francisco Theme (Intro & Outro)
uploader -- 11 db 11
----------------------------------------------
Audience Comments
^ 1970s Cop Shows are the greatest form of entertainment!
^ I'm with you. Kojak, Hawaii five o.
^ not being American, this tune IS, for me, the U.S.A. of the '70's.
^ Pat Williams Soundtrack Intro from The Streets of San Francisco is still one of the damn coolest pieces of music out there ever written...the screaming guitar play, outstanding drums and
the wha wha effect is most excellent.
^ Carol Kaye laying it down.
^ Oh ... this is '70s funk-a-delic alright!
^ Yes, the intro is definitely cool and funky.
^ Whenever I crossed the Bay Bridge from Oakland to "The City," this theme ran through my mind.
^ Smokin' big band! Fantastic!
^ Love this arrangement so Jazzy and funky! Got that real 70's groove going on there..
^ Awesome Drums! Very tuff arrangement.
^ Unforgettable theme tune .... Just ace!
From the UK.
^ This and Mannix best opening themes
-------------------- ^ Mannix great theme too.
^ Carol Kaye on Bass, that's all you need to know.
------------------- ^ One of the Wrecking Crew. I never knew that. Thanks.
^ This music just came into my head and I had to play it.
Musicianship is amazing.
^ Wow! How the skyline has changed.
^ If you like this Pat Williams theme tune, listen to his album "Threshold." It's fantastic.
^ I love the narrator "tonight's episode: death takes a death ride with death"
^ I was a teen and a Fan...From France
^ The music is wild and groovy. Love it
^ great 70s cop show intros they were many this one is so funky you would think it was scored by isaac hayes the music.
^ My wife grew up near Chinatown and used to watch them film frequently. This was a great show.
^ those drums rock
^ this is what happens when you funk out film noir
^ That funk-to-jazz change-up is killer.
^ Bad ass song
Man, the walking bass line!
^ Gonna play this in jazz
^ lol! I believe a slightly different version of this song was used in a chase scene on the sons of anarchy season 7 episode 11.. love the call back : )
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on You Tube --
Kojak Theme
uploader: BrunoLefty
------------------------------------
Comments from people:
^ I miss Telly Savalas with his red lollipop. I love detective shows because it helps me solve problems in life.
^ They still show repeats in the UK!
^ One of the greatest TV themes ... killer horns!
^ They need to be playing this on the radio.
^ great bassline.
^ I feel like I'm flying over the New York skyline!
^ First year version was the coolest. Less dramatic and more mysterious.
^ This is one I remember hearing from my bed, tucked up warm just before drifting off to sleep. Mum and Dad downstairs watching on the old TV.
^ They showed reruns at 2:20 AM in the Summer of 1977. Long before VCRs. I stayed up every night and watched them. Loved the series.
^ I've never heard the whole thing before - Love this!!
^ Arranged by the late John Cacavas!
^ wow didn't know
^ So good...A real '70s blast of New York.....awesome
^ This version of Kojak's theme song is very good. I also liked the theme from Mannix
^ who loves you baby.
^ omg, that clarinet at 1:22.....stunningly beautiful!!!...and then the zylophone...?? Wow!! What a piece of music!
^ yes yes!!!
^ by far the best use of an orchestra with the wah-wah guitar to create a timeless masterpiece! my theme music for life!!
^ epic!
^ So clean!
^ I had such a crush on kojak!
^ WHO LOVES YA BABY
^ formidable
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on You Tube --
The Rockford Files Theme
uploader:
11 db 11
1.3M views
--------------------------------------------
You Tube comments
^ Sextuplets, anyone? Netflix movie brought me here - lol
^ Never heard of this show. I'm here because of the 2019 movie Sextuplets! Seem like a good show. Will watch!
^ This is Jim Rockford. At the tone, leave your name and message, I'll get back to you.
^ Poor Jim is always walking up to his trailer with groceries and thugs always ruin his groceries and beat him up.
^ Man, tv was so awesome in the 70s and 80s.
^ Only Jim Rockford can be followed by a bad guy, pull into Jack In The Box report a crime...and order a taco with French fries. Classic.
^ Remember watching this with Dad and thinking Rockford was the kind of guy he must've been buddies with..........
^ Love! Love James Garner & this music!
^ 50 dollars a day plus expenses.
^ Best show in history.
^ Anyone remember one intro where an angry Asian guy is yelling something in another language?
^ One of the best parts of the 1970s was "The Rockford Files."
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