7 hours agoHal Roach Studios’ 20th Anniversary PartyHal Roach is arguably the most deserving individual to reside at the summit of comedy’s Mt. Olympus for his contributions to the art form a century ago. He had been working as an actor, stagehand, and whatever film-related position he could find for himself when, in 1914, he was able…Laurel And Hardy9 min readLaurel And Hardy9 min read
Nov 24The First Comedians to Speak on FilmPeople who might have just a passing familiarity with movie history may have heard at one time or another that the 1927 film The Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson, was the first sound feature film. But that’s not really true. The details of that mistaken notion may seem trivial, but…Comedy Movies4 min readComedy Movies4 min read
Nov 20When Comedy Met Tragedy: the JFK AssassinationIt has been 60 years since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy — a national tragedy like very few in the 20th century. One aspect that hasn’t received much detailed examination in the decades since is how the business of making people laugh was affected by that shocking event. …Kennedy Assassination17 min readKennedy Assassination17 min read
Nov 15The Touch-Tone Phone turns 60It’s something none of us really stop to think about (except me, apparently), but there was a time when those little touch-tone buttons on our phones were new and exciting, and represented a big step in the evolution of how we communicate with each other. Consider this: Every telephone we…Telephones4 min readTelephones4 min read
Nov 12Happy 90th Birthday, “Duck Soup”!The Marx Brothers remain among the film comedy titans of the 20th century, along with Keaton, Chaplin, Fields, and Laurel & Hardy, all of whom will forever reside atop the Mt. Olympus of comedy. …The Marx Brothers8 min readThe Marx Brothers8 min read
Nov 5“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” 60th AnniversaryWas it “The Comedy to End All Comedies”? Not quite, but it remains a comedy classic to this day. …Comedy Movies10 min readComedy Movies10 min read
Nov 1Bossa Nova Returns to BarcelonaThe Sant Andreu Jazz Band has, for most of its 17-year existence, included a great deal of Brazilian bossa nova in its repertoire, extending the music’ popularity — which reached its peak back in the mid-1960s — well into the 21st century among SAJB fans, and among the band’s young…Sant Andreu Jazz Band13 min readSant Andreu Jazz Band13 min read
Oct 3Sgt. Pepper vs. Sgt. Friday — How “Dragnet” Battled the CountercultureThose 1960s sure were something, weren’t they? Even if you were just a child at the time, or perhaps not even born yet, chances are better than good that you know at least some of what transpired throughout that particular decade, which saw enough changes and shifts in American popular…The Sixties17 min readThe Sixties17 min read
Sep 21Carla Motis: A Quiet Force on Jazz GuitarThere is something compelling about the way 26-year-old Barcelona jazz guitarist Carla Motis plays. She presents a sort of quiet stillness onstage as she works her way through a jazz standard, whether she’s providing rhythm or taking a solo, either in a small combo or powerful big band. …Sant Andreu Jazz Band11 min readSant Andreu Jazz Band11 min read
Sep 15Memories of my Visit to Jazzing Fest, 2023Last year at this time, I had just returned from my first Jazzing Fest, the music celebration hosted by and featuring the world-renowned Sant Andreu Jazz Band. As a fan/journalist and new visitor (writing my own independent article as well as for The Syncopated Times), I could not have had…Sant Andreu Jazz Band15 min readSant Andreu Jazz Band15 min read