Ed McMahon, the late-night sidekick of talk show legend Johnny Carson, had a Bakersfield connection — a friend who went way back with him and Carson all the way to the early 1960s.
McMahon, who died Tuesday at age 86, told the story of his first meeting with this platonic lady friend in his 2005 memoir about "The Tonight Show," titled "Here's Johnny!"
McMahon and the recently divorced talk-show host were having a drink at Sardi's in New York City. It must have been mid-1963, because "The Tonight Show" had just wrapped up its first season on the air with Carson as its star.
Carson noticed a pretty young woman across the bar who was smiling at him. According to McMahon, she was a wholesome-looking girl with "sandy blond hair" and "cheeks like red delicious apples." McMahon said she had the sort of look that might have deserved the Miss Sunflower title at the Nebraska State Fair.
Carson asked McMahon to invite her over to their table. Her name was Linda, she said, and she was from "just outside" of Bakersfield. Carson most definitely remembered the place, having performed at least one less-than-successful gig at the legendary Maisson Jaussaud's (now Golden West Casino).
After a few minutes of chat, Linda turned toward the door, where a young man had just walked in -- Stan, her date. More introductions were made and then the friendly young couple departed -- but not before Linda called McMahon "Skitch," mixing him up with the show's musical director, Skitch Henderson. Ouch.
"Linda" eventually became reacquainted with Carson and McMahon in Los Angeles, and they were friends for decades. I know this because, when I first recounted this story in a 2005 column in The Bakersfield Californian, I asked readers to help me locate her: "I'm putting out an all-points bulletin: Who was this wholesome-looking Linda from Bakersfield and where is she now?"
Well, "Linda" called and filled me in on the rest of the story. She became CEO of a major real estate association in Los Angeles, as I recall, and actually had some business dealings with Carson. And her name was not actually Linda. But, dummy that I am, I didn't write down any of the details. Like her name.
So, once again: Who was this wholesome-looking Linda from Bakersfield and where is she now? I think I know, but I'm just not certain.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Bye-bye JVs; or, Why are Clovis' stadiums so much nicer?
The budget crisis that threatens so much of what we’ve come to take for granted as Californians has swooped into the gymnasium. The Kern High School District, largest in the state among grade 9-12 districts, will axe a big chunk of its athletic programs, a move expected to save $430,000 of the $3.7 million that still must be cut from the 2009-2010 budget.
Barring a fiscal miracle between now and July 2, teams that field three competitive tiers — varsity, junior varsity and frosh-soph — must eliminate one level. In the five affected sports, the intermediate junior varsity level seems the most likely to go.
Better a piece of the interscholastic sports program than still-deeper cuts to classroom teachers and academic programs, no question. But for those of us who value the character-, confidence- and fitness-enhancing contributions of prep sports, it’s a small tragedy.
Maybe you’ve heard the stories of Bakersfield schools’ long-running ownership of Central Valley championship trophies. That dominance has largely been ceded to Clovis schools over the past decade or so, and this decision only makes things worse in that regard.
The competitive gap between the two districts was already wide and getting wider, but for a different reason: facilities. The five Clovis high schools (120 miles to the north, essentially comprising the northeast corner of metropolitan Fresno) make Bakersfield-area schools look positively bush league in terms of stadiums, gyms, pools, field houses — you name it. The sad tale of Griffith Field, one of the oldest and most venerable sports stadiums in the Central Valley, aptly illustrates the situation. KHSD administrators would like to undertake a major renovation at the Bakersfield High School football stadium, built in 1923, but at this rate they might end up waiting until the facility’s centennial.
The hope is that Griffith Field might eventually get expanded seating, upgraded restrooms, handicap access improvements and perhaps a new, all-weather track. Clovis- and other Fresno-area schools have rubberized tracks in abundance — at last count, 21 schools up that way had them — but Liberty, Taft and Delano’s Cesar Chavez are the only local high schools with that amenity.
How can there be such a disparity? Because taxpayers elsewhere in the valley have been paying a small, supplementary arts-and-recreation fee on their property tax bills for decades, and schools have been able to tap those funds for athletic facilities not covered by education-related, capital-improvement funding.
Clovis Unified School District Superintendent Terry Bradley, who retires this summer, says Clovis pulled it off with a series of five school bonds, the first in 1986, that authorized the small property tax add-on. The bonds are now paid off.
“We have what we have,” Bradley said, “because the community paid for it.”
Clovis’ communitywide commitment to athletics has filtered down into the culture of the respective student bodies. The programs are deep, and the teams win.
Meanwhile, BHS and every other local school with similar dreams will have to wait for state capital-improvement funds to become available, and supplement them with fundraising efforts, as Liberty (with one of the district’s wealthier demographic profiles) did a few years ago.
How badly does the BHS stadium need work? Principal David Reese says Griffith Field would need to be shut down for a full year, probably immediately after the conclusion of a future football season. The track-and-field oval, which now curves behind the visiting bleachers — talk about a poor view of that second baton handoff — would get a makeover. Adding an all-weather track would give the city a second venue for big meets — a centrally located, easy-access-to-Highway-99 facility. But it’ll be costly. Don’t hold your breath waiting.
As for the funding for team sports, it might get worse before it gets better: The KHSD says it must cut $30 million more over the next three years.
It’ll take work and creativity to overcome what seems to be a growing disadvantage for Kern County — now on a second front — in the field of athletics.
E-mail Robert Price at rprice@bakersfield.com or twitter.com/stubblebuzz.
Barring a fiscal miracle between now and July 2, teams that field three competitive tiers — varsity, junior varsity and frosh-soph — must eliminate one level. In the five affected sports, the intermediate junior varsity level seems the most likely to go.
Better a piece of the interscholastic sports program than still-deeper cuts to classroom teachers and academic programs, no question. But for those of us who value the character-, confidence- and fitness-enhancing contributions of prep sports, it’s a small tragedy.
Maybe you’ve heard the stories of Bakersfield schools’ long-running ownership of Central Valley championship trophies. That dominance has largely been ceded to Clovis schools over the past decade or so, and this decision only makes things worse in that regard.
The competitive gap between the two districts was already wide and getting wider, but for a different reason: facilities. The five Clovis high schools (120 miles to the north, essentially comprising the northeast corner of metropolitan Fresno) make Bakersfield-area schools look positively bush league in terms of stadiums, gyms, pools, field houses — you name it. The sad tale of Griffith Field, one of the oldest and most venerable sports stadiums in the Central Valley, aptly illustrates the situation. KHSD administrators would like to undertake a major renovation at the Bakersfield High School football stadium, built in 1923, but at this rate they might end up waiting until the facility’s centennial.
The hope is that Griffith Field might eventually get expanded seating, upgraded restrooms, handicap access improvements and perhaps a new, all-weather track. Clovis- and other Fresno-area schools have rubberized tracks in abundance — at last count, 21 schools up that way had them — but Liberty, Taft and Delano’s Cesar Chavez are the only local high schools with that amenity.
How can there be such a disparity? Because taxpayers elsewhere in the valley have been paying a small, supplementary arts-and-recreation fee on their property tax bills for decades, and schools have been able to tap those funds for athletic facilities not covered by education-related, capital-improvement funding.
Clovis Unified School District Superintendent Terry Bradley, who retires this summer, says Clovis pulled it off with a series of five school bonds, the first in 1986, that authorized the small property tax add-on. The bonds are now paid off.
“We have what we have,” Bradley said, “because the community paid for it.”
Clovis’ communitywide commitment to athletics has filtered down into the culture of the respective student bodies. The programs are deep, and the teams win.
Meanwhile, BHS and every other local school with similar dreams will have to wait for state capital-improvement funds to become available, and supplement them with fundraising efforts, as Liberty (with one of the district’s wealthier demographic profiles) did a few years ago.
How badly does the BHS stadium need work? Principal David Reese says Griffith Field would need to be shut down for a full year, probably immediately after the conclusion of a future football season. The track-and-field oval, which now curves behind the visiting bleachers — talk about a poor view of that second baton handoff — would get a makeover. Adding an all-weather track would give the city a second venue for big meets — a centrally located, easy-access-to-Highway-99 facility. But it’ll be costly. Don’t hold your breath waiting.
As for the funding for team sports, it might get worse before it gets better: The KHSD says it must cut $30 million more over the next three years.
It’ll take work and creativity to overcome what seems to be a growing disadvantage for Kern County — now on a second front — in the field of athletics.
E-mail Robert Price at rprice@bakersfield.com or twitter.com/stubblebuzz.
Your poll of polls
A recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows President Obama’s favorability ratings slipping a little. Another poll shows Republican self-loathing at remarkably high levels. If those aren’t contradictory results, they at least present an interesting contrast. What else are opinion polls telling us about ourselves? Plenty. More than I can pack into this little space. I polled the polls for a glimpse.
Inevitability Award: 60 percent of respondents in last week’s NBC/WSJ poll had a very or somewhat positive view of the president, which sounds pretty good until you realize that 66 percent liked him in January. Meanwhile, former Vice President Dick Cheney, who’s practically been on TV more in the last three months than in the previous eight years combined, edged up on the lovability meter, from 21 percent in December to 26 percent today. Does that mean we’ll be seeing more of him? Egad.
Best Reason to Consider Counseling: A new poll from Gallup says 38 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents have an unfavorable opinion of their own party, compared with just 7 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaners down on their party.
Politicians who may aim to heal the partisan rift have their work cut out for them: 78 percent of Democrats view the GOP unfavorably, while 85 percent of Republicans view the Democratic Party unfavorably, the survey found. In other words, polarization is worse than ever, but self-loathing remains almost exclusively a Republican trait — although, to be fair, the Republicans polled seem to dislike everyone.
Asked who was the leader of the GOP, 10 percent of Republicans said Rush Limbaugh, 10 percent said Newt Gingrich, 9 percent said Dick Cheney, 6 percent said John McCain and 17 percent said nobody. Gulp.
Loudest Potential Response to That Last Item: Republican affiliation is down in almost every major demographic, and a majority of Americans say there’s no clear leader for the GOP. And yet conservatives remain the largest ideological group in the nation. The same Gallup Poll reports that 40 percent of Americans identify their political views as conservative, while 35 percent say they’re moderate and 21 percent call themselves liberal. Last year just 37 percent of Americans called themselves conservative. Can we credit Obama for encouraging a few more to sign up? Seems likely.
Strongest Indication That the West is Confused: Pollster Frank Luntz says 44 percent of the Westerners he asked were unhappy with the federal government, followed by the South with 37 percent, the Midwest at 34 percent and the Northeast at 32 percent. But more than 60 percent of the Westerners polled approved of the job Obama has done so far. We have no idea what to make of that.
Score One For the Spies Award: The CIA doesn’t always poll well with Americans, who tend to see that spy agency as overzealous and ineffective, but when the G-Men go up against Nancy Pelosi, it’s a different story. On the did-she-know question regarding rough interrogation techniques, Americans believe the CIA over Pelosi, 56 percent to 22 percent.
Most Important Poll of the Week: With the June wedding season in full bloom, Brides.com and The Associated Press asked wedding guests about the economy’s effect on nuptials. The verdict: Not much. We were more interested in the food questions: What kind of fare would you prefer at the reception?
The most luxurious option of champagne and caviar had few fans (15 percent). The favorite was wine and chicken breasts (57 percent). But my choice was a respectable second: Beer and pigs in a blanket (20 percent). Must have been the guy vote.
Inevitability Award: 60 percent of respondents in last week’s NBC/WSJ poll had a very or somewhat positive view of the president, which sounds pretty good until you realize that 66 percent liked him in January. Meanwhile, former Vice President Dick Cheney, who’s practically been on TV more in the last three months than in the previous eight years combined, edged up on the lovability meter, from 21 percent in December to 26 percent today. Does that mean we’ll be seeing more of him? Egad.
Best Reason to Consider Counseling: A new poll from Gallup says 38 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents have an unfavorable opinion of their own party, compared with just 7 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaners down on their party.
Politicians who may aim to heal the partisan rift have their work cut out for them: 78 percent of Democrats view the GOP unfavorably, while 85 percent of Republicans view the Democratic Party unfavorably, the survey found. In other words, polarization is worse than ever, but self-loathing remains almost exclusively a Republican trait — although, to be fair, the Republicans polled seem to dislike everyone.
Asked who was the leader of the GOP, 10 percent of Republicans said Rush Limbaugh, 10 percent said Newt Gingrich, 9 percent said Dick Cheney, 6 percent said John McCain and 17 percent said nobody. Gulp.
Loudest Potential Response to That Last Item: Republican affiliation is down in almost every major demographic, and a majority of Americans say there’s no clear leader for the GOP. And yet conservatives remain the largest ideological group in the nation. The same Gallup Poll reports that 40 percent of Americans identify their political views as conservative, while 35 percent say they’re moderate and 21 percent call themselves liberal. Last year just 37 percent of Americans called themselves conservative. Can we credit Obama for encouraging a few more to sign up? Seems likely.
Strongest Indication That the West is Confused: Pollster Frank Luntz says 44 percent of the Westerners he asked were unhappy with the federal government, followed by the South with 37 percent, the Midwest at 34 percent and the Northeast at 32 percent. But more than 60 percent of the Westerners polled approved of the job Obama has done so far. We have no idea what to make of that.
Score One For the Spies Award: The CIA doesn’t always poll well with Americans, who tend to see that spy agency as overzealous and ineffective, but when the G-Men go up against Nancy Pelosi, it’s a different story. On the did-she-know question regarding rough interrogation techniques, Americans believe the CIA over Pelosi, 56 percent to 22 percent.
Most Important Poll of the Week: With the June wedding season in full bloom, Brides.com and The Associated Press asked wedding guests about the economy’s effect on nuptials. The verdict: Not much. We were more interested in the food questions: What kind of fare would you prefer at the reception?
The most luxurious option of champagne and caviar had few fans (15 percent). The favorite was wine and chicken breasts (57 percent). But my choice was a respectable second: Beer and pigs in a blanket (20 percent). Must have been the guy vote.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
My psychiatrist prescribed Mr. Wiggles
A physician friend of mine occasionally launches into prolonged rants about the frustrations and hilarity of dealing with his idiosyncratic collection of patients. Dr. Bill (we'll leave it at that) sent this one this morning:
"You should write an article about how everyone feels that they can bring a dog everywhere with them.
"I had a patient bring her small dog in the office with her for a visit. We told her that it was inappropriate as others may be allergic to dogs (in fact that may be why they are in the office). Of course, seeing-eye dogs are welcomed, as well as seeing-eye dogs in training. K-9 police do not bring the dogs into the office.
"The reply is that she will get a letter from her psychiatrist stating that it is a companion dog and she needs it as therapy.
"Hey, it is still my office -- what about a letter from my psychiatrist stating that I need a cow to feel comfortable?
"Do I take it to the hospital?
"Is it safe for people to have dogs bouncing around on their laps while they are driving? Is it safe for us to have other drivers with dogs on their laps while they are driving? What if everyone brought their dog to my office? People are just too weird these days."
Dr. Bill may be on to something. The part about the therapeudic cow, I mean. If I had a cow in the office maybe I wouldn't have to keep using this awful Coffee Mate stuff. I can't think of a single drawback to the "personal cow" idea. With the possible exception of our rather small elevator.
"You should write an article about how everyone feels that they can bring a dog everywhere with them.
"I had a patient bring her small dog in the office with her for a visit. We told her that it was inappropriate as others may be allergic to dogs (in fact that may be why they are in the office). Of course, seeing-eye dogs are welcomed, as well as seeing-eye dogs in training. K-9 police do not bring the dogs into the office.
"The reply is that she will get a letter from her psychiatrist stating that it is a companion dog and she needs it as therapy.
"Hey, it is still my office -- what about a letter from my psychiatrist stating that I need a cow to feel comfortable?
"Do I take it to the hospital?
"Is it safe for people to have dogs bouncing around on their laps while they are driving? Is it safe for us to have other drivers with dogs on their laps while they are driving? What if everyone brought their dog to my office? People are just too weird these days."
Dr. Bill may be on to something. The part about the therapeudic cow, I mean. If I had a cow in the office maybe I wouldn't have to keep using this awful Coffee Mate stuff. I can't think of a single drawback to the "personal cow" idea. With the possible exception of our rather small elevator.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Maybe he has a learning disabillity
What's up with radio/TV commentator Sean Hannity? Does he suffer from momentary lapses of consciousness?
Barack Obama, on a weeklong mission to engage the Muslim world in something resembling dialogue, gave an interview to France’s Canal Plus TV on June 1. Here are two excerpts, accompanied by Hannity’s commentary from Fox News.
Obama: “If you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we’d be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.”
Hannity: “He honors the national day of prayer behind closed doors. Now, on his Middle East apology tour, the president calls the U.S. a ‘Muslim nation.’”
Obama: “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, or a Jewish nation, or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens, who are bound by ideals.”
Hannity: “The same president who insists the U.S. is not a Christian nation is now calling us a Muslim nation.”
If Obama said “we are not a Christian nation,” he also, by the same utter disregard for context, said “we are not a Muslim nation.” Do you see that, Sean? Sean? Never mind.
This is not to say Obama was totally on the ball either. Obama is almost certainly mistaken about the number of Muslims in the U.S.
The president suggested there are “nearly 7 million” Muslims in America, but the CIA World Fact Book puts the number at 1.8 million — a far cry from Obama’s estimate. But even if 7 million were correct, the U.S. would merely be the 32nd largest “Muslim nation.”
More likely we’re not even Top 50.
Barack Obama, on a weeklong mission to engage the Muslim world in something resembling dialogue, gave an interview to France’s Canal Plus TV on June 1. Here are two excerpts, accompanied by Hannity’s commentary from Fox News.
Obama: “If you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we’d be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.”
Hannity: “He honors the national day of prayer behind closed doors. Now, on his Middle East apology tour, the president calls the U.S. a ‘Muslim nation.’”
Obama: “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, or a Jewish nation, or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens, who are bound by ideals.”
Hannity: “The same president who insists the U.S. is not a Christian nation is now calling us a Muslim nation.”
If Obama said “we are not a Christian nation,” he also, by the same utter disregard for context, said “we are not a Muslim nation.” Do you see that, Sean? Sean? Never mind.
This is not to say Obama was totally on the ball either. Obama is almost certainly mistaken about the number of Muslims in the U.S.
The president suggested there are “nearly 7 million” Muslims in America, but the CIA World Fact Book puts the number at 1.8 million — a far cry from Obama’s estimate. But even if 7 million were correct, the U.S. would merely be the 32nd largest “Muslim nation.”
More likely we’re not even Top 50.
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