Author: webuiltitblog

Americans awoke on the morning of Sunday, June 12 to the horrific news of another terrorist attack.  This one was a mass shooting by a lone terrorist gunman in Pulse, a night club in Orlando that caters to gays.  The terrorist murdered a total of 49 persons and wounded an additional 53, many seriously.  This was the deadliest shooting in US history, and the deadliest terror attack since “9/11.”

According to the investigation by the FBI and others, the terrorist gunman was an American born Muslim who had become radicalized at some point.  Perhaps, he was inspired by ISIS’s or other terrorists organizations’ well-publicized and successful attacks in Europe, the US and the Middle East; perhaps, he became radicalized during his two pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia in 2011 and 2012; perhaps, he became inspired by family and friends; or, perhaps, a combination of the above.  FBI Director James Comey has noted the absence so far of any direct, coordinated link between Mateen and any terrorist organization outside the US.  Indications are that he acted alone, rather than as part of a cell or network, although the FBI is exploring the possibility of accomplices and/or aiders and abettors.  The situation remains fluid.  As yet, we do not know definitively.

The Orlando shooting attack is continuing a very disturbing trend.  Now, we have to face the stark reality that American-born terrorists can become inspired to commit terror acts without having been formally trained by a terror group.  They can be inspired from afar by the internet or even by news accounts of prior terror acts.

In any event,  I prefer not to focus on the “why.”  It may be newsworthy to some people, but I am more interested in the “how,” as in how did it happen and how do we protect ourselves better against future attacks.

Consider the following:

1.  Like the Tsarnaev brothers, the Boston Marathon bombers, Mateen was a native- born US citizen.  This adds another layer of difficulty to maintaining our security, as native born terrorists are extremely difficult to ferret out.  They look, speak and appear like normal Americans and have constitutional rights.
2. Mateen is a second generation American.  His parents emigrated from Afghanistan.
3. Mateen purchased the two firearms he used in the attack legally, although one might question the thoroughness of the background check.
4. As in the case of other terror attacks, e.g. San Bernardino and Boston, in retrospect, there were warning signs that were discounted or ignored: (a) A former co-worker characterized him as “unhinged” and “unstable” and remembered that he had often expressed a desire to kill people, notably Jews,  African Americans, women and gays, all of which he hated. (b)  He had bragged to co-workers about “connections” to Al Qaeda and being a member of Hezbollah. (c)  Co-workers described him a “loner,” “socially awkward,” and generally “disliked.” (d) Mateen’s first wife, who divorced him in 2011 after a very short marriage, characterized him as “obviously disturbed, deeply, physically abusive” and a steroid user. (e) The FBI had linked him to Moner Mohammed Abu Salha, an American radical who had committed a suicide bombing in Syria, and considered him a person of interest in multiple terrorist investigations.

CONCLUSION

Reaction has been predictable.  Every business is re-examining and beefing up their security protocols.  Fine, as far as it goes.  The old and insoluble debate over gun laws and the Second Amendment has resurfaced.  I don’t want to get bogged down in debating that one in this blog, except to say that we need to be more vigilant when it comes to noting and reporting aberrant behavior.  In my opinion, many us have been reluctant to do so due to excessive concern over “political correctness.”   In particular, friends, neighbors, co-workers and mosque members are likely critical sources.  As in this case, often, things that are ignored at the time become clear and obvious in retrospect, but by then it is too late.

This is another example of a terror attack on a “soft target,”such as a shopping mall, school, church, movie theater, or restaurant.  As I have blogged before, this is where we are most vulnerable.  Not only is security light or non-existent, but also these types of attacks hit us psychologically and emotionally in various ways.  They cause us to question our safety in our everyday life.   Without diminishing the importance of the economy, immigration, or other issues I consider security/combatting terrorism the number 1 issue in this presidential campaign.  If we’re not safe from terror, nothing else will matter.

We can expect more of these types of attacks.  Truly, we are in a war against terror, and the sooner we realize that and react to it appropriately, the better.

Most of you will puzzled by the enigmatic title, which seems to be an oxymoron.  How can someone or something be both last and first at the same time?  Well, read on, and I will demonstrate to you that it is a fitting title.

Chances are few of you have heard of Irving Benson. I know that I never had.  If anything, the name sounds like it belongs to a Jewish waiter at the Carnegie Deli.  But, no, Irving Benson was believed to be the last surviving headlining comic from the vaudeville circuit.

Irving Wishnefsky was born on January 31, 1914 in Brooklyn, NY, the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland.  He began appearing in talent shows before his tenth birthday.   Soon after, he won an amateur dance contest, and by his early 20s he was already part of the burlesque and vaudeville circuits, touring the country as a comedian.   For those who are unfamiliar with these genres I will provide a brief synopsis.

Vaudeville was a form of live entertainment popular in the US and Canada from the 1880s to 1930s.  A troupe of entertainers would perform in small venues, such as clubs or small movie houses.  A show would include a wide variety of acts, such as singers, dancers, magicians, comedians and even animal acts.  Each act would be unrelated to the others, and the performers might travel from town to town separately or together.  The order of performance would be from the least popular or accomplished to the best or most famous, which would perform last.  Burlesque shows were similar, but more off-color and would include strippers and similar less reputable “entertainment.”

The popularity of these genres waned in the 1930s as movies and radio took hold.  Many famous entertainers we know from radio and/or television had their start in vaudeville or burlesque, including The Three Stooges, Abbott and Costello, Jackie Gleason, Phil Silvers, Red Skelton,  Burns and Allen, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Kate Smith, Bing Crosby, and many, many others.  Vaudeville is gone, but not forgotten.  It is fondly remembered by fans as a romantic link to their youth.

At some point, Wishnefsky changed his name to Irving Benson, perhaps, to sound less ethnic or, perhaps, just to enable it to fit on a billboard.  As we know, this was very common in those days.  He was a contemporary of some of the famous and familiar names listed above.  At first, being the unknown newcomer, he performed at the bottom of the bill, but eventually he worked his way up to the top as a the featured “first comic,” or “top banana,” as it was sometimes called.

During WWII Benson did his part by touring with the USO entertaining the troops.  Later he was a popular guest on tv variety shows, working with such as Milton Berle and Johnny Carson.  His most memorable schtick was to pretend to be a heckling spectator in the audience.  For example:

Berle:  “Why are you applauding?  I didn’t say anything yet?”

Benson: “That’s why I’m applauding.”

Berle:  “Is there something about my performance you don’t like?”

Benson: “You stand too close to the camera.”

Berle: How far away would you like me to be?”

Benson: “You got a car?”

Carson: “I’ve got a million jokes in the back of my head.”

Benson: “How come they never reach your mouth?”

CONCLUSION

In 1979 he appeared on the tv show Happy Days.  In 2010 his life was the subject of a tv documentary aptly named “The Last First Comic.”

Benson died on May 19 at the ripe old age of 102, the “last first comic,” and the last connection to a way of life long gone.

There have been no more than a handful of persons who have been instantly identifiable just by their nicknames.  Such was their fame that not even a first name was required.  For example, mention the “Babe,” the “Great One,”  the “Stilt,” the “Big O,” and the “Duke” and most people who follow sports or entertainment would know you are referring to George Herman Ruth, Jackie Gleason, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and Edwin Donald Snider, respectively.  Such was the case with Muhammed Ali, who was known to one and all as simply, “The Greatest.”

Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. was born on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, KY.  He is generally considered to have been one of, if not the, greatest boxers ever.  Personally, I would place him on the “Mt. Rushmore” of pugilists along with Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson.  But, to characterize Ali as just a boxer is akin to labelling George Washington as merely a “general” or Martin Luther King as simply a “preacher.”  Ali was so much more than just a “boxer.” He was one of the most recognizable, influential, inspiring and symbolic persons in the world.  Sports Illustrated dubbed him one of the most recognizable sports figures of the last 100 years and “Sportsman of the [20th] Century.”   He was idolized by Muslims, the third world, young people, virtually everyone.   Probably, other than the Pope he was the most beloved person in the world.

Clay took up boxing at the age of 12.  As the story goes, someone had stolen his bike, and he vowed to “whup” him.  A police officer who doubled as a boxing coach suggested that he’d be better off learning to fight first.  So he did.  Clay was a very successful amateur, compiling a 100-5 record, winning several Golden Gloves and AAU titles as well as the Gold Medal in the 1960 Olympics (as a light heavyweight).   Following the Olympics, he quickly capitalized on his notoriety by turning pro.  He hired the renowned trainer, Angelo Dundee.  He won his first bout on October 29, 1960, and he was on his way.  By the end of 1963 he was 19-0 and the leading contender for the heavyweight title held by Sonny Liston.

Clay had a unique boxing style, which masked his relatively weak punching ability and utilized his quickness.  He would “dance” around the ring continuously in what became known as the “Ali shuffle;” the opponent couldn’t get a clean shot at him; he was as quick and mobile as most middleweights; his opponents would tire from chasing him, and he would weaken them further with a series of quick jabs.  Then, when the time was right, he would move in for the kill with lightening quick punches.  This style fit his mantra, “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”  Jimmy Jacobs, who co-managed Mike Tyson, denoted that opponents didn’t realize how fast Ali was until they got into the ring, and then it was too late.  His punches didn’t feel like much but the cumulative effect of them could be devastating.  Charlie Powell, an early opponent, said “you don’t realize how much they hurt you until it was too late.”  George Chuvalo, another opponent, said “he was just too damn fast.  He’d be out of punching range, and as he moved into range he’d already begun to throw the punch.  So, if you waited until he got into range to punch back, he beat you every time.”  Finally, Arthur Mercante, noted long-time referee: “Ali knew all the tricks.  He was the best fighter I ever saw in terms of clinching.  Not only did he use it to rest, but he was big and strong and knew how to lean on opponents and push and shove and pull to tire them out.”

In addition, Clay was a superb “trash talker,” both before and during the bouts.  I believe his brash personality was the model for “Apollo Creed” in the Rocky films.   It went way beyond the common practice of just trying to promote the fight.  Sometimes, he would often predict the round in which he would knock out an opponent.  His objective was to anger his opponents to the point where they would lose their focus.   For the most part it worked.  Thus, Joe Frazier and Floyd Patterson were “Uncle Toms,” Doug Jones was an “ugly little man;” Henry Cooper was a “bum;” and Sonny Liston was a “big, ugly bear.”  At times, he went out of his way to torture and humiliate opponents, such as Ernie Terrell and Floyd Patterson, who had insisted on calling him “Clay” after he had changed his name to Muhammed Ali.  Ali hated the name “Clay” with a passion.  He called it his “slave name.”

Clay was particularly rough on Liston.  He stated that “Liston even smells like a bear.  After I beat him I’m going to donate him to the zoo.”  To some extent Clay goaded Liston into fighting him just to shut him up.  Think of the scene in Rocky 3 where “Clubber Lang,” played by Mr. T, goads Rocky, and multiply it by 10.

Clay was a major underdog against Liston, who was perceived as “unbeatable.”  Few people in or out of boxing thought he had a chance.   But, Liston could do little more than chase him around the ring.  Liston failed to answer the bell for the 7th round, citing an injured shoulder, and Clay, at just 22, became the youngest boxer to wrest the heavyweight title from the champion in the ring.  I remember listening to the fight on the radio in my college dorm in total shock as he pranced around the ring chanting “I am the greatest!”  “I am the greatest!” And, you know, he was.  Due to Liston’s suspected ties to the Mob, some thought the fight was fixed; those suspicions were redoubled the next year when as Muhammed Ali beat Liston in the rematch in less than two minutes with a “phantom” punch.

A major turning point for Ali came in 1967.  Ali’s draft board had reclassified him as 1A and he had been drafted.  Ali refused induction claiming he had “no quarrel with them Vietcong.”  He sought conscientious objector status, but his claim was denied.  He was convicted of evading the draft.  He avoided jail pending appeal, but he was denied a license to fight in every state, and eventually his passport was revoked.  Thus, at age 25, in the prime of his career, Ali was on the shelf.  So much for due process.

At first, Ali had few defenders in the boxing world.  One notable exception was sports commentator Howard Cosell, who at the time was not that well known outside of NYC.  Cosell, himself, was a controversial figure who claimed to “tell it like it is.”  You either loved him or hated him.  He once described himself thusly:  “Arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff.  There’s no question that I am all of these things.”  And, he was right.  But, one other thing he had was a sense of right and wrong, and he knew Ali had been denied due process.  Thus, began an unusual symbiotic and, at times, contentious relationship between the two that, ultimately benefited both of them.  Cosell provided Ali with much needed support, and Ali provided Cosell with the means to rise to prominence as a sports commentator and personality.

Ali’s exile ended in early 1971 when the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, overturned his conviction.   By this time, support for the war had eroded to the point where most people just wanted it to end, so Ali’s position was more accepted.  In addition, he had benefited from the growing civil rights movement.   For example, he had become a popular speaker at colleges around the country.

After a few tune-ups he met Joe Frazier in what was billed as “the fight of the century.”  Perhaps, a bit of hyperbole, but not much.  Although Ali lost, the fight was a big success for the sport of boxing.  In retrospect, this was the first of the big money bouts, and boxing became rejuvenated.

The two fought two more times highlighted by the “Thrilla in Manila,” fought in 100 degree heat , which nearly killed both men.  By most accounts there was real animosity between the two.  Frazier insisted on calling Ali “Clay,” and Ali had a series of unflattering nicknames for Frazier besides the aforementioned “Uncle Tom.”

One other notable bout was the “Rumble in the Jungle” against George Foreman in Zaire, which Ali won in another huge upset.  What made this fight notable was Ali’s use of the novel  “rope a dope” strategy to tire out Foreman before dispatching him in the eighth round.  After the fight Foreman admitted that Ali had “…outthought me and outfought me.”

CONCLUSION

As mentioned above, Ali became an iconic and inspirational figure, particularly in the African American community.  For example, Martin Luther King, an iconic and inspirational figure in his own right, admitted that Ali’s stance on the Vietnam War had encouraged him to speak out about it.  Additionally, Kareem Abdul Jabbar claimed that as a school kid he looked up to Ali and his anti-establishment positions.

Perhaps, the culmination of Ali’s status as an iconic figure came at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.  He was given the supreme honor of lighting the Olympic torch in the stadium.   According to Dick Ebersol, a former prominent NBC sports executive it almost didn’t happen.  Although, legally, Ali was considered to be a “conscientious objector,” many Southerners viewed him as a “draft dodger.”  Billy Payne, head of the Atlanta Olympic Organizing Committee, wanted the honor to go to Evander Holyfield instead, but he was overruled.  Finally, there was a tense moment when Ali, stricken with Parkinson’s, seemed unable to actually light the torch, but it finally caught.  This near faux pas was edited out.  The torch lighting was a most inspiring moment.

A small sampling of Ali’s many awards and legacies:

1. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
2. Ring Magazine named him “Fighter of the Year” more times than any other fighter.
3. He has had various streets, schools and malls named after him.
4. In 1993, the AP reported that he, along with Babe Ruth, was the most recognized athlete in America, dead or alive.
5. In 1999 the AP ranked him as the top heavyweight of the 20th century.  ESPN ranked him as the second greatest fighter in history behind Sugar Ray Robinson.
6. He has appeared in films and on TV several times.

In 1984 Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, no doubt as a result of the considerable punishment he had taken in the ring.   He was in declining health for many years.  He died on June 3 in Scottsdale, AZ from respiratory complications.   Rest in peace Muhammed.  We will miss you.

Some of my favorite quotes regarding Ali:

1.  Upon learning that his IQ was 78, which was in the 16th percentile, “I said I was the greatest, not the smartest.”
2. “Float like a butterfly; sting like a bee.
3. “Don’t count the days; make the days count.”
4. “I should be a postage stamp.  That’s the only way I will ever get licked.”
5. “I am the greatest!”
6. Live every day as if it were your last because someday you’re going to be right.”

We are all familiar with “rags to riches” stories about people who started with nothing and became extremely successful and/or famous.  Stories such as these are what America is all about.  Well, this one is a little different – call it a “rags to riches to rags” story.

Harry Gordon Selfridge was born on January 11, 1858 in Ripon, Wisconsin.  He was one of three boys.  Harry had a very sad, tough childhood.  When he was less than one year old the family moved to Jackson, Michigan, and his father bought the town’s general store.  During the Civil War his father enlisted in the Union Army.  Following the war he simply failed to return home, abandoning his family.  In addition, Harry’s two brothers died at young ages leaving just his mother and him to fend for themselves.  His mother found employment as a headmistress in the local high school, but her salary was not nearly enough to support them.

Harry began working part time at the age of ten delivering newspapers.  At 14, he was forced to quit school altogether and work full time to help support the family.  He worked at a succession of jobs, including at a bank, a dry goods store, as a bookkeeper at a furniture store, and finally, at Marshal Fields Department Store in Chicago.  He started there as a stock boy, but over the years he worked his way up to junior partner.   Along the way, he married into a very wealthy and prominent local family and became a wealthy man in his own right.  In 1904 he opened his own store, named Harry G. Selfridge and Co., but shortly thereafter, he sold it at a tidy profit and decided to retire at the young age of 46.

For the next two years Harry lived a life of aimless leisure, doing “a little of this and a little of that.”  Then, in 1906, while on vacation in London he realized that for all of the city’s cultural and commercial prowess, its department stores were decidedly inferior to those in Chicago.  So, Harry purchased a department store in an “unfashionable” section of the city for 400,000 pound sterling (about $1.1 million, a considerable sum at the time).  The store opened in 1909 and was a rousing success due, in large part, to Harry’s innovative marketing.   For example:

1.  He promoted his store as a place where shoppers could do so for pleasure, not just out of necessity.  This seems logical to us today, but in 1909 it was a radical notion.
2. The floors were arranged to make merchandise more accessible to shoppers who would be encouraged to browse.
3. Employees were trained to be accessible, but not obtrusive.  If need be, they would be prepared to actually “sell” the merchandise.
4. He provided diversions to encourage customers to linger, not just shop and run.  He reasoned that as long as the customer remained in the store he or she might buy something.  Thus, he provided amenities such as restaurants, a library, a reading room, first aid room and a “silence room” in which to relax.  Also, shoppers who did not speak English could find assistance from employees who spoke foreign languages, such as French or German.
5. He arranged for the store to have a private telephone number “Gerrard 1” so that a prospective customer could be connected to a Selfridge operator quickly.
6. Service was paramount, and the shoppers loved it.
7. Harry also treated his employees very well, and they liked and respected him for it.

Selfridge’s became immensely successful, especially during WWI.  But then, tragedy struck.  His wife died in 1918, a victim of the infamous Flu Pandemic.  His mother followed in 1924.  Harry was all alone.  He began to live a reckless lifestyle, dissipating his fortune on gambling , show girls and extravagant spending.  In addition, like most everyone else, the Great Depression hit both his company and him, personally, very hard.  In 1941 he was forced out of his own company, and it was all downhill from there.   Harry died of bronchial pneumonia virtually destitute on May 8, 1947 in London at the age of 89.  Fittingly, he is buried next to his wife and mother.

CONCLUSION

Harry and Selfridge’s are not particularly well-known in the US, except, perhaps, among very dedicated shoppers, however, in the UK he was among the most respected, innovative, and wealthiest of retail magnates.  In addition to the innovations listed above while at Field’s in Chicago he is credited with being the first retailer to promote Christmas sales with the phrase: “Only ____  Shopping Days Until Christmas.”

Some of the principles by which Harry ran his business can be epitomized by the following quotes, which have been attributed to him:

1.  “The customer is always right.”
2. “The boss drives his men; the leader coaches them.”
3. “The boss depends on authority, the leader on goodwill.”
4. “The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm.”
5. “The boss says ‘I’; the leader , “we.’ “
6. “The boss fixes the blame for the breakdown; the leader fixes the breakdown.”
7. “The boss says ‘Go;’ the leader says ‘Let’s go.’ “

Finally, if you are interested in finding out more about Harry Selfridge you can watch the television series Mr. Selfridge on Amazon Prime Video.  My wife, who urged me to write this particular blog, has seen it and strongly recommends it.  If you should watch it, I would welcome your opinion.

This year an American institution turns 100.  Hot dogs are the quintessential American food, and Nathan’s Famous has come to symbolize hot dogs.   Currently, according to “Newsday” the Jericho, NY-based company has some 260 franchised locations in 23 states and nine foreign countries, but it all began with one tiny hot dog stand, an idea, and a special family recipe.  The rags to riches story of Nathan’s Famous is a microcosm of the story of America – a poor, first-generation immigrant (Nathan Handwerker) has an idea, and through hard work, foresight and, yes, some good luck, creates a business so successful, it becomes an institution.   Although there have been several examples of this throughout American history not many of them have been the equal of Nathan and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs.

Nathan Handwerker was born in Galicia on June 14, 1892.  Galicia is located in present-day Poland near its border with Ukraine.  Nathan was one of 13 children of a Jewish shoemaker.  It’s fair to say that the family was destitute.  In 1912 Nathan emigrated to the US  and settled in Brooklyn.  At first, he worked at various odd jobs, whatever he could find to provide for himself, but, eventually, he landed a job slicing bread at Feltman’s German Gardens, a restaurant in Coney Island.   One of Feltman’s products was hot dogs, which it sold for 10 cents each.

At some point Nathan decided to go into business for himself, so he and his wife invested their entire life savings, $300, and opened a small hot dog stand.  How small was it?  Well, the grill was only two feet long, and there was no seating area.  It didn’t even have a real name.  It was located on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues, where it still is today.

There are many stories as to how the business began – some accurate, some not.  For example, according to UPI two singing waiters you may have heard of named Jimmy Durante and Eddie Cantor, encouraged him.  They may have had some role, but how much is anybody’s guess.  The company’s own official history omits that particular story, but it sounds good.   Another story, which might be folklore, is that he named his stand “Nathan’s Hot Dogs” in 1921  after a Sophie Tucker hit song: “Nathan, Nathan, Why You Waitin.”  Not sure about that one either.

Nathan was superb at marketing his product.  First of all, he undercut Feltman’s by selling his hot dogs for 5 cents each.  Secondly, he let it be known that his hot dogs included a secret ingredient from his wife’s family’s recipe.  Thirdly, he never skimped on quality and made sure his customers knew it.  In those days of looser laws regarding food and drugs, much of the public was suspicious of what ingredients might be in hot dogs (and often with good reason).  Nathan feared that his low price might make some customers wary of the quality.  In order to allay these concerns, supposedly, he arranged for some customers to be seen eating his hot dogs while wearing doctors’ smocks, to provide a silent endorsement of the high quality of the product.

Perhaps, the best marketing strategy, however, is the annual hot dog eating contest.  This has been held at the original location every year since the 1970s.  After a modest beginning, it is now televised by ESPN.  Contestants consume as many hot dogs as they can in ten minutes.  Invariably, the winner is not huge, but a person of average size, proving once again that technique is everything.  The current champion is Matt “Megatoad” Stonie.

The business was a rousing success.  A second location was established in Oceanside, LI in 1959, and a third in Yonkers, NY in 1968.  Additional expansion followed under the direction of Nathan’s son, Murray.  In 2015, total revenue was nearly $100 million, which was four times that of a decade ago.  Meanwhile, the original location is still going strong, although it is considerably larger.  It is open every day, only closing once, for one day in the aftermath of “Super Storm Sandy.”

Nathan’s does not rely solely on its standalone stores.  It has many outlets in cinemas, college campuses, retail stores, ballparks, and convenience stores.  In fact, approximately one-half of Nathan’s profits are now derived from retail outlets.  Former company president, Wayne Norbitz, opines that this diversity has been a key element in the Company’s substantial growth.  According to Norbitz “you don’t have to build a building to sell a hot dog.”  Makes sense to me.  Less fixed costs, among other things.

Brand awareness is another crucial element in the company’s astounding success.  Says Bonnie Riggs, restaurant industry analyst for market researcher NPD Group: “Everybody knows Nathan’s Famous, whether they live on the East Coast or not.  They’ve done a good job of building awareness and customer loyalty.”

CONCLUSION

Nathan died on March 24, 1974 of a heart attack at the age of 81.  As an illustration of his considerable contribution to Americana and, more specifically, New York City, he was named to NYC’s “top 100,” placing him in the rarified company of luminaries such as Joe Namath, Irving Berlin, Andrew Carnegie and Joe DiMaggio.  He may be gone, but the company he created lives on, bigger and better than ever.

Some Nathan’s fun facts:

1.  Some early customers were Eddie Cantor, Al Capone, Jimmy Durante, and an aspiring actor named Archibald Leach.
2. FDR, a big fan, once served Nathan’s Famous to the King and Queen of England.  Also, he had some sent to him at Yalta in 1945 when he was at his famous meeting with Churchill and Stalin.
3. NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller was quoted as saying “No man can hope to be elected in his state without being photographed eating a hot dog at Nathan’s Famous.”
4. Barbra Streisand once had some Nathan’s Famous delivered to her in London for a private party.
5. One “Seinfeld” episode centered around a tip to Nathan’s.
6. Ex-NYC mayor, Rudy Giuliani is also a big fan.   He has called Nathan’s the “World’s best hot dog.”
7. Jackie Kennedy served them at the White House.
8. In accordance with his instructions Nathan’s Famous hot dogs were served at Walter Mathau’s funeral.

There have been fewer laws more controversial – politically, legally and emotionally – than the Affordable Care Act, aka “Obamacare”).   Controversy commenced when it was fi…

Source: OBAMACARE SURPRISE

We all use expressions and idioms in our daily lives, such as “the whole kit and caboodle, “doubting Thomas,” “gung ho,” and many, many more.  But, did you ever stop and think about their derivation?  After all, when taken literally, most of them do not make any sense.  Are they derived from old songs, literature, superstitions, or did they just come into general usage at some point?  Well, my research has indicated that the answer is some of each.  Below please find a selection of expressions and idioms and their derivations.  In addition, for fun, I have added some misquotes, i.e. quotes that are commonly attributed erroneously.

1.  “Doubting Thomas” –  a real oldie, supposedly derived from Apostle Thomas in the New Testament who was always questioning things and needed convincing.
2. “An albatross (around one’s neck) –   derived from Samuel Coleridge’s poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”  A mariner kills an albatross, and, thereafter, the ship is plagued with bad luck.
3. “Bite the Bullet” – Before the advent of anesthetics a patient would sometimes be required literally to bite on a bullet during an operation in order to withstand the pain and not swallow his tongue.
4. “Be careful what you wish for” – According to an ancient superstition the gods might hear your wish and grant it in an unpleasant way.
5. “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” – When purchasing a horse it was a common practice to open its mouth and check its teeth to ascertain the horse’s general health.
6. “Yankee Doodle” – This well-known song dates back to the 1760’s.  Today, it is considered a patriotic song, and it is even the state anthem of Connecticut.  Originally, however, it was sung by British troops during the Revolutionary War in derision to mock the colonials, which they considered to be a disheveled, disorganized and rag-tag lot.  In defiance, the colonials adopted it as a patriotic song.  It is believed the tune was derived from a nursery rhyme entitled Lucy Locket, and it was put to words by a British army surgeon upon observing colonial troops.  The word “doodle” is from either the German “dodel,” meaning “fool” or “simpleton” or the German word “dudel,” meaning “playing music badly.”  “Macaroni” is a reference to “macaroni” wigs, which were fashionable in the 1770s but became slang for “foppishness.”   A “dandy” was a derisive term for a man who wore excessively fancy attire and exhibited feminine traits.
7. “Bought the farm” – This is one of many whose derivation is in dispute. I believe it is derived from the US military in the early 20th century.  Many returning soldiers would retire to the farm.  Therefore, if they were KIA it was said they “bought the farm (early).”  Another version holds that if a serviceman were KIA his family would receive a life insurance payout, which could be used to pay off the mortgage on the farm.
8.  “Bite the dust” –  Some claim this originated with the Scottish author, Tobias Smolett in his  tale the “Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane”  Others claim it was first used by Homer in “Illiad” in 700 BC.  Still others reference the Bible, which contains the phrase “lick the dust.”  In any event, it was popularized by Hollywood, which often used the phrase in Westerns when someone (usually an outlaw) was killed.  There is also the popular song “Another One Bites the Dust,” which refers not to actual death, but to marriage.  (No comment, although the inference is clear.)
9. “Gee Whiz” – Although it is used now as a bland exclamation of surprise, the word “gee” in its various forms is a shortening of a reference to ” Jesus” as an oath.  At one time, it was considered blasphemous to print “Jesus” or “Christ” in the context of an oath.  These phrases began to appear in print in the 1870s.
10. “The Whole Kit and Caboodle” –  Various versions of this expression have appeared in literature for centuries.  According to Grose’s “Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue” (1811) the “whole kit” or “the whole kit and boodle” refers to the  entire contents of a soldier’s knapsack.  “Caboodle” is not in use anymore, except for in this expression.  According to the Dunkirk Observer-Journal (1888) boodle is derived from an Old English word “bottle,” which meant a bunch or a bundle.  Boodle is sometimes used to refer to a pile of money on a gaming table, and when a person has “lost his boodle” he has been wiped out.
11. “Gung Ho” –  This expression is derived from the Chinese  words “kung,” which means work and “ho” (together).  In the US it was popularized by General Evans Carlson during WWII.
12. “Get your goat” – This phrase began to appear in print in the early 20th century as an expression to make one angry.  Its origin is murky, but one semi-humorous, unauthenticated  version goes like this: At one time, goats were mingled with racehorses to keep them calm.  If one wanted to upset a racehorse, perhaps to gain a gambling edge, he would steal or “get,”the goat.
13. “Easy as pie”  –  A US expression derived from the fact that pie was easy to eat (not bake).  There are various references in 19th century literature, such as Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
14. “Loose cannon” –  Cannon on 17th, 18th and 19th century ships were secured with ropes to prevent their being tossed about during storms and battles.  If one were to get loose it would cause severe and unpredictable damage.  Although there is no documented case of this actually happening, this phrase has appeared in literature often beginning with Victor Hugo in the novel “Ninety Three” in 1874.
15. “Barking up the wrong tree” –  Originally, this expression referred to hunting dogs barking around the bottom of a tree where they thought, mistakenly, their quarry was hiding.  It became popular in the US in the 1830s, appearing in newspapers and novels, such as James Kirke Paulding’s “Westward Ho.”

CONCLUSION

Finally, below please find some widely attributed quotes that were never actually said:

1.  “Play it again Sam” –  What Bogie actually said in “Casablanca” was “you played it for her;  you can play it for me!  …Play it!”  Ingrid Bergman said “Play it Sam.”  “It” was “As Time Goes By.”
2. “We are not amused.” – Based on what we know about Queen Victoria she might have and could have said that, but there is no evidence that she ever did.
3. “Why don’t you come up and see me sometime?”   Close, and not to nit pick, but what Mae West actually said was “Why don’t you come up sometime, and see me?”
4. “Elementary my Dear Watson” – Another close but no cigar (another of those expressions).   Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional character, Sherlock Holmes, came close, but never actually said those exact words.
5. “Me Tarzan, you Jane.”- Attributable to Johnny Weissmuller, who played Tarzan in the early movie versions, but he never said exactly that.
6. “Beam me up, Scotty.” –  Close again, but Captain Kirk actually said “Beam us up, Mr. Scott.”
7. “Come with me to the Casbah.” -The line was attributable to Charles Boyer in the 1938 movie, “Algiers,”  but he never said it.  The source of the misquote may have been because the line was present in an early trailer, but it never made to the movie.
8. “You dirty rat.” – Cagney never said this.  What he said in 1932’s “Taxi” was “Come on out and take it you dirty, yellow-bellied rat or I’ll give it to ya through the door!”

Chances are, unless you’re an aficionado of movies and movie stars from prior to 1950, if I were to mention the name James Cagney you would only know him as an old-time actor who played “tough guys.”  But, that would be akin to labeling Babe Ruth as a guy who could play a little baseball.  In reality, Cagney was so much more than just a movie tough guy as both a performer and as a person.

James Francis Cagney, Jr. was born on July 17, 1899 in New York City.   He was the second of seven children.  The family lived on the Lower East Side, which was home to predominantly poor Irish, Italian and Jewish immigrants.  Two of his siblings died as infants, and James, himself, was so sickly as a young child that his mother was afraid he would meet the same fate.  Cagney often ascribed this early sickness to lack of adequate food due to his family’s extreme poverty.

However, Cagney survived.  After high school he briefly attended Columbia, intending to major in art, but he had to drop out due to the sudden death of his father from the flu in 1918.  (The devastating flu pandemic of 1918 was one of the greatest natural disasters in human history.  According to Wikipedia, estimates of the number of deaths attributable to it range as high as 100 million.)

Cagney worked at a wide variety of jobs to help support the family.  At times, he was a copy boy, architect, brokerage house “runner,”amateur boxer, bellhop, draftsman, and semi-professional baseball player.  Whatever the job and however little he earned he always made sure to give some money to the family.  He was such an accomplished boxer he was a runner-up for the NYS lightweight title.  In addition, he was a proficient tap dancer.  He had a habit of dancing on slanted cellar doors, which earned him the sobriquet, “Cellar-Door Cagney.”

As is often the case, his initiation into films was due to happenstance.  An aunt lived near a film studio where one of his brothers was performing.  When visiting this aunt he would often sneak in to watch the filming .  Eventually, he began to do odd jobs around the set, such handling the scenery.  Although he had no interest in actually performing, once, when his brother was ill he substituted for him.  Due to his photographic memory he performed the lines flawlessly.  Following that experience, he began to work for various movie companies in a variety of roles.

Cagney always claimed that he was naturally shy, but when performing he became someone else.  He was “not that fellow, Jim Cagney, at all.  I…lost all consciousness of him…”  One of his early roles was that of a female dancer in the musical Pitter Patter.  It was there that he met his future wife, another dancer named Frances Willard “Billie” Vernon.

The next stage of Cagney’s career was vaudeville, where he toured with a succession of troupes.  In one instance he replaced a performer named Archibald Leach.  If that name sounds vaguely familiar, you might know him as Cary Grant.  Another time, he met George M. Cohan, whom he would later portray in his signature role in Yankee Doodle Dandy.  In 1925 Cagney secured his first dramatic role as, what else, a tough guy not because of his acting ability, but simply because the producer wanted an actor with red hair, and Cagney’s hair was redder than any other actor’s who auditioned for the part.

After years of bouncing around in support roles Cagney became a star in The Public Enemy in 1931. In a strange turn of events Cagney was signed to play the role of the “nice-guy,” but after shooting began the director switched him to the role of the “tough-guy.”   In the signature scene of the movie Cagney mashes half a grapefruit into the face of his co-star, Mae Clarke, which, to this day, remains one of the most famous scenes in movie history.   Cagney received rave reviews.  For example, the New York Herald Tribune (remember it?)  characterized his performance as “…the most ruthless, unsentimental appraisal of the meanness of a petty killer the cinema has yet devised.”

The origin of the famous “grapefruit” scene is in dispute.  It was not in the original script.  The writers, the producer, and the actors have all claimed credit.  Cagney always said that for years thereafter he was offered free grapefruit in every restaurant.

Eventually, Cagney signed with Warner Brothers.  Like all studio heads of the day Jack Warner was an autocrat, used to getting his own way with entertainers.  It was common to overwork and underpay performers – 100 hours a week was not uncommon – and salaries were fixed regardless of the success of the movie.  Regardless of how  famous you might be, under the “studio system” you either toed the line or you didn’t work…anywhere.   However, Cagney’s stubborn and rebellious nature were more than a match for Warner.  He fought against Warner’s restrictions at every turn.  Warner tolerated him because of his popularity.  At one point, he simply quit.  Eventually, Warner gave in, and enhanced Cagney’s contract, probably a first in Hollywood.  Meanwhile, Cagney acquired a new sobriquet, “The Professional Againster.” During the 1930s Cagney became the studio’s biggest box office draw and highest earner –  one of the highest in all of Hollywood.

As Cagney became a megastar, he got involved in political causes.  He had always stood up for the down-trodden, a remnant of his poor roots.  In the late 1930’s he became involved with the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, which, unbeknownst to him, was actually a “front” for the Comintern, a communist organization.  In addition, his contractual disputes, his opposition to the so-called “Merriman Tax,” by which the studios withheld some of the actors’ salaries and contributed it to political candidates, his contribution to the Spanish Republicans during the Spanish Civil War, and his involvement with the Screen Actors Guild (co-founder and president) all labeled him as a “radical” or worse, a communist.  (On the other hand, during WWII he repeatedly went on tours to entertain the troops.)  At one point he was subpoenaed to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee.  Eventually, he was exonerated of any wrong-doing.  Ironically, later in life Cagney’s politics evolved.  He became more conservative, even supporting Republicans Thomas E. Dewey and Ronald Reagan.

In 1942 Cagney played George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy, which many  critics consider his signature role.  The film was a huge success.  It was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won three, including Best Actor for Cagney.  Playing Cohan was ideal for Cagney.  He was able to show off all his talents – singing, dancing and acting.

His last famous role was in the movie, White Heat, in 1949 in which he played, what else, a psychotic killer.  In the climactic scene, cornered by the police, Cagney’s character climbs to the top of a wall and shouts “Made it, ma!  Top of the world!’ at  which point he dies in a hale of bullets.  That line was voted the 18th greatest movie line by the American Film Institute.

CONCLUSION

Cagney’s illustrious career spanned over 60 years from 1919 to 1984.  He was much more than just a movie tough-guy, which is how most casual fans view him.   He was also an accomplished singer and dancer.  He was one of the most popular actors during Hollywood’s “Golden Age.”  Furthermore, he was in the forefront of the battle for actors rights and helped found the Screen Actors Guild.  In 1974 Cagney was honored with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award.  In presenting the award Charlton Heston called Cagney “… one of the most significant figures of a generation when American film was dominant.”  In addition, no less a luminary than Orson Welles called him “…maybe the greatest actor to ever appear in front of a camera.”  Hyperbole?  Perhaps, but not by much.

A few of his other honorariums:

1.  In 1984 President Reagan presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
2. In 1999 the US Postal Service issued a 33 cent stamp in his honor.
3. In 2015 a musical of his life and career opened on “Broadway.”  I have seen it and it is fabulous.  I highly recommend it.

Just like Bogie never said “Play it again, Sam” in Casablanca, Cagney never said “MMMmmm, you dirty rat,” a line that is often misquoted by comedians and impressionists.  What he did say in the movie, Taxi, was “Come out and take it, you dirty yellow-bellied rat, or I’ll give it to you through the door!”  Close enough for government work, …. or Hollywood.

James Cagney died on March 30, 1986 at the age of 86, but his legacy lives on.

And then there was one.

As most of you know, in the wake of Donald Trump’s recent convincing and decisive victory in the Indiana primary both Ted Cruz and John Kasich have suspended their campaigns, acknowledging that Trump is the “presumed nominee.”  Even the Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Rance Priebus, has anointed Trump as such.  Yesterday, Priebus tweeted party leaders pleading for unity, acknowledging that the race for the nomination is effectively over.  He tweeted “we need to unite and focus on defeating Hillary Clinton, #NeverClinton.”

Cruz’s and Kasich’s supporters are upset, but, in reality , they had no choice.  After Tuesday’s results their withdrawal became a matter of when, not if.  Their departure signals the end of the party insiders’ futile struggle to prevent Trump from gaining the nomination as symbolized by the “Never Trump” rallying cry.   There will not be a “brokered” convention with all the attendant drama and controversy.  Bad for the media, but good for the GOP.  Now that Trump’s nomination has become inevitable, it is time for the GOP to unite behind him.

Republicans who dislike, or even despise Trump, and there are many, must decide if they would rather have Trump in the Oval Office or suffer through four, or even eight, more years of progressive politics under the leadership of Hillary Clinton.  (Incidentally, when did the designation “liberal” morph into “progressive?”)

History buffs will see a parallel between the current situation and that of the Democrats in the 1960 election.  That year, the Dems were sharply divided.  In particular, southern Dems were bitterly opposed to JFK, who had won the nomination after a hard-fought battle against Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey and others.  JFK and Johnson hated each other.  Yet, their mutual enmity paled beside their hatred of Richard Nixon.  As most of you know, for the good of the party and to give the Dems the best chance of winning, JFK and Johnson “buried the hatchet” and Johnson joined the ticket as VP.  Johnson delivered Texas, and JFK won an extremely close election.  Similarly, the Cruz and Kasich supporters and the “Never Trumps”must decide whether to support Trump, jump to Clinton, or sit it out.

Concurrently, Trump must work to unite the party and expand the base.  It’s simple math.   There are many more registered Democrats in this country than Republicans, so he is starting with a big deficit.  For example:

1. He must soften his hard line on issues such as immigration to reassure Hispanics that he will not be deporting them by the millions.
2. He must convince African Americans that he is sensitive to their plight, especially unemployment.   He will not get a large percentage of their vote no matter what he does or says, but he needs to get some.
3. He has to continue toning down the nasty rhetoric; no more name calling.  In his acceptance speech he signaled his intent to do just that.  He heaped lavish raise on Cruz for suspending his campaign for the good of the party.  Furthermore, he called him a “tough, strong competitor, with an “amazing future.”  He needs to do more of that.
4. He has to act more “presidential” than he has.  Rightly or wrongly, many perceive him as “dangerous,” “out of control,” or even a “maniac,” and they shudder at the thought of him in control of our nuclear arsenal.
5. Perhaps, leaking the names of a few persons he is considering for VP, cabinet posts and/or Supreme Court nominations might assuage some people’s fears.

The Dems will face a similar dilemma.  Bernie Sanders won Indiana, and he shows no signs of giving up.  His campaign is on “life support,” but as long as he continues to fight he is a distraction to Clinton.  Most of the Sanders supporters hate Clinton.  Once Clinton clinches the nomination, which has always been inevitable, what will they do?  They will have the same three choices as the “Never Trumps.”

CONCLUSION

Both parties have endured acrimonious and divisive campaigns.  Now, the two nominees have been virtually decided.   The general election campaign will be commencing unofficially.  Both candidates have historically high unfavorables – according to the latest CBS poll, 57% for Trump and 52% for Clinton.  Furthermore, both will have to work to unite their respective parties so as to prevent defections to the other side.  Now, it will really get interesting.  The latest CNN/ORC poll shows Clinton ahead 54% to 41%, but history demonstrates that it is still very early in the campaign and the situation is likely to change.  Stay tuned.