6 Versions of A Christmas Carol

Every year, my mother would read an old, well-worn copy of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.  While maybe not too many people read it today, a number of film versions of have been made. I thought it would be fun to look at some of them.

Television Worth Watching

Canadian television has some original shows. One of best of those shows is a program called "Canada Sings"

The idea of the show is to have employees from two different employers do a "Glee Club" performance in competition with employees from another employer. Each group is competing for a prize -- but that prize is to be given to a specific charity chosen by the group. Even though the performances are done by amateurs, most of them are very enjoyable and are very well done.

The performers are not working as professional dancers or singers, although some of them may have experience along those lines. Earlier this year, members of the Royal Canadian Air Force competed. Their charity was an organization to take care of veterans wounded, disabled, or otherwise physically effected by their service. Some of these service men and women performing were musicians, but none of them were dancers. I don't think any of them were singers, either. But they were competing for something that was important to them and, as service people do, they did was expected of them.

Have a box of Kleenex handy.

A Memorable Man

I know that this will be a surprise to regular readers of this blog that I love radio, especially its history. There are some old time radio shows that I really enjoy. About ten years ago, one of my favorite radio actors was to be the guest of honor at a dinner of the Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound. Of course I wanted to go, but I wouldn’t know anyone there.

Not wanting to be late, I arrived at the restaurant about forty-five minutes early. I was told that the room was not ready yet but I could wait in the bar. As I entered the bar I saw a man in a suit, an unusual sight in Seattle. What was also unusual about this man was that he stood only four-and-a-half feet tall. I knew I was in the right place.

I must have looked like a fish out of water. This man walked up to me and asked, "Are you here for the REPS dinner?”

After I said that I was, He said, “Well that’s what I am here for, too. Hi, I’m Dick Beals.” I introduced myself and we talked for a few minutes.

I had never heard the name before, but I was to discover that I had heard that voice. Oh, had I heard that voice. Davey from “Davey and Goliath,” Gumby, Speedy Alka Seltzer. If you have ever heard a radio episode of Gunsmoke where there was a young boy, he was the young boy. He played boys in several radio episodes of Dragnet.

It is not his resume that made him memorable to me. What made him memorable was that he was a real, honest, gracious gentleman.  Later in the evening it was still obvious that I really didn’t know anyone in the room. Two hours after our brief conversation in the bar, after he made the keynote speech about the guest of honor, he came over to me and said, “Matt, are you having a good time?” Two hours later,  not only did he come over to see how I was doing, he remembered my name.

In the days following that dinner I found a copy of his autobiography on Amazon.  The book gave insight into what it was like to be a radio actor. The book also told how he managed a Little League team – a team of physically and mentally challenged players – and that team won their league championship. He would not allow anyone to intimidate or demean him. He would treat everyone with respect and expected the same in return. He earned that respect.

Dick Beals was an inspirational man. Even though he stood only four foot six, he stood tall. I only met him that one evening, but it was a memorable meeting for me.

Mr. Beals has passed away at the age of 85. Rest in peace, sir.

Has American Idol Jumped the Shark?

Many people dismiss American Idol and its “manufactured stars,” but I think it is really a great boot camp for future stars. The schedule and the pressure of the show really take a toll on those not ready for a career in show business. It strengthens those who are ready and breaks those who are not.

The More Things Change....

I have an old friend in California. One of our mutual interests is music. One day back in the 70s, he started playing a 50s chord progression on his guitar and I came in with the bass. I made up some words, and we had a novelty song.

I was talking to him about a week ago, and he told me he tried singing the song to his wife, and she really enjoyed it. However, my friend did not know all of the words. I said I would email them.

As I was emailing the lyrics, I realized that I did not know the chord progression because I had never really played it. He didn’t know the words because he never sang them. I picked up my guitar and figured out the chords.

From time to time I email my friend some YouTube links of songs. One of the songs I emailed him recently was a little known Doo Wop song called “High on a Hill” by Scott English. I picked up my guitar and tried to play that song as well. That progression was mighty familiar – it was the same as the one as in our little novelty song.

Anyone who has picked up a guitar and played more than three songs knows that there are certain chord progressions that happen over and over again.

With that recent experience in mind, I especially enjoyed this video a friend had posted on FaceBook. I hope you enjoy it as well. By the way, it sounds like the same chords as our song, just in a different order.