Welcome to the (day-early) EBD edition of Late Nite Radio. Tonight we feature some comedy gold in the form of a musical performance by Virginia O’Brien. Her unique singing style, according to IMDB, was created by accident during her show business debut:
On opening night, when time came for her solo number, Virginia became so paralyzed with fright that she sang her song with a wide-eyed motionless stare that sent the audience (which thought her performance a gag) into convulsions. Demoralized, Virginia left the stage only to soon find out that she was a sensation.
The following year a New York Times critic who reviewed her Broadway debut gave this apt description: “She convulses the audience by removing the ecstasy from high-pressure music.”
Here, in a brief but memorable appearance as a department store salesclerk in the 1941 Marx Brothers movie The Big Store, Virignia O’Brien – aka Miss Deadpan – performs a vaguely unsettling, riotously funny version of Rock-a-bye Baby. Absolutely priceless.
The thread is open, as always, for your Reader Tips.
Survey says: Obits are in with “Baby Boomers”.
Why the caps on “Baby Boomers”?
“The study notes that Baby Boomers are at a stage where they take a greater interest in obituaries.”
More daisies from the Dinosaur:
“The Northwestern University study says newspapers are still the most popular way to communicate news of a death.”
…-
“Study: Newspaper obits face online competition (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)
Chcago Tribune ^ | December 9, 2009 | Staff
The Internet’s already drawn plenty of business away from newspapers.
But a new study says social networks and online memorials are now putting pressure on the institution of the newspaper obituary.
But study co-author Ian Monroe warns obituaries could move onto the Web as classified ads have done.
The study notes that Baby Boomers are at a stage where they take a greater interest in obituaries.
And so the study recommends that newspaper publishers avoid reducing space or staff devoted to obituaries. It also says newspapers should get in the habit of linking obituaries that appear on their own sites to social networks.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2403970/posts
O’s Wall: “The Egyptians are being helped by American army engineers”.
…-
“Egypt starts building steel wall on Gaza Strip border
Egypt has begun constructing a huge metal wall along its border with the Gaza Strip as it attempts to cut smuggling tunnels, the BBC has learned.
When it is finished the wall will be 10-11km (6-7 miles) long and will extend 18 metres below the surface.
The Egyptians are being helped by American army engineers, who the BBC understands have designed the wall.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404149/posts