The B-52s
There used to be a chinese restaurant, on the Atlanta Highway, called Hunan House. One night, a few people shared a flaming volcano, and formed a band. The b52’s played their first show at a valentines day party in 1977. They were named for a bouffant hairstyle.
The b52’s were Ricky Wilson, his sister Cindy, Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider III, and Keith Strickland. The Wilsons and Mr. Strickland were from Athens. Miss Pierson and Mr. Schneider were from New Jersey. Planet Claire was the ancestral home.
Fred had lived in Atlanta before he moved to Athens. He stayed in an apartment on Monroe Drive, across from S&M clutch and brake company. PG knew some of his neighbors, and once rested his feet on a rug, formerly owned by Fred Schneider.
Somebody had connections, and The b52’s were playing shows in New York before long. They released a 45 on db records, “Rock Lobster” and “52 girls”. The first of the girls mentioned…there are only 23 named…is Effie. There was a famous whorehouse in Athens named Effies.
One night, they played a show at the Big Dipper, on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The Big Dipper was a former Maryland Fried Chicken, and is now something else. After the show, either Kate or Cindy was in the parking lot, talking to a local character named Beulah. As was his way, Beulah was talking about Mick Jagger this, Mick Jagger that. Finally, Kate had enough. ” Fuck Mick Jagger. One day Mick Jagger will come see me, me, me.”
The b52’s were a fun band. Ricky had an unusual style on guitar, and Kate played a farfisa organ. The girls always wore big hair wigs. Fred was somewhere up front singing.
On Labor Day, 1978, PG saw the b52’s in Piedmont Park. There was a third girl that day, Wendy, who wore an inflatable beach float, and danced. The only songs PG is sure they did were “Downtown” and “Rock Lobster”. A few months later, PG saw the b52’s at the Agora ballroom. The Brains opened.
Sometime in late 1979, the eponymous first album came out. It became a hit, with dance clubs all over playing “Planet Claire”, “Dance this mess around”, and “6060-842”. In the summer of 1980, PG talked with a former Athenian in a hostel in Cannon Beach, Oregon. He mentioned that Cindy was the only heterosexual in the band.
The years went by, and more albums were released. On October 12, 1985, Ricky Wilson died of AIDS. He is buried in Oconee Hill Cemetery, behind Sanford Stadium in Athens. He sold bus tickets at the Grayhound station in downtown Athens before he hit the bigtime.
The band continues to this day. At some point, “Love Shack” was released, and became a hit. It is probably the best known b52’s song today. This is a repost. Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
Feed The Hamsters
Is arrogance etymologically connected to air head? ~ I am glad it only takes one hand to work a mouse. ~ What you say about Jesus says more about you than it does him. ~ Sin? Sin like love was a word hard to define. It came in two bitter but vastly different flavors. The first lay in violating the taboos of your tribe … The other meaning of sin was easier to define because it was not molded by the murky concepts of religion and taboo: Sin is behavior that ignores the welfare of others. Robert Heinlein ~ @postcrunk white men get called racist for behaving with the autonomy of a black man ~ I have always felt that Donald’s primary talent is media manipulation. The last two weeks either shows that he has lost the touch, or that using the media is uglier than I thought it was ~ we will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security ~ A brief consultation with Mr. Google does not show a source for that quote. ~ The following replies are approved. To see additional replies that are pending approval, click Show Pending. Warning: These may contain graphic material. ~ @chescaleigh @KidFury @crissles @gracyact @SholantyTaylor “busy organizing a klan rally” that is not right ~ Google ads has a sick sense of humor. ~ @ChrchCurmudgeon If Trump wins the election, this country will have hell toupée. ~ In discussion forums, a troll is anybody who tells the truth ~ All I see is a blank space. Facebook is not working again. ~ Whoops! There was a problem previewing this document. ~ @alwaystheself Then again, maybe France’s black population is safer if the CIA thinks they don’t exist. ~ If you ask where your phone is, don’t be surprised if they say you are talking on it. ~ donald trump anagrams into pot drum land, plot and drum, rum dot plan d ~ @MarkEglinton @thedavidcrosby the truest words spoken on the twitter forsaken platform that is g-d since its inception. ~ The spell check suggestion for retweeted is regretted. ~ There is a point beyond which perseverance can only be termed desperate folly. Karl von Clausewitz ~ how many have died from gunshots while america was fussing over an obsolete flag? ~ You are going to go to the puniteniary ~ 9 Facts That Show White-on-White Crime Far Exceeds Black-on-Black Crime and How Media Outlets Conceal It ~ EPISODE 21: BLOODLINES (6.5.2015) ~ I, Racist ~ 8 Truths About Race That Every White Person Needs to Know ~ 3- Feed the hamsters that power your server. It is irritating when you look at where a picture should be, and see a blank space. Then you see the comments, and wonder what they are talking about. ~ @WernerTwertzog Whatever does not kill me, is disappointing. ~ Blakes needs to stock up on popcorn. ~ @VeryShortStory If storytelling is his bag does it matter if it is paper or plastic? One is renewable but costs much more to ship. ~ @whitman632 Poetry allows one to exhale with passion. ~ THE LAND OF HEART’S DESIRE ~ #FreeTheNipplesAndTheVowels ~ Post Has Been Removed The post or object that you liked has been removed by its owner and can no longer be liked. ~ Post Has Been Removed The post or object that you were commenting has been removed by its owner and can no longer be commented on. ~ forgive me if I sound ignorant. but what is a troll? ~ We should have a contest. Someone copy an informational email. Then see how long it takes someone else to look it up on Snopes. ~ ask them which one cleaned up the place ~ Join us in our effort to change our world with Empowering Narratives. Share this empowering narrative on your social network of choice and ask others to do the same. ~ I have numerous issues with the culture of attitude mongering, aka positivity fascism. Unfortunately, this article does not have many practical suggestions for improvement. ~ pictures from The Library of Congress. ~ selah ~
James Baldwin And The Six Letter Word
In the spring of 1963, KQED filmed a show, “Take this hammer”, about James Baldwin. The snippet in the video above seems to have been the last three minutes of the show. Here is a transcript. Mr. Baldwin discusses a six letter insult. The n-word is more about the speaker, than the spoken of. A 2010 blogger had this to say.
What resonated with me about this particular video though, is the universal experience we’ve all had being referred to, thought of as, or called something we inherently are not. Not because of something we’ve done, mind you – but because of the way others “interpret” us. Those of us that “transgress” gender norms are often given titles and names that don’t fit who we are – but are more representative of the fears and desires of others. I’ve often felt that people’s projections of me are oftentimes just that – their projections. However, Baldwin’s ending sums up a solution to this perfectly: “But you still think, I gather, that the n****r is necessary. Well he’s unnecessary to me – he must be necessary to you. Well, I’m going to give your problem back to you…you’re the n****r, baby…not me.”
It is now 2015. (All discussions of race must mention the year.) The TV show was fifty two years ago. A few things have changed. To many white people, overt expressions of racism are seen as bad manners. The n-word is taboo in polite company. The overall attitudes may not have changed, but most white people are careful how they say things.
African America is keeping the n-word alive. But it is still about the speaker, not the one spoken of. When people say the nasty word, they are talking about themselves. African Americans are now the people James Baldwin is talking about. This is a repost. Pictures are from The Library of Congress. These men are Union soldiers, from the War Between the States.
A few weeks ago, this blog published a feature, James Baldwin And The Six Letter Word. At the center was selection of James Baldwin talking about the n word. There was a transcript available, which makes today’s exercise a lot easier.
Mr. Baldwin was discussing this nasty word, and offered an insight into who the user of this nasty word was really talking about. Now, there is another nasty word being casually tossed about these days. This other nasty word is racist. What would happen if you took Mr. Baldwin’s talk, and substituted racist for nasty? It is an interesting way to look at things. What follows is not a perfect fit, and may be offensive to some. A few times, it is very close to the truth.
Who is the racist? Well i know this…and anybody who has tried to live knows this. What you say about somebody else (you know) anybody else, reveals you. What I think of you as being is dictated by my own necessities, my own psychology, my own uhm fears…and desires. I’m not describing you when I talk about you…I’m describing me.
Now, here in this country we got somebody called a racist. It doesn’t in such terms, I beg you to remark, exist in any other country in the world. We have invented the racist. I didn’t invent him, white people invented him. I’ve always known, I had to know by the time I was seventeen years old, what you were describing was not me and what you were afraid of was not me. It had to be something else. You had invented it so it had to be something you were afraid of and you invested me with it.
Now if that’s so, no matter what you’ve done to me I can say to you this, and I mean it…I know you can’t do any more and I’ve got nothing to lose…and I know and I have always known you know and really always..…I have always known that I am not a racist…but if I am not the racist…and if it is true that your invention reveals you…then who is the racist?
I am not the victim here. I know one thing from another. I know that I was born, am gonna suffer and gonna die. And the only way that you can get through life is to know the worst things about it. I know that a person is more important than anything else. Anything else.
I’ve learned this because I’ve had to learn it. But you still think, I gather, that the racist is necessary. Well he’s not necessary to me, so he must be necessary to you. So I give you your problem back. You’re the racist baby, it isn’t me.
Bad Patriotic Jokes
What did one flag say to the other flag? Nothing. It just waved!
What’s red, white, black and blue? Uncle Sam falling down the steps!
What would you get if you crossed Washington’s home with nasty insects? Mt. Vermin!
What did a patriot put on his dry skin? Revo-lotion!
Which colonists told the most jokes? Punsylvanians!
What was General Washington’s favorite tree? The infantry!
Where did George Washington buy his hatchet? At the chopping mall!
What quacks, has webbed feet, and betrays his country? Beneduck Arnold!
Did you hear the one about the Liberty Bell? Yeah, it cracked me up!
What would you get if you crossed a patriot with a small curly-haired dog? Yankee Poodle!
Why did Paul Revere ride his horse from Boston to Lexington? The horse was too heavy to carry!
What happened as a result of the Stamp Act? The Americans licked the British!
This is a repost. Picture are from The Library of Congress.
Internal Genitalia
The current episode of the Bret Easton Ellis podcast features Jonathan Ames, who probably writes entertaining word product. Maybe the Chamblee library will have one of his books some time. Until then, this hour of conversation will suffice.
BEE likes to talk about political correctness. There was discussion of a newspaper article, What Makes a Woman? The acronym terf (Trans exclusionary radical feminists) devolved into comments about turf battles. Some men have an instinct for making tacky jokes.
“In January 2014, the actress Martha Plimpton, an abortion-rights advocate, sent out a tweet about a benefit for Texas abortion funding called “A Night of a Thousand Vaginas.” Suddenly, she was swamped by criticism for using the word “vagina.” “Given the constant genital policing, you can’t expect trans folks to feel included by an event title focused on a policed, binary genital,”…
Let me get this right: The word “vagina” is exclusionary and offers an extremely narrow perspective on womanhood … should describe ours with the politically correct terminology trans activists are pushing on us: “front hole” or “internal genitalia”? …
“Abortion rights and reproductive justice is not a women’s issue,” wrote Emmett Stoffer, one of many self-described transgender persons to blog on the topic. It is “a uterus owner’s issue.” Mr. Stoffer was referring to the possibility that a woman who is taking hormones or undergoing surgery to become a man, or who does not identify as a woman, can still have a uterus, become pregnant…”
PG has a knack for trouble with SJW. He is a person of interest for the Pronoun Police. Just yesterday, there was a facebook thread for a heart circle. PG noted that a shart circle was not a good idea. Within minutes, the comment was taken down, by request.
Whitehall Street was a 42 word poem for a writing contest. It stated that MTF transpeople do not get pregnant. There was soon an e-mail from the contest.
“Your submission this week is unsuitable for publication and has been removed from the grid. Our editorial standards respect the diversity and dignity of our audience. I know it seems desirable to appear “edgy” but _____ does not accept posts which insult or demean any person based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other traits. Based on the nature of your post this week, your entries will no longer be welcome at yeah write.”
Few people like to be persona non grata. PG was really more puzzled than hurt. A letter to the contest was ignored. A couple of weeks later, another letter was sent to the contest. This one got a reply.
Whenever we receive a submission that pushes the boundaries or is of questionable taste or quality, the editors all weigh in. In this case, our submissions editor brought your post to the attention of the editors as soon as it was submitted. We discussed the content, and all agreed that it was hurtful and demeaning and did not represent _______ well. What you said, essentially, is that a trans woman is a fake woman.
Frankly, we have never felt the need to specifically articulate that hate speech is unwelcome in our community. It seemed obvious to us and, indeed, to nearly everyone who submits posts.
Pictures are from The Library of Congress. These men served as Confederate soldiers.
Racism Education
A link keeps turning up on facebook. It is for an item, 18 Things White People Should Know/Do Before Discussing Racism. It was posted at The Frisky | Celebrity Gossip, Relationship Advice, Beauty and Fashion Tips. The facility has a series of suggested posts at the top of the page. The first one you see is BLOWJOB TECHNIQUES YOU NEED TO TRY.
18 Things is supposed to be educational. PG was encouraged to read the piece two weeks ago, and found it lacking. The link today was from a combination facebook friend/ facebook unfriend. Maybe 18 Things deserves another look.
18 Things is garbage. Take a look at number one. “1. It is uncomfortable to talk about racism. It is more uncomfortable to live it.” You would never know this from the number of people who seem to enjoy talking about racism. The louder you talk, and the more passion you display, the more truth your words have. Maybe what is uncomfortable is to quit talking, and listen.
But then, maybe the idea is for everyone to talk at once. Here is item 16: “16. Silence does nothing. Blank stares and silence do not further this difficult but necessary conversation.” If you are going to listen to someone, it is very helpful to keep your mouth shut.
“2. “Colorblindness” is a cop-out. The statements “but I don’t see color” or “I never care about color” do not help to build a case against systemic racism. Try being the only White person in an environment. You will notice color then.” This is a curious paragraph. Sentence one has little to do with sentences two, three, and four.
Sentences three and four are connected. The author assumes that the PWOC reading this piece has never been the only pale face in an enviornment. Actually, it is probably more common to be the only white person in the room, than to be the only black person in a room full of whites.
“3. Oprah’s success does not mean the end of racism. The singular success of a Black man or woman (i.e. Oprah, or Tiger Woods, or President Obama) is never a valid argument against the existence of racism. By this logic, the success of Frederick Douglass or Amanda America Dickson during the 19th century would be grounds for disproving slavery.”
Has anyone ever said that the success of Oprah Winfrey is the end of racism? Do you have a link for that? Ok, and even if they did say that, it would be wildly untrue. But it gets better. If you agree with this statement that very few people have made, that is like saying that the success of Frederick Douglass disproves slavery. This is ridiculous.
The rest of the piece is not much better. Items 4, 5, 9, 14, and 15, can be summed up with the five words … there is racism in America. You are encouraged to use google to educate yourself. This can go in different directions. Maybe you could google “logical fallacy,” or “critical thinking.”
This feature should not be taken as denying the existence of a race problem in America. (The words racism/racist are problematic.) People should be treated with kindness and respect. Opportunities should be available to all people. The police should not target racially defined populations. Celebrities should not say tacky things.
The question arises, though. What value do articles like 18 Things have? Do they inform people who need to learn? Are they preaching to the choir? (Frisky has a header ad for Red Bull. Do articles like this sell power energy drinks?)
There are other possibilities. Do articles like 18 Things trivialize racial problems? Maybe the constant promotion of nonsense like 18 Things will lead people to believe that there really isn’t a race problem in America. People who uncritically praise articles like this are doing more harm than good. Those who claim to educate should be held to some sort of standard. Posting nonsense on the internet is not the same thing as working for equality and justice.
This is a repost. Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
How Black Is BHO?
Episode 35741 of bloggingheads.tv is another edition of the two black guys, @JohnHMcWhorter and @GlennLoury. They had plenty to talk about. PG has been burned out on racial discussions, and kept turning it off and on. Finally, at the 43 minute mark, PG realized that it was just fifteen minutes to go. He might as well listen to the rest of the show.
At 46:11, there was something to listen to. Dr. McWhorter had been talking about the eulogy BHO gave at the funeral of Rev. Clementa Pickney. The message was set in the rhythyms of the black church. It was very well received.
BHO was raised by white people. He lived in Hawaii and Indonesia. BHO attended Columbia University and Harvard Law School. When BHO came to Chicago, and began a political career, it was suggested that he find a church. This church affiliation is essential to an identity as a black politician. The act of speaking, in a black church, in the manner of a black minister, is something that BHO learned as an adult.
Rachel Dolezal was discussed on the show. Here is a white woman, who presented herself as black. After a while, she was roundly criticized for doing so. It was said that she has not suffered the hardships, and oppression, that comes with being black. Therefore, this light skinned woman is the object of derision for claiming to be black.
BHO was raised by white people in Hawaii and Indonesia. Arguably, he has suffered little, if any, of the oppression that most black people face. He chose to attend a black church in part because he wanted a political base. And yet, this half white man with dark skin is routinely accepted as a black man. Racial labeling, like beauty, is skin deep.
Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
Article Has Multiple Issues
@bob_owens The white half of @POTUS is racist for using the “n-word.” ~ PG thought of a tv show in the sixties. The host of the show was Billy Graham, and the guest was Richard Nixon. The former Vice President had bought his teenage daughter a Beatles album, and now that was all he heard around the house. ~ @TheAliaJanine were you the one in the podcast yelling “show your tits?” ~ @TheAliaJanine Im starting a class where social media stars teach people how to use porn. ~ @murderkroger If it weren’t for half measures, we’d take no measures at all ~ I am not sure I would trust these old foundations with a second story retrofit. ~ I was at many many of the shows listed in this thread (did anyone mention red white and bluegrass) Rather than give my list I’ll tell a fond memory. I was a freshman student a GSU in 74 After one of the shows( can’t remember who) I was standing outside in the corridor waiting on some friends. When out the door came my General Chemistry Professor Dr Sears arm in arm with the best looking girl in my class. They turned beet red turned and got away from me as quick as they could. I often wonder if I could have went and bribed an A out of him. LOL ~ Paraprosdokians ~ @WaltWhitmanLAN I swear I think there is nothing but immortality! ~ tmi ~ This is what happens while people are pitching a fit about the so called Confederate Flag. ~ @fieldnegro When racists call me a racist I smile inside.@chamblee54 especially when they think they cannot be racist ~ We need to get rid of the electoral college. Unless you live in a contested state, you do not get a vote in the POTUS final election. The electoral college keeps the democrat/rethuglian duopoly in power. It will be tough to get rid of. The electoral college is to governance what facebook typography is to graphics. ~ The still sell the bible. ~ Every almond takes a gallon of water to grow. ~ Glenn Loury ~ 20/20 Insight research ~ @wintersong @TheKevinAllison what twitter looked like at 062415_0230edt for one person ~ @dandrezner @blogginheads @natsecheather ~ the pineapple is a symbol of hospitality ~ “This is the only place on my newsfeed that isn’t filled with cruel opinions or hateful banter.” This is not always the case ~ This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. ~ The land seems to have recovered from all the cars that were parked there. ~ “The south starts at the Canadian border” unknown ~ ‘We Should Start Calling This Law SCOTUScare” The scare part is correct ~ Is ScotuScare going to be a movie? ~ Okay, we’re going to lay low while we are . . . #waitingforlyle. pins and needles Here’s Lyle with the first opinion. Marriage. Kennedy has the opoinion. Holding: Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex.And to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when a marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out of state. It’s 5-4. Chief dissents, joined by Scalia and Thomas. Sixth Circuit is reversed. Each of the four dissenters has written a dissent ~ Rainbow colors have their place, but sometimes black and white works better. ~ @whitman632 The crucifixtion & resurrection of Christ is one of our favorite fairy tales. ~ Please leave me out of this dispute i am tired of talk about, and living with, racism and prejudice ~ BS in dead heat with HDRC. What an appalling visual. ~ The Scalia dissent begins on page 69 of today’s opinion. You can’t make this stuff up. ~ I will be out of the office through June 29 with only limited e-mail access during that time. Thank you for your patience in waiting for a reply. ~ @whittmman Do you really believe Little Red Riding Hood’s version of the incident? ~ But what really astounds is the hubris reflected in today’s judicial Putsch. ~ Sarah Palin is satire. ~ @ChrchCurmudgeon Whose picture will be on the three dollar bill? ~ Are his pants on fire? ~ The phrases “sexual harassment” and “J. Max Davis” should not be in the same sentence. ~ They should pick Diana Ross. She has experience at being a Supreme. ~ No, I just butt posted a period ~ Kurt Vonnegut ~ just ask a hippie ~ pure applesauce ~ Maybe we can get Yoko Ono and Hillary Clinton back together. ~ The anagram of admins is mad sin ~ What is porpoise Beyonce’ reason? ~ Facebook is having issues with pictures. I see the headlines, and the comments, but not the picture. It is like watching tv with the sound cut off. ~ pictures from The Library of Congress. ~ selah
A Rose By Any Other Blame
Actor/director @rosemcgowan is back in the news, again. The lady, who has a movie coming out, and needing promotion, has allegedly been fired by her agent. Rose McGowan says ‘wussy’ agent fired her for calling out a sexist Adam Sandler movie role PG does not know if the agent has commented on the situation. There might be other issues.
The latest bit of nonsense started with a tweet. @rosemcgowan casting note that came w/script I got today. For real. name of male star rhymes with Madam Panhandler hahahaha I die 11:42 PM – 17 Jun 2015 The tweet had a picture attached. It was wardrobe instructions for an audition. The actor was instructed to wear “Black (or dark) form fitting tank that shows off cleavage (push up bras encouraged). And form fitting leggings of jeans. Nothing white.”
Here is the tweet announcing her termination. @rosemcgowan I just got fired by my wussy acting agent because I spoke up about the bullshit in Hollywood. Hahaha. #douchebags #awesome #BRINGIT 10:56 PM – 24 Jun 2015. There are 2,889 Retweets and 4,287 Favorites.
Miss McGowan got some attention after an appearance of the Bret Easton Ellis podcast. “I have an indictment of the gay community… I have heard nobody in the gay community, no gay male, standing up for women on any level..” The lady knows how to win friends and influence people.
There is a another story, Rose McGowan talks Adam Sandler, the cleavage note, and the ‘stupidity’ of Hollywood. Miss McGowan talked about her Adam Sandler problem. “I’m not trying to vilify Adam Sandler. Although someone did tell me that when he did his Netflix deal, he said, “I signed with Netflix because it rhymes with Wet Chicks.” I mean, what? What in the f–k is going on? No!”
This set off the BS detector. Mr. Google was consulted. It turns out Mr. Sandler issued a press release when he made a deal with NetFlix. “”I immediately said yes for one reason and one reason only
. Netflix rhymes with Wet Chicks. Let the streaming begin!!!!”
Pictures today are from The Library of Congress. It will be interesting to see whether, or not, Miss McGowan can get her next movie financed.
Like You Rate A Restaurant
PG was minding his own business when the phone rang. It was an automated voice, that wanted to take a survey. The perp company was 20/20 Insight. The machine caught PG at a weak moment, and he agreed to the survey.
The first part was asking you to rate names. It went from one to five, just like you rate a restaurant. The first name was Barack Obama. The second name was J. Max Davis.
It was soon apparent that the survey was about Brookhaven politics. The name Rebecca Chase Williams came up. She is the acting mayor of Brookhaven, and is all but certain to run for a full term. It is too bad that zero, or negative one, is not an option.
Mrs. Williams is married to Dick Williams. He used to write a column for the fishwrapper. Mr. Williams is a terrible, terrible man. His column was full of hatred for gay people. In one memorable tirade, he compared gay people to Richard Speck, Charles Manson, and Sirhan Sirhan.
The survey was fast and efficient. You gave your answers by touching buttons on the phone. You had the “not sure” option on most questions, which is good when asked what you think of how the city of Brookhaven is doing. It is not especially bad, so far. If the city decides to spend thousands of dollars shutting down the Pink Pony, it would be doing worse.
Before the phone rang, PG was listening to bloggingheadstv. Glenn Loury said that Mike Brown brought his troubles on himself. PG was called racist after making a much milder comment about Mr. Brown last November.
Pictures today are from The Library of Congress.
First Week Of Summer
PG was working downtown in 1993. It was an easygoing “RMS” operation, hosted by an architecture firm in the Healy building. There were some long lunch hours.
On the first week of summer, there were visits to be made. A friend, Margaret, had been fighting breast cancer. Being insurance challenged, the treatments were at Grady.
When someone fighting cancer goes to the doctor, and is told to go to the hospital, this is not good news. PG had visted on Saturday. Margaret did not seem to be doing too bad.
The plan was to go to Grady at lunchtime. At noon, there were a few jobs to run. PG decided to stay a few minutes, clear up the workload, and take his time at lunch.
When PG got to the room, the door was closed. PG asked a nurse what was going on. The nurse looked uncomfortable. He said to talk to a member of her family.
Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
The Last Night Of Judy Garland
In march of 1969, Judy married her fifth husband, Mickey Devinko, better known as Mickey Deans, a gay night-club promoter. Judy had an unfortunate habit of marrying gay men. They lived together in a tiny mews house in Chelsea, London. The evening of Saturday June 21 1969, Judy and Mickey were watching a documentary, The Royal Family, on television, when they had an argument. Judy ran out the door screaming into the street, waking the neighbors.
Several versions of what happened next exist, but the fact remains that a phone call for Judy woke him at 10:40 the next morning, and she was not sleeping in the bed. He searched for her, only to find the bathroom door locked. After no response, he climbed outside to the bathroom window and entered to find Judy, sitting on the toilet. Rigor Mortis had set in. Judy Garland, 47, was dead.
The press was already aware of the news before the body could be removed. In an effort to prevent pictures being taken of the corpse, she was apparently draped over someone’s arm like a folded coat, covered with a blanket, and removed from the house with the photographers left none the wiser.
The day Judy died there was a tornado in Kansas…. in Saline County,KS, a rather large F3 tornado (injuring 60, but causing no deaths) did hit at 10:40 pm on June 21st, that would be 4:40 am, June 22nd, London time, the morning she died. I know the time of death has never been firmly established, but since Rigor Mortis had already set in, I think this tornado may very much be in the ballpark in terms of coinciding with time of death…. Other news articles suggest the tornado struck Salina “late at night” which could certainly also mean after midnight on June 22, or roughly 6:00 am London time.
The Toledo Blade for June 24th, also in an article located right next to a picture of Garland, in a write-up on the Salina tornado noted that “Late Saturday [June 21] and early Sunday [June 22, another batch of tornadoes struck in central Kansas.” So it seems the legend seems confirmed.
The text for this story comes from Findadeath. You can spend hours at this site. This is a repost. Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
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