Newsletter March 2024

Carl’s Corner

by Carl Amari

The Stan Freberg show ran on CBS radio for only 15 episodes in 1957. It starred comedian Stan Freberg and featured his stock company of performers: Daws Butler, June Foray and Peter Leeds. It also featured singing star Peggy Taylor, the vocal stylings of The Jud Conlon Rythmnaires and the musical direction of Billy May. Despite its short run, the show developed running gags and stock jokes that are still remembered today including Freberg’s ambivalence toward Madison Avenue to the overwhelmingly popular interviews with a sneaker-wearing Abominable Snowman. Much of the show took deadly satiric aim at the advertising business, making it difficult for CBS to find a sponsor. By week 13 it was apparent that a sponsor would not be signing on so CBS cancelled the show after just 15 episodes. The Stan Freberg Show was the last American network radio show to devote itself purely to comedy. Stan and I were great pals. I hired him to host my nostalgia radio show in 1995. We used to go to lunch at his favorite restaurant, La Scala, in Beverly Hills whenever I was in town. I’ll never forget all the great times we had together and all the stories he would tell me about the radio days. Stan, you are missed my friend!

HELP SAVE THE BOSTON BLACKIE RADIO SERIES!

By Carl Amari

We successfully saved the Bold Venture radio series because of YOU the Hollywood 360 listeners so THANK YOU! We are now attempting to save the Boston Blackie radio series (my personal favorite!).

I recently licensed this detective series from the estate of Frederic W. Ziv so If you would like to help us transfer all 218 Boston Blackie half-hour radio episodes (this is the complete syndicated series produced by Frederic W. Ziv and starring Dick Kollmar, including more than 100 lost episodes not heard in more than 70 years) please go to our Kickstarter website and pledge any amount. Depending on the amount you pledge, you can receive some or even ALL 218 Boston Blackie radio episodes in pristine sound quality on Audio CDs or via digital download. All of the information is available at our Kickstarter website. Simply search: “Boston Blackie” “Kickstarter” in your search engine or click here to be taken directly to the Boston Blackie Kickstarter website:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/boldventure/424255973?ref=cbcqy4&token=f9375310

If you have trouble pledging on the Kickstarter website or would like to learn more by talking to a live operator, please call 815-900-7535.  If a live operator does not answer your call, please leave your name and return phone number and you will receive a call back asap. 

View Kickstarter

LEND ME YOUR EARS by Lisa Wolf
SATURDAY IN THE PARK, by Chicago

RELEASED: 1972

Watch On YouTube

It was written as I was looking at footage from a film I shot in Central Park, over a couple of years, back in the early ‘70s. I shot this film and somewhere down the line I edited it into some kind of a narrative, and as I watched the film I jotted down some ideas based on what I was seeing and had experienced. And it was really kind of that peace and love thing that happened in Central Park and in many parks all over the world, perhaps on a Saturday, where people just relax and enjoy each other’s presence, and the activities we observe and the feelings we get from feeling a part of a day like that. ~ Robert Lamm, Writer

Released in 1972 as part of Chicago’s fifth studio album, “Chicago V,” “Saturday in the Park” quickly became a chart-topping hit. Written by Robert Lamm, the band’s keyboardist and vocalist, the song reflects the vibrant energy of a sunny day in the park, complete with people playing games, enjoying music, and relishing the simple pleasures of life. Lamm’s lyrics and the band’s brass instrumentation create a vivid musical landscape that resonates with listeners to this day.

The film “The Parent Trap” (1998) starring Lindsay Lohan features “Saturday in the Park” in a scene where the characters enjoy a leisurely afternoon in Central Park. The film “The Great Outdoors” (1988) starring John Candy and Dan Aykroyd, uses “Saturday in the Park” to enhance the mood during a family vacation scene. On “The Simpsons” (Season 5, Episode 13 – “Homer and Apu,” 1994), the animated world of Springfield couldn’t resist the infectious charm of “Saturday in the Park.”

Jason Mraz has performed a live version of “Saturday in the Park,” showcasing his acoustic and soulful interpretation of the classic song.

Watch On YouTube

“Saturday in the Park” by Chicago remains a testament to the band’s ability to create music that transcends time and resonates with audiences across generations. Its inclusion in various TV shows and movies only adds to its legacy, showcasing the song’s universal appeal.