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June 2020 Forest Hill News—Page 1
LISTEN FOR THE MUSIC
June is bustin’ out all over, all over the meadow and the hill…Can’t hear those Carousel lyrics without being touched once again with a long-standing love affair with American musical theatre. You know the names: Oklahoma, Show Boat, The King and I, South Pacific, The Sound of Music. And those are just the Rogers and Hammerstein productions. In the first half of the 20th century these composers were household names: Lerner and Lowe, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Leonard Bernstein, George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, George Cohen, and the very early masters, Victor Herbert and Sigmund Romberg.
Among the memorable songs and productions from the first half of the 20th century Victor Herbert’s “Light Opera“ was a forerunner of the full-blown American musical. His delightful Naughty Marietta, (1910) was followed by forty other works. Jerome Kerns and Oscar Hammerstein’s Showboat (1927) broke new ground as it addressed such previously taboo issues as inter-racial marriage and alcoholism while also introducing a more substantial musical theatre with not only lovely songs, but also an integrated structure with serious content. Paul Robeson sitting on a bale of cotton singing the signature song, Old Man River, is certainly one of the most memorable scenes in the history of American Musical Theatre. The 1940s brought us such great musicals as Oklahoma, Carousel, and South Pacific. The 50s were equally rich with The King and I, My Fair Lady, and The Sound of Music. Oklahoma with such memorable lyrics as Oh What A Beautiful Morning and The Surrey With The Fringe On Top won, in the 40s and 50s, thirty-four Tony Awards. Carrying on what Showboat began, Oklahoma has been called “the first fully integrated musical,” that is, the songs are in logical sequence to the story being told. Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady has been called “the perfect musical,“ one of the best ever written. Indeed, the characters are unforgettable: Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) and Eliza Doolittle (Julia Andrews) and each of the songs is a delight to hear: Wouldn’t It Be Loverly, The Rain in Spain, Get Me to The Church on Time, I Could Have Danced All Night.
The 60’s brought to Broadway a half dozen shows that were so well loved they set astonishing new records for consecutive performances. First in that group is Fantastics which opened at the Sullivan Street Playhouse and continued to charm theatre goers for 17,162 straight performances. 1964 was a very good year as Hello Dolly began a run of 2844 performances while Fiddler on the Roof had an astonishing 3242 and Funny Girl played for 1348. Man of La Mancha and Mame came along at the end of the decade but stayed around well into the 70s, with 2328 and 1508 consecutive performances.
The composers and lyricists who wrote the musicals of those decades were among the best known celebrities of their time. The audiences for the musical theatre they created can be counted in the millions. Their work is still very much alive on Broadway and in every corner of America. The musical theatre genre is a truly American creation, a true slice of our nation’s cultural pie.
On these dissonant days it's time for the healing power of music. —JE June 2020 Forest Hill News—Page 2
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES
In the early morning hours, 114 years ago, on April 18, 1906, the citizens of San Francisco were jolted awake by a huge earthquake. But Old-Time San Franciscans have never referred to it as the quake…they always called it “The Great Fire” of 1906. Perhaps it was because the fires did more damage to the city than the quake itself. More likely, it was because Insurance companies would not pay for damages caused by an “act of God” like an earthquake, but they would pay for fire damage. It was even rumored that some citizens intentionally set small fires in their quake-damaged homes to collect the insurance. The earthquake and fire still ranks as one of the worst natural disasters to hit the United States. An estimated 3,000 people died. 60,000 buildings were destroyed. 250,000 people were left homeless.
When disaster strikes some people behave badly. Looters immediately took advantage of the situation, and General Funston, in command of the local troops aiding in the relief effort, ordered his soldiers to “Shoot to kill” anyone caught looting. Sadly, several people were shot as cases of mistaken identity, including a pharmacist who was rummaging through the remains of his store to find medicine for his patients. When disaster strikes, some people act in ignorance. Funston also ordered that explosives be used to stop the fire advancing from block to block. But the gunpowder he used had only enough power to blast the embers further and spread the fire.
When disaster strikes, some people act heroically. Frederick “Frisky” Freeman was a naval officer stationed at Mare Island. Acting on his own meager authority as a mere lieutenant... He commandeered several vessels and fire tugs and headed to the city. He ordered his crew of 60 sailors to combat the fires along the rail yards and waterfront. They pumped seawater onto the structures near the shore and further inland he directed that they pump wine from huge storage vats to fight the flames. When that ran out he ordered them to pump water from the sewers beneath the streets. He saved the waterfront, and thus the city’s ability to re-start commerce. Traumatized by his experiences in the Spanish American War and in the aftermath of the quake, this front-line hero of the Great Fire, became an alcoholic, was dishonorably discharged, and ended his days in a small room in Soledad California.
When disaster strikes, some people just keep doing their jobs, quietly and competently. The president of a small local bank saw the fire advancing. He knew from stories about the great Chicago Fire, that paper money kept in a steel vault was vulnerable to the great heat of a powerful urban fire. He called his brother- in-law, a local fruit and vegetable merchant. They took all of the bank’s money and hid it in his produce wagon, driving it safely to the banker’s home in Hillsborough. When the fires were out, he went back to the city to find that his bank building had been destroyed. He walked out to the waterfront with a burlap bag full of cash. He set a plank across two barrels and declared “The Bank of Italy is open for business.” A.P. Giannini the president and founder of the Bank of Italy, soon to be re-named the Bank of America, made hundreds of loans to small businesses to get them back on their feet after the catastrophe. These small businesses, tradesmen, construction workers, painters, grocers, and tailors…most of them recent immigrants, helped to rebuild the city.
When disaster strikes some people act out of fear. Enrico Caruso, the great operatic tenor, was terrified by the earth’s shaking. He ran down five flights of stairs to the street in front of his hotel. He was afraid to re- enter the building, so he sent his valet back to the room to collect 5 trunks worth of clothing and belongings, while Caruso sat on a trunk on the sidewalk with a pistol protecting his possessions. He then hired a wagon to take him to the ferry building, crossed to Oakland, and took a train back east vowing that he would never set foot in San Francisco again. (He never did).
Lessons were learned. Politically we learned that we should elect honest people. Elect competent people. Continued on page 3 June 2020 Forest Hill News—Page 3
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES (Continued.)
Elect people who are concerned about the welfare of all…not just their friends, business connections, and family. Elect people who may expect the best, but prepare for the worst.
Socially, we learned that taking care of our fellow citizens bears fruit. Public health efforts benefit everyone. Building codes keep all of us safe. A sense of community makes us stronger.
Economically, we learned that helping small businesses succeed helps the entire city, state or country. Mostly, we learned that we can survive catastrophe and hard times.
When disaster strikes, we can put one foot in front of the other and get through it…with stories to tell the next generation…and a better understanding of how to do better in the future.
We can carry on! —Pat McAnaney
CHRIS BUCCI SERENADE II
Listeners in the patio and café.
Songs in front bring listeners from near and far, and drinks on the balcony.
June 2020 Forest Hill News—Page 4
FRIDAY PATIO SOCALIZING TEMPERATURE CHECK
THE DAILY REPORT
PATIO BINGO
ELMER ‘SEZ: A thief broke into my house last night... He started searching for money... so I woke up and searched with him...
Forest Hill News is published by the Forest Hill Resident's Association, 551 Gibson Ave., Pacific Grove, CA 93950 EDITOR: Donald Mathews, (831) 373-7809, [email protected]. ASSISTANT EDITOR: Christiane Singer. STAFF: Cheryl Bruno, Jon Ericson, Peggy Kramer, Lou Mathews, and Conrad Newberry.
June 2020 Forest Hill News—Page 5
MOTHER’S DAY DRIVE & WALK BY PARADE
June 2020 Forest Hill News—Page 6
FOREST HILL ROOM SERVICE CREW
Photos By Cheryl Bruno
BEANNACHT (BLESSING) When the canvas frays in the currach of thought On the day when and a stain of ocean the weight deadens blackens beneath you, on your shoulders may there come across the waters and you stumble, a path of yellow moonlight may the clay dance to bring you safely home. to balance you. May the nourishment of the earth be yours, And when your eyes may the clarity of light be yours, freeze behind may the fluency of the ocean be yours, the grey window may the protection of the ancestors be yours. and the ghost of loss And so may a slow gets in to you, wind work these words may a flock of colours, of love around you, indigo, red, green, an invisible cloak and azure blue to mind your life. come to awaken in you a meadow of delight. John O’Donohue Anam Cara: A book of blessings