Today was the first time I’ve seen KATE SMITH in the puzzle. Remember her? The clue was “Contralto singer known as the “First Lady of Radio.” Philly Flyers fans know all about KS. Her rendition of God Bless America became the team’s good luck anthem, back in their Stanley Cup days. How effective was it? — They erected a statue of her. And the Yankees played GBA during their 7th-inning stretches for close to 20 years. Then all hell broke loose. It emerged that she recorded songs viewed as racist earlier in her career. The statue was removed and GBA stopped playing. Here’s what Wikipedia says about it.
Smith’s rendition of “God Bless America” was played during the seventh-inning stretch of New York Yankees home games from 2001 until April 2019, when the practice was discontinued amid controversy surrounding her 1931 recordings of “That’s Why Darkies Were Born” and “Pickaninny Heaven”. The following day, the Philadelphia Flyers followed suit, and the statue of Smith outside the Flyers’ arena was removed.
Her family responded by denying the racism allegations. They cited the satirical nature of the song “That’s Why Darkies Were Born”, and the fact that it was also popularized by Paul Robeson. The song “Pickaninny Heaven” is from the movie Hello, Everybody!, one of whose writers was Fannie Hurst, an advocate for African American equality.
Get this — In 1969, after Jim Morrison’s arrest in Miami for indecent exposure, Smith performed with The Lettermen, Anita Bryant, and Jackie Gleason in a concert demonstration against indecency, and President Nixon commended the stars’ performances. Et tu, Ralph?
Jeez Louise. Yesterday Peter of Peter, Paul, and Mary gets smeared, and now Kate Smith. God Bless America.
“Pride parade participant?” Four letters, but LGBT didn’t work. Turned out to be LION. Nice. And “De-briefed” was a fun clue for PANTSED.
Here’s a true story that I love because I actually said what I said at the right time rather than only think of it later.
Caity had to be in the hospital for a few days when she was in her teens, nothing serious, and they gave her the choice of being in a regular double room where the roommate would be any patient — some wheezing old man, for example, or of being in a kids area. Since some of the kids were in for psychological issues, there were some safety rules, like any gifts people brought in had to be cleared with the nurse.
So we came for visiting hours that night and got on line to have the nurse OK a few small items we brought (blow torch, chain saw, etc.). The couple ahead of us were having some small toys reviewed — cheap little nothings — but the nurse was rejecting each one for various reasons — this edge is sharp, these small pieces can be dangerous, etc. Each rejection was like a physical blow to the mom — not that she cared so much about the little toy, but it was a comment on the seriousness of her daughter’s situation, that she was in danger from it. And after the third rejection, she exploded and exclaimed “Be Nicer!!”
The nurse was taken aback and said “What do you mean? I’m being nice,” and the dad said, “No, you’re being very officious.”
Well, the nurse was devastated — it’s a caring profession — and stammered out something about the safety rules being important. And they said, “This is very hard for us, you should show some sympathy.” She hurriedly cleared the next few items and they left.
Linda and I went up to her next. She looked at us like she had just been to war. Pale and near tears. I looked at her reassuringly, and said: “It’s okay — you don’t have to be nice to us.”
*****
Phil, as always, was on hand, and took this shot of her.
Stories from The Onion:
U.S. Mint Introduces New Controversial John Wilkes Booth Pennies
Biden Wanders Into Flames
I’m thrilled to be moving a nice dollhouse I had in my office at school into Zoey’s room for her ninth birthday Monday. Here it is from the outside. Once it’s set up, I’ll try to share some shots of the furnishings with you.
Good night. See you tomorrow!
The Wellington Files 