Jerry Lee Lewis + Jack Good + Shakespeare= 'Catch My Soul' MOISTWORKS [MP3s Disabled]

Thursday, August 17, 2006   ACT II SCENE I ACT II SCENE III Jerry Lee Lewis Othello Unreleased c. 1968 Here's Jerry Lee Lewis's Iago, which comes to us courtesy of a Rock and Roll Othello Jack Good dreamt up after seeing Lewis in 1958, and finally staged a decade later. The relevant passage from Nick Tosches's terrific Hellfire: Good and the rest of the crew were surprised to discover that Jerry Lee was the only actor who knew all his lines at the first rehearsal. "I never thought there was so many words," Jerry Lee later told a Los Angeles Times reporter. "This Shakespeare was really somethin'. I wonder what he woulda thought of my records." On opening night, and on every night following, Jerry Lee stole the show. He prowled the stage, speaking Shakespeare's poetry in perfect meter, but with no concern to conceal or even to temper his own Louisiana accent. The bright green-and-gold grand piano stood onstage throughout the play, and Jerry Lee not only sat at it to pump the songs that Ray Pohlman had written for him and for the seventeen-piece orchestra in the pit, but also to rake and hammer and tinkle in punctuation of his spoken lines, the most evil of Shakespeare's imaginings. (He fooled with the lines occasionally, as on two evenings, coming upon the corpse of Roderigo in Act V, he howled "Great balls of fire! My friend, Roderigo!") Theatre critics did not respond very favorably to the show, but most of them expressed praise, even awe for Jerry Lee's virtuoso performance. The Christian Science Monitor called him a "Louisiana-born genius" and a "unique Iago." The critic for theToronto Daily Star, before going on to damn the show, wrote that "Jerry Lee Lewis is genuinely diabolical as Iago. It is astonishing what new implications of evil he can find in words as simple as 'Go to, very well, go to.' Word spread and the theatre filled, night after night, with those eager to witness this wild, redneck Iago, this man, banished ten years ago, barely remembered, now bearing fire anew, hissing at them in unforgiving wrath.... According to Tosches, Lewis identified completely, and sprinkled Iago's monologues in among his encores for years to come. America's Klaus Kinski, on Jesus tour. NB: Here's what JLL had to say about life on his great-grandaddy's plantation: "He'd take his fist, hit a horse, knock that horse to his knees. A hell of a man, Old Man Lewis. Then they turned all the slaves loose." NRBQ: A few more tracks. First, a little argument JLL and Sam Phillips had, a minute or two before recording "Great Balls of Fire." Next, an old favorite from the latter-day Sun sessions. And, finally, two songs from Lewis's performance/public exorcism at Hamburg's Star Club, c. 1964 - though for all I know (and you'll read different in the comments, below), he played like this every night....

MOISTWORKS : AN MP3 BOOMBOX

JACK GOOD and Jerry Lee Lewis 'Catch My Soul' Shakespeare's Othello [Jerry Lee plays the singing Moore - Iago]

JACK GOOD

 

Jack Good was the man who revolutionised music on television. Good really brought rock ‘n’ roll to the teenage television audience in Britain in the late fifties and early sixties and launched the careers of several artists including Tommy Steele, Cliff Richard and Marty Wilde.

 

Good was born in Greenford, Middlesex on 7 August 1931. He was involved in amateur theatricals, studied for a time at the London Academy of Music and Dance, dreamed of becoming a Shakespearian actor and when attending Balliol College in Oxford, he formed a drama society there. For a time he also appeared as a stand-up comic. He married German student Margit Tischer in 1955.

 

In 1957 he went to work for the BBC and the music programme ‘Six-Five Special, produced by Josephine Baker. He talked her into letting him co-produce the shows with her and introduced more music, particularly featuring new performers such as Tommy Steele.  The programme had twelve million viewers. He wanted more teenage appeal and less sports and general interest in the programme and was so frustrated at not having a free hand that he left his £18 a week job with the BBC to join ITV and launch ‘Oh Boy’, an exciting weekly rock ‘n’ roll show, based at the Hackney Empire. The series was a sensation and introduced performers such as Cliff Richard, Billy Fury, Vince Eager and Dickie Pride, with vocal backing from the Vernons Girls.

 

‘Oh Boy’ was an exciting, fast-paced show that dazzled audiences, the first genuine rock ‘n’ roll show and one which actually presented rock ‘n’ roll in all its glory.

 

Apart from promoting British artists such as Cliff Richard, Tommy Steele and Adam Faith, he was the first to introduce American artists such as Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent to the British public. In fact, he was to completely change Vincent’s image. When he arranged to collect Vincent at Heathrow Airport, Good was so disappointed to see a rock ‘n’ roll idol dressed simply in checked shirt and jeans that he took him in hand and had him dressed entirely in black leather – an image based on Richard 111. He also said that Vincent should emphasis his disability, caused by a motorbike accident, and wear a calliper on his leg and start limping!

 

Good knew music, knew artists and when EMI were issuing Cliff Richard’s single ‘Schoolboy Crush’, it was Good who talked them into flipping the record and promoting the B side ‘Move It’, the record which established Cliff in  Britain. Good also produced Billy Fury’s breakthrough album ‘The Sound of Fury’

 

Following ‘Oh Boy’, he launched another rock series in 1959, ‘Boy Meets Girl’, which helped to establish Marty Wilde and followed up the next year with yet another series, this time called ‘Wham!’

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In 1960 he left for America deciding he wanted to be an actor and appeared as Lieutenant Stebbings in the Cary Grant film ‘Father Goose’ and Mr Hathaway, manager of Shores Hotel in the Elvis Presley film ‘Clambake.’

 

Brian Epstein wanted him to produce a Beatles special, so he returned to London and directed ‘Around the Beatles’ in 1964.

 

Good had wanted to become a serious actor but could only find bit parts in films and TV shows in America (Captain Henderson in ‘Hogan’s Heroes’, Sidney Cruikshank in ‘Run For Your Life’ and an auto salesman in ‘The Andy Griffith Show’), so he decided to return to rock ‘n’ roll and launched ‘Shindig’ for the ABC network in America. Apart from artists such as the Beatles, Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers, he wanted to feature some of the brilliant black artists whose music he admired, but who had few outlets on American television. The station bosses battled with him to prevent this, but he threatened to report them to the Attorney General, Bobby Kennedy and they backed down. As a result he was the first to bring Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner to the screen and also promoted artists on the programme such as Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and the Miracles.

 

His major love was still the theatre and in 1968 he produced and wrote ‘Catch My Soul’ a rock version of ‘Othello starring Jerry Lee Lewis as Iago, which he staged in Los Angeles. He then produced it in London’s West End with P.J. Proby as Iago and himself, blacked up, as Othello. He was to produce a film of ‘Catch My Soul’ in 1974 starring Ritchie Havens.

 

In 1969 he returned to television with ‘33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee’, which he also wrote and produced. He was also to produce specials on artists such as Andy Williams and another television rock show featuring Ray Charles, Jethro Tull and the Nice

 

His life changed when he was the subject of a ‘This Is Your Life’ show on 18 March 1970. A former college tutor of his appeared and said “Jack Good could have done anything.” Good recalled, “I thought, ‘what have I done?’ I have destroyed and corrupted the youth of this country and corrupted myself too. I have failed because I have not done anything useful to improve people’s lives.”

 

Good then went to Spain and taught himself how to paint. He hadn’t entirely turned his back on the stage and rock music, despite his misgivings, and was to direct a West End production of ‘Elvis’ in 1977 at the Astoria Theatre, featuring artists such as P.J. Proby and Shakin’ Stevens.

 

Discussing his attitude to music on television in 1981, he said, “I hate light entertainment shows and I hate smart looking fellows in dinner jackets saying, ‘Good Evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to…blah, blah, blah…and it goes on!

 

“I just want Wham Bam De Boo Bop, Do Wop Bam Boo. Tutti Fruitti…then next number, next number…and bored with that…next number!”

 

He next moved to New Mexico with his wife and children. When his marriage broke down in 1987 he considered becoming a monk. He seemed to become more and more involved in religion and also became a Catholic.

 

In the Nineties, British actor Greg Wise portrayed Good in the West End musical ‘Good Rockin’ Tonight.’ Intrigued by the character, he set off in search of him. He discovered Good living in an adobe chapel in New Mexico, dressed in monk’s robes and painting religious pictures, inspired by the Bible. He wanted to know why Good had turned his back on the pop scene to become a hermit and began to interview him and film him over a period of years, resulting in the television documentary ‘A Good Man Is Hard To Find’, screened on BBC2 on 16 January 2005.

 

After living for many years in New Mexico, Good finally returned to England.

Michael Jackson and Bubbles: Chimp Moonwalks (Press Conference - Japan 1987)

Remembering Bubbles the chimp and Michael Jackson:

Jackson's death posed questions about the singer's former pet, Bubbles the chimpanzee. Sanctuary staff haven't attempted to tell Bubbles about his former owner's death. "We haven't said anything to him yet," Ragan told People Magazine. And here's why!

BUBBLES' SUICIDE:

In late 2003 Bubbles attempted suicide but "was rushed to the hospital in time." No further details of that the attempt were forthcoming.

BUBBLE BULLETS:

Jackson rescued Bubbles from a Texas cancer research clinic in 1985 when the chimpanzee was three years old.

For several years the two were inseparable.

Bubbles slept in crib at the corner of Jackson bedroom, where he alone was allowed to use the singer's private bathroom.

Bubbles was, of course, part of Jackson's entourage -- and of his mystique -- in the 1980s.

He accompanied Jackson to events and and to the studio during the recording of Jacko's "Bad" album (some think the title sprang from Bubble's behavior during the recording).

When Jackson toured Japan, Bubbles was there.

Bubbles learned how to dance and Moonwalk, and was Jackson's escort for many important award ceremonies and events.

Artist Jeff Koons statue, "Michael Jackson and Bubbles," which sold for 5.6 million at auction in 2001.

Per London Times account, this high profile primate, with whom Jackson once shared his private toilet, was sent away from the singer's home after the chimp, nice clothes or no, started acting like an animal.

The chimp eventually faded from public view, with few references made to him until Jackson famous television interview with British journalist Martin Bashir, "Living with Michael Jackson," which aired in early 2003.

In the interview, Jackson told Bashir that Bubbles had become aggressive as he aged, and had been sent away over fears that he would harm Jackson's youngest child, Prince Michael II.

At one time the twentysomething Bubbles resided in Sylmar, CA with Hollywood wrangler Bob Dunn, since at least as early as 2002, when Dunn spoke with People Magazine.

"Bubbles is an adult chimp and wild animal," Dunn told the magazine." We don't let him out to play."

The trainer did say, however, that Jackson and his children had been to his Sylmar Ranch to visit the chimp."

The last time Michael visited, Bubbles definitely recognized and remembered him," he told the Telegraph .

WHERE IS BUBBLES NOW?

He is now living a quiet life at a ranch at the Center for Great Apes in Wauchulu, FL.

~ nichopoulooza

*with thanks to People Magazine, the Telegraph, and Discovery Network's Beast Blog. But most importantly, to the Japanese fellow who has the clip, but which was, in my opinion, not labeled correctly.

Michael Jackson Moonwalk King of Pop Bubbles Chimp Moonwaks Japan Martin Bashir Jeff Koons 1987 Prince Michael II Bob Dunn Sylmar ranch CA wrangler bad Wauchulu FL Discovery

Michael Jackson - Star Spangled Banner - World Series 1970 (Happy J5 Fourth of July from Me [::]!)

The performance by the Jackson 5 of Francis Scott Key's National Anthem (The Star Spangled Banner), almost became an embarrassment, when the group realized shortly before their performance that they weren't familiar with the lyrics. Fortunately, the Jackson brothers were able to quickly prepare themselves in transit to the stadium and performed the song adequately.

Game 1, Saturday, October 10, 1970 - Cinergy Fld (Cincinnati Reds)
ATTENDANCE: 51,531

The 1970 World Series matched the American League champion Baltimore Orioles against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds, with the Orioles winning in five games.

In this series "Emmett Ashford" became the first "African American" to umpire in the Fall Classic. It also featured the first World Series games to be played on artificial turf, as Games 1 and 2 took place at Cincinnati's brand-new Riverfront Stadium.

This was the last World Series in which all games were played in the afternoon.

The Baltimore Orioles won the American League East division by fifteen games over the New York Yankees then defeated the Minnesota Twins, three games to none, in the American League Championship Series. The Cincinnati Reds won the National League West division by 14 ½ games over the Los Angeles Dodgers then defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, three games to none, in the National League Championship Series.


Series MVP - Brooks Robinson

1970 World Series
Team (Wins) Manager Season
Baltimore Orioles (4) Earl Weaver 10854, .667, GA: 15
Cincinnati Reds (1) Sparky Anderson 10260, .630, GA: 14½
Dates: October 10October 15
MVP: Brooks Robinson (Baltimore)
Television: NBC
TV announcers: Curt Gowdy, Jim McIntyre (Games 12), Chuck Thompson (Games 35)
Radio: NBC
Radio announcers: Jim Simpson, Chuck Thompson (Games 12), Jim McIntyre (Games 35)
Umpires: Ken Burkhart (NL), Red Flaherty (AL), Tony Venzon (NL), Bob Stewart (AL), Billy Williams (NL), Emmett Ashford (AL)
Future Hall of Famers: Orioles: Earl Weaver (mgr.), Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson.
Reds: Sparky Anderson (mgr.), Johnny Bench, Tony Perez.
ALCS: Baltimore Orioles over Minnesota Twins (30)
NLCS: Cincinnati Reds over Pittsburgh Pirates (30)
1970 World Series (4-1): Baltimore Orioles (108-54) over Cincinnati Reds (102-60)

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

~ NICHOPOULOOZA

MICHAEL JACKSON JACKSON 5 J5 Star Spangled Banner national anthem FOURTH OF JULY JULY 4th FOURTH JULY INDEPENDENCE DAY United States of America USA America 1814 1970 poet Francis Scott Key FIREWORKS baseball World Series African American umpire Fall Classic Game 1 Cincinnati Ohio Riverfront Stadium Emmett Ashford October 10 1970 Reds baltimore orioles nichopoulooza