Remembering The Patapsco Theater

 As I was making my way to my mom's house earlier today for my regular Saturday visit, I found myself sitting at a red light across from the old Patapsco Movie Theater. The nostalgia gears began to turn and quickly transported me back to the days of my youth.

Growing up in the South Baltimore neighborhood of Brooklyn, this old movie house provided me with many days of cinematic bliss. It was common to meet up with my friends on any Saturday afternoon to catch the latest attraction. There was usually an opening movie (aka a "B" movie) prior to the the main attraction. Some of these warm-up flicks were as good or sometimes even better than the feature film.

As you approached the marquee of the theater, you would pay the entrance fee to the "ticket lady" who sat inside of a small booth just outside the main entrance. You would conduct your transaction through a louvered piece of metal that was attached to the middle of the thick plate glass window. The actual money/ticket exchange was made through a scalloped steel dish at the bottom of the window. 

If I recall correctly, the admission was something like 75 cents for anyone 12 or under and $1.50 for "adults". When I was 10 years old, I can remember getting into an argument with the ticket lady after she wanted me to pay the full adult price. But I wasn't having any of that. After all, I was only 10 years old! She was adamant that I pay the full price because I looked older than 12 years old. I tried to reason with her, even going as far as humiliating myself in front of my friends and explaining that I was "husky" (this was how my mom used to candy-coat the fact that I was over-weight). Admittedly, I was bigger than most kids my age. But I still shouldn't have to pay the 12+ price.

Nowadays, 75 cents versus a buck fifty might not seem like that big of a deal. But back then, it was the difference between a small box of Mike & Ike's and a jumbo tub of buttered popcorn. And there was no way that this husky guy was going to make it through a double feature with no popcorn. So, I held my ground and continued to plead my case with the ticket lady. She finally offered me a compromise. She would let me through for the under-12 price. However, I would have to bring my birth certificate with me the next time to prove my age. I took the deal. For the next two years, any time I wanted to see a movie, I stuffed my proof-of-age document into the back pocket of my husky-size Toughskins.

But once I was inside of the theater, all my problems went away. The lobby of the theater was spacious, offering plenty of room to mingle with your friends before the show. After a quick stop at the concession stand, you would make your way into the cinema to find the perfect seat. As a symmetrical guy, I always preferred a seat somewhere in the middle of the room.

I can remember seeing "Jaws" in this movie house in 1975. In fact, I went back and saw it several more times before it's run ended. And every time, it seemed just as exciting as the first. I also watched "The Outlaw Josey Wales" along with other classic westerns. I can remember the hype over a horror movie called "It's Alive". It was about a killer baby. It seemed so scary at the time but it was actually one of the worst movies ever made. Speaking of bad movies, there was also a movie called "Tentacles" that I saw here. It was about a giant killer octopus. The creators were obviously trying to piggyback on the success of "Jaws" but it didn't work. 

And even though you had to sit through an occasional dud, it really wasn't so bad. After all, for those of us who grew up without air conditioning, a comfortable seat in a climate-controlled movie theater was a treat within itself.

As the years progressed, the multiplex cinemas began to take off and the single-theater movie houses began to disappear. In 1977, the Patapsco Theater closed it's doors for good and was soon converted into a social services center. Today, it houses some type of church.

My trip down memory lane ended abruptly as the driver behind me tooted his horn. The traffic light at 6th and Patapsco had turned green and it was time to move on. The old movie theater quickly faded from my rear-view mirror but it's memories will always be there....

kw

Back in the 60/70's...

Modern day....

Thanksgiving 2020

As we prepare for our Thanksgiving celebration, I think it's safe to say that things won't be quite as "traditional" as in previous years. Large family gatherings are being discouraged. The mad rush to the retailers for the post-dinner shopping sprees are being put on ice. And even traditional Thanksgiving football games are being suspended. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is still on but it will be making it's way down a vacant New York street.

No doubt, there are plenty of things to be depressed about. But is that really appropriate for a day we call Thanksgiving? 

Instead of dwelling on the negativity, maybe we should try to focus on some of the good things. At least for one day....

Today, as always, I am thankful for being an American. Although we might be in the midst of the most trying time of our generation, there's no place I'd rather be. 

I'm also thankful for the family and great friends who make my life what it is. Like I've said before, material things can be nice. But they pale in comparison to the people in your life. With every interaction with someone, you take away a little part of that person. I'm not going to get all philosophical but there is a bit of intangible magic in that. 

Speaking of friends, I have to give a special shout-out to my buddy, Ray Bachman. Not only is he one of the funniest guys I've ever met, he is also one of the most generous. Last night, as our beloved trivia host, he invited anyone who might be alone on Thanksgiving over to his home for dinner. He's in the entertainment business so he's taken a big hit during these COVID times. But he's still the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off of his back. He's a class act and I'm proud to call him a good friend. (I'm not sure if his girlfriend knows about his open invitation for today's dinner, so keep it on the down-low...😅)

In the true spirit of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the countless healthcare workers who have been working around the clock during the COVID pandemic. During the course of my job, I spend a lot of time in hospitals and research labs. I have seen the tremendous work these people do. It's awesome, humbling and inspiring. 

Along the same lines, I am thankful for all of the first responders who always step up to the plate in times of crisis. If you see a fireman, police officer or paramedic during your travels, be sure to give them a friendly nod to show your appreciation.

And as always, I am thankful for the service of all of our military personnel who continue to keep our country safe, even in these crazy times.

On a lighter note, I am happy that I got to lounge in front of the TV in my pajamas until almost 11 am on a Thursday. It's rare that I relax this late into the day. And quite honestly, it feels pretty good.

I am also thankful for the beautiful spring day that has greeted us here in Maryland on this normally chilly November holiday. This gives me a perfect excuse to wear shorts today. They will provide the room and flexibility that I will surely need after that second helping later.

Here's to wishing you a positive and stress-free holiday. May each of you have a very Happy Thanksgiving...

kw

Coronavirus - Rolling It Back

To say that 2020 has been a trying year would be a vast understatement. Through it all, the Coronavirus has continued to pepper us with repetitive jabs. Who would have ever thought that, after almost a full year, we would still be dealing with this dreadful virus? 

On Monday, there was positive news from drug-maker, Pfizer, regarding the success of their latest vaccine trials. People were rejoicing and you could feel a much needed sense of relief in the air. The stock market reacted immediately and the Dow Jones hit an all-time high. It seemed, at least for a moment, that we were finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. But as Tony Montana might say, "Just when they thought we were out, it pulls us back in...."

By Tuesday, doom and gloom was back in the air. We were informed that COVID cases were spiking dramatically. State and local leaders immediately reacted by announcing they would be reverting back to the social distancing rules of months ago.

I was having dinner in a local restaurant on Tuesday evening. Maryland's Governor, Larry Hogan, was giving a press conference on a local news channel. As he announced that the State would be rolling back restaurant capacity to 50% (it is current at 75%), a nearby waitress shook her head in disbelief and whispered, "We can't survive this again...."

Another customer reminded us that "Lockdown Larry's" restrictions were only the State restrictions. The local leaders could tighten them up even more. And that's exactly what happened. On Thursday, our local (Anne Arundel) County Executive announced that, beginning on 11/20, restaurants and bars would be limited to 25% capacity. 

Sadly, this could the final blow for many bars, restaurants and small businesses. Many of them were just starting to dig themselves out the hole that they fell into after the initial COVID shutdowns. Rolling capacities back to 25%  just won't be sustainable for some of them. And to add to the misery, we are now in the midst of the holiday season where these small businesses anticipate an uptick in sales. 

A week or so ago, I was at my local shopping center. I was sad to see that several businesses had already shut down since the beginning of the year. I couldn't help but wonder about the future of the rest of them.

During the Christmas season, Tina and I always enjoy the festiveness of the local establishments. The restaurants and shopping center are decorated with all of the traditional Christmas swag. You can feel a sense of warmth as a waiter greets you by name as walk through the front door of the restaurant. After a nice dinner and a couple of adult beverages, Tina and I would normally stroll through the various stores, soaking up the atmosphere of our own personal "Mayberry" as Christmas songs played softly in the background. Sadly, our intimate tradition is in serious jeopardy this year.

One of the other restrictions that will be implemented is a 10-person limit on indoor gatherings. So, if you are used to having that traditional Thanksgiving dinner with the extended family, you might find yourself in violation of the law. Sounds more like 1984 than 2020, huh?

2020 has, no doubt, been the worst year in so many ways. I would hope that 2021 will be much better. But as we've seen, nothing is guaranteed anymore.

As we continue to trudge through this, keep all of these small businesses in mind. Order carry-out from the restaurants when you don't feel like cooking. Try to buy from the local retailers instead of instinctively heading to the big box stores. The survival of our small businesses is going to depend on all of us to support them during these unprecedented times.

Wishing all of you safety and sanity as we try to manage our way through this.....

kw

Alex Trebek - Farewell To The Classy Host

There are certain TV personalities that make you feel like you're spending time with a long-time friend. Whether you've just come home from a rough day at work or you're just killing time, you can hang out with that friend with a simple push of a remote control button....

For years, we would gather at my parents house on Tuesday nights for a family dinner. Part of that tradition included watching Jeopardy, My cousin Virginia and I would grab our spots in the living room just before 7 o'clock and prepare to test our trivia knowledge. Alex Trebek would introduce the categories and then we would instantly proceed to a rapid fire round of questioning. Virginia and I would usually throw our guesses out there before Alex was even finished reading the clue. My Dad, who would half-hardheartedly play, would take the conservative approach and only chime in when he was 99.9% sure of the answer. 

When Final Jeopardy came around, my Dad would usually start talking about something totally unrelated to the game. I would say, "Hold that thought, Dad! We need to concentrate!" He would then immediately resume talking... 

A lot of things have changed since we gathered in my parents living room. I often wish that I could turn back the hands of time. But I know that's not possible. However, I knew I could always tune into Jeopardy where Alex Trebek would instantly bring me that nostalgic comfort that I desired.

One of the unique things about Jeopardy was that you always ended up a little smarter than when you started. 

Sadly, Alex Trebek, Jeopardy's beloved host,  passed away earlier today at the age of 80 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. He fought courageously with class and dignity. He continued to record new episodes of Jeopardy while he dealt with his personal health struggles. Although it had to be excruciating at times, his goal was to bring joy to the devoted fans of his show as long as he possibly could. He was truly a class act...

It's only fitting that we throw out some trivia tidbits in his honor. Alex Trebek holds the Guinness World Record for most shows hosted with approximate 8000. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was a big philanthropist, giving away millions of dollars to various charities. 

Alex Trebek once said, " I don't think life would be as rewarding if I weren't helping my fellow man out whenever I get the chance."

I remember watching an episode of Jeopardy's Tournament of Champions earlier this year. One of the contestants did not have an answer for the Final Jeopardy question. So, he simply wrote "We love you, Alex." It was so moving that even Alex himself got choked up.

Alex Trebek said that he wanted to be remembered as a nice guy. I don't think that he'll have to worry about that. He will be remembered as one of the classiest TV hosts ever. His wit and charm were second to none. And he will, no doubt, be missed by trivia fans all over the world....

kw

Election 2020 - The Path Forward?

So, a few days after Election Day, a winner has finally been declared. As it stands now, Joe Biden will become America's 46th President on January 20. Yesterday, Of course, there have been some initial claims of voter fraud by Republicans. The validity to these claims will be determined later. But for now, Joe Biden will be taking residence on Pennsylvania Avenue in a couple of months.

Yesterday, Biden supporters held a nationwide block party. They frolicked like their favorite team had just won the Super Bowl. Liberal bliss was on full display with little regard for social distancing. There was a small presence of Trump protests at some of these gatherings but everything was quite peaceful., And no buildings were burned or looted in the process. This is obviously a good thing. But would things have been so jubilant and non-violent if Trump would have won? 

American flags were flown proudly throughout the celebrations. This a welcomed contrast to the burning of the flag that we've seen in recent times.  I'm not quite sure why it's fashionable to break out the flag when things go your way but burn it when things don't. There are different paths taken by any given administration. But it should never be fashionable to hate America. Like I mentioned in last week's piece, we have a democratic process in this country. If you don't like the guy in charge, vote him out at the next opportunity.

So, assuming that Joe Biden does indeed move into the White House without any delays, let's look at how he will change the current direction of things...

First off, he will likely use executive orders to rejoin the Paris climate accords. He will also reinstate the program allowing "dreamers" to remain in the United States. He will likely repel the immigration ban on Muslim-majority countries. And perhaps most significantly (at least regarding the COVID situation), he will reverse President Trumps withdrawal from the World Health Organizations. 

There has been plenty of criticism regarding Trump's handling of the COVID pandemic. Since there doesn't seem to be light at the end of the tunnel yet, Joe Biden will inherit the responsibility of guiding us to it. He will likely take a much different approach than Trump did. But time will tell if his approach is better. No matter what happens you can bet that it will be politicized...

As we get closer to Inauguration Day, it will be interesting to see how things play out. The transition process will likely be like no other. There is certainly no love lost between Trump and Biden. So, I don't expect them to work together at all. I'm even wondering if Trump will attend the Inauguration. 

Speaking of lack of love, Trump and the media would fall into that category. The fireworks that we've seen over the past four years were something that couldn't be ignored. Will the media take the same hard line approach with Joe Biden? Trump's unfiltered handing of the press is something that we'll likely never see again. Although brutal at times, I think it was important for Trump to expose the bias of the media. Yes, I know my liberal friends will fight me on this. But we'll just have to agree to disagree.

With all of this being said, I watched Biden's address in Wilmington, DE last night. He spoke of uniting the country, promising to work as hard for the people who voted against him as the people who supported him. He also encouraged the crowd to view Trump supporters as, not enemies, but fellow Americans. As someone who admittedly did not vote for Biden, I liked the substance of his message. Will he deliver on it? Time will tell. 

While there is still deep division and turmoil in this country, we desperately need to find a united way forward. I'm not sure if Joe Biden is the answer. But it looks like he will get his opportunity. As with any President, I wish him success in doing what's best for America. We don't always have to agree with each other. But we should never forget that we're all Americans.

kw

A Tale of Clocks and Daylight Savings Time

Yesterday started for me with a visit with my mom. I visit her almost every Saturday morning. Aside from the normal chores (cutting the grass, cleaning the gutters, re-programming the TV remote, moving heavy objects from room to room, etc.), she will routinely throw me a curve ball. Since this weekend happened to be Daylight Savings Time, I was also tasked with setting back all of her clocks. 

It would normally be a simple chore. But, you see, there are at least 25 clocks in my mother's house. Some people collect coins, some people collect baseball cards. My Dad, for some unknown reason, collected clocks. No one really ever asked why. But my Dad would pick up these unique clocks during his travels around local flea markets and yard sales. If you live around the Baltimore area, there's a good chance that one of your old clocks is now hanging in my Mom's house. And my Dad didn't store his collection for a rainy day. Oh, no. He actually displayed these things all over the house for everyone's enjoyment (and bewilderment).

One of the more peculiar things with all of these clocks is that some of them have chimes. With the strike of each hour, you will be greeted with a melodic belch of punctual commotion. It's kind of like walking into a barn and hearing the cows, goats and roosters greeting you in off-key unison. The first time you hear it, you'll likely react like Joe Pesci in "My Cousin Vinny" when he is awakened by the screeching owl (I know I use the Joe Pesci reference a lot. But it fits so many different scenarios. Plus, its a great movie!).

Speaking of owls, this one clock has 12 different birds on it, one for each hour. So, if the clock strikes one, you might hear a robin If it strikes two, you might hear a cardinal. I never really researched it to see if these various bird chirps were accurate. But my Dad swore that they were, so I'll take his word for it. I remember one time when the clock struck six. My Dad got a surprised look on his face and said, "You hear that?" 

"Hear what?", I asked.

As the bird-du-heure chimed for the sixth and final time, my Dad said, "Right there. You didn't hear that?"

I informed him that it was just a chickadee in his elaborate timepiece reminding us that it's 6 o'clock. He got a big smile on his said, "Son of a bitch! That thing sounds like a real bird. I'd better go outside and check on those burgers." (Many people knew my Dad as the lawnmower guru of Brooklyn. But few knew of his clock obsession.)

A few years ago, my son gave my Mom this fancy clock for Christmas. When I saw her opening it, I pulled Ken Jr. to the side and said, "A clock? Really?" 

Now, this particular clock has three different song themes. You have the choice of Christmas songs, contemporary classics or Frank Sinatra tunes. My Mom usually opts for the latter of the three. You see, many years ago at my sister's wedding reception, I had a little too much of the bubbly and did a rendition of "New York, New York". Although I was probably viewed by most people as the drunk uncle of the party, my Mom was surprisingly impressed with my butchered version of the Sinatra classic. Hearing her clock chime out "New York, New York" takes her back to that special day. Hey, if making an ass out of myself puts a smile on my mother's face, I'm good with it.

So, I made my way around my Mom's house yesterday pulling each clock from the wall and setting back the time exactly one hour. I actually got a cramp in my arm from lifting it so many times. To complicate things even further, some of the clocks had these pendulums that you have to jump start. I basically had to flick the pendulum with my finger until it moved back and forth freely. I'm happy to report that the natural hue has finally returned to my middle right fingernail.

About the time when I was finishing with the last of the 25 clocks, my mom called me from her bedroom...

 "Ken, I need you to dust off each one of those clocks when you take them down.", she said.

I had neither the mental or physical energy to pull all of those clocks off of the wall again. So. I simply replied,  "Ok, Mom. I'll get right on it." 

And then I grabbed a cold bottle of water and proceeded to plop my exhausted ass into a recliner. What she doesn't know won't hurt her. Plus, in no time at all, it will be spring and I'll be setting all of the clocks forward again. I'll plan on getting the dust rag out then...

kw