We used to see our heroes on the big screen, or in a newsreel, occasionally, maybe get a glimpse of them in person, but they were basically images in our minds. I loved Ester Williams, I forget how many times I watched "Thrill of a Romance." Gene Autry, Tim Holt, Johnny Mack Brown. I dreamed of being a cowboy, I wanted a ranch. I wanted one so badly, that I went through our house, acquiring all the money I could, to buy that ranch. Unfortunately, I took some, well almost all, that didn't belong to me. It was a few days till I could sit down. Didn't want the ranch quite so badly.
We heard their voices on the radio, the Lux Radio Theatre and some others would produce "radio theater." But basically, all of our heroes were images in our heads only, a diistance away.
In '52, joined the Navy, sent to California, in the station out there saw Patti Page, The Rage, my first celebrity. Soon after, saw Frank Lovejoy and Virginia Mayo. Visited with a Navy buddy who lived in LA, his girlfriend's Dad was a director. Sitting at his pool in Beverly Hills one afternoon, Dan Dailey came in, "Hi Dan."
Now, with TV and the Internet, especially Facebook, I know when Angie Harmon goes on vacation, where she goes, and pictures of her trip. I love good Southern Gospel Music. I have a number of them on my Facebook, I have corresponded via EMail with Janet Paschal. Shared a story with her, she thanked me. I told Michael English I liked a jacket he wore, he thanked me, had forgotten where he got it though, off white, three button double breasted ... I want one with dark buttons.
I have had some "celebrities" on Facebook, took them off, I did not want or need to know all they were posting.
I lost much of that "awe" working in Nevada ... I was more important to the casino than they were. Ego thing, I guess, musicians were B-flats, the big stars were money, dollar signs.
Below is a list of those I am in awe of, today .... I'm thinking, maybe it is because I am older than them, almost all of them. I guess I am just in awe of ........ Miss Brooklyn and Miss Emma, the girls, my two great granddaughters ...................
