A few random, weird observations:
1) My commute route looks vastly different in the daytime. I went to work today to get some extra stuff done and hardly recognized it. A lot of stuff has grown up along one section of the freeway since the last time I saw it in daylight while travelling in that direction.
2) I tend to get a lot more work done when there's nobody around to bother me/interrupt me/drag me off to meetings. I know, not much of an observation but it's still true.
3) Rimsky-Korsikov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" has some interesting similarities to Rossini's "William Tell Overture".
Okay, I realize that last one requires some explanation:
Yesterday, I checked out of the library some tapes of the old "Green Hornet" radio show. These particular episodes are from 1945. The show used "Flight of the Bumblebee" as its theme (the TV show in the 60s used a jazzier version by Al Hirt). I was listening to it on the way to and from work today. Now, no doubt part of this is from just the feel and sound of the old time radio dramas, but during parts of "FotB" I kept expecting it to segue into "WTO". Those parts just seem to sound like they should do so.
Of course, there are more reasons why listening to "Green Hornet" should make me think of the "William Tell Overture". Britt Reid, the Green Hornet, was the grand nephew of the Lone Ranger. Both programs were created by George Trendle, LR in 1933 and GH in 1936. Both have a similar feel when you listen to them; I haven't heard radio shows of LR but the old TV show sounded very similar in its opening.
It's probable that it's only the connection between GH and LR that makes me think "William Tell Overture" when hearing "Flight of the Bumblebee" but I'd swear that parts of each sound like they go together.
Oh, and before the "geezer" remarks start, I did NOT ever hear either GH or LR on the radio. I didn't even see LR on TV during its first run, only in reruns. I wasn't born yet.
I could have seen the TV version of GH in real time but I only knew it existed from the time the GH character appeared on "Batman" and never actually found out when it was on, so I've never seen it. And it was years later that I learned that Bruce Lee played Kato.
Anyway, next time you hear "Flight of the Bumblebee" see if it makes you think "William Tell Overture" and let me know either way. I'd be interested.
Posted by Ken S at April 22, 2007 01:59 PM | TrackBack (0) |I don't think FotB and WTO have much in common. Listening to them here in my head, no, don't see it. But you probably shouldn't trust my judgement because I recently thought about the commonality between Foggy Mountain Breakdown and the Pachelbel Canon.
Posted by: Laura(southernxyl) at April 22, 2007 04:22 PMI inherited a lot of reel to reels with radio shows like the Green Hornet and Lone Ranger on them from my Dad. He loved the radio and tv. Oddly enough, both the William Tell Overture and the Flight of the Bumble Bee were two of his favorites. I remember being a little girl and dancing with him when he put any of the classical music records on the phonograph, but whenever he put on either of those, I would sit on his lap and he would tell me the stories while the music played. So for me, I can hear and feel the similarities. Thanks for bringing back the memory.
Posted by: Lemon Stand at April 22, 2007 04:43 PMLaura, it may very well be only the GH/LR connection that makes them go together in my head (and hearing them in connection with the shows probably helps too).
LS, that is too cool. It's one thing to hear a commercial release of them, but to inherit recordings from your Dad - wow.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at April 22, 2007 04:58 PMOh my goodness, Laura! I just now got a chance to check out that link. How cool! Earl Scruggs is my god (and Steve Martin is pretty good, too!)
Another amusing coincidence: Just yesterday at Costco, I found a copy of Bonnie and Clyde at an excellent price and picked it up. How funny!
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at April 22, 2007 08:37 PMHello from Geezerville, Ken.
Yesterday we were watching an old episode of "Ellen", and Wayne Newton had a cameo.
My 30-year-old friend had no idea who he was, why he was in an episode about Las Vegas, and why he said "Danke Schoen" as he was leaving.
Sigh.
Someone get me my walker, please?
I am the same way about work. Hard to accomplish things when my kids are under my feet ...
Posted by: Army of Mom at April 23, 2007 08:39 AMgeez, Julie - they never even saw Ferris Bueller's Day Off?
Posted by: Nightfly at April 23, 2007 09:14 PM