JCM 6/3/2021 5:49:49 PM

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For Alice in Dairyland and hubby on their 43rd.

buzzsawmonkey 6/3/2021 6:31:53 PM

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Here's the only clip I could find of "Uncle Win" Stracke---founder of Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music---doing his song "The 43rd Ward," which was a famous song in Chicago when I was growing up there. But it is offered here for Alice on her 43rd anniversary.

Here's part of the song:

First you go North, till you get to the Park

Then you go a few blocks west of Clark

When you start feelin' better you can thank the Lord

'Cause you're back home in the 43rd Ward

In the 43rd Ward (43rd Ward!)

In the 43rd Ward (43rd Ward!) 

Oh, I'm feelin' great, and I thank the Lord

That I'm back home in the 43rd Ward!

At the Moody Church they shout and sing

Of the city foursquare where the joy-bells ring

But go to North and Sedgewick on a Saturday night

And there's not a single “square” in sight

In the 43rd Ward (43rd Ward!)

In the 43rd Ward (43rd Ward!) 

Oh, I'm feelin' great, and I thank the Lord

That I'm back home in the 43rd Ward!

No-one gives a damn what you say or wear

How you make your living, or part your hair 

You can even grow a beard, we don’t care

‘Cause this is the home of laissez-faire

In the 43rd Ward (43rd Ward!)

In the 43rd Ward (43rd Ward!) 

Oh, I'm feelin' great, and I thank the Lord

That I'm back home in the 43rd Ward!

In 1919 we went bone-dry 

And the Deutsch-beer drinkers all started to cry

But they dried their tears, because the news, somehow

Never got through to Willow and Howe

In the 43rd Ward (43rd Ward!)

In the 43rd Ward (43rd Ward!) 

Oh, I'm feelin' great, and I thank the Lord

That I'm back home in the 43rd Ward!

There are other verses, that I cannot now remember; regarding Paddy Bauler, the longtime alderman of the 43rd Ward, but this will do for now.  The Moody Church is a reference to the Moody Bible Institute, which is in the 43rd Ward.  

Occasional Reader 6/3/2021 6:57:00 PM

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Reply to buzzsawmonkey in 2:

I guess I missed the segue to this.  

Also, knowing little about Chicago, what are (were) the characteristics of the 43rd Ward?

Occasional Reader 6/3/2021 6:59:13 PM

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Biden Administration itself accidentally admits that Biden Administration economic and budget projections are a bunch of bullsh*t.

I need to marry a Swiss woman, and have her legally adopt my son; as a backup plan.  Because these lunatics are bent on destroying this country. 

buzzsawmonkey 6/3/2021 7:03:21 PM

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In #3 Occasional Reader said: I guess I missed the segue to this.   Also, knowing little about Chicago, what are (were) the characteristics of the 43rd Ward?

The segue to me was Alice's 43rd anniversary.  It brought this old song to mind.

Chicago's 43rd Ward is the home of "Old Town," which was the beatnik/hippy area back in the '50s/'60s.  Hence the "Old Town School of Folk Music," which Win Stracke, "Uncle Win" in Chicago when I was a kid, founded.  

He was the local "Captain Kangaroo" of a kiddie program on Chicago local TV when I was a kid; I was on his show, once, and made a pest of myself by asking, repeatedly, for a drink of water because I'd become thirsty under the hot lights of the studio.  Anyway, he was sort of the Lee Hays (remember him?  He was the Deep Voice behind Pete Seeger in the Weavers) of Chicago and Chicago folk music.

Occasional Reader 6/3/2021 7:05:57 PM

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Reply to buzzsawmonkey in 5:

Thanks.  I was not aware of any of that (except for Pete Seeger, whom I did meet once or twice as a kid; and the Weavers). 

buzzsawmonkey 6/3/2021 7:06:05 PM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 4:

Live For Today

buzzsawmonkey 6/3/2021 7:10:01 PM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 6:

As I grow older, I increasingly realize there's a whole lot of weirdo obscure offbeat stuff that I know, and mistakenly believe everyone else knows.  

buzzsawmonkey 6/3/2021 7:14:05 PM

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@PBJ3 6/3/2021 7:15:43 PM

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Kosh's Shadow 6/3/2021 7:16:11 PM

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Reply to buzzsawmonkey in 5:

Boston had 3 kid's show hosts when I was a kid.

A local Bozo. Was in the audience, but behind the stage.

Rex Trailer. Never got to see him in person.

Bob Emery, AKA Big Brother. Did get on camera. Back then, there were these foil packets that made carbonated drinks. My mother generally would not let me have them, but I did get them occasionally.

So I had a fire truck toy I got for a birthday present, and when asked about it, I also said I loved those fizzy packets. Got a sh*tload of them as payola. Root beer, my favorite. My mother doled them out very slowly.

Occasional Reader 6/3/2021 7:17:00 PM

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In #8 buzzsawmonkey said: As I grow older, I increasingly realize there's a whole lot of weirdo obscure offbeat stuff that I know, and mistakenly believe everyone else knows.  

It's good that you know it, and share it.

buzzsawmonkey 6/3/2021 7:19:50 PM

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In #11 Kosh's Shadow said: Boston had 3 kid's show hosts when I was a kid.

Kansas City Star

buzzsawmonkey 6/3/2021 7:22:44 PM

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In #12 Occasional Reader said: It's good that you know it, and share it.

Well, I share it, but I'm still astounded people don't know X or Y.  People here---including yourself---have alluded to my mentioning this or that in conversation, and, again, it's merely stuff that comes up in conversation to me.  I'm not trying to brag, as I think you know; it's that I really don't know that this or that is an obscure piece of knowledge to other folks.

Kosh's Shadow 6/3/2021 7:32:56 PM

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In #13 buzzsawmonkey said: Kansas City Star

Sounds like Rex Trailer clone. I forget whether his sidekick was Pedro or Pablo, but Rex himself was really from Texas.

Rex Trailer (link)

doppelganglander 6/3/2021 8:10:59 PM

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Reply to buzzsawmonkey in 14:

I love obscure information, and I enjoy learning new things. I've watched several movies you've mentioned - Sullivan's Travels, Hail the Conquering Hero, and Gabriel Over the White House.

Occasional Reader 6/3/2021 8:49:49 PM

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