Special Holidays
National Donut Appreciation Day..Nov.5th
Not to be confused with National Donut Day. This day got its start as far back as the 1930’s when it was referenced in the magazine Ladies Home Journal. Some donut companies such as Krispy Kreme have given out donuts on this holiday. How to celebrate? Go out and get some of your favorite donuts, of course.
Did you know?
*Krispy Kreme is recorded with Guinness Book of World Records for creating the largest box of doughnuts. The Giant box of donuts weighed in at 297 pounds and was more than over 19 feet by 13 feet and took 2,700 regular Krispy Kreme donuts to fill.
*In 2016 Matt Stonie ate a dozen of original Krispy Kreme donuts in 34 seconds.
A little background on Krispy Kreme…They first started making its now famous doughnuts in 1937, the original intent wasn’t to sell them direct to consumers. In fact, founder Vernon Rudolph rented a building in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to make his donuts and sell them to local grocery stores.
But as he cooked up those donuts that particular ‘fresh donut smell’ was in the air, it was so compelling that people on the street stopped and asked if they could buy them fresh from the fryer, hot donuts right there and then. There was enough interest on the street that he actually cut a hole in the wall of the building to sell his “Original Glazed” to passersby.
National Nachos Day…Nov.6
We honor this favorite snack…tortilla chips covered in nacho cheese and served with salsa.
So when did this all start? It is said that Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya created the original nachos in 1940. He was the maître d at the El Moderno Restaurant in Piedras Negras, (Mexico-US Border) when one evening after the kitchen staff had left a group of customers stationed at nearby Fort Duncan came into the restaurant and wanted a snack. He prepared them some tortillas cut into triangles and topped them with shredded cheese with jalapenos and heated them in the oven. They were a hit and were named “Nacho’s Special”. Word spread and people from all over tried them and soon it became a favorite
Birthdays
Jeremy Brett.. Nov. 3,1933-1995
Jeremy was an English actor who played fictional detective Sherlock Holmes from 1984 to 1994. Peter Jeremy William Huggins was born in the village of Berkswell, England to an Army officer and his mother was of the “Cadbury” chocolates dynasty.
When he attended College he excelled in singing and was trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama based at the Royal Albert Hall in London. His father wanted him to change his last name for the sake of ‘family honor’ so he took his stage name from the label of his first suit, ”Brett and Co”.
In 1959 while he was playing Hamlet, his mother was killed in a car crash in the Welsh mountains. It had a tremendous effect on him his entire life.
He continued in professional acting on stage in Manchester and made his first appearance in a major film “War and Peace” along with Audrey Hepburn. He appeared on Broadway in Shakespearean roles, musicals, as well as in British television.
His highest profile film appearance was in “My Fair Lady” in 1964, again with Audrey Hepburn, though he sang very well, his singing in My Fair Lady was dubbed. The director was George Cukor and it was nominated for twelve Oscars and won eight, including Best Picture
Around this time, he was considered to replace Sean Connery as James Bond but he turned the part down feeling that playing ‘007’ would harm his career. Australian actor George Lazeby got the part for “Her Majesty’s Secret Service”.
Jeremy is best remembered for his performance as Sherlock Holmes in “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” made between 1984 and 1994. He said that he wanted to be the best Sherlock Holmes the world has ever seen. He conducted extensive research on the detective and one of his dearest possessions on the set was his 77 page “Baker Street File” on everything from Holmes’ mannerisms as to his eating and drinking habits. He said that it was the hardest part he had ever played, harder than Hamlet or Mac Beth. He said that an actor is like “a sponge, squeezing himself dry to remove his own personality then absorbing the character’s like a liquid.” While the other actors disappeared to the canteen for lunch Brett would sit alone on the set reading the script, reading Holmes into the weekends and on his holidays.
In the latter part of 1986 Brett exhibited severe mood swings that alarmed his family and friends. After diagnosis he received treatment for manic depression and was prescribed lithium tablets to fight the condition.
The drugs were slowing him down. He smoked up to 60 cigarettes a day which didn’t help his health, along with heart troubles. He would have difficulties breathing and would need an oxygen mask on the set. He died in 1995.
Brett starred in over 10 stage productions, several theatre tours including the role of Dr. Watson in 1980 with Charlton Heston (as Holmes) in “The Crucifer of Blood”, as well as Count Dracula in a Broadway production of “Dracula” in 1978.
He starred in many films on screen and as well as television including over 40 episodes of “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.”
Sam Shepard…Nov.5, 1943-2017
Samuel Shepard Rogers III was an American actor, playwright, screenwriter whose career spanned half a century. He won ten “Off Broadway Awards” (also called Obie Awards) for writing and directing (the most of any writer or director). He wrote 58 plays as well as several books of short stories. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and nominated for an AA award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of pilot Chuck Yeager in “The Right Stuff.”
Shepard’s plays are known for their bleak, sometimes black comedy and surrealist elements.
He was born in Fort Sheriden, Illinois. His father was a teacher and a farmer who served in the US Army Air Forces and “was a drinking man, a dedicated alcoholic”, Shepard said. His Mother was a teacher.
Shepard worked on a ranch as a teenager. He graduated from high school in Duarte, CA. and dropped out of college to join a tour in a repertory group.
Sam moved to NYC, found work a busboy at the Village Gate Nightclub. The Nightclub’s history includes musicians such as Coleman Hawkins, Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix, Bill Evans, Aretha Franklin and more. He roomed with Charlie Mingus, Jr. (a friend from high school) and son of jazz musician Charles Mingus. Shepard joined an experimental stage company (and debuted two of his earlier plays there). For several years his plays were performed at several companies but mostly at one called La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. The theatre started as an Off Broadway venue at night in the basement of a boutique in East Village. It evolved during its 50 year history into a world renowned cultural institution.
Shephard accompanied Bob Dylan on the Rolling Thunder Revue of 1975. In the following years he was involved with musician Patty Smith, then Joni Mitchell. In the early 80’s he met actress Jessica Lange and they were together for almost 30 years.
He began his film acting career cast in a major role in Terrence Malick’s “Days of Heaven”. His portrayal of Chuck Yeager in “The Right Stuff” earned him an AA award nomination. The real Chuck Yeager took Shepard (who was afraid of flying) up in a jet plane in preparation for that film.
In 2009 and 2015 he was arrested for speeding and drunk driving. He died in 2017 in Kentucky from complications of ALS.
Sam starred in 60 films.
Short List of Sam Shepard films
As actor:
Days of Heaven..1978, director Terrence Malick, starred Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, film nominated for four Oscars and won one for Best Cinematography
The Right Stuff…1983..director Philip Kaufman, starred Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Dennis Quaid, Barbara Hershey, film nominated for eight Oscars and won four.
Black Hawk Down…2001, director Ridley Scott, starred Josh Harnett, Ewan McGregor, film nominated for four AA awards and won two.
As writer: Zabriskie Point (1970), Oh! Calcutta (1972) Paris, Texas (1984), Simpatico (1999) to name a few.
Sally Field…Nov.6, 1946
Sally Margaret Field is an American actress and director. Sally was born in Pasadena to actress Margaret Field (“Man From Planet X”) and attend Birmingham High School in Van Nuys where she was a cheerleader. She was persuaded by her stepfather (Jock Mahoney…of Tarzan fame) to persue show business.
She began her career in television as boy crazy surfer girl “Gidget” and then “The Flying Nun”. Her movie career included several “Smokey and the Bandit” films, “Places in the Heart”, “Steel Magnolias”, “Forrest Gump” and “Norma Rae” to name few.
Sally starred in over 37 films and has received two Academy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards and many others.
Field is an activist for treatment for osteoporosis as she is diagnosed for the disease and also supports women’s rights and gay rights. Field received the Golden Plate Award in 2005 from the American Academy of Achievement in recognition of her contributions to the arts as well as her dedication as a social activist.
She was arrested in 2019 while attending Jane Fonda’s climate change protest in Washington D.C.
Short List of Sally Field films
Norma Rae…1979, director Martin Ritt, starred Beau Bridges, film nominated for four AA awards and won two for Best Actress (Field) and Best Music
While filming “Norma Rae” Field struggled in a scene with police officers pushing her into a car and she actually broke one of the actor’s ribs. She also worked in a textile factory to prepare for the role that Jane Fonda, Jill Clayburgh and Marsha Mason all turned down.
Places in the Heart…1984, director Robert Benton, starred Ed Harris, John Malkovich and Danny Glover, film nominated for seven Oscars and won two for Best Actress (Field) and Best Writing
Forrest Gump..1994, director Robert Zemeckis, starred Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Robin Wright, film nominated for thirteen AA awards and won six including Best Picture
Honorable Mentions
Roy Rogers..Nov.5, 1911-1998
Rogers was an American singer, actor and television host. He was the co-founder of the “Sons of the Pioneers” as he became one of the most popular Western stars of his era.
Art Garfunkel…Nov.5, 1941
Arthur Ira Garfunkel is an American singer and actor best known for his partnership with Paul Simon in the duo “Simon and Garfunkel”.
On This Day
The Nat King Cole Show debuted on television’s NBC Nov.5, 1956. This is one of the first variety shows hosted by an African American.
The show featured some of the era’s biggest stars sharing the stage with Cole, who was himself one of the top talents of his day. Cole recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts. And he and his trio acted in films and performed on Broadway and in 1946 landed a national radio show.
He was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Jazz Hall of Fame, Rock and Rock Hall of Fame, Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame and was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Guests on The Nat King Cole Show included Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Peggy Lee, The Mills Brothers, Jane Russell, Pearl Bailey, Harry Belafonte, Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins to name a few.
The show ran for 14 months, had a large audience and hosted dozens of prominent performers but struggled to find ad sponsors. Corporations at the time (1956) were concerned that hitching their wagon to an African-American show would alienate white customers. The “Unforgettable” songbird chose to end the show, famously saying, “Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark”.
Though the show was not a commercial triumph it did pave the way for the African-American community. In the decades that followed, shows like “The Jeffersons”, “The Cosby Show”, “Good Times”, “Different Strokes” and “Sanford and Sons” became very successful.
Cole, a heavy smoker all his life, was diagnosed with lung cancer and went into the studio for the last time in 1964 and died the following year.
Nasa Nelly….The Travis Walton UFO Incident, A Terror In The Woods!!
