Catching Up on the Oscars

Catching up on the Oscars, which I did not watch live, is great at the official ABC website. No commercials! I can click and watch whatever I want, when I want. I don’t have to sit through the entire production, which is often replete with huge chunks of utter boringness.

I’ve read media accounts that co-host James Franco was a disaster, so I admittedly signed on in hopes of watching a train wreck, but I haven’t seen anything close to that yet. Of course, I am only watching selected highlights and unflattering moments may have been left off of the site.

One of my favorite segments from year to year is In Memoriam, where there’s a photo and video montage tribute usually accompanied by some music. This year the music was provided live by Celine Dion, who was terrific. (She knows how to perform in front of a large crowd.)

Among the names of people I did not realize had passed on to the great Academy in the sky were:

• Pete Postlethwaite, a character actor who I’ve never seen give a bad performance
• Lionel Jeffries, who played Grandpa in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• Kevin McCarthy

Those who I happened to hear about before, but would like to note again:

• John Barry, the elite composer
• Patricia Neal, who had a steamy affair with Gary Cooper and lived to regret it
• Dino De Laurentiis, who I’ll write more about later
• Irvin Kershner, director of many films including The Empire Strikes Back

and

the incomparable Tony Curtis and Dennis Hopper

Missing from the list was John Forsythe, who, while mostly known for his television work, had a few films under his belt.

Thankfully Kirk Douglas, who made an appearance, and Ernie Borgnine are still with us.

Before returning to a date in February, the Academy Awards were almost always around my birthday. As a high schooler, just a scrawny kid really, I dreamt about wearing a tuxedo, walking the red carpet (or even using the back door), and sitting among the stars (or standing backstage where I’d probably be more comfortable, physcially and otherwise).

We, the drama students, had our own version, and I loved going. I even picked up a few awards from time to time. Those were good times.

Perhaps one of these days I’ll be invited to Elton John’s famous annual shindig. And just maybe I’ll pick up a statuette or two. (I’ve always been a dreamer.)

ajh

Frank Buckles (1901-2011)

Just read that the last surviving American veteran of World War I, Frank Buckles, died on Sunday at the age of 110. I had first heard about him from his efforts to build a national First World War memorial.

The photo of him is from The American People Project. Not only do I owe Mr. Buckles an eternal debt for his service during the war and his efforts in the years following reminding all of us to remember, I also discovered this great photography project to document Americans, the ‘everyday, common man’ as they say. (There are a few famous folks mixed in, such as actress Karen Allen from Indiana Jones fame. She was perfectly cast in Raiders of the Lost Ark.)

ajh

11 Years

On average, according to a study in the UK, men spend 11 years in front of the TV and 10,500 hours in pubs. (I prefer the word tele rather than the very American TV when talking about all things British.)

ajh

Strange Days at TSA

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has plans for screening people’s DNA. Use of a portable DNA scanner will begin this summer.

ajh

Clark Leroy Hill, WWII Vet

In October 2002, I received a response from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis about one of my great uncle’s service during World War 2. His name was Clark L. Hill (SSN/SN 311285958, Case No. 2001-268-363).

The archives employee could not find any material regarding him there. I’d like to find his unit, comrades, and commanding officers. According to family lore, he served with Patton.

However, she did send some information.

Clark L(eroy) Hill served in the U.S. Army (37 189 405) from March 25, 1942 to November 7, 1945. He was a sergeant assigned to Camp Shanks, New York, although I doubt he remained there for long. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the WWII Lapel Button. The ‘Place of Entry’ is listed as Indianola, Iowa, where some Hill relatives live to this day.

According to the letter, the fire of July 12, 1973 “would have been … the area that suffered the most damage” and his files “may have been destroyed.”

He died in 1985. I don’t think I ever met him as a child, but I would like to get to know him a little better, as a man and as a soldier.

ajh

Picric Acid & WWI

A user at a site called Neptunus Lex, a collaborative effort, has posted information on explosives used during the First World War.

“Picric acid used to be used in our torpedos for awhile. It will sit for awhile, but as it ages it can become unstable. There is a concern about this as a number of shells from WW1 used picric acid and have been found among memorabilia still live. My grandfather brought a 75mm shell home from his service with the 42nd Division in France, but he had it deactivated. A number of people didn’t realize what they had. My grandfather, however, had used explosives occasionally on the Ranch near 4 corners and respected them deeply as a result.

I got his uniform, but my youngest brother got the trunk and the rest of the memorabilia. Getting grandpa to open that trunk and tell us about his treasures was a high point of our annual visits ‘back home’ to Nashville.”

ajh

Julia A. George, Widow of Capt. Elijah Bonner

I’ve been looking for this for awhile. It’s a death notice for Julia A. George, printed in The Baltimore Sun in April of 1913. She lived on Bolton St. in Baltimore. Thankfully someone posted it and others on a Maryland genealogy site.

“BONNER-On April 24, 1913 JULIA A., aged 78 years old, widow of Capt. Elijah Bonner. Funeral will take place from her late residence, No. 2003 Bolton St. on Sunday at 2.p.m. Interment in Baltimore Cemetery.”

Julia A. George is listed on the 1850 census living in the city of Baltimore with my ancestor Wesley Calvin George and his mother Elizabeth. She is Wesley’s cousin. Elizabeth is her aunt. Living with them is Julia’s future husband, Elijah Bonner. At this point he’s working as a waterman, but will rise through the ranks, becoming a captain.

ajh

Christiane Luise Fromke

While poking around FamilySearch.org, prompted by a message about new records having been uploaded today, I discovered a woman named Christiane Luise Fromke. She and a man named Christian Johann Bielstein had a son named Christian Heinrich Bielstein. He was born in 1870. Sadly, Christian Heinrich, the newborn baby, died on April 30, 1870 in Ricklingen, Germany, a suburb of Hannover. The little guy was buried on May 3, 1870. Whether or not they were married is not in the online record.

ajh

End of an Era

Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off for the last time.

AJH

Assimilating Northerners

A recently converted Canadian has written about her experience taking the citizenship test. Nerd that I am, I found it fascinating. She’d been assimilated, a de facto American, for a long time. The list of famous Canadians who became Americans include Alex Trebek, but not William Shatner.

ajh