There’s very little—if any—room for error in land speed record attempts.
Chris Raschke, land-speed driver, dies in crash at Utah’s Salt Flats - The Washington Post
I’m sure there are many here better placed to write an appreciation of such a major and influential figure. I’ve only seen a couple of his productions (though I did take a trip to London built around seeing the revival of Black Rider in the Barbican with Marianne Faithful and Mary Margaret O’Hara) but his influence was everywhere. Sure, his shows were epic and on a grand scale that couldn’t always be attempted by others but the speechless spectacle of his tableaux and trompe l’oeil sets influenced what you saw, whether you were aware or not.
Sadly I never got to see one of his Glass operas. We went through phases of listening to Einstein on the beach but I’m sure the sense of awestruck mystery it evokes would be greatly enhanced by the staging. Also now the kids are older I get to go to long things not sleep deprived!
Ah I hate to hear that… I got to see him in 2011 or 2012, at an outdoor concert in D.C. After that he came thru town at least once a year but I never made it to one of his shows after the one…
I met him once. Several years back, before I joined the staff even, our library got a grant to have a statue honoring Ray Bradbury installed in the front of the building. There was a big unveiling with many honored guests from the area, including Commander Lovell. I was a volunteer for the event, so I got to meet him in passing – not really any interaction, but still one of my rare instances of awe from someone famous.
Incidentally, the VA hospital where I get my medical care is the “Captain James A. Lovell federal health care facility.”
Also:
What a life.
Godspeed.
Formidable is obituary code for overbearing/bullying, but still a positive force in BBC children’s broadcasting.
Her excuses for the sacking of Michael Sundin always felt off
From Wikipedia
After fronting 77 episodes, the editors and production team for Blue Peter decided not to renew Sundin’s contract following the summer break, because they felt that he had little rapport with the viewers and it was claimed by the editor that some parents and children complained about his effeminacy.
I don’t remember having a problem with him, I just remember him not being on Blue Peter and there being no explanation.
I’m about 99% certain Biddy was a homophobe and TER.
Alfie Wise, another character actor who was in everything.
He was great in one of my all time favorite movies, Hooper.
If you’ve never seen Hooper, it’s worth seeking out.
Alfie was But Reynolds frequent sidekick.
Becoming great pals with Reynolds, he appeared in the films Hooper (1978), The End (1978), Starting Over (1979), Paternity (1981), The Longest Yard (1974), City Heat (1984) and Heat (1986) as well as an episode in Reynolds’ CBS sitcom Evening Shade.