Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Gus Schuettler

Photojournalist -- via stripes.com.


Frank Wilson

Songwriter, producer, and minister -- via the BBC. He sang "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)," one of the most rare records in existence.





Jennifer Jaff

Lawyer and advocate for the chronically ill -- via the New York Times.

Dirk Bach

Comedian -- via the Hollywood Reporter.

Michael Henry Heim

Scholar and translator -- via the New York Times.

Wendy Weil

Literary agent -- via Yahoo Finance.

Eric Hobsbawm

Historian -- via the Guardian.

Sahara Davenport aka Antoine Ashley

Drag performer -- via the L.A. Times.

Manheim Fox

Producer of concerts, plays, albums, festivals, and happenings -- via Variety.


Gedalyah Engel

Rabbi -- via jconline.com.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Russell Scott aka Blinky the Clown

TV children's show host -- via the Denver Post.

He passed away on Aug. 27. He had the longest carer of a children's television show host in American history. He started "Blinky's Fun Club" in 1958 in Colorado Springs on KKTV; in 1966 he moved to KWGN in Denver, where he remained on the air until 1998.

He was an integral part of our childhoods in Denver. We all watched Blinky. He did funny routines with puppets such as Barney the Dog; he sang silly songs; he gave us safety tips; he interviewed police officers, firefighters, zoo personnel -- anyone who might interest a kid. He sang "Happy Birf-day" every day --



Of course, his appeal was cheesy, and we laughed at him as much as we laughed with him. Yet it was nice to know he was always there. Through him, we got to see old Heckle and Jeckle cartoons, and Mighty Mouse, Popeye, The Mighty Hercules, and more. He told us to "Please stay out of those streets." He told us to "Mind your mommies and daddies." He told us not to trust strangers, or play with matches, or to forget our pleases and thank yous.

(Did you know that, for a time, he had a second noon-time show as a different persona? Yes indeed. I can't find any documentation on it, but he played Cap'n Dooley, a silly old-time riverboat captain, who had a mascot, the morose puppet Moe the Crow.)

It was our deepest wish to get to go to Blinky's show in person. My friend Tony Watson got to go as part of his Boy Scout troop -- I remember watching him wave at me from the screen as I cursed him bitterly (and ineptly, as only an 8-year-old can). There had long been rumors that Blinky was actually mean. When Tony got back to school the next day, we asked him about his brush with fame. "Before the show," he said, "Blinky was sitting in the back, playing piano and SMOKING." GASP! Our hero was, if not a misanthrope, at the least a melancholy jester.

Blinky's later years were tough. The station brought in Berg and Prince, mimes who clashed with the irascible star. He was dumped unceremoniously by Channel 2. In 2004, his wife of 62 years divorced him. Of the more than 10,000 shows he performed, only TEN survive. Most were thrown out by KWGN.

He kept on with Blinky's Antiques on South Broadway until 2008. Brian Malone's documentary "Blinky" provides us with an in-depth portrait of him --



Clowns are creepy and scary, by and large. But Blinky was loved, despite his flaws. I miss him.


Raylene Rankin

Singer -- via the CBC.

Michael O'Hare

Actor -- via the Hollywood Reporter.

Sylvia Fedoruk

Scientist and champion curler -- via the Saskatoon Star Phoenix.

Josephine Jimenez

Educator -- via the L.A. Times.

Mary Foster

Journalist -- via the Washington Post.

John Rovick aka Sheriff John

Kids' TV show host -- via the L.A. Times.

Mike Baker

Journalist -- via the Guardian.


Bill King

Circumnavigator and author -- via newsblaze.com.

David Alec Webb

Actor -- via beforeitsnews.com.

Michael Stanley

Gallery owner -- via the Guardian.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

George Hurst

Conductor -- via the Guardian.

Dennis Kain

Timpanist -- via the Baltimore Sun.


Lia Lee

Victim of epilepsy whose treatment inspired a book that led to new understanding about the intersection of Eastern and Western medicines and cultures -- via the New York Times.


Joan Coates

Animator and producer -- via the BBC.

Louis Simpson

Poet -- via the New York Times.

Russell Train

Conservationist who helped found the E.P.A. -- via the New York Times.

Steve Sabol

Producer, director, writer, and cameraman for NFL Films -- via the New York Times.

Jack Kralik

Former MLB pitcher -- via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Michael Hurll

TV producer -- via the Guardian.


Joni Gordon

Art gallery owner -- via the L.A. Times.


Wednesday, October 3, 2012

R.B. Greaves aka Ronald Bertram Aloysius Greaves

Singer and songwriter -- via the New York Times. He wrote and recorded the hit "Take a Letter Maria."

Haim Hefer aka Haim Feiner

Lyricist, songwriter, poem, and writer -- via the New York Times.

Tamer al-Awam

Filmmaker -- via the New York Times.

Pierre Mondy aka Pierre Cuq

Actor and director -- via Big Cartoon News.

(Lavern) Jack Pierce

Former MLB player -- via hardballtimes.com.

Stephen Dunham

Actor -- via the Hollywood Reporter. His last role, a starring one in "Paranormal Activities 4," will be seen on Oct. 19.



James "Sugar Boy" Crawford

R & B singer and composer -- via nola.com. He wrote "Jock-A-Mo," which morphed into "Iko Iko," and has been recorded by countless artists around the world.

Obo Addy

Percussionist, composer, and educator -- via opb.org.

Pedro Guerrero

Photographer -- via the New York Times. Most noted for his portraits of the works of Frank Lloyd Wright.


Tom Sims

Snowboarding pioneer, surfer, and skateboarder -- via ESPN

Sharon McGhee

Broadcaster and playwright -- via the Chicago Sun-Times.