‘Arts’ Archives
Movie Corner “I like you just the way you are.” “Won”'t You Be My Neighbor?””¦ Fred Rogers, 1928-2003
By HOWARD McQUITTER II “Won”'t You Be My Neighbor?” is one the kindest titles given to any film. It is a benevolent, heartfelt, energetic portrayal of Fred Rogers, a man of exemplary status who revolutionized children”'s programs on television. Rogers, an ordained Presbyterian minister, took a route, not to a church pulpit, but to PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) with a new method of programming for children. He brought children into his studio from different races and backgrounds engaging them by speaking in ways up to the time, circa 1968, unheard of on children”'s programs which usually concentrated on using cartoons and superheroes. Soon, young and not so young were glued to TVs “Mister Roger”'s Neighborhood”, starting on February 19, 1968; eventually lasting 31 seasons and 912 episodes. He did not shy away from certain topics, such as producing a primetime special that spoke directly to children about Robert F. Kennedy”'s [...]
Untamed Mushrooms: From Field to Table
Thursday, July 19, 6 - 8:30pm Also Ingebretsen's at Norway House (913 E. Franklin Avenue) A celebration of wild mushroom foraging”¦beyond morels + a photo exhibit of wild mushroom still lifes by Michael Karns, Lisa Golden Schroeder, and Dennis Becker. Free event.
Is the horror genre improving?
By HOWARD McQUITTER II oldschoolmovies.wordpress.com howardmcquitter68@gmail.com Over the last few decades, I generally have distanced myself from the horror genre because of the gratuitous violence and absence or weakness of plots. I still can say with conviction I really like John Carpenter”'s “Halloween”(1978),though, I begin to peter out in interest with the inglorious sequels (by an assortment of directors”“Rick Rosenthal, Tommy Lee Wallace, Rob Zombie, etc.). I think I can live quite well with “Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984), but the sequels get down-right crass and redundant. I remember back in the 1950s and 60s, one horror director in particular, William Castle, scared us kiddies pretty well with flicks like “The Tinker” (1959), “House on Haunted Hill”(1959), “13 Ghosts” (1960) and “Macabre” (1958) without all the sanguinary stuff that could at times make you skip dinner. By the 1970s, [...]
