Saturday 9: Easter Parade  

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is best known from the 1948 movie of the same name, but it was originally written for a 1933 Broadway play called As Thousands Cheer. In the play, a young man reads about the parade in a New York  newspaper and decides to go and show his lady love off to parade goers. What's the most recent parade you attended?  Well, it was so long ago, neither of us can remember where it was or why it was. It had to be DECADES ago.  

2) On Broadway, the song was performed by Clifton Webb. He'd had a busy stage career, appearing in musicals as well as plays by Oscar Wilde and Noel Coward, but when he was in his mid-50s, he was considered too old to be a leading man. Broadway offers stopped coming. He was unexpectedly cast by Otto Preminger for the film noir Laura and a new career was born. He worked steadily in Hollywood for 20 years and earned three Oscar nominations. Tell us about a time you were grateful your life took an unanticipated turn.  I'd always wanted to go out to the desert again, and kick up my heels looking for rocks and minerals, and just enjoy being out there under ALL THOSE STARS at night.   

So, one day DH came home from work and asked if I wanted to join the Rockhound club at General Dynamics.  I was over that little rocky moon.  A guy he worked with on projects at General Dynamics liked him, and had invited him to join.  We were in it for about 30 years.  Loved every minute. 

3) Today he's fondly remembered by the students at UCLA who have benefited from The Clifton Webb Scholarship of the Arts. If you could give an endowment to a school or charity, what would you like it to be used for?   It would be for the elementary school art programs that have gotten slashed to nothing in our city schools.  And I would, if there were enough money in my nice big, fat slush fund, ensure that promising young artists got SCHOLARSHIPS to the school of their choice, including ones like The Oakland School of Fine Arts. 

 

4) According to Forbes magazine, the average American household will spend upwards of $150 on Easter dinner, candy, and decorations this weekend. Do holidays strain your budget?  Not this one.  😄 

5) The biggest chocolate Easter egg was made in Italy, measured 34 feet tall and weighed a staggering 15,000 lbs. Do you think it's possible to have too much chocolate? Yes, This is why.  You don't want to HAVE chocolate when you can BUY it any old time you want it.  It's best fresh.  Some of the Halloween candy does have a "shelf life" of a year or so, but really, who want's to eat really old Chocolate Easter bunnies?

6) After chocolate, the top-selling Easter candy is Peeps Marshmallow Chicks. They're so popular that they were once the subject of a Jeopardy clue. Do you often watch Jeopardy?  I've never had the desire to watch game shows.  There was enough stress in my life without them adding to it. 

7) Jelly beans are also popular this time of year. In a 2020 poll, jelly bean fans responded that cinnamon is their favorite flavor. Do you have a favorite?  I love the black Licorice ones, but cinnamon sounds pretty darn good too.  I think I might ask for some jelly bellies though.  Hmmm 😉

8) We've been talking a lot about sweets this morning. The only holiday that generates more candy sales is Halloween. When do you eat more candy: Easter or Halloween?  Halloween, definitely.  Let's face it. The stuff sits out in a big bowl by the front door, and in it's gay little wrappings. It's just BEGGING to be snagged up in passing.  Easter candy, not so much.  One Chocolate Easter bunny, or A giant See's Candy Egg, and your done!

 9) Easter is considered the season of rebirth. What makes you feel refreshed or rejuvenated?  Seeing that "Truth" has won a major battle of Obfuscation in the Arena of Life.  

THANK YOU SAM!  I really enjoy answering your Saturday Nine Questions every week.  

Readers:  If you want to see the Linkie or join in the fun, go HERE to Sam's Saturday Nine Blog.