Obscure Oldie of the Day - Down at Papa Joes by the Dixie Belles

 

I don't know why I thought of this song today.  I haven't heard it for years.  It reached #9 on the Billboard chart in 1963 and was played on WABC and WMCA back in the day.

The College Point Multiplex Will Close Permanently Today

On January 6, 2024, I reported in this journal about the demise of movie theaters in Queens.  Today is the last day for the College Point Multiplex.  Star Wars the Phantom Menace was the first movie I saw there in 1999 while Ghost Busters Frozen Empire was the last one I saw about a month ago.  I estimate that I saw 800-1000 movies there in its 25 years.  It was always nice to have a movie theater within walking distance of home, especially on a cold and rainy day when there was nothing else to do.

My major criticism is that they only featured the mass appeal movies that are appropriate for a younger audience.  Many Academy Award-winning films were never shown there.  Very often,  I had to travel to Manhattan or other parts of Queens to see an independent film that is suited for older adults.

Life goes on and in the future, I will have to go to Bayside or Fresh Meadows to see a movie.

 Noourulain Kawaja of NY1 reported on the closing of the theater.  A 30-year-old man she interviewed was heartbroken.  I had the pleasure of meeting her when she interviewed me for a story on the future of Whitestone Lanes.

I assume the theater owners will try to sell about 1000 seats in the 12 auditoriums in the complex.  Then the building will be torn down and replaced by a large warehouse.

 

Random Thoughts of the Day - May 6, 2024

On Saturday Lee and I drove from Flushing to Bayside to eat at Ben's Deli I saw five Amazon delivery vehicles.  My experience with deliveries from Amazon has usually been good, but I think they lost one of my deliveries.  I received an email stating it was delivered to my apartment.  I didn't get it.  I assume it was brought to the wrong apartment.  Hopefully, the neighbor who received it by mistake will bring it to my apartment. If not, I'll ask for a refund.

The dining room was almost empty when we went to Ben's on Saturday night at about 5 PM.  I hate to see that since as reported in this journal before so many Kosher Delis in Queens have closed over the years. If Ben's closes there will be none left.

My three SABR projects have kept me busy lately.

Tonight, I will juggle Jeopardy (regular show and Masters Tournament), the Knicks, and the Mets.  The post-season tournaments will last until June.  The more games they play, the more money they make.  Tickets at Madison Square Garden in the 200 level can cost $500.  There will always be a sellout.

 

There are Several Versions of Time is on My Side

 The Rolling Stones had the hit version of Time is on My Side in 1964, but there were other versions.  Kai Winding actually did the original.

I heard the Irma Thomas version several times years ago on WCBS-FM

Here is the hit version by the Rolling Stones

Irma Thomas joined the Rolling Stones at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Mets 7 Cubs 6 in 11 Innings

I attended this afternoon's game as it was part of my 20-game plan.  It turned out to be Francisco Lindor to the rescue.  He left last night's game with flu-like symptoms and was not in the starting lineup.  The Mets fell behind 4-0 in the fifth inning.  Starting pitcher Adrian Houser was ineffective as he allowed those four runs with four hits and four walks.  The Mets got two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning but still trailed.  Lindor came in as a pinch-hitter for Joey Wendle and drove in two runs to make it 5-4. Two batters later Brandon Nimmo drove in the tieing run.  The score remained tied as the game went into extra innings.

The Cubs took the lead in the 11th with a double by Nick Madrigal.  In the bottom of the inning, Lindor came through again with a double plating the tieing and winning runs.

Duane Eddy Does Bob Dylan's Don't Think Twice

 We found out yesterday that guitarist Duane Eddy passed away at age 86.  There is a detailed obituary in the New York Times that describes him as the guitarist who changed rock n roll.

He actually released an album called Duane Eddy Does Bob Dylan.  The only song that I found on YouTube was his version of Don't Think Twice.

For Judy Collins Birthday - Hard Lovin' Loser

 

Judy Collins has appeared several times in this journal.  I thought for her birthday I would post one of her lesser-known songs.  Hard Lovin' Loser was on her In My Life album released in 1967.  I vaguely remember that Murray the K played it when he was on WOR-FM.