I just now heard the news: Walter Cronkite is dead at age 92! For many folks the only news we needed to hear came from Walter each weekday evening on CBS. There were only three national television networks in the late 60s and into the 70s when "the most trusted man in America" talked to us during or just after our dinner meal, and CBS had the most viewers during the evening news time. When John Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Walter choked-up on air as he reported the sad news. When men walked on the moon, Walter was excited as he told us all about it. When the incredible tragedies and events of 1968 unfolded, Walter explained them to us. And when Walter offered his opinion about the "stalemate" of the Vietnam conflict, President Johnson knew he had lost the confidence of middle America for the war effort.
Walter Cronkite was a real journalist: He observed events, wrote reports about the happenings, and then talked to us about the events we needed to know about each day.
There were other good journalists of that time, too, but this man was the dean of them all.
He is an excellent reminder to us that one person can make a very, very big impression on the people of his or her time.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
It only took 14 months!
John Dillinger was released from prison in May of 1933. In the fourteen months between that parole and July, 1934 he became perhaps the Hoosier state's most infamous citizen. Johnny Depps' new movie about the gangster details those fourteen months.
The facts about Dillinger's life mingle freely with the legends and lies about him. It makes for great storytelling, and even better movie-making.
It only took fourteen months for a legend to be born, a reputation to be established, a Robin Hood (to some he was a hero, knocking off banks that were foreclosing on home owners in the Depression years) or a robber to become world famous. I think two things: First, I will go see the movie (even though the reviews are quite mixed) and second, I will be reminded that in the span of a very short time a person (even me) can become entangled in some very, very bad things!
The facts about Dillinger's life mingle freely with the legends and lies about him. It makes for great storytelling, and even better movie-making.
It only took fourteen months for a legend to be born, a reputation to be established, a Robin Hood (to some he was a hero, knocking off banks that were foreclosing on home owners in the Depression years) or a robber to become world famous. I think two things: First, I will go see the movie (even though the reviews are quite mixed) and second, I will be reminded that in the span of a very short time a person (even me) can become entangled in some very, very bad things!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
