The Wall

People who died -- August, 2024

August, as a month, has been much kinder than July, which seemingly knocked out half the population.  Once again, Summer has sped by.  Now all we have to look forward to is the election which makes me think appearing on these pages might not be that bad after all.  Anyway, let’s get to it. 

Of late it has been a confectionary catastrophe.   Last month we lost David Liederman of David’s Cookies and this month Wally Amos’ last cookie has crumbled at 88.  That would be “Famous” to you.  Famous Amos was born not famous, but Wallace, in Tallahassee, Florida.  When his parents divorced, he spent time with his aunt in Harlem who, amongst other things, could bake a mean cookie. Mr. Amos got the cooking bug and went to Food Trades Vocational High School in New York. He went to work at the upscale Essex House Hotel but grew disillusioned when he was continuously passed over for promotions by white guys who didn’t have his culinary chops. He spent four years in the Air Force, largely in Hawaii (sign me up),  and eventually got a gig in the mail room of the William Morris Agency.  That place must have a huge mailroom because he is about the 7,000^th guy I have heard about who started his career there.  Anyway, he quickly worked his way up to junior agent.  One thing he would do was bring his cookies, the recipe which he stole from his aunt, to pitch meetings.  The cookies were a hit even if some of his acts may not have measured up.  One of his acts who did, was Marvin Gaye who, in my book, was a genius.  But for a bit of a drug habit and a trigger-happy father, Marvin would still be churning out great music.   Anyway, Marvin and Helen Reddy (there is an unlikely pairing), provided $25,000 seed money to Wally to start a cookie shop and Famous Amos was born. His cookies, unlike many others, were smaller and crispier but incredibly good.  His first shop opened on Sunset Boulevard and, like “Sexual Healing,” was a huge hit.   That spawned Famous Amos stores across the Country and the man himself became bigger than the cookie.  His ability to bake, however, outstripped his ability to run the business which he sold for about $3 million.  Interestingly, when he tried to start another cookie company, he was sued for trademark infringement by the company he sold to and had to operate under the name Uncle Wally and couldn’t even sell cookies.  Instead, he sold muffins.  The shame of it all was that Famous always said that “you can’t compare a machine made cookie with a handmade cookie,” and he was right.  He was the first one that I can recall who bucked the trend of pre-packaged cookies and opened his own shops which predated David’s, Mrs. Fields, and all the others who operate today.  Ironically, though, the only Famous Amos cookies available today are the pre-packaged, machine-made ones that Famous preached were not up to the handmade standard.  I will occasionally go to the vending machine in my office, slide in a dollar and hit G 7. Then I reach down and retrieve a small bag of Famous Amos cookies.  They are far from the original, but still evoke a good feeling.

Roberto Linguanotto, the man credited with inventing tiramisu a morto.  He was 81.  Much more high-brow than the cookie, the problem with tiramisu is the inconsistency.  Not that I turn down bad tiramisu, mind you, but there needs to be a standard for the dessert which is lacking.  That’s just me and none of it is the fault of Mr. Linguanotto, who I am sure made what would be a highly accredited version.   Linguanotto was the pastry chef at Le Beccherie in Traviso, Italy when he came up with the recipe.  Reports say he perfected it along with the owner of the restaurant but I am sure he had to say that or lose his job.  As with many a great invention, it was borne of a mistake when the chef spilled mascarpone into a bowl of sugar and eggs.  Tasting his mistake, he liked it, and added some coffee and poured it over lady fingers.  Bellisimo.  On the menu it went and it spread like confectionary covid.   Had Mr. Linguonotto spoken to Wally Amos, he would have opened up a tiramisu shop and kept all the profits.  Alas, he missed his opportunity, so now every restaurant that calls itself Italian (and even some that don’t) has a version of Mr. Linguanotto’s dessert and he sees no royalties.  Such is the life of a genius.  Thus, the next time you order the tiramisu, think of the now departed Mr. Linguanotto and toast him with some sambuca-laced espresso.   

Daytime television is its own kind of hell.  Every time I think about retiring, I have nightmares of me watching The View and then spiraling into alcoholism while screaming at Whoopie Goldberg on the screen.  The other alternative, soap operas, could lead me to a self-inflicted end.  With this knowledge, I happily trundle off to work realizing that employment saves me from certain misery, or worse.   One of the kings of daytime television, Phil Donahue, died this month at 88.  He was, dare I say, a pioneer in the way that someone could be a pioneer of the Dark Ages.  Donahue himself was a decent sort and invented the modern daytime talk format.  No band, no sidekick, and an interactive studio audience.  Heck he even had viewers call in with questions for his guests which ran the gamut from highbrow folks like  Ralph Nader (his favorite guest) to lesbian go-go dancers (let’s not be judgmental here), because he learned that nothing sells like sex.  Not even football can outstrip it.  He took on serious questions like AIDS, reproductive rights and penal reform when he broadcast from within a maximum security prison during the 29 years his show broadcast.   On the other end of the spectrum, he once explored infantilism, the  dressing up like a baby to enhance sexual pleasure.  Even I’m not going there, but you can see the episode here: 

.  Not exactly Emmy worthy stuff.  Donohue’s impressive run was eventually ended by Oprah on the one end, and Jerry Springer on the other, more outrageous, end.  One of the guests on his show that changed his life was Marlo Thomas, who he immediately connected with and eventually married in 1980.  No matter how you feel about Donahue, you’ve got to give him credit for marrying Ms. Thomas who was literally and figuratively, “That Girl.”  No report on how Don Hollinger viewed the marriage, or Donahue.

I always thought the song “Young Girl, “ was a little off.  It is really about pedophilia, but for a time, the lyrics were on the tongues of almost everyone.  It’s a tune about and older guy falling for a much, much, younger girl to the point where he even knows it.  At one point the lyric, sung by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, acknowledges “my love for you is way out of line,” and goes on:  “Get out of here before I have the time, to change my mind.  And I’m afraid we’ll go too far. “  Ahh, the openness of the 60’s.  That song would never cut it today but back then people were singing it at the top of their lungs.  Anyway, the author/composer of the tune, Gerry Fuller, died at 85.  No report on whether he was with a 14 year old when he drew his last breath.  Before we get too critical, here, you have to put the song in the context of the times.   The Rolling Stones “Stray Cat Blues,” was worse, with Mick singing about lusting after a 15 year old groupie (at the live shows, he often lowered the age to 13).   “I can see that you’re 15 years old.  No I don’t want no ID … It ain’t no capital crime.“  And in real life, Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 year old cousin.  Thus, in reality, “Young Girl,” was calm.   But back to Fuller, he was not a one, perverted song wonder.  He also wrote Lady Willpower for the Union Gap and Travelin’ Man for Ricky Nelson which Mr. Nelson took to No. 1 on the Billboard charts.  As a producer, he made O.C. Smith’s “Little Green Apples.”   His songs were sung by the likes of Johnny Mathis, Ray Price and Reba McIntyre.  However, it will be Young Girl, that he will forever be known for.  “Better run girl.” 

Greg Kihn, who led the Greg Kihn Band, with such hits as “The Break Up Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)” and my love’s in “Jeopardy.” Died at 75.  I always found the Greg Kihn Band to be in the vein of Huey Lewis and the News.  Springsteen was a fan and sought out Kihn, giving him a cassette recording of “Rendezvous,”  which didn’t make the cut on “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” Kihn recorded it in 79. Kihn, a Baltimore native, toured throughout the 80’s opening for acts like Journey, the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead.  Ultimately, Kihn became a DJ at KUFX, a classic rock station in the Bay area.  He also wrote horror novels.  The band continued to play and in one iteration Joe Satriani was the guitarist.    EVH was otherwise engaged.  They just don’t write ‘em like that anymore. 

A singer who was more of a one hit guy, although the one hit was truly evergreen, was Maurice Williams who penned the tune “Stay,” died at 86.  His band the Zodiacs put out the first version which clocked in at a mere 90 seconds because, he said, it made the tune more radio friendly.  It is since been covered by plenty of folks like the Four Seasons, the Hollies, Cyndie Lauper and Jackson Brown (with David Lindley’s lilting falsetto).  Mr. Williams penned the tune after his own girlfriend didn’t stay, although he truly wanted her to.  Better that she left and he got the tune as I am sure it paid for a lot of good things in his life.  He wrote other tunes but none was the hit or had the staying power of “Stay.”   Frankly, when you write a tune like that, there is really nothing more to do.  

Last month, the pitchman who coined the phrase “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing,” for Alka Seltzer, Howie Cohen, passed at 81.  He also coined “try it, you’ll like it,” for the company.  I was going to write about him but I thought that for me, it was “plop plop, fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is,” that was the signature Alka Seltzer add.  Well this month, Mr. plop plop, fizz fizz himself, Charlie Moss, died at 85.  Strange how these things work.  Mr. Moss also came up with the I love New York logo using the heart instead of love, something I cannot replicate on the keyboard, and flick your Bic which set the hearts of pyromaniacs everywhere aflutter.  The Ford catchphrase, “quality is job one,” was also a Moss work. By 33 he was running the ad agency Wells Rich Greene.  He also co-wrote the 1972 movie (with Stan Dragoti) “Dirty Little Billy,” about Billy the kid.   Although I prefer his other work, it was the I love New York campaign that he received the most accolades for.  He was awarded a special Tony award for his commercials featuring Broadway cast members pitching New York.    According to his New York Times obit, the campaign was responsible for generating $3 billion in tourist spending.  While several people were involved in the creation of the campaign, it appears as though Mr. Moss wielded the main, creative oar.  I can only imagine how much Alka Seltzer he sold. 

Peter Marshall, born,  Ralph Pierre LaCock, best known as the host of Hollywood Squares, died at 98.  Marshall, started his show biz career as a singer with Bob Chester’s band.  Mr. Chester, wisely suggested that Mr. LaCock alter his name and Peter Marshall was born.  After a stint in the army, where he was a disk jockey, he paired with comedian Tommy Noonan.  Mr. Marshall was the straight man, a skill that would serve him well in his Hollywood Squares days.  After the two split, Marshall went on to stage acting and singing.  A friend of his, Maurey Amsterdam, of The Dick Van Dyke show, recommended him for the Hollywood Squares hosting gig.  Marshall was not jacked about it but wanted to beat our Dan Rowan of (Rowan and Martin Laugh-In fame) for the job because Marshall believed that Rowan had slighted his old partner, Noonan, when Noonan was suffering with cancer.  Marshal got the job, apparently screwing Rowan.  He proved good at it and since a week’s work of filming was done in a day, it freed him up to do a nightclub act.  Frankly, these game-show-hosting gigs, don’t seem like a heavy lift and are incredibly lucrative.  Martin lasted 15 years and he won four Emmy’s for his work. When it finished, he went back to the stage and did some television work.  Not surprisingly, he has appeared on the Love Boat.  He wrote a book about his time as the host of Hollywood Squares.   Apparently, at the tapings, they would break for dinner where the alcohol flowed freely.  The later shows were always the better ones.  and  For the record, Mr. Marshall was not Penny Marshall’s dad.  That accolade belongs to Anthony Marshall, the television producer.  For my money it was Paul Linde who made that show although all of the folks sitting in the squares needed a straight man and Marshall was the perfect host.  Circle gets the square.    

Chi Chi Rodriguez, the golfer, has retired his putter at 88. Golf is generally a sport reserved for those with spoons of silver in their mouths but Rodrigues was the exception. He was raised poor in Puerto Rico.  He once said that his room was so small, he couldn’t even change his mind in it.  He also said that John Daly hit the ball farther than he had ever gone on vacation as a kid.   He caddied for well-to-do golfers (is there any other kind) and  learned to play by fashioning a club from a guava branch and hitting tin cans in the manner he saw the golfers hit.  He joined the army during the Korean War and played every chance he got.  He eventually turned pro at 27.  He won eight tournaments and did exceedingly well on the senior circuit, now referred to as the Champions Tour.  He was more flamboyant than most golfers.  Whenever he sunk a birdy, he put his hat over the hole.  When golfers complained, he instead did a toreador dance.  Not the type of thing you would see Arnold Palmer or Scottie Scheffler doing.  After meeting Mother Theresa, an event he called one of the greatest in his life, he along with some others (the golfers Bill Hayes and Bob James) formed The Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation to teach victims, people who had brushes with the law, and other challenged kids, the game of golf in order to instill self-esteem.  An image of Mr. Rodriguez was used to sell golf merchandise and the band Devo saw the picture and believed it represented the commercialization of everything.  .  They started to use it in their promotional material.  When they were signed to Warner Brothers and were putting out their first album, “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo,” they wanted to use the photo of Chi Chi but the band had never gotten his approval.  Warner Brothers had an artist alter the photo and the image appears on the album.  Rodriguez’ people finally gave permission and the company sent him $2,500 and 50 copies of the album.  He reportedly listened to it once, preferring  Dean Martin. Not sure what he did with the other 49 copies.  Whip it good.

I note that Leonard Riggio, the guy who made Barnes & Noble what it is today, died at 83.  Riggio bought the small, single store Barnes & Noble and turned it into a bookselling juggernaut.  He was excoriated for putting small, independent booksellers out of business.  That changed when Amazon took over the bookselling market, nearly driving B&N out of business, at which time the publishing houses looked upon the Company as the savior of brick and mortar bookselling.  The Company has now come full circle, with an independent bookstore owner at the helm who is trying to make each Barnes & Noble store a unique experience.  I, frankly, loved the place as it was.  I browsed for hours in the place and never got tired of it.  Another thing about Riggio, aside from the fact that he was very philanthropic, was that he attended Brooklyn Technical High School in Ft. Greene Brooklyn, which, in my mind, is as good a high school as there is.      

Finally this month, Chester (Mickey) Keller left this earth.  He was a Federal Public Defender in Newark who truly suffered with his clients and felt their pain like few other defense lawyers I know.  He always saw the good in people and fought for their rights with all he had.   He fought in an arena where he didn’t win much but it never diminished his energy for the fight. 

That is a wrap for this month and unfortunately for the Summer.  Fall would be my favorite season but for the fact that it is followed by Winter and that come Fall, the stores are already outfitting themselves with Christmas Trees.  Let it rest.  If we could slide right into Spring, it would be a perfect world.