William Horberg

Full Notes

 

One of the best things in my inbox every day are the jazz video links that I receive courtesy of Lester Perkins' wonderful "Jazz on the Tube". It is easy and free to sign up and start getting your daily fix of his eclectic and impeccable selections from the history of recorded jazz on film.

Thanks to Lester, I have been filling in some holes in my jazz education, and rediscovering or coming to a deeper appreciation of some players I was already familiar with, but are now in my pantheon.

Pianist Lennie Tristano is one of them, and this live performance of Lennie at New York's famous Half Note jazz club will show you why.

Enjoy!

william

Beisbol

The island of Cuba has produced some great baseball players over the years.

Minnie Minoso. Tony Oliva. Cookie Rojas. Louis Tiant.

The trick is to spot talent young and nurture it.

Proudly displaying her Cuban heritage, second baseman Natalie Mora made her t-ball debut last night for the Amazing Mets.

As a lifelong White Sox fan, it was a little hard for me to find myself rooting for the New York organization of Marvelous Marv Thornberry. But blood is thicker than water, as they say, and its time for me to learn the Mets fight song!

Louis Aparicio was from Venezuela, but he was one of the greatest shortstops in baseball history when he played for the White Sox back in the '50's and '60's at the old Comiskey Park.

Maybe Natalie, aka Louisa Aparicio around our house, will pick up her own Golden Glove one day?

Enjoy!

william
 

Diego Talks The Walk

Hi there.

My Dad asked me to jump on the blog today and thank everyone who supported our Team - Diego's Friends - at the 2011 Walk Now For Autism at the Rose Bowl this past weekend, and to share a few words about my own thoughts and experiences of the day with all of you.

Don't let this picture fool you. I'm not hiding behind that red balloon because I'm shy or anything.

I just wanted to see what the world looked like all in RED. Pretty interesting. They say kids with Autism tend to see the world differently. I wonder if this is what they mean?

Large crowds and loud noises can sometimes be overwhelming to kids like me who are on the spectrum and have a hard time with SENSORY INPUT and SELF REGULATION and other ways in which the brain organizes and makes sense of the environment around me; but I've been coming to the Rose Bowl for 4 straight years now, and each year it seems I get more chill; at least that's what I hear my Mom and Dad proudly tell the other adults.

Me, I was feeling pretty excited.

We made our own handmade t-shirts this year for our Team, and it was pretty cool to see how many families find creative ways to show their colors and express their love!

Mom's good friend Maiz came out to walk with us with her son, and Dad wanted us all to pose for a Team Picture. But as you can see, I was much too busy taking care of business trying to wrestle away Maiz's son's super-cool blaster-shaped balloon to stand still for any posed group photograph!

What were you thinking, Dad?

The Rose Bowl parking lot was full of vendor stands with all kinds of activities for us kids. I don't know what that kid is doing in that u-shaped thing, but it looks pretty fun.

I think I'll try it myself.

Yep. I was right.

Last year I just didn't feel comfortable enough to let someone paint my face. But I'm turning six in a few months, and I've been thinking about my future.

Being Spiderman might actually be something I could get used to.

Hmmm. I thought everyone knew how to draw Spiderman, but it looks like next year I might have to bring the nice lady a comic book so she can have some reference to draw upon.

Running in to some old friends from pre-school made me realize just how far we've all come in a short period of time.

I guess I really should take a moment here to give props to all the great teachers and aides and therapists who have worked so hard to help me and my friends overcome some of our unique challenges.

Or maybe I'd rather take off running to go see the Yo Gabba Gabba-looking dude with all the gym equipment.

Climbing up was fairly easy. But now what?

Thanks for the help, Gabba-man.

Alright, maybe I do need to get to the gym more often.

But with all the cutbacks in school budgets these days, I'm just not getting the OT hours that I used to!

My sister has been going to ballet class, and it is obviously paying off as you can see in this wonderfully poised shot of her on the balance beam. I'm so proud of her. She's the best.

(But, hey, confidentially, what's up with all of that new-age "sharing" and "taking turns" stuff she's always trying to peddle to me? Doesn't she know that siblings are supposed to be rivals?)

My hats off to whoever invented these little individual rest stops for children with special needs. The small space and ball-filled seating area were just the right space for my over-taxed sensory system to take refuge and chillax. Sorry, Dad, that it was so hard to get me out of there, but do you think we could get one of those for home?

Speaking of special, it was pretty special that our friends Ellen and Henry showed up at the end of the walk to hang out with us. Henry is just about to graduate from sixth grade and you'd think he'd have a lot of other things on his mind and places to go on a Saturday rather than to come and hang out with a kindergartener and patiently listen to me recite the ad copy and theme song from the latest Chips Ahoy commercials I watch on YouTube.

But there he was - and wearing a Chicago Bulls Joakim Noah t-shirt no doubt.

Now that's what I call a good friend, and one that epitomizes the spirit of everyone who came together and supported our team -Diego's Friends!

Hey, that's ME!

Diego

P.S. Dad said our team raised almost $17,000 for autism research this year! And that the Walk altogether raised over $1.3 Million Dollars for Autism Speaks, the sponsor organization. Pretty cool, but with all that cabbage floating around I still can't understand why Dad said we couldn't afford that new Lego Adventure set I want! What's up with that? I've got Special Needs, I told him!

 

 

The Robert Capa of Children's Books

It is always nice when one of my blog posts opens a door to a connection and a discovery or further elaboration of a topic. Such was the case recently when I was contacted by Adam Randazzo from New York, who had read an old post here about the unusual children's photo books published back in the 1950's by husband-and-wife team Dale and Sally Rooks.

Hi William -

I found your name and blog while Googling for Dale Rooks. There isn't much information I can find about him online, but I have some pretty interesting photos he took during WWII. During that time, my grandfather was a medic in the coast guard. Dale was placed on my grandfather's ship and was a photographer for LOOK magazine at the time. My grandfather was given the duty of basically accompanying him wherever he wanted to go to while he was taking photographs. Their travels took them all over France, Italy, Iceland, and North Africa.

During the process, the two of them became extremely close friends. After the war was over, Dale travelled to my grandparents wedding and photographed it for them. As a wedding gift, he presented my grandfather with a large collection of photos that he had taken during the war. This collection is in a large book and contains over a hundred of photos that he took. My mother received the book after my grandfather  passed away at the age of 94 late last year.  I am currently in the process of scanning and digitizing the entire collection. When I am done with that, I will be putting up a website with all of the images as its a truly amazing collection.

You are correct that Dale died young. According to my grandfather, he lived fast and was completely fearless. Next time I see my grandmother, I will see if she can tell me more stories about him. I believe Dale died of lung cancer if I remember correctly - but I may be wrong. I will also try to find out what happened of his wife.

Anyways, after reading your blog, I felt that I would share this with you as you sound like someone who may really appreciate the history.

I have attached a couple of photos that Dale took. My grandfather is the medic in the one picture and it was in LOOK magazine.

Thanks again for making the blog post!

                                           Adam Randazzo / Western NY

Adam now has a great new blog up and is posting this collection of Dale Rook's war time photography.

It seems like a strange journey from being a Robert Capa to making books about Cute Bunnies and Puppies, but when you think about the myriad experiences of men at war struggling to come back to civilian life, perhaps not so odd after all.

Check it out!

william

In This Life

The Box reveals a vernacular letter from 1880 in which lonely Nellie writes to her far away cowboy brother Douglas to inform him of their father's death, but is unable to reach him as he has left his "horrid ranch" and is off herding for the season.

  Box 79 

Norwich Town Conn.  Oct. 31^st 1880

My Dear Douglas

I have been hoping for some time to hear from you. About two months since I became so anxious about you that I wrote to the Postmaster and to Mr. Charlie Davis at Collyer to ascertain your whereabouts. They kindly replied to my inquiries that you were off herding, and would return to Collyer in October. I feel deeply pained that you should neglect to write to me for you know how dear you are to me & to all your family. We have all felt great anxiety on your account.

You have doubtless before this received a letter from Europe dated the 15^th informing you our dear father’s death. George telegraphed me on the 11^th to go to New York immediately as father was dangerously ill. I went and found him very low with his old complaint in an aggravated form. His sufferings were intense but Morphine relieved him. Em & I were with him constantly & he had every attention. But nothing could save him. He died very quietly, did not seem to suffer any pain. He died at 257 W. 4^th St. where he was boarding. The funeral services were held at St. Peter’s Church West 20^th St. and we laid him beside our dear mother in Elizabeth, N. Jersey. I can hardly realize that we shall never see our dear old father again in this life.  Dear Douglas I wish you were with me that we might talk about him & about many things. I know how sad you will feel for you were a good affectionate son.

I spent a few days at George’s after the funeral and then returned to my work at Norwich. As soon as I can (perhaps in a few months) I want to go to Springfield & live with Kate, we might as well live and work together for we are both alone. Poor Kate is feeling dreadfully about Father’s death. She came East to spend this last vacation. Both she and Father were here. We had such a pleasant time together. How little we know “what a day may bring forth”. I hope you are doing well, Douglas & I am glad to know, (through your friends) that your principals are sound – but I am sure that you must be tired of that wandering life. Do sell that horrid ranch & locate in some Western City, say Kansas City or Chicago, where George would find a situation for you and help you in any way that he could. Do think seriously of it and write to me very soon.

Perhaps some day we can have a home together. I don’t like to think that you don’t love your sisters or that we are never to meet. Em & Theodore are to begin housekeeping on Nov. 6^th in a flat on the corner of 52^nd St. & Broadway. Mrs. Benedict the elder is to live with them and pay the bills as her father has recently died & left her plenty of money. I hope Em will enjoy it.  It is many years since she has had a real home. George’s children are very interesting. They have a new baby born in July called May Leathrop. Old Mrs. Belkamp of Elizabeth is dead in her 90^th year. Our friends here are well. Henry Hard is here preparing for college. His mother is in Chicago with Mr. Hard.

God bless you my dear brother do not forget your loving sister,

                                                                                                                        Nellie 

 St. Peter's Church on W. 20th, perhaps not so different than it looked at the time of Nellie's father's funeral.

"How little we know what a day may bring forth". Amen, Nellie.

Enjoy!

william 

'Murderball' Helmer Henry-Alex Rubin Takes On 'Disconnect'

For those of you who don't follow the Hollywood press, I like to share my "Wonderful" news (as in Wonderful Films) here with you, and this is certainly an exciting development on a project I have been working on for a while but looks to finally be coming to fruition!

'Murderball' Helmer Henry-Alex Rubin Takes On 'Disconnect'.

I'll be sharing more details with you when I can.

Enjoy!

william

Houston, We've Got A Problem

That sulfurous smell wafting down Hollywood Boulevard this month is not some municipal gas leak, nor the malodorous consequence of an egg yolk turned bad, but rather another by-product altogether, the hard-boiled blackness of the human hearts on display in this months festival of classic Noir films playing at the Egyptian Theater.

The programmers have served up an eclectic menu of murder and mayhem, including some rarely-screened, never-on-dvd prints of films that won't be found on many film noir best-of lists and barely rate a mention even in Todd McCarthy's seminal "Kings of the B's" guide to cut-rate cinema.

Movies like the Sam Katzman produced and William Castle directed "The Houston Story" and "New Orleans Uncensored" are fun to watch today for their extreme low-budget "ripped from the headlines" social commentary and their on-location photography which afford a documentary pleasure in showing us a world long gone.

In one laugh-out-loud moment, the morality-free chanteuse played by Barbara Hale (soon to become famous as Perry Mason's sidekick Della Street on television) drops a dime on her lover Gene Barry, giving away his location to the two gunmen sent to kill him, while the good girl waitress from the Derrick Diner (this being a Houston scam involving corruption on the oil fields) who actually loves Barry, phones the police, hoping they can get there in time to prevent his murder.

"Thanks, lady, you just saved the state a lot of money" is the lead detective's budget-conscious reply.

And where else will you find dialogue like:

"What's a flunky? 

"A hood with a social security number."

Castle is famous for "The TIngler" and other '60's era exploitation movies, but "The Houston Story", while nothing spectacular, was a solid little programmer, almost innocent in its quite modest ambitions and economical style.

Also modest was the motley group of hard-core noir cognoscenti who turned out for the double-feature. "What a collection!" I whispered to my wife as I looked around the theater. "What are you talking about, you're one of them" was her noir-ish wise-crackin' reply.

And she was right!

Enjoy!

william

He Put A Spell On Us

 

It's Tax Day. And VOODOO ECONOMICS seem to be back with a vengeance.

Time for a classic. Never gets old.

I met Jay on the set of "A Rage In Harlem" in Cincinnati back in 1987.

But I had never seen this version before, from his prime.

Enjoy.

william

Simple Simon

This is turning in to my week to catch up on some of last year's foreign films.

I have to confess that I sat on the dvd of "Simple Simon", the new Swedish film from director Andreas Ohman, for some time, mistakenly convinced by the title that it was yet another brutally violent genre film ironically wrapping itself up in a nursery-rhyme title, like "Along Came A Spider" or "Kiss The Girls" years ago.

I couldn't have been more off the mark.

In this funny and touching film which was Sweden’s Oscar nomination for 2010, we meet actor Bill Skarsgård – yet another talented member of that Skarsgård acting clan – who plays Simon, an introverted eighteen year old with Aspergers syndrome living with his brother Sam, and, for a while, with his brother’s girlfriend Frida.

Simon’s life centers around order and he tries to control the trio’s every move – from the exact amount of toothpaste squeezed onto the toothbrush, to dinner and shower times. But Frida one day decides she’s had enough and leaves the house; Simon’s reacts within the logic of his own universe and embarks upon a hunt for a new girlfriend for his brother to replace her.

Full of whimsical flourishes like the outer space adventures of the large stove-like kettle that Simon sometimes takes refuge inside; the film also finds a visual correlative for Simon's skewed perception using the same technique of animated line drawings over the live action frames that Mick Jackson employed to such good effect in his own Asperger's story "Temple Grandin" for HBO last year.

Of course Elsa and I are a captive audience for any film dealing with the mystery of children on the autism spectrum, and we laughed as we recognized certain moments of truth in Simon's personality that captured our own experience with Diego sometimes.

But you don't have to be Jewish to love Levy's rye bread, and you certainly don't have to be the parent of a child with special needs to watch and be moved by Ohman's funny, special movie.

Enjoy!

william

An Unhappy Childhood

"Childhood is like a knife stuck in your throat. Pulling it out is not easy."

So says playwright Wajdi Mouawad in "Scorched", a story of two grown children in search of their own identity and their mother's secret past in the violent upheavals that tore asunder both her personal life and her childhood home of Lebanon.

I haven't seen the play, but it is hard to imagine a more compelling translation from stage to screen than Denis Villeneuve's film adaptation "Incendies", which from its opening mysterious panning shot of a room full of young boys getting their heads shaved by a group of insistent and unsentimental adults, hauntingly and jarringly scored with Radiohead's hypnotic "You and Whose Army?", announces itself as a coup-de-cinema and one of the most remarkable pieces of film direction I have seen in some time.

In the slow-dawning-realization unfolding of the narrative, with a structure that intercuts between the daughter's investigation in present-day southern Lebanon and the mother's harrowing downward journey through the dislocations and violence of 1970's revolutionary events, we only very gradually come to realize the significance of that opening shot, and connect it to the incestuous horror that is at the heart of this darkness.

With such bold and shocking and almost unbelievable events to handle, it is amazing how subtle and visually poetic and engaging is Villeneuve's screen direction. The acting is top notch, and his use of music and graphic chapter headings bold and exciting.

Like Khaled Hosseini's "A Thousand Splendid Suns", or Edwidge Danticat's "The Dew Breaker", two other tough stories of cruel upbringings that in the artistry of their telling became sublime works of art and illumination, "Incendies", in the hands of Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, keeps you on the edge of your seat and glued to the screen, and rewards you for walking a mile in these character's unique shoes.

Check it out. And thanks to Dan Cohen for turning me on to it!

william