Up & Coming Weekly

December 29, 2020

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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6 UCW DECEMBER 30, 2020 - JANUARY 5, 2021 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Happy 100th birthday to 1921 by PITT DICKEY Let's steal and then mangle the opening lines from one of the worst movies ever made, 1970's homage to treacle: "Love Story." What can you say about a beautiful year like 2020 which just died? As little as possible. As former President George W. Bush said about Dear Leader's In- augural Address, "at was some weird 'stuff '*" (*W's language cleaned up because this is a family newspaper.) Did 2020 leave you hum- ming the Ramones' song "I Wanna Be Sedated"? You have come to the right place on this ob- scure corner of literary spew. e goal of today's column is to move your mental state from the Ramones to that of Pink Floyd on the higher plane of being comfortably numb. So how shall we proceed to leave 2020 be- hind? Like T.S. Elliot's hero, J. Alfred Prufrock or the Allman Brothers album, "Do we dare to eat a peach"? For a few moments of your time, hop into Mr. Peabody's Wayback Machine to time travel to 1921 which celebrates its 100th birthday in 2021. Take your mind off the many splendored things of 2020. Celebrate our old friend 1921's even more celestial happenings. January 1921 debuted Charlie Chaplin's silent movie "e Kid" costarring Jackie Coogan as the Kid. Jackie Coogan went on to fame as Uncle Fester in "e Addams Family" TV show. With- out 1921, it is likely we would never have seen Uncle Fester turn on a light bulb in his mouth. March brought America President Warren G. Harding who served up the tempest in Teapot Dome scandal. In April, the Allied Reparations Commission ordered Germany to pay a zillion Marks for losing World War I. While this order made the Allies temporarily feel better, Ger- many went broke. Coming under the heading of unintended consequences, reparations contrib- uted to causing World War II. In July, the first Trial of the Century took place convicting two Italian anarchists named Sacco and Vanzetti of murder. eir trial was highly controversial with their defenders arguing they were convicted due to their political beliefs not the actual crime. is trial later made a lot of money for Joan Baez who sang "e Ballad of Sacco and Vanzetti." is proves it is an ill wind that doesn't make money for someone fifty years later. In July, Hitler became the Fuhrer of the Nazi party. is turned out to be an extreme- ly bad thing. In August, Franklin D. Roosevelt was diagnosed with polio. Not being a quitter, FDR overcame this medical set back. He was elected President four times, bringing the U.S. out of the Depression and leading the country to victory in World War II. is turned out to be an extremely good thing. September brought a salute to feminine pul- chritude in the form of the first Miss America pageant in Atlantic City. e first winner was 16-year-old Margaret Gorman. is created job security for Bert Parks to sing "ere She Is, Miss America" from 1955 to 1979. In mid-September, the first White Castle hamburger restaurant opened. is burger place made it possible for the classic hamburger movie "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" to be made in 2004. In October, the first World Series was broadcast live on the radio. e New York Giants won the Series 5-3 over Babe Ruth's New York Yankees. December brought the birth of the Irish Free State gaining independence from the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland remained part of the UK leading to the "troubles" for decades and causing issues for Brexit to the present day. Erin go Bragh! 1921 saw the birth of a number of worthies. Donna Reed, who did housework in pearls was born in January. February produced Abe Vigoda who played Salvatore Tessio in "e Godfather." After getting caught double crossing the Corleones, Abe had the famous lines: "Tell Mike it was only business. I always liked him … Tom, can you get me off the hook? For old time's sake?" He didn't get off the hook. March brought forth Alan Hale Jr. the Skipper on Gil- ligan's Island after the world's longest three- hour tour. April gave us Chuck Conners, AKA "e Rifleman," who was so peace loving he had to kill several bad guys to keep things calm in each episode. June produced Prince Phillip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth and unlikeable supporting player in "e Crown." June also provided the enormously talented Jane Russell who benefited from Howard Hughes' invention of the underwire bra for his movie "e Outlaw" to the delight of male movie goers everywhere. Nancy Davis Reagan appeared in July. She be- came First Lady and master of the adoring look anytime Ronnie was speaking in public. July also launched John Glenn, America's first as- tronaut. Another explorer of the Cosmos, Gene Roddenberry, creator of "Star Trek" landed on Earth in August. Nancy Kulp, AKA Miss Jane Hathaway of "e Beverly Hillbillies" opened her account in August. October brought us Jesse Helms, AKA Senator No, to grace the halls of Congress. e man who could never get any respect, Rodney Dangerfield, began his career of disrespect in November 1921. Don't you feel better now? Or at least sedated or comfortably numb by the historical drivel of this column? 1921 was a heck of year. 2021 has a lot to live up to. Keep washing your hands, socially distance, and get vaccinated. You might live to see what happens. OPINION PITT DICKEY, Columnist. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. ere are many reasons to celebrate the year 1921, includ- ing the arrival of entertainers such as Jackie Coogan who would later play Uncle Fester in "e Addams Family." Christian music station local your

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