Tag Archive | Seattle

Star Wars: The Original Trilogy Experience

“I’ve Got a Bad Feeling About This”

May 25th

A Tuesday Newsday Classic

From the moment these words first scrolled up the movie screen – along with the dramatic opening chords of John William’s soundtrack – moviegoers were immersed in a fictional world full of drama, conflict, intrigue, good vs. evil, and – ultimately – a cliffhanger ending to the first of what was to become, arguably, the most successful franchise in movie history.

Star Wars: A New Hope was released on May 25, 1977. From the Infallible Wikipedia:

“After a turbulent production, Star Wars was released in a limited number of theaters (snip), and quickly became a blockbuster hit, leading to it being expanded to a much wider release. The film opened to critical acclaim, most notably for its groundbreaking visual effects. It grossed a total of $775 million (over $550 million during its initial run), surpassing Jaws (1975) to become the highest-grossing film at the time until the release of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982).

“When adjusted for inflation, Star Wars is the second-highest-grossing film in North America (behind Gone with the Wind) and the fourth-highest-grossing film in the world. It received ten Oscar nominations (including Best Picture), winning seven. In 1989, it became one of the first 25 films that was selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry for being ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’. (snip) Today, it is widely regarded by many in the motion picture industry as one of the greatest and most important films in film history.”

It was, in many ways, the quintessential ‘cowboy’ movie but updated for an audience who had watched men land on the moon in 1969. It appealed to, particularly, the male need for adventure. Its heroes were simultaneously recognizable, yet also fresh: Luke Skywalker – still a boy – who chooses to leave his boring home and seek out adventure; Obi-Wan Kenobe, the sage elder who takes Skywalker under his wing and teaches him the ways of the freedom fighting Jedi; Princess Leia who redefines the idea of a damsel in distress; and, especially, the bootlegger Han Solo whose swashbuckling antics left millions of women with serious crushes.

Rather than recount the plot of the movie for those who have never seen it, the Infallible Wikipedia offers a summary (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_(film)) or you can Google ‘Star Wars A New Hope’ which produces 24.9 million results.

*Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher in their roles as*
*Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia.*

Personally, I think every person should watch at least the 1977 movie through the lens of the classic American cowboy movie. The weapons and horses may be different but the formula is still the same.

I must also admit that I did NOT see the first movie that year. At age 19, I thought the movie was for kids. In fact, I cannot say for sure when I did eventually see the film. The second movie, The Empire Strikes Back, arrived in theatres on May 19, 1980 and the third, The Return of the Jedi, on May 25, 1983.

All of this is mentioned for one reason. As far as I’m concerned, episodes IV, V, and VI ARE Star Wars. The original cast, the campiness, and the fun of those movies were not to be replicated.

By early 1983 pretty much everyone had seen the first two movies and eagerly awaited the release of The Return of the Jedi. The hubby and me were no different.

Finally the day arrived. Of course it was a Wednesday and with the need to show up at our jobs the next day, we were not going to be a part of a midnight showing. Instead we waited a couple of weeks for when Microsoft reserved the ENTIRE UA150 theatre in Seattle for an exclusive showing for its employees (of which I was one).

That’s when the hubby and I hatched a plan. Across the street from that venue on 6^th and Blanchard in downtown Seattle was the UA70 which was showing both of the first two movies. On the day of the event, we arrived that morning – like at 9 a.m. – to view movie number one. We may have been two of only a handful of people present when the place opened. This was immediately followed by the second movie and then, after grabbing a bite to eat, we joined the Microsoft crew for Jedi. Now, we were not quite as crazy as some of the Microsofties who arrived dressed in costume and sporting light sabers. Although some people thought our marathon Star Wars day was over the top.

I still experience the Microsoft event in my mind when, as soon as the iconic ‘A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away,’ appeared on the screen a cheer rocked the theatre. For the next two hours and 13 minutes, the venue was filled with cheers and gasps and applause as our heroes eventually won the day.

*The UA150 in Seattle during the 1980 release of The Empire Strikes Back. From the Seattle Times archives*

We loved doing the Star Wars ‘triple’ and learned a few things: Harrison Ford is much sexier than Mark Hamill; the line ‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this’ repeats multiple times throughout all three movies; the hubby does an amazing job sounding like a wookie; and ewoks may be cute but they are totally annoying.

Eventually we purchased VHS, and then DVD, versions of the three movies and introduced our kids to them. We also watched a couple subsequent Star Wars movies in the theaters but, truly, it was never the same. After enduring the obnoxious Jar Jar Binks character, we quit watching and were content to occasionally revisit the three originals and that galaxy far, far away from the comfort of our living room.

Century 21 Exposition

Apr21

April 21, 2020

… All Roads lead to Seattle

Century_21_Exposition_logo1 The year was 1962. The space race was a real thing. And Americans everywhere were awed by the spectacle of extra-terrestrial travel to the moon and beyond.

And no event summed up America’s love affair with technology, space, and the future more than the Century 21 Exposition in Seattle which opened on April 21^st.

The idea had been hatched seven years earlier. From the Infallible Wikipedia:

“The fair was originally conceived at a Washington Athletic Club luncheon in 1955 to 8130b5bdb8adfdbd937324996d49da37 mark the 50th anniversary of the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition , but it soon became clear that that date was too ambitious. With the Space Race underway and Boeing having ‘put Seattle on the map’ as ‘an aerospace city’, a major theme of the fair was to show that ‘the United States was not really ‘behind’ the Soviet Union in the realms of science and space’. As a result, the themes of space, science, and the future completely trumped the earlier conception of a ‘Festival of the [American] West’.”

Science and technology became the primary focus of the fair. Companies from around the U.S. exhibited a variety of ‘future’ products with a push, particularly, focused on the home of the future. For 13 minutes of pure Seattleite amusement, you can take a trip back in time in this video from Bell Telephone touting how easy communication would one day be. Had they only known…

https://ia800300.us.archive.org/31/items/Century21964/Century21964_512kb.mp4

But it was the space race between the United States and the USSR which was the story which coalesced into my hubby’s family lore.

Gherman Titov was a Soviet cosmonaut and the second man to orbit the earth in outer space. Think of him as the Russian equivalent of John Glenn; a hero in his country. HistoryLink.org – a Washington State history site – chronicles that visit:

“May 5 was incredibly hectic at the Century 21 Exposition, thanks to a visit from Russian cosmonaut Major Gherman Titov, who attracted some of the largest crowds the fair had seen since its opening on April 21. At times, the diminutive 5-foot 4-inch Titov found it hard to see anything other than the Space Needle, as taller spectators gathered around him, hoping to glimpse or photograph one of the few men that had been in outer space. Scores of news reporters compounded the crush.

Gherman Titov with a few Camp Fire Girls who were there on May 5, 1962.

The Russian cosmonaut wasn’t the only one to gather crowds. More than 10,000 Camp Fire Girls were on hand to dedicate the World’s Fair flagpoles, funded by candy mint sales. An estimated 20,000 people — more than a quarter of the day’s total attendance of 75,758 — were there to take part in Camp Fire Girl celebrations. Because of the large crowds, Century 21 Exposition manager Ewen Dingwall (1913-1996) announced that starting May 12, the fair would open an hour earlier each day, at 9:00.

Throughout the day Titov signed autograph books and handed out color photos of himself, especially to children. At one point he handed his photo to a baby in a stroller.”

The baby in the stroller? My husband’s younger sister, Liz!

Back in the 1980’s – when I heard this story for the first time – I contacted the Seattle PI and was able to get a photo of Liz with the cosmonaut. We then framed it and gave that to her as a present. Unfortunately, the photo is stowed away in a box in the attic of the family home… and no one is brave enough to navigate the bat guano to go find it. I will be looking through my physical archives to see if I kept a copy.

In speaking with my Mother in Law, Jean, yesterday, she shared the following:

“We were there that day because I took our older daughter’s Campfire Group. We heard the Cosmonaut was on the grounds and we went out of our way to avoid all that, but ran right in to it. He bent down and talked to Liz who was in a stroller. She was little at that time (editor’s note – she was a few days shy of her first birthday). Normally, I would not take that many in a crowd – there were at least 10 Campfire Girls with us.”

My Mother in Law is looking to see if a copy of the newspaper article and photo might be in their file cabinet. Of course Liz remembers nothing of that day.

As I was putting together the story for this week’s blog, I was reminded of how there are days in our lives which become significant but we do not recognize it at the time. Family events like these highlight how crucial it is to stop and reflect on events which impact our lives.

I was six that year and I know that my family traveled to Seattle from Yakima for the event. But I cannot recall what we did or any specifics about it. I do know that the day it opened was my dad’s 39^th birthday…now 58 years ago. Just last year on April 21st, all my siblings, their spouses, and two of my nieces, gathered together at the Adult Family Home where my dad had recently moved, to celebrate his 96^th birthday. It was a lovely day and perfect weather.

My Dad’s 96th birthday, April 21, 2019, with his four children

Dad had told me that he didn’t want to celebrate his birthday. But my sister and I insisted and promised it would be ‘just’ family. We ignored his protests and proceeded anyway.

Dad (and my sister) with his last birthday cake

Dad rallied for the event and seemed to enjoy the cake, the cards, and a few small presents. Turns out that we were all glad we did. Six months and three days later he was gone.

Carpe Diem!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_21_Exposition

https://www.historylink.org/File/10104

I have a few items of memorabilia from the Century 21 Exposition. My most prized is a pair of aluminum salt and pepper shakers shaped like the Space Needle. The top of one is shown here.

The Great Seattle Snowstorm of 1916: Remembering the Snowpocalypse

Feb5

No Snow Event has come close in the past 100-plus years

February 5

A Tuesday Newsday Classic Updated

It really should not come as a surprise when snow arrives in the Puget Sound region the first week of February. It could be worse, however, if one looks back in time. The year was 1916 and on February 5th of that year, the Puget Sound region was still reeling from a heavy snowfall which began late on January 31^st. It was a 24 hour period from February 1st to 2nd, however, which produced a whopping 21 and half inches of the white stuff. That record snowfall still stands.

Union Street in Seattle as viewed from 9th Avenue, February 1916. Photo from University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections (link below)

The Infallible Wikipedia gives us but a brief glimpse of that event:

“From January 31 to February 2, 1916, another heavy snow event occurred with 29 in (74 cm) of snow on the ground by the time the event was over.”

However, it does link to a more comprehensive article from HistoryLink.org which, I’ve found over the years, provides excellent coverage of Seattle history minutiae. From the article:

“When the big snow of 1916 began to fall on a cold Monday on January 31, 1916, there may have been more cameras than shovels in the hands of amateurs. The flurry of snapshots of our second greatest snowstorm illustrate snow-stopped streetcars, closed schools, closed libraries, closed theaters, closed bridges, a clogged waterfront, collapsed roofs, and — most sensationally — the great dome of St. James Cathedral, which landed in a heap in the nave and choir of the sanctuary. (There were no injuries to persons.)

The unusually cold January already had 23 inches of snow on the ground when, on the last day of the month, it began to fall relentlessly. Between 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1 and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2, 21.5 inches accumulated in the Central Business District at the Weather Bureau in the Hoge Building. This remains (in 2002) a record — our largest 24-hour pile.

James street as viewed down 9th Avenue. Smith Tower – then the tallest building in Seattle – is on the left. February 1916. Photo from the University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections (link below)

The 1916 snow was a wet snow, and it came to a foul end — a mayhem of mud that mutilated bridges and carried away homes.”

In the category of how quickly we forget, it was in 2017 that the record for snowfall on any February 5th was set when two inches was recorded at Sea-Tac airport. An additional 5.1 inches fell on February 6th for a total of 7.1 inches on these two dates. Then in 2019 and again in 2021, the Puget Sound was hit with two fairly large snow events in February.

What I wrote on the morning of February 4, 2019: “Since the hubby and I moved north from the greater Seattle area in 2018, I cannot accurately compare the amount of snow from our old house to the one here in Mount Vernon. As of this morning we have between 3 and 4 inches and it is still snowing. The view from my office window – with a little wind in play – gives the appearance of being in a powdery snow globe.”

I cannot complain about Puget Sound snow, however. This region has some of the mildest weather in the world and I think of the white stuff as a wondrous treat to be enjoyed. Ensconced in my warm house with a morning cup of coffee – or later in the day with a mug of hot buttered rum – the beautiful coat of white is a magical event.

Too soon the temperatures will rise, the snow will melt, and we will be back to the brown and green scenery which characterizes a Puget Sound winter. One thing I do know is that within a few short weeks, the plum and cherry tree blossoms will erupt in shades of violet and pink and carpets of purple, yellow and white crocus will spread across the landscape. All we will recall from winter will be a few short days in February when the landscape was transformed into a winter wonderland.

On February 4, 2019, this was the view out my office window. Four days later the Puget Sound region was slammed with over 6 inches more.

Interesting perspective on the February 5/6 2017 event:

http://www.seattleweatherblog.com/snow/biggest-february-snowstorm-generation-wallops-seattle/

An article which highlights the biggest Puget Sound snowstorms:

http://www.historylink.org/File/3681

Some great historic photos of the February 1916 snowstorm:

http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv07321

*The February 8, 2019 snow event which gave us about six inches.*

*The February 13, 2021 Snowstorm which dumped just over a foot of snow in Mount Vernon*.

Magnum P.I.

Dec11

A Red Ferrari Is All You Need

December 11, 2018

magnum_tom_selleck Women of the 1980’s loved his impish smile, his seemingly carefree attitude, and the fact that he lived in Hawaii and got to drive a red Ferrari. His name: Thomas Magnum. It was on December 11, 1980, when the world got their first glimpse of Magnum PI and the show was an instant hit.

TV viewers tuned in each week to watch Magnum solve a new crime, spar with Higgins, the caretaker of the estate where he lives in the guest house gratis, and drive the red Ferrari all around Oahu at high speeds.

From the Infallible Wikipedia:

“Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV is a private investigator played by Tom Selleck. He resides in the guest house of a 200-acre (81 ha) beachfront estate called Robin’s Nest, in Hawaii, at the invitation of its owner, Robin Masters, the celebrated, but never-seen, author of several dozen lurid novels. Ostensibly this is quid pro quo for Magnum’s services based upon his expertise in security; the pilot and several early episodes suggest Magnum had done Masters a favor of some kind, possibly when Masters hired him for a case. The voice of Robin Masters, heard only in five episodes, was provided by Orson Welles (one last ‘appearance’ was provided by a different actor, Red Crandell).

“Magnum lives a luxurious life on the estate and operates as a P.I. on cases that suit him. The only thorn in the side of his near-perfect lifestyle is Jonathan Quayle Higgins III, played by John Hillerman. An ex-British Army Sergeant Major, he is on the surface a stern, ‘by-the-book’ caretaker of Robin’s Nest, whose strict ways often conflict with Magnum’s more easy-going methods. He patrols Robin’s Nest with his two highly-trained ‘lads’, Doberman Pinschers named Zeus and Apollo. Magnum has free use of the guest house and the car, a Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole, but as a humorous aside in various episodes, often has to bargain with Higgins for use of estate amenities such as the tennis courts, wine cellar and expensive cameras.”

Tom-Selleck-Cast-of-Magnum-PI No doubt the show was a hit due, in part, to the casting of the additional regular characters: bartender Rick and helicopter pilot T.C. who are Magnum’s pals, and the never ending appearances of celebrities of the era. But the real magic was between Magnum and Higgins.

The show was so popular that both Tom Selleck as Magnum and Tony Hillerman as Higgins, were nominated for Emmy and Golden Globe awards multiple times. Selleck won an Emmy in 1984 and a Golden Globe in 1985. In 1982, Hiller won a Golden Globe; his Emmy was awarded in 1987.

Although the producers purportedly killed Magnum in the final episode of 1987 to end the series, the outcry from distraught fans created enough backlash that the show returned for an eighth and final season in 1988 by bringing Magnum back to life…

Also from the Infallible Wikipedia:

“In what was originally meant to be the final episode of the series, Magnum is critically wounded in a dockside warehouse firefight and ends up in a coma. He ‘wakes up’ in Limbo with Mac but refuses to believe that he is dead, insisting that he is only dreaming, even though no one but Mac can hear or see him. Magnum finally accepts that he is dead, and says his goodbyes. Throughout the episode, John Denver’s song ‘Looking for Space’ plays in its entirety and ends as Magnum walks off into the clouds (the song is replaced by another song in subsequent syndicated broadcasts and video releases, a’la other CBS productions Wiseguy and Birds of Prey).”

I guess they figured if they could sell the concept on the TV show Dallas the previous year then it would work for Magnum PI also.

Both my hubby and I were huge fans of Magnum PI and rarely missed an episode. Of course what wasn’t to like about Tom Selleck? Tall, curly dark hair, good looking, great personality… he had it all.

And then, one day in the summer of 1981, we had a close encounter of the Magnum PI kind.

Since my hubby worked in the Belltown neighborhood in Seattle, we decided to park our car at his office and attend the 1981 Seafair Parade. To get to the parade route we walked up Blanchard Street and had to pass a construction zone as well as several trailers which, I assumed, were being used for offices by the companies at work there.

We came upon a trailer and noticed the door was opening. I looked up just as a gorgeous blonde woman descended the stairs, her male companion right behind her. Hubby and I moved closer to the building on the right and the other couple passed to our left in the opposite direction.

We were not more than a half dozen steps past when the hubby leaned over and whispered to me “that was Magnum P.I.” What!? No way. I craned my neck so hard that I nearly gave myself whiplash. But all I saw was the backside of the couple – the beautiful blonde and the tall guy with dark curly hair – retreating down the sidewalk.

“Why didn’t you say something?!” I accused.

“I nodded at him. He knew I recognized him,” hubby replied. “I think he appreciated that I didn’t make a scene.”

So there we were, close enough to TOUCH Tom Selleck, and I’m noticing his date. Sheesh. How lame can one get?

The next night one of the local news stations interviewed Selleck who WAS in Seattle filming the made for TV movie “Divorce Wars” with Jane Curtin. In the interview the topic of fame and recognition came up and Selleck said he liked when people obviously knew who he was but appreciated not being accosted by fans.

Thanks, honey, for saving me from making an idiot of myself with one of the biggest stars of 1981. I owe you. Something. Not sure what. But something.

A link about the show:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnum,_P.I.

Sleepless In Seattle

May1

May 1, 2018

A Sleepless May Day to Remember

Empire_state_building_history When this building opened on May 1, 1931 it was, at 1250 feet, the tallest in the world. More than that, however, it has become an iconic symbol of New York City and America.

Kong dunaway It only took two years for the Empire State Building (ESB) to become an American movie favorite location when a rather large ape named King Kong was seen climbing the structure –Fay Wray grasped in his hairy paw – during the final scenes of the film which bore his name.

I will say that whoever wrote the article on the building for the Infallible Wikipedia had way too much time on their hands. In it there is an exhaustive history of the land beneath the building, what was there before, how they disposed of the materials from the structure they tore down, how tall the antenna on top of the ESB is, and a hundred other trivial facts.

For those who enjoy learning that much minutiae, knock yourself out. My eyes glazed over and I seriously considered consuming more coffee than I should just to get through it.

My interest is primarily on the cultural impact of the structure. From the Infallible Wikipedia:

“The Empire State Building is an American cultural icon and has been featured in more than 250 TV shows and movies since the film King Kong was released in 1933. A symbol of New York City, the tower has been named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Empire State Building and its ground-floor interior have been designated as a city landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and were confirmed as such by the New York City Board of Estimate. It was also designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986, and was ranked number one on the American Institute of Architects‘ List of America’s Favorite Architecture in 2007.”

A favorite, more recent, movie in which the ESB figures prominently is Sleepless In Seattle. The ESB becomes a main feature of the plot when Annie (Meg Ryan) watches the 1957 movie An Affair To Remember and is inspired to write a letter to the widower Sam (Tom Hanks) asking him to meet her on the observation deck of the ESB on Valentine’s Day just like in the Carey Grant and Deborah Kerr movie.

Sleepless Rainbow Room Through a series of plot twists and turns Annie decides to not go meet him but instead ends up in a Manhattan restaurant with her fiancé on February 14. As fate would have it they are seated near a window with a view of the ESB and Annie looks at the building and knows she must break off her engagement and take a chance with someone she’s seen but never met.

sleepless_in_seattle The movie is recognized by the American Film Industry as one of the top 10 in the category of romantic comedy movies. Although the plot is pretty obvious, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are just so adorable that they carry it off in a way that leaves women everywhere searching for a tissue.

Although I never saw the movie in the theater (it was released in June 1993 and I was kinda busy with a toddler and newborn) someone gave me the movie on VHS. Nowadays, it’s a perennial favorite on cable and if I happen to come across it, I’ll watch it. I am, after all, a sucker for a good romance.

Here are the links for the exhaustive history of the ESB and also for the three movies highlighted in the article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_Building

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kong_(1933_film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleepless_in_Seattle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Affair_to_Remember

The Beatles

Apr4

Can’t Buy Me Love

April 4, 2023*

Tune in to any radio station playing oldies and you are certain to hear a song from this one group. Who is it? By now you should all be shouting: The Beatles.

It was on April 4, 1964 that the Beatles accomplished something which no musical group or person either before or after has ever matched.

Imagine Casey Kasem’s voice as you countdown to number one:

Falling out of the number two spot to number five this week is “Please, Please Me” by the Beatles!

Our next song spent five weeks at number one and is probably this group’s most popular song ever. At number four it’s the Beatles with “I Want To Hold Your Hand.”

Relinquishing its spot at number one, this song drops two spots to number three. It’s the Beatles with “She Loves You.”

The lead vocalist of our next song was suffering from a cold the day this Isley Brother’s cover was recorded. The song was laid down in just one take and the effects of the cold contribute to the rock and roll sound. Coming in at number two is “Twist and Shout” by the Beatles.

Catapulting to the number one position this week from number 27 is none other than The Beatles with “Can’t Buy Me Love.”

It was an unprecedented event. The top five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 were all by The Beatles. Yes, 1964 was the year of the Beatles as explained in this article from the always Infallible Wikipedia:

“The song (Can’t Buy Me Love) was the third of seven songs by the Beatles to hit #1 in a one-year period; an all-time record. In order, these were ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, ‘Love Me Do’, ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, ‘I Feel Fine’, and ‘Eight Days a Week’. It was also the third of seven songs written by Lennon-McCartney to hit #1 in 1964; that’s an all-time record for writing the most songs to hit #1 in the same calendar year. (see List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones)

Rolling Stone ranked ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ at No. 295 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song spent five consecutive weeks at No. 1. The only Beatles songs to exceed that mark were ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ at seven weeks and ‘Hey Jude’ at nine weeks.”

Whether you think their music was genius or formulaic, one thing is certain, they dominated the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the mid-1960’s.

Now I’m positive all of you think I’m going to link to a Beatle’s Song but you’re wrong! The Beatles were such a pop culture sensation that the whole world was abuzz over these four young phenoms from the British Isles. You’ve likely all heard their songs thousands of times but I leave you instead with THIS musical masterpiece which summed up the inter-generational shock-waves they produced.

*UPDATE – This article first ran in 2017. It’s been updated to include the following additional information.

I admit it. I’m not a big Beatles fan. But thanks to my fellow author, Roger, I have developed an appreciation for just how groundbreaking their music was. If one were to hear it for the first time today you might think it sounds like every song ever produced in the 1960’s. But that wouldn’t be true. What is true is that all THOSE songs came AFTER the Beatles and were the imitations.

Now for a Seattle connection and my ‘six’ degrees of separation to the Beatles. On August 21, 1964 the Beatles stayed at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle. At the time, almost no one in Seattle wanted anything to do with the headaches that would come with the world’s most famous group and the crowds of teenage girls who swarmed around them… no one except one Don Wright, the man who was the Edgewater’s General Manager.

Many credit is pushing to have the Beatle’s stay at the hotel as the reason why it was not torn down and has, instead, become a Seattle landmark.

Here’s an article from the Seattle Post Intelligencer all about their stay and Mr. Wright’s role:

https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Beatles-stay-at-Edgewater-helped-mark-its-place-1305857.php

As far as my connection, in addition to working at the Edgewater, Mr. Wright was also associated with the Order of DeMolay, a youth group for young men. In the 1970’s he was the Executive Director for the group. It was in 1974 when I participated in their ‘Sweetheart’ program and met Don Wright. At the time I had no idea of his connection to the Beatles. So my Bacon Number (https://barbaradevore.com/2018/09/04/the-oracle-of-bacon/) to the Beatles is an impressive ‘two.’

As my faithful readers already know, I save historical documents. These are two of the pages from my 1974 DeMolay Conclave program.

My deepest regards to Don’s youngest daughter who posted about this famous event on her Facebook page a couple years ago. What a treasure these memories are for her and her family! This one’s dedicated to you KWP.