Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 5/18 - Cookies

Last night I watched an episode from the third season of Route 66, courtesy of Netflix. It aired originally in 1962. My favorite element of these old shows is the guest stars. I was not disappointed. Buster Keaton and Joe E. Brown played bumbling brothers. Each began their storied film careers in the silent era. Brown will always be remembered by film buffs for the closing line of Some Like It Hot (1959), the cross-dressing opus starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon: “Nobody’s perfect.” The episode also featured John Astin as a gas-pumping yokel, and Edgar Buchanan as - what else - a judge. I wonder how many times he took on that role in his long run in the movies and on TV. Unfortunately, the content, outside of Astin’s brief stint, was awful, the gags lame, the storyline shoddy, highly unusual for a series that usually toed a strict dramatic line. The show is from the black and white era. Color did not become a staple until 1965, although there were color broadcasts as far back as 1951, available only on something like closed circuit. Although I love the black and white format, especially film noir, I think Route 66 suffers by not having been in color. It was shot entirely on location throughout the U.S.. Oddly, according to Wiki, only three episodes in its four year run were filmed along the famed highway that cuts through eight states.

Congratulations to Vince Young, 30, who has earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas. He led the Longhorns to the 2005 national championship, dazzling the opposition with his elusive running and pinpoint passing. After a solid rookie season in the NFL, his game went south and has yet to recover. He also has had financial problems. Perhaps he has turned a corner.

RIP Ken Venturi, 82, winner of the 1964 U.S. Open, his only victory in a major, played in triple-digit temperatures that had him reeling from heat stroke. He also spent 38 years in the broadcast booth, offering astute commentary. I vividly remember his call on the approach to the 18th at a Masters in which Greg Norman had another of his many chances to win. “That’s not enough club!” he said before and after the shot. Sure enough, the ball fell short of the green, the Shark made bogey, and the fabled Green Jacket again eluded his grasp. 

It was raining so lightly today the ground didn't even get wet. I set up the floating book shop beneath a tree, which provided enough shelter to keep my wares dry. My thanks to Jack of Chase bank, who purchased a couple of thrillers, to the Latino who bought Mi Propio Libro de Salmo 91, and to Sue, who donated a bunch of books. I asked Yon, also an employee, how the bank was doing, given that it's been giving away cookies and beverages every day. He said it was business as usual. The bank spends $200 a day on the goodies.

Special thanks to whomever purchased Close to the Edge at Amazon and the Kindle of Exchanges. My guess is that the new book has made former employees of the trading floor interested in my others.

Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3