Archive for January, 2008
January 31st, 2008
I wrote a little earlier today that the Register Star was a finalist in four categories in the Best of GateHouse contest.
We won’t know for a few weeks if we get the newspaper of the year nod. The rest of the winners, however, were announced tonight on the GateHouse Newsroom site.
Our Judy Emerson shared features writer of the year honors with two others. We did not win the public service or team project awards.
Way to go, Judy.
January 31st, 2008
A Regular Bricks and Clicks reader wondered why I hadn’t commented on the recent “Scientology attacks.” Well, Dude, here you go …
No matter how you feel about Scientology, hacking into the church’s Web site is just plain wrong. A group calling itself “Anonymous” posted anti-Scientology messages on the church’s site. This PC World article delves deeper and has some good links including to this Gawker post (which includes video of Tom Cruise talking about Scientology).
I don’t get Scientology, and I am no fan of Tom Cruise (who seems to be the main face of the religion). But there are more ethical ways to getting your message out there than taking over a Web site.
January 31st, 2008
The Register Star is a finalist in four categories in the Best of GateHouse contest. Our parent company is blogging in live time about the judging process — including naming finalists — and expects to name most of the champions Friday.
The Register Star is a finalist in:
- Newspaper of the year
- Public service of the year
- Team project of the year
- Features writer of the year - Judy Emerson
We entered several pieces, so it’s hard to say what specific content is being recognized.
January 30th, 2008
my co-workers today alerted me to a rolling stone article about terrorism. sounds innocuous, right?
except it’s about wannabe mall bomber derrick shareef. and to people who make the rock river valley home, it’s a big ol’ slam on rockford.
reminds me of 2002, when singer aretha franklin dissed the coronado. she canceled a nearly sellout show because of personal reasons but added that the theater was a “dump” in a secondary city, according to her booking agent.
this caused an uproar: a dj pulled her songs off the air, for example. she insisted, through a letter from her attorney to mayor doug scott that she said no such thing. (i’ll post the rrs response to the insult in another post, see below.)
back to the rolling stone article: what does it say about rockford?
– “a Midwestern city of 150,000, with a minuscule Muslim population and the lone claim to fame of being the hometown of Cheap Trick.”
– “Finding a meaningful target to blow up in Rockford isn’t easy. A hardscrabble town in the middle of America, the place is not much more than an intersection of interstates and railway lines.”
– “CherryVale Mall, a sad-sack collection of clothing stores and sneaker shops on the outskirts of Rockford.”
– “But in backwaters like Rockford, the JTTFs don’t have much to do. “
makes me wonder if writer guy lawson ever came to rockford (hmmm, can’t click on his byline to write to him!).
if you want to tell rolling stone what you think of this characterization, write wennermedia@gmail.com (i found the email on this page) … or i supposed you could write:
RollingStone.com
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104-0298
(Our Local & State staff is looking for feedback, too.)
January 30th, 2008
…. in the post about rolling stone. will pfeifer and i were in features when we did this story may 25, 2002. sorry it’s not online anymore:
Aretha, you better think
Rockford socks it back to singer for ditching concert
You canceled your Coronado show.
You supposedly called our renovated theater a “dump.”
And we’re just supposed to sit here and take it?
Not quite, Miss Franklin. You’ve had your say. Now it’s our turn.
Frankly, Aretha - may we call you Aretha? - you might want to reconsider. Sure, you’re in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, you’ve recorded classic songs and albums, and you’re considered the Queen of Soul.
But those honors were earned decades ago. Since then, you’ve had few hits and lived up to the title “diva.” That’s not a compliment, by the way.
These days, you’re mostly known as a fixture on VH1, the unofficial network of musical has-beens. Maybe Rockford isn’t beneath you after all.
All we’re asking, Aretha, is for a little respect.
- Life&Style
The `real’ reasons Aretha didn’t come to town
Aretha Franklin’s reps and local concert promoters offer conflicting opinions for why the so-called “Queen of Soul” canceled her June 13 concert at the Coronado. But we’ve uncovered the real reasons behind the move:
- The hefty diva didn’t know about our many fine all-you-can-eat buffets.
- She heard rumors that Mariah Carey was going to show up and try to outsing her.
- The Forest City just isn’t natural enough for this natural woman.
- She’s still cowering in shame over her appearance in the “Blues Brothers 2000″ movie.
- She was intimidated by reports of a “Forest City Queen.”
- Like many, she was disappointed by Rockford’s lack of a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop.
- She didn’t feel she could compete with Rockford’s own beloved diva, Dorothy Paige-Turner.
- She took bad advice from a chain chain chain, chain of fools.
- The June 13 concert was too close to the Rock Never Stops show at the fairgrounds, and Aretha is too big a fan of Skid Row to compete with the band.
- She knew she couldn’t top Carrot Top’s groundbreaking Coronado performance.
Fodder for radio
” A few days ago, I was watching a VH1 program on what it takes to be a diva. Everything has to be just perfect. Some of them even have specific demands about food and drink and who gets to do their hair. These high-handed ways the show alluded to, Franklin has them. It doesn’t surprise me that she acted this way. But it does surprise me that she did it to us. This would have been a good opportunity for her to experience the magnificent beauty of the Coronado. For her to turn down one of the most amazing venues in the country is disappointing. I’m seriously considering taking all her music off the station. ” - Chuck Diamond, program director and weekday afternoon/evening host of WNTA (1330 AM), which broadcasts talk radio during the day and R&B oldies at nights and on weekends
We’re worthy: Coronado’s famous
Her highness, Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, may not think the Coronado Theatre worthy of an appearance.
But many other members of show-biz have ruled the “wonder theater” from its 1927 opening through its 2001 grand reopening after an $18.5 million renovation.
Here are some examples:
- Bob Hope, in the madcap musical “Roberta,” 1927
- The Marx Brothers, comedians, 1928
- John F. Kennedy, presidential candidate, 1960
- Liberace, classical pianist, 1963
- Jerry Seinfeld, comedian, 1993
- Bob Dylan, folk singer, 1995
- Prince, funk musician, 1997
- B.B. King, blues, 2001
- Harry Connick Jr., big band, 1990 and 2001
- David Copperfield, magician, 1986, 2001 and 2002
Noteworthy celebrities have performed at Coronado
Acts that played the Coronado Theatre before the renovation:
- Gypsy Rose Lee, stripper, 1941
- Maria Tallchief, prima ballerina, 1954
- Sammy Davis Jr., singer/dancer/actor, 1957
- Louis Armstrong, horn player and big band leader, 1964
- Phyllis Diller, outrageous comedian, on a double bill with the Osmond Brothers, wholesome family singers, 1966
- Van Cliburn, classical pianist, 1967
- Milton Berle, comedian, 1967
- Bennie Goodman, swing/jazz clarinetist, with Rockford Symphony Orchestra, 1976
- Vincent Price, actor, 1977
- Eddie Bracken, actor, headlining a tour of “Sugar Babies,” a burlesque musical, 1982
- Mitzi Gaynor, singer/actress, 1985 and 1989
- Leontyne Price, opera singer, 1985
- Bruce Hornsby and the Range, pop music, 1987
- Roseanne and Louie Anderson, comedians, 1987
- Victor Borge, pianist/comedian, 1987
- Jay Leno, comedian who become host of late-night television’s “Tonight Show,” 1989
- Bad Company, rock, 1989
- Three Dog Night, rock, 1989
- Dennis Miller and Louie Anderson, comedians, 1989
- Kenny Loggins, pop singer, 1990
- George Winston, new-age pianist, 1990
- Ellen DeGeneres, comedian, 1994
- Raffi, children’s performer, 1995
- Bernie Mac, comedian, 1995
- Tori Amos, pop pianist/singer, 1996
After the 18 month, $18.5 million renovation:
- Bill Cosby, comedian, 2001
- Chicago, classic rock, 2001
- Carrot Top, comedian, 2001
- Buddy Guy, blues, 2001
- The Monkees, `60s pop music, 2001
- Jethro Tull, art rock, 2001
- Doc Severinsen, trumpeter, with Rockford Symphony Orchestra, 2001
- Itzhak Perlman, classical violinist, 2001
- Hall & Oates, pop music, 2002
A partial list of those who have played the Coronado before and after the renovation:
- Cheap Trick, hometown rockers, 1994 and three times in 2001
- George Carlin, comedian, 1987, 1990 and 2001
- Steven Wright, comedian, 1988 and 2002
- Anne Murray, adult contemporary singer, 1989 and 2002
- John Prine, folk singer/songwriter, in a double bill with Arlo Guthrie in 1987 and solo in 2002
- Peter Szatmary, Life&Style
Readers react
The Rockford Register Star looked for reader reaction to the concert cancellation at rrstar.com. Here is a sampling of what people had to say:
“It’s a sad thing that this had to happen. A lot of people were really looking forward to that show. I first of all would like to say that the renovation of the Coronado was a wonderful thing, and I’d like to think of this as her loss, not ours.
I personally believe the reason why she canceled was because it does not meet her “high standards.” I don’t want to bash Ms. Aretha Franklin, but it really makes her look bad. Many people in Rockford have supported her music for years, and in return, our effort to rebuild Rockford was referred to as a `dump.’ We should just think of it as only one of many great opportunities that will come along for Rockford.”
- Melinda Mayberry, Rockford
“Because Aretha has no R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Rockford and the beautiful Coronado Theatre, she owes this community an apology and a FREE concert!”
- Jim Jennings, Caledonia
” I was debating how to handle this before I went on the air on Friday. And `Think,’ a Franklin tune, came up on my song list. So I decided to play it and see what would happen. Not 10 seconds into it, our phone board lit up. People were angry. Everybody knows we’re being lied to. Our listeners don’t like the wool being pulled over their eyes. The Coronado is a great facility. She probably got a better-paying gig and ditched us. We are doing a Memorial Day weekend special on Motown, and at our listeners’ suggestions, we’re boycotting her. We may start a petition to show her how wrong she was. ” - Steve Brill, director of oldies WKMQ (96.7 FM) and co-host of its weekday morning show called “Steve and DeDe Married in the Morning”
Praise for the Coronado:
Headliners have raved about the $18.5 million renovated Coronado Theatre. Here’s what some leading lights said about the 1927 venue:
- Rick Nielsen, lead guitarist for hometown rockers Cheap Trick, was impressed at how the restoration honored the architecture’s integrity but incorporated modernization, too. “It should be good for another 100 years,” he said around the grand reopening. Cheap Trick played the upgraded Coronado on March 9, Dec. 29 and Dec. 30, 2001.
- Prop comic Carrot Top liked the decorative plasterwork so much that he quipped: “Look, it’s the Muppets.”
- Comedian Bill Cosby was so dazzled by the glitzy mishmash of colorful interiors that he joked during his Feb. 4, 2001, gig: “Am I in a Chinese restaurant?”
January 29th, 2008
Here’s a good post on why journalists should blog. It’s written by Howard Owens, director of digital publishing for GateHouse Media (our parent company).
My reasons for blogging …
- Transparency. There’s something to be said about that in today’s world.
- Gives me a way to connect to the community. Plus, it’s amazing how many great tips and comments I’ve gotten from readers. I welcome the criticism, too.
- It’s fun. Yep. I enjoy doing this stuff.
January 29th, 2008
this spring, rockford woman and the rockford register star are bringing to town SMART TALK, america’s no. 1 women’s lecture series and a heck of a ladies’ night out.
erin brockovich will be march 18. lesley stahl will be april 15. doris roberts will be may 20. you can buy tickets here.
des moines has hosted this series and now sells it out each year. their first speaker was naomi judd, and you can see how much fun they had at the register’s photo gallery. i especially like the sisters wearing their matching sock monkey pajamas (see below… thanks to the register’s mary chind for the photos).
p.s. we are planning a ticket giveaway in february, too.
.
January 28th, 2008
This just might be the best dissection I’ve read on what newsrooms should do with big stories online and in print the next day. Rob Curley, Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, writes about how the Las Vegas Sun covered the Monte Carlo fire as the mega casino burned. The Sun posted text, photos, videos, a timeline and much more.
We took a similar approach with the recent Boone County tornado. We did a pretty good job, but we’ll use Curley’s post to challenge us to think of more things we can do next time.
January 28th, 2008
The annual Beat the Movie contest is live on rrstar.com. Movie Man Will Pfeifer became Sweeney Todd this year. Last year, he was Borat. (He’s a little scary as both, by the way.) Enter the contest. Read Will’s blog. Boy, do people sure like to talk about movies.
January 24th, 2008
Hey, there’s a forum thread named for me. It was started after I posted this on Bricks and Clicks. That post was one of the more memorable ones because there was conversation (albeit some).
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