Saturday 9: Over There

Saturday 9: Over There (1942)

... because it's 4th of July

Back again!

On Saturdays I take a break from the heavy stuff and have some fun…

Unfamiliar with this rendition? Hear it here.

1) George M. Cohan wrote this song in 1917, inspired by our country's entry into WWI. It was not only popular with the young men who enlisted, it was reassuring to their families. Tell us about a time when music was a comfort to you.

Ooh that's a hard one!

I guess when I have an ocular migraine I lay down in a dark room with the Eagles song on.

2) "Over There" was revived at the start of WWII, and President Franklin Roosevelt cited this song specifically when he awarded Cohan with the Congressional Gold Medal. What's your favorite patriotic song?

Yankee Doodle. Since my hometown is the origin of the Yankee Peddler. The tin smiths made their pots and pans during the winter months and during the summer they used to travel around the country selling them.

3) This rendition of the song is from the 1942 film, Yankee Doodle Dandy. James Cagney won an Oscar for his performance as George M. Cohan. Also nominated that year was Gary Cooper, who portrayed a different Yankee, Lou Gehrig, in Pride of the Yankees. Tell us about a movie biography you have enjoyed.

I am not a fan of movie biographies, so I’ll pass.

4) Cagney had a rebellious streak. His boss, studio head Jack Warner, nicknamed Cagney, "The Professional Againster." Cagney joked that he was proud of the title. How about you? Are you rebellious?

Most definitely! You can usually find me defending the underdog.

5) In the clip linked above, a woman sings with Cagney. Her name was Frances Langford, nicknamed the "GI Nightingale" because during WWII she performed for the troops at bases throughout Europe, North Africa and the South Pacific. Do you have any nicknames?

Well in college it was Snork because one Halloween I dressed up as a skin diver and someone put a pot pipe in the snorkel.

6) In 1942, when audiences were enjoying this performance of "Over There" in movie theaters, the fashion trend was for mothers and their young daughters to wear identical dresses. Moms would buy lots of fabric and patterns for the same casual day dress in both their own sizes and their little girls'. Can you sew?

Buttons and bows… no much else.

7) The Fourth of July means we're in the middle of summer. Are you careful about applying sunscreen?

Yup, skin cancel runs in the family and I get a freckle check every year.

8) Mosquito bites an be a major summer annoyance. Are you scratching any itches right now?

Ha, ha! I am a mosquito magnet with my sweet diabetic blood. I woke up at 3AM to the buzzing of a mosquito this morning.

9) Celebrity chef Rachael Ray says she considers mini-hamburgers, or "sliders," the All-American food. What will you be eating this 4th of July? 

You think that I know already? I know that it will be on the grill but what is anyone’s guess.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

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P.S. If you want to hear an interview that I gave this Thursday for the PBS radio show "Where We Live" you can listen here I was interviewed with five other people including my Endo.