Wapalooza Here this Weekend

It's Wapalooza time in Hog City again! Fill up on Apples and Pork in Clinton, and beat the goon-bus to Wapella to enjoy some Rock and Roll with your favorite froth at the Irish Circle.

Here's Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Page celebrating Wapalooza with some "Rock and Roll", prompting one commenter

"This is better than it has any right to be- we're all panty-wearing fruity cakes compared to the Killer. I love Zep and I love the Killer- the rest of ya will have to sort out your feelings- I'm cool."

Shout it from the Highest Peaks of Wapella: Welcome Audrey Toohill

Congratulations to Jerome and Tracey Toohill on the birth of their daughter Audrey Toohill. Need some details here, but one thing is for sure, the great grandmother Helen Audrey Toohill is well represented with the newest edition to clan Toohill.

Cheers all around, and a shot of Mt. Carantuohill, the Highest Peak in Ireland.

Get It Together with the Small Faces

Late Late Friday. Here's Steve Mariott and the Small Faces with a modern classic, "Get Yourself Together"

If a Tenor Pinches you in the Monkey House, Avoid the Baritone

Been reading a biography of Enrico Caruso, the Neapolitan Tenor who took the world by storm in the early days of recording, becoming something like the first pop-star, though singing operatic and classic pieces.

As with most pop-stars, Caruso had his share of issues traveling through the US, including getting caught in the San Francisco Earthquake leading Caruso to flee "Clutching an autographed photo of President Teddy Roosevelt, Caruso made an effort to get out of the city, first by boat and then by train, and vowed never to return to San Francisco; he kept his word" (sort of like vowing never to open a Tavern in Wapella again).

One incident is most striking about Caruso:

On November 16, 1906 Caruso was charged with an indecent act committed in the monkey house of New York's Central Park Zoo. He was said to have pinched the bottom of a woman described as "pretty and plump", causing outrage amongst New York high society. Caruso claimed a monkey pinched the lady's bottom. Caruso was eventually found guilty before appeal, and fined 10 dollars.

Where do you come down on this issue? Was Caruso set up? Was a monkey to blame?

Here is the Original King of the High C's doing Il fior che avevi a me tu dato

New Advertiser: Kellog's Rice Krispies

Had some this morning, still as good as they were in 1964. Snap! Crackle! Pop! with the then up and coming band borrowing a few Chuck Berry's to sweeten this commercial theme. For 0 points what is the name of the band playing the jingle?

Riddle Me This, Dear Reader! New Quiz

Here are three big names in 20th century Wapella.

1) Raymond "Buddy" Ryan
2) Carl Dean Thorp (II)
3) Scott Harold

What is the thread (more like a heavy cord) that forever connects these 3? Fringe Agriculturalists is not an acceptable answer.

Ryans, Thorps and Harolds are disqualified from entry into this lucrative quiz. Winner gets a picture of John Astin emailed to them.

Patronage Appreciated!

Nothing says Hog City like a sense of appreciation for everyday luxuries such as fresh food and dry goods. So Park Grocery in Wapella turns the dinner table a bit and appreciates its customers for their patronage in our newest advertisement from Wapella business.

Please continue to support Wapella enterprise.

If Not for George and Bob

Late today but still rocking, here's George Harrison and Bobby Dylan doing a minor chord version of "If Not For You" from the "Concert for Bangladesh", George's precursor to Live Aid. Here's to you George, the greatest Beatle!

RIP Jerry Reed

Jerry Reed, the guitarist, singer and songwriter who played a mischievous, good old boy sidekick to Burt Reynolds in "Smokey and the Bandit" and other movies, died Sept. 1 at his home in the Nashville suburb of Brentwood. He had emphysema.

Mr. Reed's trademark Georgia baritone drawl and relaxed manner in film and television roles brought his ingratiating presence to a wide audience, notably as trucker Cledus "Snowman" Snow in "Smokey and the Bandit" (1977) and its two sequels, as well as Mama's Family, Scooby Doo and the sadistic football coach in Waterboy.

Reed was contacted and agreed to perform at Wapella's 150th celebration, only to be sidelined due to the massive hit performance by Wapella's own Jimmy Holland and his variety show. Many have speculated that the two could have performed together, if not for some stringent DeWitt County public performance laws, enacted to prevent a repeat of the Farmer City go-go dancing incidents of 1968.

Here's Jerry in a semi-autobiographical song Alabama Wildman and a video of two classics, Wabash Cannonball and his signature, "Guitar Man"

Well my daddy was a hard shelled Alabama preacher
My mama was a dedicated Sunday School teacher
My brother went a college and got a PhD
Daddy said the only dud in the family was me

He said boy you ain't never gonna amount to a thing
All you do is sit around with that silly looking guitar and sing
You hang around them juke joints most of your time
Making music like some wild man done lost his mind
Going sock it to me well what's that s'posed to mean
Boy you're just a wild man

Well that one day daddy told me boy I've had enough
Now you can pack up that guitar and you can just pack up your stuff
So I left home and organized myself a band
Called myself the Alabama Wild Man

Well I worked in every joint from east to the west
Never making no money nearly starved to death
A living on coffee and cold sardines
Sody crackers and pork and beans

But I finally went to Music City USA
Said I'm the Alabama Wild Man I'm here to stay
Took my guitar and showed 'em what I's talking about
So we made a little record and we put it out
With me going sock it to me honey uh huh hook it boy
Play that guitar git it git it

Well now I'm driving Cadillacs a city block long
And the Alabama Wild Man can do no wrong
Cause I'm selling them records I'm working them shows
And people love me everywhere I go

But a funny thing happened bout a week or so back
I worked a show in my hometown and the place was packed
I guess who was sittin' out on a front row seat
Was my daddy grinnin' up at me and pattin' his feet
Yellin' sock it to your daddy wild man
Hook it on hook it play that guitar show 'em son
Ha ha ha yeah that's my boy alright taught him everything he knows
Bought him his guitar sock it to me son hook it