Simesite year-end wrap

Madrid, Dec. 31, 2019

As promised, here are the contributions received by Simesite for this year’s wrap. Unfortunately, the number of muggs showing signs of life has decreased somewhat from a year ago. We suppose that some may have changed their e-mail addresses and thus no longer receive our urgings, while the silence of a few others may perhaps be due to illness or death.

Following are the contributions, 20 in all, received from muggs for this year’s end Simesite round-up.  They are listed in the order in which they were received. We were pleased to see that this year we received several from muggs that had not submitted anything in past few years, such as John Willis, Fred Lombardi, Bob King and Mike Evans.

For those who failed to respond, we can only hope that the cause was sloth and not indisposition.

Ian Watkins in London and I in Madrid wish all the muggs who once were part of the Variety and Daily Variety team in the Syd Silverman era

Best wishes for the coming year!

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A copy of Variety makes the scene!

Here’s a frame from the 1964 movie “Comedy of Terrors” in which Variety gets a moment to shine on the screen. At lower right, horror maestro Vincent Price is intently reading a print copy of Variety while reclining in a coffin. He’s surrounded by Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone.

Bob Marich

Longtime Variety staffers Marie Silverman Marich and Tom Gilbert

Longtime Variety staffer Tom Gilbert joined Marie, Bob and Nick Marich at Lucie Arnaz’s dynamic one-woman show at the White Plains (NY) Performing Arts Center in late September. Tom, who wrote the definitive history of Desilu Studios (with the late Coyne Steven Sanders), now works as Sunday biz editor at the New York Post. He also has the distinction of working at all the major showbiz trade papers at least once (and sometimes twice!).

Matt Silverman scores with Shea Stadium book

MATT SILVERMAN SCORES WITH SHEA STADIUM BOOK

The youngest of the Silverman “kids”, Matthew, has contacted us to alert us to a new book he has just published. He writes:

“Whether you like the Mets, old stadiums, or me, I just wanted to touch base to give you a link to a couple of appearances I’ve done in 2019 that were Amazin’.

“I was on with Steve Somers, the Schmoozer, on WFAN talking about Shea.
https://wfan.radio.com/media/audio-channel/steve-somers-matt-silverman-shea-stadium-remembered

“Earlier this year I was on MLB TV with Brian Kenney.

And if you want to order the book, a link to Shea Stadium Remembered and other books of mine are below. Books make great gifts, and can make you feel smarter than possessing the knowledge of what someone you don’t know had for lunch.

Thanks!
Matt”

The links below will will connect you Matt’s web page and to the listing of the book on Amazon.

Matthew Silverman MetSilverman.com

Author: Shea Stadium Remembered and Other Titles

end

The Anni Souvenir Album redux

Madrid, October 8, 2019

Since there are ever fewer and fewer postings on the Simesite as the months and years slip by, in order to show that the Site is not utterly comatose, we have decided to post excerpts from Variety’s Souvenir Album once a month which we feel former muggs might appreciate re-reading.

The Album was printed back in 2005 on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary celebration of the founding of Variety in 1905 by Sime Silverman and was held during a gala dinner in Sardi’s restaurant in New York.

Sadly, most of those who contributed articles to the Album have now passed away, so it is a fitting tribute to their memory to “rescue” these articles and reminiscences from the past which were included in the Album.

We have previously posted four contributions sent for the Souvenir Album by muggs Keith Keller, Larry Michie, Hy Hollinger and one on Jimmy Durante and Sime. You can read all these by scrolling down the
pages.

For the fifth installment, here is one penned by Besa concerning his recollection of an encounter with LA sales supremo, Hal Scott.

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