So I'm channel-surfing and find out I have two channels that I didn't know I had...one if the FINE LIVING CHANNEL. The other is BET's JAZZ CHANNEL. I stop there as they were showing a black and white Frank Sinatra TV special and it was the most amazing thing...a real record of our times. Here's Sinatra singing Gone With The Wind, wreath in the smoke from the cigarette he is smoking (during interludes in the song). And while he is actually looks utterly lost in the song, it is the most casual thing...he scratches under his eye at one point; at another, just before singing the last line, he puts his hand up to his mouth and slightly coughs...right in the middle of the song. Interestingly enough, it didn't really detract from the emotion of the song. It turns out this show was the Timex special ("We thank THE UNTOUCHABLES for relinguishing their time in order to present this special. It will return next week at it's usual time.") where Sinatra welcomed Elvis back from the army. But long before Elvis comes on there are bits with Joey Bishop (as sort of the second host), Sammy Davis junior (doing impressions), Peter Lawford (singing and dancing with Sammy) and the Tom Hansen (?) Dancers doing these rather cheesy dance numbers. One filmed on the beach with the four boys and three girls in calypso outfits. Elvis comes on late and does Fame and Fortune and Stuck On You and then he and Sinatra do their Love Me Tender/Witchcraft duet. All very weird and fascinating. If the Jazz network has more shows like this, I may have to visit it more often.
Circus? I'm not much for Circuses or Magicians really. I think I've been to the Circus maybe twice in my life. I went to the Magic castle once. That was actually fun. I also...a long time ago...worked in an entertainment complex in Dallas and had to teach my young magicians stage presence, write them jokes, and direct their acts so that weren't utterly lifeless. That was fun before I got to see how certain illusions were done. I always liked Mandrake the Magician.