A nightly pause from the news to give the reader/viewer a bit of classic entertainment.
An evening pause: From the 1953 film Small Town Girl. Proves once again that America was not hostile to highlighting women in all things in the past. They simply had to have the talent, skill, and determination to earn that spotlight.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
An evening pause: Great gospel song, performed magnificently by Kenoly, his orchestra, and the audience.
Hat tip James Street.
An evening pause: Performed live 2010. This is a person who is in contact with her inner piano.Her fingerwork is astonishingly natural and at ease.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
An evening pause: Performed live on the Ed Sullivan Show, 1969.
Hat tip to Alec Gimarc, who notes the Ellis sadly died shortly thereafter from a heart attac at the age of 44.
An evening pause: A nice energetic way to head into the weekend. Performed live 2022.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
An evening pause: Performed live 1983.
Hat tip Terry, who notes, “From a long ago age when the US flag was not considered a “hate” symbol.”
Sorry about the lack of an evening pause last night. I forgot to post.
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An evening pause: When this was released in 2010 it quickly went viral, with every website embedding or linking to it. At the time I was not yet doing the Evening Pause. It is not too late to post it now!
Hat tip James Street.
An evening pause: Performed live on the Dean Martin Show sometime in 1967-1968, during the height of the Vietnam War and anti-war protests.
Hat tip Mike Nelson.
Let’s celebrate Independence Day with the brilliant film version of the 1972 Broadway musical, 1776. It is not only great because of the wonderful music and witty dialogue, it is great because it actually captures quite accurately the real personalities of these Founding Fathers.
An evening pause: Performed live on American Bandstand on November 28, 1964, though the music is almost certainly lip synched.
Hat tip Diane Zimmerman.
An evening pause: From the 1957 musical Funny Face. I only saw this film for the first time last week, and as I watched this scene I was most amused by Astaire’s dance moves in the second half of this number. “Why, Astaire is doing Gene Kelly!” I exclaimed to Diane.
Both men had their own styles. Kelly was into grand film presentations, acrobatics, and the soft shoe. Fred Astaire was into dance, in all its forms. If you are familiar with Kelly’s dance style you will see immediately how Astaire is parodying it, but with great respect.
Astaire’s partner in this number is Kay Thompson, in her only starring movie role. Thompson had an amazing artistic career, from writer (the Eloise children’s books) to vocal coach for Judy Garland and Gene Kelly to recording artist to night club performer. It is a shame we don’t have more films of her singing and dancing.
An evening pause: This was her first appearance as a singer, on the television show Britain’s Got Talent, airing on April 11, 2009. It is a glorious TV moment. Much of it I think was planned, at least by the producers, though the judges and audience almost certainly had no idea what they were about to hear. Enjoy. Fun to watch over and over.
Hat tip James Street.
An evening pause: From the 1946 film, Gilda, which could be considered one of Hollywood’s first film noir classics. The song was sung by Anita Ellis for Hayworth.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
An evening pause: The organ is in Methuen Memorial Music Hall in Massachusetts.
Hat tip Alton Blevins.
An evening pause: Short but sweet, and somehow I think is perfect to begin summer.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
An evening pause: The music appears to come from a video game, which this video heavily promotes. No matter. She performs it using both a classic Chinese instrument and a modern electric guitar, and the contrast is striking.
Hat tip Judd Clark.
An evening pause: A magnificent cover of this classic Ennio Morricone film score. If you want to hear a compliation of all of Morricone’s western scores, go here.
For me however Morricone’s score for Cinema Paradiso remains my favorite.
Hat tip Mike Nelson.
An evening pause: Performed live 2012. A most eccentric performance.
Hat tip Alec Gimarc, who notes about Brown, “Most notable for a 4-octave voice and performing with a lit device on his head at the time [1969]. … Impressed he is still alive.”
An evening pause: I posted a different performance of this song by Steward in 2015. The live version below, performed live in 2020, includes a fascinating intro that describes the roots of the song, as well as some spectacular guitar solos.
Hat tip Wayne DeVette.
An evening pause: I cannot confirm who the singer is, as he posts his name only in Japanese picture words. I also am not sure where the lyrics come from. Interesting though to hear someone sing this Beethoven music.
Hat tip Alton Blevins.
