Farrell Fan Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 Today's New York Sun reports that the New York Landmarks Conservancy has designated this year's Living Landmarks. They are Barbara Cook, Clive Davis, Peter Martins, Mike Wallace, and the Forbes brothers: Steve, Robert, Christopher, and Tim. No word about whether any of these Living Landmarks require restoration. ;) Link to comment
Watermill Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 Hey, they left out the Forbes Cousins!? What's with that!!? So a Landmark can now be a...person. Oh, I think I get it it...because they tower over the landscape...pointing the way to glory and....um....and....um....Fabulous Cabaret Songs!....and....Chart-Busting Record Sales!...and...Warmed Over Ballet Repetoire!...and...Hard Hitting Sometimes Researched TV Interviews!...and...Being Wealthy And Brothers All At The Same Time! I just can't believe they left Joe Franklin off the list. Maybe next year.... an extremely bitter and disappointed Watermill Link to comment
dirac Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 I assume the brothers have deeper pockets than the cousins. Link to comment
Watermill Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 Yeah, but that's the only thing deep about them... -a dejected Watermill, slouching towards his 100th post... (Say! Is that a Landmark!!?) Link to comment
dirac Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 Wallace isn't a hard hitting reporter, he just plays one on television. Link to comment
BW Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 Ah yes, "Memory Lane" with Joe Franklin...but is he living, Watermill?;) Link to comment
Farrell Fan Posted November 8, 2002 Author Share Posted November 8, 2002 Joe Franklin is not only still alive, he's got an all-night radio show on WOR on Saturday nights from midnight to 5 a.m. It's much better than ambien. He also fronts a place called Joe Franklin's Memory Lane Restaurant in the theater district. I have a warm spot in my heart for Joe because I once appeared on his TV show -- but then why should I have been the only one in my neighborhood who didn't? Link to comment
BW Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 That's right! I'd forgotten...now I remember the newspaper article about his restuarant. Have you been there Farrell Fan? I'm very impressed that you were on his show! I do have to confess that I never watched it...I was more into Million Dollar Movie and Claude Kershner's show. ;) Link to comment
Watermill Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 ...AND he's not only had every one of the above " Living Landmarks" on his show (including the Forbes Chauffers), but most of the other kinds of Landmarks! Remember that night the Tri-Boro Bridge mixed it up with Grant's Tomb!? Now that's what I call ShowBiz!! A defiant Watermill, triumphantly planting his 100th post! PS: FarrellFan, in my mind you have now entered the Pantheon of the Obscurely Divine. Congratulations! Link to comment
Farrell Fan Posted November 8, 2002 Author Share Posted November 8, 2002 Yes, BW, I ate at Joe Franklin's Memory Lane Restaurant. There was nothing particularly nostalgic about it -- no chicken croquettes, beef stroganoff, or other delicacies of my youth. As I remember, it was standard-issue Reise restaurant fare -- perfectly palatable and somewhat overpriced. I am very moved by your plaudits and by those of Watermill, which I graciously accept. And accept my congratulations, Watermill, on your 100th perspicacious post. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 You mean that now NYC will have to take steps to prevent airliners from being flown into Peter Martins?:eek: Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted November 9, 2002 Share Posted November 9, 2002 My mother (who knows little and cares less about ballet) saw peter on television once and remarked "that face belongs on the front of a ship!" Link to comment
Farrell Fan Posted November 10, 2002 Author Share Posted November 10, 2002 Your mother has a point, but I doubt Peter Martins would want to be known as a figurehead. Link to comment
KayDenmark Posted November 14, 2002 Share Posted November 14, 2002 Funny you say that, because I think Peter Martins chooses pictures of himself (for programs, etc.) that make him look like a Beethoven bust on top of a piano. Link to comment
Manhattnik Posted November 17, 2002 Share Posted November 17, 2002 My mother (who knows little and cares less about ballet) saw peter on television once and remarked "that face belongs on the front of a ship!" A slow boat to China suggests itself. Link to comment
dancermom2 Posted November 17, 2002 Share Posted November 17, 2002 Just remember...The Sun is a relatively new newspaper in NYC that has a circulation around 25,000 which in this city is diddlysquat as my kids would say. Most people in the city don't know it exists as a counterpoint to the NY Times. ("conservative v. liberal" viewpoints.) Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 17, 2002 Share Posted November 17, 2002 But the designation hasn't come from the Sun, it's come from the NYC Landmarks Conservancy, a historic preservation association with origins with Jacqueline Onassis. They were the citizens' group which pressured the city into creating the NYC Landmarks Commission. Link to comment
dancermom2 Posted November 17, 2002 Share Posted November 17, 2002 I actually don't remember seeing any other mention of this in the NY Times...was it mentioned anywhere else? My point being it seems like it is much ado about something not many people noticed happened. And in any case, like all things designated as landmarks in NYC...buildings or living beings...people differ in whether it is warranted! Link to comment
Farrell Fan Posted November 17, 2002 Author Share Posted November 17, 2002 There was no mention in the Times, which makes me glad I posted the news on Ballet Alert after I saw it in the Sun. Maybe the Sun would like to think of itself as a conservative counterpoint to the "liberal" Times (they have a regular feature called SmarterTimes) but that would be a case of delusions of grandeur. I would like to see the paper succeed, however. The fact that something is not in the Times doesn't mean it didn't happen. Link to comment
rg Posted November 17, 2002 Share Posted November 17, 2002 there was a mention in the TIMES, last sunday, style section, the bill cunningham spread of 'society' photos, brooke astor was shown being escorted to the 'landmarks' dinner by al hirschfeld, and martins was named among the 'landmarks' in question that evening. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 17, 2002 Share Posted November 17, 2002 Oh, it happened all right! See: http://www.nylandmarks.org/ And click on Events. Being involved professionally in Historic Preservation at my "day job" however, I find the concept of "living landmarks" faintly ridiculous coming from a histo-presto group! I have a lot more respect for a program like Japan's national policy of recognizing "Living National Treasures" most of whom are actual artists of one sort or another, whose contribution to the preservation of traditional culture is very real and spread over long lifetimes. Peter just isn't old enough to be "gold-watched" like that. Link to comment
Manhattnik Posted November 17, 2002 Share Posted November 17, 2002 Doesn't this mean he can't be demolished without a court battle? Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 17, 2002 Share Posted November 17, 2002 Right church, wrong pew. The Conservancy is only an advocacy group. It's the Commission (a part of NYC Government) that affords a level of protection to threatened historic properties. But it's a funny thought, much like his being surrounded by anti-aircraft batteries wherever he goes!;) Link to comment
dancermom2 Posted November 17, 2002 Share Posted November 17, 2002 Oh I realize that if it isn't in the NY Times doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I also read the NY Newsday, The West Side Spirit (tiny paper for the Upper West Side of Manhattan) and scan the internet news sites...and well...I only heard about Peter's new designation here. But that explains it if it made the society page...of all the places I NEVER read because it's fluff it's there. And I love the picture of having to go to get a court order to protect him for demolition. Link to comment
Watermill Posted November 22, 2002 Share Posted November 22, 2002 Wonderful slip of the preposition, dancermom2! How typical of you vicious ballet fans! Protecting him now so you can tear him down later... (You know I'm kidding, right?) But then again, why should he escape the fate of anybody who's ever been the artistic director of anything. Darned if you do...and dished if ya don't! Watermill Link to comment
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