The LuLac Edition #859, June 26th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: OUR 1964 LOGO, NEWLY MINTED WILKES BARRE AREA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CHRISTINE KATSOCK, THE LATE FARRAH FAWCET AND MICHAEL JACKSON.

KATSOCK IN

The Wilkes Barre Area School Board named Christine Katsock as a board member to replace Jim Height. Katsock who has been in the arena for a decade finally reaped a huge double victory on both party nominations in the primary. Her appointment was the most logical choice because of her electoral success plus her obvious commitment to public service. I reached Katsock at her home and she said this when I asked her reaction to the appointment. "I am absolutely thrilled. First off I want to thank the voters for making me the top vote getter in the last election. In the same breath I want to thank the Wilkes Barre Area School Board for voting me to this position unanimously”.

ICONS GONE

FARRAH

Two major American icons died on the same day. Yesterday morning Farrah Fawcett passed away after a long battle with cancer. Fawcet was the all American girl whose bathing suit poster graced the rooms of many an American boy in the 1970s. It is a little known fact that Fawcett was only on the hit series “Charlie’s Angels” for just the first season. Her body of work came in drama later on. One of her signature roles was that of an abused and beaten woman based on a true story called “The Burning Bed”. Fawcett may best be remembered though for her fight against cancer. The documentary on NBC chronicled the disease that killed her. Fawcett had a career with memorable moments. There were ups and downs and certainly some bumps along the way. But she never ran away from a fight. Every person who has cancer reaches a defining moment of reality that hits you over the head with the ravages of the disease and/or treatment. The one I had was minor to the Farrah Fawcett moment when she took her turban off to reveal the ravages against that gorgeous head of hair that made every woman envious and every man’s head turn. The video I saw showed me a lot of spirit, courage and fight. She made all of us aware of her obvious physical beauty with that poster from the 70s. We gained a glimpse into the inner beauty of her spirit and soul in the way in which she faced her death. God speed Farrah!
A video from that iconic first year of "Charlie's Angels".


MICHAEL

I first became aware of little Michael Jackson when I went to visit relatives in Windsor Ontario when I was in high school. A radio fan, I toured the studios of that giant radio station CKLW, The Big 8. This was the summer of 1969 and the station staff was abuzz with a free concert in Detroit featuring a little known group called The Jackson 5. By the start of the year, their first single, “I Want You Back” hit number 1. It was followed by three other number 1 hits that year. There were numerous appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show with the front man being the youngest Jackson, Michael. Jackson is one of the few members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to be inducted twice, once as part of a group, the other as an individual. While he was a member of the group he began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years, five of his solo studio albums have become some of the world's best-selling records. Joe Middleton of Laflin and a former Pittston resident was a road manager and merchandising coordinator for the Jackson summer tour of 1973 and 1974. “He was a great talent with incredible stage presence and energy. The only thing was the kid had no life. When he was on the road he had tutors with him so he got an education but the father had the whole family under his thumb. He was the cash cow of his family and really did not have a normal childhood. When I saw him, he was very quiet. But once he got on that stage, that arena became his wheelhouse. He’ll be remembered as one of the top performers in that musical genre” said Middleton. Quincy Jones was also credited with securing Michael Jackson's place in pop music history. "It was Quincy Jones that took Jackson to the next level in terms of creativity and musical energy that he wasn't going to get at the assembly line music menatality at Motown Records" concluded Middleton. In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African-American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and Thriller—credited for transforming the music video into an art form and a promotional tool. It also made Jackson an enduring figure in the pop music and entertainment world. When I was a staff member of the United Way of Wyoming Valley, I had a brush with the fame and frenzy generated by Michael Jackson. During the 1984 United Way campaign, local businessman Ron Simms came across maybe 50 tickets to the Jackson Family Reunion Tour in Philadelphia. Mr. Simms donated all of them and the organization sold them about $50.00 above face value. Word had got out that the show was sold out and when we opened the doors at 9 East Market Street, there was a line all the way to the Genetti Hotel Parking Lot. Needless to say we were sold out in a half hour. It was a good day for the United Way thanks to Mr. Simms………and of course to the ultimate talent of the Jacksons. Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundation, charity singles and support of 39 charities. Other aspects of his personal life, including his changing appearance and behavior, generated significant controversy, damaging his public image. Though he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged. The singer experienced health concerns from the early 1990s until his death, as well as conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances. Jackson married twice and fathered three children, all of which caused further controversy. In 2005, Jackson was tried and acquitted of further sexual abuse allegations and several other charges. Here's one of the great songs of the 70s that made Michael Jackson and his brothers a household name.


1964

The Vatican condemns the female combined oral contraceptive pill………The National GOP gears up for a convention fight between Pennsylvania Governor Bill Scranton and Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater. Though Goldwater is favored, the moderates in the GOP are lining up en masse to support Mr. Scranton. Meanwhile Goldwater tells reporters he is thinking about running mates as the convention nears…………..Statewide, Luzerne County Commissioner James Post was named to the Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Republican State committee………………After pitching a perfect game on Father's Day, Jim Bunning gives up 11 hits in a game with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Phils win 6-5 with Ed Roebuck getting the win in relief............The Young Democrats of Lackawanna County completed their annual membership drive. The group met at the Hotel Casey and announced that they had 4200 members. Ralph Brunari was the chairman and the highest enroller was Marlene Sewack…..and 45 years ago today, the number 1 song in LuLac land was “I Get Around” by the Beach Boys. The flip side was “Help Me Rhonda”.