Alfalfa is Dead, Not Alice Cooper January 21, 2010

What happened to Alfalfa?

Alice Cooper Is Not Beaver, Mr. Green Jeans or Alfalfa; Just Vincent Damon Furnier

On This Date in History:  When I was growing up,  there were all sorts of rumors about what had happened to child stars.  A big one went that Alice Cooper was really Eddie Haskell from Leave it to Beaver.  Truth was, at the time,  actor Ken Osmond was a cop in Los Angeles.  He has since showed up again portraying Eddie Haskell as an adult.  Another one said that Beaver Cleaver was killed in Viet Nam.  Truth was that actor Jerry Mathers was alive and well and he too has reprised his role as Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver several times. I had been told that Mr. Green Jeans was really Alice Cooper.  An offshoot of that was that Frank Zappa was the son of Mr. Green Jeans.  Then there was Alfalfa from Our Gang aka The Little Rascals.  I heard he had died of a herion overdose or that he was really Alice Cooper.  At least part of the Alfalfa rumor was true and was part of a series of misfortunes that came upon many of the Our Gang/Little Rascals  actors.  Some say it’s a curse.  

Alfalfa the Crooner

Carl Switzer was born in Paris, Illinois on August 27, 1927.  Hal Roach was producing the successful Our Gang movie shorts when in 1935, Switzer was added to the cast as Alfalfa.  His appearance made him easily distinguishable to audiences.  He was a tall skinny kid with freckles and a distinctive cowlick that pointed skyward consistently regardless of how much he tried to slick his hair.  He also had an interesting singing voice that only added to the comedy.  In an episode called The Pitch Singer, Alfalfa famously crooned off-key the tune I’m in the Mood For Love. 

Carl Alfalfa Switzer as Ensign Keim in 1954's The High and The Mighty Starring John Wayne

Kids grow up and times move on.  In 1940, the Our Gang series ended but it later returned to television under the title The Little Rascals.  Switzer tried odd jobs after Hal Roach ended the series.  He was a bartender, a shoeshine boy and a tour guide.  Switzer tried to stay in acting and actually got small parts in some 60 films. but, they were often uncredited roles.  A few of the films were quite popular, even classics, such as My Favorite Blonde (1942), The Human Comedy (1943), Going My Way (1944), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), State of the Union (1948), Pat and Mike (1952).  We might even be able to find him as a slave in Cecile B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments (1956) though it might be tough considering it was the proverbial “cast of thousands.” 

Alfalfa was a husband and father

As it turns out, somehow Switzer never received any money for his work in Our Gang, even though he appeared in 75 film shorts.  TV had not gotten going and no one thought about royalties or syndication.  I haven’t figured out how or why he appeared in the films without being paid or how his parents allowed that to happen.  Anyway, in 1958 Switzer got a break and landed a good role in Stanley Kramer’s The Defiant Ones.  But,until its release, he needed to earn a living.  Apparently, Switzer liked the outdoors because he had several brushes with the law in the 1950′s, one of which involved illegally cutting down trees in the Sequoia National Forest.  Though his acting career seemed to have been on the rise in 1958, he was shot in a San Fernando Valley bar,but he recovered.  So, to pick up some extra money, he came up with a part time gig leading bear hunting expeditions.  Some of his customers included Henry Fonda and Roy Rogers.  So, apparently he was pretty well liked and well known. 

Alfalfa Died Over One of These

Seems that Switzer borrowed a guy’s hunting dog.  The dog escaped and he put out a $50 reward for its return.  When a man found the dog, Switzer not only paid him the $50 but he also bought him about $15 worth of drinks,which was quite a bit of booze back in the day.  A few days later, Switzer got loaded himself and decided to go to the dog owner’s house and demand that he be reimbursed for the $50.  The two men got in a fight and Switzer ended up shot to death.  The death was ruled as justifiable homicide because the story was that Switzer had hit the other man on the head with a lamp or a clock, then forced him into a closet.  Switzer supposedly came after the man with a hunting knife claiming he would kill him and the man responded by shooting him at close range with a pistol on this date in 1959.  However, some accounts claim that the knife was really a jacknife (or penknife) and the blade was closed.  There are many conflicting reports detailing the killing of Carl Alfalfa Switzer, but  in general they are consistent.  Nevertheless, Alfalfa was dead but the public generally didn’t know about it because it just do happened that Cecil B. DeMille died on the same day as Carl Switzer, which may be the root cause of the rumors that followed.  So, Alfalfa is not Alice Cooper and he did not die of a heroin overdose, yet, he remains dead. 

Louisville Area Rain Jan 20 and Jan 21

Near Term Weather More Like Gumby Rather Than Pokey

Weather Bottom Line:  Story remains consistent in the weather department with Saturday being the best day of the weekend, best day for the month of January and best day you will get for the forseeable future.  The pokey low I”ve been telling you about will be moving on by and, as it approaches overnight, will kick off t’storms to our south where there have been much warmer temperatures of late than we’ve seen around here. In fact, there is a slight chance of severe weather in Western Kentucky, maybe even as close as Bowling Green on Thursday afternoon.  I betcha the high for the day is actually after sunset on Thursday.  I suspect that showers will linger for early Friday but by midday the rain will end though we still won’t get out of the 40′s.  Then another system approaches and this time we get the benefir of warmer air.  Saturday will feature partly cloudy skies and an afternoon high pushing 60…and that will set the stage for potential thunderstorms on Saturday night, rain on Sunday and then late Monday or more likely Tuesday…we may get a little snow.  After that, the long term is a little up and down and not clear, but it does appear that we will be getting into a pattern of going from around average temperatures to periods of below average temperatures as we have a parade of storm systems moving through in a progressive manner…in other words more like Gumby, not Pokey.

Jim Morrison Conspiracy Theories Rival Those of Michael Jackson; The Wall Street Witch; General Washington July 3, 2009

 

Lizard King Still Walking the Earth With Elvis?

 Independence for the big Door:

Morrison Shrine/Grave

Jim Morrison died in a Paris bathtub on this date in 1971. He officially died of heart failure though a drug overdose was suspected. Just like with the conspiracy theories concerning the recent death of Michael Jackson, some of which suggest Jackson’s death was a fake,   almost immediately claims that Morrison really wasn’t dead hit the news.  Had there been a world wide web, I’m sure that the blogosphere would have been going wild.  Many conspiracy theorists floated the idea that Morrison was tired of his fame so he faked his own death.   That was the one that I always heard but there are a bunch of Jim Morrison conspiracy theories out there.  There was even a notion that the J. Edgar Hoover led FBI had him knocked off in an effort to stop the hippie movement.  I think his grave is some sort of haven or shrine for those who…well…I don’t know what they do or think. You can take the Jim Morrison Grave Tour on the web if you like.

On This Date In History:  Hetty Green died on this date in 1916. Who is Hetty Green? Why the Witch of Wall Street! Seems kinda sexist to call a rather ornery rich woman a “witch” when rich old coots might be called “tough” or “hard nosed.” Anyway, she is said to have learned to read the financial pages at age 6. She inherited a million dollars from her father at age 30. At that point, she became quite shrewd as she bought Civil War Bonds when others thought it was a bad investment. She made a mint. Basically, she took her million inheritance and increased it 100 fold. But, she was rather odd in that she lived like a pauper. Supposedly, Hetty married so that her heirs would be her children and not other relatives that she didn’t care for. She kept an office in a bank from which she negotiated a rent free lease. She moved from hotel to hotel to avoid paying property taxes. Hetty had a son and a daughter and when her boy hurt his leg in a sledding accident, she took him to a charity hospital. Well, hospital personnel recognized her and demand that she pay. She refused and decided to treat the child’s injured leg herself. He ended up losing the leg. She forced her children to eat as she did, which was ham sandwiches. Some call her thrifty, others a miser or the Witch of Wall Street. She is but one of a list of eccentric wealthy Americans.  Hetty died on this date in 1916 of a stroke suffered while arguing with a maid over the price of milk!! Can you imagine what she would be like with today’s rising prices?

Wonder if Hetty's Dog Was Toto?

Don’t worry, The Who may have been aware of the story because the Kids Are Alright. Hetty left each child $50 million. The more famous J.P. Morgan was worth a reported $70 million and her wealth equaled that of Henry Ford. In 2008 dollars, her fortune would have been near $2 Billion.

See what happens when you watch your pennies? She may have been a witch, but she was probably the wealthiest witch Wall Street had ever seen. Here’s a Forbes list of early wealthy Americans.

On This Date In 1775, Virginia planter and former British officer George Washington strode before the Continental Army, drew his sword and formerly took command as General of the Armies. While some opposed his appointment, he was chosen because of his leadership and because, as a Virginian, it was hoped he could bridge the differences between the southern colonies and those in New England. Washington had accepted the appointment two weeks prior under the stipulation that he not be paid except for reimbursement of expenses.

I Think The General Liked This Painting

While he is called the “father of the country” I think much is lost regarding Washington. He was quite remarkable and he really set the tone for the nation today. After he led the defeat of the most power nation on earth, Washington had all of the power. He had political power and the loyalty of the army. Other men in his position might have seized the reigns of power in the nation. There was some fear he may strike up a dictatorship. But he voluntarily gave up his sword and returned to Virginia. In 1787, the fledgling nation called again and he took the position of President of the Constitutional Convention. It is said his quiet resolve was inspiring to the delegates as they argued and compromised over a document that would last the ages. He was elected as the first President and won an overwhelming re-election. He could have served another term but instead, voluntarily gave up power for a second time.

FDR Broke Washington Tradition

Until Franklin Roosevelt, no one broke the two term tradition, though US Grant came reasonably close to gaining a third consecutive term. The two term tradition became a point of law following the passage of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution which was ratified in 1951. If you think about it, that is the general tone of the nation. How many other nations in history have conquered as much territory and defeated so many nations in battle and then voluntarily given up the spoils? Again, I take you to his farewell address of 1796 in which you can see all of the wisdom poured forth for the nation he helped to build. Washington died in 1799 from what most think was a cold or the flu….though there is speculation that he would have lived except for the practice of bleeding a patient. Washington himself may have been the cause of his own demise as he supposedly urged the doctor to let him bleed after the doctor was going to close the wounds. Speculation is that Washington bled to death. Here is the text of George Washington’s  farewell address, that is often quoted and paraphrased, in case you missed it before. Look for all of the items that would apply today and also look for his interesting take on religion in society.

Weather Bottom Line:  Really not much change in the story line for the Fourth of July weekend.  Today will be great with tons of sun and a high in the mid 80′s.  A low will be ejecting out of the southwest and get up to say, Memphis on Saturday.  That should be sufficient to throw over some moisture and create some isolated t’storms in the afternoon.  The short makes its closest approach on Saturday evening and that is when t’storm activity will have its greatest risk.  I intimdated that the SPC might widen its slight risk area and they have done so such that Louisville is barely in the risk region.  As I said previously, not a slam dunk for strong storms but not totally out of the question.   There will be clouds sticking around on Sunday with the risk for rain probably being greatest in the first half of the day.   As the long wave pattern continues to slowly shift, we should be out of the influence of the Great Lakes trof that brought us such cool weather the past few days and a slight ridge will start building in.  There’s a chance for a shortwave to come through the flow on Monday perhaps bringing a t’storm chance then, but otherwise, the signature of next week will be our afternoon temperatures moving back into the upper 80′s.

DAY 2 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK 
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   1257 AM CDT FRI JUL 03 2009
  
   VALID 041200Z – 051200Z
  
   …THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS FROM THE UPPER OH VALLEY INTO
   THE SRN PLAINS…
  
   …THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS OVER ERN PARTS OF WY AND CO…
  
   …SYNOPSIS…
   QUASI-STATIONARY UPPER LOW OVER THE LOWER GREAT LAKES IS FORECAST TO
   PERSIST INTO SATURDAY…WITH AMPLITUDE OF THE ERN US LONG WAVE
   DIMINISHING.  THIS WILL RESULT IN BROAD WNWLY FLOW ALOFT ACROSS MUCH
   OF THE US FROM THE NRN/CENTRAL INTERMOUNTAIN REGION TO THE ATLANTIC
   COAST…DOWNSTREAM FROM AN UPPER RIDGE AXIS OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN
   WEST. 
  
   AT THE SURFACE…A LOW IS FORECAST TO MOVE ESEWD ACROSS THE MID MS
   VALLEY TOWARD THE UPPER OH VALLEY BY THE END OF THE PERIOD…WITH A
   TRAILING COLD FRONT MOVING SWD ACROSS THE OZARKS AND INTO THE SRN
   PLAINS. A QUASI-STATIONARY FRONT WILL EXTEND EWD FROM THE LOW. 
  
   …MID MS VALLEY INTO THE OH VALLEY…
   AN MCS IS EXPECTED TO BE ONGOING AT THE START OF THE PERIOD OVER
   PARTS OF NRN MO…ERN IA AND NRN/CENTRAL IL.  THE CONVECTIVE SYSTEM
   WILL BE PRIMARILY ELEVATED TO THE NORTH OF THE SURFACE LOW AND
   QUASI-STATIONARY FRONT…MAINTAINED BY STRONG LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE
   AND WARM ADVECTION LIFT NEAR THE NOSE OF A 50 KT SWLY LOW LEVEL JET.
   GIVEN THE BACKGROUND 35-45 KT MID LEVEL WINDS AND RESULTANT STRONG
   VERTICAL SHEAR…THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR A FEW SEVERE STORMS TO OCCUR
   IN THE SRN PART OF THE MCS DURING THE MORNING…ALTHOUGH WEAK
   INSTABILITY SHOULD LIMIT THE OVERALL SEVERE THREAT.  STORMS MAY
   INTENSIFY BY LATE MORNING/EARLY AFTERNOON AS STRONG DIURNAL HEATING
   OCCURS ALONG THE SRN EDGE OF THE CONVECTIVE CLOUD SHIELD OVER PARTS
   OF THE MID MS VALLEY AND UPPER OH VALLEY.  CONTINUED FAVORABLE
   LOW-LEVEL AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR WILL ENHANCE STORM ORGANIZATION AND
   INTENSITY…AND MAY COMPENSATE FOR WEAK MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ACROSS
   THE AREA.  DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
   STRONGER STORMS…WHICH SHOULD DIMINISH AFTER 03Z.
  
   …SRN PLAINS INTO THE OZARKS…
   AIR MASS IS EXPECTED TO UNDERGO SUBSTANTIAL DIURNAL HEATING AHEAD OF
   THE ADVANCING COLD FRONT…AND WHEN COUPLED WITH SURFACE DEW POINTS
   IN THE 60S TO LOW 70S…WILL RESULT IN MLCAPE OF 1000-2000 J/KG.
   STRONG HEATING WILL GRADUALLY WEAKEN THE CAP DURING THE
   AFTERNOON…AND LOW-LEVEL CONVERGENCE ALONG THE FRONT WILL PROMOTE
   DEVELOPMENT OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS.  ALTHOUGH MID LEVEL
   WINDS/DEEP LAYER SHEAR WILL BE MODEST AT BEST…LARGE
   TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT SPREADS ASSOCIATED WITH A RELATIVELY DEEP
   MIXED LAYER…AND DRIER AIR IN THE MID LEVELS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO
   LARGE DCAPE VALUES INDICATIVE OF ENHANCED DOWNDRAFT INTENSITY AND
   THREAT FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.  THERE WILL ALSO BE A THREAT FOR
   LARGE HAIL WITH STRONGER CELLS.  SEVERE THREAT IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD
   SWD ALONG THE FRONT AND ASSOCIATED OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES THROUGH THE
   EVENING HOURS.
  
   …ERN PARTS OF WY AND CO…
   WEAK UPSLOPE LOW LEVEL WINDS ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP OVER THE ERN
   SLOPES OF THE ROCKIES ON SATURDAY AS A WEAK SURFACE RIDGE MOVES INTO
   PARTS OF SD AND NEB.  THIS WILL MAINTAIN SURFACE DEW POINTS IN THE
   LOW 50S…AND CONTRIBUTE TO AN UNSTABLE AFTERNOON ENVIRONMENT WITH
   MLCAPE AROUND 1000-1500 J/KG.  THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO DEVELOP
   OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON AND MOVE EWD/ESEWD INTO
   THE HIGH PLAINS WITHIN A BAND OF 25-35 KT MID LEVEL FLOW.  DEEP
   LAYER SHEAR WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR ORGANIZED STORMS TO
   DEVELOP…INCLUDING A FEW SUPERCELLS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL
   AND STRONG WIND GUSTS THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.
  
   ..WEISS.. 07/03/2009

 

7/3 SPC convective outlook for 7/4/09