The Brussels Post, 1976-06-09, Page 7Sugar and Spice
by Bill Smiley
A crashing bore
Recently, we watched the Emmy
awards, presented from Hollywood by the
television industry. It was a crashing bore,
right in the midst of a television season
that is stultifyingly dull.
Despite the opportu nity to show what
a fascinating medium television can be, the
show, which seemed to go on interminably,
had almost nothing to display aside from
elegant costumes and fancy coiffures.
Can you think of anything less exciting
than platoons of writers or directors, or
sound men, or whatever, trotting up to a
stage, receiving a shiny trinket, and
speaking, every one of them, into a
microphone with the deepest sincerity,
thanking their wives, their children, their
mothers, and eighteen guys named Max
and Hymie for the fantastic honor they
were receiving?
In an era of women's liberation„ it was
significant that in this showcase for the
biggest entertainment industry in the
world, very very few women won awards.
At least when the film industry presents
its Oscar awards, amidst the stream of
inanity, one can count on two or three witty
masters (or mistresses) of ceremonies.
How would you like to be a Mistress of
Ceremony, gentle reader? It sounds
sinfully delicious.
But the television industry was content
to hire two of the biggest grins in the
business, John Denver and Mary Tyler.
Moore. They looked beautiful, and they
grinned and grinned and grinned, butsthe
entire evening had abbut as much wit and
sparkle to it as a. convention of
undertakers; probably less.
Only attempt at humor during the
evening was a feeble one, with a tired
stand-up comedian telling the same old
tired gags.
There were one or two attempts at
dignified speeches amid the tawdriness
and the "Gee, Mom! I won!" atmosphere,
but they were quickly drowned in the
molasses as various personalities lined up
to pat each other on the back and burble,
"I'd just like to say this was a real team
effort, and everyone pulled together, and I
just want to thank my director, my
producer, my network, our wonderful
camera crew, our sound people, our writer
for a fantastic script, our tremendous
cast," and so on and on.
Some of them. thanked everyone but
their clog, their dentist and their
hairdresser, who probably had more to do
with the award thanany other factors.
ltwas pretty hard to take just a week
of ter the Stanley Cup playoffs, when we
heard the same sort of sentimental mawk
from coaches, players and sportswirters,
until some of us, including yours truly,
wanted to vomit.
And maybe that's what's wrong with
television today. Don't tell me there's
nothing wrong with it.
What's your special pleasure tonight, for
example? Will, it be a re-run of All in the
Family or a re-run of Bob Newhart or a
re-run of Cannon or a re-run 'of Dr.
M arcus Welby?
Or perhaps you'd prefer a re-run of a
re-run of Adam 12 or Gunsmoke? Or
maybe you'd like to see that great movie,
Flying Tigers (1942)? For the fourth time.
In this country we have the CBC, for
which I once had a good deal of respect. It
produced, first, excellent radio. When
television came along, it was right in there
with good comedy, drama, and variety.
The brightest writers and talent in the
country were sought out. No they're all in
Hollywood, and all the good, gray
corporation can come up with, despite its
frequent resounding promises, are
exhausted antiques such as Front Page
Challenge and This Is the Law.
I won't mention such creakers as 'the
Tommy Hunter Show, and. Hockey Night in
Canada, because I don't want to lose
three-quarters of my readers, but surely,
surely, just because •a show went well ten
years ago doesn't mean it couldn't be
improved.
Nope. The CBC has turned chicken. It's
afraid of parliament, ratings and
controversy.
As for the garbage that pours in over the
border, and is so often grabbed by
Canadian networks and asdvertisers,
words do not suffice to describe the
dreariness of most of it. •
' Is it too late for television to be saved, or
to save itself? In my opinion, yes. Why ?
Because. it has built up, in the past couple
of decades, starting with children, a
" mindless audience which will turn on the
tube, let its jaw drop slack, and watch any
garbage shoved in front of it. As long as
it's in color.
I. don't give a rip, personally. I'd rather
read a good book any time. But my heart
bleeds for the hundreds of thousands.of old
people for whom it is the only bit of- life
they have, and the hundreds of thousands
of children who will m ake it part of their
lives, They are being treated as morons.
As I said, I don't care.. But one more
"spin-off" from the Mary Ty ler Moore
show and I'm going to take an axe to the
set.
LPHA wants members
SAY HAPPY
Father's Day
With the ideal gift from, our large
selection
Leisure & Sports Suits
Slacks
Shorts
Shirt & Ties
Pajamas
Socks
Everything
to make a
FATHER'S DAY
to Remember
MAIN: CORNER CLINTON 4814132'
THE BRUSSELS POsT; JUNE .1! -4
• 1910
r "Itt
Huronview
Members of the Clinton Christian" Reform congregation
formed a choir to lead the Sunday evening song service led by
Dick Roorda.
The residents enjoyed the annual visit of the Brussels United
Church Women on Monday afternoon. Reverand Eric Le Drew
was emcee for the program which included vocal sols by Betty
Graber; several numbers by a ladies quartette Betty Campbell,
Barbara McCutcheon, Sarah Stephenson, Ruth Hupfer
accompanied by Mrs. John Bryans. We enjoyed a square dance
by Rene Richmond, Mora Stephenson, Donalda Pearson, Helen.
Wheeler, Betty McCutcheon, Gertie Kellington, Barbara
McCutcheon and Betty Campbell. Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell,
forMerly of Brussels thanked the ladies on behalf of the residents
in the auditorium as well as those who were not able to attend.
The ever Popular Irish family, "The Bradleys," of Clinton
entertained on Family Night with Irish melodies and country and
western favourites. On the accordian Eugene Bradley
accompanies his family who sing as a group and also solo and
duct numbers. Members of the family are Winnifred, Marie,
Eugene,Ansberth, Domain, John and Jacqueline.. Mrs.
Lcyburne, who is a native of Ireland, expressed the appreciation
of the residents.
3
•
The Awareness League of
ysically Handicapped Adults
L.P.H.A.) is the name chosen
a non-profit organization
ncerned with the handicapped
Huron County. "Awareness"
the key word, because ALPHA
els its main function is to
°mote three kinds of awareness
First, it wants to make the
NM aware of the desire and the
ht of the handicapped to
ticipate in society. Secondly,
wants to inform the public and
e municipal councils of the
vsical and social barriers that
event disabled persons from
king total roles in today's.
ciety, Thirdly, the metfibers of
PHA hope to convey to handl-
pped persons the benefits of '4 icipation in society. By
cmitig involved in the
imunity, the disabled help to
A down some of the physical
d social barriers 'that exist.
acknowledging the receipt of a
letter that urged the council to
consider the needs of the disabled
in their future construction and
maintenance of sidewalks and
public facilities. ALPHA sent
similar requests to all the
Municipal Councils in the County.
A Goderich member reported
that curb ramps have been
Installed in that town at the
corner of North and Nelson
Streets. In April, ALPHA
petitioned the Goderich Town
Council regarding pedestrian
curb ramps, and it appreciated
the council's response to the
brief.
Eight members of ALPHA
visited Kincardine recently to try
out the curb cuts used in that
town. The , non-Sighted,
ambulatory and wheelchair
members found the fan-shaped
ramps acconmiodated all their'
needs, arid ALPHA recommends
A similar design to any engineers
contemplating the installation of
curb Cuts or ramps.
Maple Leaf Chapter of the
1.0.D.E. InGoderich for the letter
they sent to .the Goderich Town
Council supporting ALPHA'S
brief and to the Christian
Women's Club in Exeter for their
financial donation.
Data on housing for the
handicapped, wh;ch had been
gathered by several members,
was reviewed. Another motion
set the fourth Tuesday of each
month as the date for future
meetings, and. plans for a picnic
sometime during the summer
were also discussed.
The date of the next meeting is
June 22; the time, 8 p.m. and the
place, the Holmesville"- Public
School Library. ALPHAwelconies
both' the handicapped and the
non-handicapped; the present
Membership consists. of 50%
disabled and 50% non-disabled
persons.
For further information,
contact Elaine Townshenci at
gayfield; Phone
482-3357, or Mr, and Mrs. Ralph
Watson of Box 68, Brussels;
Bluevale
50 year pins
Mrs. Joe Walker
Correspondent
The 13luevale Presbyterian
Church was filled to capacity
Sunday morning for, the one
hundred and nineteeth
anniversary. Reverend Gerald
Thompson of Teeswater was the
minister.
Special music was provided by
the choir, by Mrs. Murray Gaunt
and Mrs. Jim English and by
David and Dewayne Golley.
Fifty year pins were presented
to Mr. and Mrs. Harvey
Robertson, Mr. and Mrs. Burns
Moffatt, Stanely Moffatt,
Mac Black, Mrs. Nellie Lillow,
Mrs. Allan McKercher, Mrs.
Harold Grant, Gordon Mundell,
Campbell Robertson, J.J. Elliott,
Miss Elva Warwick and Miss
Edith Warwick.
Rev. Thompson's sermon was,
"God Appoints a Future."
Lunch was served following the
service in the Sunday school room
and a social time was enjoyed.
Personals
A large number of people
enjoyed the cold meat supper in
the Sunday school room of the
Presbyterian. Church on
Wednesday.
Sunday visitors with Mr. and
Mrs. Gordon Hall were Mr. and
Mrs. Fred Bowles of Chatham,
Mrs. Jack Scott and Leanne of
Newton 'and Mr. and Mrs. Jack
Hall and 'family of Brussels. Mr.
Clair Edwards of London also
called on Mr. and Mrs. Hall on
Sunday.
A motion was adopted td write
til4 A'S. 'seventh Meeting
ass held On May 25 with 14 in
telidatice. A letter was. read
)111: e l'acke'rgItith Council letters of appreciation to the Phone 88 7-6236:
.