The Notebook
Some people go to the beaches. Some to Vegas. Some to Europe, or elsewhere. For me, New York has always been the place that trips my trigger. And as soon as I get back from one trip, I start conniving to go again.
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I start giving out ever-changing itineraries weeks in advance, like a daily briefing, or a battle plan to attack the city and see as much as we can.
Let’s see. Three Broadway shows, three nights of jazz, a hot dog in Central Park (they change the brine the first of every month), cheesecake from Junior’s, a pastrami sandwich at the Carnegie Deli and some museums. Daughter Ryann and I stopped into the Hello Deli to give a shout out and buy a couple of soft drinks from David Letterman’s own personal comic foil, Rupert Gee.
Some other highlights:
William and I toured the New York Times on his 27th birthday Monday. We saw all the Pulitzer Prizes for investigative reporting, public service, photojournalism and more. The Times has been awarded more Pulitzers than anyone else for journalism and is the nation’s “newspaper of record.”
We visited with the Times’ publisher, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. He graciously showed us around, including the conference room that has a dazzling view, 14 floors above midtown Manhattan. We also talked of common issues, and the Times’ rich history. It’s been in his family since 1896. When I was kid in middle school, I read and re-read the book, ‘The Printer’s Devil,’ which was about his great-grandfather, Adolph Ochs. They’ll move into a new building, across the street, come June.
We also sat in on a Times editorial meeting. There were remarkable dynamics, which are common to the Daily Press - where to place a story, who is assigned the follow-up pieces, what photos and graphics are applicable in the reporting.
One change about Broadway. The opening night celebratory telegrams wishing performers well are no more. Western Union stopped delivering telegrams last year. It was common for Broadway actors to display the telegrams in dressing rooms.
These telegrams were also known for their witty messages. Maybe the most famous is the one from playwright George Bernard Shaw inviting Winston Churchill to opening night of his latest play.
“Bring a friend, if you have one,” Shaw wired Churchill.
“Will attend your second night, if you have one,” Churchill wired back.
Actress Tallulah Bankhead was noted for her risqu/ first-night telegrams. When Helen Hayes opened in the comedy ‘Happy Birthday,’ Bankhead telegraphed: “A warm hand on your opening.”
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