wacky tacky: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Friday, December 27, 2013

Saving Mr. Tiny: A Story of "Summer Magic"

It is never my intention to use this blog as a platform from which to boast. There are, however, precious few moments in my life that are truly worthy of proud celebration and 2013 shouldn't come to a close before I acknowledge one of the best days of my life.

The combination of an amazing Christmas present and a recent screening of the film Saving Mr. Banks reminded me that I have been remiss in expressing my gratitude for an opportunity that, even months later, I still have a hard time believing to be real. In the summer of this year we were invited to the 85th birthday party of none other than Richard Sherman!

Did I mention that it was a surprise party?

Held at the incredible home of our friends, the party included Disneyland's Main Street
silhouette cutter, Mary Poppins tribute art, a sing-along with the birthday boy, and
a custom "Golden Record" cake of one of Mr. Sherman's classic songs.

For those who might be unfamiliar with that name, Richard Sherman is half of one of the most dynamic, prolific, and influential songwriting duos in history - The Sherman Brothers. If you're still not sure of the name, think "You're Sixteen, " "Let's Get Together," practically every song ever sung by Annette Funicello, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Winnie the Pooh, and of course, Mary Poppins.

The Sherman Brothers were not only instrumental in the scoring of Mary Poppins,
they played a huge role in securing the film rites and making sure the film was made.
My favorite scene in Saving Mr. Banks is when "The Boys" win over the tyrannical
Mrs. Travers with the cleverness of their lyrics and the unadulterated joy of their music.

I have it straight from the source that Mr. Sherman
approved of Jason Schwartzman's stellar performance.

Attending the party would have been honor enough, but Tiny & Mary were also asked to perform! Can you imagine the thrill and the terror of singing a great songwriter's work for the composer himself? Putting fears aside (well mostly, I might have choked up a bit as I explained how much his music meant in our lives), we performed what has become Tiny & Mary's theme song, "On the Front Porch" (written by the Shermans for Walt Disney's Summer Magic). We also sang the "Doll On a Music Box/Truly Scrumptious" duet from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. As it turns out, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang duet is Richard Sherman's favorite piece from the Sherman catalog and "On the Front Porch," his brother Robert's favorite.

Elizabeth & Richard Sherman listening to Tiny & Mary
sing - MAGICAL!!! Unbelievably gracious, Mr. Sherman
thanked us for our performance and didn't even quibble
over the fact that we were singing "On the Front Porch" on
the back porch. He even remembered us when we had the
opportunity to sing for him again at another party.
(photo by our talented pal, Jimmy Mulligan - thanks Jimmy!)

Someone recently told me that my life looks like one epic adventure after another. When I am cleaning bathrooms, changing diapers, driving my dad around in his transport van, scouring the oven, and feeling like I haven't a friend in the world, the concept of "adventure" seems a complete mystery to me. Like everyone else, my life is filled with the daily mundanities that make for terribly-weak blog fodder - until these precious adventures and gifts are bestowed upon me.

Speaking of gifts, the "amazing Christmas present" that I alluded to earlier was a vintage
film poster from Walt Diney's Summer Magic. We agreed not to exchange gifts this year but
my brother and his wife decided not only to give gifts but to make those gifts incredibly
thoughtful and generous!

I am so appreciative of the musical genius of The Sherman Brothers; nearly every happy, childhood memory I have is underscored by the charm of their brilliant compositions. I am incredibly grateful for wonderful friends and family members that save Mr. Tiny by gifting me with their love and generosity. Singing for Mr. Sherman is definitely a gift that keeps on giving. When, on a cold winter day, I am chilled by the depths of my own ingratitude, I remind myself of that blissful hour and the warm memory of interacting with a man who continues to delight people the world over by sharing his talent and allowing others to do the same - talk about your "Summer Magic!"

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Haben Sie gehört das Deutsche Band?

We are always on the lookout for cool places to go, interesting people to meet, neat projects to undertake and good food to eat. We keep our finger on the pulse of the public and our ear to the ground. Which, as the old saying goes, leaves us in a rather vulnerable position. Sometimes we get so caught up in what's "out there," we forget to look in our own back yard. Inspired by some vintage snapshots passed on to us by our friend Lauren at Wearing History, we developed a sudden craving for pretzels, schnitzel mit noodles and crisp Apfelstrudel.

They're trying to tell us something.

Deutschland's answer to Brenda Lee

Germans doing what Germans do best - sharing.

We needed a quick fix of German goodness. We could have stayed home and just watched the footage of JFK's declaration, "Ich bin ein Berliner," but we wanted a more immersive experience. Thus, we explored, and now feature for your enjoyment, our neighborhood treasure and well-known, if shamefully under-visited, Orange County landmark, Old World Village.

Old World was designed as a roadside attraction by German immigrant, Josef Bischof. After settling in Huntington Beach, he began his faithful recreation of a small Bavarian town. Opened in 1978, the village center is home to a grocery (complete with a butcher/deli counter, a bakery and a wide assortment of European delicacies), an active church (open regularly for worship services and weddings), a motel, a banquet hall, retail shops, restaurants, a salon, a bar and even apartments for rent.

Old World features a perpetually-spinning, life-size diorama of Bavarian dancers frozen in that most traditional of all German folk dances, "Ich sehe London, Ich sehe France."

An example of the available living spaces at Old World.
As soon as those plants grow long enough, the current
residents will be able to climb down and escape.

The Rathskeller is Huntington Beach's
oldest-operating, subterranean, German-themed bar.

Old World is home to an odd assemblage of retail storefronts that, nine times out of ten, are closed. Visiting on a weekday, Old World is a veritable ghost town. Even on the weekends, seeing another human being is a rarity and, aside from the occasional German patron quickly making their way from their Mercedes to the Market, one would quickly assume that this place is deserted. Unfortunately, it sits in the long and looming shadow cast by the overgrown, ultra-modern retail center across the street and rumors of demolition are constantly swirling. Sometimes, the creepy desolation works in its favor, however, and we pretend to be Jeremy and Jemima from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang just waiting for the Child Catcher to prance around the corner.

Old World used to be a bustling attraction. In fact, it was once a ground zero for Orange County's punk scene. Shows were a regular occurrence but episodes of underage drinking and violence eliminated all activities of that nature. Several shop owners have tried to bring about a renaissance to Old World's flagging economy. Scuda, a vintage clothing store, made an admirable attempt at attracting a younger demographic, but the foot traffic of OW was too weak and the lure of Long Beach's famed 4th Street just too strong. Once a year, during September and October, the sleepy little village comes alive with Oktoberfest Celebrations. Festivities include beer drinking, folk dancing and Dachshund Races!!!