chimesfreedom

The Search for Missing WWII Pilot Billie Harris

In honor of Flag Day, we take a look at a touching story from World War II. On a recent CBS Sunday Morning and CBS Evening News, Steve Hartman’s On the Road series followed a mystery of what happened to fighter pilot Billie Harris, who disappeared during World War II. On July 17, 1944, 1st Lt. Harris went on a mission over Nazi-occupied northern France and he never returned.

Harris’s widow, Peggy Harris of Vernon, Texas, never received official word about what happened to her husband. At one point, she was told he was missing, then that he was coming home, and then that he was dead and buried one place, and then that he was buried somewhere else. Peggy, who had married Billie just six weeks before he went off to war, began asking questions.

Through the decades, she continued looking for answers. Finally, Billie’s cousin found the answer in Billie’s military records. You may see part one of the story, “They Don’t Forget” below.

And here is part two of the story:

I got something in my eye near the end, around the point where we find out that there is a street in a town in France named after Billie. But it is worth watching the whole story.

What do you think of the story of Billie Harris? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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The Human Costs of World War II

D-Day Flays Open the Soul

Audie Murphy: To Hell and Back to Film to TV to Song

Franklin D. Roosevelt and “the Four Freedoms”

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Big Red Machine Reliever (and “Airplane!” Reference) Pedro Borbon Passes Away

On Monday, former Cincinnati Red reliever Pedro Borbon passed away from cancer in Texas at the age of 65. Borbon, who was born in the Dominican Republic, was an important part of the Big Red Machine teams that won world champions in 1975 and 1976. He pitched in more games than any other Major League Baseball pitcher during the period of 1970-1978. He holds the record for most pitching appearances in a Reds uniform and is in the Reds Hall of Fame.

Growing up in southern Ohio in the 1970s, I was a big fan of the colorful Borbon on my Cincinnati Reds. Most baseball fans discover the sport as kids, and there is nothing like discovering the sport as your team is becoming one of the all-time greats. The Reds manager Sparky Anderson earned the nickname “Captain Hook” for pulling his starting pitchers so much in those days, and one of the reasons he could do so with confidence was because he had Borbon in the bullpen. During Borbon’s Reds’ career, he played in 20 post-season games with an ERA of 2.55.

Borbon had another claim to fame in that he was mentioned in the movie Airplane! (1980). In the film, Ted Striker (played by Robert Hays) is trying to concentrate while hearing voices in his head, including a public address announcer saying “Pinch hitting for Pedro Borbon . . . Manny Mota.” From what I can tell, although Borbon had some short stints on a few other teams like the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, he never played on the same team as record-breaking pinch-hitter Manny Mota. The writers probably chose the Manny Mota reference because Mota was well-known as a pinch hitter, but I have not seen an explanation for why the writers chose Borbon among all the Major League pitchers. Perhaps they chose him because he was well-known, or because he was good, or maybe because he was a colorful character. Among other antics, during on-field brawls he used his teeth on a Mets hat and on Pirates player Daryl Patterson (who then had to get a tetanus shot).

Borbon’s son recently noted that his father often talked about the movie reference: “A lot of people remember him by that. He liked that.” At Borbon’s request, there is not going to be a memorial service in Texas. But I hope he does not mind that I thank him for the memories he gave me by playing the Airplane! clip that he liked. RIP.

Kenny Rogers: “The Greatest”

Roberto Clemente: Twenty-One Feet Tall

Say Hey: Willie Mays and “The Catch”

Early Baseball: The Glory of Their Times

Hammerin’ Hank

The Babe Ruth Story (and Funeral)

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E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Anniversary

It is hard to believe that it has been that long, but on June 11, 1982, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) first appeared in movie theaters. The film, directed by a 34-year-old Steven Spielberg and written by screenwriter Melissa Mathison, told the story of the children who found the little alien far away from home.

Reportedly, Spielberg drew on his own lonely experience as a child of divorce in telling the story. The movie featured excellent performances by child actors Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton, and Drew Barrymore.

One cannot dispute the classic status of E.T., although for some odd reason it only has a low 65% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, perhaps due to over-exposure through the years? Still, it has a stellar 98% critics rating.

Did you know that the original idea for the film was to have a family terrorized by an alien? Also, at one point Spielberg planned a sequel to E.T. with E.T. rescuing the family from other aliens.

Check out the video below for some trivia about the classic film.

In honor of the 30th anniversary of the film, one writer noted similarities between Spielberg’s Poltergeist (1982) and E.T. Also, in celebration of the anniversary, a new specially remastered Blu-ray version of E.T. was released. It might be something to phone home about.

Why do you think the film has such a low audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes? What is your favorite scene in E.T.? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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Everything You Wanted to Know About “Jaws”

Steven Spielberg’s New Film with “Daniel Day-Lewis” as Obama

Can You Catch Frank William Abagnale Jr.?

The Sound of “Lincoln”

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“Did You Ever Grow Anything in the Garden of Your Mind?”

The “viral video of the week” features everyone’s childhood friend, Fred Rogers. Symphony of Science’s mash up artist John Boswell put together a remix from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood to create a far-out song featuring the refrain, “Did you ever grow anything in the garden of your mind.” The video is an official production of PBS Digital Studios.

Even if you already thought Mr. Rogers had a psychedelic side, check out the video below.

The YouTube website promises that this video is the first of PBS icon remixes that will be released.

What PBS icon would you like to see remixed? Leave your two cents in the comments.

Goth Meets Opera on America’s Got Talent

What Tarantino’s “Star Trek” Might Look Like

New Honest Trailer for “The Princess Bride”

Billy on the Street Thanksgiving Parade

Batman vs. Superman, Old School

10 Years of YouTube

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Goth Meets Opera on America’s Got Talent

One of the highlights of NBC’s America’s Got Talent show this season so far was this week’s appearance by Andrew De Leon in the Austin, Texas auditions. As De Leon explains below, he has been treated as a bit of an outcast for his Goth looks and had never before sang in front of anyone. When he first opens his mouth to sing, the sound is so unexpected that you do not know whether it is going to be terrible or not. But then you realize that the guy can sing. Check out the video below (after a short commercial).

If you are wondering what he is singing, it is “O mio babbino caro” (“Oh My Beloved Father”) a soprano aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi (1918) by Giacomo Puccini. You may read a short description of the context of the aria on NPR’s website, which also has an audio performance by opera singer Amada Squitieri.

As for De Leon’s performance, it is always a nice surprise when someone does something unexpected. As you can see in the video, judges Howie Mandel, Howard Stern and Sharon Osbourne all voted for De Leon to stay in the competition, so we will be seeing him again.

June 27, 2012 Update: After De Leon stumbled a bit from nerves in Las Vegas, the judges voted to eliminate him from the competition. I think the judges blew it. What do you think?

August 22, 2012 Update: He’s back! Howie Mandel brought De Leon back for the Wild Card show, where the judges brought back contestants for a second chance. De Leon delivered, and America voted for him to continue in the competition.

What did you think of Andrew De Leon’s performance? Leave your two cents in the comments.