Dad Loved Fred Allen

I just wanted to make a record of it before I forget that one of Dad's favorite comedians was Fred Allen.  Allen was intelligent and had great timing.  His voice was fun to listen to.  His face was terrifically expressive with so much terrific irony in his voice.  I remember Dad telling me with fondness and sadness, because Allen was no longer around (1894-1956), that his favorite comedian was Fred Allen.  And this after years of listening and watching Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Jack Benny, and other greats.  I personally enjoyed Steve Allen, though Steve Allen was more of a variety show host.  I enjoyed Don Rickles, who was a bit crass and obnoxious, but in later years I've come to appreciate that more.

Knute Rockne

It goes without saying that Dad loved Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy.  Dad told me that he used to listen to Notre Dame games on his transistor radio and that he loved hearing the announcer refers to Knute's name.

Frank Leahy 

Songs That Dad Loved:

Few things give me as much pleasure as seeing Dad sing and dance, whether with my mom or having fun by himself.  One of my Dad's favorite songs was Chattanooga Choo-Choo, written by Glenn Miller and performed by the Andrew Sisters.  However, I think that Dad would have also loved the version played by the Glenn Miller Orchestra and sung by Dorothy Dandridge and her two dancing companions, the Nicholas Brothers.  My dad loved Glenn Miller but he also enjoyed Benny Goodman.  Another tune that Dad used to enjoy was Glenn Miller's Pennsylvania 6-5000.  I don't remember Dad listening to too many Benny Goodman tunes, like "Sing, Sing, Sing."  I think that Dad liked the slower, rhythmic tunes, like "These Foolish Things." I'm sure that Dad loved Margaret Whiting's song "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve."

I know that Dad loved Tommy Dorsey's song "As Time Goes By" sung by him and by the beautiful Frances Langford, whose specialty, it seems, were songs of romance and longing.  There are songs for which my dad loved the lyrics, songs that made him happy and songs that activated him, revived wonderful moments in his life, and made him dance.. are other songs that spoke to him personally but may not have made him dance or made him feel particularly happy, maybe even rueful, songs with melancholy tones.  This is one of those songs, "I'll Be Seeing You" sung by Frances Langford.  Here, she sings "Nothing But Blue Skies."  Here she sings her signature piece, "I'm in the Mood for Love," though this tune was sung by so many from Doris Day to Louis Prima.  "It Might As Well Be Spring" is another one by Frances Langford that makes me think that Dad and Mom would have enjoyed. I could imagine the two of them listening to this song on a Saturday morning as they begin their weekend chores.  I think that Harry James' song "Sleepy Lagoon" was the background music to Mom and Dad's war years.  "Sleepy Lagoon" could be the song that they could go to to forget their concerns and worries. 

In Dad's retirement years, he enjoyed the Canadian singer, Anne Murray, a lot.  I don't know why.  Was it her rhythm?  Was it her lyrics of "Snowbird"?  I think that he just loved her upbeat voice.  "Snowbird" was her signature song.  There have been so many Canadian singers/songwriters over the years.  She was one of my dad's favorites.  One time when we were in Denver, Dad wanted to run out to get a paper and some sandwiches.  He pulled over at a park and took out his transistor radio, the sandwiches, and a beverage and we sat at a park bench--just me and my dad.  "Snowbird" played on the radio, and he flipped over it.  I remember him telling me "Listen to this terrific song."  I did, but I didn't hear what he heard.  He heard a strong rhythm.  I don't know which song of hers was his favorite--it probably was "Snowbird."  "Somebody's Always Sayin' Goodbye" is pretty good.  She was kind of the female version of John Denver.  Hearing these songs makes me miss my dad and miss having him share with me what it was that he liked.  It was a privilege that he took me into his confidence.