Tag Archives: American culture
Phil Ochs, American Balladeer Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 6, 2017
“My pen won’t pour out a lyric line when I’m gone So I guess I’ll have to do it while I’m here” This blog occasionally pays tribute to notable influencers of the English language and its culture. Today we’ll explore a lesser-known, but astonishingly talented and complicated individual – Phil Ochs. In the 1960s…
The (English) Language of Spies Posted by Gary Locke on Oct 19, 2017
They walk among us. If you spend enough time at an international airport, I guarantee that one will pass right in front of you. They hack, they listen, they watch from the shadows, they examine records, they find and exploit secrets, and they have been around for centuries. They are spies. In the most simplistic…
An American Classic: Who’s on First? Posted by Gary Locke on Oct 5, 2017
Baseball has been a part of Americana for over 150 years. It is celebrated in folklore, song, cinema, theater, art, and literature. It is also celebrated in comedy. There is one comedy routine which has been a part of American culture for 80 years, and almost every American is familiar with it. The old vaudeville…
Feeling Groovy! Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 28, 2017
When people politely ask me how I am, I frequently answer, “I’m groovy!” The most common response is, “I haven’t heard that word in a while.” It also brings a smile to their lips. Which, of course, is why I say it. People know what I mean, even if the word has essentially gone out…
How to Spend a Summer Vacation Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 3, 2017
If I asked you to name the world’s longest running musical you might not believe the answer. The Fantasticks opened on May 3, 1960 in a little theater in Greenwich Village in New York City and played for 42 years, with a total of 17,162 consecutive performances. Such plays are called Off-Broadway productions, because they…
Celebrating Thoreau Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 13, 2017
Henry David Thoreau was born in July 1817. He was one of the greatest minds in US history. Thoreau was an essayist, poet, philosopher, naturalist, historian, and social critic, and has continued to serve as an inspiration to people all over the world. His friend, poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, eulogized Thoreau by saying, “The country…
5 Patriotic Songs for the 4th of July Posted by sasha on Jul 4, 2017
It’s the 4th of July, which means Americans are wearing their red, white, and blue to celebrate the country’s Independence Day. All across the nation, people are gathering at parades, barbecues, and baseball games for the important holiday. In addition to lighting off fireworks and eating plenty of hot dogs, people will sing patriotic songs…