Well, it's Thursday and time for my web feature: "Friday Movie Suggestion Night". As I did last week, this movie is for Sahara Aldridge as well, since she digs basketball. But first, I owe you guys an "update" on our local "grass roots" project to help promote The Sahara Aldridge Benefit concert in Missouri on December 8th.
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Yesterday, I proofed the artwork for the window panel signage that will be affixed to our Tour Bus for the trip from Cincinnati to Cape Giradeau on December 7th. Made some changes, but I should have the finished product back from the designers on Friday. The signage will feature Sahara's photo to the LEFT, a basketball to the RIGHT with top and bottom over/under arches that read "SAHARA EXPRESS". The Cincinnati Police will make sure our bus driver has a reserved parking spot in front of The Westin Hotel and they will also escort us outside the city limits. I will pick up the signed Proclamation from Mayor Mark Mallory in-person, and carry it with me on the Tour Bus to Sahara and her parents to keep. The Mayor of Cincinnati, Mark Mallory will Proclaim December 8, 2006 as "Sahara Aldridge Day" here in this city of 1.5 million people.
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With the major newspaper, magazine and television stations aware of the story, I am only waiting out the "Sweeps" rating period so I can get the project before the public on television. My Thanks to The Show Me Center for taking the pressure off of me, by holding a block of 55 seats! I've done about 8 telephone interviews with magazines, radio stations and newspapers including a very nice piece in The Southeast Missourian (www.semissourian.com). The worldwide webcast went well. My focus now will be on the following 5 core areas: (A.) National Television Media; (B.) National Radio Media; (C.) Local Television and (D.) Local Radio to include our "Official Radio Station" WGRR, Oldies 103.5 FM. They will endeavor to interview Rick Springfield. (E.) I will be drafting proposals to local Foundations to cover costs associated with the bus and perhaps some design work on signage. That will begin Friday and continue onward through the weekend.
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Lastly, I am working to secure 55 parking spots donated for our participants, along with a local coffee company to consider providing pastry and coffee for our passengers on December 7th. The Security detail is covered. And then we can look forward to the local newspaper coverage of the event as well. B
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My Blog Bud Teresa ("The Life and Times of a Cool Single Mom") gave me the idea for this flick, HOOSIERS--an incrediblesports film, starring Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, and Dennis Hopper, in an Oscar-nominated performance. In the story, Hackman is a basketball coach with a somewhat checkered past who arrives in Milan, Indiana to take control of a tiny high school team along with a one time basketball star-turned alcoholic as a side kick to help the team rise against all odds to win the state basketball championship. This is a classic story of redemption, with Hackman as volatile Coach Norman Dale, a pesky teacher and a town full of wimpy fathers, and a bunch of undisciplined athletes. Directed by David Anspaugh and Written by Angelo Pizzo. The tagline says it all: "They needed a second chance to finish first."
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The Cast:Gene Hackman .... Coach Norman Dale; Barbara Hershey .... Myra Fleener; Dennis Hopper .... Shooter; ShebWooley .... Cletus; Fern Persons .... Opal Fleener; Chelcie Ross .... George; Robert Swan .... Rollin; Michael O'Guinne .... Rooster; Wil Dewitt .... Rev. Doty; John Robert Thompson .... Sheriff Finley; and Michael Sassone .... Preacher Purl.
IN THE STUDIO "LIVE'" ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB, OUR FRIDAY MOVIE AND SAHARA PROJECT UPDATE!
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Among Sahara Aldridge's hobbies is: "basketball". So, that's where I'm taking "Friday Movie Suggestion Night". This is not to detract from her other interests (Cats, Shopping and Cheesecake), but this is a movie that restores HOPE! For those of you just joining us, I publish this feature on Thursdays to allow those who follow it closely to have enough time to access the movie via Netflix, their local libraries or movie rental outlet.
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Here's the Plot: Samuel L. Jackson plays Ken Carter, a successful sporting goods store owner, who--very much like me is shocked and dismayed at what has become of many high schools across America. In a display of Character and Courage, he makes the bold decision to accept the the job of Coaching Basketball for his old high school---located in a poor area of Richmond, California, where he was once a champion athlete. What he finds is poor attitudes of the basketball team players, little or no regard for respecting themselves (much less others) and lastly, their dismal performance. Carter has had enough! Immediately after he is hired, he "lays down the law" and imposes strict discipline. That means written "contracts" that demand respectful behavior, a dress code and making good grades in order to participate. So, yes--this is a movie about basketball. But it's also a movie about LIFE!
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I am posting this because my own "grass roots" project to roll a tour bus filled with 56 people on December 7th from Cincinnati to Cape Girardeau, Missouri is not just about a GREAT Rock & Roll concert . It is about supporting Sahara with our presence. Email me with your confirmed hotel reservations at Drury Lodge after you've secured a concert ticket to the show. The bus ride is free of charge. Let's make a good showing for Sahara to encourage her towards a full recovery!w
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One young man who has reached out to me from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music Radio Station is the legendary Chip Pratt (mentioned in yesterday's BLOG POST). Chip has a Saturday Night Radio Show called: "Saturday Night Live with the Chipster"--a 70's and 80's Rock & Roll request show. You can all tune in worldwide THIS SATURDAY NIGHT at 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time (US) by logging onto: www.bearcast.uc.edu and hear my Guest Appearance. Chip and I will be "Live in the Studio" 60 minutes to tell Sahara's story and to fill our bus.
Welcome to my Blog Page! Some of you are stopping by here for the very first time. So, I would like you to take a moment and meet the precious little girl pictured above. Her name is Sahara Aldridge. She lives in Missouri and loves "basketball, cats, shopping, cheesecake and music". I ask you. Who among us would not love to have such a precious girl for a daughter? While Amy and Shannon, Sahara's Mom and Dad are blessed, they are also in need of our supportiveness. Here's why. Sahara is fighting a Stage 4 malignant glioblastoma in her brainstem. She is being treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Like Sahara, I too am a Rick Springfield fan. His shows are what Rock and Roll is supposed to sound like. I wanted to do something on a "grass roots level" and if you want to join me here's how we can support Sahara, and her family by attending The Benefit Concert for Sahara Aldridge in style!
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First: Get Your December 8th Concert Tickets ASAP by Telephoning Ticketmaster Outlets to Charge-By-Phone at (573) 651-5000. Ticket prices are $25 and $35. The concert will be held at The Show Me Center at S.E. Missouri State University, 1333 N. Sprigg Street, Cape Girardeau. MO. 63701-6999.
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Second: The Official Hotel for the concert is the DRURY LODGE in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. I've arranged for the hotel to hold 30 Rooms with two Full Size beds and 20 Rooms with King Size beds for ticket purchasers at a reduced rate of $69.00 plus tax for December 7th--one day before the concert. All rooms include full breakfast buffet the morning of the show! To receive this rate, the ticket buyer needs to access this website:www.druryhotels.com. Click On: "Book It Fast", then enter Code # 262455 and proceed to book your room. Now the FUN part!
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Third: If you live in or near Cincinnati, I have reserved a Luxury Tour Bus with 55 seats, DVD/CD and TV screens, a restroom and plenty of leg room. There is no charge for the bus, however, I require FIRM COMMITMENTS from 55 people As Soon As Possible. We will be leaving from the newly renovated Fountain Square in the center of downtown Cincinnati on December 7th at 9:00 a.m. for the 7-hour bus ride to Cape Girardeau. By "Firm Commitments", that means you MUST have purchased a Concert Ticket and booked your own Hotel Room online at the DRURY LODGE. Then E-mail me with your Confirmation Numbers so I can coordinate the transportation. Once the seats are taken up, we will make a "State of the Heart" demonstration of our supportiveness to Sahara and her family with our presence. Here again is my E-mail: michaelmanninginfo@GMail.com. Leave your name, daytime and night time telephone numbers (with Area Codes) and include your ticket and hotel Confirmation Numbers. I will contact each one of you personally and we will get you on a list.
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This is a "once in a lifetime" event to make a demonstrable difference in the life of a little girl who deserves to be on this planet. She is unmistakably but one example of what is "right" about this world and I can't imagine a better experience! I sincerely look forward to meeting each of you before the show on December 7th at the hotel. The following day (day of show) Mayor Mark Mallory will proclaim December 8th as "Sahara Aldridge Day" in Cincinnati, Ohio! I'll be presenting Sahara and her family with the Proclamation. Together, we can do this!
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My good friend in Sarasota, Florida--Radio and TV personalityDoug Mileswith WIBQ Sunny 1220 "News/Talk" Radio will have me as a Guest this week. We are taping our radio interview tomorrow morning. It will run 3 days. That's because there is a large Cincinnati and Toledo, Ohio contingent living in Sarasota. Meanwhile, I pledge to keep all of you fully informed as we move forward this week with the project!
At Noon today, the owner of Lakefront Bus Lines--the largest Touring Coach operator in Ohio offered to provide us a Luxury Coach and a driver at a 10% discount. With time running out, I slapped the expense of the bus on one of my Credit Cards and so the deal is done. I really have no idea how I'm going to pay that bill. But I am a man of Faith and I've been around long enough to know this: "We live but once". There were several factors that drove me to make this decision. Time is running out on this concert. Tickets are selling fast and I can assure you it WILL be "SOLD OUT"; the rooms at the Drury Inn will be "SOLD OUT" and God-Willing, I intend to fill our brand new Tour Bus with 56 passengers. I moved rapidly to secure the bus because there was---literally---no time to beg or plead for someone to write a check or hand over a wad of cash. I'll address that later on my own. Here are the details of what is next for those of you who are willing to join me in the commitment to support Sahara, her Mother Amy and Father Shannon:
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THE BUS:will leave downtown Cincinnati from the newly renovated Fountain Square at 9:00 A.M. on December 7th for the 7-hour road trip to Cape Giradeau, Missouri. I have put in a call to Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and I've filed the necessary request forms for Mayor Mallory to consider making an appearance to greet all of us and see us off the morning of our departure. Mayor Mallory is very busy, but I am certain he will join us if his schedule allows. You'll need to rush and purchase a ticket to the show by telephoning Ticketmaster Outlets to Charge-By-Phone at (573) 651-5000. Ticket prices are $25 and $35. OUR BUS: is a deluxe MCI motor coach that joined the Lakefront fleet in November, 2005. Lakefront is the largest privately owned bus company in the State of Ohio and they pride themselves with the newest fleet of vehicles. Our Coach holds 56 passengers; has larger windows for viewing, DVD and VCR players with monitors, CD players, a restroom, and reclining seats to make our journey fun and comfortable. Lakefront carries $10,000,000.00 of insurance for your protection. They have recently been awarded the highest Honors by both TheU.S. Department of Transportation and The U.S. Department of Defense.
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HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS:The Official Hotel for the Benefit Concert for Sahara Aldridge is the DRURY LODGE in Cape Giradeau. The hotel is holding a limited block of rooms for Rick Springfield Fan Club and ticket purchasers. All rooms include full breakfast buffet each morning. Our discounted rate is $69.00 plus tax. To receive this rate, the ticket buyer needs to access this website:www.druryhotels.com. Click On "Book It Fast", then enter # 262455 and proceed to book your room. The hotel is holding 30 ROOMS with 2 Full Size Beds and 20 ROOMS with King Size beds for us. Debit Cards or Credit Cards, or Cash payment on the day of Check-In are preferred. However, I strongly encourage those who are joining the "Manning Group" to book online ASAP!
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THE CONCERT:7:30 P.M. December 8th at the Show Me Center located at S.E. Missouri State University, 1333 N. Sprigg Street, Cape Giradeau. MO. 63701-6999. I will be handing over The Proclamation of "Sahara Aldridge Day"in Cincinnati from Mayor Mark Mallory to The Aldridge Family the day of the performance. Sahara's mother Amy has been in touch with me and she was so gracious with her Love and sends her sincere appreciation to all of you who have been holding up Sahara with your thoughts and prayers.
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The remainder of today will be spent working very diligently with The News Media and once I have their commitment, I will be sharing their logos, providing credits and conveying of course their love to all of you.
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One note: Those of you boarding the Tour Bus with me, You will need to e-mail me with your verified Ticket and Hotel information and telephone number. If you are outside the Cincinnati area, remember to include your Area Code. There are 55 seats available and when they are gone. That's it. This concert is selling quickly so please. If you are thinking about committing, "Now is the hour", truly! Again it's: michaelmanninginfo@GMail.com.
AUTHORS NOTE: THIS BLOG POST WAS WRITTEN JUST ONE-DAY BEFORE WE ACQUIRED A BUS THAT I HAVE DECIDED TO DUB "THE SAHARA EXPRESS" TO ACCENTUATE THE POINT THAT SAHARA IS WINNING AND WILL ULTIMATELY TRIUMPH AND KICK CANCER IN THE BUTT. IN JUST THE PAST 24 HOURS (AS YOU WILL READ IN THE BLOG POST ABOVE THIS ONE, WE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS. THE CINCINNATI COMMUNITY IS COMING TOGETHER TO SHOW SAHARA, AMY, AND SHANNON THAT LOVE AND COMPASSION TRANSCENDS MERE STATE LINES. PLEASE JOIN US ALL! WE NEED YOU AND WE WANT YOU! :)
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Yesterday (Monday, November 6th) began with a very productive meeting at the Office of Mark Mallory, our new Mayor in Cincinnati. My next stop was Television stations.
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A lovely lady who had spent many years as a Nurse and understood Sahara Aldridges' current medical challenge was the Television Station Receptionist. And she thoughtfully read over my BLOG. After about 20 minutes of great conversation, she telephoned an Assistant News Director! He was in a meeting, so that gave me more time to listen to this amazing woman speak about health matters. When the Assistant News Editor appeared in the Lobby, he couldn't have been nicer or more patient. As he read the print out of my BLOG, I did my best to persuade--from the heart--what a wonderful opportunity we have to support the Concert Benefit for Sahara Aldridge. We agreed tentatively for an on-camera interview.
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"If you or someone you love has Cancer--we want you; If you have a daughter Sahara's age who is healthy and feel thankful for that, we want you; if you want to help raise Cancer awareness, we want you; if you are a Cancer patient in remission and you want to be there to lend support to Sahara, Amy, and Shannon we want you to attend this incredible event. Join us on the bus and "Be the Difference that Makes the Difference!"A bus filled with good, caring people to attend the show in Missouri will be a wonderful way to communicate caring.
This BLOG post is going to be updated as the December 8th Benefit Concert for Sahara Aldridge nears. This morning I have decided to make an attempt from Cincinnati to put together a bus load of local people to attend this show. Each day to me is a fresh canvas--so to speak--upon which we create our opportunities. So, with this in mind, what I have decided to "attempt" is to pull together some Media Contacts and see if there is a way to win over hearts and minds to rapidly secure at least one Chartered Bus load of 43 people--Bloggers or non--to attend Sahara's benefit show in Missouri. This is a positive way to show our support to Sahara, and her Family to help make this very worthwhile initiative "Rock"--and for us all to have fun at the same time! SO...If any of you are in the area feel motivated to make a run at this with me, please e-mail me with your expression of serious interest. Include your name, e-mail address and telephone number (include the area code). This will allow me to meet with various officials to crunch some numbers quickly to see what we can accomplish together. I will continue to keep you apprised of my progress without over-promising. My ability to deliver here is incumbent on the response that I receive from the "Tri-State" area (Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky) The City of Cincinnati, the Mayor's Office, local Media outlets and a bus company I have in mind. Let's see what we can do together! My Contact is: michaelmanninginfo@GMail.com.
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I learned aboutSahara from watching CNN Headline News. They reported on Rick Springfield's benefit concert for her. Sahara is battling Cancer--a stage 4 malignant glioblastoma in her brainstem. She is being treated atMD Anderson Cancer Centerin Houston, Texas. The show is scheduled for December 8, 2006 at7:30 PM at the Show Me Center, S.E. Missouri State University, 1333 N. Sprigg Street, Cape Giradeau. MO. 63701-6999. The Official Hotel for the Rick Springfield Benefit Concert for Sahara Aldridge is the DRURY LODGE in Cape Giradeau. All rooms include full breakfast buffet each morning. The discounted rate is $69.00 plus tax. To receive this rate, call the hotel directly at (573) 334-7151 and identify the Pass Code of: SHOWME. Additional information about the hotel and services offered can be obtained from their website at www.druryhotels.com.
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The Show Me Center is donating the facility, rental fees and staff time. All net ticket revenue after staffing, production and transportation costs will be donated to "Help For Hoops" to help defray Sahara's medical expenses. Tickets are on sale at: Show Me Center (http://www.showmecenter.biz/) and Ticketmaster Outlets (http://www.ticketmaster.com/). Ticket prices are $35 & $25 and you may Charge-By-Phone at(573)651-5000.To get caught up on the very latest, visit Sahara's site at: http://saharaaldridge.blogspot.com .
Blog bud Lisabindacity made a comment about six weeks ago that she likes Westerns. So do many of us and naturally, this got me thinking. I wanted to come up with a Western that was side-splitting-funny and enjoyable. Here's the result: 1969's spoof of a Western movie SUPPORTYOUR LOCAL SHERIFF starring James Garner as a stranger "just passing through town on his way to Australia". I couldn't help but notice that this character in the movie had been "on his way to Australia" for four years. So something was obviously up! Let's have a look-sie!
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This hilarious movie centers on a town that has already gone through three sheriffs (two were killed and the third ran away). Then Jason McCullough (James Garner) rides into this lawless and kooky town. His first stop is the saloon where he witnesses Joe Danby (Bruce Dern) kill another man in a gunfight. The Danbys are the local ranchers who rule by fear and intimidation and rip just about everbody off on the planet. Ah, but that is about to change. Garner applies for the job of Sheriff and the Mayor (Harry Morgan) and the town council are desperate to hire anyone! Garner's first order of business is to arrest Joe Danby for murder since the gunfight he'd witnessed that was--shall we say far from fair? The only trouble is, the jail doesn't have any bars on the cells because they're on order and haven't arrived yet! Bwahaha! And the rest you'll have to watch for yourselves. But let me give you a few clues about this film. The Deputy is a man named Jake (Jack Elam) whose resume is about as inspiring as Garner's; Jake's previous job was cleaning up the livery stable. So, yes there is a steep "learning curve"! The mayor's daughter, Prudy (JoanHackett), develops a crush on Jason (Garner) but let's just say she's accident-prone. But wait, there's more! We also have killer Joe's Pa (Walter Brennan) who rides into town with Joe's two brothers Tom (Gene Evans) and Luke (Dick Peabody) to get Joe out of jail. Pa gets more than he bargained for when Garner turns the tables on the hoods with comedy that leaves one gunfighter hired to kill him dead, and the next one run out of after Garner throws rocks at him. The attempted prison break defies description! This is one of the more enjoyable movies for this time of year. And it leaves you laughing and wanting more!
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The Cast:James Garner-Jason McCullough; Joan Hackett-Prudy Perkins; Walter Brennan-Pa Danby; Harry Morgan-Olly Perkins; Jack Elam-Jake; Henry Jones-Henry Jackson; Bruce Dern-Joe Danby ; Willis Bouchey-Thomas Devery ; Gene Evans-Tom Danby; Walter Burke-Fred Johnson; Dick Peabody-Luke Danby; Chubby Johnson-Brady; Kathleen Freeman-Mrs. Danvers; Dick Haynes-Barkeeper; Directed by: Burt Kennedy; Written by: William Bowers.
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Golden Laurel Awards: 1970: 2nd place:Male Comedy Performance:James Garner;Nominated: Golden Laurel, Comedy: 4th place. Writers Guild of America:Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen:William Bowers.
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A Cool bit of trivia: Character actor Jack Elam was best known for his roles as the scene-stealing, wild-eyed villain in Westerns my late Father loved such as Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and Once Upon a Time in the West. He died in 2003. A Hollywood accountant in the late 40s, Elam worked in bit parts until his tough-guy role opposite Tyrone Power in 1951's Rawhide, proved to be his "break". Roles in High Noon, Rancho Notorious, Kiss Me Deadly and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral followed. By the late 60s, Jack turned more towards comedy, parodying his longtime villain status in movies like Once Upon a Time in the West, Support Your Local Sheriff and Rio Lobo. Instantly recognizable by his immobile cockeye (the result of a scuffle as a 12 year-old), Elam worked mainly in television through the 80s and early 90s; in 1994, Jack Elam was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers in the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. I'm telling you: This is one hell of a funny movie.
Basically, I'm a Public Relations Consultant with a background in Broadcast News. I've worked as a Reporter and Anchor with PBS, ABC, CBS & NBC affiliates and in Cable Television. I'm active in Radio & Television Commercials, Guest Speaking engagements and I enjoy writing, music and sports.
