Friday, August 11, 2006

Mike Douglas

Mike DouglasAKA Michael Delaney Dowd, Jr.

Born: 11-Aug-1925
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Died: 11-Aug-2006
Location of death: North Palm Beach, FL
Cause of death: unspecified

Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Talk Show Host, Singer

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Host of 1970s Mike Douglas Show

Military service: US Navy (WWII, served on V-12 program, Oklahoma)

At 15, Mike Dowd was already a professional singer, earning free room and board plus $35 a week for singing pop standards on a cruise ship that sailed between Cleveland and Buffalo. Douglas served in the Navy during World War II, then signed with Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge. It was Kyser who gave Dowd his new name, without warning, by introducing him one night as Mike Douglas. When Walt Disney heard Douglas' singing, he asked him to croon as Prince Charming in Cinderella. Douglas later worked as a "staff singer" at NBC, before being offered his own show at a Cleveland TV station. It started in December 1961, but was quickly successful and syndicated, and relocated to Philadelphia from 1965-78, then Burbank from 1978-82. It was the top-rated daytime talk show during most of its run.

On one program, Barry Goldwater played his trombone, and on another, a 3-year-old golf prodigy named Tiger Woods putted on stage. Douglas often had co-hosts who would spend an entire week on his show, everyone from Barbra Streisand to Sammy Davis, Jr. to Joan Crawford and Joyce Randolph. Co-hosts helped interview guests in exchange for spending an entire week -- instead of just a few minutes -- plugging their latest projects.

In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-hosted for a week, with guests including Bobby Seale, Jerry Rubin, Ralph Nader, and George Carlin. Douglas squirmed and his staff struggled to keep political discourse to a minimum, and Lennon was told he could not perform the song "Gimme Some Truth" because it included an unflattering allusion to President Richard Nixon. In addition, he had to sit through Douglas' syrupy renditions of "Michelle" and "I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends." It was acclaimed as Douglas' finest week, and drew huge ratings. Backstage, though, producers and staff remember it as "a week everyone was very relieved to see end." The Mike Douglas Show was not normally a comfortable place for newfangled 1970s perspectives; its producer was a young Roger Ailes, who went on to craft Fox News as a right-wing TV beacon.

Douglas's legacy may be seen in the next generation of talk show hosts. Rosie O'Donnell was a big fan of The Mike Douglas Show, and has said that she admired and tried to emulate his warm and seemingly sincere attempt to make every guest feel truly welcome. Others have suggested that David Letterman's heightened insincerity and occasional iciness -- almost a parody of the standard-issue talk show -- was originally intended as mockery of Douglas' style. After a lengthy retirement Douglas died on his 81st birthday in 2006.

Father: Michael Delaney Dowd
Mother: Gertrude Smith
Brother: Robert
Sister: Helen
Wife: Genevieve Purnell (m. 1944, three daughters)
Daughter: Michelle (twin)
Daughter: Christine (twin)
Daughter: Kelly Anne

University: Oklahoma City University

Hollywood Walk of Fame 7001 Hollywood Blvd (television)

TELEVISION
The Mike Douglas Show

FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
The Incredible Shrinking Woman (30-Jan-1981) Himself
Nasty Habits (10-Oct-1977) Himself
Gator (20-Aug-1976)
Cinderella (15-Feb-1950)

Noah had a temporary meltdown last night before bed. Always a bit stressful even now when it happens though I should be used to it after this many years.

Been raining all night. I think we will likely have an early fall...it reminds me of fall outside now except it is too hot and muggy. To just take a quick glance out the window however...it reminds me of fall! It won't be long and it will be fall.....smell of fires in fireplaces and leaves crunching under our feet. The air crisp and cool. I love it!

Much to do here. Still not completely settled into the new house we are renting. STILL need some serious furniture and to finish putting things away. I desperately need some bookshelves and such to put the books away and finish my office area. Noah and I both could still use some bedroom furniture as we are still sleeping on air beds. We also still need living room furniture.

I sort of wish I had like 100,000.00. I could pay off any bills I have which are few....finish buying the furniture Noah and I need for the house....pay in advance for rent and power..etc.....BUY some insurance and medical coverage so I can get out from under my ex's help for that...and so we could have coverage that actually covers someone in our area since we moved out of state. I could then put money in the bank as a buffer....would be nice. Would mean I could keep working part-time if I wanted so I could have more time for Noah and homeschooling. I would not have to even contemplate worrying about things even a little bit (which I try NOT to do now about anything but it is difficult). Course if I had a ton of money I would want to help so many people and do so many things. I am so thankful for what I do have...don't get me wrong.

well...time for another cup of coffee.....and making breakfast...while I also work.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

wow it has been a long long time since I posted anything in here. Figured I would come back and start up again. Since this appears to be a place few frequent I could get away with posting a little more personal crap in here from time to time