Dispatch #416: A Tale of Two Shootings

 

FWPD SWAT team vs.76-year-old woman.

On the morning of Thursday, March 7th, FWPD responded to a call from employees of a tree-service company working on Central Drive. According to a local news report, those workers told police a woman in the neighborhood had threatened them.

When FWPD arrived on the scene, the woman, identified as Corrine Ann Nahrwald, a 76-year-old white woman, emerged from her home and fired a gun.

Officers returned fire, striking Nahrwald in the leg. She was eventually taken into custody and is currently hospitalized in non-life-threatening condition.

Despite the initially jarring images on local TV of a highly militarized FWPD presence outside the home of an elderly woman, I couldn't help but remember the very different police response to DaChe'na Warren-Hill a few months ago.

Hill, a twenty-year-old Black woman, was unarmed when she was shot and killed by FWPD office Mark A. Guzman in November 2023.  

One has to wonder what impact implicit bias had on the FWPD response to Hill, who was fatally shot seconds after the responding officer arrived on the scene—despite being unarmed and driving away from that officer. 

Nahrwald's interaction with the FWPD was quite different: despite firing a gun in the direction of multiple officers, she received a non-lethal shot in response, and—after a prolonged negotiation—was taken into custody and hospitalized for her injury. 

So why was one Fort Wayne woman shown mercy and patience by the FWPD and the other a victim of a rapid extra-judicial execution? The answer might be as simple as black and white.

There's more to come in the next dispatch.

©2024 SummitCityScribe

Dispatch #415: Rothchilds Toffee

 

Rothchilds Toffee

In Dispatch #413, I wrote about the first time I watched a US President deliver a State of the Union speech. My research into the subject sent me down an internet rabbit-hole of 1970s history & trivia.

Which brings me to Rothchilds Toffee. During the Carter Administration, a series of commercials for Rothchilds began airing on TV. They were shown so frequently that I saw them nearly every weekday afternoon when I got home from school. 

In the ads, people who'd just popped a Rothchilds toffee into their mouths explained they simply couldn't engage in any other activities until they'd completely finished savoring that delicious candy.

The title card from Robert Gorman's Rothchilds ad

My favorite of these commercials featured actor Patrick Gorman as a 17th century swordsman whose duel is delayed by the timely consumption of a Rothchilds candy.

Rothchilds toffee came in three flavors: chocolate, caramel, and butterscotch. Although I remember seeing them at the candy counter in local drugstores during the late 1970s, I don't ever recall buying any—despite those inescapable TV ads.

This didn't prevent my friends and I from uttering the catchphrase from those commercials—"not now, I'm in the middle of a Rothchilds!"—nearly every chance we got back then, which I'm pretty sure we all believed to be the height of hilarity.

Rothchilds toffee faded from the scene sometime in the 1980s, consigned to the candy graveyard of yesteryear. If you hear the name Rothschilds these days, it's likely from a wacky conspiracy theory promoted by right-wing nutcase Marjorie Taylor Green involving Jewish space lasers.

Frankly, I'd rather watch those 1970s Toffee commercials in an endless loop for all eternity than listen to one second of that woman's antisemitic drivel.

"Not now, Marjorie—I'm in the middle of a Rothchilds!"

There's more to come in the next dispatch.

©2024 SummitCityScribe

Dispatch #413: Tasteless but Timely

 

President Carter's State of the Union Address—Jan. 23rd, 1979

This Thursday, President Biden will deliver his fourth State of the Union speech to the nation, which made me wonder: when was the first time I watched one of those nationally televised addresses?

I didn't really pay much attention to politics until my teen years, so the first State of the Union speech I ever saw on TV was probably one given by our 39th President, Jimmy Carter.

I don't remember if I watched Jimmy's SOTU address on January 23rd,1979, but I did see Saturday Night Live's version of it four nights later on January 27th (with host Michael Palin and musical guests The Doobie Brothers). 

As usual, Dan Ackroyd impersonated the President, this time giving the SOTU address while suffering from an attack of hemorrhoids—just as Carter was in real life at the time.

TV Guide's SOTU Close-Up with Preparation H ad beneath.

Judging by the strategically placed ad in that week's edition of TV Guide (see above photo) American Home Products—manufacturers of Preparation H—also decided to cash in on the President's painful affliction. 

Much like the SNL sketch, the ad placement was pretty tasteless—but timely, nevertheless. 

There's more to come in the next dispatch.

©2024 SummitCityScribe

Dispatch #412: Some Thoughts on Racism

 

  Recently, an online controversy erupted when Conservatives angrily rejected the idea that Black folks can't be racist. As I see it, their problem stems from the continued refusal of those on the Right to acknowledge systemic racism. 

  Look, Black folks can exhibit racial prejudice against white folks, but while such behavior is bigotry, it isn't racism, for the simple fact that racism = prejudice + power.

 For Blacks to be considered racist, they would have to systemically benefit from that bigotry, and in the history of the USA, only one group has ever benefitted from such a system: white folks.

  That's why it's so ludicrous when rich white folks like Elon Musk and Bill Ackman claim that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs are racist, when, in fact, those programs are meant to help combat racism.  

  Musk and Ackman whine that such programs amount to "racism against white people"—which is not only something that doesn't exist (see the helpful formula three paragraphs above) but on Jeopardy would probably be known as "Things White Supremacists Say".

  To summarize: black folks can be bigoted, but not racist. White folks, on the other hand, can be both (re: Musk and Ackman)

  As an eternal optimist, I continue to believe that someday all of us will live together free from the blight of racial strife—but when one side fails to even acknowledge the existence of systemic racism, that struggle remains an uphill battle.

Update: Just read this interesting article from the UK's Guardian which contains this very pertinent quote:

 There's more to come in the next dispatch.

 ©2024 SummitCityScribe

Dispatch #410: Richard Lewis (1947-2024)

 

Richard Lewis as King John in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)

  When I read about the death of Richard Lewis, my first thoughts were about the many times he made me laugh over the years—in his stand-up specials, late-night talk show appearances, and series like Anything but Love and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

 I was also reminded of the time during the 1990s when I had a brief exchange with the legendary comic on the streets of NYC.

  It was a sunny Tuesday afternoon—July 18th, 1995—and I was on the Upper West side of Manhattan, walking south along Broadway.

 Minutes before, I'd purchased a brand-new LaserDisc at Tower Records—this was the 1990s, remember—and was carrying it in one of Tower's iconic bright yellow plastic bags as I walked along.

One of Tower Records' bright yellow bags

  Before I go any further, a brief digression: the Upper West Side Tower Records opened at 66th Street and Broadway in 1983, just north of Lincoln Center. This 24,000 sq. ft. store sold all kinds of music but was renowned for its wide selection of jazz and classical.

  In 1994, however, the building housing that Tower underwent a massive renovation, requiring the music retailer to find a temporary home for nearly two years until that work was completed.

The Ansonia Building, 2109 Broadway, NYC

 

 Tower settled on a similar-sized space just a few blocks north, in the basement of the Ansonia Building, on Broadway between 73rd and 74th Street—which also served as the inspiration for the fictional Arconia in Only Murders in the Building.

 From 1968 to 1976, the Ansonia's basement space was home to The Continental Baths, where performers such as Bette Midler and Barry Manilow got their start. Then, from 1977 to 1980, it was home to Plato's Retreat, a seedy swinger's hangout.

  My knowledge of NYC history was still nascent in 1995, however, meaning I knew nothing about the former inhabitants of Tower's temporary home. Before that time, I was really only aware of the Ansonia from the movies I'd seen it in—such as 1992's Single White Female.

  Anyway, when Richard Lewis stopped me that July afternoon on the Upper West Side—having spotted the bright yellow bag in my hand—and asked where Tower Records had moved, I put aside my surprise, pointed over my shoulder, and explained that it was in the Ansonia's basement. The comic nodded and offered his thanks before heading north on Broadway.

  Twenty-nine years later, that ten-second exchange remains one of my favorite celebrity encounters—primarily for how mundane it was. Sure, I didn't get to tell Richard Lewis how hilarious I thought he was, but I did help him find Tower's temporary home, and that's pretty cool.

The renovated Tower Records at 66th St. & Broadway.

  Over a year later, on November 16th, 1996, I was on hand when Elton John, NY mayor Rudy Guiliani, and Placido Domingo cut the ribbon outside the completely refurbished—and greatly expanded (45,000 sq ft)—Tower Records at 66th and Broadway. 

  After nearly two years at a rented spot beneath the Ansonia, Tower was finally back at its home at 1961 Broadway, near Lincoln Center. It was a truly great store and I loved shopping there, but as the public increasingly turned to the internet for their music, the location eventually closed in December 2006.

  English poet Geoffrey Chaucer is credited with the expression "all good things must come to an end" which one could apply both to Tower Records and the life and career of Richard Lewis. For me, the two will always be inextricably intertwined in my memory.

There's more to come in the next dispatch.

©2024 SummitCityScribe

Dispatch #409: Charles Dierkop 1936-2024

 

Angie Dickison, Ed Bernard, Earl Holliman, Charles Dierkop

  Sad news out of Hollywood: actor Charles Dierkop has died at age 87. As a 1970s kid, I remember him primarily for his role at Detective Pete Royster on Angie Dickinson's 1974-1978 cop show, Police Woman.

  Mr. Dierkop's passing ends Police Woman's run as the oldest American TV show with the entire regular cast still living. As of this writing, Dierkop's co-stars Angie Dickinson (92), Earl Holliman (95), and Ed Bernard (84) are still going strong.

  There was also another Hollywood passing quite recently—comic/actor Richard Lewis—but as I had a brief interaction with Mr. Lewis once in NYC, I'll save that story for next time.

Charles Dierkop (1936-2024)

There's more to come in the next dispatch.

©2024 SummitCityScribe

Dispatch #407: A Killing on Babcock Drive, Part Three

   In distressing local news, Allen County Prosecutor Michael McAlexander has declined to charge Fort Wayne police officer Mark A. Guzman for shooting 20-year-old DaChe'na Warren-Hill.

 Back in Dispatch #383, I guessed this would be the case. Much like his former boss, Karen Richards, McAlexander "always backs the blue", which makes for a catchy political slogan but like so many Republican stances, smacks of fascism. 

 Police, like any other public servants, should be supported when they perform their jobs well, but held to account when mistakes are made. 

  A local doctor can face a malpractice suit for a botched procedure and a teacher fired for striking a student, but no charges are brought when a member of the FWPD hits a pedestrian with their car or shoots an unarmed young woman?

  Since the Allen County prosecutor has chosen to "back the blue" instead of letting a local jury examine the facts, the only hope for the family of DaChe'na Warren-Hill to find justice now is to attract the attention of a high-profile lawyer like Benjamin Crump or to get the Justice Department involved. 

  By this point I'm sure that I sound like a broken record, but I'll say it once again: it is long past time for a citizen's review board—aka civilian oversight of law enforcement—in Fort Wayne. 

  And one more thing: Michael McAlexander needs an opponent in the next election, because running unopposed obviously emboldens his contempt for those he's paid to serve.

There's more to come in the next dispatch.

©2024 SummitCityScribe

Dispatch #406: Jimmy Carter's Unique Achievement

 

US President Jimmy Carter

  Over the USA's nearly 250-year history, it's nearly impossible to find a Commander-in-Chief without a shot fired in anger by American forces during their time in office. The exception to this rule: our 39th President, James Earl Carter, Jr. 

  This remarkable achievement—first noted by the Washington Post's William Grieder upon the completion of Carter's first year in office—continued for the entirety of his term.

  It's fitting that a man known for a commitment to peace—as evidenced by his administration's signature achievement: the Camp David Accords—can also lay claim to this singular honor. 

  At his current age of 99, he's also our longest-living former President. Way to go, Jimmy!

 There's more to come in the next dispatch.

 ©2024 SummitCityScribe

  

Dispatch #396: Reader's World

 

  Today's dispatch features a vintage ad from a vanished Fort Wayne business: Reader's World. Although they carried a variety of hardcover and paperback books, Reader's World was primarily known for its selection of magazines and newspapers.

  I remember buying my first Doc Savage paperback at their store in Georgetown Square—immediately after seeing George Pal's 1975 film about the pulp hero at a Mallers-Spirou theater in the same shopping center. 

  At one time, Fort Wayne was home to a bevy of bookstores. Besides the aforementioned Reader's World, there was a B. Dalton Bookseller and a Waldenbooks in Glenbrook and Southtown Mall, a Borders at Coldwater and Coliseum, and a Little Professor in Covington Plaza and Dupont Village. 

  Those seeking older or out-of-print titles headed to The Book Rack—which had multiple locations around town. I loved browsing the shelves of their store at Calhoun & Rudisill for vintage paperbacks.

  Today, the choices for Summit City book lovers are greatly reduced. There's a Barnes & Noble at Glenbrook Square and Orchard Crossing and used books can be found at Hyde Brothers or Half-Price Books, but the days when Fort Wayne booklovers had a multitude of shops in which to browse are long gone.

  Call me an old bookworm, but I think the city is much the poorer for it.

There's more to come in the next dispatch.

©2024 SummitCityScribe

Dispatch #389: Nani Darnell: Zatanna's Inspiration?

 

Zatanna as she appeared in the 1960s.

  The popular DC Comics character Zatanna was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson. Zatanna, a magician, was a Silver Age legacy character tied to a Golden Age hero, Zatara (who also happened to be her father).

  In her 1964 debut, Zatanna wore a version of her father's top hat and tails—but substituting fishnet stockings for trousers. Over the years, I've often wondered if Zatanna's Silver Age appearance might have also been inspired by the attire worn by the wife of a popular stage magician.

Mark Wilson and Nani Darnell in the 1960s

  In their stage act, Nani Darnell played the role of magician's assistant to her husband, illusionist Mark Wilson. During the 1950s, the two performed together on a local Texas TV show, Time for Magic. 

  That show's popularity eventually translated into a syndicated series, The Magic Land of Allakazam, which aired nationally from 1960 to 1964, first on the CBS network and then ABC.

  Zatanna made her debut in the pages of Hawkman #4, which went on sale in August of 1964—during the final season of The Magic Land of Allakazam on ABC. Murphy and Helen Anderson were raising three children in their New Jersey home at this same time—making it likely they were familiar with Mark Wilson's TV magic show. 

Zatanna's 1964 debut in Hawkman #4 by Murphy Anderson (left), Nani Darnell drawn by Bob Jenney in a 1962 coloring book (right).

  It's not unheard of for comic book artists to be inspired by TV or films. For instance, many believe Jack Kirby's design for the villainous Mole Man in Fantastic Four #1 was inspired by actor Anthony Quinn's look in the 1961 film, The Savage Innocents.

Anthony Quinn and Jack Kirby's Mole Man, both 1961.

  So, was artist Murphy Anderson inspired by Nani Darnell's stage costume when he designed Zatanna's look back in 1964? In my opinion, you don't need to believe in magic to reach that conclusion.

 There's more to come in the next dispatch.

 ©2024 SummitCityScribe