Many of the tributes to Dick Clark included his longevity as host to festivities on New Year's Eve in New York City with the countdown to midnight, etc. My earlier memory is of one of his predecessors - old timers will recall Ben Grauer - a dapper and erudite gentleman - wearing a black homburg hat, a black overcoat and white scarf - atop the Times building in the 1970s. He had been a child actor on the stage, later went into radio and was never lost for words. He carried the program alone, unlike the pairings we are offered today. (Please pass the remote.) This was the era when Guy Lombardo ushered in the New Year at the Roosevelt Grill. Bing Crosby (White Christmas) and Guy Lombardo (Auld lang syne) both died in late 1977 - less than one month apart. At the time I wrote to my future wife that "they have snuffed out Christmas and New Year's with one fell swoop."
tjs
Next -TBA
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