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Some Of My Favorite Music From Before 1950

September 15, 2017 By C.S. Elston

 

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a big lover of music. It inspires me, helps me grieve, comforts me, and at times, even makes me laugh. So, I thought I would start a series of posts on my all-time favorite music. The only problem is, there’s way too much of it! Even when I try to narrow it down by decade, it’s a long list. But, that’s what I’ll be doing after this first post on the subject. Even then, it won’t be fully comprehensive. For now, let’s just look at some of the great music given to us before 1950.

While I appreciate classical music, and admire some of the great classical composers of the past like Beethoven, Chopin, Handel, Wagner, Bach, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Schubert, and Rachmaninoff, it’s far less common for me to listen to unless I’m trying to get inspired while writing (which is something I’ll likely get into in further detail in a future post on finding inspiration for writing). Here, I’m primarily (but not exclusively) referring to more popular fare in my every day life. In fact, I’m also purposely excluding Christmas music. I’ll save that for a later post, too.

To look at some of that older, awesome, and relatively popular music, I must start all the way back in the 18th century with one of my favorite hymns: John Newton’s “Amazing Grace” (1779). Whether you’re a Christian or not, it’s unlikely you have been around on this planet for long and not heard that song. And, with good reason. Few songs cut to my core like that one does. You can’t help but feel Newton’s passion and gratefulness for God’s grace. This is a man who grew up without religious conviction and worked in the slave trade until his conversion and commitment to the study of Christian theology. This song looks back with deep conviction and appreciation for the moment that everything changed. When precious grace appeared, the hour he first believed.

Okay, now we can fast forward in time a little bit. But, not too far. The 19th century gave us some great music, too. Francis Scott Key delivered with “The Star-Spangled Banner” (1814.) So did Stephen C. Foster with “Camptown Races” (1850,) Sarah Adams with “Nearer, My God to Thee” (1859,) Julia Ward Howe with “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” (1862,) Patrick S. Gilmore with “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” (1863,) and Johan Strauss II with “The Blue Danube” (1867.) Then T. Brigham Bishop gave us “Shoo Fly, Don’t Bother Me” (1869) and William Howard Doane supplied us with “Safe In The Arms of Jesus” (1870.) But, the 19th century was far from over. Arthur Sullivan kept it going with “Onward Christian Soldiers” (1871.) So did Brewster M. Higley with “Home on the Range” (1873,) Euphemia Allen with “Chopsticks” (1877,) Charles E. Pratt with “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” (1881,) Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky with the “1812 Overture” (1882,) Percy Montrose with “Oh, My Darling Clementine” (1884,) J. Hanold Kendall with “Mary Had a Little Lamb” (1889,) Henry S. Miller with “The Cat Came Back” (1893,) Samuel A. Ward with “America the Beautiful” (1895,) and John Phillip Sousa with “Stars and Stripes Forever” (1896,) to name a few. Alright, that’s more than a few. But, to be fair, I did warn you this was a long list . . .

And, we’re not done yet. We are, however, finally headed into the 20th century. The first couple of decades were, for me, a bit sparser. However, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov provided us with “Flight of the Bumblebee” (1900) right away and Scott Joplin wasn’t too far behind him with “The Entertainer” (1902.) Then, Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tizer gave us “Take me Out to the Ball Game” (1908,) the Fisk University Singers delivered “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” (1909,) and Frederic Edward Weatherly supplied us with “Danny Boy” (1913.)

As the twenties began to roar, so did the music. Al Jolson hit the scene with songs like “April Showers” (1922,) “California, Here I Come” (1924) and “When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbin’ Along” (1926.) Bessie Smith came on strong, delivering “Downhearted Blues” (1923,) “St. Louis Blues” (1925,) “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” (1929) and, eventually, “Need a Little Sugar in My Bowl” (1931.). Plus, Gene Austin gave us “My Blue Heaven” (1927,) Blind Willie Johnson supplied us with “Motherless Children (1927,) Maurice Ravel gave us “Bolero” (1928) and Jimmie Rodgers delivered “In the Jailhouse Now” (1928.) The roaring twenties also introduced us to The Carter Family who gave us the songs “Keep on the Sunny Side” (1928) and “Can the Circle Be Unbroken (1935,) Cliff Edwards who delivered “Singing in the Rain” (with Annette Hanshaw, 1929) and “When You Wish Upon a Star” (1940) and, one of the all-time greats, Louis Armstrong who gave us “St. James Infirmary Blues” (1929); and “All of Me” (1932.)

While the stock market crashed in 1929, the music scene didn’t. The 1930’s had Harry Richman “Puttin on the Ritz” (1930,) Cab Calloway delivered “Minnie the Moocher” (1931,) Albert E. Brumley gave us “I’ll Fly Away” (1932,) and Ethel Waters provided “Stormy Weather” (1933.) The King of Swing, Benny Goodman delivered both “Moonglow” (1934) and Sing Sing Sing (1937.) Fred Astaire had us dancing “Cheek to Cheek” (1935) while Bing Crosby delivered “Brother, Can You Spare A Dime” (1932,) “Pennies From Heaven” (1936,) and eventually both “Swinging On A Star” (1944) and “Don’t Fence Me In” (1944.) Robert Johnson gave us “Sweet Home Chicago” (1936,) “Hellhound On My Trail” (1937,) “Cross Road Blues” (1937,) “Love in Vain” (1937,) and “I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom” (1937.) The 1930’s also introduced us to the unique and unforgettable style of Billie Holiday who delivered brilliant songs like “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” (1937,) “The Very Thought of You” (1938,) “Strange Fruit” (1939,) “God Bless The Child” (1941,) “Gloomy Sunday” (1941,) and “I’ll Be Seeing You” (1944). And, finally, Judy Garland closed the 1930’s out with the timeless hit “Over The Rainbow” (1939.)

The 1940’s were ushered in by the likes of Jimmie Davis with “You Are My Sunshine” (1940,) Coleman Hawkins with “Body and Soul” (1940,) Artie Shaw and His Orchestra who gave us both “Frenesi” (1940) and “Star Dust” (1941,) and Glenn Miller who delivered both “In the Mood” (1940) and “Chattanooga Choo Choo” (1941.) Then Joseito Fernandez gave us “Guantanamera” (1941) and The Andrew Sisters delivered both “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (1941) and “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me – 1942.) Soon after that, Harry James and Helen Forrest gave us “I’ve Heard That Song Before” (1943,) Doris Day joined Les Brown and his Orchestra to deliver “Sentimental Journey” (1945,) and Perry Como supplied us with the song “Till the End of Time” (1945.) Then we were blessed by the soft baritone voice of Nat King Cole on songs like “For Sentimental Reasons” (1946,) “Route 66” (1946); and “Nature Boy” (1948.) Next, we were introduced to one of the most important American singer/songwriters of the 20th century, Hank Williams, who delivered “Honky Tonkin’” (1948,) “I Saw the Light” (1948,) “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It” (1949,) “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (1949,) “Lovesick Blues” (1949,) and “Lost Highway” (1949.) Finally, to close out the 1940’s, Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five gave us “Saturday Night Fish Fry” (1949,) Vaugn Monroe” delivered “Riders in the Sky” (1949,) and an evolutionary process that started in 1885 with Carl Gustav Boberg was completed in 1949 when Stuart K. Hine blessed us all with another amazing and timeless classic hymn called “How Great Thou Art.”

Again, I warned you it was a long list. But, wait until we enter the 1950’s. Rock and roll is just getting started . . .

Filed Under: Blog, Home, Music Tagged With: 1812 Overture, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century, Al Jolson, Albert E. Brumley, Albert Von Tizer, All of Me, Amazing Grace, America the Beautiful, American, Andrew Sisters, Annette Hanshaw, April Showers, Arthur Sullivan, Artie Shaw, Bach, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Beethoven, Benny Goodman, Bessie Smith, Big Band, Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Blind Willie Johnson, Blue Danube, bluegrass, Blues, Body and Soul, Bolero, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Brahms, Brewster M. Higley, Brother, Cab Calloway, California Here I Come, Camptown Races, Can the Circle Be Unbroken, Can You Spare A Dime, Carl Gustav Boberg, Charles E. Pratt, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Cheek to Cheek, Chopin, Chopstics, classical, Cliff Edwards, Coleman Hawkins, country, country & western, country and western, Cross Road Blues, dance, dancing, Danny Boy, Don’t Fence Me In, Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me), Doris Day, Downhearted Blues, Ethel Waters, Euphemia Allen, Fisk University Singers, Flight of the Bumblebee, For Sentimental Reasons, Francis Scott Key, Fred Astaire, Frederic Edward Weatherly, Frenesi, Gene Austin, Glenn Miller, Gloomy Sunday, God Bless The Child, Guantanamera, Handel, Hank Williams, Harry James, Harry Richman, Helen Forrest, Hellhound On My Trail, Henry S. Miller, Home on the Range, Honky Tonkin’, How Great Thou Art, hymn, hymns, I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom, I Saw the Light, I’ll Be Seeing You, I’ll Fly Away, I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, I’ve Heard That Song Before, In the Jailhouse Now, In the Mood, J. Hanold Kendall, Jack Norworth, Jazz, Jimmie Davis, Jimmie Rodgers, Johan Strauss II, John Newton, John Phillip Sousa, Joseito Fernandez, Judy Garland, Julia Ward How, Keep on the Sunny Side, King of Swing, Les Brown and his Orchestra, Lost Highway, Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five, Love in Vain, Lovesick Blues, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Maurice Ravel, Minnie The Moocher, Moonglow, Motherless Children, Mozart, Music, My Blue Heaven, My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It, Nat King Cole, Nature Boy, Nearer My God to Thee, Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out, Oh My Darling Clementine, Onward Christian Soldiers, Over The Rainbow, Patrick S. Gilmore, patriotic, Pennies From Heaven, Percy Montrose, Perry Como, Puttin on the Ritz, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Riders in the Sky, Robert Johnson, rock and roll, Route 66, Safe in the Arms of Jesus, Samuel A. Ward, Sarah Adams, Saturday Night Fish Fry, Schubert, Scott Joplin, Sentimental Journey, Shoo Fly, Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me, Sing Sing Sing, singer/songwriter, singer/songwriters, Singing in the Rain, song, songs, St. James Infirmary Blues, St. Louis Blues, Star Dust, Star-Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripes Forever, Stephen C. Foster, Stormy Weather, Strange Fruit, Stuart K Hine, Sweet Home Chicago, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, swing music, Swinging On A Star, T. Brigham Bishop, Take me Out to the Ball Game, Tchaikovsky, The Carter Family, The Cat Came Back, the entertainer, The Very Thought of You, Till the End of Time, Vaugn Monroe, Wagner, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbin’ Along, When You Wish Upon A Star, William Howard Doane, You Are My Sunshine

Writer’s Block – Real Problem or Mere Myth?

September 12, 2017 By C.S. Elston

Let’s immediately get something out of the way, I can’t stand the term “writer’s block.” Perhaps it’s the connotations that come with the word block. I think of words like “blockade” and maybe the closest phrase, “mental block.” This conjures up images of total isolation and permanence. Because of this, the answer to the proposed question is that I tend to think of “writer’s block” as essentially a myth. Or, maybe even an excuse to be lazy and procrastinate.

Don’t get me wrong, some pages a lot easier than others. But, if you grind it out, you always get through the tough ones. Sometimes, it is even necessary to walk away. I’ll often go workout or take a shower so that I can think about what’s slowing me down. Most of the time, I have it figured out by the time I’m back in front of the laptop. It just takes some mental wrestling. Typically, that fight makes it all better anyway.

Occasionally, an artist just needs inspiration. This can be obtained from any number of sources. Do whatever it takes: A walk in the woods, a lengthy prayer, some journaling at the beach, or, maybe you need the inspiration that another artist can provide – a song with a similar feeling to the one you’re trying to write about. Perhaps I’ll do a post on inspirations for writing down the road.

For now, just know that you’re not alone when you hit a page that causes you fits. We all go through that. It’s one of the reasons I struggle with rules that writer’s often put on themselves. I’m sure it helps some. But, for me, it feels unrealistic. Rules and boundaries can stimulate creativity. But, they can also stifle it.

I happen to be naturally self-disciplined. So, I need to give myself freedom. It’s far more helpful than boxing myself in would be. But, that’s not true for everyone. I know a lot of writers that demand 10 pages a day from themselves. I can’t do that. Today, 20 pages might pour out of me and tomorrow it could be an excruciating exercise in self-torture to crank out 5. I think that’s okay. The pace for writing each chapter or scene is bound to be different.

As long as the inconsistent pace doesn’t become an excuse, I’m fine with some days being more difficult and seeming less productive than others. Some of those “less productive” days, for me, have paradoxically been the most productive because I’ve written the least but I’ve also written the best. Every writer is different. Every piece of writing is different. Find your own balance of freedom and boundaries. Figure out what works for you and helps you accomplish your goals.

In the end, the grind is part of the process and it’s the quality of the work that matters most. At least, that’s true for me. That’s why I tend to think of “writer’s block” as little more than a myth.

Filed Under: About Me, Blog, Home, Writing Tagged With: author, book, Books, novel, novelist, screenplay, screenwriter, screenwriting, writer, writer's block, writing

2017-2018 Pre-Season NFL Playoff Predictions

September 6, 2017 By C.S. Elston

We all know this is little more than a barely educated guess. Football is even less predictable than presidential elections. There are so many impossible to foresee variables (injuries being at the top of the list) that I’ll be impressed if I get a quarter of this right. But, it’s all in good fun. So, with the Chiefs at Patriots officially kicking off the 2017-2018 NFL season tomorrow night, here is how I see the playoffs going in about a dozen and a half weeks from now.

Wild Card Round

AFC:   Houston Texans at Oakland Raiders

* winner: Raiders *

Kansas City Chiefs at Tennessee Titans

* winner: Chiefs *

NFC:   Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons

* winner: Falcons *

Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers

* winner: Packers *

*** Notes: The hardest game for me to predict here was Kansas City at Tennessee but that Chiefs defense just barely gives Kansas City the edge. Also, despite being an uber-talented team, I think Dallas will find themselves making it into the Wild Card round by the skin of their teeth due in large part to the Ezekiel Elliot suspension giving them a rough start to the season. If he can stay out of trouble, the team will have a better season next year than they will this year.

Divisional Round

AFC:   Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

* winner: Patriots *

Oakland Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers

* winner: Steelers *

NFC:   Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants

* winner: Falcons *

Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks

* winner: Seahawks *

*** Notes: Oakland at Pittsburgh was another tough call but, if Le’Veon Bell, Ben Rothlisberger and Martavis Bryant can all stay healthy, the Steelers are going to be a tough offense to beat.

Conference Round

 

AFC:   Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots

* winner: Patriots *

NFC:   Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks

* winner: Seahawks *

*** Notes: What an exciting round of football these two match-ups would make! Losing Julian Edelman was a tough blow for the Patriots but, nobody has more playoff experience than the current Patriots and they’re virtually impossible to bet against. However, pitting them against the Steelers would be a fun AFC title game to watch. Then there’s this NFC matchup between Pete Caroll’s Seahawks and Dan Quinn’s Falcons. Quinn shares a lot of the credit for building the Legion of Boom before leaving to become the head coach in Atlanta, and it’s that reloaded Legion of Boom, coupled with an ever-improving offense, that will beat him to take the NFC title. Sorry, Dan. You won’t be getting Super Bowl revenge this year…

Super Bowl LII

New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks

* winner: Seahawks *

*** Notes: …This year, it’s the Seahawks that will be getting Super Bowl revenge. Nobody has forgotten Malcolm Butler’s interception in Super Bowl 49 and the Seahawks will finally have their revenge in Super Bowl 52. The greatest revenge will be for the man who threw that interception in the end zone, Russell Wilson will be both the league and Super Bowl MVP this year. Don’t forget, you heard it here first…

Filed Under: Blog, Football, Home, Sports Tagged With: Arizona, Atlanta, Ben Rothlisberger, Cardinals, Chiefs, Cowboys, Dallas, Dan Quinn, Ezekiel Elliot, Falcons, Football, Giants, Green Bay, Houston, Julian Edelman, Kansas City, Le'Veon Bell, Malcolm Butler, Martinis Bryant, MVP, National Football League, New England, New York, NFL, NFL Playoff Predictions, NFL Playoffs, Oakland, Packers, Patriots, Pete Caroll, Pittsburgh, Playoff Predictions, Playoffs, Predictions, Raiders, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Seattle, Sports, Steelers, Super Bowl, Super Bowl 49, Super Bowl 52, Super Bowl MVP, Super Bowl Predictions, Tennessee, Texans, Titans

11 Movies To Watch That Will Get You Fired Up For Football Season

August 24, 2017 By C.S. Elston

After about a 200-day drought, football season is finally right around the corner. High school kids are starting the dreaded two-a-days, college football kicks off this Saturday with a Colorado State / Oregon State (go Beavers!) match-up, and the NFL season begins on Thursday, September 7th, when the Kansas City Chiefs head into Foxborough, Massachusetts to take on the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. I love football. Especially Seattle Football — Go Dawgs! Go Hawks! I hated those two-a-day practices when I was a teenager but, I’ve romanticized the glory days enough over time that I somehow manage to look back on them fondly now.

I also love football movies. Always have. And, what better way to get fired up for the new season than to watch some inspiring movies that largely take place on the gridiron? This is in no way an exhaustive list and it only includes narrative films. So, please don’t get mad that it’s missing some of your favorites like “Any Given Sunday,” “Facing The Giants,” “Wildcats,” “The Replacements,” “The Longest Yard,” “The Program,” “Heaven Can Wait,” “Leatherheads,” “Necessary Roughness,” “Everybody’s All-American,” “Johnny Be Good,” “The Last Boy Scout,” “The Waterboy,” “Radio,” “Varsity Blues,” or the documentary “Undefeated.” I didn’t forget, I just had to be choosey.

Different films got left off the list for different reasons. For example, I decided to eliminate films that were mostly behind-the-scenes like “Draft Day” and “Jerry Maquire,” as well as some of the others already listed. It couldn’t be just any movie that had anything at all to do with football. I also decided to hold the list to 11 films because that’s how many players you have on each side of the ball. Clever, right? Okay, not really. But, it’s still as good a reason as any to keep the list from getting out of control. So, this is a list of some of my favorite football movies and they are in no particular order. Also, if you’re not a football fan, these are still great films. After all, the best football movies are about a lot more than just football.

  1. Rudy (1993 — Rated PG and starring Sean Astin, Ned Beatty, Charles S. Dutton, Lili Taylor, Robert Prosky, Jon Favreau)

Easily one of the best, this is a movie that will make almost any grown man cry. It’s an encouraging true story about hope and perseverance. It makes me want to silence the naysayers, overcome the odds, and cheer for all the underdogs. Rudy wanted to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish his entire life. But, even his own family laughs at his ambitions. He has a lot to overcome, including his own lack of natural football talent but, as the DVD synopsis says, “RUDY” is an unforgettable testament to the power of dreams and the triumph of the common man.”

  1. We Are Marshall (2006 — Rated PG and starring Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, Ian McShane, Anthony Mackie, Kate Mara, January Jones, Brian Geraghty, David Strathairn)

Another inspiring true story, this one starts with tragedy. On November 14, 1970, one of the worst disasters ever to occur in a U.S. sports program transpired when a chartered plane carrying the Marshall University football team crashed in Huntington, West Virginia. All seventy-five people onboard, including thirty-seven team members, eight coaches, and twenty-five team boosters, were killed in the accident. Jack Lengyel took the job no one else wanted and became the school’s new head football coach. Tasked with fielding a team for the 1971-72 season, Lengyel’s job wasn’t just about winning. It was about helping a school and a town overcome grief to obtain victory in life after catastrophe.

  1. Brian’s Song (1971 – Rated G and starring James Caan, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Warden, Shelley Fabares, Judy Pace, Bernie Casey, David Huddleston)

Another true story and arguably one of the all-time best made for TV movies. It won five Emmy Awards and for good reason. The film is about the heart-wrenching friendship between NFL Hall of Famer Gayle Sayers and his Chicago Bears teammate Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer at the age of 26. The movie was remade in 2001 but, you can’t beat the original.

  1. Remember The Titans (2000 – Rated PG and starring Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison, Nicole Ari Parker, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, Ethan Suplee, Kip Pardue, Hayden Panettiere, Craig Kirkwood, Kate Bosworth, Ryan Gosling)

Yes, this is another uplifting true story. It’s an outstanding film from an entertainment perspective but, it’s also used as a teaching tool in leadership classes. It’s 1971 and beloved coach Bill Yoast has led his team to fifteen winning seasons but is suddenly demoted and replaced by Herman Boone when the local school board is forced to integrate an all-white school with an all-black school. The two men have completely different coaching styles but must overcome their differences and learn to work together to lead a team and the West Virginia town of Alexandria, torn apart by conflict and uncertainty, into victorious harmony.

  1. Woodlawn (2015 – Rated PG and starring Sean Astin, Nic Bishop, Caleb Castille, Sherri Shepherd, Jon Voight, C. Thomas Howell, Lance Nichols, DeVon Franklin, Brett Rice)

Yet another true story that inspires and uplifts. See a pattern developing? As violence and rage explode in Birmingham, Alabama following government mandated desegregation, football star Tony Nathan and fellow African-American students enter Woodlawn High School. The school’s coach is losing control of his team. At his wit’s end, he allows an outsider to speak to his players. His message of hope and love leads to a spiritual awakening that inspires nearly every member of the team to overcome the hate that surrounds them and, soon, it spreads into the community at large.

  1. The Express: The Ernie Davis Story (2008 – Rated PG and starring Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown, Omar Benson Miller, Clancy Brown, Charles S. Dutton, Aunjanue Ellis, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Nicole Beharie, Nelsan Ellis, Chelcie Ross, Saul Rubinek, Geoff Stults, Evan Jones, Chadwick Boseman, Stephen Louis Grush)

You can probably tell from the title that we’re now six for six on true stories. Ernie Davis overcame nearly impossible odds as a star football player at Syracuse University and became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. Sadly, in 1963, he died of leukemia at the age of only 23. This film, however, primarily focuses on the relationship he had with his coach Ben Schwartzwalder. Both are portrayed realistically, which means both carry flaws like any human being does. However, Davis refuses to let racism and discrimination dominate his life and Schwartzwalder, ultimately, doesn’t care what color his players are if they share the common goal of winning. It’s a powerful story and an example of how to succeed both on and off the field.

  1. Invincible (2006 – Rated PG and starring Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rispoli, Steve Staiger, Fred Strother, Kevin Conway, Kirk Acevedo, Michael Kelly, Randy Couture)

Make that seven for seven on the true story count. Vince Papale is a 30-year-old bartender who never played college football. When the Philadelphia Eagles’ new coach, Dick Vermeil, calls an unprecedented open try-out, Papale takes the opportunity to live every fan’s dream. Staying true to the setting of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it’s an underdog story of “Rocky” proportions.

  1. When The Game Stands Tall (2014 – Rated PG and starring Jim Caviezel, Michael Chiklis, Alexander Ludwig, Clancy Brown, Laura Dern, Joe Massingill, Stephan James)

Don’t pretend you’re surprised – we’re now eight for eight on true stories. Think we can go the distance? Stay tuned…Legendary football coach Bob Ladouceur took the De La Salle High School Spartans from obscurity to a 151-game winning streak that destroyed the record for any American sport. But, this film tells the story of the season that changed everything. It’s easy to tell your team that “winning isn’t everything” when you keep on winning. But, when the streak ends, how do you pick up the pieces? That’s when true character is put on full display.

  1. Friday Night Lights (2004 – Rated PG-13 and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez, Lee Jackson, Lucas Black, Garrett Hedlund, Tim McGraw, Lee Thompson Young, Connie Britton, Amber Heard, Christian Kane)

Based on the 1990 book “Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream” by H. G. Bissinger, which chronicled the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team in Odessa, Texas, this story was also spun off into a well-received TV show, two years later, that ran for two seasons on NBC and then three more on DirecTV. Unlike “When The Game Stands Tall,” you could say that a theme in this movie is that sometimes winning is everything. However negative that may sound, this is an exciting movie that will have you cheering the Panthers on as they set their sights on a state championship.

  1. School Ties (1992 – Rated PG-13 and starring Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, Chris O’Donnell, Randall Batinkoff, Andrew Lowery, Cole Hauser, Ben Affleck, Anthony Rapp, Amy Locane, Peter Donat, Zeljko Ivanek, Kevin Tighe)

We did it! We squeezed one onto the list that is not a true story. Dick Wolf, the creator of the “Law & Order” television franchise made this one up. But, it still feels like it could have been true. It’s set in the 1950’s and tells the story of a talented quarterback from a working-class background in Pennsylvania, whose gift provides him the opportunity to attend an elite preparatory school. But, because of the prejudices of the time, he tries to hide the fact that he’s Jewish. It’s a movie about honesty, honor and, of course, football.

  1. The Blind Side (2009 – Rated PG-13 and staring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates, Jae Head, Lily Collins, Ray McKinnon, Kim Dickens, Adriane Lenox, Catherine Dyer, Andy Stahl, Tom Nowicki)

Most people are familiar with Michael Oher’s amazing story but, it’s worth repeating. He was one of twelve children born to his alcohol and crack-addicted mother who paid him very little attention. He attended eleven schools in his first nine years as a student and had to repeat both first and second grades. He was in and out of foster homes and survived stints of homelessness. Then he was taken in by Briarcrest Christian School – not that all the faculty acted the way Christians should. But, it was there that he met Leigh Anne Tuohy who made him a part of her family – acting the way that Christians should. He went on to the University of Mississippi and was drafted in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens. If this movie doesn’t warm your heart, bring tears to your eyes and make you want to watch football, you might want to see a doctor. Medical and/or psychological.

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5 Books I Think Would Impact Me As A Writer But I Haven’t Read Yet

August 15, 2017 By C.S. Elston


Alright, I’ll admit it. This is kind of a weird topic for a blog post. But, there are many books that consistently get recommended to me and I haven’t gotten around to reading them all yet. I’ve read a lot of them (some good, some not so much) but, for whatever reason, there are a few that I just haven’t tackled. Several are even sitting on my bookshelf just waiting to be read. So, this is a list of the books I know I should read, and intend to at some point, to get better at my craft.

  1. The Classic Guide To Better Writing by Rudolf Flesch


From what I understand, this is about getting back to basics and remembering that sometimes simple is better. The “back to basics” is probably one of the reasons I have put off taking the time to go through this book. However, even professional athletes need to return to the fundamentals from time to time. I’m told this is a must read for writers at all levels.

  1. On Becoming A Novelist by John Gardner

John Gardner has written several books on the craft of writing but, I’m told that this is the most important. It also contains a quote about the writer’s gift that I have loved ever since I read it on the wall of the tasting room at the Redhook Brewery while on a tour about fifteen years ago.

  1. The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Gide to Writing in the 21st Century by Steven Pinker

This is, apparently, a contemporary approach to good writing that helps the reader understand the importance of writing clearly while teaching them how to know when to follow the “rules” and when to ignore them.

  1. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Of every book on this list, this is probably the one I can’t believe I haven’t read yet. It’s a masterclass by one of the most prolific and popular authors of all time. I must read this book! Almost everyone else has, it’s sold over a million copies for crying out loud!

  1. The Elements of Style by Jr. William Strunk

This is an absolute classic and it’s embarrassing (not quite as embarrassing as the Stephen King book though) that I haven’t read it. It’s short, too. So, there aren’t any good excuses. Almost every writer I know has this on their shelf.

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Home Tagged With: author, classic, craft, John Gardner, Jr. William Strunk, memoir, novel, novelist, Rudolf Flesch, Stephen King, Steven Pinker, style, writer, writing

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