A DAY IN THE LOUNGE FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2003 - THE DAILY THREAD

MONDAY "IN" THE UNDERGROUNDRAILROAD (A Day In The Lounge)



UNDERGROUNDRAIROAD FROM THE GIT-GO





Good Monday Everybody and Welcome to Monday 'IN' The Undergroundrailroad.
Today I will be serving a delicious, moist, mouth watering Chocolate Cake. May I suggest ice cold Herbal Ice Tea to compliment your Chocolate Cake? I know, I know not good for those of us counting calories! Remember, it's about portion sizes. Perhaps share a slice with a friend while you take them along to the Undergroundrailroad. Now, grab your chocolate cake and ice-tea. It's time for us to travel into the Undergroundrailroad!


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TAP

Yesterday, Gregory Hines, tap dancer extraordinaire, died of Cancer at age 57. This was a complete shock to me since I had not read or heard that he was ill. But the more I think about it, his silence was classic Gregory Hines. He was a mentor to many African-American students of tap and he always instilled a sense of history when he discussed tap-dancing. It was NOT about HIM, it was about the art of TAP!

African-American tap is a custom, unique to black history, as it originated during the days of southern slavery after drums were outlawed because of slave uprisings. Slaves would place a heavy object in their shoe and "tap" out messages to each other. This form of communication was crucial especially when slaves needed to communicate with their families in silence if they were about to attempt to run away, sometimes with the assistance of Harriet Tubman, conductor of The Undergroundrailroad.

At the age of 4, my mother enrolled me in tap dancing school. My instructor, Miss Horn, was very strict and I would tremble as she walked the mirror-lined walls with a wooden pointer in her hand. "Let your feet become your voice" she would shout! Of course all of us wanted to please her and do our best because there was the annual recital. The objective was to stomp and sashay our way to the front line of the dance recital. When it was time for her to call out the names of those who would take a "lead" role I was certain I would not be chosen. Finally, the very LAST name was mine! Miss Horn gave me a wink when I looked up and smiled at her.

Now it was time to purchase shiny new tap shoes and spectacular costumes in brilliant colors. My mother helped with sewing my costume which was all purple and when I put it on, what "attitude" I had! I still have it to this day. When I heard the news about Gregory Hines, I rushed to the attic to take it out. Still beautiful, I just wanted to hold it for a moment to recall my brief tap dancing career which was over at the age of 12.

Tap dancing was a part of my youth and a part of my heritage. As I placed the costume back in the box, I slipped a little note inside. It said, "Gregory, thanks for the inspiration you have given so many people. Oh, and don't forget "let your feet become your voice".

The voice of "tap" and Gregory Hines will not be forgotten.
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August 11, 2003
Gregory Hines, Dancer and Actor, Dies at 57



By JENNIFER DUNNING

Gregory Hines, the genial, suave dancer, singer and actor who for many personified the art of classical tap in the 1980's and 90's, died late Saturday on his way to a hospital from his home in Los Angeles. He was 57.

The cause was cancer, said Yvette Glover, a longtime friend and the mother of the tap-dancer Savion Glover, who frequently described Mr. Hines as a mentor.

Mr. Hines began dancing professionally as a young child but went on to become an unusually successful crossover actor in theater, film and television. He won a Tony Award as best actor in a musical in 1992 for his portrayal of Jelly Roll Morton, the pioneering jazz composer, his fourth Tony nomination as a performer, and he was host, with Bernadette Peters, for the Tony Award ceremony last year. He appeared in major films, including Francis Ford Coppola's "Cotton Club," and "White Nights," with Mikhail Baryshnikov, in which Mr. Hines played an American defector to the Soviet Union. He had his own sitcom, "The Gregory Hines Show," on CBS in 1997 and played recurring characters on "Will & Grace" on NBC and "Lost at Home" on ABC.

Mr. Hines never forgot his dance origins, however, and was a tireless advocate for tap in America. In 1988 he lobbied successfully for the creation of a National Tap Dance Day, now celebrated in 40 cities in the United States and in eight other nations. In his acceptance speech in 1996 for an award given him by Career Transition for Dancers at its annual benefit gala, he berated the gala's organizers for not including tap on the program.

"Anyone who has watched his superb virtuosity over the years would notice how the dancer's weight-shifting style is now ornamented with a jaunty rhythmic filigree," Anna Kisselgoff, dance critic of The New York Times, wrote of Mr. Hines's guest performance in 1995 in a benefit for Eliot Feld's New Ballet School. "Visual elegance, as always, yields to aural power. The complexity of sound grows in intensity and range."
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The Boondocks by Aaron McGruder


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QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

1. Have you seen any Gregory Hines or Sammy Davis Jr. movies or plays ?

2. In your youth, did you take dance lessons or were you on any sports teams?

3. At what age did you first learn how to drive. Who taught you.

4. What is your favorite flavor ice-cream?
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I'm OUTTA! See you next Monday 'IN' The Undergroundrailroad !


Undergroundrailroad

:hi:

1. I've seen all of the "ratpack" movies with Sammy Davis, Jr. in them; I think the only Gregory Hines movie I've seen was Running Scared.

2. I took dance lessons (ballet, tap, Hawaiian) when I was eleven years old.

3. I learned to drive when I was fifteen. I had formal lessons in a class at my high school, but I had learned from my mother.

4. This is a hard one...I guess I'd have to say Pistachio.:-)

How are you :) Hope your Monday is going smooth!

I just LOVE all the "ratpack" movies. Wasn't Sammy the greatest! Oceans 11 was my favorite. The revised Oceans 11 does not even come close to the original.

Now, I see you also took dance lessons and Hawaiian! WOW, very nice :)

You learned to drive at fifteen. Yes, I was 14 1/2 when I entered into formal driver's education lessons.

Finally, you love Pistachio Ice Cream. Well here is a scoop for you AL!



Thanks for dropping in to say hello. Have a great day!

Mina



Undergroundrailroad

Chocolate cake? That needs a big, tall, cold glass of milk! :9

So sad hearing about Gregory Hines. He was so young! :-(

1. Movies? Running Scared, the movie with Barishnykov - a few others, I think. I remember Sammy Davis, Jr. from TV variety shows more.

2. I played some baseball and football until my junior year of high school. I hurt my arm playing baseball, and I stunk at both sports anyway. :D

3. My dad taught me starting at age 15, and I also had to take driver's ed in school.

4. Pecan, pralines and cream. :9

How are you today ? I see the golf cart is going in a different direction. Did you change your golf course?

Yes, it was sad to hear about Gregory Hines. It makes you wonder what happened? I saw him (I think) about 6 months ago and he looked fine.

So you were into baseball and football. Hey, what about a horse trainer?
You started to learn how to drive at 16 and Dad was there. It is still pretty much the same. In NY teens have to take driver's ed also or at least if they want their Jr. Lic.

Here is your ice cream :)



See ya next Monday and have a great rest of your week :hi:

Mina


Undergroundrailroad

My wife and I were saddened by the death of Gregory Hines. She used to be a dancer, and thought he was one of the best. She also thought he was very handsome. Can't say I disagree with that. I liked him because he was a very appealing actor. Hop eGod is enjouying some good hoofin' up in Heaven today.

1. Saw a few. The Muppets Take Manhattan, Running Scared. A few more. Never saw The Cotton Club.

2. No dance lessons. I've got two left feet. I swam competitively for a while and played football for one short season in Texas, until my parents yanked me from the team for poor grades. They did the right thing.

3. 15. My sister's boyfriend.

4. Pralines and Cream from Baskin Robbins

Sorry about the late response.

Well, I have to tell you I was SHOCKED. As I said in the daily, I had NO idea that he was sick. I thought I saw him in a magazine a few months ago. It's like you NEVER think people like Gregory Hines will leave this earth because they will ALWAYS live on in our minds via his work. Actually, I did not like The Cotton Club which I saw many years ago at a Drive-In. It was very violent and I did not like the role that Gregory Hines was given.

WOW! Your a swimmer. Cool! I think swimming is a talent when your good at it. It sounds like you were very good at it.

Age 15! (DU's number one answer today!)

And here is your ice-cream,

Have a great rest of your week Aristus!
Love ya,

Mina


Undergroundrailroad

1. Have you seen any Gregory Hines or Sammy Davis Jr. movies or plays ?

Yes. Saw White Nights, Running Scared, Wolfen, and a whole mess of others whose names escape me.

2. In your youth, did you take dance lessons or were you on any sports teams?

While my Dad used to threaten me with Ballet lessons, he never followed through. I played little league baseball, designated hitter with 00 batting average for 4 seasons. But I played because everybody played. My brothers were really good ball players. Since them my coordination has improved considerably. I was a good basketball player, defensively at least, and thought I only scored two points for the whole season, I loved the game and had a blast playing.

3. At what age did you first learn how to drive. Who taught you.

16. My mom.

4. What is your favorite flavor ice-cream?

Hard: Butter crunch with chocolate jimmies from "Goldenrod" creamery here in Manchester, NH. Best ice cream on the planet.

Soft: Vanilla with chocolate jimmies.

Welcome to Monday in the Undergroundrailroad where we take a moment on Monday to reflect on the week ahead and have a little dessert and fun.

So welcome, welcome, welcome.

Now let me check out your responses to the questions today :)

1. You saw White Nights, Running Scared, Wolfen and more. WHITE NIGHTS is my second favorite. My first is TAP.

2. WOW! Baseball and what a record! Very nice :)

3. At age 16 you learned how to drive and what better person to teach you, MOM!

4. Vanilla with chocolate jimmies, yummy and THE BEST ICE CREAM ON EARTH? Butter crunch with chocolate jimmies from "Goldenrod" creamery here in Manchester, NH.

You know what? I just might drive to NH for a dish of ice cream. I LOVE great Ice Cream (all my readers know this! I talk about it all the time :) ). Do they have a web-site? I must check this out.

For now I present you with a dish of yummy ice-cream from the Undergroundrailroad.



Thanks for dropping in to say hello and have a great week ahead.

Mina
Undergroundrailroad


Undergroundrailroad

Hope you decide to make the trip

:hi:

1. Davis Jr.: Not yet; Hines: Yes--I loved him in White Nights, History of the World Part I, and the Cotton Club. Him, along with Fred Astaire, inspire me to this day to tap (see below question's answer). I am deeply saddened by his death but, like you, didn't even know he was sick.

2. I took tap dancing lessons for three years. When the dance studio I went to was bought out, my teacher retired but I continue to teach myself.

3. I have yet to learn how to drive--I honestly hope I will never have to. (I got my temps at 15 1/2 and hated driving.)

4. Mint chocolate chip! :-)

Sorry for my late responses, forgive me.

Now, let's take the fast track to your responses.

1. Ya know, so many people seem so SHOCKED by his death. It makes me wonder how long has he been ill?
Well, I also loved WHITE NIGHTS and TAP. He also did a documentary called THATS BLACK ENTERTAINMENT. It was very good.

2. WOW! You also took tap dancing lessons. How nice :) I am impressed that you contiinued to self teach. I loved tap dancing.

3. I have many relatives to this day that do not drive. They never learned. So believe me, your not the only person not interested in learning how to drive.

4. Mint chocolate chip! Let me see if I have any mint chocolate chip in the Undergroundrailroad Fridge?





Have a great rest of your week Elcondor! I really enjoyed your visit :hi:

1. Have you seen any Gregory Hines or Sammy Davis Jr. movies or plays ? My favorite Gregory Hines movie is called "Good Luck"
The Feel good movie of the last 20 years if you ask me .
on edit here's a link to the movie review for Good Luck
http://www.uln.com/cgi-bin/vlink/783722706732IE.html

2. In your youth, did you take dance lessons or were you on any sports teams? I took Ballet , Gymnastics , and played Softball

3. At what age did you first learn how to drive. Who taught you.
16 , my dad bought me a driving class .

4. What is your favorite flavor ice-cream?
French Vanilla

Have a wonderful day DU

Thanks for the link to GOOD LUCK!

In your youth (hey, your still young!) you took Ballet, Gymnastics, and played Softball! WOW! Actually I remember someone telling me that ballet and gymnastics go hand-in-hand. I know your a very graceful person, just like a ballerina !


You learned to drive at age 16 and your dad sponsored your lessons :)
Your favorite ice-cream? FRENCHvanilla (GO FRENCH!) Let me see if I can find some?







Have a great rest of your week!

Mina

Undergroundrailroad

Thanks Mina :hi:

I don't know if he intentionally hid his illness but everybody I know was shocked to hear that Gregory Hines had died. He was too young and it seemed too sudden.

My little sister started tap lessons when she was four. Every time she gets a new costume or pair of shoes she calls me up and says I have to see her try them on.


1. Have you seen any Gregory Hines or Sammy Davis Jr. movies or plays ?

I've seen The Cotton Club and Oceans Eleven.

2. In your youth, did you take dance lessons or were you on any sports teams?

No.

3. At what age did you first learn how to drive. Who taught you.

A friend's sister taught us how to drive a standard when I was 14. a year later I learned to drive an automatic but I still haven't gotten my license yet. Mainly because I've never needed a car. This will be changing in a few months because one of my uncles goes to car auctions and has offered to help me get a car. So of course I'll be getting my license first.


4. What is your favorite flavor ice-cream?

From Russia with a Buzz by Ben & Jerry's.

JJ, you are so right. Check out this thread, everyone is shocked. I mean the news traveled fast in my family and circle of friends, we were stunned! I am telling you, I saw him at some event not long ago and he looked fine. I just don't get it. Cancer today does NOT mean an automatic death sentence. I would think being in NY, they have the best oncology doctors in the world. I don't know, but SOMEONE will write a book one day. in the meantime, RIP Gregory.

Yes saw The Cotton Club (did you like it, I didn't) and Oceans Eleven (I loved the one with Sammy Davis Jr.).
No dance lessons for you but your slammin driving a stick shift! You go JJ!

Your favorite icecream is From Russia (I remember your telling me this) by Ben & Jerry's.

Have a great week JJ!

Love,

Mom

Thanks for dropping in and sharing those kind words about Gregory Hines. I think it helps when we all mourn together and talk it out. I think just about every person in this thread comments on his sudden death at such a young age. I mean Cancer does NOT = Death anymore. The medication and treatment is very VERY helpful. I wonder if he found out at a late stage. But that makes no sense because he was a brilliant dancer. I don't know, but I will miss Gregory Hines very much.

Now Crew, if you were doin the twist with Chubby Checker, you MUST remember the hulahoop!



You were 16 when you got behind that wheel with a driver's license. Let me tell you Crew, I also took the driving lessons and I agree. It was VERY comprehensive and I am grateful to my parents for doing that.


Let me find *my* Crewleader some coffee ice-cream:






See ya sweet pea :hi:

Mina


Undergroundrailroad

Boy that picture looks like me doing the hulaloop...I sure do remember doing it and I still remember my Dad saying "the inventor of that is a multi-millionaire can you beat that!"

Thanks for the big serving of coffee ice cream, no fear of calories here! ;-)

Always good to see you friend! :hi:

I love the Boondocks by Aaron McGruder. I always look forward to your post because I only read them when I'm stopping in to see you.

Yeah, that was sad news about Gregory Hines. I really thought he was a great actor.

1. I have seen Gregory Hines in: The Cotton Club, Waiting To Exhale, and TAP (the best of the three). I saw Sammy Davis Jr. in Oceans 11 with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.

2. I played football in high school.

3. I had driver's education at 15.

4. My favorite flavor is Chocolate!

Oh, btw, can I have a slice of that cake, it looks good !

Have a good one Mina.

BJ

Thanks for dropping in and saying a few words about Gregory Hines.

1. You saw The Cotton Club and Waiting To Exhale! I read the book and loved the movie. I thought Gregory Hines was great in that movie!

2. Played football in highschool. WOW, very nice :)

3. Drivers Ed at 15 and

4. Chocolate is your favorite flavor. OK BJ, let me find some Chocolate ice-cream :)




BJ, enjoy your ice-cream and the rest of your week.

Mina :hi:


Undergroundrailroad

It's very interesting.

1. I saw Gregory Hines on Broadway in Sophisticated Ladies. It was a wonderful musical.
2. I did not learn to drive until I was 24.
3. No, I did not take any dance lessons, well, except the ones we taught each other (my brothers and sisters).
4. I like Butter Pecan.

Thanks UGRR, have a good night.

Thanks for dropping in and thanks, always, for the kind words about the daily. I very much appreciate that.

1, You are the first person in the thread who saw Gregory Hines on Broadway in Sophisticated Ladies! How well I remember the play and it was on Broadway for quite some time.

2. You learned to drive at 24! Great :)

3. I loved your answer here. My siblings and I taught each other the latest dances. My brother could do ALL the James Brown moves, splits, etc. He was the hit at every party so I always wanted him to teach me how to dance.

4. You like Butter Pecan ice-cream. OK, let me see if I can find some for ya:



Enjoy the ice-cream and the rest of your week! :hi:

Mina

Undergroundrailroad

1. I saw him on Will and Grace, but my mother says she saw him in Cotton club.
2. No, I'm a klutz.
3. Haven't got my license. My dad took me out in our van when we were up north, though.
4. Peppermint Bon-Bon (I always called it chip'n'mint.

Thanks for dropping in and sharing your thoughts.

OK, let's take the fast track:

1. Saw Gregory Hines on Will and Grace and your Mom saw him in the Cotton Club. He was so cool on Will and Grace. I will miss him :(

2. No tap dancing for you. OK. No problem.

3. No license yet, but your Dad took you out in his van! That's pretty coll breezyG. I find it difficult to navigate a van so shout out to you!

4. Your favorite ice-cream is Peppermint Bon-Bon! OK, let me go check the ice-cream supply and see what I can find for you !



Breezy, enjoy your ice-cream and your evening. See ya next week!

Mina :hi:


Undergroundrailroad

with an hour to spare.

So sad about GH...and so young too.

:-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-(

Many people tonight very unhappy...he brought a lot of joy and feeling into many people's lives.

I so enjoyed your radio program last night on the top of NY's Times Square :) Do you do your program every Sunday? I had such a great time last night!

Yes, a lot of sad people regarding Gregory Hines. I wonder if he new how many of us loved him so much. RIP Gregory, I keep saying this over and over because I still don't believe he is gone. :( :( :( :( :(

Hey, here's some ice-cream, peppermint!



See ya!


Undergroundrailroad

1.None, sorry. At least that I'm aware of :-)

2. Football (soccer) from 6 years, tennis from 14, dance lessons at 17 - ah the times .... *lost in memories*

3. 17, my dad

4. That would be vanilla ice with a taste of rum, with specks of almond or raisin...

And close to 1000 posts, too.

Good morning, Mina. Another Monday (ok, Tuesday) and another of your great postings. I was saddened to hear of the death of Gregory Hines. He was a major talent for sure. So sad...

And you're such a temptation with your chocolate cake. I'm trying to lose weight here! :-)

Let me see here... I love "White Nights". I can't see it enough.

I never took dance lessons at all. I never played sports either. I was in school a long time prior to Title IX and girls weren't expected to play sports. I used to play baseball with the boys in the neighborhood until development took our lots away and someone had the nerve to build houses on them.

I learned to drive when I was 16. My parents taught me (yikes!!!)

My all-time favorite ice cream is Butter Pecan. My second favorite is Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby. But, again I'm being good, I rely on sugar free fudgsicles now.

Thanks for another great UGRR post!

Edited to add that I forgot about Sammy's role in the Cannonball movie...I forget which one. He and Dean Martin pretended to be priests driving a Ferrari. I know people who have actually taken part in the Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash.

Sad to hear about Gregory Hines. He went too young.

Answers:
1. I recall seeing both Hines and Davis in movies, but I don't remember the names of the movies. I remember one with Hines and a popular ballet dancer about escaping and defecting from the Soviet Union.

2. Never took dance lessons and never really got involved in sports.

3. I learned to drive at sixteen. I took driver's ed in high school and my mother would take me out to practice, also.

4. Strawberry.