Music from the 1970s is the best

By Gary Bennett

Various Artists. Picture: YouTube

This article appears in the April 24, 2025 issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

My bold declaration that music from the ‘70s is the best might have raised some eyebrows, especially if you’re not a person of a certain age, but hear me out.

Before I defend myself, I don’t think you can blame me.

It’s a well-known truism that people tend to carry the music of their youth with them all their lives. It makes perfect sense.

When we are young, the world is full of possibilities, good times and any number of wonders we have yet to experience. And somehow, music makes all of it even better.

I can still remember teasing my mom and dad for playing their big-band sounds of the ‘40s and old-time country hits of the ‘50s on their gigantic, living room stereo. “They should really get with it,” I thought.

Well, now it’s my turn to get with it, but I just can’t let go.

Elton John, 1975

How can I when my first memory of really enjoying music is as vivid today as it was then? I was lying in my bed in 1972 with my transistor radio nestled to my ear, listening to some faraway AM radio station playing Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” I felt so alone yet so connected to the rest of the world.

I was born at the perfect time. In the 1970s, I went from 13 years old to 23 years old. I graduated from high school smack dab in the middle — 1975 — and from college as the decade ended. That time of life, I believe, is when we really discover the joy of music. It’s the time of first jobs, first kisses, making friends and discovering what you are all about. As all this swirls around you, music provides soundtrack to your life.

Frederick’s Weinberg Center for the Arts will give me another chance to revel in the music of my youth on April 26 when Neil Berg brings his Broadway-quality troop of vocalists and musicians to town with his show “The 70’s: Long Live Rock N’ Roll.”

Berg has been to Frederick before with his show “50 Years of Rock N’ Roll.” This new show promises to recreate the sounds and spirit of the ‘70s with stories and songs from iconic names like Elton John, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel.

I’ll be there.

Three Dog Night, 1972

Now, back to my thesis.

Many music historians agree with me that the music of the ‘70s is the best, but even if that were not so, I would still argue that the sheer variety of music and artists pushing the envelope to create new genres and sounds is unmatched by any other decade.

There were emerging genres like funk, heavy metal and disco. What constituted rock ‘n’ roll, pop, soul and even country became more and more blurred as artists “crossed-over” and experimented with strings, electronic instruments and synthesizers. What emerged was a nourishing stew of unique and memorable sounds that had something for everyone.

The ‘70s began on a sour note, however: the disbanding of the Beatles. Although we didn’t know it at the time, this seismic shift in the music world created a vacuum that drew in all types of new sounds. Add to this heartbreak the early ‘70s drug overdose deaths of ‘60s rock legends Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison, and the slate seemed to be wiped clean.

First on the scene were the sensitive singer-songwriters. These were some of my favorites. This list includes household names like Elton John, James Taylor, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Simon and Garfunkel, Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Croce, Barry Manilow, Billy Joel, John Denver, Jimmy Buffet, Neil Diamond and, of course, each of the four ex-Beatles. They brought thoughtful lyrics, heartfelt emotion and acoustic instruments to the mix. They provided music that felt raw and emotional, often focusing on storytelling and real experiences that resonated with listeners.

Female solo artists came into their own in the early ‘70s, too. Besides King and Mitchell, artists like Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Roberta Flack, Olivia Newton-John, Joan Baez and Helen Reddy provided a new voice to pop music.

In the ‘70s, Black music expanded from soul into funk with the raw city sounds of James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Parliament, Funkadelic, War, and Sly and the Family Stone. With funk music, rhythm and beat were emphasized over melody, to great effect. Most of these artists had no trouble landing in the mainstream Top 40 charts, as young people became more adventurous in their musical tastes. Rap music even has its roots in the ‘70s.

Bee Gees, 1970

Pure soul music from the Motown record label got even better. Unparalleled artists like Stevie Wonder; Marvin Gaye; Kool & the Gang; Earth, Wind & Fire; the Spinners; the Stylistics; the Temptations; Barry White; the O’Jays; Gladys Knight & the Pips; and the Jacksons became cross-over sensations. Stevie Wonder’s 1974 masterpiece album, “Songs in the Key of Life,” and Marvin Gaye’s thought-provoking single “What’s Going On” brought a whole new vibrancy and mass-appeal to soul music.

Even rock ‘n’ roll music went through changes in the ‘70s, as it entered its own teen years. Somehow, it got divided into hard rock and soft rock.

Soft rock featured acoustic instruments and prioritized melodies and harmonies over a hard-driving beat. Some of the top soft rock bands of the ‘70s are legendary. Fleetwood Mac with their seminal 1977 album “Rumours,” dominated the chart for a couple of years. Others included Paul McCartney & Wings, America, the Hollies, Steely Dan, Rod Stewart and Faces, Hall & Oates, Queen, ABBA, the Doobie Brothers, Chicago and Three Dog Night.

The soft rock superstar band, the Eagles, were (and still are) in a category of their own. They pioneered the laid back, California sound with exquisitely tight harmonies, an at-times hard-driving beat, and relatable lyrics. Their work-of-genius single “Hotel California” became one of the defining songs of the ‘70s. To this day, they sell out the largest venues worldwide.

During the ‘70s, a distinctive sound emerged that became known as Southern rock. It fused rock, country and blues into an unforgettable and instantly recognizable sound led by electric guitars and whiskey-tinged vocals. Stalwarts like the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ozark Mountain Daredevils and the Marshall Tucker Band led the way. Even country audiences took to this new brand of rock music.

The hard rockers had their own iconic bands, too. It was the decade of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Kiss, Deep Purple and Judas Priest. The all-time great band, The Rolling Stones, much like the Eagles in the soft rock category, reside in their very own musical stratosphere, undeniably great in the ‘60s, ’70s and ‘80s.

Jimmy Buffett, 1977

While the ’60s had their British Invasion that knocked many of the old standby singers into the realm of the forgotten, many folks forget that the ‘70s had their own invasion: the disco invasion of 1976.

Love it or hate it, there is no denying that disco music, derived from the dance clubs and discotheques of New York City, enjoyed about five years of unsurpassed popularity. The invasion was led by an unlikely group that was already here: the Bee Gees.

They somehow were able to re-create themselves from syrupy balladeers in the early ‘70s to the founders of disco music. They dominated the charts in the mid- to late-‘70s with a string of No. 1 singles and albums, including the best-selling soundtrack of all-time, “Saturday Night Fever.” At one Beatle-like point in time, they had five songs in the top 10 and three songs in the top five of the Billboard chart simultaneously. They are universally considered to be one of the most important acts of all time.

Other offshoots of rock and soul music emerged with their own superstar artists and devoted fans: punk rock, blue-eyed soul, progressive rock and new wave. In a category all his own, Bob Marley introduced the world to reggae music in the ‘70s and became one of the best-selling artists of all time.

ABBA, 1978

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

Celebrating 100 years of adventure on the Appalachian Trail with ‘Grandpa Walking’

By Gary Bennett

Harvey Dennenberg, aka Grandpa Walking

This article appears in the April 17, 2025, issue of the Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

In 2025, the Appalachian Trail, the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, celebrates 100 years of measuring the skills, endurance and heart of thousands of intrepid adventurers.

Over 3,000 hikers attempt to complete the entire length in any given year. Only about one in four succeed. The successful ones are forever known as “thru-hikers” and are treated on the trail with the awe and respect they deserve.

Along with these remarkable thru-hikers, the AT also welcomes and tests the more modest among us: day-hikers, section hikers and “2,000-milers.” The latter are pretty amazing, too. They are the people who hike the entire distance of the AT but not all at one time and not necessarily all in one year.

From its humble beginning at a conference of likeminded hikers and outdoorsmen in March 1925 to today, the AT has provided what was once unthinkable: a continuous, 2,200-mile footpath, skipping along the tops of the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Maine. The trail was ultimately completed in 1937.

To be sure, the trail tests one’s mettle at every turn. The terrain is mountainous for its entire length, with an elevation gain and loss equivalent to hiking Mt. Everest from sea level and back 16 times. Hikers of all stripes grouchily complain about the PUDs — the seemingly “pointless ups and downs.” The trail passes through some of the densest wilderness in the U.S.

Harvey Dennenberg, right, on the AT

Grandpa Walking

Although not a thru-hiker, Annapolis resident and divorced father of three Harvey Dennenberg is as adventurous as they come. He has been alive for almost the entirety of the AT’s existence.

The 84-year-old hiking savant is a proud 2,000-miler. He completed the entire trail in sections, beginning at age 68 in September 2009 and finishing up in 2021 at age 80. He lectures about the AT and has written a book, “Maine’s Appalachian Trail: How Seniors Made Section Hiking Easier,” which is available on Amazon and other sites and is also part of the permanent collection at the Appalachian Trail Museum in Pennsylvania.

And, no, he is not the oldest to ever complete the trail. But he’s close!

Dennenberg, known as “Grandpa Walking” (because all hikers must have a trail name) credits reading Bill Bryson’s famous book, “A Walk in the Woods,” in 2000 as his impetus for taking on the AT. There was something special about Bryson’s account of attempting but failing to complete the trail with his overweight friend Katz that piqued Dennenberg’s curiosity. Could he do it? He began to think he could.

He had some hiking experience. In 1993 he bought a second home in Boulder, Colorado, and hiked the local trails in the summer. He did his first modest AT day-hike in 2003 and then some overnight backpacking in 2005.

He retired in 2007 and moved to Maryland. Living in Lutherville, he frequented the trails around Loch Raven Reservoir and even did some camping and hiking in Frederick County at Catoctin State Park. One early AT section hike took him and a partner across Maryland from Pen Mar Park southbound to Harpers Ferry over four days.

Harvey Dennenberg in the wilds of Maine.

Dennenberg began his AT journey in earnest in 2009 by driving to Maine and attempting to scale Mount Katahdin, the infamous starting/ending point of the AT that stands over 5,700 feet high, is often snow-covered and is always rocky and treacherous for even the most seasoned hiker. He failed on this attempt “off the couch,” but he was hooked.

Over the next 12 years, he completed the AT in all 14 states, often hiking with other seniors — 33 different partners at last count, several of whom were women.

Dennenberg counts these many hiking partners and how they helped him among his fondest memories.

“Lee and Randy taught me two-car, road-to-road hiking. Fred and Greg taught me about pre-planning and using spreadsheets to plan hikes. Big Ed, aka Joker, always got water for me when I was too tired to move. Jim, aka Chill, was always calm and collected and a great influence when I got frustrated.”

The hostel owners along the way were also great and always willing to help, he said. He fondly remembers the wonderful, full-body massage he received at Woods Hole in Virginia after nine days of hiking.

And the food! Hiking the AT is a study in deprivation, according to most, so when you get the chance to eat well, you take advantage of it. He remembers a sumptuous breakfast buffet at Mountain Harbour on the Tennessee/North Carolina border and savory meatballs and lobster rolls at another stop.

Not everything, of course, was sunshine and roses.

Harvey Dennenberg completing his last state — Pennsylvania

Heat and humidity were his worst enemies, sapping strength and ending hikes. “I had planned a solo backpack [trip] for three days and two nights in July 2011. I had to quit after eight miles and call my shuttle driver to come get me. I had stopped sweating and knew I was in trouble.”

Fording streams in Maine was particularly tricky and harrowing.

“The rivers and streams have strong currents, and the smooth bottom rocks are covered with moss,” he said. “I always made sure one foot was firmly planted before moving the other foot.”

Then there are the infamous White Mountains of New Hampshire and Maine. For large chunks of the trail, there are steep, almost vertical climbs and descents. In many places, you must “hike” hand over hand.

“Mahoosuc Notch in New Hampshire is the most difficult one mile on the entire AT,” Dennenberg said. “There are huge boulders to climb over and crawl under and gaps in the boulders to jump across. I spent a lot of time crawling.”

While never seriously lost, he agrees that poorly-marked or unmarked areas can be a problem, especially in wilderness areas. Being able to use a map and compass in addition to a GPS device can make the difference between staying on track and getting lost.

Dennenberg never had any run-ins with wildlife but cautions hikers to be vigilant nonetheless. Food must be hung and not kept in tents unless you want company from a hungry bear. Hikers should also watch out for moose, especially in Maine, as they tend to use the trail to get from place to place, just as we do.

But Dennenberg would do it all over again if he had the chance and recommends the AT to anyone who has the will and desire to test themselves.

Unfortunately, in 2023, Dennenberg herniated his L2/L3 discs hiking the Long Trail in Vermont and had to quit after the first day. He has not hiked since and fears his hiking days may be over.

Even if he never takes another step on the AT, Dennenberg will be forever known as a 2,000-miler and affectionately as Grandpa Walking.

A book by Harvey Dennenberg, aka Grandpa Walking, about hiking the Appalachian Trail in Maine

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

Best roadtrip movies of all time

By Gary Bennett

Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider, 1969.

This article appears in the April 17, 2025, edition of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

Art certainly does imitate life, especially when it comes to roadtrips. There are so many great roadtrip movies because Americans really love a good roadtrip. It seems to be baked into us.

There’s something magical about hitting the open road with endless possibilities in front of you and the mundane, workaday world behind, at least for a little while. Seeing new places, meeting new people, and enjoying new adventures are the promises of the all-American roadtrip.

The joys and tribulations of roadtrips are well depicted on the silver screen. Folks of the Greatest Generation remember the start of it all with the many “Road to” movies of the ’40s and ‘50s, starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. This series of zany musical comedies took the audience to exotic places like Singapore, Zanzibar and Morocco. We were hooked.

Then, in 1957, Jack Kerouac published his seminal novel “On the Road,” that glorified the carefree and adventurous travels of two friends deeply engrained in the counterculture movement. It captured the imagination of a new generation of travelers.

Shortly after that, in the ‘60s, construction began in earnest on the Eisenhower Interstate System that made it possible to travel safely and comfortably for long distances by car, even coast to coast if one wanted. Ever since, Americans have been off and running, planning their very own roadtrip adventures with friends or family.

With spring comes the unmistakable itch for adventure, but before you start planning your own getaway, settle in with a great roadtrip movie or two to amp up your excitement — or maybe temper your expectations a little bit, too.

10. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)

Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman

This true, cult-classic story starts out with the lovable rogues trying to steal their way out of the Great Depression, town by town, cross-country, but ends in the bloodiest shootout the movies had ever seen.

“When we started out … I thought we were really going somewhere. But this is it. We’re just going.”

9. THE MUPPET MOVIE (1979)

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear

The delightful, smart-alecky animated gang make their way from Florida to California so Kermit can begin his Hollywood career.

Kermit: “Where did you learn to drive?”

Fozzie: “I took a correspondence course.”

The gang’s all here in The Muppet Movie, 1979.

8. SIDEWAYS (2004)

Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church

A winding trip around California’s wine country allows two friends to explore their love lives and bond before one is to marry.

At a gas station: “I’ll take a Barely Legal, please. Uh, no, the new one.”

7. HAROLD & KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE (2004)

John Cho, Kal Penn

Two friends get stoned and set off in search of a highly prized White Castle restaurant deep into the New Jersey backroads trying to avoid trouble along the way.

“You wouldn’t happen to know how to get on the highway from here, would you?”

“Dude, I don’t even know where the f— I am right now.”

6. ROAD TRIP (2000)

Seann William Scott, Breckin Meyer

A guy mistakenly videotapes his risqué affair and then somehow mails it to his girlfriend 2,000 miles away. They set out in his car to get the video before she does.

Looking at a broken bridge: “Hey, it’s 10 feet. Bob Hope could jump this in his golf cart. See? Watch. I can spit across it.”

5. GREEN BOOK (2018)

Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali

A white man and Black man develop an unexpected friendship as they drive around the segregated South during the Black man’s piano concert tour.

“I ain’t worried about nothin’ … in fact, when you see me worried, you’ll know.”

4. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES (1987)

Steve Martin, John Candy

This feel-good comedy classic throws together two lovable but bickering strangers trying to get home for Thanksgiving. Everything that can go wrong does.

State trooper: “Do you have any idea how fast you were going?”

Del Griffith (John Candy): “Funny enough, I was just talking to my friend about that. Our speedometer melted [from a small fire], and as a result it’s very hard to see with any degree of accuracy exactly how fast we were going.”

3. THELMA & LOUISE (1991)

Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis

This quintessential girl-buddy movie runs roughshod over men and other n’er-do-wells until the polar-opposite ladies meet their unexpected demise at the end.

“Look, you shoot off a guy’s head with his pants down. Believe me, Texas is not the place you wanna get caught.”

Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Vacation, 1983.

2. NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION (1983)

Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo

Of the many vacation movies, we’ll stick with the original because it is the most endearing. A caring but buffoonish dad simply wants to take his family on a memorable vacation, but the universe conspires against him.

Considering his newly deceased aunt: “You want me to strap her to the hood? She’ll be fine. It’s not as if it’s going to rain or something.”

1. EASY RIDER (1969)

Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson

A truly great movie, “Easy Rider” was emblematic of ‘60s counterculture. Fonda and Hopper tool around on their choppers while smuggling cocaine from Mexico to Los Angeles.

“You know, this used to be a helluva good country. I can’t understand what’s gone wrong with it.”

Honorable Mentions: Almost Famous (2000), Bucket List (2007), Deliverance (1072), Duel (1971), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Midnight Run (1988), Motorcycle Diaries (2004), Nomadland (2020), Paper Moon (1973), Rain Man (1988), Rat Race (2001), Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Straight Story (1999), Wild (2014) and Zombieland (2009).

National Potbelly chain new to Frederick

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in the April 10, 2025, issue of Frederick News-post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

I’ve been a Potbelly fan for years — not the protruding tummy some folks get from too much food and drink but the Potbelly Sandwich Shop, famous for its toasty, tasty sandwiches and laidback atmosphere.

I had the good luck to work just down the street from a Potbelly in Washington, D.C., in the 2010s. I was a brown-bagger for most of the week, but when Fridays rolled around, you would undoubtedly find me at Potbelly to celebrate getting through another week at work.

Even after retiring in 2020 and hardly ever traveling to D.C. again, I loved Potbelly so much that I would plan the occasional venture to the nearest shops at Arundel Mills in Hanover or at the Neelsville Village Center in Germantown. That’s at least a 60-mile round-trip ride just for a sandwich! So you can see my dedication.

Thankfully, I won’t have to hit the road any longer to enjoy their delicious sandwiches. A Potbelly Sandwich Shop is recently opened in Frederick at the Market Square Shopping Center on Route 26 to the north of town. Potbelly took the place of Moe’s Southwest Grill, which closed last fall.

The calling card for Potbelly is the toasted sandwiches, fresh ingredients and delicious deserts. In my opinion, they far outpace the offerings at national competitors Subway, Jimmy John’s, Jersey Mike’s and Firehouse Subs. I know Frederick has plenty of local sandwich shops, and I don’t wish to disparage any of them, but we all know that franchises provide consistency. The Potbelly franchise is wonderfully and consistently good. Potbelly has about 400 locations across the U.S., and I’ve eaten at many of them.

What sets the sandwiches apart at Potbelly is the slow toasting that occurs as the freshly made subs ride slowly through a long, horizontal toaster for about one minute. This gives the meat and cheese time to mingle perfectly and the bread a textbook toasty crunch from beginning to end. After it emerges from its “roller-toaster” ride, a friendly staff member applies all the fresh toppings you desire.

The signature sandwich at Potbelly is called A Wreck, a meat lover’s delight. It includes roast turkey, smoked ham, roast beef, salami and Swiss cheese, all toasted to perfection, of course. Among their other sandwiches are the Cubano, pork barbecue, Italian, chicken club, veggie melt, Mediterranean, meatball, turkey breast and roast beef. They even have PB&J and grilled cheese for the kids. They serve breakfast sandwiches, too.

I recommend keeping it simple. My go-to Potbelly sandwich is the grilled chicken and cheddar on a multi-grain bun topped off with just lettuce and brown deli mustard. For the health conscious, try a “skinny” sandwich, which is made with one-third less bread and a Powerhouse salad.

Along with their famous sandwiches, Potbelly offers a good selection of Zapp’s potato chips, soups, salads, freshly-baked cookies and hand-scooped milkshakes. Try a Dream Bar for dessert — a rich, chocolate chip, oatmeal and caramel bar that is the gooiest, chewiest treat you’re likely to ever have at a fast-casual restaurant.

Along with great food, Potbelly is also a fun place to be. They consider themselves a “first-class dive, a place to take a break from it all.” At each store, a giant potbelly stove prominently stands guard, giving the stores a warm, inviting feel.

Potbelly is an American success story. It launched in 1977 when Peter Hastings and his wife decided to start serving sandwiches to their antique shop customers in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. One regular, Bryant Keil, saw the promise of the toasty sandwiches and bought the shop from Hastings in 1996. He grew the company from one location to 250 over the next 12 years. In 2005, Inc. Magazine named Potbelly one of “America’s 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies.” Now it has more than 400 stores, including 15 new locations in Maryland.

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

In appreciation: 50 years of Barney Miller

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in the April 3, 2025, issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

Before there was Barney the dinosaur, there was Barney Miller. (Of course, before that came the undisputed Barney champion of all time, Barney Fife.)

Being the second or third best of anything is not too bad, but the case can be made that “Barney Miller”, a smartly written police comedy from the 1970s and ’80s, was one of the best TV shows ever.

TV Guide sure thinks so. In 2013, it ranked “Barney Miller” No. 46 on its list of the top 60 TV shows of all time. That may not sound like much, but consider that by 2013, over 10,000 TV shows had aired on broadcast or cable TV since the 1940s.

“Barney Miller” premiered on ABC on Tuesday evening, Jan. 23, 1975. It stayed there for eight years, often preceded by another big ABC hit, “Happy Days.” The titular character of the show, Captain “Barney Miller,” was played superbly by handsome, 40-something, ‘70s ‘stache-sporting Broadway actor Hal Linden. He professionally and calmly led a motley bunch of police detectives in the “old one-two” — the 12th Police Precinct in New York City.

The show was created by Danny Arnold and Theodore J. Flicker. Noam Pitlik directed most episodes. “Barney Miller” was never canceled. The producers voluntarily ended production on May 20, 1982, fearing they may begin to repeat story lines. It was never what you might call a smash hit. It was more like comfortable sweatpants you looked forward to slipping on once each week.

Hal Linden

The entire series is available for purchase on DVD, and you can even catch two episodes every week night at 9 p.m. on Antenna TV.

“Barney Miller” takes place almost entirely within the confines of the detectives’ squad room and Captain Barney Miller’s adjoining office. Most of the police action happens off-screen. This was the same strategy employed by contemporary sitcom “All in the Family” that took place almost completely within the Bunker’s Queens living room.

The familiar old precinct setting, complete with clutter and grime that seemed immovable over the years, allowed viewers to focus completely on the interplay of the characters — both the starring detectives and guest starring complainants and suspects — to superb effect.

A typical episode featured the detectives of the 12th Precinct bringing in several oddball complainants or suspects to the squad room. Usually, there were two or three separate subplots in each episode, with different officers dealing with different crimes and suspects. Many of the laughs came from the seen-it-all detectives and their handling of the weirdo interlopers.

Captain Miller (Linden) tries to remain sane while leading the 12th Precinct’s detectives. And what a crew they were. This was one of television’s first great ensemble casts.

The cast was led by crotchety, world-weary, Jewish-American Philip K. Fish (played by Abe Vigoda of “The Godfather” fame); naive, excitable but goodhearted Polish-American Stanley “Wojo” Wojciehowicz (played by Max Gail); ambitious, intellectual and slightly arrogant African-American Ron Harris (played by Ron Glass); wisecracking, gambling, poor coffee-making Japanese-American Nick Yemana (played by Jack Soo); and beleaguered Puerto Rican Chano Amanguale (played by Gregory Sierra).

Abe Vigoda

Miller also had to deal with his winking, glad-handing, past his prime, unapologetically old-school superior, Inspector Frank Luger (played wonderfully by character actor James Gregory), and diminutive and toadying uniformed officer Carl Levitt (played by Ron Carey), who constantly badgers Miller about being promoted to detective. Chano and Fish were replaced by intellectual Arthur Dietrich (played by deadpan comedian Steve Landesberg) in season three.

Some typical conflicts and long-running plot lines included Miller’s constant efforts to maintain peace, order and discipline; Harris’ preoccupation with outside interests, especially his novel that he wrote while on the job (“Blood on the Badge”); Fish’s age-related incontinence issues and reluctance to retire; Wojo’s impulsive behavior; Luger’s nostalgia for the old days; Levitt’s eventually successful quest to become a detective; the rivalry between the precinct’s intellectuals, Harris and Dietrich; and reliably bad coffee made by Yemana.

Like many sitcoms, “Barney Miller” took a while to get established and find its bearings. The first season focused much of the time on Barney’s private life at home with wife Liz (played by Barbara Barrie). The show runners soon realized the laughs came from within the precinct and wrote Liz out of the show. Rarely after that did we get a glimpse into any of the detectives’ private lives.

One of my favorite episodes, “Hash,” explored what would happen if the detectives unknowingly ate brownies laced with hashish while on the job. A great line from that episode was delivered when the still sober Captain Miller asked Harris where nearly retired and slow-moving Fish was. Harris slurred, “Last time I saw him, Barn, he was jumping between buildings running down a perp.”

Another favorite was the fifth-season finale “Jack Soo: A Retrospective,” which paid tribute to the late comic actor who was felled by cancer earlier that year. In this episode, the cast, led by Linden, appeared as themselves in the 12th Precinct office as they fondly shared stories and remembrances of their dear friend. At the end of the episode, the cast raised their coffee cups in loving memory of Soo.

Decades after it left the air, “Barney Miller” retains a devoted following including real-life police officers, who appreciate the show’s emphasis on dialogue, believably quirky characters, and its low-key portrayal of cops going about their sometimes-mundane jobs. “Barney Miller” is very possibly the most realistic cop show TV has ever seen.

Inexplicably, none of the actors ever won an Emmy Award (there were many nominations for Linden, Glass and Landesberg), but the show itself was honored many times with writing and directing awards. In its final season of 1982, “Barney Miller” finally won the Emmy for best comedy series after six previous nominations.

Linden (94) and Gail (82) are still alive and fondly remember their time on the show. Linden has told interviewers that he is still occasionally called “Captain” by respectful, working police officers. It’s difficult to imagine anyone else in that role now, but Linden let on recently that only a scheduling conflict prevented Daren McGavin from taking the role.

To this day, “Barney Miller” remains an influential TV show, noted for its ability to tackle tough, timely issues in a lighthearted way.

Maxwell Gail

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

Pub Crawling St. Patrick’s Day

By Gary Bennett

Getting an early start on St. Patrick’s Day celebrating at Bushwallers in downtown Frederick are, from left, Donna Brannen, Linda Price and Mary Brill. The restaurant opened to a capacity crowd at 8 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day in 2023.

This article appears in the March 13, 2025, issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

Along with being Irish for a day, “kiss me — I’m Irish” proclamations, and wearing green, for many people, St. Patrick’s Day means it’s time for a pub crawl.

The term “crawl” refers to the slow and steady pace of moving from one bar to the next, as opposed to rushing in and out — although it could also refer to the slower pace of movement as the evening wears on and inebriation sets in. But let’s hope not.

Pub crawls differ from bar hopping because of the organized nature of the event. Bar hopping is spontaneous. Pub crawls are planned. Bar hopping typically takes you to the same old haunts. Pub crawls should take you to places you have never tried. Typically, with crawls, there is a set route to follow from bar to bar.

Crawlers can walk, take taxis or sometimes even a special “pub crawl” bus, and costumes are often encouraged — or at least tolerated.

HISTORY

Inconceivably, pub crawls do not necessarily trace their origins back to St. Patrick’s Day. Other holidays — Halloween, Cinco de Mayo, Christmas and New Year’s Eve — were often used to build pub crawls around. But often, no holidays were needed at all!

By most accounts, pub crawls date back to early 20th-century London, home to closely situated pubs on just about every street. The first pub crawl is credited to Oxford University students in 1910, who visited 18 English pubs in one night to blow off steam and socialize with likeminded colleagues.

Today, much of the civilized world celebrates pub crawls for birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, random get-togethers and yes, St. Patrick’s Day. There are even tour organizers who specialize in pub crawls.

For a pub crawl to be fun and exciting, you need a substantial number of closely situated bars to visit. We are fortunate to have plenty of bars, breweries and distilleries situated in downtown Frederick.

Unfortunately, as of this writing, there are no official pub crawls scheduled for Frederick on March 17. There are many scheduled in D.C., Alexandria, Baltimore and even Westminster and Cumberland.

But Frederick’s lack of a pre-planned pub crawl doesn’t mean you can’t organize your own!

MARKET STREET CRAWL

For your crawling pleasure, here is a suggested list of 10 bars in the downtown Frederick area to visit on St. Patrick’s Day, listed by the most efficient walking route. It stretches for about a mile.

Be sure to check websites for the most up to date information on St. Patrick’s Day specials. Please drink responsibly, go with friends and don’t drink and drive.

1. Begin at Olde Towne Tavern on North Market Street, where parking is plentiful. Olde Towne has a warm, neighborhood-bar feel and features several specials on Monday nights. Happy hour lasts from 4 to 7 p.m. with $1 off all drinks and $5 personal pizzas. Enjoy ping pong, pool, darts and foosball.

2. Head south on Market Street for about two blocks to really get your Irish on at Bushwaller’s, one of Frederick’s two traditional Irish pubs. For early risers, the green-adorned Frederick institution opens at 8 a.m. on March 17 for “Kegs and Eggs.” They will also host live music throughout the day.

3. Turn the corner onto Second Street and head into Frederick’s other Irish pub, Magoo’s. Proprietor Jennifer Daugherty has planned a special St. Patrick’s Day menu with traditional Irish dishes, Guinness on tap, Smithwick’s Irish Ale, Harp Lager and Kilkenny Irish Cream.

Note: Because our two Irish pubs are in such close proximity, the area around Market and Second streets are sure to be packed with humanity, spilling out into the street. Be advised it might be hard to belly up to the bar at either location. You may be better off making a reservation for dinner.

4. Next, turn into Agave 137, less than a block away on North Market. Agave is typically closed on Mondays but will open on St. Patrick’s Day with extended hours.

5. Next up is Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar, just steps away from Carroll Creek on North Market and just a block or so from Agave 137. Co-owner Eric Weller has big plans for March 17. They will be hosting their fourth annual fundraiser for muscular dystrophy in conjunction with Frederick Career Firefighters. The event will go on all day, enhanced by live music and a party atmosphere very possibly at the large parking lot right next door.

6. Next door to Shuckin’ Shack is pleasantly named Hootch and Banter. Their lounge is not usually open on Mondays, so please check their website for any St. Patrick’s Day activities.

7. Head just around the corner from Hootch and Banter to try out Frederick’s “pour your own” destination, Frederick Social. Here, you’ll have plenty of room to spread out. With a large patio area and Carroll Creek as a backdrop, you can choose from a selection of dozens of beers, wines and cocktails on tap to toast St. Patrick.

8. After your stop at Frederick Social, turn around, get your bearings, and head back up North Market for one block. Take a slight detour onto East Patrick Street and arrive at JoJo’s Restaurant and Tap House. On March 17, enjoy an all-day happy hour featuring $2 off draft beers, $1 off bottle and can beers, and $2 off all wine by the glass.

9. After JoJo’s, keep walking north on Market Street to a Frederick favorite, Brewer’s Alley, which will offer a “Kegs and Eggs” breakfast buffet along with special drinks and Irish-themed food on St. Patrick’s Day. Their rooftop bar will be open the entire weekend.

10. After Brewer’s, tuck in behind their building to finish your evening at White Rabbit Gastropub. Plans had not yet been finalized at the time of writing but, I’m told, may include a block party in their sizable parking lot. Call 240-651-1952 for information closer to the holiday. You can expect specials though, such as green beer, shamrock shakes and Shepherd’s Pie pizza among other unusual offerings.

If you prefer to get off Market Street and venture down Carroll Creek, you can make a night of it at RAK Brewing, Idiom Brewing, Attaboy Beer and Steinhardt Brewing, all of which are within close proximity.

RAK Brewing promises several specialty beer releases on St. Patrick’s Day, including a Dublin stout. Idiom will host live music, green beer and food specials. Steinhardt will feature live music along with $1 off pints of celebration (Dry Irish Stout), Irish Red and Green Kolsch from March 14 to 17.

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

Breakup songs to drive home the message

By Gary Bennett

If you’re celebrating National Breakup Day on Feb. 21,sorry and good luck.

This article appears in the February 20, 2025, issue of Frederick-News Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

Valentine’s Day is nice, but because real life happens, Feb. 21 is National Breakup Day. It should be no surprise. It comes only one week after the big day because, you know, love can be fleeting.

This anti-est of Valentine’s Day is sad, sure, but necessary. Who among us has never had trouble ridding ourselves of that certain someone who seems to just hang on and won’t take no for an answer?

Despite your protests, you might need help in this area. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but the day might come when you’ll find yourself hiding in the bushes rather than spending another evening with Mr. or Ms. Wrong.

Here are my Top 10 Breakup Songs for your life-skills pleasure. I know what you’re thinking, but no, I’m actually happily married. Keep in mind, though, I’m an older guy who enjoys rock and pop tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ’80s, so that’s what you’re getting here.

As I’m sure you know, breakup songs come in two flavors. There are the “I’m so sad we broke up, I’m just going to wallow in it” songs and the “please go away” songs. This list is comprised of the latter. Enjoy your breakup!

1. HIT THE ROAD, JACK

Ray Charles, 1960

This classic from a legendary artist is a verbal jousting match between a frustrated woman and a no-good man.

“Now baby, listen baby, don’t ya treat me this way, ‘cause I’ll be back on my feet someday, don’t care if you do ‘cause it’s understood, you ain’t got no money, you just ain’t no good.”

2. DON’T GO AWAY MAD (JUST GO AWAY)

Motley Crue, 1990

The hard rockers were at their peak with this gleeful, sleeper hit.

“Seasons must change, separate paths, separate ways, girl, don’t go away mad, just go away.”

3. ONE LESS SET OF FOOTSTEPS

Jim Croce, 1973

The mustachioed, blue-collar rocker shows the door to his old squeeze in no uncertain terms.

“If that’s the way that you want it, well that’s the way I want it more, ‘cause there’ll be one less set of footsteps on your floor in the morning.”

4. GO YOUR OWN WAY

Fleetwood Mac, 1977

Lindsey Buckingham wrote the song about his breakup with fellow band member Stevie Nicks.

“Tell me why everything turned around, packing up, shacking up is all you want to do, you can go your own way.”

5. IT’S OVER

Boz Scaggs, 1976

Scaggs writes about a fed-up lover who has had enough … but not really.

“Why can’t you just get it through your head, it’s over, it’s over now, yes, you heard me clearly, now I said it’s over. It’s over now.”

6. IT’S TOO LATE

Carole King, 1971

This classic from the great ‘60s and ‘70s songwriter tries to gently (maybe too gently) explain why their relationship just isn’t working.

“And it’s too late, baby, now it’s too late. Though we really did try to make it, something inside has died, and I can’t hide, and I just can’t take it.”

7. ALREADY GONE

The Eagles, 1974

The most successful American band struck gold with an early hit that declared victory over a failed relationship.

“So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains, and we never even know we have the key, but me — I’m already gone and I’m feelin’ strong.”

8. SMOKE FROM A DISTANT FIRE

Sanford-Townsend Band, 1976

A terrific, rollicking, one-hit wonder song with the best breakup line ever (involving a screen door). It tells the story of an unfaithful girl who is now getting her comeuppance.

“This lying and cryin’ is upsettin’ and gettin’ nowhere. It don’t stack up, so slack up and pack up, I just don’t care. Don’t let the screen door hit you on your way out.”

9. YOU’RE NO GOOD

Linda Ronstadt, 1974

This bluesy version, from early ’70s queen of pop Linda Rondstadt, congratulates herself for finally coming to her senses. She really lets her ex have it.

“Feelin’ better now that we’re through, feelin’ better ‘cause I’m over you. I learned my lesson, it left a scar, now I see how you really are: You’re no good.”

10. RAMBLIN’ MAN

Allman Brothers Band, 1973

These Southern rockers explain they will be leaving soon because it’s in their DNA and can’t be stopped.

“And when it’s time for leavin’, I hope you’ll understand, that I was born a ramblin’ man.”

American R&B and Soul musician and band leader Ray Charles (born Ray Charles Robinson, 1930 – 2004) plays piano as he performs during a JVC Jazz Festival concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, New York, New York, June 29, 1994. (Photo by Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• The All American Rejects’ “Gives You Hell”

• Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”

• Greg Kihn Band’s “The Breakup Song”

• J. Geils Band’s “Love Stinks”

• Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing”

• Led Zeppelin’s “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”

• Marshall Tucker Band’s “Heard it in a Love Song”

• Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”

• Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May”

• Styx’s “Babe”

• Taylor Swift’s “Picture to Burn”

• Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats”

• Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know”

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

Retired and Inspired: FCC’s ILR offers courses that pique interest

By Gary Bennett

People takes notes and listen during a class at the Institute for Learning in Retirement.

This article appears in the Winter 2025 issue of Frederick News-Posts “Prime Time” magazine.

Think back to your high school or college days. Do you fondly remember opening textbooks, considering issues and exploring the world through history and literature? I sure do. Back then, our brains were like sponges, soaking up every bit of information made available.

As we grow older, the pace of learning changes. Research shows that by the time we reach adulthood, many of us notice certain mental tasks, like quickly processing new information or tackling a complex problem, become more challenging. Scientists have identified physical changes in our brains that help explain this shift as we age.

But there’s good news: While the speed of learning might slow as we age, the ability to learn never stops. Research also shows that we can continue to expand our minds and acquire new skills as long as we’re willing to put in the effort.

COURSES FOR EVERYONE

Luckily for us, seniors in Frederick can rely upon the Institute for Learning in Retirement for a professionally organized and reliable destination for mature intellectual discovery.

Kelli Ackiewicz, the ILR program manager and a civil engineer by trade, came on board in 2016. She jumped at the chance to lead this program after assisting with women-to-women mentoring at FCC. She jokes that she helped “engineer some issues they had going on at the college” and then brought her prowess to ILR.

Linda Funsch instructs a class at the Institute for Learning in Retirement at FCC.

No one knows for sure how many Frederick County seniors have been served since 1998, but Ackiewicz did share that the Institute has served an average of 700 students annually over the past 10 years, resulting in more than 18,000 enrollments during this time. On average, students take about three courses per year.

Offered in conjunction with Frederick Community College and mostly on its campus, the Institute offers a wide range of diverse, college-style courses. Enroll and you’ll get lectures, handouts, slides and vibrant discussion, but the one thing you won’t get (thankfully) are tests and grades. Courses are designed for adults by adults. They are fun but can also be described as “no-nonsense.” More than 175 courses are offered each year.

The IRL curriculum team offer courses for just about anyone. Each course is designed to be casual, fun and with the needs of older adults in mind, though there is no age minimum requirement. Those not yet retired are more than welcome to join.

Included in the curriculum are courses in arts, crafts and music; computers and technology; food and drink; health and wellness; history, culture and current events; home and hobbies; learning a language; life planning and finances; philosophy, religion and exploration; photography; science and nature; and writing. A full list of the spring 2025 courses is at ILRFCC.org.

According to Ackiewicz, some of the more popular courses are in the history realm, current events and their “learning on location” bus trips.

There are also many unique courses you might not expect to find, like Discover Your Past Lives, Why is a Ghost a Ghost?, Crochet for Beginners, Writing Your Life Story, Maryland Whiskey 101, Successful Aging in Place, Chickenology (how to raise chickens), Beeconomics (how to make money as a beekeeper!) and Introduction to Ballroom Dancing.

A typical course is held in person, although some are virtual and others are offered on location. Most include 8 to 12 sessions, span one or two months, last for an hour or two at a time, and can occur on any day of the week. Offerings vary widely, so it is advisable to check online or ask for a printed catalog to see what best meets your personal interests and schedule.

In general, most winter/spring courses begin in late January or early February (although others may begin later in the year) and finish by late May or early June.

Richard Kaplowitz of Frederick types notes during a class at the Institute for Learning in Retirement at FCC.

Tuition and fees are reasonable. Most of the course costs are comprised of fees that can range from free for courses that last only one session to just over $100 for multi-session courses. Course costs average $59 to $69. If you try a course and find it is not for you, you may be able to transfer into another course or request a refund.

Some courses are free, made possible through the FCC Foundation. The Institute partners with Frederick County Public Libraries, Frederick County Senior Center and others to offer free courses at those locations.

Instructors are usually passionate experts with lived experience in the subject area. IRL does welcome new instructors with new course ideas (if interested, submit a course proposal form at ILRFCC.org). Ackiewicz promises that all new courses selected are given every chance to succeed, offering them at least two or three times before re-evaluating.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

Margie Shattuck has taken ILR courses since she moved to Frederick in 2011. She’s studied a number of subject areas and most enjoys courses on subjects she knows little about.

“It’s a great way to learn a few things and see if I would like to study it further,” she said.

She is currently an ambassador for the program, helping to get the word out about the Institute and staffing booths at expos, festivals and meetings.

Shattuck highly recommends ILR.

“It’s helped enrich my life,” she said. “I’ve learned about a lot of subjects I had a slight interest in, such as learning about past lives, technical things like Photoshop, photography on my phone and medical things. There’s a great program called Medically Curious, where a doctor comes in and talks about things like how to research medical issues online and how to avoid incorrect info on the web.”

Curious students can try a wide swath of courses, although it would behoove you to choose areas of interest. If you have a change of heart, partial refunds can be requested after a class begins, but they are not promised.

Also, be ready for a few know-it-alls who seem to know the teacher and the subject matter inside and out. Laugh it off and remember, some things never change.

The author (far right) and some new friends at a Learning on Location class on the Appalachian Trail.

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

Get (way) out of town for Valentine’s Day

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in the February 13, 2025, issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

Folks, you don’t need to surprise your honey with a romantic trip to Paris, Venice or Rome for Valentine’s Day. Oh no, that’s too expensive anyway. Believe me, you’ll feel right at home at one of these romantic destinations I’ve carefully curated for you right here in the good old U.S.A.

When you arrive in one of these dreamy destinations, your significant other will be overcome with emotion. In fact, they won’t look at you the same way again. Plus, some of these towns are so inexpensive to visit, they will actually pay you to come!

I must warn you, though, not all of these towns are large enough to have a romantic bed and breakfast (or running water, for that matter.) But I can assure you, they all have “Welcome to” signs that will be just right for that selfie.

Please note that all these places are real! Only the descriptions have been changed to protect the town leaders and, of course, the innocent. Plus, the real descriptions are lame.

Accident, Maryland

A charming burg in nearby Garrett County. You may want to skip this one, though, if you don’t wish to have one of those kinds of romantic mishaps.

Bangor, Maine

Our northernmost destination (pronounced Bang-er) is snow covered at Valentine’s Day and action-oriented (I mean skiing! C’mon, get your mind out of the gutter!).

Boody, Illinois

This restful, bootylicious heartland community will make you feel like sitting down and taking a load off.

Butternuts, New York

This tiny upstate enclave is named after the tasty squash that is plentiful here (what did you think?). Be advised, you may come away from here with a new nickname, if you play your cards right.

Climax, Georgia

You’ll burst with excitement when visiting this small but satisfying Southern town.

Cockeysville, Maryland

A close-by Maryland destination that specializes in goofy little pet names. Your honey pie will love it!

Conception, Missouri

Like Accident, this one is not for the faint of heart. Skip this one if you’re not feeling lucky.

Conquest, New York

A delightful upstate borough perfect for the goal-oriented, won’t-take-no-for-an-answer folks. (You know who you are.)

Diamond, California

Now we’re talking. This one is for the big spenders among us, or at least folks who appreciate syrupy pop songs from a ‘70s icon.

Flowers, Mississippi

If you’re not ready for Diamond (and who is?), this is your next best bet.

French Lick, Indiana

Home of NBA legend Larry Bird. Townsfolk will be glad to show you around and provide an oral history.

Fertile, Minnesota

If you’re not going to Accident or Conception, I doubt you’ll go here. But I say take a chance! What could go wrong?

Heart Butte, Montana

I can see you snickering out there, but it’s pronounced Byute. You know, like a lovely, shapely mountain.

Heartwell, Nebraska

This destination sounds nice but I’m sorry to say it’s actually full of cardiologists. I include it here for the over-70 readers.

Hell, Michigan

This is the final, frozen-over destination for those love-on-the-rocks, can’t-be-saved relationships. Heck, you can even be mayor here for a day if you pay the price.

Honeyville, Utah

Take your honey to this little hamlet in the Mormon state. Be advised: If you’re not married, a church leader might harangue you about going back home.

Hooker, Oklahoma

Maybe not the best choice for a romantic weekend, but I say give it a try. Be sure to take advantage of the welcoming committee found on most street corners. Bring cash and low expectations.

Intercourse, Pennsylvania

Finally! Slip into the most famous romantic getaway on the list. And, because it’s positioned just up the road from us in Frederick, you’ll be thrust into a great time. Trust me.

Love, Arizona

This is what’s it’s all about, right?

Lovers Leap, Cumberland

This nearby attraction beckons lovers to show how much they really care. Perfect for the nothing-to-lose folks just a step ahead of an angry, shotgun-toting father.

Pee Pee Township, Ohio

If Cockeysville is just too cutesy for you, there’s always this surprisingly tiny community in Ohio that is folded into its southern region. Blink and you could miss it.

Romance, Arkansas

Be sure to visit the world’s largest thesaurus factory in this exciting, joyful, dreamy, starry-eyed, romantic village in the Ozarks.

Roses, Pennsylvania

This burg in the Keystone State is not far from Intercourse. Everyone knows it’s hard to visit Intercourse unless you do Roses first.

Rough and Ready, California

Named after California’s proud gold-mining past (sure it was), lovers here must be open-minded and up for just about anything.

Screamer, Alabama

An obvious choice for you overachievers. But unless you’ve been here before, you’ll marvel at how noisy this town can be, especially on Saturday nights.

Sweet Lips, Tennessee

If Butternuts is not your cup of tea, I wholeheartedly recommend Sweet Lips.

Surprise, New York

There are lots of Surprises in the U.S., but the one in New York was founded by the same folks who settled Conception, Missouri. They got out of there fast.

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

You can’t get away with anything in this well-named community, so don’t even try.

Valentine, Indiana

Finally, a town worthy of this list that has gone terribly off the tracks. Fun fact: This town was just recently renamed from Greeting Card, Indiana, to honor the handsome agent on the television show “FBI.”

Weiner, Arkansas

Last but not least, this tiny town is pronounced the way you think, and they are damn proud of it. Home to world-famous Chihuahua races and snow birds from Pee Pee Township, Ohio.

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

Live from New York, it’s 50 years!

By Gary Bennett

Saturday Night Night Main Stage, Rockefeller Center, New York

This article appears in the Fredrick News-Post’s February 6, 2025, “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

It’s difficult to overstate the cultural significance of Saturday Night Live. It may not seem so today, but the show literally changed the way young people approached Saturday nights in the 1970s.

Saturday Night Live will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025 with a three-hour prime time special on NBC on Feb. 16. As of this writing, a host has not been named, but one thing is certain, the show will be chock full of hilarious clips from its 50-year reign.

Much about Saturday Night Live, especially the early years, has passed into legend. But when the show hit the airwaves in October 1975, no one knew what to expect. A young writer named Lorne Michaels talked NBC executives into taking a chance on a live, late-night, weekend comedy show. This had not been tried before.

He wanted nothing less than to redefine comedy the way the Beatles, 10 years earlier, had redefined pop music. “That required not pandering, and it also required removing neediness, the need to please,” Michaels says in the book “Live from New York” by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller. “We were only going to please those people who are like us, and that’s what we did.”

The show aired at 11:30 on Saturday night. If you were a college student at that time, like I was, 11:30 was prime time for parties, drinking, dancing and blowing off steam. Many of us didn’t even head out until that time. Once word got around that you had to see this new show, it didn’t take long for us to adjust our loose schedules accordingly. NBC banked that we would do both — stay in to watch the show but still go out before, after or both — and we did.

The Magnificent Seven, 1975

A little known fact is that Johnny Carson is largely responsible for the airing of Saturday Night Live. Carson ruled late-night TV during the week. By 1975, he had had enough of NBC airing his reruns on Saturday night; he wanted to use the reruns himself during the week so he could take more time off. NBC had the option of returning this weekend time to the local affiliates, and thereby giving up a chunk of ad revenue, or trying to fill the time with other programming.

It was no surprise when word went out from NBC executives to develop a late-night weekend show. Had the powerful Carson never made this demand, it’s quite possible there would never have been a Saturday Night Live. After all, Carson did not retire until 1992.

The man NBC took a chance on, 30-year-old Lorne Michaels, gave them much more than I’m sure they bargained for: an adventurous, topical, satire series with a live studio audience that, had executives and advertisers known of its content in advance, might never have seen the light of day.

Michaels wanted the show to be the first one in the history of television to talk the same language being talked on college campuses, streets and everywhere else young people gathered. In this, he succeeded wildly.

The show was originally called NBC’s Saturday Night. It was the first show the television generation — baby boomers, as we are now called — could call their own. It was unlike anything else on the air, and it would be years before rivals even tried to imitate it. It was new, unusual, surprising and boy, did it make us laugh. It had the proverbial inmates running the asylum, and it showed.

The show made stars of unknowns and superstars of stars. The brash young players that comprised the Not Ready for Prime Time Players in those first few seasons are now household names. Belushi, Chase, Aykroyd, Radner, Murray, Murphy, Piscopo and more delighted in trashing TV taboos.

Many of these would-be stars wanted no part of TV but took on the gig anyway because they could look down on even the most successful prime-time show — because their show was different. It was one of a kind. It made fun of television. John Belushi made his feelings about television known at the time by famously saying, “My television has spit all over it.”

And who in the boomer generation can forget the Coneheads, Mad Samurai, Nick the Lounge Singer, Fred Garvin (Male Prostitute), the Wild and Crazy Guys, Killer Bees, Blues Brothers, Roseanne Roseannadanna, Wayne and Garth, Mr. Bill, Fernando, Hans and Franz, Lisa Loopner and Todd, The Church Lady, Pete Schweddy and the Greek deli owner selling “chee-burger, chee-burger, and Petsie.”

The very first show featured a “cold opening” that portended of things to come. Belushi appeared as a semi-literate immigrant dutifully keeling over with a heart attack because his English teacher suddenly dies of one. With that, Chevy Chase, as stage manager with clipboard in hand, looks in at the dead bodies and flashes that fake Hollywood smile and says, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” Then cue the saxophone-infused music. Those words from Chase, the music and the accompanying scenes from New York’s shady underbelly had an exciting feel to them. We were hooked.

Another instant hit from the early shows was Chase as the bumbling but cooler-than-you newscaster for Weekend Update, an absurdist view of the goings-on in Washington and around the country. The segment was so topical and up-to-date that writers tell stories of being under Chase’s desk live on air handing notes up to him.

His goofy but sincere opening line of the newscast — “Good evening. I’m Chevy Chase and you’re not” — became a national catchphrase that even President Ford used. Because of this segment and the stage manager schtick when opening the show, Chase became the first breakout star, leaving after only one season to act in movies.

He was replaced by none other than Bill Murray in season two. The show barely skipped a beat. In short order, Belushi and Dan Aykroyd became major stars, too.

Feuds, fights and romances among staff members were in the paper seemingly every week. Boozy after-parties were legendary. Sex and drugs were rampant backstage. Network executives tended to steer clear of the 17th floor, where the show was written and performed, not wishing to be enmeshed in marijuana smoke and other strange aromas that would be hard to explain. Better to not know.

By the beginning of the second season, Saturday Night Live was the talk of television, a national phenomenon.

Even the performers who joined the cast later are legendary in their own right: Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Mike Meyers, Dana Carvey, Chris Rock, Darrell Hammond, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Jon Lovitz, Dennis Miller, Kevin Nealon, Tracy Morgan, Amy Poehler … the list goes on and on. Big stars like Hanks, Martin, Baldwin and Timberlake fell all over themselves wanting to host.

For better or worse, Saturday Night Live lives on as a testament to what you can accomplish if you really believe in something — and “don’t give a flying f— if it fails,” as Chase put it in 1975, when a reporter asked him how the show succeeded.

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.