Party time for Cleveland newspaper bicentennial

In honor of the 200th anniversary of Cleveland's first newspaper, the Plain Dealer News Guild is throwing a party for Cleveland journalists and friends.

The first round is on the Guild for the first 50 people. Tater tots, too!

The bicentennial observance will take place at 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Happy Dog, 5801 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland.

Cheers!

The Cleveland Commercial Register began July 31, 1818, so the birthday is being observed two months late. But it's a party, so who cares? 

The PD was founded in 1842 by Joseph William Gray as a weekly and became a daily in 1845. Gray’s mentor was Stephen Douglas, of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates.

Philosophical disagreements caused a short absence in 1865. It became a morning paper in 1885 after absorbing the Cleveland Herald. The Plain Dealer and Cleveland News merged into the Forest City Publishing Company in 1932. In 1967 the PD was sold to the Newhouse chain.  

The Plain Dealer got a Pulitzer Prize in 1953, for Ed Kuekes’ editorial cartoon, and for Connie Shultz' writing. The BJ has FOUR Pulitzers.

Editors and reporters from the BJ switched to the PD, and vice versa, although far more often leaving the BJ for the PD.

At least 45 still benefitting from healthcare lawsuit against BJ

Black Press will pay $178.42 a month in 2019 for the AARP supplemental coverage to Medicare to the survivors who won the healthcare lawsuit against the BJ. That’s up from $154 a month in 2013.

Medicare pays 80% of what it allows for medical costs. AARP pays most of the other 20%. The yearly savings in this category are in the thousands for many lawsuit retirees.

Guild retirees in the lawsuit, including me, pay $2 for 30-day prescriptions, even if it’s a brand name prescription. That alone saves me thousands of dollars a year.

See, if DOES pay to stand up for your rights and risk putting your money where your mouth is.

Lawsuit winners also received reimbursements in the thousands of dollars for medical expenses caused by the BJ changing the coverage despite retirement letters prohibiting such action.

The lawsuit was filed in 2009 and settled in late 2012 in Judge Dowd's court. The changes were effective Jan. 1, 2013.

All of us owe a great debt to the late Dave White, who plunked down $2,500 of his money to get the ball rolling after he accidentally encountered a lawyer from Minnesota on the beach at Siesta Key, adjacent to Sarasota, Florida.

Benefitting are Gina White, of Venice, Florida, Dave’s widow; Bob and Linda Abbott, Massillon; Ruth and Tom West, Rittman; Sid Sprague, Loveland, Colorado; Sharon Downing, Hugh’s widow, The Villages, Florida; Larnie and Stephanie Greene, Hartville; Lloyd and Claudine Bigelow, Cuyahoga Falls; John Costello, Akron; Dick Gresock, Medina; Henry and Kathleen Heinbuck, North Canton; Denzil Parker, Wadsworth; Rita Reeves, Akron; Bob Walker, Medina; Cecil and Josephine Santaferro, Akron; Isabel Watson (Blanton’s widow), Naples, Florida; Janice Hogg (Trammel’s widow), Waynesville, North Carolina; Russ and Martel Bendel, Wadsworth; Eunice and Bonnie Collins, Copley; Richard and Patricia Fair, Akron; Marjorie Hanna, Wadsworth; Bob Kendall, Berlin Center; Harriet Ledbetter, Canton; Norm and Naomi Mattern, Wellsville; Charles O’Neill, Akron; Fred Pollack, Akron; Don Reppart, North Canton; Ron Sanderlin, Canton; Charles Stadelman, Tallmadge; and Ray and Amaryllis Wolfe, Greentown.

Guild lawsuit retirees are John Olesky, of Tallmadge, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Guild retirees; retired reporter Dick McBane, Lilburn, Georgia; maintenance retiree Harold Bailey and wife Elizabeth, Kent; and retired photographer Don Roese, Cuyahoga Falls.

Those who passed away after benefitting for a few years are printers Hugh Downing and Joe Catalano and the newsroom’s lovable rascal, Dick McLinden.

And, because Black Press kept the healthcare obligations for retirees, the almost annual sale of the BJ to another company, or so it seems, has no affect. The lawsuit winners are protected by a court order that guarantees them these benefits till they die.

In my case, my savings from the lawsuit have approached $30,000. Well worth standing up for your rights, huh?

Hershey to give a Blissful talk

Bill Hershey, on the BJ State Desk when I was assistant State Desk editor in my early days in the 1970s, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 20 at the 2018 Speakers Series in Columbus.

The topic: Bill and John Green’s book, “Mr. Chairman: The Life and Times of Ray C. Bliss.”

Bill spent 40 years covering Ohio government when he wasn’t caring for his doggy menagerie.

Mike Curtin, former state representative and former Columbus Dispatch associate publisher, will moderate the second half of the presentation.

It’s a Friends of the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Heritage Garden event. That’s a longer title than it will take Bill to discuss the book.

Bill had his skills honed by DeNobilist of BJ people, Pat Englehart, and Harry Liggett. We shared a common career venue, although not at the same time, the Dayton Daily News.

Bill has had experience with dog and pony shows of politicians and the show that his dogs put on for and with him.

Is the new BJ page design the work of brilliant Kathy Hagedorn Kortevesi clones?

Hah!

It’s the machination of a cadre of nerds in Austin, Texas who have made more than 200 GateHouse newspapers impossible to tell apart without checking the name of the city in the masthead.

The Center for News and Design opened in 2014. Every time GateHouse purchased another newspaper, as it did Ol’ Blue Walls, the flavor and originality that spoke to the local readers is covered with the same clothing that drabbed down more than 200 other newspapers.

Conformity is a one-way road to boredom. Those who think outside the box have benefitted America and the world far more throughout history than those who march in lockstep with the masses.

The Gatehouse conformists brag on their website that they have their ugly claws on news pages, special sections, magazines, Sunday projects and even, for Heaven’s sake, nameplates.

Sure, GateHouse saves a ton of money by eliminating Kathy Hagedorn Kortevesi and her like in more than 200 newspapers. But local readers pay the price. Local newspaper heritage takes an even bigger hit.

If every grocery store had exactly the same products in exactly the same place and the same storefronts, how would you tell which one you were shopping in? Well, it’s the same with newspapers.

What if every woman in America wore the same dress? How the hell would you tell them apart? It’s the same with newspapers.

What if every women in America had redhaired bouffants? How would you know which one was your wife? It’s the same with newspapers.

Conformity chokes creativity. Creativity stirs the brain and delights the reader. One-size-fits-all doesn’t work with democracy, or shoe stores or tailor shops and certainly not newspapers.

Yes, the words and photos are more important than the page designs. But it’s the page designs unique to the BJ that made its readers feel comfortable. And designs and headlines help draw the reader to the story. If the reader doesn’t read the story, then everything else is for naught.

John S. Knight knew how important every aspect of the newspaper was. He often said that those who deliver the newspaper are critical because, “If they don’t deliver our newspaper to your door then the rest of us have worked for nothing.” Or something like that.

Meanwhile, travelers can’t tell the difference between the Akron Beacon Journal or the Gadsden Times, Tuscaloosa News, Arizona Capital Times, Daily Sifting Herald, Pine Bluff Commercial, Southwest Times Record, Stuttgard Daily Leader, Hope Star, Greenwood Democrat, Boonville Democrat, Cabot Star-Herald, Charleston Express, Press Argus-Courier, Alma Journal, Picayune-Times, Jacksonville Patriot, Lonoke Democrat, Maumelle Monitor, North Little Rock Times, Paris Express, Gurdon Times, Nevada Country Picayune, Newport Independent, Sun Times, White Hall Journal, Van Buren County Democrat, Daily Press, Daily Independent, Desert Dispatch, The Record, Siskiyou Daily News, Taft Midway Driller, Dunsmuir News, Mount Shasta Herald, Weed Press, Lucerne Valley Leader, Gridley Herald, Ag Journal, Bent County Democrat, Fowler Tribune, The Bulletin, The Community News, Dover Post, Middletown Transcript, Destin Log, Walton Sun, Crestview News Bulletin, News Journal, Florida Times-Union, Northwest Florida Daily News, Santa Rosa Press Gazette, Athens Banner-Herald, Augusta Chronicle, Savannah Morning News, Columbia County News-Times, Star Courier, Cambridge Chronicle, Galva News, Geneseo Republic, Orion Gazette, Daily Ledger, Journal Star, Pekin Daily Times, Chillicothe Times-Bulletin, Washington Times-Reporter, Woodford Times, East Peoria Times-Journal, Morton Times-News, Batavaria Republican, Bartlett Press, Berwyn-Cicero Life, Bolingbrook-Romeoville Reporter, Downers Grove Reporter, Elmhurst Press, The Farmside, Geneva Republican, Glen Ellyn News, Lemont Reporter, Lisle-Naperville Reporter, Lombard Spectator, Northeast DuPage Press, Journal Standard, Rockford Register Star, Benton Evening News, Daily American, Du Quoin Evening Call, Daily Republican, Randolph County Herald Tribune, Steeleville Ledger, Ashley News, Christopher Progress, Herrin Spokesman, Murphysboro American, Hamburg Reporter, Nebraska City News-Press, Syracuse Journal-Democrat, Ames Tribune, The Hawk Eye, Dallas County News, Boone News Republican, Augusta Daily Gazette, El Dorado Times, Hays Daily News, Hutchinson News, McPherson Sentinel, The Kansan, Ottawa Herald, Salina Journal, Wellington Daily News, Dodge City Daily Globe, Donaldsville Chief, Gonzales Weekly Citizen, Plaquemine Post, Bastrop Daily Enterprise, Beauregard Daily News, Cape Cod Times, The Enterprise, Gardner News, Herald News, O Jornal, Bourne Courier, The Bulletin, Cape Codder, Harwich Oracle, Allston-Brighton Tab, Brookline Tab, Cambridge Chronicle, Cambridge Tab, Dedham Transcript, Dover-Sherborn Press, Rolindale Transcript, Amesbury News, Beverly Citizen, Danvers Herald, Cape Ann Beacon, Georgetown Record, Hamilton Wenham Chronicle, Ipswich Chronicle, Malden Observer, Marblehead Reporter, Medford Transcript, Arlington Advocate, The Beacon (not the one in Akron), The Beacon-Villager, Bedford Minuteman, Bolton Common, Burlington Union, Chelmsford Independent, Concord Journal, Harvard Post, Abington Mariner, Braintree Forum, Bridgewater Independent, Carver Reporter, Cohasset Mariner, Duxbury Reporter, Halifax-Plimpton Reporter, Hanover Mariner, Hingham Journal, Holbrook Sun, Kingston Reporter, Lakeville Call, Ashland Tab, Canton Journal (in Mass.), Country Gazette, Easton Journal, Framingham Tab, Holliston Tab, Hopkinton Crier, Hudson Sun (in Mass.), Mansfield News (in Mass.), Marlborough Enterprise, Medfield Press, Natick Bulletin, Cheybogan Daily Tribune, Bronson Journal, Daily Reporter, Daily Telegram, Evening News, Hillsdale Daily News, Crookston Daily Times, Granite Falls Advocate Tribune, Montevideo American-News, Redwood Falls Gazette, Redwood Falls Livewire, Boonville Daily News, Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune, Hannibal Courier-Post, Kirksville Daily Express, Linn County Leader, Macon Chronicle-Herald, Mexico Ledger, Moberly Monitor-Index, Columbia Daily Tribune, Evening Tribune, The Leader, Wellsville Daily Reporter, Chronicle-Express, Genesee Country Express, Steuben Courier, Observer-Dispatch, Telegram, Times, Observer-Dispatch (in different state), Telegram (in different state), Devils Lake Daily Journal, Columbus Dispatch, Daily Jeffersonian, Daily Record, ThisWeek Newspapers, Columbus Monthly, Independent, Repository, Suburbanite, Times-Reporter, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Miami News-Record, Ardmoreite, Journal Record, Shawnee News-Star, Delaware County Journal Grove, Grove Sun, Pawhuska Journal-Capital, Friday Gazette, Register-Guard, Wayne Independent, Carbondale News, News Eagle, Villager, Pocono Record, Providence Journal, Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, A La Carte TMC, Oak Ridger, Amarillo Globe-News, Austin American-Statesman, Brownwood Bulletin, Lubbock Avalance-Journal, Herald Democrat, Stephenville Empire-Tribune, Waxahachie Daily Light, Alice Echo-News Journal, Anna-Melissa Tribune, Progress-Index, Virginia Lawyers Weekly or Colonial Voice.

More than 200 GateHouse newspapers goosestep in the same uniform.

It’s as if Gucci, Off-White, Balenciaga and Givenchy were forced to parade mormidly obese models on their runways in gunny sacks.

This is NOT a knock on those who work at the BJ today. They are every bit as dedicated to excellent journalism and pursuit of the truth as JSK, Maidenburg, Pat Englehart, Harry Liggett and I were in the 20^th century.

But Gatehouse has taken a lion of American journalism, with its four Pulitzers and hundreds of awards, and dressed it identically to more than 200 pigs, including lipstick applied by a crosseyed, drunken sailor. The BJ deserves far better.

Kathy Hagedorn Kortevesi won many state and national awards for her page designs. So did her predecessors at 44 E. Exchange Street.

But if the BJ gets page design awards in the future then, in good conscience, the plaques should be shipped to the nerds in Austin, Texas. Lipstick and all.

Judy Hazlinger Grna, wife of former BJ Librarian Paul Grna, Jr., passed away Saturday, September 8. They were married for 48 years and spent nearly all that time on Jonathon Avenue.

Judy’s sister, Janis Hazlinger Rich, lives in Canal Fulton with husband Gary Rich.

Paul was the guy with the black beard so happy to be living with the redheaded love of his life.

There will be no memorial or service.

Nowadays, Paul is manager/auditor for Econo Lodge Akron East. I don’t know if that’s the one on Gilchrist Road or South Arlington Road.

Paul Grna, Sr., Paul’s father, was in the BJ mailroom for 35 years.

 

The Paul we knew in the BJ Library was a third-generation family member to work at 44 E. Exchange Street.

 

His grandfather, Joe Grna, Sr., came to the BJ after leaving Yugoslavia in the early 1900s to be a driver for the Akron Times, which the Knight family later absorbed into its Beacon operation. Joe drove a Model-T Touring car and an open-cab Ford truck that he owned.

By the time the BJ began providing trucks for its drivers, Grandpa Joe had two other men working for him to get the papers to the suburban counties. He retired in 1972 after 42 years of driving Akron newspapers to their appointed dropoffs.

Paul’s stepmother, Joan E. Grna, passed away in 2008 at the age of 78. The Akron native retired from Firestone after 34 years there. She was a golfer who regularly attended St. Mary Catholic Church where she worked in the church office once a week. Joan’s brothers were Ralph and Richard Young.

The advice Paul’s father gave him the day that dad retired: “Paul David, stay with the Beacon Journal. They were good to me and they will take care of you. It’s a good company.”

Truer words were never spoken, particularly as long as John S. Knight worked at his desk in the corner office where he could see the Akron skyline.

Judy’s obituary:

Judith L. Grna (Hazlinger)

Judith L. Grna, 78, of Akron, passed away peacefully on September 8, 2018 with her loving husband, Paul, by her side.

She will be sorely missed by her husband of 49 years, whose little redhaired girl is gone.

Judy was a great lady who lived for the happiness of others. She was an avid sports fan who loved the Indians and especially the Cavaliers.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sister, Janis (Gary) Rich of Canal Fulton; niece, Anne (Tanner) Kirby; nephew, Joe (Courtney) Rich; sister-inlaw, Debbie (Jack) Rogers; great niece and nephews, Sadie, Braden and Jordan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Pauline and Frank Hazlinger.

No service or memorial will be held, and the family asks only for your condolences and well wishes.

Artist exraordinaire Kathy Hagedorn Kortvejesi, certifiably the Best Designer in Ohio (Society of Professional Journalists),  retired Friday, September 7 from the BJ.

Kathy was among the 2016 layoffs but returned to Ol’ Blue Walls as page designer for another two years to extend her time at 44 E. Exchange Street to 24 years.

The late Harry Liggett, once assistant State Desk editor and the founder of this BJ Alums blog, once remembered Kathy this way:

“When my granddaughter started showing some interest in art, I took her to the Beacon Journal to visit Kathy, who showed her how she does her job. She does it well.”

Kathy explained her technique:

“I use acrylic paints. I water them down and apply them like a water color. I use salt while the painting is still wet to create texture in my illustrations.”

Retired BJ Features Department editor and home furnishings reporter Betsy Lammerding wrote:

“I still cherish the fabulous retirement piece you did for me in 2008. It hangs over my desk.”

Kathy lately has been doing page designs, which sadly squandered her incredible illustration talents.

Kathy started as a part-time artist at the BJ in 1994. Several months later she was full-time and full of illustrative talent.

Kathy and another exceptional BJ illustration artist Dennis Balogh, who did some superb Channels television guide covers for me during my BJ Television Editor days, lettered the Save The Beacon sign they carried during a rally to unsuccessfully rescue the BJ from the sellout mania of newspaper management.

Kathy is a Columbus College of Art & Design graduate with awards from the Society of News Design, Creativity, Print, the Cleveland Press Club, Associated Press, National Headliner and the Society of Professional Journalists Best Designer in Ohio.

Her work also has been exhibited at Summit ArtSpace in downtown Akron.

She is married to Derek Kortvejesi, who works at Century Cycles in Peninsula.

You can sell Kathy well-wishes via her Facebook page or by email to klk164@sbcglobal.net

Sharon Shreve Lorentzen, the famous Farkle who put sparkle in BJ blue, at my request, followed up the article about how she got the Farkle label with her memories of the BJ.

She did such a good job that I wonder why the BJ didn’t turn Paul Lorentzen’s wife into a reporter. Some damn good writing here. I didn’t change a word. Oh, a minor grammar fix here and there, but not much of that even.

A far cleaner copy than a lot of the reporters turned over to me during my 26 years at Ol’ Blue Walls.

Here are Sharon/Farkle’s memories, which are impressive even though she didn’t name me among those she remembered during her BJ years:

Memories - Sharon Shreve/Farkle

I started at the Beacon Journal in Sept. of 1969, two months out of high school. I went in, knocked, and walked into Ben Maidenburg’s office, asked if I could have a job. He hired me. He knew I wanted to write, but with no experience at all, I started with lowered expectations.

I first started in the phone department on the mezzanine, plugging in to take a call when a call came through, and plugging it in for the department it went to. Very interesting. When that system ended, I was offered either a secretary for the managing editor, or a copy kid. As I only wanted to write, I thought that copy kid would somehow get me closer to that goal. Foolish youngster. There was a certain person of authority who told me he would never let that happen. And he meant it.

I was the first female copy kid, and an official grunt - getting coffee, bringing up every edition of the 7 editions for checking, clearing and working on copy machines, rushing changes back to composing, filing pages, hustling and bustling. Bob Goins, Frank Casey, and Bill Chaney came along, too. I was literally in every department of the paper, nearly every day.

Then I was ‘promoted’ doing obits, having to go to the families’ houses to get pictures of accident victims. That was hard for an 18-year-old, with one death being a girl I had gone to high school with. Hated that part.

I was a great typist. So, long before computers, I was the typist for the reporters calling in their stories. That was so interesting and exciting. Charles Buffum, who I still see, let me write a section of an article series he was doing, about marriage. I wrote about my best friend, who had gotten married very young. Thrilling to see it on the front pages of the Community section.

I wrote the weeky columns about what was happening in town. One was - every week - Dave and Diana Neff will be playing traditional old-time music at Hale Farm Sat.-Sun. I can remember thinking, ‘who the hell are Dave and Diana Neff, and what is traditional old-time’? Boy, did I come to learn that.

When I first started dating my husband, one of our weekly dates was to go to Boulder Junction in Green, and listen/play along with a dozen others, playing banjos, fiddles, dulcimers, mandolins, etc. It was magical. That was Dave and Diana. We became very close friends, even to this day, and played in an Irish/French Canadian/Appalachian band for 11 years. We played at Hale Farm, Yankee Peddler, May Day, Nat’l Parks., even a bar mitzvah. We had monthly contra dances in Greentown. I played dulcimer (which I made), and now the bohdran - an Irish drum.

When the paper got to computers, I was the second person that was trained, because I did all the typing. I believe a composing room guy was the first. That was amazing! I have loved them ever since.

I got to work at 5:30 a.m. One of my first tasks was for Pat Englehart.  “Copy” he’d bellow (before Farkle became a thing), “Cigars!” I had to go the Western Drive-In across the street and get his stinky, beloved DiNobli cigars, and a coffee. I also had to get John Knight’s lunch, and put it on ceramic dishes, coffee in the silver pot, all on a silver tray, and leave it on his desk. He couldn’t be there when I did it. Sometimes he’d be talking to his sec’y - Shirley Follo.

I did phone work for the Sports Dept., off and on, especially during the time Mohammad Ali had the some of his biggest fights -  Fight of the Century, the Rumble in the Jungle and the  Thrilla in Manila. The phones would go crazy with people wanting the results. Tom Melody, Ray Yannucci, John Seborn, Sheldon Ocker, Paul Bailey and the rest. Great guys, great experience.

Betty Jaycox would come in around right before 6 some mornings, to write her column - no makeup, no hair done, no fancy outfits. I would get her coffee. The first time I saw her like this, I think my jaw dropped. It was made clear that this was not to be shared. She would return several hours later, in full glory, to start gathering her society news for her next column.

Fran Murphey - wow. That’s all I could think. What a marvelous whirlwind. I have a signed Cotswold Outhouse book she gave me. I marveled at her complete disdain for anything she didn’t want. She was one of a kind and gave a young woman quite a life lesson.

I still wear overalls because of her.

Mickey Porter - the best there. I worked for him for about 3 months, when he was at his peak. Funny, sardonic, so intelligent. He was ahead of his time. And a pretty good bowler, too.

Pat Englehart was a marvel - gruff, sarcastic, funny. The ideal image of a newsman. Luckily he had a soft spot for me. He was patient and encouraging.

On May 4, 1970, I was on the phones with our staff at Kent State. I’m sure it was Don Roese that came in to the ‘press room’ there, to give a report. As I’m talking to him, he stops, says - ‘they’re shooting! They’re shooting here.’ I yelled for Pat. He got on the phone, too. As I’m typing, he’s listening, shouting orders to staff, typing himself. The place exploded! It is one of the most amazing things to happen in my life. I still get goose bumps. It was unbelievable and continues to be.

I was also the first female permitted to wear pants - when they were redoing the newsroom, version 1, I think. We had to headquarter behind the Green Room. I was constantly running my stockings. On a copy kid salary, I just couldn’t afford it, and discussed it with - yes, again - Ben Maidenburg. I was allowed to wear slacks, no jeans, after that. After the Advertising and Sales dept. got a view of that, it was opened to all.

The Beacon Bombers - I wanted to play softball. I asked repeatedly. Jim Ricci said ‘if you let Farkle play, I’ll quit’. As I recall, he was one of their good players. So, I went to John Knight’s condo (with an appointment), asked if we could use the name “Ladies of the Knight” and start a female team. He loved it so much, he bought us uniforms, and sprung for some equipment! That did not go over well with the Bombers, although I think they got t-shirts then. Wonderful, loving Jim Derendal signed on as our coach. We were horrible - a tomboy and a bunch of secretaries who had never played. But we got better, winning a trophy in our 3rd year.

I got married in 1985, and I’m still living in Highland Square, on the same street since 1965. My bonus kids are in Virginia, Atlanta, and North Carolina - 3 kids, 4 grandchildren. Paul and I have had international students from the Caribbean, England, Australia, Egypt, Denmark, Italy, and Norway. We had a wondrous trip to Norway to visit our student’s family for 18 days. We’ve gone to England, several times, including a canal boat trip through mid-England, in which we worked 91 locks ourselves. We’ve cruised through all of the West Indies and Bahamas on Windjammer ships, and the Italian Rivieria on a large cruise ship.

I ride a Harley trike, and we have done several motorcycle trips to Georgia, New Hampshire, and all points closer. We know all the ice cream places.

I started the Family Council at Rockynol, for the advocacy of the seniors there, specifically those with dementia. For eleven years I was there nearly every day with my parents, making sure everyone was getting what they deserved. A special passion and place in my heart.

I have become the unofficial secretary for the Prostate Cancer Support & Education Group, which meets monthly, a very informative group.

Paul was an architect for his whole career, and retired in 2007. He is a great Santa, and we do Mr. and Mrs. Claus every year at local churches and restaurants.

People I remember:

 

Julius Greenfield and all the photogs

Don Gaynor

Don Bandy

Loren Tibbles

Don Fermoyle

Tom Ryan

Pete Geiger

Chas Montague

Larry Froehlich and Janis

Abe Zaidan

Ted Gup

Mark Faris

Joan Rice

Jane Snow

Bob Giles

Peggy Rader

Kathy Frazee

Charles Buffum

Kathy Goforth

Harry Liggett - sweetest guy, good boss

Doug O., when he first started. Wow, did he go far.

All these names flooding back.

Thanks John, for stirring up the memories.

Sharon

 

OLESKY NOTE: With such clean copy, I'm puzzled that no one made Sharon a reporter. I've handled a LOT of copy that was not as well-written as Sharon's memories.

 

She, indeed, put the sparkle in Farkle at the BJ.

 

Oldtimers remember Sharon Shreve being addressed as Farkle in the BJ newsroom.

Frequent forays found fast familiar foundation for Farkle fabric featuring famously funny fury finally firmly flowery floated fomented flavors, to resurrect the “Laugh-In” dialogue Farkle technique with the parents whose children were all redheads, but not the mom and dad.

When I asked Farkle herself – Sharon Shreve, long-time clerk/secretary in the BJ newsroom, she replied:

“Jerry VanSickle (who worked in the BJ’s APS-4 room when computers came into Ol’ Blue Walls) started because of Laugh-In's Farkle family. Freckles, big smiles, red hair. The composing department liked my 'walking away' view, and I became Fanny Farkle, which I railed against.

“I think one of the pressroom guys changed it to Sparkle Farkle (the character played by Jo Anne Worley, later by Barbara Sharma and finally by Patti Deutsch). To this day, Paul and I could be anywhere and we'll hear 'hey Farkle!' It amazes Paul.

“The latest was (the late) Carol Camp. He came to Rockynol while my mom was there. He had Alzheimer's. Didn't remember me as Sharon, but totally as Farkle.

“Howard Wood, one of the pressroom electricians, had been there, too, and he told everybody there about Farkle.

“Zitrin always writes 'Hey Fark' in our correspondence. Won't go away . . . Have accepted it.”

The point of the Farkle Family sketches was to get in as much alliteration as possible, usually on the letter F, and that the running joke was all the kids looked and motioned exactly like their “faithful and fond neighbor” Ferd Burfel (Dick Martin).

Everyone except Frank and Fanny Farkle, the parents played by Dan Rowen and Joanne Worley, wore a bright red wig, chunky black glasses and big dark face freckles. Ferd would always comment “That's a fine looking family you got there, Fred,” then he'd grab his own shoulder and so would every single Farkle kid.

Guest stars would appear in the sketches as relatives or visitors, and every one of them had children that also looked exactly like Ferd.

The children included Sparkle Farkle, played by Goldie Hawn. The Farkles also had the twins, Simon and Gar Farkle (a pun on singers Simon and Garfunkel). Despite being identical twins, they were played by actresses of different races, Pamela Rodgers and Teresa Graves. There also were skits where the identical twins, Sparkle and Charcoal Farkle, were played by Goldie Hawn and Teresa Graves. One daughter, Flicker Farkle (played by Ruth Buzzi), always had a single word of dialogue: "Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"

The dialogue was tied to tongue-twisters with a string of F-words, but never the F-word so prominent on cable TV today.

140 episodes of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” aired from January 22, 1968, to March 12, 1973, on NBC.

And Sharon Shreve has been stuck with Farkle for forty freaking years.  

Thank goodness Sharon didn’t marry a guy whose name started with F or Farkle. Her husband since 1985 has been Paul Lorentzen. They live in Akron. Sharon is a 1969 Buchtel High graduate who managed Prostate Cancer Support and Education Group in Akron.

The word “farkle” goes back a way.

The word is generally accepted to mean a combination of "function" and "sparkle", hence, farkle.

Motorcycle enthusiasts install accessories, called farkles, to customize their machine.

One source attributes the term to Pete Wells, the organizer of a 1997 Honda ST1100 rally. 

The term is well known in the sport touring community.

An enthusiast may be in the process of "farkling". The completed motorcycle would be all "farkled up". Radar detectors, Global Positioning System receivers, heated grips, and satellite radios are some of those farkles. Other accessories could be aftermarket seats, side and/or top cases or bar risers, which make the motorcycle more suitable for long miles.

But at Ol’ Blue Walls, Farkle meant Sharon Shreve. Well, she did function and sparkle at 44 E. Exchange Street.