As readers of these pages know, I've been a big political supporter of Nick Melvoin, since he was first-elected to the Los Angeles School Board, and then won re-election two years ago. He's the son of my friends Jeff and Martha Melvoin (who I believe were the only parents of any candidate in the race who walked through the district knocking on doors...), and has a wonderful background in law, politics (having worked in the Obama Administration) and teaching, as well as community activity. And he recently ran for Congress in the CA-30 district, hoping to win the seat vacated by Adam Schiff in his run for the U.S. Senate. Though Nick got some good endorsements, including the Los Angeles Daily News and Collin Allred (who just won the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate race in Texas against Ted Cruz), unfortunately he didn't finish in the top two of the "jungle primary" for the House nomination. Among other things, the 30th District didn't overlap the district that Nick represents on the School Board, so it was a tough battle against several well-known representatives in the state. Happily, he didn't have to give up his seat on the School Board, and I think he still has a great future. What also stood out for me was the "concession" email he sent out to all supporters. It was pure Nick -- gracious and thoughtful, upbeat and forward-looking, not a slam at anyone in sight, and I think it could stand out as a template for all candidates who don't win their race. It was so good that I thought I would post it here. Hey Robert -- Today, I'm reaching out to share some thoughts following Tuesday's election. Although there are still tens of thousands of votes to count, things did not go our way and we won't be advancing to the November election. I'm incredibly humbled by the support I've received throughout this campaign. I want to thank everyone — family, friends, volunteers, campaign staff, and community leaders — who joined our campaign and shared our message of solutions-oriented leadership. Building this movement would not have been possible without you, Robert. While these aren't the results we wanted, I am happy to congratulate my friend Assemblymember Laura Friedman on her successful, hard-fought campaign; it looks like she will be taking on a Republican in November. Getting to know the other candidates eager to uplift our community has been such a gift in this experience. I look forward to working with all of them to deliver for the communities of California's 30th congressional district. I am so proud of this campaign, but, more than that, so humbled by the experience. My overwhelming sentiment over the last 24 hours has truly been one of gratitude: I'm grateful for my community, for my family, and for all of you in my corner. You make the successes all the more satisfying and the losses all the easier to bear. It has been said that victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan; I have not found that at all true with you. I believe in politics because I believe in people–in our ability to do amazing things when we come together. That belief is undeterred. At a time when our politics seems so cynical and our world so bleak, I remember that we are here because of the choices people make. We can make better choices. Not just the big important ones in elections every few years, but the little ones every day. How we treat one another. How we show up for each other. It struck me as I was talking to voters at their doorsteps over the last few weeks that the world is not often changed by grand gestures, but by almost invisible ones: acts of kindness and inclusion and tolerance that start to change the way we treat one another. At its best, that is what public service can be: a manifestation of our belief in one another. I remain deeply committed to that work, on the School Board and as a citizen, and I thank you for the opportunity to serve. Onward, Nick
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Sometimes, you just need a break from the morass that is Trump World to recharge, and this seems a good palate cleanser. Many decades back, during what I call my “dark days,” I worked in movie publicity. At one point, I was the head publicity writer at Universal Pictures. It actually had some high points to it – like working on certain movies like E.T. and On Golden Pond and Sophie’s Choice. But one particularly leaps out among the rest. That’s when I attended the knighting ceremony for Alfred Hitchcock. Really. Well, sort of. But really. It was in January, 1980. Hitchcock had been knighted, but it was too difficult for him to get back to England for the official affair. Instead, they held an event at a screening room at the Universal studios, where he had his office. (After he passed away a few months later, his long-time secretary Sue Gauthier came to work in our department. I got to know her a bit, and it was a treat talking with her. She never gave interviews -- but I convinced her to do one with my childhood friend Patrick Goldstein who wrote for the L.A. Times, which she agreed to as long as I sat in on it. As far as I know, it was the only interview she ever did.) I don’t know if they had a full ceremony at Universal, or just held a press conference. My recollection is that they did have something official first, handled by either the British Ambassador or British Counsel, I forget, though I think the latter. However, it was held during working hours, and I couldn’t get away from the office. But as soon as my lunch break started, I raced over. (I’d asked others on staff if they wanted to join me, and was flabbergasted that no one wanted to. My God, this was the “knighting ceremony” of Alfred Hitchock! A four-minute walk away! How on earth could someone working at a movie studio not want to be there??) Whatever happened earlier, I got there for the Q&A. I was discussing this the other day with Greg VanBuskirk, and said that though I vividly remember the occasion, I only remember one specific thing from the event. Some reporter asked a bizarrely pathetic question -- "Sir Alfred, now that you've been knighted, do you think this will affect your relationship with your wife?" Yes, really. You could feel the entire room tense and some almost inaudible mumbles of "Yeeeesh" filled the air around me in the make. And most people were probably filled with the same thought: How in the world would he respond?? And then, after a moment, he said -- and please read this with the voice of Alfred Hitchcock in your mind -- "I certainly hope so." The room exploded with laughter. A short while later, Greg wrote back to me. He’s done some searching on YouTube and actually found a CBS news story of the knighting event – and it included footage of it. But better…no, make it “more amazing” than that – they actually had footage of that question and answer!! The one thing I’ve remembered and told as a fond memory for over 40 years. And next best of all is that it confirms my memory from four decades ago. I got it right. The only difference is that he doesn’t say “certainly.” Proof that I wasn’t lying. Vindication. They really, truly did hold the knighting event for Alfred Hitchcock on the Universal lot, and he really, honestly had that great response. (He also has another great response with a tremendous, quick-witted pun that most of the people in the room miss. It comes when he's asked what does a maker of mystery do when he's been made a "Sir"?) And with thanks to Dr. Buzz, here is the video. We take this moment for a point of personal privilege. (I was going to say that it was “political”, as well, but that would have been far too much alliteration on a Sunday morning.) As I’ve mentioned in the past, I’m friends with a good fellow named Nick Melvoin who sits on Los Angeles School Board, and was the only school board member re-elected in 2022 with over 50% of the vote in the primary so that he didn’t have to be in a run-off. I bring this up again today for s specific reason. But first it's important to note that Nick has had an impressive career, even for such a young one -- He’s a graduate of Harvard and got his MBA in Urban Education from Loyola Marymount, from which he went to teach at an inner-city middle school in Watts, coaching the soccer and baseball teams, and helping start the school newspaper. He also has a law degree from NYU -- and worked in the Obama White House with the Domestic Policy Council...as well as the US Attorney’s office as a legal clerk, getting involved in civil rights investigations. Oh, and he runs Camp Harmony, a camp for kids who are experiencing poverty, which he started working at as a counselor 21 years ago. So, while I can be accused of bias for supporting the son of friends, I think it’s fair to say that my bias is highly justified. I’ve brought up previously that Nick is running to replace Adam Schiff in California’s 30th district. It’s a challenging race with many candidates, including several with reasonably-known elective credentials. But that’s why I was exceedingly pleased to see that the Los Angeles Daily News just endorsed Nick in the race. Among the lengthy things the paper wrote, they explained, "If voters want sensible, scandal-free and balanced representation, Nick Melvoin is an excellent choice. He has our endorsement." And all the better, he also just picked up an endorsement from Henry Waxman, a popular, long-time Congressman in Los Angeles who represented various districts in the city ("various" because of redistricting) for 40 years. And previously, Nick was endorsed by Rep. Colin Allred, the congressman from Texas who is challenging Ted Cruz for the Senate. It remains a difficult race because replacing Adam Schiff is so high-profile, making the district an important one. But getting such endorsements for such a young candidate is seriously impressive. But then, that's because Nick is, as well. I close in full disclosure that I will be heading over soon to watch the Super Bowl with his parents. I do this in part because of the football, in part because of the company, and in important part because they serve Chicago deep-dish pizza. I have my priorities. In the past, I’ve periodically mentioned my cousin Andy Elisburg who is the General Manager and Executive VP of the Miami Heat NBA team. (As I’ve noted before, but for those just joining the party, no, that is not a typo, but his wing of the family changed the spelling very long ago.) And today, we head in that direction again. But not to Andy. Instead, we take a detour. One that brings us to his niece, Abby Berger, who is a junior in high school. The other week, her grandmother Nancy sent me a copy of a short speech that Abby gave. Now, I often get sent things that friends, relatives and acquaintances have written, including pieces that their children wrote -- which they figure, as a writer, I’ll be interested to see, and even impressed by. And I do like to see them. But a little perspective is needed here first before going any farther. The challenge when sent material is how to respond. Because over the years it's part of what I do for a living, and I’ve been given screenplays, novels, articles and stage plays written by professionals, some of them Tony, Emmy, Writers Guild, and Humanitas award-winners, to get my reaction and suggestions, and have also edited several books, as well, and more, going back to when I was the head writer in the Universal Picture publicity department. I always tell the person first that I will be totally honest with them, if that’s what they want. (They always say, yes, absolutely -- though most don’t mean it. What they want to hear, and often even expect, is "Not since William Faulkner has literature moved me so much -- and that it my brutally honest opinion.") But, yes, when the person is not a professional I do always keep in mind the background of the writer and the work’s intent. Still, though, because I always really do try very hard to be honest -- and polite -- it’s very often a concern wondering what I’ll have to say when I dive into a work, holding my breath that the piece will be nicely done. I thought Abby’s speech was superb. Not just for the writing, but for what it said. Explaining her experience living in a world most people never see, or even consider. And a world that today is especially deeply important and meaningful. As her grandmother put it, a world where “we often have no idea what children, hear, see and process.” This was for her confirmation at temple, about being a child growing up over the years amid all the normal pressures someone young faces, just trying to find your place in the world and staying firmly who you are, when additionally surrounded by an outside environment that is very different, at times even hostile, from one’s Jewish homelife. I asked for permission to use Abby’s speech and whether she wanted me to use her name or preferred not. She gave her okay to both. Given what she writes, I'm not surprised. Though I nonetheless admire her decisions. And am glad because she deserves the credit. Here is her speech. I think it’s wonderfully written, thoughtful and moving. And very meaningful, most especially today. Shalom everyone, I’m Abby Berger -- and by now you know the prompt of my speech: how to explain to a room full of Jews what Judaism means to me. As poor Rabbi David knows, I struggled with this speech. On the surface, being Jewish is just what I am. I have the signature Ashkenazi curls, I love matzah ball soup, and I like to throw random yiddish words into my sentences for fun. I’ve always known these things. Yet I’ve been fighting to prove I exist ever since elementary school. One of my favorite Jewish concepts is Tikkun Olam. In your program, it is defined as “healing the world.” It can also be defined as “improving the world.” As kindergarten me saw a giant Christmas tree go up every December, and nothing else -- I decided that the way I would improve the world was through education. And that’s what I did. I taught my fellow classmates about Hanukkah every year, by bringing props and telling stories. With help from my mom, I even got the front office to put up a menorah and dreidels next to the tree, every year. I left elementary school quite proud of my accomplishments. Mazel Tov!- I had won! And then came middle school. This was the time of braces and growth spurts-I joined orchestra, and I learned about the “glories” of Algebra. This was also when I was properly introduced to the Holocaust. I learned about it from Hebrew school, and a little bit in 8th grade, but I also learned through books. The only Jewish characters I could find in chapter books were always about the Holocaust. So of course, I read them, and I learned. I kept this history in the back of my mind, but as a middle schooler, we tend to forget things, and I didn’t really think about it. Until one day, in orchestra, I saw a swastika carved into my cello. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a cello up close, but it has a tough top coat- to get a scratch through is difficult. To find out that someone had taken the painstaking time to carve a symbol of hate on such an innocent canvas -- that was baffling for me. Talk about a wake-up call. I reported what happened to my teacher, and soon the school counselor gave a presentation on hate symbols and why they can hurt people. I then continued to educate those around me about Jewish holidays and the deliciousness of matzah ball soup. (although first I had to explain what matzah was). So I left middle school, proud I had made a difference. Mazel Tov! -- I had won! And then came high school. Oy. Gavolt. In between classes, extracurriculars, and learning to drive, I soon realized that I was the only practicing Jewish student in almost 2,000. To say I experienced some antisemitism is to put it lightly. Students would do the nazi salute and post holocaust memes, and teachers would let them get away with it, with nothing more than a warning. I’m sick of it. By now, I have come to realize that the common denominator for all of these incidents was that people didn’t know I was there. They didn’t know a Jewish student went to their school, and witnessed what they did. So I'm doing what I do best- educating. I remind my little Southern Indiana town that there is a whole world of people who are different, and some are quite close to home. Now, how does this answer the prompt? What does it mean to be Jewish as a public school student in Southern Indiana? It's the moment of hesitation to put on a Star of David necklace. It's not hesitating to correct someone's mispronunciation of a holiday. It’s the telling and retelling, and retelling, of the story of Hanukkah every December. It’s making challah. It’s eating- lots and lots of eating. It's keeping a list of anti-semitic moments I've experienced. It's the plan to use that list to start a revolution. These are all answers I’m sure Rabbi David did not see coming. For me, to be Jewish is to exist. To take up space, and learn, and educate. To hope for the better, but to start on the problem now. So Shalom, I’m Abby Berger. And I’m proud to say that as a Jew, I exist. We take a moment for a bit of Personal Privilege. Back in March, I wrote a piece here about a TV documentary series that airs in Miami called Inside the Heat that provides a look into the Miami Heat NBA team. And they just did an episode that devoted the full program to the 35-year career of my cousin Andy Elisburg who is the General Manager and Senior Vice-President of the basketball team. (No, not a typo, their wing of the family spells it differently) At the end of the article, I quipped that -- "I also believe that the show should be nominated for an Emmy next year as Best Program of the Year. Though I'm admittedly biased." O ye of little faith. It turns out that it wasn't just a quip, but a prescient one. Because bizarrely -- and happily -- I wasn't far off. Really. The other week, at the 47th Annual Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards -- the episode actually, really won an Emmy Award! Hey, like I always say here, I tries nots to steers ya wrong. And I'm not fibbing. Here's the proof -- And just to show that, no, this isn't just a photo of a random Emmy statuette, here's a close-up of the text on the base for those who choose not to the use "zoom" feature on your computer -- And as Andy ways -- "Working my way slowly to an EGOT..." Today, marks the anniversary of when Agatha Christie's play The Mousetrap opened on London's West End. That was on November 25, 1952 -- 71 years ago today. It's still running, after over 28,000 performances. By way of comparison, not long ago Phantom of the Opera closed as the longest-ever running production in Broadway history. It ran for 13,981 performances, over the course of 35 years. If it hadn't close and played for another 35 years…it still would be short of The Mousetrap. And that's if The Mousetrap closed tomorrow. Even the longest-running show in New York, off-Broadway's musical The Fantasticks, which had a remarkable run of 42 years and 17,162 performances fell far short, just over half as long. And again, The Mousetrap is still running. I have a theory about that. At some point long ago, it stopped by just a long-running play and instead become a tourist attraction, a stop to make when in London. As a kidling, I saw The Mousetrap on a family trip to Europe in 1966, the play's 14th year. A couple years later on another family trip, I picked up a poster which I have up on my walls. At the time, I was a little sorry that the poster had as many years as "16." Little did I know how paltry that number would be. When I saw the play in 1966, I went with my older brother. (Our folks went to a different play that day.) I was very excited about going, since I liked Agatha Christie mysteries and had heard so much about this monumentally long-running play. I'd read the novella beforehand, so I knew whodunnit -- but at intermission I asked my brother who he thought the killer was. (Don't worry, I won't give it away.) He kept changing his guess -- "No, wait, don't tell me, I think it's..." -- and I just politely sat there smiling at him. (Fun fact: He didn't guess it.) I do remember after the play, when we waited for our parents to leave the theater next door -- it was a matinee -- the cast eventually left the Ambassadors, and we spoke with one of the actors, and I still have the program he signed. I didn't know who he was, and while he might have done a lot in London theater after that, he didn't become known in the U.S. But it was fun. And I still have the program. (Sorry, "programme.") The Mousetrap has never played on Broadway, though there are plans to finally do so. In fact, they were trying for this year, but clearly that scheduling didn't pan out. That said, if you've seen the 2022 movie See How They Run with Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan and Adrien Brody, it's a fun, comic-murder mystery that's centered around a murder that occurs backstage during the early days of The Mousetrap. The story is totally fictional, but real details are mixed in -- including Richard Attenborough being a character in the film (having starred in the original production, as is the show's producer John Woolf (who won an Oscar for production the movie musical Oliver!), it taking place at the Ambassador Theatre and a few other matters, as well as Agatha Christie taking part in the film, as well. And speaking of film, the most fascinating story surrounding The Mousetrap is that when movie producers signed a contract with Agatha Christie to make a movie of the play, it was with the one stipulation that no movie could be made until…the play closed! That was 71 years ago. In another odd twist, somewhat similar to that of the movie rights, Christie requested that the short story not be published in the United Kingdom as long as the play was running in London's West End. When I read about that, I couldn't figure out how I was able to have read it. But it turns out that the story was allowed to be published in the United States and appeared in the collection Three Blind Mice and Other Stories. I've still kept my copy all these years. A whopping 45-cents. And the original title is duly noted on the cover. And of course, as old as my copy of the book is, it doesn't compare to how old the play is and has been running. And Ol' Man, Mousetrap, it just keeps rolling along... |
AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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