This man was an integral part of my childhood. Masterpiece Theatre, while not always geared to children, sometimes had mini-series which were, indeed, masterpieces for kids. I remember them vividly. They were RICHly done, beautifully realized. How sad I am that there isn’t such a thing now.
The Prince and the Pauper. Heidi. Ballet Shoes (which was one of my favorite books as a kid, too … To see it acted out was a pleasure beyond belief).
The Flame Trees of Thika, with my girl Hayley Mills … I was older when that came out … but damn, it was awesome.
I remember the beginning credits. The long slow pan over a desk, showing objects: a globe, a magnifying glass, the gold-lettered leather-bound piles of books (always the classics) – with the mountingly exciting music. The camera pan ending with Alistair Cooke, sitting there in his leather wing-chair, explaining to us what we were about to see.
His explanations were easy to grasp, he provided context. I ate up his every word. Loved his voice, too. I can hear it in my ears now!
Cooke said, when he retired last month: “I have had much enjoyment in doing these talks and hope that some of it has passed over to the listeners, to all of whom I now say thank you for your loyalty and goodbye.”
Tony Blair said: “He was really one of the greatest broadcasters of all time, and we shall feel his loss very, very keenly indeed.”
Indeed.
http://www.secondbreakfast.net/archives/000191.html
Good-bye, Alistair Cooke. What a man. At least god was nice enough to let us keep him for so long. Sheila’s got a better obit here….
Remember how he didn’t really say “masterpiece theatre”? He said “AhMastapeece…..AhTheeeahtah”.
I loved that guy.
hahaha! Exactly!!
He was one of those ex-pats who preserved a love for both his native and adopted country, but never gave up his objective eye. A class act. Add Cooke’s passing to the loss of Ustinov, and our world is a lot poorer. I loved Ustinov’s series on the Soviets: “Russians understand children better thatn they do adults.” So true, and so illuminating of Russian history.
I know – Ustinov and Cooke in the same week. Sad. Brilliant men, both.
Alistair Cooke was around for so long, was so integrally a part of the connection between the US and the UK, that you kind of expected him to ALWAYS be there. For once, Tony Blair’s words echo my thoughts perfectly.
Took a little digging on the web, but I found the title of the Masterpiece Theater opening theme.
It’s called ‘Symphonies and Fanfares for the King’s Supper: Rondeau’ by Jean-Joseph Mouret. There’s a good version by the Canadian Brass on Apple’s iTunes music store.
This is sad, but the first thing I think of when I think of Alistair Cooke is the parody they did on Sesame Street with Monsterpiece Theatre, with Alistair Cookie.
http://www.secondbreakfast.net/archives/000191.html
Good-bye, Alistair Cooke. What a man. At least god was nice enough to let us keep him for so long. Sheila’s got a better obit here….