Cincinnati Woman Regains Voice After 35 Years

Heard this inspiring story on NPR while driving from Cincinnati to Columbus the other day.

So often a frame of reference. . ..

Ohio even figures into a pep talk from a sassy gay friend to Lady Macbeth.

Did They Mention The Music?

Henry Mancini, arguably the best-known film composer of his time, was born April 16th, 1924 (today) in Cleveland, Ohio.  Some of his most well-known titles include:  Moon River, The Pink Panther Theme, Peter Gunn, Baby Elephant Walk, Two for the Road, Days of Wine and Roses, and Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet.

Henry Mancini Mix
Henry Mancini Website
NY Times Entry

Bogie & Bacall (and Malabar Farm)

I will freely admit that I am neither a Bogart nor a Bacall fan but the fact that their nuptials took place in Ohio is fascinating to me. It's strange yet charming to imagine these two movie stars in their glitzy heyday getting married on a farm very near to where I grew up in a most unobtrusive part of the Midwest.  The farm in question is Malabar Farm, which was established by Bogart's long-time friend and Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Louis Bromfield. After establishing himself as a writer in NYC and spending a decade in France with his family, the Renaissance Man Bromfield decided to return to his native Ohio to set up a farm implementing sustainable farming practices.  Bromfield has since come to be recognized as a pioneer in organic and sustainable farming in the United States.  He was awarded the Audubon Medal for Conservationism in 1952 and in 1980 was posthumously inducted into the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame.

"Ohio is the apothesis of Americanism. The middle west begins with Indiana, the east with Pennsylvania, the south with Kentucky, and, surrounded by these sits Ohio, one of the richest spots on earth. Its contribution to music, art, literature and the theatre is far greater than any two states in the nation."

—Louis Bromfield

"We eked out every last drop of Midwestern air and sky— of farm and cooking smells—boxer dogs." -- Lauren Bacall 

Bogie and Bacall, 65 years later in Ohio
To Have and Have Not:  Vanity Fair article with Bacall
Newsreel of Bromfield and Malabar Farm

First Fun Fact Friday

Portman with her parents, Avner and Shelley

I'm now dedicating Fridays to little factoids regarding Ohio, which require no elaboration.  First up, Natalie Portman's (the most recent best actress Oscar winner) parents met at a Jewish student center at The Ohio State University.  Her mother is a Cincinnati native.

Jewish Virtual Library Entry