Category Archives: Recalling …

Why Robert MacNeill stopped getting angry about poor English

Posted on January 19, 2021 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Canadian newsman Robert MacNeill, who turns 90 today, shared my fascination with how English was used on radio and television. In 1986, the urbane and articulate co-anchor of the news programme ‘The MacNeill-Lehrer Report’  on … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ..., Television | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why Robert MacNeill stopped getting angry about poor English

Recalling Dan Tana’s barkeep Mike Gotovac, an L.A. legend …

Posted on May 16, 2020 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Legendary Dan Tana’s barkeep Mike Gotovac died aged 76 on May 15 following complications caused by Covid-19. He was among the many rich characters I encountered in my time in Los Angeles and I recall … Continue reading →

Posted in Recalling ... | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Recalling Peter Cook and his effortless comedy

Posted on January 9, 2020 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Peter Cook, who died 25 years ago today aged 57, was the funniest person I ever saw and ever met. He was naturally, effortlessly funny but he was never ‘on’ in the way some comedians … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ..., Television | Comments Off on Recalling Peter Cook and his effortless comedy

Sidney Lumet on high comedy and great acting

Posted on June 25, 2019 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – American filmmaker Sidney Lumet, who was born 95 years ago today and died in 2011, made a series of fine and gripping social dramas from the 1950s through the 1980s but he was a big … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Sidney Lumet on high comedy and great acting

That time with a lobster on a boat off New Brunswick

Posted on May 11, 2019 by admin

By Ray Bennett / The Windsor Star / Feb. 19 1972 When eating a lobster, don’t break open its body on a boat in the Bay of Passamaquoddy, you may never eat lobster again. Don’t misunderstand, the lobster in New … Continue reading →

Posted in Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on That time with a lobster on a boat off New Brunswick

Tomboy Barbara Mandrell loved to be called sexy

Posted on December 27, 2018 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Barbara Mandrell, who turned 70 on Christmas Day, was country when country wasn’t cool but in 1981, when she was 32, she loved it when I told her I thought she was a knockout. “Well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged | Comments Off on Tomboy Barbara Mandrell loved to be called sexy

Memories of Gregory Peck, born 100 years ago today

Posted on April 5, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – “It all goes by so quickly,” Gregory Peck told me. “It’s like a flash. Suddenly, one is in the home stretch and where did it all go? How did it flash by so fast?” That … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Memories of Gregory Peck, born 100 years ago today

Why Frank Sinatra was called The Voice

Posted on December 12, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett There were several reasons why Frank Sinatra, who was born 100 years ago today, was known as The Voice. In 1992, Daily Variety gave me the chance to research just how he earned the sobriquet.

Posted in Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Going back to ‘Back To The Future’ with Michael J. Fox

Posted on October 16, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – As “Back to the Future” marks its 30th anniversary, here’s a version of a story I wrote in 1985 for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. In 1984, Canadian actor Michael J. Fox (pictured with Christopher … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Going back to ‘Back To The Future’ with Michael J. Fox

When Sean Connery offered me a Scotch …

Posted on August 25, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Sean Connery nudged my arm as a waiter hovered with a tray of champagne, and said, “They have Scotch, you know.” We were on the terrace on Elton John’s house on the cornish that overlooks Nice … Continue reading →

Posted in Festival de Cannes, Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Comments Off on When Sean Connery offered me a Scotch …