Happy Anniversary

Yesterday, June 29th, was my parents' wedding anniversary.  Married in 1929, it was their eighty-fourth.  Here's a photo of the wedding party.

The Revelers Quartet, with whom my father was singing, were a part of the wedding—and the honeymoon.  My parents' honeymoon trip to Europe was shared with the Revelers' scheduled concert tour to Paris, Amsterdam, Scheveningen, Cologne, Basel, Geneva, Vienna and Salzburg, all in two weeks!  A five-day crossing on the Olympic (sister ship to the Titanic) prepared them for the hectic schedule abroad.

Book Review on Opera Today website

One of my wonderful "far-flung correspondents," Dr. William Clayton, has written a great review of my book which is currently posted on the the Opera Today website.  Here's the link:

http://www.operatoday.com/content/2013/06/james_melton_th.php

Here's how the website describes itself:

Created in 2004, OPERA TODAY is regarded as a leading web site relating to opera and vocal music. The site provides reviews of current performances, recordings and books, interviews of performers, commentary and links to recent news items. OPERA TODAY endeavors to be an indispensable resource for opera lovers.

OPERA TODAY differs from other web sites in this area through its organization and colorful design. The variety in content and presentation of textual material in OPERA TODAY is incomparable. Moreover, no registration or subscription is required.

And speaking of opera...
I spent yesterday afternoon recording an hour-long program on my father with Vermont Public Radio's Peter Fox Smith, to air on Saturday, July 6th from 12:00-1:00 PM.  His weekly radio program is entitled "A Passion for Opera"—the same title as his fascinating opera guidebook (published in 2004).  VPR classical can also be listened to as a live stream through your computer.

1910 Stanley Steamer

In this 1942 photograph, James Melton is siphoning water from the Saugatuck River in Weston, Connecticut for his 1910 Stanley Steamer, while his wife watches patiently.

James Cagney and James Melton

James Cagney and James Melton

Speaking of George M. Cohan—James Cagney played Cohan in the movie "Yankee Doodle Dandy" in 1942.  

In 1943 my father sang at an old-timers baseball game at the Polo Grounds to raise money for War Bonds. Irving Berlin, Ethel Merman, James Cagney, Milton Berle, former New York Mayor Jimmie Walker participated, but Babe Ruth stole the show with a home run.