John Wall
@johnwall57.bsky.social
Author: Streamliner (Raymond Loewy bio), retired journalist/higher ed flack (Penn State, Juniata College). Former film critic for Thomson News Service, arts writer. USAF veteran and current VA hospital volunteer
RIP Robert Propst, an inventor and furniture designer who created the Action Office for Herman Miller Furniture. The Action office later became known as "The Cubicle."
November 21, 2025 at 10:00 PM
RIP Robert Propst, an inventor and furniture designer who created the Action Office for Herman Miller Furniture. The Action office later became known as "The Cubicle."
The new mail order ads for the Slackboard balance product should be a bonanza for personal injury lawyers
October 30, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The new mail order ads for the Slackboard balance product should be a bonanza for personal injury lawyers
RIP Jack Dejohnette, premier jazz drummer of his generation. He could play any genre, any style. He might have been one of the first fusion jazz pioneers, playing with Miles and others. His band Special Edition was a groundbreaking avant-garde group.
October 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
RIP Jack Dejohnette, premier jazz drummer of his generation. He could play any genre, any style. He might have been one of the first fusion jazz pioneers, playing with Miles and others. His band Special Edition was a groundbreaking avant-garde group.
RIP Oakland Raider safety George Atkinson. My brother Joe and I saw him return a punt for a touchdown vs. the Buffalo Bills in 1968 at Oakland Colosseum. He was the last living member of the Soul Patrol Raider defensive backfield of the 60s and 70s
October 27, 2025 at 5:40 PM
RIP Oakland Raider safety George Atkinson. My brother Joe and I saw him return a punt for a touchdown vs. the Buffalo Bills in 1968 at Oakland Colosseum. He was the last living member of the Soul Patrol Raider defensive backfield of the 60s and 70s
Movie Viewing: A House of Dynamite. Director K Bigelow finds poetry in the chaos of an impending nuclear attack--told from three perspectives. Standouts Rebecca Ferguson and Idris Elba make you wonder what would happen when the White House is populated by less than stellar intellects.
October 26, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Movie Viewing: A House of Dynamite. Director K Bigelow finds poetry in the chaos of an impending nuclear attack--told from three perspectives. Standouts Rebecca Ferguson and Idris Elba make you wonder what would happen when the White House is populated by less than stellar intellects.
Recent TV viewing:
Black Rabbit: Not as great as I thought it would be, but Jude Law delivers Emmy worthy desperation and Jason Bateman has a blast playing, well, sort of a Charlie Sheen-Corey Feldman screwup.
Black Rabbit: Not as great as I thought it would be, but Jude Law delivers Emmy worthy desperation and Jason Bateman has a blast playing, well, sort of a Charlie Sheen-Corey Feldman screwup.
October 22, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Recent TV viewing:
Black Rabbit: Not as great as I thought it would be, but Jude Law delivers Emmy worthy desperation and Jason Bateman has a blast playing, well, sort of a Charlie Sheen-Corey Feldman screwup.
Black Rabbit: Not as great as I thought it would be, but Jude Law delivers Emmy worthy desperation and Jason Bateman has a blast playing, well, sort of a Charlie Sheen-Corey Feldman screwup.
Recent TV viewing: Task. M Ruffalo & T Pelphrey center what is essentially a rather stupid drug-deal-gone-wrong plot into a story of forgiveness and regret (criminal & otherwise). "The accents are so accurate!" thing is overblown (if you want a Delco accent hire Kevin Bacon, not a bunch of Brits)
October 22, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Recent TV viewing: Task. M Ruffalo & T Pelphrey center what is essentially a rather stupid drug-deal-gone-wrong plot into a story of forgiveness and regret (criminal & otherwise). "The accents are so accurate!" thing is overblown (if you want a Delco accent hire Kevin Bacon, not a bunch of Brits)
RIP Samantha Eggar, a British actress who blazed early in The Collector and The Molly McGuires, and faded into TV roles to raise a family--that included daughter Jenna Stern, who played memorable Law and Order roles early in her career
October 17, 2025 at 10:25 PM
RIP Samantha Eggar, a British actress who blazed early in The Collector and The Molly McGuires, and faded into TV roles to raise a family--that included daughter Jenna Stern, who played memorable Law and Order roles early in her career
Before everyone goes crazy about Qatar training at Mountain Home AFB, there is historical precedent. In the 70s the Iranian Air Force trained at Lackland AFB in Texas. Their barracks were right next to where I trained as a security policeman.
October 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Before everyone goes crazy about Qatar training at Mountain Home AFB, there is historical precedent. In the 70s the Iranian Air Force trained at Lackland AFB in Texas. Their barracks were right next to where I trained as a security policeman.
RIP Diane Keaton, Oscar winning actress, style setter, and expert (for the most part) script picker. Her defining roles, Annie Hall, Shoot the Moon, Looking for Mr Goodbar, Little Drummer Girl and too many comedies to list.
October 11, 2025 at 7:55 PM
RIP Diane Keaton, Oscar winning actress, style setter, and expert (for the most part) script picker. Her defining roles, Annie Hall, Shoot the Moon, Looking for Mr Goodbar, Little Drummer Girl and too many comedies to list.
The advantages of living in a smaller city: a crown on my back tooth came off last night at 11. Called the dentist’s office at 8:20 this morning. Fixed by 9:30.
October 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The advantages of living in a smaller city: a crown on my back tooth came off last night at 11. Called the dentist’s office at 8:20 this morning. Fixed by 9:30.
RIP Robert Redford, whose life’s work is too great to list here. He became a star as Sundance Kid and a great actor with AllTPMen. As a director he focused on the difficulties faced by American families with Ordinary People, Quiz Show and ARiver Runs Through it. A Giant.
September 16, 2025 at 1:37 PM
RIP Robert Redford, whose life’s work is too great to list here. He became a star as Sundance Kid and a great actor with AllTPMen. As a director he focused on the difficulties faced by American families with Ordinary People, Quiz Show and ARiver Runs Through it. A Giant.
RIP Ed Giacomin, one of the last NHL goalies to play without a mask.
Also RIP Bobby Hart, one of the two writers behind most of the Monkees hits, including Last Train to Clarksville.
Also RIP Bobby Hart, one of the two writers behind most of the Monkees hits, including Last Train to Clarksville.
September 15, 2025 at 9:10 PM
RIP Ed Giacomin, one of the last NHL goalies to play without a mask.
Also RIP Bobby Hart, one of the two writers behind most of the Monkees hits, including Last Train to Clarksville.
Also RIP Bobby Hart, one of the two writers behind most of the Monkees hits, including Last Train to Clarksville.
A friend of mine at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota had this model car (not the SJ version shown here though). The Grand Prix models from 1968 through 1980, were consistently stylish--better, I believe, than the Firebirds. Vinyl roof, however--ugh.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIvT...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIvT...
Driving a "Unicorn": 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ 4-Speed | Jay Leno's Garage
YouTube video by Jay Leno's Garage
www.youtube.com
September 8, 2025 at 9:23 PM
A friend of mine at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota had this model car (not the SJ version shown here though). The Grand Prix models from 1968 through 1980, were consistently stylish--better, I believe, than the Firebirds. Vinyl roof, however--ugh.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIvT...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIvT...
NYT has a story on some guy who recounts his travails and adventures from looking like Bob Dylan . The accompanying photo makes him look more like Ian Hunter—
September 4, 2025 at 7:33 PM
NYT has a story on some guy who recounts his travails and adventures from looking like Bob Dylan . The accompanying photo makes him look more like Ian Hunter—
RIP Graham Greene, native actor who came to the public attention via Dances with Wolves. My favorite performances are in Thunderheart and Wind River. A superb actor
September 2, 2025 at 12:43 AM
RIP Graham Greene, native actor who came to the public attention via Dances with Wolves. My favorite performances are in Thunderheart and Wind River. A superb actor
Just finished the documentary America's Team, deifying Jerry Jones as a great team owner (spoiler: he knows how to market his team and yanked the NFL out of its stodgy image). It's great on the team's Super Bowls, but glosses over M Irvin's problems & Jones's inability to keep the team competitive.
August 30, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Just finished the documentary America's Team, deifying Jerry Jones as a great team owner (spoiler: he knows how to market his team and yanked the NFL out of its stodgy image). It's great on the team's Super Bowls, but glosses over M Irvin's problems & Jones's inability to keep the team competitive.
RIP Randy Moffitt, former SF Giant relief pitcher and brother of Billie Jean King!
August 29, 2025 at 10:08 PM
RIP Randy Moffitt, former SF Giant relief pitcher and brother of Billie Jean King!
RIP Ron Turcotte, the superb jockey who steered Secretariat into "running like a tremendous machine." He was injured in a fall in 1978 and lived as a paraplegic until his death. He also rode Northern Dancer and Riva Ridge.
August 22, 2025 at 10:14 PM
RIP Ron Turcotte, the superb jockey who steered Secretariat into "running like a tremendous machine." He was injured in a fall in 1978 and lived as a paraplegic until his death. He also rode Northern Dancer and Riva Ridge.
RIP Terence Stamp, Cockney actor who transformed himself into an urbane Brit character specialist in Superman, The Hit, The Limey and Wall Street.
August 17, 2025 at 6:57 PM
RIP Terence Stamp, Cockney actor who transformed himself into an urbane Brit character specialist in Superman, The Hit, The Limey and Wall Street.
Headline You Never Thought You'd See: "Princess Anne's Fashion Flair"
August 15, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Headline You Never Thought You'd See: "Princess Anne's Fashion Flair"
Hitchcock challenge in no particular order
Doris Day--Man Who Knew
Thelma Ritter--RW
Barry Foster --Frenzy
Suzanne Pleshette-Birds
James Mason-NxNW
Grace Kelly--To Catch
Robert Walker-Strangers
Farley Granger--Rope
Theresa Wright-Shadow
Patricia Collinge-Shadow
#TCMParty
Doris Day--Man Who Knew
Thelma Ritter--RW
Barry Foster --Frenzy
Suzanne Pleshette-Birds
James Mason-NxNW
Grace Kelly--To Catch
Robert Walker-Strangers
Farley Granger--Rope
Theresa Wright-Shadow
Patricia Collinge-Shadow
#TCMParty
August 13, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Hitchcock challenge in no particular order
Doris Day--Man Who Knew
Thelma Ritter--RW
Barry Foster --Frenzy
Suzanne Pleshette-Birds
James Mason-NxNW
Grace Kelly--To Catch
Robert Walker-Strangers
Farley Granger--Rope
Theresa Wright-Shadow
Patricia Collinge-Shadow
#TCMParty
Doris Day--Man Who Knew
Thelma Ritter--RW
Barry Foster --Frenzy
Suzanne Pleshette-Birds
James Mason-NxNW
Grace Kelly--To Catch
Robert Walker-Strangers
Farley Granger--Rope
Theresa Wright-Shadow
Patricia Collinge-Shadow
#TCMParty
RIP Sheila Jordan, jazz singer extraordinaire, and bebop vocal improviser. She and Ella F were scat singers for the ages.
August 12, 2025 at 9:26 PM
RIP Sheila Jordan, jazz singer extraordinaire, and bebop vocal improviser. She and Ella F were scat singers for the ages.
RIP Bobby Whitlock, keyboard session guy for Stax Records and the first white artist signed to that soul label. He also played with Delaney and Bonnie and Derek and the Dominoes, he later retired to farm and made a comeback in the late 90s
August 10, 2025 at 10:51 PM
RIP Bobby Whitlock, keyboard session guy for Stax Records and the first white artist signed to that soul label. He also played with Delaney and Bonnie and Derek and the Dominoes, he later retired to farm and made a comeback in the late 90s
RIP Chuck Mangione: A legitimate entry point into jazz for kids in the 70s, he later found a niche in Smooth Jazz -- largely playing flugelhorn. He had true jazz roots, playing with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and Gerry Niewood. Chase the Clouds Away!
July 24, 2025 at 5:22 PM
RIP Chuck Mangione: A legitimate entry point into jazz for kids in the 70s, he later found a niche in Smooth Jazz -- largely playing flugelhorn. He had true jazz roots, playing with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and Gerry Niewood. Chase the Clouds Away!