Mary Ginsbach Klein, Margaret’s mother, can trace her family back to Nicolas Ginsbach who was born in 1779. He was the great-great grandfather of Mary Ginsbach Klein, the mother of Margaret. Nicholas Ginsbach had a son named Francis Ginsbach (1811-1859), born on the German-Luxembourg border, near the Mosel River, the great grandfather of Mary Ginsbach. He married Catherine Walter, who was born in 1818. Frank, his wife Catherine, with their three sons, came to the USA via New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1851. They moved to the Luxembourg community at St. Donatus, Iowa, in Jackson County, just south of Dubuque, Iowa, on the Mississippi River. The three sons born in Luxembourg were Nicholas Ginsbach (1848-1926), who was Mary Ginsbach’s grandfather, John Ginsbach (1849-1935), who married Anna Batszler, in 1881, and had 7 children, Frank, Mary, Margaret (Oswald), Henry, Julia, Albert, and Myrtle (Marx), before he died in Watertown, SD, and Peter Ginsbach (1850-1894), who married Olgatha Szitnick, in 1880. Peter had 6 girls, Catherine (Cramer), Anna (Johns), Lena (Johnson), Mary, Clara (Jones), and Emma (Cramer). He died in Chico, California. Four more children were born to this family of Francis and Catherine, Margaret’s great grandfather, in St. Donatus, Iowa. Henry Ginsbach (1852-1938) married Elizabeth Delperdang in 1877. They had 12 children, Kate (Bailey), Nicholas, Margaret (Hueble), Adam, Marie (Hall), John, Charles, a WW I veteran, Rose (Pirrung), Henry, Anna (Stover), Benedict, and Agnes (Feller) who died in Sioux Falls, SD. Mary Ginsbach Zeimet (1854-1940), married John Zeimet. They had 8 children but 3 of their children died as babies (Mathias, John, and another girl), Peter, Michael, Anna Katherine (Kirk), Anna Subelia (Merril), and Elizabeth (Retzloff). She died in Hot Springs, SD. Matthew Ginsbach (1856-1943), married Jane McBriar from Wisconsin, in 1884. They had 4 children, Earl, Francis, Clark, and Flossie (Brakke). He was the mayor of Hartford, SD, for two terms. Elizabeth Ginsbach Deutsch (1858-1928). She married Peter Deutsch and they 4 children, John, Peter, Theodore, and Elizabeth (Letcher). They moved to Oklahoma. Unfortunately, Frank Ginsbach, the father, drowned in the Mississippi River on Feb 11, 1859, when he fell through the ice with a team of horses. He was with his wife but she survived. Then Catherine Walter Ginsbach married Peter Termes, their hired man, 5 months later in 1859. Peter Termes served in the American Civil War. What do you know about Luxembourg settlements in the USA?
Margaret’s mother, Mary Ginsbach (1915-1999) from White Lake, SD
With all the attention on the Klein family, Margaret’s father’s family with a book about the Kleins, Good Soil, Black Earth, in 1981, I felt bad about her mother, Mary Ginsbach. Thus, I spent the summer of 1982 in Dell Rapids looking up the Ginsbach family, Margaret’s mother’s family. I got most of the information from Mary Ginsbach Klein (1915-1999). She had a lot of letters from her brother Frank Ginsbach, who had done some work on their genealogy. With a little help from this brother-sister combination, I was able to put together a little packet about the Ginsbach family. Guess what! The Ginsbach family was from Luxembourg also. I thought that they were from Dell Rapids, but they were from White Lake, South Dakota. White Lake is a city in western Aurora County, South Dakota, that had a population of 394 at the 2020 census. It does have a Catholic Church, St. Peters, within this half square mile town with 88 families. The median income for a family was $38,611. Dell Rapids is a metropolis compared to White Lake, with a population of 3,996 at the 2020 census within this two square mile area with 973 families, and the median family income at $49,536. White Lake Public Schools belong to White Lake School District with all three schools in the same building, the Elementary, the Junior High, and the High School. The city of White Lake was founded in 1882. Thus, there have been members of the Ginsbach family living there since 1895. Have you ever heard about White Lake, SD?
Wayne Gretzky (1961-)
In 1982, I became aware of Wayne Gretzky, because during the 1981–82 season, Gretzky surpassed a record that had stood for 35 years, 50 goals in 50 games, first set by Maurice “Rocket” Richard during the 1944–45 NHL season. Gretzky accomplished this feat in only 39 games, as he was the NHL’s leading scorer during the regular season and the NHL’s Most Valuable Player. I never paid much attention to ice hockey until Wayne Gretzky came along. He played 20 seasons in the NHL for four teams from 1979 to 1999, starting with the Edmonton Oilers. Nicknamed “the Great One,” he has been called the greatest ice hockey player ever, based on surveys of hockey writers, ex-players, general managers, and coaches. Gretzky is the leading career goal scorer, assist producer and point scorer in the NHL history, and has more career assists than any other player has total points. He is the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season, a feat he accomplished four times. In addition, Gretzky tallied over 100 points in 15 professional seasons. At the time of his retirement in 1999, he held 61 NHL records, 40 regular season records, 15 playoff records, and 6 All-Star records. Gretzky was born and raised in Brantford, Ontario. He honed his skills on a backyard rink and regularly played minor hockey at a level far above his age. Despite his unimpressive size and strength, Gretzky’s intelligence, stamina, and reading of the game were unrivaled. Gretzky led the Edmonton Oilers to four NHL Stanley Cup championships. Gretzky’s trade to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, had an immediate impact on that team’s performance, ultimately leading them to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals. Thus, he is credited with popularizing ice hockey in sunny California. Gretzky played briefly for the St. Louis Blues before finishing his career with the New York Rangers. Gretzky captured 9 Hart Trophies as the most valuable player, 10 Art Ross Trophies for most points in a season, 2 Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP, and 5 Lester B. Pearson Awards, now the Ted Lindsay Award, for most outstanding player as judged by his peers. He led the league in goal-scoring 5 times and assists 16 times. He also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and performance 5 times and often spoke out against fighting in hockey. After his retirement in 1999, Gretzky was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, making him the most recent player to have the waiting period waived. The NHL retired his jersey number 99 league-wide. He was the man in hockey for most of my adult life. Gretzky had a major influence on the style of play, inspiring a more team-based strategy. He knew he was not big enough, strong enough, or even fast enough to do what he wanted to do if other teams focused on him. Like a magician, he had to direct attention elsewhere, to his four teammates on the ice with him, to create a momentary distraction to move unnoticed into the open ice where size and strength did not matter. Everyone wanted to play like Gretzky. In 1990, the Associated Press named Gretzky the Male Athlete of the Decade. Gretzky’s appeal as a product endorser far surpassed that of other hockey players of his era. By 1995, he was among the five highest-paid athlete endorsers in North America. Gretzky was married on July 16, 1988, to Janet Jones in a lavish ceremony in Toronto that the Canadian press dubbed “The Royal Wedding”. They have five children: Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Tristan, and Emma. What do you know about Wayne Gretzky?
Wrigley Field, organ music, movies, and TV
Wrigley Field was the first Major League ballpark to introduce live organ music on April 26, 1941. Organist Gary Pressy, holds the record for 2,653 consecutive games played, never having missed a day’s work in 33 years. Today, most major league ballparks have replaced the traditional live organist with canned programmed music. Wrigley Field had a brief cameo in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. The 1984 film The Natural, had a scene set at Wrigley Field, as was the 1993 movie, Rookie of the Year. Wrigley Field was featured in a scene in the 1986 film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The 2006 film The Break-Up used Wrigley Field as the setting for its opening scene. Wrigley Field was used for the tryout scene in A League of Their Own in 1992. Many television series have made featured scenes set in Wrigley Field, including “ER,” “Crime Story,” “Chicago Hope,” “Prison Break,” “Perfect Strangers,” “My Boys,” “Chicago Fire,” and “Mike & Molly. The late-1970s comedy stage play “Bleacher Bums” was set in the right field bleachers at Wrigley. Wrigley Field was the site of the final task of The Amazing Race 29 finale, using the center field scoreboard. Thus, Wrigley Field has been used many times as a TV or movie set.
Harry Caray (1914-1998), baseball announcer
Harry Caray, born Harry Carabina, was an American radio and television sportscaster, beginning with 25 years of calling the games of the St. Louis Cardinals. After a year working for the Oakland Athletics and 11 years with the Chicago White Sox, Caray spent the last 16 years of his career as the announcer for the Chicago Cubs. Harry Caray changed his surname from Carabina to Caray in the 1940s. Caray caught his break when he landed a job with the National League St. Louis Cardinals in 1945. He proved as adept at selling the sponsor’s beer as at the play-by-play description. Caray teamed with former major-league catcher Gabby Street to call Cardinals games through 1950, as well as those of the American League St. Louis Browns in 1945 and 1946. As the Cardinals’ announcer, Caray helped broadcast three World Series (1964, 1967, and 1968) on NBC. He also broadcast the 1957 All-Star Game played in St. Louis on NBC Radio, and had the call for Stan Musial’s 3,000th hit on May 13, 1958. He was well known for his radio broadcasts throughout the south. Despite an accident in November, 1968, he recuperated in time to return to the broadcast booth for the start of the 1969 season with loud cheers. However, following the 1969 season, the Cardinals declined to renew Caray’s contract after he had called their games for 25 seasons. Apparently, he was the victim of rumors that he had an affair with Gussie Busch’s daughter-in-law. He then spent one season broadcasting for the Oakland Athletics, in 1970, before, he grew tired of owner Charles O. Finley’s interference and accepted a job with the Chicago White Sox. Caray joined the Chicago White Sox in 1971 and quickly became popular with the South Side faithful, enjoying a reputation for joviality and public carousing. During his tenure with the White Sox, Caray was teamed with former Red Sox outfielder Jimmy Piersall. Caray left the White Sox after the 1981 season, replaced by Don Drysdale. However, the popular Caray was soon hired by the crosstown Chicago Cubs for the 1982 season. Harry Caray increased his renown after joining the North Side Cubs. The Cubs’ own television outlet, WGN-TV, had become among the first of the cable television superstations, offering their programming to providers across the United States for free. Caray became as famous nationwide as he had long been on the South Side and, previously, in St. Louis. Caray succeeded longtime Cubs broadcaster Jack Brickhouse, a beloved announcer and Chicago media fixture. The timing worked in Caray’s favor, as the Cubs ended up winning the National League East division title in 1984 with WGN-TV’s nationwide audience following along. Millions came to love the microphone-swinging Caray, continuing his White Sox practice of leading the home crowd in singing during the seventh inning stretch. Carey’s mannerisms, his gravelly voice, his habit of mispronouncing or slurring some players names, and even his trademark barrel-shaped wide-rimmed glasses became common place. Nicknamed “The Mayor of Rush Street,” a reference to Chicago’s famous tavern-dominated neighborhood, Caray’s well-known taste for Budweiser, illness, and age began to drain some of his skills. In 1987, Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse opened in the Chicago Varnish Company Building, a Chicago Landmark building that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places that still exists today. There is also a 1999 statue of Harry Caray outside Wrigley Field. Have you ever heard of Harry Caray?
Singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”
The tradition of singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at Cubs home games began when Hall of Fame announcer Harry Caray (1914-1998) arrived in 1982. He had sung it the preceding seven years as a broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox. Thus, Harry Caray is credited with popularizing the singing of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch. Throughout his broadcasting career, Caray would sing the song in his booth, but only a few people could hear Caray sing it. WMAQ Radio producer Jay Scott suggested that Caray’s singing be put on the stadium public address system. When owner Bill Veeck took over the White Sox in 1976, he secretly placed a public-address microphone into Caray’s booth and turned it on once Nancy Faust, the Comiskey Park organist, began playing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” so that everyone in the park could hear Caray singing. When Caray questioned the idea, Veeck explained, “Anybody in the ballpark hearing you sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” knows that he can sing as well as you can, probably better than you can. If you had a good singing voice, you would intimidate them. Nobody would join in.” Thus, the park organ held the opening chord of the song, so that Caray’s trademark opening would be, “All right! Lemme hear ya! Ah-One! Ah-Two! Ah-Three!” Harry would launch into his distinctive, down-tempo version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” After the song, he would always say, “Let’s get some runs!” However, since 1982, over 40 years ago, this song has remained a Wrigley Field staple in the middle of the seventh inning, during the seventh inning stretch. After Caray’s death in 1998, the tradition of a guest conductor began, with former baseball players, various sports stars, actors, and other celebrities invited to sing during the seventh inning stretch. Among the best-known guests have been the actor Bill Murray, former Bears coach Mike Ditka. Former Cubs Ryne Sandberg, Ernie Banks, Mark Grace, Billy Williams, and Feguson Jenkins all sang this song. Chicago Blackhawks forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane as well as others like Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, comedian Jay Leno, NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, singers Ozzy Osbourne, Eddie Vedder, former Chicago lead singer Peter Cetera, boxer and actor Mr. T, actor and lifelong Cub fan Gary Sinise, actors Tom Arnold, James Belushi, Vince Vaughn, and actress Melissa McCarthy, have all sung this song during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Sometimes they just show Harry Caray singing on the big screen. As you can see, this was quite a mixture. The TV broadcasters used to interact with the celebrities, but now they do not. Have you ever heard Harry Caray sing at Wrigley Field?
The Wrigley family sold the Chicago Cubs to Tribune Corporation
William Wrigley, III (1933-1999), the chewing gum magnate whose family had controlled the Chicago Cubs for 60 years through three generations, sold the floundering Chicago Cubs to the Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, the New York Daily News, and other properties, before the 1982 season. The purchase price for the oldest continuously operating major league baseball franchise in the same city was $20.5 million in 1981. William Wrigley III had inherited the Cubs from his father, Philip K. Wrigley (1894-1977). Philip Wrigley’s father, also named William Wrigley (1861-1932), bought the Cubs in 1915 as part of a coalition. He was the Wrigley who became the majority owner of the Chicago Cubs in 1921. His son Philip assumed his father’s position as CEO of the company and the baseball team in 1932. His famous chewing gums were Wrigley’s Spearmint, Doublemint, and Juicy Fruit, which he donated to the US Armed Forces in WW II. Finally, his son, William Wrigley III, took over the company in 1961, while his father Philip continued to run the Cubs. William had a strategic global expansion goal. The Wrigley Company, became an American multinational candy and chewing gum company, today known as Mars Wrigley Confectionery, the largest manufacturer and marketer of chewing gum in the world in 180 countries, with 21 production facilities. Wrigley chewing gum Company was founded on April 1, 1891, in Chicago. The Wrigley Building, at 400 N. Michigan Avenue, a landmark on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile since it was built in the 1920s, was the company’s global headquarters until 2011, when it was sold. In 2016, Mars announced that Wrigley would be merged with its chocolate segment to form Mars Wrigley Confectionery. The new company would maintain global offices in Chicago, while moving its U.S. offices to Hackettstown New Jersey. The first product to be scanned using a Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code was a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum in 1974. William Wrigley III also assumed control of the Chicago Cubs after his father’s death in 1977. Thus, he sold the team to the Chicago Tribune in 1981, because he was also pressured by finances, particularly estate taxes resulting from the deaths of both his mother and father within a short span of time in 1977. William Wrigley III believed that the arrangements with the Tribune Co. would transfer the club to a stable and well-established entity committed to keeping the team in Chicago. The Tribune Company said that they were aware and respectful of the great tradition of the Cubs and the National League. A spokesman for the Tribune said no decision had been made whether to install lights for night games in Wrigley Field, the only major league park which did not have them. However, Wrigley Field would keep its name. Do you remember when the Chicago Tribune bought the Chicago Cubs from the Wrigley family?
TV in 1981
The first 24-hour video music channel MTV (Music Television) was launched in the United States and aired its first video, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles on 1981. Spectrum and CBS Cable began. Showtime became a 24/7 channel. HBO began broadcasting 24 hours a day, also. Financial News Network went on the air. Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network began. Star Satellite television, PRISM Sports New England, as well as Spotlight Cable television began to operate. EWTN (Eternal World Television Network) a Catholic Global Network with Mother Angelica (1923-2016) began operating from Birmingham, Alabama. Cable television was becoming more popular. President Ronald Reagan’s presidential inauguration was the most watched in American history. The cast of The Brady Bunch reunited for the TV movie The Brady Girls Get Married. “Weird Al” Yankovic made his first television appearance on NBC’s “The Tomorrow Show” with Tom Snyder. The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island, the made-for-television film, reunited the cast of the 1964–1967 sitcom. On ABC’s 20/20, Barbara Walters famously asked Katharine Hepburn, “If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?” The series finale of “Charlie’s Angels” aired on ABC. The final episode of Sanford was broadcast on NBC. Grant Tinker replaced Fred Silverman as president of NBC. Following a two-month-long players strike, MBL resumed with the All-Star Game from Cleveland on NBC. PBS launched “Nightly Business Report” nationwide on over 125 public television stations. John Carpenter’s 1978 horror film Halloween made its broadcast network television premiere on NBC. The punk rock band Fear’s appeared on Saturday Night Live, included a group of slam dancers. The NBC soap opera “The Doctors” broadcast its 5,000th episode. The CBS soap opera “As the World Turns” debuted a new opening sequence and theme song for the first time in its 25-year history. Joan Collins made her first appearance as Alexis Carrington Colby on “Dynasty.” Chuck Woolery hosted his last episode of the NBC game show “Wheel of Fortune,” quitting after a salary dispute with series producer and creator Merv Griffin. Thus, Pat Sajak began hosting this show until his retirement in 2024, 43 years later. Other new shows in 1981 were “Dynasty,” “Hill Street Blues,” “SCTV Network 90,” “Best of the West,” “The Smurfs,” “Space Stars,” “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “Mr. Merlin,” “Laverne & Shirley in the Army,” “Fitz and Bones,” “Battlestars,” “Gimme a Break,” “Lewis & Clark,” “Code Red,” “Father Murphy,” “The Fall Guy,” “Shannon,” “Strike Force,” “This Week,” “McClain’s Law,” “Simon & Simon,” “Darkroom,” “Open All Night,” “Bret Maverick,” “Falcon Crest,” and “You Can’t Do That on Television.” The following shows ended in 1981: “The Tim Conway Show” (1980-1981), “Hollywood Squares” (1966-1981), “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” (1979-1981), “Soap” (1977-1981), “The Muppet Show” (1976-1981), “Flo” (1980-1981), “The Waltons” (1972-1981), “Eight is Enough,” (1977-1981), “Card Sharks” (1978-1981), “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids” (1972-1981), “Super Friends” (1973-1981), “Heathcliff” (1980-1981), “The Tomorrow Show” (1973-1981), and “The Mike Douglas Show” (1961-1981), after twenty years. What was your favorite TV show of 1981?
Music in 1981
The 23rd Annual Grammy Awards were in New York City, hosted by Paul Simon. Christopher Cross, with his self-titled debut album and its single “Sailing”, became the first artist to win all four general awards in a single ceremony, controversially beating Pink Floyd’s The Wall for Album of the Year. The UK pop group Bucks Fizz’s song “Making Your Mind Up” won the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin, Ireland. Both Phil Collins and Billy Idol started solo careers. The gated reverb drum sound started a new trend in music. Diana Ross signed a $20,000,000 record deal. Eddie Van Halen married actress Valerie Bertinelli, as Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach also got married. U2 appeared on “The Tomorrow Show” with Tom Snyder, for their first U.S. television appearance. Simon & Garfunkel performed a free reunion concert in New York City’s Central Park attended by over 500,000 fans. The Rolling Stones opened their US tour in Philadelphia. Three songs by John Lennon appeared on the Year-End Hot 100, charting posthumously after his murder in late 1980. An estimated 35 million people around the world watched a live satellite transmission of a Rod Stewart concert at the Los Angeles Forum. British vocalist Sheena Easton hit No. 1 in the US with “Morning Train (9 to 5).” Adam and the Ants single “Stand and Deliver” and “Prince Charming” remained number one for ten consecutive weeks. Stevie Nicks released her debut solo album Bella Donna, which sold 4 million copies in the US alone. Diana Ross & Lionel Richie recorded the song “Endless Love” for the movie of the same name. The Human League reached number one with “Don’t You Want Me” and became the best-selling single in the UK for 1981. The tenth annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special aired on ABC, with appearances by the Four Tops, Rick Springfield, Barry Manilow, Alabama, and Rick James. Menudo’s golden era (1981–1985) began in Latin America, as well as parts of Europe and Asia. Paul McCartney & Wings split up. “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes was the number one song of 1981. Other great songs of 1981 were “Lady” by Kenny Rogers, “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield, “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang, “I Love a Rainy Night” by Eddie Rabbitt, “9 To 5” by Dolly Parton, “Keep on Loving You” by REO Speedwagon, “Being with You” by Smokey Robinson, “Slow Hand” by The Pointer Sisters, “The Winner Takes It All” by ABBA, “Angel of the Morning” by Juice Newton, “America” and “Hello Again” by Neil Diamond, “Every Woman in the World” by Air Supply, “Elvira” by The Oak Ridge Boys, “Lady” by the Commodores, “It’s My Turn” and “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross, “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” and “Treat Me Right” by Pat Benatar, “Hungry Heart” by Bruce Springsteen, “More Than I Can Say” by Leo Sayer, “What Are We Doin’ in Love” by Dottie West & Kenny Rogers, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” by Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty, “A Little in Love” by Cliff Richard, “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” by Christopher Cross, “Games People Play” by The Alan Parsons Project, “I Can’t Stand It” by Eric Clapton, “Feels So Right” by Alabama, “What Kind of Fool” by Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb, “Tell It Like It Is” by Heart, “Smoky Mountain Rain” by Ronnie Milsap, “I Made It Through the Rain” by Barry Manilow, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin” by Hall & Oates, “Suddenly” by Olivia Newton-John & Cliff Richard, and “The Beach Boys Medley” by The Beach Boys. What is your favorite song of 1981?
Movies in 1981
1981 was a great year for films. I saw and liked a lot of them. The 53rd Academy Awards were postponed due to the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan earlier that day. However, they were held the following day with a message from President Regan, a former actor, recorded for the ceremony prior to the assassination attempt. The big box office hit was Raiders of the Lost Ark with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas writing and directing Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. It became Paramount’s highest-grossing film of all time and spawned four Indiana Jones sequels. Raiders set a standard for many action-adventure movies to come. The special effects were amazing with an okay story. However, I really loved the story and the actors of On Golden Pond, with Henry Fonda, his daughter Jane Fonda, and Katherine Hepburn. They grappled with the problem of aging and family relationships. It was just wonderful. Nevertheless, my favorite of the year, and perhaps all-time, was Chariots of Fire. The English actors were good, but the story of the British athletes training and going to the 1924 Paris Olympics was outstanding. The opening scene of the English runners on the beach with that haunting melody still hits me when I see the commercial for that movie. Chariots of Fire dealt with all the modern problems of religion, prejudice, social status, income inequality, personal beliefs, nationalism, and professionalism in amateur sports. It was a great movie. I also liked the funny quirky movies like Arthur, Stripes, and The Cannonball Run. There were other action movies like Roger Moore as James Bond in For Your Eyes Only, and Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, and Margot Kidder in Superman II. I also liked The Four Seasons romantic comedy with Carol Burnett and Alan Alda. Warren Beatty directed and starred in the movie Reds, about American John Reed who lived through and wrote about the Russian Bolshevik Revolution in a book called Ten Days That Shook the World that made him famous. I found it interesting. Then there was also the movie Atlantic City with Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon, as well as Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons in The French Lieutenant’s Woman. Pennies from Heaven had Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Christopher Walken, and Jessica Harper in it. It was a great year for movies and I saw a lot of movies in 1981. MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) also acquired beleaguered UA (United Artists). What is your favorite movie of 1981?
Gene Finnegan Remembers Living Eighty Wonderful Years 