“Let conversation cease. Let laughter flee. This is the place where death rejoices to help the living.” Giovanni Morgagni, an 18th c. physician

On this overcast day in Southern California I wasn’t going to post anything in reference to 9/11 — more eloquent voices than mine have noted the passage of 16 years. I will just say this, a friend of mine was piloting one of the American Airlines flights up in the air that September 11th. I was awake before six in the morning when another friend called, panic stricken, and said, “Turn on your TV, something’s wrong.” I watched as the second plane flew into the World Trade Center. I went cold. I just remember the sensation of ice in my core. Even now, after all this time, it’s difficult, as in painful — to recall what happened. My friend was fine. His flight set down somewhere in Texas. Only recently have I been able to remember without crying the towers collapse and the clouds of smoke and debris (if that’s what you call atomized skyscrapers and human bodies) billow over Manhattan.

Okay, on a more emotionally neutral note, let’s get back to Hollywood history.

Here we have Los Angeles’ main air terminal during the golden era of film, Grand Central Air Terminal, it was located in Glendale, California, and was the backdrop for several scenes in Casablanca:

Casablanca, directed by Michael Curtiz, screenplay by Julius J. Epstein, Howard E. Koch, Casey Robinson, Philip G. Epstein

Rick: Don’t you sometimes wonder if it’s worth all this? I mean what you’re fighting for.

Victor Laszlo: You might as well question why we breathe. If we stop breathing, we’ll die. If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die.

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10 Comments

  1. LA CONTESSA
    September 11, 2017

    OH MY GOSH…………….THANKFUL he landed and all went well for his CARGO!
    GLENDALE had an AIRPORT?????That is NEWS to me I guess BURBANK took its place?
    YOU can fill me in LATER!!!!!!
    XX

    • September 11, 2017

      It was the main airport for the region, once upon a time. All the old Hollywood stars either used to arrive by train, or fly into Grand Central Air Terminal…before 1938 the flight between NY and Glendale would have taken 25 hours!

    • September 11, 2017

      Oh! And I forgot to add he was flying a huge passenger plane on a very busy route, he was supposed to land somewhere in the NE but was diverted to Texas.

  2. September 12, 2017

    A truly horrible day. I felt the world would stop. It didn’t of course but it tilted our world. I actually couldn’t look at the old coverage of the event this year.

    • September 12, 2017

      It did tilt the world. When I see the images now I, like you, have to turn my head away… I seem to be inundated by images in general these days! I have stopped watching TV, and I take regular breaks from all digital devices, as in for weeks on end. It helps 😉 .

      • September 12, 2017

        It really does help. I much happier listening to radio and podcasts than watching TV. In fact, as pushback against the ott visual world, I am working on some voice recordings (my voice) which I may post in my next post….whenever that happens. 😀

      • September 13, 2017

        Please let me know when you post the recording! Recently a friend asked me to record a passage of my work in progress. I sound like Mini Mouse in a Cathedral.

      • September 17, 2017

        I saved your recordings for a Sunday treat, they are just lovely. Clear as a bell and wonderful selections that take the listener journeying. Thank you!

      • September 17, 2017

        Enjoy. One day I may splurge on a decent mic.

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