I wouldn’t – Would you?
I mean really where would our society be without a set of rules and a protocol of niceties? But not wearing white after Labor Day? Who said so and why? My friend Gail posted a link (from the web site Mental Floss) on Facebook that answers that question and so I’m going to post the link in this blog.
But first I’m going on record as YES I was and am one of those people who adhere to that ancient admonition about not wearing white after Labor Day. I didn’t know I was following in the footsteps of some former elitist class but then again as a child of the 50’s that was how I was taught and so I passed it on to my daughter born in the late 70’s. I know she followed that rule for some years after she left home but now it’s doubtful especially since she is living in Florida!
No White Shoes
My husband on the other hand strictly adheres to the no spectator shoes before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. It may be an antiquated way of thinking and behaving but when surrounded by a couple of generations that seem to have a no holds barred and anything goes attitude, it feels good to cling a few of the old rules. Decorum has its place in society. Or would you rather walk down the street and pass young men with their pants hanging below their rear ends or girls wearing colorful bras and an open shirt or short shorts so short one wonders why not just wear the thong that the whole world can see anyway? Or watch an awards show and see the entertainers half or more naked on the stage (because really what is that all about?). Yes I must be getting on in years, showing my age (and my sensibilities). But it isn’t fun to be on a bus or train trapped by loud-speaking-totally-unconcious-of-the-world-around-them youths who carry on phone and personal conversation at a decibel level practically illegal!
They’re Everywhere!
So YES I will stop wearing white after Labor Day, No I will not wear gloves or a hat when I go out shopping, YES I try to wear age-appropriate clothing, NO I will not carry on a cell phone conversation on the bus, in an elevator or during dinner in a restaurant. YES I always allow people older than myself out of the elevator or through a doorway before me and NO I don’t wear suede UGGS in the spring and summer with a Sundress!
Seriously?
Well now that I’ve had my rant, here’s the link to the article: http://mentalfloss.com/article/12424/why-can%E2%80%99t-you-wear-white-after-labor-day
Some Things Are OK!
Bill Ding and his band of clowns are the security patrol for this blog site. He is a favorite toy from the 50*s. By the way sometimes a blog is just an ego-maniacal stream of conscience.
Pbenjay's Blog 
What Happens When the Star of the Show is Tarnished?
Posted in BY THE WAY, From My Point of View - Personal commentary on Movies and Books, Ha-P 2 B in OG, tagged Arts, Concert, Labor Day, Martha and the Vandellas, Martha Reeves, New York City, Ocean Grove New Jersey, United States on September 4, 2011| 2 Comments »
Welllllllll, I’ll tell ya! People get up and leave! That is exactly what happened last night at the Doo Wop Extravaganza, the annual Labor Day concert at The Great Auditorium.
The first surprise of the evening was Kenny Vance and the Planotones; Kenny with his extraordinary voice and devoted Auditorium fans has for the past several years been the closing act of the concert. He brings the house down as his voice goes up and up and up! Why was he the opening act? Several people around me murmured the same thought; did he have another show to go to? We don’t know the answer to that question. What we do know is that he was NOT the headliner of this particular Doo Wop show. And why not? BECAUSE this year’s star was Martha Reeves, formerly of Martha & The Vandellas.
I’ve never seen Martha perform before so I don’t have a standard by which to measure her performance. What I saw was truly disgraceful. She wasn’t on stage more than 15 minutes when people began to get up and leave. She was erratic, her enunciation and projection left so much to be desired that it was impossible to understand the words to any song she was feebly attempting to sing! I’m not going to speculate on what was wrong with her last night that caused her to forget words to songs, stop in the middle and chastise the band because they weren’t on count or worse yet, to ask the audience to clap on command by the number. I swear there wasn’t one person in the audience who knew when to clap. Add that to the fact that she consistently referred to her venue as being in Ocean View! It was just too much. We left right after the clapping fiasco. I have never left a concert in Ocean Grove before. They haven’t all been great but never so bad that I wanted to just get out of there.
Not going to end this commentary on a sour note, NOT when I can extoll the virtues of Kenny Vance’s performance. He was fabulous as always, we are never disappointed with the Planotones and 3 standing ovations to prove it. How does he hold those falsetto notes so long? He is gifted with a clear and strong voice and over the years has perfected his falsetto voice and incorporated it into many more of their songs.
One of the great treasures of Ocean Grove and the United States is our Great Auditorium and as a venue for great performers, it stands alone. Every singer this year has mentioned the magnificence of the Great Auditorium, its marvelous acoustics enhance every performance; I look forward to next year’s roster of entertainers, knowing of course that Kenny Vance and The Planotones will be back to trill and thrill us.
Kenny Vance
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