Vic Mizzy, a film and television composer best known for writing the theme songs to the 1960's comedy hits "Green Acres" and "The Adams Family," died on October 17, 2009 at the age of 93 at his home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles.
He wrote a number of other theme songs including ones for the shows of Don Rickles and Phyllis Diller as well as several comedies of Don Knotts. His biggest hit was "The Adams Family". He also played the harpsichord which gave the song its unique style. Since he didn't want to pay for singers, he sang the song himself and overdubbed it three times to create its choral effect. He also choreographed the snapping of the fingers by the shows cast to the playing of the song.
He was a shrewed businessman. By owning the copyrights to his music, he ensured himself a lifetime of royalties.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Larry Jansen - Major League Pitcher
Larry Jansen, a nine year pitcher in the National League, died at the age of 89 on October 10, 2009 at his home in Verboort, Oregon. His cause of death was congestive heart failure and pneumonia.
His biggest moment came as the winning pitcher in the 1951 National League playoff game between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers. The game was decided by Bobby Thomson's home run in the ninth inning which became known as "The shot hear around the world".
Jansen pitched the last two innings of the game in relief of Sal Magli. The Giants were trailing by four runs going into the bottom of the ninth inning until Thomson's three run home run beat the Dodgers 5-4 in the third and final playoff game to decide the winner of the National League pennant.
He won 23 games that year and finished his career with a 122-89 record and 3.58 ERA. He spent his first eight seasons with the Giants before finishing his final year in Cincinnati.
He allowed Mickey Mantle's first World Series hit, a bunt single in Game 2 of the 1951 series. He gave up a double in Game 6 to Joe Dimaggio in the last at-bat of the Hall of Famer's career. He was the losing pitcher for Games 2 and 5 of that series.
He spent 11 years as the pitching coach for the Giants and later served the same role with the Chicago Cubs.
His biggest moment came as the winning pitcher in the 1951 National League playoff game between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers. The game was decided by Bobby Thomson's home run in the ninth inning which became known as "The shot hear around the world".
Jansen pitched the last two innings of the game in relief of Sal Magli. The Giants were trailing by four runs going into the bottom of the ninth inning until Thomson's three run home run beat the Dodgers 5-4 in the third and final playoff game to decide the winner of the National League pennant.
He won 23 games that year and finished his career with a 122-89 record and 3.58 ERA. He spent his first eight seasons with the Giants before finishing his final year in Cincinnati.
He allowed Mickey Mantle's first World Series hit, a bunt single in Game 2 of the 1951 series. He gave up a double in Game 6 to Joe Dimaggio in the last at-bat of the Hall of Famer's career. He was the losing pitcher for Games 2 and 5 of that series.
He spent 11 years as the pitching coach for the Giants and later served the same role with the Chicago Cubs.
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