Alistair Cooke

[schwammy]

Until a couple weeks ago, I had somehow failed to get the word that Alistair Cooke had died. Cooke was best known to Americans as the host of "Masterpiece Theatre," but he was known to Brits for his "Letter From America," which broadcast on BBC for almost 60 years. His commentaries helped Americans see themselves more clearly, and I loved his rambling, seemingly stream-of-consciousness broadcasts, chock full of personal reminiscences of World War 1, the 1920s, and the rest of what we have come to regard as the "Golden Era." He was there when Robert Kennedy was assassinated, and he seems to have met most of the key figures of the 20th century.

Click here for his BBC page:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/letter_from_america/default.stm

 

[rayk]

Truly a man of limitless class, and the quintessential gentleman. Masterpiece Theatre has never been quite the same since his departure.

For those who may not have heard, Ray Charles died today. Reagan, Cook, Charles? Who can fill these yawning vacancies?