Ernest Borgnine's Impact On Us At KXL

Just Trying to Make a Buck

by Dave Paull

 

When I read that Ernest Borgnine was going to screen his movie “Marty” in early April of this year in Portland, I instantly wanted to be there, but I'm not sure why, since I wasn't a big fan. I'd seen several of his movies and enjoyed the sincerity he brought to playing the average guy – the uncommon common man. There was something of a challenge in trying to get an interview with this iconic movie actor.

 

Mike Turner, a colleague at KXL, loaned me his little digital audio recorder and I walked the few blocks up to the Portland Art Museum's Whitsell Auditorium, where Marty would be shown that evening. I found the room downstairs where Borgnine was greeting a select group of fans, but the door was locked. After loitering conspicuously and asking repeatedly, I was finally allowed into the inner sanctum and there he was.

 

Borgnine was alternately sitting and standing with his fans, posing for pictures, laughing and talking with everyone in line. He was a barrel chested man with silver hair and big teeth, wearing a dark navy suit with a tie and sweater.

 

While waiting for a break in autograph signing, I spoke with Borgnine's press agent, Harry Flynn. From him I learned that Ernest Borgnine was a 33^rd degree Mason and an ex-Navy man who had signed up for active duty in 1935. After being discharged he re-enlisted when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. When he got out of the Navy for good, Borgnine said he didn't know what to do with his life. It was his mother who encouraged him to pursue his interest in acting.

 

Borgnine told the story filming with Montgomery Clift in “From Here to Eternity.” The two had to stage a realistic looking fight scene, which ran for about 3 minutes in the movie, but took 12 hours to shoot. Ernest said that he and Montgomery Clift were black and blue with bruises after punching and fighting each other for so long.

 

Then it was my turn to sit down and ask some questions. When I referred to Borgnine as a legendary actor, he wouldn't have it. He said “what's this - legendary? I'm just a guy trying to earn a buck.” He told another story about working on the film “Flight of The Phoenix.” Borgnine said he learned a lot about acting from the star of the film, Jimmy Stewart, who showed up early and left late, always working on the craft of acting. That was Borgnine's style, too.

 

Then it was picture taking time and we stood up for a snap shot. Borgnine beamed at the camera and laughed. He seemed tireless and always interested in whoever wanted to talk with him. That's what I remember most – the energy and cheerfulness of this 95 year old man. It took me by surprise when I heard of his passing. But, of course, Ernest Borgnine will live on as a legendary Everyman in the vast number of movies he made.

Summer Has Arrived!

The old adage that summer in Portland starts on July 5th really seems to be true.  With temperatures in the 90's expected for this weekend, summer in the Rose City has officially arrived.  How will you be spending the sunny days?  Hiding in air conditioned comfort?  Cooling off on the river?  Whatever you do, make sure to protect yourself.  Us Oregonians don't see the sun too often and sometimes we forget that it can be dangerous! Check out these tips from the Oregon Health Department.  Here are some tips for protecting your pets too.  My co-worker Jim Ferretti was looking for a way to keep cool in the form of a backyard pool, but the store was sold out! So here is a list of Portland Public Pools where you can beat the heat.  The city also has dozens of outdoor fountains and splash pads to entertain the kids on hot days.  Have fun out there and stay safe!
--Lacey Evans

It Was Like Monday Times Ten

A lot of jaws dropped when we learned of the Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare. It's most controversial component is constitutional.  Mandatory health care is legal.  This ruling drew all kinds of reaction to KXL including from health care lawyers, cancer survivors, family doctors, Governor Kitzhaber, even political strategists. Len Bergstein says Democrats says will see this is vindication.  Republicans say it will get the Romney campaign fired up.  It seems it already has. Rumor has it, Mitt Romney raised a million dollars within 4 hours of the decision.  Two big questions:  What will this mean to you and me when it comes to health care....and will this be THE issue come November.  Bergstein thinks jobs will trump this.
Either way, it's been an exciting week at the Supreme Court.

~Rebecca and Steve.

Storm In A Port

I've heard that one in six jobs in the Portland-area depends on global trade.  So why aren't we hearing more from elected officials about the Longshore union's work slowdown at the Port of Portland's Terminal 6. (T-6)  It's been on for 2 weeks.

The Longshore union has said there is no slowdown.  And that statistics on the amount of cargo shipped bear that out.  Try that line on truckers who've been spending hours waiting in line to load and unload at T-6.  Tell the shipper who decided to re-route his container ship to the Port of Oakland to avoid Portland's labor mess.

I put in a call Monday to Governor John Kitzhaber's office.  The governor appoints people to the Port commission. Would you think he would have something to say about a labor dispute that could damage a pillar of the Northwest economy?   Kitzhaber's office did say they would get back to me.

This morning FM News 101 reporter Chris Brown asked Oregon U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley if he had been following the labor dispute.  Merkley said he has not and also said he would get up to speed on it.

Please tell us what you think about the situation at the Port.  Should politicians seem more interested in this?  Do you think some might be afraid of stepping on toes?  Whose?  We'd love to hear from members of the Longshore union and the I.B.E.W. After all, we keep hearing "it's still the economy...."   

-Steve Leader


 

Ode to Fathers

Sunday is Father's Day and KXL wants to say THANK YOU to all the Dad's out there.  Here are some memories from KXL staffers, about the dads in their lives.

Nearly any successful person can point to a single moment; a push from someone that propelled them forward. For me that person was my father. When I was but a lowly intern, trying to carve out a niche at KXL and working full time at another job, my dad asked an important question.
“Son, is radio something you’d like to do?”

 “Yeah, of course.”

 “Then stop whining, quit your job, and go do it.”

 Don’t get me wrong, my dad is not a harsh man (he cries more easily than most men I know), but he is one of those rare individuals who can recognize when a shove is needed. Whatever success in radio I’ve attained, or will attain, it all traces back to that one encapsulating moment when a father, who would do anything to protect and provide for his children, gave me a rough shove out of the nest. The best part of all was that, however terrifying that moment was, I knew he only did it because he could see the potential that I so often denied myself.

Thanks for pushing, dad.

---Chris Brown


My dad is 89. He taught me that family, faith & working hard matter. He taught me how to throw a softball, negotiate a contract and how to speak before a group. I am writing this in the DQ parking lot where I just picked up his favorite.....a cherry milkshake. His motto is "All days are good; some days are better." I believe that.

----Pat Boyle

My dad was tough but fair.  He let me make and learn from my own mistakes.  He was and still is always there when I need advice or help from him.

---Doug Carter

Dear Dad,

You have been my inspiration for as long as I can remember.  You have seen me through the hard times with Lilli and you have seen me through the good times as the best man at my wedding.  You taught me tough lessons as a young man and you may not believe it, I learned from each of them.  I may have not made the life choices you would have liked me to, but you have stood behind me through it all.  Thank you for all you do and have done.

Happy Fathers Day,

--Jim Ferretti

Let me tell you about my dad.  He adopted me at the age of seven and gave me a last name people could actually spell.  (My ancestors came from Greece) I wouldn’t have learned much in school if he hadn’t pushed me to study. Whenever I needed advice my dad was there with unvarnished suggestions that made sense.  He could analyze a problem like no else. He died ten years ago. I wish I could just pick up the phone and call him.
 
--Steve Leader

My Dad was my best friend.   I can remember taking countless road trips with him across California as I was growing up.  When I went to college, he was always a phone call away giving me advice.  He was thrilled when I got my first job in radio and would visit the radio studio and just stand their beaming while I interviewed people.   He passed away from congestive heart failure in December 1996 and I still think about him all the time.  Here’s to the great memories, Dad.  Happy Fathers Day!

---Rebecca Marshall

My husband’s the best dad, he’s always been there for my kids.  He’s the ROCK of our family.

---Rosemary Reynolds

When I was growing up my dad told me “You can be anything you want to be, So do what you love.” But when I graduated from high school and stared out at a scary world, I thought that’s easy for you to say. When I left the service, realizing I had survived, I thought what the hell … What have I got to lose. So, I did what I wanted … got into radio and finished college and have enjoyed several decades of fun and success. I gave my kids the same message. They graduated from college and are both beginning successful and hopefully fun careers. Thanks dad! Though you’ve passed on,  your message survives. I hope my kids can say the same.

---Mike Turner

Happy fathers day from everyone at KXL!

Derelict Dock Or A Piece Of History

I got an e-mail this morning from Rebecca Marshall.  It was titled "Lucky Jim".  Before opening I thought to myself, "COOL!!  What did I win?", but in the back of my mind I was thinking, "Great!  What did I screw up now?"  Turns out Lucky Jim meant it was my turn to grace the pages of KXL.com with a blog entry.  

Immediately I started thinking, what can I blog about?  What matters to our listeners?  Can I make it through the blog without a spelling mistake?  All good questions, now for the answers.

All four local TV news stations made a run for the Oregon Coast last week when a giant dock landed on the beach just north of Newport.  We now know it's a piece of history from the Japan Tsunami, but I get the feeling that it will not be treated as a piece of history.  Crews quickly descended on it and removed all the "invasive species" and then used blow torches to sanitize what was left on the dock.  A giant hole was dug in the sand above the tide line and all those "invasive species" were dumped in and buried.  Now the question is, what to do with the dock.  There have been a couple of ideas floated around.  Of course the typical take it out to see and sink it idea came up.  But what about the "invasive species" that are on the bottom of the dock?  I am pretty sure they were not able to remove them as it sat on the beach.  It also floated thousands of miles across the ocean, makes me wonder how it would be sent to the bottom of the ocean.  The other idea making the rounds, dismantle it right there on the beach.  When I heard that, for some strange reason it thought of The New Carissa.  Of course the dock, which is 66-feet long and 7-feet tall, is not nearly the size of that ship, but stranger things have happened.  Now I am not saying there is an impending disaster like The New Carissa but why sink it or destroy it?  Why not treat it like a piece of history?  Don't you think the whole thing or even pieces of it would make an interesting exhibit at the coastal museums up and down the Oregon coast?  After all this is the first major piece of history from the Japan Tsunami to make land fall in the United States.  The question remains, what do you do with a 66-foot long dock that traveled thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean? ~ Jim