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songhits2|
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| THE WONDERFUL ONES SOCIETY, PART II |
| by ERNIE C. TURLA |
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| Part II Hello! This is your co-W.O. Ernie Turla greeting you once again in cyberspace. I know you have been surfing the net and trying to establish contact with fellow members, and you've made it! But in the event that you are just a visitor that just accidentally anchored, have a seat and make yourself at home, my dear friend, and let me tell you something about the Wonderful Ones. Like I said the other day, the hobby that made the world go round for us, W.O., was sending requests and dedications (R&D) in song hits magazines and radio programs. That was in l953-l966 -years that the W.O. rejoices in remembering. While in the early years all of us were Kapampangan, our club went national with the advent of rock and roll and the introduction of the jukebox. Through the song hits and radio programs, as well as pen-palship, we were able to get in touch with other clubs, developing with them friendships that centered around R&D activities. Combos were ubiquitous then, and they mimmicked the styles of The Comets, The Platters, The Diamonds, the Kingston Trio, etc. A lot of important things happened during that era. The world underwent a lot of changes then, though of course, not by leaps and bounds like now. And most of it, if not all, is still reminiscent in our minds - still fresh like the morning dew. Now let me take you down memory lane! Let me give you a picture of those times and maybe if you belong to our generation, you'd be able to recall a lot of those magic moments in your life. I'll put you in nostalgia for a while. Memories are made of these, Dean Martin used to say. Let's begin with stars and movies. What can be more poignant to the memory than movies and stars? In the beginning of our era, these were the hot stars: Marlon Brando (On The Waterfront), James Dean (Rebel Without A Cause), Paul Newman (Somebody Up There Likes Me), Tony Curtis (Some Like It Hot), Rock Hudson (Magnificent Obsession), Jean Peters (Three Coins In The Fountain, Kim Novak (Picnic), Elizabeth Taylor (Giant), Audrey Hepburn (Roman Holiday). And then, of course, the sex kittens: Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Tina Louis, Anita Eckberg, Brigitte Bardot and Jayne Mansfield. These are in addition to such stars as Maureen O'hara, Rhonda Fleming, Arlene Dahl, Lana Turner, Virginia Mayo, Loretta Young, Yvonne de Carlo, Randolph Scott, Gregory Peck, Stewart Granger, William Holden, James Stewart, Montgomery Clift, Cary Grant, Alan Ladd, Gary Cooper, Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Glenn Ford, Tyrone Power, Robert Taylor, Errol Flynn, Robert Ryan, Robert Mitchum, John Payne and John Wayne. During that time too, we still had Republic and R.K.O. Radio Pictures. Now, let's go to boxing, my favorite sport. Rocky Marciano, Archie Moore, Sugar Ray Robinson, Dick Tiger, Emile Griffith, Sandy Saddler, Flash Elorde - they dominated the field. I might include Casius Clay but he came somewhat later, and the same holds true for Joe Frasier. In the recording business, Elvis Presley was the king, Pat Boone was second, followed closely by Paul Anka and Neil Sedaka (in popularity, in our country). The last three, as well as Johnny Mathis and a host of others, performed at the Araneta Coliseum which also showed Icecapades from time to time. The Beatles which took the world by storm in l963 also performed there, but they were chased away due to some disagreement with the First Lady, Imelda. Now let's focus on the Philippines. On T.V., remember the Student Canteen, Tawag Ng Tanghalan and Kuarta O Kahon? Remember Leila Benitez, Eddie Ilarde and Pepe Pimentel? How about the theaters? Odeon, Ideal, State, Avenue, Universal, Roxan, Ever, Galaxy, Rialto, Scala, Mayfair, Palace and Dalisay on Rizal Ave., Boulevard, Life, Globe, Society on Quezon Blvd., Cinerama on Azcarraga, Lyric and Capitol on Escolta, the stage show at Clover and the Manila Grand Opera House. Do they ring the bell? Remember the singers Diomedes Maturan (Rose Tatoo), Bobby Gonzales (Hahabol-Habol), Sylvia La Torre(Galawgaw), Eddie Mesa, Cenon Lagman, Fred Panopio (Markado). And the hot stars of the late 50's and early 60's such as Zaldy Zhornack, Romeo Vasquez, Susan Roces, Amalia Fuentes, Shirley Gorospe, Fernando Poe Jr., Tony Ferrer, Luis Gonzales, Ric Rodrigo, Carlos Salazar, Gloria Romero, Corazon Rivas, Rosita Noble, Rita Gomez, Cecilia Lopez, Charito Solis, Barbara Perez, Cynthia Ugalde, Marlene Dauden,Daisy Romualdez, Lolita Rodriguez, Lani Oteysa, Jean Lopez, Olivia Cenizal, Divina Valencia, Helen Gamboa,Stella Suarez, the character actresses led by Carol Varga and Bella Flores, supporting actresses like Rosa Aguirre, Etang Discher, Mary Walter and the character actors like Jess Lapid (Kardong Kidlat), Max Alvarado, Paquito Diaz, Rod Navarro, Eddie Garcia, Rocco Montalban, Vic Diaz, Bino Garcia, Nort Nepomuceno, Bruno Punzalan, Berting Labra Oscar Roncal, Lauro Delgado, not to mention the oldtimers still around then such as Rogelio and Jaime dela Rosa, Leopoldo Salcedo, Jose Padilla Jr., Efren Reyes, Oscar Moreno, Tony Santos, Johnny Monteiro, Pancho Magalona, Eddie del Mar, Armando Goyena, Tessie Quintana, Nida Blanca, Carmen Rosales, Rosa del Rosario, Mila del Sol, Norma Blancaflor, Arsenia Francisco, Rosa Mia, Rosa Rosal, Paraluman, the comedians Pugo and Tugo, Tugak and Pugak, Lopito, Patsy, Babalu, Dolphy, Chiquito, Panchito, Apeng Daldal; composers / singers like Pablo "God Knows" Vergara, Louie "The Wedding" Levant", Eddie "What Am I Living For" Peregrina, TV soap opera actors Oscar Obligacion, Ading Fernando, Sylvia La Torre, Eddie San Jose, Bentot (Tantarantang), radio soap opera actor Ben David, Jose Miranda Cruz and his radio soap operas, t.v. hosts like Bong Lapira, Vic Pacia, Lito Gorospe....the list goes on and on....  If you find this nostalgic and enjoyable, continue reading our story by clicking: The Wonderful Ones Society Part III: http://www.webspawner.com/users/erniet2 For Wonderful Ones Society Part IV: http://www.webspawner.com/users/songhits22 |
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