Posts with the Roger Bannister tag

Barris Beat

Photo with a checkered past

Written by Ted Barris on . 1 Comment
Glossy 8X10 of a 1950s TV hero.

A note popped up on my laptop one evening recently. It was from our younger daughter. She’d been going through some things in the latest phase of moving into her new house and she’d stumbled across an old black-and-white photograph. It was a portrait of a middle-aged man with a smile and a Stetson. Scrawled over the photo was an incomplete inscription:

“For ?” In other words, the photo was for some unnamed person. Then there was a sign off. “Come fly with me! Sky King. 11/21/79.”

As well as sending the digital copy of the photo, our daughter wrote, “Any idea who this is?” (more…)

Barris Beat

Run with distinction

Written by Ted Barris on . 1 Comment
Yahoo.com

It took a little while, but I found out what the overseas area code for the United Kingdom was. Then – this was 1980 – I asked for directory assistance in London. I naively inquired about a residential phone number. To my astonishment, they had his number. I carefully composed myself, dialled, and fully expected either an assistant or someone running interference to answer. The phone rang a few times. Then, a man answered.

“Hello,” the voice said in an Oxfordian accent.

“Hello,” I said, not believing someone had actually picked up the phone. “Ah, would Dr. Bannister be there?”

“Speaking…” (more…)