AGT ~Jimmy Herrod

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America’s Got Talent, ”Pure Imagination”, Gene Wilder, Jimmie Herrod, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

I have loved Pure Imagination since I first heard Gene Wilder sing it in 1971 in the movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. I’ve heard other singers cover it over the years, but for me no one came close to capturing the magic of Wilder’s performance. That is, until Tuesday night, when AGT contestant, Jimmie Herrod put forth his unique rendition that had me spellbound. In case you missed it, here it is.

And here is the original which honestly, never gets old does it?

 

 

 

Whimsical Wednesday

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”Alarms and Discursions”, G.K. Chesterton, Gene Wilder, Whimsical Wednesday

Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.

G.K. Chesterton, Alarms and Discursions

 

Whimsical Wednesday ~ Gene Wilder

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Gene Wilder, Whimsical Wednesday

“You’re fooled by the applause into thinking that they love me, they really, really love me. Actors fall into this trap if they missed being loved for who they really were and not for what they could do.”

Since the passing of Gene Wilder on Sunday, I knew I wanted to dedicate a Whimsical Wednesday post to him. Here’s just a few of my favorite movie roles by him.

Leo Bloom ~ The Producers (1967)

Jim aka The Waco Kid ~ Blazing Saddles (1974)

Skip Donahue ~ Stir Crazy (1980)

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein ~ Young Frankenstein (1974)

And my personal favorite:

Willy Wonka ~ Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Thank you Mr. Wilder for adding some magic and whimsy to my childhood.

R.I.P. Gene Wilder ~ 1933 – 2016

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Gene Wilder

Am I being overly-dramatic when I say 2016 sucks? Gene Wilder with his wonderful talent, great sense of humor, and gentle soul, is the latest icon who has passed away. While the majority of us never had the pleasure of meeting him, he was someone who we felt as though we knew. Even more devastating is the news that he died from complications of Alzheimer’s. But his nephew provided some small comfort in his statement today saying in part that they were lucky that Gene never lost his ability to recognize those closest to him. As to the reason why his illness wasn’t made public his nephew said: “The decision to wait until this time to disclose his condition wasn’t vanity, but more so that countless young children that would smile or call out to him ‘there’s Willy Wonka,’ would not have to be then exposed to an adult referencing illness or trouble and causing delight to travel to worry, disappointment or confusion. He simply couldn’t bear the idea of one less smile in the world.” Gene Wilder was a class act right to the end.

Whimsical Wednesday

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Gene Wilder, Whimsical Quotes

“Mr. Wonka: And Charlie, don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he wanted.”

“Charlie Bucket: What happened?”

“Mr. Wonka: He lived happily ever after.”

~ Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ~