Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Ronald McFadden, Entertainer


Kansas City music legend, Ronald McFadden, has passed.

He was the son of entertainer Smilin' Jimmie McFadden, and brother of Lonnie McFadden.

Ronald and Lonnie have been performing since elementary school.

As part of "The McFadden Brothers", Ronald choreographed and played the alto saxophone, and the two have shared the stage with Wayne Newton, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Orlando, Lee Greenwood, Gladys Knight, The Count Basie Orchestra, and others.

Ronald's passing was announced by Lonnie with this simple message: "Ronald is gone."

Rest easy, my friend.

Photograph © 2012 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Monday, February 27, 2023

Bradford Athey, Musician

 


Brad, performing with Way Too Famous.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@gascap_music

Sunday, February 26, 2023

National Security


Miles of barriers line interstate highways for just one reason - diminishing noise for nearby neighborhoods.

Perhaps the same resources could be invested in barriers to protect electric-grid substations.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Shawn Poores, Musician

 


Shawn, performing with The Zeros.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#thezeroskc

Hate

#News

Saturday, February 25, 2023, has been declared a national "Day of Hate" by extremists urging people to target and harass Jewish communities.

Security has been increased for synagogues.

Photograph © 2020 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Screen Actors Guild Awards

This 1-minute video demonstrates how the 12-pound statuette, The Actor®, is created for the Screen Actors Guild Awards:

Creating The Actor®

Watch the SAG Awards "live", February 26, 2023 on the Netflix YouTube channel.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Friday, February 24, 2023

Don Cheadle: Actor, Writer, Producer, Director

Don Cheadle is an A-list presenter for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, February 26, 2023.

He has been nominated for 117 awards, and won 38. 

Here are a few of Don's wins: Two Grammys, a Critics Choice, an LFACA, a Tony, a BET, two Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and he shares a Summit Peace Award with George Clooney.

"Crash" (2004), a movie in which he starred and co-produced, won an Academy Award.

Watch the SAG Awards "live" on the Netflix YouTube channel. 

Photograph © 2016 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#SAGAwards 

Bobby McGee: Camera Department

Bobby, wearing the orange shirt.

Photograph © 2008 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@MistiBoland (#WomenYouShouldKnow): Production Designer

@JeremyOsbern: Cinematographer 

Eric Caughey (standing): Assistant Camera 

#MakingMovies 

 

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Movie Theatre

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Brandy Burre

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Brandy Burre portrayed Theresa D'Agostino, the Washington, DC-based attorney and political consultant, in the popular HBO series, "The Wire."

She has a number of theatrical, television, and movie credits. I last saw Brandy when she starred on, "Bull" (CBS).

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#CelebratingWomen 


Wednesday, February 22, 2023

The Array

During one of my Plaza Art Fair years, a gentleman spent an extended amount of time perusing my photographs. 

He complimented me on how creative they were, and promised to send his Creative Director to see them.

It was Bob Bernstein, Bernstein-Rein Advertising.

Bob created the McDonald's Happy Meal in 1979, along with a multitude of additional worthwhile ideas. 

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#PlazaArtFair

 

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Bret Bourquin, Musician

 


Bret, performing with Big Time Grain Co.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@BretBourquin

@BigTimeGrainCo

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Percussion

 

This active cymbal was just struck by drummer Andrew Moore, performing with Perpetual Change.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.


Friday, February 17, 2023

T.J. Fletcher, Musician

T.J., performing with Summer Breeze: A Tribute to Yacht Rock.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@summerbreezekc  

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Lindsay Runnels, J.D.

#WomenYouShouldKnow  #News 

Attorney Lindsay Runnels, and a team of attorneys, investigators, and paralegals spent 10 years working to free Lamar Johnson from prison.

On Tuesday, February 14, 2023, a St. Louis Circuit Court judge vacated Mr. Johnson's murder conviction, and released him.

He spent 28 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

#CelebratingWomen

#WrongfullyConvicted

#HistoricLegalCase

#MidwestInnocenceProject 

@the.mip

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Wes Faulconer, Musician

Wes, performing with Elton Dan and the Rocket Band.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@wesfaulconer

@elton_dan  

Monday, February 13, 2023

Lodell Parks, Musician

Lodell, performing with JAM: Jackson And Mars.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

@vaiprodigy

@jacksonandmars  

The COVID-19 Era

My story and photograph from February 13, 2021:

"Customers of this supermarket were met at the entrance by friendly employees, and polite law enforcement, asking them to wear masks while shopping.

A group scheduled an event here for this morning, where they would purposely not wear masks while in the store."

Photograph © 2021 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#News 

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Kian Byrne, Musician

Kian, performing with The Elders.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@kianqbyrne

@theelderskc

Head Chiefs

Former Kansas City Chiefs General Manager, President, and CEO Carl Peterson, and former Head Coach Dick Vermeil exchanging opinions. 

Photograph © 2009 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Friday, February 10, 2023

Chair

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Eddie Kennison

Eddie was wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, 2001 - 2007. 

Photograph © 2009 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.


Thursday, February 9, 2023

Rings

The Super Bowl ring on the left belongs to Dick Vermeil, Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach, 2001 - 2005.

The ring on the right belongs to Mr. "Gotta Go To Work" Billy Long, Kansas City Chiefs Strength and Conditioning Coach, 2001 - 2006.

Photograph © 2009 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Dr. Paul Jones, Author

My friend, Dr. Paul Jones, has written a book.

He took an entire year off from his dental practice, and with his family sailed from Florida to Trinidad, visiting most of the islands in the Caribbean Sea.

Using the journals he recorded while sailing, Paul composed the book, and included memories of growing up on a Kansas farm dreaming of oceans.

Here is a link to his book: Paul Jones

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.



 

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

AMC Theatres

This Friday, AMC Theatres new, "Sightline at AMC", will go live in Kansas City, New York City, and Chicago.

Ticket prices will be based on the location of your seat within the auditorium. 

The tiers are Value Sightline, Standard Sightline, and Preferred Sightline.

By the end of 2023, all U.S. AMC locations will adopt the new system.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@AMCTheatres 

Trent Green



Quarterback Trent Green played for the Kansas City Chiefs, 2001-2006.

Photograph © 2010 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

Monday, February 6, 2023

Kim Howard Osborne, Vocalist

#WomenYouShouldKnow 

Kim, performing with GDD Band.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@KimOsborne0606 

#CelebratingWomen

Sunday, February 5, 2023

News

 


Photograph © 2016 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Ulysses Lee Gooch

#BlackHistory #AmericanHistory

This movie trailer shows an insightful biography about a Black youngster growing up in the 1920's South, who realized the importance of hard work and education.

He grew to become a businessman, aviator, and state Senator.

https://www.facebook.com/100064043707574/videos/408248426124

The runtime of the movie is 88 minutes.

Photograph © Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.


Saturday, February 4, 2023

Jim Erwin, Musician

 


Jim, performing with The Suburbans.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@suburbanskc

Print Model

Not long after I made this photograph, the models mother told me the dog had died, and asked if I could crop out her daughter and retain the dog.

I prefer it this way.

Photograph © Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

Friday, February 3, 2023

Adam Stuber, Musician

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@AdamStuberMusic  

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Colin Ridge, Musician

Colin, performing with Big Time Grain Company.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@ridgetastic

@bigtimegrainco 

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Nick Nave, Musician

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@NickNaveMusic