NCIS (Season 6, Episode 11: "Silent Night," Original Air Date December 16, 2008)

My colleague Martina S. was so excited when she came to work today because she was dying to tell me about a reference to Scranton on last night's NCIS (Navy Criminal Investigative Service. The CBS series stars Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly as leaders of a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

Last night, December 16th, NCIS aired its 11th episode of its current season (Season 6). Titled Silent Night, the NCIS teams is stuck working on a case over Christmas involving a crime suspect who is presumed dead.

In the episode, the team finds an unusual clue--a shirt button that they trace back to a button company in Scranton, PA.

To watch the complete Silent Night episode of NCIS, click here.

Mondo thanks to the sharp-eared Martina S. for this reference.

Kitty Foyle (1940)

Don McKeon, who has contributed many wonderful Scranton and Wilkes-Barre references to the blog, emailed me yesterday with a reference to the Pocono Mountains in the classic 1940 film Kitty Foyle, starring Ginger Rogers and Dennis Morgan:

"Hi Bill,
I'm not sure if I wrote this item in or maybe you have it already, but I was watching an old Ginger Rogers film the other night called Kitty Foyle and the Pocono Mountains are mentioned. This film was made in or around 1940 and I believe Ginger Rogers won an Academy Award for her performance (for Best Actress in a Leading Role).

The story originates in Philadelphia, where Kitty envies the "Main Line" way of life in comparison to her own. She falls in love with a Main Liner and eventually marries him, but the gap between their societal upbringing dooms the marriage.

Long story short, Kitty flees to New York and meets a doctor who falls in love with her. She agrees to marry him; but when her former husband comes back into her life, she faces the ultimate choice......................I won't spoil the ending.

Disregard this if you already are aware of of the film.
Merry Christmas.
Don"

Including Ginger Roger's Best Actress win, Kitty Foyle received a total of five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director (Sam Wood, who also directed 1935's A Night at the Opera with Old Forge and Scranton native Allan Jones), and Best Screenplay (Dalton Trumbo, who also went on to write Roman Holiday, Spartacus and Exodus).

Though the Lackawanna County Library System does not have the film in our collection, Kitty Foyle is available to purchase on DVD.

And a big thanks again to Don McKeon for not only this contribution, but for all of the references he gave me that I would otherwise be unaware of. You're the best, Don!

Rolling Stone (Issue 1067, December 11, 2008)

There is a brief reference to Wilkes-Barre in this week's issue of the recently-resized Rolling Stone. Issue 1067, the one with Britney Spears on the cover, is also the 2008 Hot Issue, detailing all the musicians and actors that hit it big in the last 12 months.

Included in the Hot Issue (page 69) is the band The Answer, a new band that is presently on tour with AC/DC as the legendary band's opening act.

"When the Irish foursome step on board (their tour bus)--right after finishing an opening set for AC/DC in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania--the time warp continues."

AC/DC kicked off their current Black Ice World Tour at Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Click here to read the full article.

The History of the Snowman by Bob Eckstein (2007) Also Contains A Scranton Reference

I just finished reading Bob Eckenstein's The History of the Snowman and I absolutely loved it. What a clever book that was so much fun to read. Yes, I was nicely surprised that Mr. Eckstein is a native of Hawley, PA, but I was also pleasantly surprised when I got to page 153 of the book and saw an illustration with a reference to Scranton.

In a side blurb to the text titled "What's in the Snowman's Future?" Eckstein ponders why the snowman has not become the symbol or mascot for a major sports team. And in a collection of four potential logos of snowman-inspired sports teams,Eckstein suggests the following names: Spokane Snowmen, Philadelphia Frosties, Schuylkill Chill, and (my personal favorite, of course), Scranton Snowball Heads.

A nice local touch to an incredibly groovy piece of literature.

And don't forget that Bob Eckstein will be presenting at Albright Memorial Library on Thursday, January 8th from 6-8 PM. For more information on this event, click here.

Bob Eckstein, Hawley Native and Author of "History of the Snowman," At Albright Memorial Library Thursday, January 8th, 6-8 PM

Albright Memorial Library

Proudly Presents

Bob Eckstein

Hawley Native and

Author of

"History of the Snowman"

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

6 PM - 8 PM

Periodicals Room

Reference Department

(Note: This event is NOT handicapped accessible)

Albright Memorial Library proudly welcomes Hawley native Bob Eckstein, author of the hysterically funny and entertainingly informative bestseller "History of the Snowman." He will be conducting a 30 minute multimedia presentation on the history of snowmen, as well as decorating the library display cases with snowmen.

Special Guest WNEP's Mike Stevens will also be on hand to co-judge a snowman competition.

This program is FREE with your Lackawanna County Library Card, but space is limited.

To register, please call (570) 348-3000, ext. 3043.

www.historyofthesnowman.com

Three Opportunities to Catch 1940's Christmas-Themed "Remember The Night" on TCM in December

Turner Classic Movies will be showing the rare 1940 Christmas movie Remember The Night three times throughout the month of December.

Remember the Night stars Fred MacMurray as an assistant DA who takes shoplifter Barbara Stanwyck (whom he is prosecuting) home with him for Christmas. The film also features a fleeting reference to the city of Scranton towards the end.

Remember the Night will be shown on TCM on the following dates:

Saturday, December 13th @ 6 PM

Wednesday, December 24th @ 11:15 PM

Thursday, December 25th @ 6:15 AM

Click here for the previous blog entry on Remember the Night that details the reference to Scranton in the picture.

Remember the Night is long out-of-print on VHS and has never been released on DVD. I saw it last year and absolutely loved it, so I highly recommend it--especially to those who are all It's-A-Wonderful-Lifed out.