Obit: Alistair Cooke dies (30-Mar-2004)

Subject: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Jim McCallan
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 06:30 AM

The end of an institution

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Jim McCallan
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 06:33 AM

... probably should be in BS ...

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: GUEST,Keith A o Hertford
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 07:00 AM

Already miss his letters. Short retirement. BS not his style!

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 07:52 AM

I feel as though a lump of my life has disappeared As a confirmed radio listener, who even has the radio on all night, I seem to have been listening to this man's thoughtfull pieces for ever. He has done more for US/UK good relations, than Lend-Lease. A real gentleman has died with Alistair Cooke's passing, and a very bright light has been extinguished.
I shall miss him.
John

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Callie
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 08:51 AM

I miss his weekly radio spots. There's no one like him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: mooman
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 08:53 AM

Like John I regret his passing greatly although he had a wonderful innings at 95. His Letter from America was a highlight for both of us, with a nice cup of tea, at the weekends.

A wonderful, insightful gentleman and may he R.I.P.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Midchuck
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 08:56 AM

This may not belong in BS.

Correct me if I'm wrong as usual, but I understood that John Cooke - originally lead singer and guitarist for the Charles River Valley Boys, in Boston in the '60s; later road manager for Janis Joplin, now living in Jackson Hole, writing novels and playing with the Legendary Stagecoach Band at the Stagecoach Bar in Wilson - was his son.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: el ted
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 08:57 AM

Hubert Gregg has just gone as well!

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 09:32 AM

I have also listened to his Letter from America for years, & last year found a book of his early pieces in my local library. And that was a treasure.

sandra

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: alanabit
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 09:36 AM

Anot

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: alanabit
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 09:39 AM

Excuse me - I am trying to type with my left arm in a cast.
It's farewell to another benign and erudite old gentleman. Is it a coincidence that his death happened so soon after that of Peter Ustinov? I'd like to eavesdrop on them swapping tales over a gin in the upstairs bar.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 10:45 AM

The BBC programing that is broadcast here in the US on Public Radio has been replaying some of his early pieces in recent weeks. I heard an amazing one last week about the kidnapping of a premature baby. The BBC programing comes on late here, and I often times hear it when I'm in my evening shower (over the little shower radio). Such was the case last week--my water bill may be higher when Alistair is on. It occurred to me that he was a high-brow version of America's own Paul Harvey (without Harvey's self-importance).

I loved his commentary on Masterpiece Theater. And he was old when he was doing that--what a good run this commentator had!

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Schantieman
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 10:58 AM

As another confirmed Radio 4 addict I shall miss - was already starting to miss - his weekly commentaries. And I've only listened to the last thiry years or so!

Steve

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Flash Company
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 11:01 AM

I had just read of Alistair's death in the Mancester Evening News before I switched on my computer. No el-ted tells me Hubert Gregg too, Also Ustinov over the weekend.
Suddenly as all your heroes start to die, you feel incredibly old.
All three will be sadly missed

FC

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: GMT
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 11:24 AM

It seems I've been listening to that voice forever. Hang on tho' maybe now we'll get the true story of what happens when we go.

Rest in peace Alistair and Peter too.

Gary

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: C-flat
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 12:35 PM

I'm listening to his voice as I type. Something very statesman-like about the man and, after so many years of listening to him, something comforting about him too.
What a miss he'll be. One of those characters you would love to have to dinner just to listen to him talk.
Now there's a thought..........Cooke and Ustinov at the dinner table!
C-flat.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 12:40 PM

Diane Rehm said some months back when she was being interviewed locally that Cooke declined an invitation to be on her radio program. He was at the very top of her list of people she would love to interview. It would have been marvelous!

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 12:51 PM

in the early days of US TV, he had a great show called Omnibus - everything from jazz to history to opera, etc. It probably was replaced by NFL football. Just shows that narrow-mindedness of US TV programmers who rush to see who can find the next lower level.
A good man gone, Chris in Wheaton

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Folkiedave
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 03:13 PM

There was a great piece about him by Nick Clarke who did his biography, a "Letter From The Listeners".....which told how he could be a bit of a curmudgeon (this was well known) but went on to reveal his unfailing generosity when he got over that bit.

He was a hero to many including me. The pictures he conjured up in my mind went on for ever. The tiny extract speech he made to Congress (probably the only journalist ever to do so) brought tears to my eye..I suppose it is the affection he was held by so many.......there is no single broadcaster who has crossed the Atlantic in such a way..
I could go on..........

Dave

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: smuggler
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 04:06 PM

I agree with Dave. My childhood (or adlolescence) was frequently excited by the rich language, the unfailingly logical progression of his story which he told in images which beat, hands down, the television pictures of the time. He asked questions you wanted to ask of the powerful but didn't know how. Much humour, razor precision and a voice which kept you transfixed. I guess I could repeat that for Peter Ustinov too. A sad week but many good memories.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Gareth
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 06:22 PM

He will be missed.

Hmmm ! Will we now get a letter from Heaven - For that is where he must be bound for.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Don Firth
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 09:11 PM

My main acquaintance with Alistair Cooke was as he sat there in his easy chair and introduced episodes of Masterpiece Theatre. Sophisticated, urbane, and seemingly omniscient without being at all pompous, he had a marvelous knack for explaining the English to Americans and Americans to the English. Then, in his television series, The Americans, he did an excellent job of explaining Americans to Americans (not an easy task!). Since then, I've read about everything I can get my hands on that he has written. I was not aware of his "Letters from America," but I just went googling and found out where I can read at least some of them.

For some years now, Russell Baker has filled Cooke's chair in introducing Masterpiece Theatre and has done an excellent job of it. But no one, of course, could ever replace Alistair Cooke.

I have often thought that it would be nice to have someone like Alistair Cooke living next door. When the world became too puzzling and the behavior of your fellow humans became totally inexplicable, you could go next door and visit him. Then, he would put aside the book he was reading when you interrupted him, and sitting there in his chair, he would quietly and patiently explain the unfathomable to you and make the world seem a little less insane—or, at least, a bit more understandable.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 09:55 PM

Very well said, Don. I agree.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: GUEST,Jim McCallan
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 08:14 AM

As an avid R4 and World Service listener down through the years, I always looked forward to Alistair's 'Letter', commenting on the issues of the day, or just relaying some anecdote from his week.
There are re-runs of some of his more celebrated letters at the minute, and I could well live my life out listening to previously un-heard letters. Whether the BBC will continue to do this is another matter, though.

My second post was definitely not intended to suggest the subject of Alistair Cooke's passing was BS...., just that I imagined this thread would probably be more suited 'below the line'.

I didn't always see things the way he did; didn't mean, however that I hadn't the greatest respect for the man.

Indeed with all the recent passings, it gives one pause to comtemplate one's own mortality.

Jim

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: vectis
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 04:21 PM

I've spent my life listening to his Letters From America, it's as if an important chunk of my formative years has gone.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 09:08 PM

Yes, Omnibus was where it all started, at least in the US. That and Masterpiece Theater are pleasant memories, due in large part to Mr. Cooke.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 12:44 AM

The end of an era , like many others [John Giok Mcanzie etc], i keep the radio on all night, Letter from America was as much a part of BBC Radio 4 as The Arhcers, his show was going for almost 60 years, nobody will ever beat that, I always looked forward to hearing letter from america, radio 4 will not be the same without him.

rest easy alistair.john

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 10:48 PM

theres a tribute to him, on the BBC World Service now.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: GUEST,Hampton Fuller
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 12:33 PM

Why do all the good people have to die?
Sir Alistair was my main hero in life after Jesus Christ; I always wanted and still do wanted to follow his footsteps and introduce Masterpiece Theatre on the United States only commerical free television station.
God Bless you Sir Alistair Cooke; you shall be blessed

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Strick
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 10:42 AM

"I have also listened to his Letter from America for years, & last year found a book of his early pieces in my local library."

I have the collection of pieces in which he tries to explain Watergate to the British people. That's an eye opener both for why they didn't understand and how he explains it.

In my family we have a simple tag line that demonstrates his impact on our culture: "Hel-looo, I'm Alistar Cookie!" My wife named a cat Alistar in his honor.

Farewell to a kind, soft spoken artist with words.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 12:28 PM

BBC4 are showing a 1 hour tribute to him tonight, at 8.30pm and repeated at 1.30 am.
N.B, this is BBC4 TV not BBC Radio 4, [its the new digital channel, you need a digital decoder to see it, there about £50 from currys dixons, argos etc]

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 04:43 AM

C-Flat & smuggler,
                   Regarding Peter Ustinov, the columnist Stephen Pollard has done a piece on him in "The Sunday Telegraph", dated 4/4/04. It presents another side of the man which is worth reading and perhaps gives an overall balanced view. I make no judgement since I only enjoyed what I saw on screen and radio.

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 05:52 PM

Hello,

Does anyone know the titles of the music recordings used in Alistair Cooke's "America" TV series? Can anyone provide a URL link about the music used in this series?

I appreciate for these answers.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Obit: Alistair Cooke dies (30-Mar-2004)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 03:36 PM

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet:

"Cooke was a talented jazz pianist. In 1953 he made a record, 'An Evening with Alistair Cooke.' [CBS AML 4970]" --The Telegraph.

On the day his death was announced, Minnesota Public Radio, played a cut from this album, in which he plays and sings "Basin Street Blues."