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From: overlord@nmtvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.games.trivia
Subject: Re: Who is Petrillo?
Message-ID: <916@nmtvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 26-Dec-85 14:09:27 EST
Article-I.D.: nmtvax.916
Posted: Thu Dec 26 14:09:27 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Dec-85 04:33:16 EST
References: <415@tekig4.UUCP> <>
Reply-To: overlord@nmtvax.UUCP (Alan Kerr)
Organization: New Mexico Tech, Socorro
Lines: 32


>>>Dumb question:  Who was watching Bugs back then that would know that?

>>I speculate that Mr. Petrillo must have made national news prior to the
>>cartoon in question; thus his name was still on the public's mind.

>As one who is old enough to remember the era in question, I can testify that
>your speculation is very accurate.  Petrillo got about the same amount of
>continuing press and radio coverage as the president.  Even 10 year old
>children knew who he was.

   On Christmas Eve, the movie "The Bells of St. Mary" was aired and in it
Father O'Malley was questioned on how he found a piano-player husband that
hadn't been seen in about 10 years or so and the Father replied:
     Once a piano player, always a piano player.  So I contacted
     the Union......and went straight to the top, Petrillo!

     Another thing to remember:  Can you tell me (off the top of your head),
the name of the commissoner of the NHL?  How about the NBA?  You can't!
Well, if there was a strike do you think his name would be known then?  Back
then you when to movies houses or to the theater for a live play.  Today,
(most) people sit home and watch TV:-(  (or cable if they're ambitious ).
And yes, even 10 year olds knew who Petrillo was.  He had command of all
of music back then.  There really isn't a modern analogy to him.  Maybe
Ted Turner and his Superstation but even that analogy fall flat.

                                              Alan Kerr
                                              New Mexico Tech

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