November 2013 Program

In 2013 The American Dream Starts @ The Southeast Steuben County Library!

The library is offering a variety of programs and resources for Adult Learners of

English. This program is made possible courtesy of a grant awarded by the American Library Association and The Dollar General Foundation.

This is a handout for our November 2013 American Dream program focusing on American history and popular culture items to assist patrons in learning

more about America.

Southeast Steuben County Library Corning, NY 14830 Tel: 607-936-3713

Website: SSCLIBRARY.ORG

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American/English Language History & Popular Culture Section:

Events That Occurred In American History During The Month of November:

November 6: In 1967 The Phil Donahue Show Premiered

November 6: In 1946 Actress Sally Field Was Born

November 9: In 1934 Astronomer Carl Sagan Was Born

November 11: In 1938 The American Standard “God Bless America” Was First Performed

November 11: In 1922 The Great American Author Kurt Vonnegut Was Born

November 14: In 1900 The Great American Composer Aaron Copland Was Born

November 17: In 1944 The Actor Danny DeVito Was Born

November 19: In 1863 Lincoln Gave His Famous Gettysburg Address

November 22: In 1963 President John F. Kennedy Was Assassinated

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On This Day In American History: November 6:

In 1967 The Phil Donahue Show Premiered

(Page 1 of 2 on Phil Donahue)

The Phil Donahue show made its debut live on TV from Dayton, Ohio on November 6, 1967. The Phil Donahue Show was the first talk show that included audience

participation in the interaction between the show host, Phil Donahue, the guest or guests of the day and the audience.

Phil Donahue focused each of his shows around a single theme – sometimes a new social trend and other times a hot topic was picked as the topic for discussion of the day. For example, the first guest on the very first Phil Donahue Show was an atheist

activist named Madalyn Murray O’Hair.

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On This Day In American History: November 6: In 1967 The Phil Donahue Show Premiered

(Page 2 of 2 on Phil Donahue)

The Phil Donahue Show began being broadcast nationally in 1970 and can be seen as the Oprah Winfrey Show of its day. The show earned 19 Emmy Awards over its 29 year run and

the last show was broadcast in 1996.

Here’s a link to an overview of Phil Donahue’s career found on the Bill Moyers website: http://billmoyers.com/guest/phil-donahue/

And here’s a link to a YouTube video clip that features Donahue interviewing the great American actress Lucy Ball as she discusses her starring role in the 1974 film version of

“Mame”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j8GxL9Zt5c

On This Day In American History: November 6

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sally_Field_Don_Porter_Gidget_1965.JPG http://www.purpleclover.com/relationships/115-12-things-you-should-know-about-me/ http://www.altfg.com/blog/movie/irving-ravetch-screenwriter-hud-norma-rae-murphys-romance/

Actress Sally Field was born on November 6, 1946 in Pasadena, California.

Field began acting in high school, began acting professionally in the 1960s and has become a well-known American actress by way of her many television and film roles. She made her television debut playing the perky title character “Gidget” in the 1965 youth/surfing comedy series of the same name,

then appeared in the equally popular TV series “The Flying Nun” as, “Sister Bertrille,” the Flying Nun of the title; Field went on to appear in popular films in the 1970s and 1980s including “Sybill,” “Norma

Rae” for which she won an Oscar, “Places in the Heart” for which she won a second Oscar, “Murphy’s Romance,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” and “Forest Gump.”

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Gidget

The Flying Nun

Norma Rae

More recently Field has co-starred in the TV series “Brothers and Sisters (2006-2011)” as Nora the mother of the Walker siblings named in the title of the series and as Mary Todd Lincoln in the 2012

Steven Spielberg film “Lincoln.”

Here’s a clip to a YouTube clip of the opening scene of the series Gidget which shows Sally Field at her early career perky best:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj3CWACel4c

And here’s a second link to a short clip that shows both Field talking about her role as the first “First Lady” Mary Todd Lincoln and Field as she appears as Mary Todd Lincoln in a scene from the film

Lincoln:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i504LdoWV-g

http://www.businessinsider.com/sally-field-gained-25-pounds-for-lincoln-2013-1

http://ticketstubthis.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/brotherssister/

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The Cast of Brothers & Sisters w. Field in the center of the

photo

Field as Mary Todd

Lincoln

On This Day In American History: November 9 (Page 1 of 2 on Carl Sagan)

Astronomer & Educator Carl Sagan was born on November 9, 1934 .

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/07/11/carl-sagan-reading-list/

Sagan’s New York Times obituary aptly sums up his impact on American society over the last 40 years – it states : “Carl Sagan, an astronomer who became one of the nation's best-known

scientists by enthusiastically conveying the wonders of the universe to millions of people on television and in books,” and that statement is right on the proverbial money!

Sagan, who was a David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and did work with N.A.S.A., very enthusiastically encouraged people of all

ages to study science by promoting how interesting the subject in books and on television.

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Carl Sagan

On This Day In American History: November 9 (Page 2 of 2 on Carl Sagan)

Sagan made more than two dozen appearances on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, wrote best-selling books

that focus on science including “Contact,” “The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark,” “Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space,” “Billions & Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the

Millennium” and “Cosmos” the companion book to the exceptionally popular 1980 PBS astronomy series of the same name.

Carl Sagan died in 1996.

http://wifflegif.com/tags/19397-carl-sagan-s-cosmos-gifs http://oceanhell.deviantart.com/art/Carl-Sagan-Cosmos-Wallpaper-212902550

Here’s a link to Carl Sagan’s New York Times obituary which offers a nice overview of his life and work:

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1109.html

And a link to a YouTube clip taken from the science series “Cosmos” which you can check out on DVD at the library:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLkC7ralR30

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Carl Sagan in a scene from the Cosmos TV series

Carl Sagan

On This Day In American History: November 11 In 1938 The American Standard “God Bless America” Was First Performed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1rKQReqJZg http://www.last.fm/music/Irving+Berlin

The song “God Bless America” was written by the famous American songwriter Irving Berlin.

Berlin wrote the original lyrics in 1918, completed the song in 1938, it was recorded by Kate Smith, a popular singing star of the 1930s, she debuted the song on American radio on Armistice Day in 1938. The song was an instant hit

and became very popular during the 1940s and 1950s as it was frequently played on radio in the pre-TV era.

The song has since become a sort of un-official national anthem in the United States and is one of Irving Berlin’s best known songs and it became singer Kate Smith’s signature song.

Irving Berlin wrote many other American standard songs during his career including “White Christmas” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” Cheek to Cheek,” “Let’s Face the Music and Dance,” There’s No Business like Show Business,” “Easter

Parade” and many more!

Here’s a link to a YouTube clip of that actual very first radio broadcast from 1938!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1rKQReqJZg

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Kate Smith

Irving Berlin

Kate Smith

On This Day In American History: November 11 On November 11, 1922 The Great American Author Kurt Vonnegut Was Born.

Vonnegut was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and had a darkly satirical writing style and is seen as one of the most prominent American writers of the 20th Century.

Some of Kurt Vonnegut’s most popular and critically acclaimed works include:

“Slaughterhouse-Five” which features protagonist Billy Pilgrim being abducted by aliens, traveling through time

and witnessing at first hand the destruction of the German city of Dresden when it was bombed by Allied forces during World War II (something the author, a prisoner of war at the time witnessed first-hand);

“Cat’s Cradle” another fantastical fiction novel which focuses on the end of the world;

“Breakfast of Champions” which tells the tale of two old men one of whom believes that everyone he

encounters is a robot;

And “God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater” which offers the story of a foolish man who encounters a lawyer who then works on parting the man from his money.

Kurt Vonnegut died in 2007. You can check out Kurt Vonnegut’s books, or the DVDs made based upon his

books, at the library.

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On This Day In American History: November 14 (Page 1 of 2 on Copland)

In 1900 the great American composer Aaron Copland Was Born:

Copland was born on November 14, 1900 in Brooklyn, New York. Copland learned to play the piano as a child and at age 20 moved to France to study European classical music at the Summer School of Music for American Students in Fountainebleau, France. Copland began composing professionally in his twenties and by the 1930s he was composing symphonic works for ballet and film. His film scores of that era include “Our Town” from 1940, “Of

Mice and Men” from 1939 and “The Heiress” from 1949 for which he received an Academy Award for best film score.

And his classical works include “Agnes DeMille’s Rodeao” from 1942, “Appalachian Spring” from 1944, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize, “A Lincoln Portrait” also from 1942 and the

short but majestic and unforgettable “Fanfare for the Common Man” also from 1942.

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On This Day In American History: November 14 (Page 2 of 2 on Copland)

Here’s a link to a short PBS biography of Aaron Copland:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/aaron-copland/about-the-composer/475/

And a link to an NPR Music page that offers more information on Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and a link to clip of the song:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5158688

Here’s a link Copland’s very popular song “Hoe-Down” which has been used in TV shows, commercials and films many times over the years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ajQYANLiug

And a final link to a YouTube clip of the full 25 minutes of Copland’s “Appalachian Spring:”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4E1JYP5Tgc

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On This Day In American History: November 17 (Page 1 of 2 on DeVito) In 1944 The Actor Danny DeVito Was Born

tvlistings.zap2it.com http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3924461312/tt0073486

Danny DeVito studied acting as a youth and did stage work early in his career appearing on Broadway in the play “One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest.” In 1976, DeVito first came to the attention of mainstream America by appearing as Martini, one of the patients in a mental institution, in the very popular film version of “One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest.” And in

1978 DeVito won the role that made him a household name in the United States, that of a continually grouchy taxi dispatcher in the comedy Taxi.

Taxi was on the air for five years, from 1978-1983, and after it went off the air DeVito moved

into films appearing in a number of hit films including: “Terms of Endearment,” “Twins,” “Ruthless People,” “Batman Returns” “The War of the Roses” and “L.A. Confidential.”

DeVito in Taxi DeVito in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest

On This Day In American History: November 17 (Page 2 of 2 on DeVito)

http://thelowdownunder.com/2012/09/28/new-promo-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-danny-devito-haley-joel-osment/

DeVito continues to act today and has recently appeared in the television series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” which chronicles the misadventures of a group of friends who run a bar in Philadelphia;

the cast of the show is seen in the photo on this page with DeVito front and center.

Here’s a link to a YouTube clip of DeVito as he appeared in Taxi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOfql6Uj7C8

And here’s a link to a YouTube clip of a variety of scenes from the show It’s Always Sunny in

Philadelphia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H8snOA5p7E

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On This Day In American History: November 19:

In 1863 President Lincoln Gave His Famous Gettysburg Address

President Lincoln spoke at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Virginia, the site of one of the most famous battles of the American Civil War – “The Battle of Gettysburg” which was fought in the July of 1863

and caused more than 50,000 casualties.

And the speech President Lincoln gave that day is one of his most famous speeches. Here’s the text of the speech:

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that "all men are created equal." Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety do. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow, this ground-- The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here. It is rather for us, the living, to stand here, we here be dedica-ted to the great task remaining before us -- that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Abraham Lincoln, Draft of the Gettysburg Address: Nicolay Copy. Transcribed and annotated by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois. Available at Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division (Washington, D.C.: American Memory Project, [2000-02]),” http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/malhome.html.

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Here's a link to a YouTube clip from Ken Burn's The Civil War series that features a reading of the Gettysburg Address:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCXUbQ4JjXI

Seen at right is one of Lincoln’s handwritten copies of the Gettysburg Address which is in the Library of Congress. And below is photo of President Lincoln – both photos are from the following Library of Congress webpage: http://myloc.gov/Exhibitions/gettysburgaddress/Pages/default.aspx

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On This Day In American History: November 22: (Page 1 of 2 on President Kennedy) In 1963 President John F. Kennedy Was Assassinated.

In 1960 John Fitzgerald Kennedy was elected the thirty fifth President of the United States.

Kennedy was young, idealistic and charismatic and reflected the optimism of the early sixties when there was a feeling that a new era was dawning for America.

President Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 29, 1917.

Kennedy grew up in a large family, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a congressman

and senator before he became president.

President Kennedy was only in office for about 1,000 days and was known for his determination to improve the civil rights of all and his determination to have the Soviet Union remove the nuclear

missiles they installed in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnfkennedy

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On This Day In American History: November 22: (Page 1 of 2 on President Kennedy)

On November 22, 1963 President and Mrs. Kennedy were riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas when Lee Harvey Oswald, who was standing on top of the Dallas Depository Building shot the President. President Kennedy was taken to a local hospital where he was declared dead 30 minutes later and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was then sworn in as the 36th

President of the United States.

Here’s a link to a White House website biography of President Kennedy: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnfkennedy

And here’s a photo of Lyndon Johnson being sworn in as president. He is flanked by his wife

on his right and President Kennedy’s widow, Jackie, on his left:

http://www.lbjlibrary.org/press/lbj-in-the-news/lbjs-initial-inauguration-was-in-stark-contrast-to-recent-ceremonies

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Bruce Springsteen

Music Section:

Bonnie Raitt was born November 8, 1949 and is know for her blues based rock n’ roll.

Here’s a link to Bonnie Raitt playing the song “Pride & Joy” on stage during a concert

to honor the memory of the great American guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mylo0piAgc

Tina Tuner Was Born on November 26, 1938 and is known for her classic rock style which is steeped in rock, rhythm and blues roots

Here’s a link to Tina Turner early in her career singing her hit song “Proud Mary”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD7hC-zyTv4

Chuck Mangione was Born November 29, 1940 and is known for his mellow Jazz style of trumpet playing.

Here’s a link to Chuck Mangione playing his hit song “Feel So Good”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5NwBX5DyL0

Bonnie Raitt http://www.mtv.com/artists/bonnie-raitt/

Tina Turner http://www.biography.com/people/tina-turner-9512276

http://www.last.fm/music/Chuck+Mangione

Chuck Mangione

Tech Section: Upcoming Programs: Page 1 of 2

Listing of upcoming digital literacy programs at the library for the month of December:

Pinterest: Join hostess Jenn for a program based upon recipes and DIY projects found on the fun social networking/personal interest website – Pinterest! Each program offers a delicious recipe which we

then use to create the delicious dish of the day and a home decorating craft. Program Date/Time: Tuesday, December 3, 2013; 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

iPad Workshop: This workshop offers new iPad owners an overview of how to use the iPad; and

includes a discussion of useful suggested apps in categories that iPad owners might enjoy. The iPad app categories discussed include: News, Entertainment, Sports, Cooking, Games, Books, Weather and

more! Program Date/Time: Wednesday, December 11, 2013; 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Try It Before You Buy It!: This program offers holiday shoppers the opportunity to come to the library

and compare a variety of e-readers, tablets, Windows and Mac laptops and see how they work and thus determine which device they prefer to purchase as a holiday gift before purchasing a tech gift!

Members of the library’s tech team will be on hand to answer any questions! Program Date/Time: December 14, 2013; 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Digital Literacy*: This informal program offers patrons a chance to try out a variety of tablets (including

the iPad and Google Nexus 7), e-readers, Windows 8 touch screen laptops and Macs in a relaxed setting and either ask questions about how to use those tech device or simply sit down and try one or

more of them out! Program Date/Time: Wednesday, December 18, 2013; 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

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Tech Section: Upcoming Programs: Page 2 of 2

Pinterest: Join hostess Jenn for a program based upon recipes and DIY projects found on the fun social networking/personal interest website – Pinterest! Each program offers a delicious recipe

which we then use to create the delicious dish of the day and a home decorating craft. Program Date/Time: Wednesday, December 18, 2013; 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

American Dream Program*: This program offers a fun presentation spotlighting historical and popular culture events that occurred during the month of the program. This program is intended for Adult Learners of English and anyone else who likes American history & pop culture history.

Program Date/Time: Thursday, December 19, 2013; 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Registration is required for library programs (just so we know how many people to set up for!). To register call the library at (607) 936-3713 or send an email to REIMERL@STLS.ORG

The library is handicapped accessible. If you require special accommodations contact us in advance of your visit. *This program is made possible by a grant awarded the library by the American Library

Association and Dollar General Foundation.

accommodations, please call us in advance: (607) 936-3713.

You can also make a free One-On-One appointment with a member of our tech team! We’ll assist you in learning how to use a new computer, e-reader, tablet or other tech device you

own (this includes learning how to use new software and create resumes)!

Just call the Reference & Technology Desk at 607-936-3713 extension 502 to make an appointment!

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References (page 1 of 3)

#35 John F. Kennedy (1960-1963). White House. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013, http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnfkennedy

About Kurt Vonnegut. Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013,

http://www.vonnegutlibrary.org/about/

Biography: Irving Berlin. All Music. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013, http://www.allmusic.com/artist/irving-berlin-mn0000103748/biography

Chase’s Calendar of Events 2013. New York. McGraw-Hill. 2013.

Civil War Series: The Battle of Gettysburg. National Parks Service. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013, http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/civil_war_series/16/sec1.htm

Danny DeVito. Biography Channel. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/danny-devito-9542289

Dicke, William. (1996, December 21). Carl Sagan, an Astronomer Who Excelled at Popularizing Science, Is Dead at 62. New York Times. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013,

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1109.html

John F. Kennedy Assassinated. History. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013,

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-f-kennedy-assassinated

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References (page 2 of 3)

Kurt Vonnegut. Biography. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/kurt-vonnegut-9520329

Kurt Vonnegut: Novels & Stories 1963-1973: Cat's Cradle / God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater / Slaughterhouse-Five / Breakfast of Champions / Stories (Library of America, No. 216). Amazon. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013,

http://goo.gl/fTuQs8

NPR Staff. (2013, September 2). From Peace To Patriotism: The Shifting Identity Of 'God Bless America.' NPR Music. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013, http://www.npr.org/2013/09/02/216877219/from-peace-to-

patriotism-the-shifting-identity-of-god-bless-america

Phil Donahue. Biography. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/phil-donahue-9542194

Phil Donahue: Journalist. Moyers & Company. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013

http://billmoyers.com/guest/phil-donahue/

Sally Field. Biography. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/sally-field-9294562

Sally Field Biography. Bio. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013, http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/sally-field.html

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References (page 3 of 3)

Smith, Dinitia. (2007, April 12). Kurt Vonnegut, Novelist Who Caught the Imagination of His Age, Is Dead at 84. New York Times. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013,

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/books/12vonnegut.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Transcript of the Gettysburg Address (1863). Our Documents. Online. Accessed November 12, 2013, http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=36&page=transcript

This presentation is made possible by a grant awarded to the Southeast Steuben County Library by the American Library Association and the Dollar General Foundation.

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