Gra-Gra, Gen X ers and When will the book come out...

Graham Kennedy passed away last week and his memorial "show" was yesterday..it was not a religious service but a celebration of his life and achievements. Funny how I , as a Gen X er, (didn't know this until someone told me I was) remember lots about some one who was a pioneer in the entertainment business. Perhaps because my mum had a bit to do in the industry for a while..She always seemed to know someone or something about the TV and radio personalities of the 60's,and 70's. I have re read a book of my mums by Mike McColl-Jones called "My Funny Friends" which encapsulates the memories and antics of people such as Gra-Gra, Dave Gray, Bert Newton, Mike Walsh, Don Lane, Nolene Brown, et.al during the 60's , 70's and 80's. I think I bought the book for my mum in about 1981 or 1982, so its old but a good laugh.

I have to wonder, how many others of my generation, have such memories or was it just because my parents were older in comparison to my counterparts or was it because my mum took a genuine interest in the people she worked with; as people not celebrities.

Graham Blundell, who was in "The Odd Angry Shot" and "Dons Party" with Graham Kennedy has for years been working on a biographical piece on Kennedy..He has had an on/off relationship with the subject in regards to his (Kennedy's) wanting the book done and being willing to contribute; I think Blundell wanted him to have a say in it. I wonder what the final chapter will say but I bet it's on the shelves before the end of JULY!!!!

And to quote Stuart Wagstaff at the farewell...." Attempted the second Kennedy assassination of our time..." As did Derryn Hinch on his radio program...Although his column in Sundays HUN attempted to make amends, he still attempted to justify his "the dead are owed only the truth" philosophy by siteing instances he perceived to point to Kennedy's homosexuality. What you learn in a business about people should stay there, within that realm. If Kennedy was gay..So what...If he chose to keep it to himself, his choice; no one has the right to take that choice from someone by "outing" them after they are dead. The dead may be owed only the truth, but truth in fact not in innuendo.