Mama, mama, forget your pies

If you can’t figure out why this post is named what it is, you’ll have to read to the end. If you get the connection, I’ve just created an earworm. In any case, this post is a requiem for some things that are nearly or dearly departed:

• Live Music Venues. Michael Johnathan over at Woodsongs has an elegant piece of the death of the small music venues — in particular, the venues that support folk or local musicians. Why is this happening? As he writes: “Why? The cost of opening, the massive investment people are making to open the doors, is un-recoupable in the current music environment. The world of the arts has changed, my friends. And whenever an arts endeavor launches as a “money enterprise” it is doomed for failure. That sounds anti-capitalistic and I don’t mean it that way. Music venues can thrive, flourish and make a living for many good folks … when it’s done right. My point is the business plans most are using, for the arts, are all wrong.” By the way, the argument he makes also apply to 99 seat theatre — hear that, Equity?
• The Lockheed L-1011. Back in the 1970s, there was a war going on between Boeing, Douglas, and Lockheed. Boeing had come out with the 747, and was attempting to go against upstarts with 3-engine planes: the Douglas DC-10 and the Lockheed L-1011. The Lockheed craft was a marvelous craft, but not only did it not succeed, it took down Lockheed’s commercial aircraft business with it. Here’s a detailed analysis of the L-1011 and why it was great… and why it failed.
• George Barris. George Barris, car customizer for the studios, died last week. Barris was behind such iconic creations as the Batmobile and the Munstermobile.  Most people will remember Barris’ shop in North Hollywood.
• US Air, PSA, Reno Air, …. Last week, US Airways died, and with it the history of quite a few airlines. They merged into American, which was also the winner of a number of airlines. Luckily, American is retaining US Airway’s tradition of Heritage Plane Liveries.
• LA Railway and Pacific Electric. Here’s an article that links to a cool map of the Historic Routes and Few Remains of Los Angeles’s Massive Streetcar System. Of course, if you want to ride the cars now, you can just go out to Orange Empire Railway Museum.
• Betamax. Yes, Sony has finally stopped the production of Betamax. Some of you are going: I thought it was already dead. Others are going, what’s Betamax?
• Judah Maccabee. Sadly, he’s been replaced by Santa Claus.

Oh, right, the title of the post. Take a listen:

"Requiem For The Masses - The Association" (Watch on YouTube)

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