Randolph Mase&#8217;s Weblog

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Is Columbus Day a Forgotten Holiday?

October 8, 2018

It’s interesting that when I was going to school or working, I viewed holidays simply as another day off. Now that I’m doing neither, I find myself trying to learn more about each holiday. Take today – Columbus Day – as an example. Before it was moved to the second Monday in October, Columbus Day was always celebrated on October 12. I always assumed that it marked the birth of Christopher Columbus, but it actually marks the date when he arrived in the Americas. Although it is a federal holiday here in the U.S., only 26 of our states also recognize it as a holiday. In fact, in my last three jobs I worked in a state which still recognizes it as a holiday, yet we did not get the day off.

On this day, let’s taker the time to remember Mr. Columbus and take the time to discover more about the meaning of the day. It’s interesting stuff!

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Posted in Observations on the Strange and Unexpected and on Life Itself | Leave a Comment »

Questions to How Well Do You Know Broadway?

October 1, 2018

Here are the questions to the Jeopardy! answers in the category “Broadway Replacements” I posted a couple of weeks ago:

Overrun with “Cats” for nearly 20 years, the Winter Garden Theater opened this Abba-Tastc show in 2001. – What is “Mamma Mia?”
Irony! This future Jean Valjean film actor bumped “Les Miserables” from the Imperial Theatre with “The Boy From Oz.” – Who is Hugh Jackman [or Huge Ackman, for you Night at the Museum fans]?
This “monthly” Tracy Letts Pulitzer Prize winner was replaced by his own play “Superior Donuts.” – What is “August Osage County?”
“The Little Mermaid” preceded this show as a Disney movie, but followed it at the Lunt-Fontanne as a musical. – What is “Beauty and the Beast?”
This writer’s “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial” followed “Dial ‘M’ for Murder” at the Plymouth Theatre. – Who is Herman Wouk?

I got my typical result for Broadway, getting four correct. How did you do?

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

What’s Your Favorite James Bond Movie?

September 24, 2018

One of the STARZ channels is showing James Bond movies all day and night this month, which prompted me to do some research on the franchise At one point, the 007 movie franchise was the most successful one around, based on gross receipts. But lately it has fallen to fourth place, being surpassed by Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, and Harry Potter. But it still remains the oldest active franchise, going on 57 years.

But I digress, as that is not the point of this post. While watching one of the Bond films this month, my wife asked my which was my favorite Bond movie…and I couldn’t answer it because I don’t have an overall favorite; rather, I have a favorite for each of the four main actors who have played 007. For Sean Connery, it’s Goldfinger (“Do you expect me to talk?” – “No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die.”) With Roger Moore, Live and Let Die (“He always did have an inflated opinion of himself.”) With Pierce Brosnan, Goldeneye (“For England, James?” – “No, for me.”) With Daniel Craig, Skyfall (“I always hated this place.”)

So what’s your favorite Bond film?

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Posted in Observations on the Strange and Unexpected and on Life Itself | Leave a Comment »

How Well Do You Know Broadway?

September 17, 2018

One of the categories on a recent Jeopardy! episode was “Broadway Replacements.” Here are the answers; just come up with the correct question for each. I’ll give those questions in a future post:

Overrun with “Cats” for nearly 20 years, the Winter Garden Theater opened this Abba-Tastic show in 2001.
Irony! This future Jean Valjean film actor bumped “Les Miserables” from the Imperial Theatre with “The Boy From Oz.”
This “monthly” Tracy Letts Pulitzer Prize winner was replaced by his own play “Superior Donuts.”
“The Little Mermaid” preceded this show as a Disney movie, but followed it at the Lunt-Fontanne as a musical.
This writer’s “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial” followed “Dial ‘M’ for Murder” at the Plymouth Theatre.

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

America’s Best Restaurants

September 10, 2018

The other day I read an article on msn.com naming the 50 Best Burgers in America, by State. The best one for New York State was the Chargrilled Burger at New York City’s Spotted Pig on 11th Street! If you want to find more great burgers in New York, look here: https://www.purewow.com/food/the-best-burgers-in-NYC.

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Enjoy Labor Day!

September 3, 2018

Each year, we celebrate Labor Day here in the United States on the first Monday in September (many other countries celebrate the May 1 Labour Day, but of course we are different), and many of us mourn it as the unofficial end of summer, yet celebrating it as the unofficial start of football season. But do you know the history of this holiday? It actually originated in Canada when a parade supporting the Trade Union Act was held in Toronto in 1872. Ten years later, American labor leader Peter McGuire saw the parade in Toronto and was inspired to organize a similar parade in New York City on September 5, 1882, becoming the first Labor Day here. After the bloody Pullman strike of 1894, President Cleveland and Congress hurriedly passed a bill making Labor Day a national holiday. This year, there’s the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn until 6:00 this evening. Get full details at https://www.timeout.com/newyork/west-indian-american-day-carnival-new-york. Enjoy!

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Posted in Things To Do In New York City | Leave a Comment »

Questions to How Well Do You Know Broadway?

August 24, 2018

Here are the questions to the Jeopardy! answers in the category “Broadway Musicals” I posted a couple of weeks ago:
1. It’s the word & the musical set at Rydell High in the 1950s. – What is “Grease?”
2. Completes the title of the dance musical “Bring in ‘Da Noise…” – What is “Bring in ‘Da Funk?”
3. The songs “Luck Be a Lady” & “A Bushel and a Peck” are featured in this musical. – What is “Guys and Dolls?”
4. Based on a book & film, its opening song is “The Candy Man.” – What is “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?”
5. Characters in this Sondheim musical include a witch, a baker & Little Red Riding Hood. – What is “Into The Woods?”
I got my typical result with musicals, getting only three correct. How did you do?

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Half Price Broadway Shows!

August 15, 2018

That’s no misprint, folks – from September 3-16, Broadway Week is being celebrated, and you can buy 2-for-1 tickets to some of the best shows in the City, including new productions such as Aladdin, Anastasia, Carousel, Frozen, The Lion King, and Wicked. Good deals – you can find full details at http://www.nycgo.com/broadwayweek. And while you’re at that site, enter the sweepstakes to win two free tickets…break a leg!

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Posted in Things To Do In New York City | Leave a Comment »

Everyday Life in New York City

August 8, 2018

The Metropolitan Diary of the New York Times continues to offer humorous real-life stories and experiences of natives and visitors to New York City that often show the human side of New Yorkers. When I read most of them, I can’t help but laugh, sometimes very loudly and sometimes, depending on my surroundings, attracting a little too much attention. Others just make me feel good about being a New Yorker. A recent edition includes getting locked out of an apartment wearing only a towel, a memento from Yankee Stadium, and a Bronx lunch with egg cream. So, try it for therapy, stress relief, or to assure yourself that there still is a good side to people – just don’t laugh or cry too loudly: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/category/metropolitan-diary/.

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale