Shout Out to: Sidney ("Woim") Kibrick

Former child actor Sidney Kibrick is one of the last living cast member of the Our Gang (aka, "The Little Rascals") comedy short film series. He is among a handful of surviving cast who appeared in the classic Hal Roach productions and is certainly the only one who had significant screen time or would otherwise be remembered. 

The freckle-faced Kibrick primarily played the character of "Woim" (perhaps a Brooklyn pronunciation of "Worm"), sidekick to bully "Butch," played by Tommy Bond. After threatening or clashing with the main Our Gang characters (usually Spanky and Alfafa) Butch would make his exit and deliver the catchphrase, "Come on Woim!" The Butch-Woim duo were recurring antagonists in the series and in total, Kibrick appeared in approximately 27 Our Gang shorts between 1933 and 1939. Kibrick later stepped away from acting and pursued a career in real estate and today he is 96 years old. Notably, just three years ago, he attended an exhibit at the Hollywood Museum honoring the 100th anniversary of the Our Gang series.

Related Posts:
Shout Out to: The Sorels
Shout Out to: Dara Torres
Shout Out to: Lippy the Lion
Shout Out to: Found Item Clothing
Shout Out to: Force M.D.'s
Shout Out to: Dian Parkinson

Shout Out to: The Payback

Shout Out to: Dian Parkinson

Now defunct Stuff magazine (the sister publication of Maxim) used to have a department called “Babes of Yore” which would remember female sex symbols of the past (e.g., Heather Locklear, Farrah Fawcett, Raquel Welch.) Stuff is no longer around but in that same spirit this particular entry in the “Shout Out to:” series recognizes babe of yore Dian Parkinson. 

Dian was one of the three models appearing on The Price is Right game show during its heyday in the 1970s and 80s. Beginning her career as a beauty pageant winner (Miss World USA 1971) Diane started on TPIR four years later and quickly became a favorite among male fans of the show. Recognizing Dian's seductive look and buxom figure, plus sex appeal that came right through the TV screen, TPIR producers made it a point to showcase (no pun intended) her assets on a regular basis. Male viewers would always tune in for the last ten minutes of the show hoping the showcases at the end would include a hot tub, trip to Hawaii, or some other prize that would feature Dian appearing in a bikini. Incredibly, Dian was able to keep her amazing figure well into her 40s. 

Regrettably, Dian never branched out to do movie roles, TV guest spots or anything other than TPIR. In 1991 however, Playboy, which had pursued her for years, finally convinced her to pose for their magazine. The result was one of the highest selling issues of all time and a curtain call second pictorial in the May1993 issue. A Playboy newsstand special and celebrity centerfold video followed, but again Dian never capitalized on her popularity and the boost the Playboy publicity gave her. She finally retired from TPIR at age 49 after filing a lawsuit against Bob Barker for sexual harassment. The suit was later dropped and Dian has since disappeared from public life. Still, she apparently remains in the memories of many others — so much so that there are several compilations of her TPIR swimsuit work all over YouTube.

Unbelievably, Dian turns 77 in November but for those who grew up in the 70s and 80s, she remains the ultimate sexy older woman and late morning game show treat.

Related Posts:

Shout Out to: The Sorels

Shout Out to: Lippy the Lion

Shout Out to: Found Item Clothing

Shout Out to: "The Payback"

Shout Out to: Force M.D.'s

Shout Out to: Dara Torres

Shout Out to: Sidney "Woim" Kibrick

What the Hell Happened to Maxim?

Shout Out to: "The Payback"

Heard James Brown's "The Payback" earlier today. I can remember that song from when I was a very little kid (my older sister had the single) but now every time I hear it, I think of this scene from Dead Presidents. It's one of the best and most appropriate uses of a song for a movie soundtrack ever.

Dead Presidents' main character, Anthony (Larenz Tate) is a kid growing up in New York City in the early 70's. He's in a bar shooting pool for money against a young wannabe hoodlum, Cowboy (Terrence Howard.) Anthony wins the game and asks to get paid. Cowboy proceeds to cuss Anthony out, throw him down on the pool table and cut his face with a knife.

Later, Anthony joins the Marines and is shipped into combat in Vietnam -- where he gets tough in a hurry. Anthony then gets out of the service and returns to the same bar, where he runs into Cowboy again. They start shooting pool again... and then we hear that funky guitar intro to James Brown's classic and you just know something bad is gonna happen...

Related Posts:
Shout Out to: The Sorels
Shout Out to: Dara Torres
Shout Out to: Lippy the Lion
Shout Out to: Found Item Clothing
Shout Out to: Force M.D.'s
Shout Out to: Dian Parkinson
Shout Out to: Sidney "Woim" Kibrick

Shout Out to: The Force M.D.s

An incredibly unique vocal group from the mid-80s, the Force M.D.s were true pioneers, practically inventing the fusion of rap music and 1950s-style harmonies best described as "hip-hop/doo-wop".

Coming out of Staten Island, New York (no, they're not doctors -- the "M.D." stands for "Musical Diversity") these were five gifted guys that, unlike most of their contemporaries, could sing and harmonize on par with the best R&B groups (think The Treacherous 3 meets The Impressions.)

After signing with Tommy Boy Records in 1984, Force M.D.s had a string of R&B radio hits including the rousing "Let Me Love You" and "Forgive Me Girl", and the heartfelt ballads "Tears" and "Here I Go Again". The group went on to score their biggest hits with 1985's "Tender Love" (#10 on Billboard's Pop chart) and 1987's "Love is a House" (#1 R&B).

Unfortunately, subsequent albums didn't enjoy as much success and the group's popularity began to wane. In the 90s, The Force M.D.'s fell on hard times, as two of the original members passed away and the group slipped into obscurity.

Still, it wasn't until the emergence of Boyz II Men and their debut album CooleyHighHarmony in 1991 that we heard anything approximating the unique musical style of The Force M.D.s. "Tender Love" has directly influenced the work of Alicia Keys and others, and President Obama has stated the group was one of his favorites growing up.

Here's a three-minute mini-documentary about the Force M.D.s. Check out what hip-hop legends like Doug E. Fresh, DJ Red Alert, Kurtis Blow and Melle Mel have to say about the group's originality and impact.

Related Posts:

Shout Out to: The Sorels
Shout Out to: Dara Torres
Shout Out to: Lippy the Lion
Shout Out to: Found Item Clothing
Shout Out to: "The Payback"

Shout Out to: Dian Parkinson
Shout Out to: Sidney "Woim" Kibrick

Shout Out to: Lippy the Lion

One of the most overlooked characters on the Hanna-Barbera roster, Lippy the Lion was a cartoon short that served as one-third of The Hanna-Barbera New Cartoon Series that premiered in 1962. (The other two shorts comprising the show were Touche' Turtle, and the slightly better known Wally Gator.)

Lippy the Lion was significant because it was one of a handful of animated series that featured voice characterizations by arguably the two greatest cartoon voice actors of all time -- Daws Butler (Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Woody Woodpecker) as well as Mel Blanc (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and all the other Warner Brothers favorites.)

Lippy the Lion is also memorable for having perhaps the most comedically ironic sidekick ever -- Hardy Har Har, a laughing hyena suffering from depression. Now I don't know if he was ever clinically diagnosed, but I do remember Hardy being constantly dreary and pessimistic, and having this sort of general, neverending malaise. Perhaps they should have done one of those "very special" episodes of Lippy, where Hardy tries to kill himself, then finally agrees to see a shrink and gets a Zoloft prescription.

On a side note, Lippy the Lion was yet another one of those cartoon characters that never wore pants. Seems like animators love to have cartoon animals wearing clothing, as long as it's not pants. Think about it...


Lippy the Lion - Hat, no pants.

Donald Duck - Shirt, no pants.

Bugs Bunny - Classy white gloves... but no pants.

Quick Draw McGraw - Hat?... Check... Neckerchief?... Check... Gun holster?... Check... Pants?... Nope.

Top Cat has a much snazzier hat and vest than Lippy... but still no pants.

Huckleberry Hound has a hat and a tie (but no collar or shirt to go with the tie)... and no pants.

And Hardy Har Har somehow has a collar but no shirt... and of course, no pants.

What the hell?... Is there something inherently difficult about drawing pants?... Or did everyone just cut class the day they taught it in animation school?

Anyway, as I check YouTube, I see the old Lippy and Hardy intro. Glad to see that they've finally been given their due.



Related Posts:
Shout Out to: The Sorels
Shout Out to: Dara Torres
Shout Out to: "The Payback"
Shout Out to: Found Item Clothing
Shout Out to: Force M.D.'sShout Out to: Dian Parkinson
Shout Out to: Sidney "Woim" Kibrick

Shout Out to... Dara Torres!

Dara Torres is a 42 year old (as of yesterday) American swimmer, and the the only swimmer to compete (and medal) in five Olympic Games (1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, and 2008.) Last year, after eight years in retirement, she made an amazing comeback and won both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle at the US National Championships and at the Olympics in Beijing, Torres won three silver medals. (And to boot, she has the sickest abs on a 40+ year old woman you'll ever see.)

Torres attributes her longstanding success to her unique training regimen, which she discusses in her new book, Age is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Age that was released last week.

Related Links:

Dara Torres: Age is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Age

Dara Torres on Fitness at 40+

Related Posts:

Shout Out to: The Sorels

Shout Out to: Lippy the Lion

Shout Out to: Found Item Clothing

Shout Out to: "The Payback"

Shout Out to: Force M.D.'s

Shout Out to: Dian Parkinson
Shout Out to: Sidney "Woim" Kibrick

Shout Out to: Found Item Clothing

Found Item Clothing designs and sells t-shirts from classic 80s and 90s movies, including Caddyshack, Stripes, Revenge of the Nerds, Happy Gilmour, Teen Wolf, Tron, and a bunch more. They've been at this a long time and the quality, love and care they put into reproducing each shirt down to the last detail is top notch.

I've known about these guys for years and am a proud owner of one of their Real Genius "Gorillas" shirts. And back when I was part of the Anything But Monday Show Podcast, I had Found Item's Adam on the show and we inspired him to create the Repo Man "Beer" shirt.

So click on over and browse around. And be sure to check out their It Goes to 11 blog dedicated to 80s pop culture.

Related Posts:
Shout Out to: The Sorels
Shout Out to: Dara Torres
Shout Out to: Lippy the Lion
Shout Out to: Force M.D'.s
Shout Out to: "The Payback"

Shout Out to: Dian Parkinson
Shout Out to: Sidney "Woim" Kibrick

Shout Out to... The Sorels

Who are The Sorels? Only one of the greatest fictional groups in music history. More specifically, they’re an all-black quartet featured in Walter Hill’s 1984 cult classic Streets of Fire. In that film, Cody (Michael Pare’) rescues rock star Ellen Aim (a smokin’ Diane Lane) from her kidnappers and commandeers the Sorels’ tour bus. (They’re reluctant at first but after seeing Cody’s shotgun, they declare, “We’re very flexible. We’ll take you where you wanna go.”) At the end of the film, in appreciation, Ellen lets the Sorels open for her in concert, where they deliver this classic performance of “I Can Dream About You”.

Though the song was recorded for the soundtrack's commercial release by Dan Hartman, the Sorels were played by four young black actors who would each go on to achieve significant success on their own.

Prior to Streets of Fire, Stoney Jackson who played lead singer "Bird" (pictured above, 2nd from the right) was already a fixture on TV, having been a regular on The White Shadow and guest star on M*A*S*H and other series. He went on to parts on The Jeffersons and Trapper John M.D., then had a recurring role on 227 and did many other TV spots and film roles.

Robert Townsend (2nd from left) would become the writer, director and star of the critically acclaimed film Hollywood Shuffle, as well as The Five Heartbeats and Meteor Man, and he also directed and starred in the TV series The Parent ‘Hood.

Grand Bush (far right) was a TV veteran who had a role in Roots and guested in everything from Good Times, to The Incredible Hulk, to B.J. and the Bear. After Streets of Fire, he did Lethal Weapon and Lethal Weapon 2, Colors, had a memorable role as FBI agent Johnson in Die Hard and appeared in episodes of Renegade and JAG.

And Mykelti Williamson (far left) played "Bird" (What is it with black guys in the 80s playing characters named “Bird”?) alongside Goldie Hawn in Wildcats, was a regular on Hill Street Blues, co-starred in hits like Heat, Con Air and Waiting to Exhale -- but is probably most famous for his performance as Bubba in Forrest Gump.

Related Posts:
Shout Out to: Dara Torres
Shout Out to: Lippy the Lion
Shout Out to: Found Item Clothing
Shout Out to: Force M.D.'s

Shout Out to: The Payback

Shout Out to: Dian Parkinson
Shout Out to: Sidney "Woim" Kibrick