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Articles From This Author. (Did Eisenhower speak the newsreel style? Jean Stein became his co-editor. When Muhammad Ali was fighting, George Plimpton was always there. A lifelong New Yorker, he never tasted a bagel or an olive, and he never chewed a stick of gum. On one website, I read about a Choate alumn saying one can still hear the LL (see above thread) accent on campus. As Poling puts it, George was known as an unrivaled raconteur and, in making a film of his life story, it only seemed natural to allow him to tell it.. Besides, third is a very respectable showing! That was how it was in New York in those days, George just dragged it out a bit longer." Dudley Plimpton suspects the excess contributed to Plimpton's death in his sleep in 2003, at the age of 76. Rose Styron, wife of William Styron and former Paris Review editor:My husband Bill was with George when he started the Paris Review. So it was that George Plimptons accent could not be imitated. George also approved, I think, of the fact that I lost. So think of Margaret Anderson or Amanda and you can place George. The Left Bank really became East 72nd Street. (Newsreels ran in movie theaters, of course: what better critique of the high newsreel style than the new movies that jarred against it?). It was always as if one were setting out with him on a special adventure. For more than fifty years, his friends made a circle whose circumference was vast and whose center was a fashionable tenement on New York's East Seventy-second street. He was "George Plimpton"-editor, host . He saw athletes as heroes he. LL is typified, I think, but an almost clenching of the teeth while talking, producing a mushy sound, if you will. He looked for ways in which he could make himself a ridiculous figure, and not only on the football field, but in all walks of life. He was very understanding of what we did and how we did it. Queen Elizabeth doesnt say car, and neither did Franklin D. Roosevelt, nor did the newsreel announcers or movie actors of his day. He is widely known for his sports writing and for helping to found The Paris Review, as well as his patrician demeanor and accent. Were taking off from Teterburo, N.J., at 4 a.m. tomorrow. They were born to Plimpton and his second wife, Sarah Dudley, 26 years younger than he, who is chairwoman of the East Harlem Tutorial Program, for which he was a trustee. Mr . That made him a great storyteller. He looked like a very eccentric old Englishman. With the help of the New York Mets organization and several Mets players, Plimpton wrote a convincing account of a new unknown pitcher in the Mets spring training camp named Siddhartha Finch, who threw a baseball over 160mph, wore a heavy boot on one foot, and was a practicing Buddhist with a largely unknown background. In all my years, Ive never heard this accent in person. Even if it had nothing else going for itsomething very far from the truth Shadow Box by George Plimpton will forever remain a bastion of boxing literature because of the image it contains of the "Near Room," a place of dreadful foreboding which Muhammad Ali once described to the famed . He never went all the way, though his authenticity and newly-downstyle speaking could probably be marked in the crisis/triumph stages of his reporting: the death of JFK; the Vietnam report; the moon landing. In 1992, Plimpton married Sarah Whitehead Dudley, a graduate of Columbia University and a freelance writer. Could it be fairly said that Plimptom had it? Shed wandered out to the balcony of a lonely Manhattan cocktail party, and was standing out there, smoking a cigarette and looking down mournfully at the street far below, when from behind her she heard a voice: I know a better way down.. How do I know you're not George Plimpton? The presentation was called Freedom of the American Road and was made 60 years ago, in 1955, as part of the campaign to build support for the new Interstate Highway system. His final interview appeared in The New York Sports Express of October 2, 2003 by journalist Dave Hollander. George Plimpton was an upper-class guy with a patrician accent who partied his way through life . But he came right down to our level. He wrote for the Harvard Lampoon, was a member of the Hasty Pudding Club, Pi Eta, the Signet Society, and the Porcellian Club. He did these jobs, and many others, as an amateur.. A reader writes: Ive wondered about this myself when I see old Jimmy Cagney moviesand the date of his last starring role might give us a hint towards the date range of the change: "One, Two, Three" in 1961. Nevertheless, its a strange thing that one of the great voices of modern storytelling had limitations, restrictions, words, and phrases it was incapable of uttering, matters it could not express: death, love, tragedy. That was the last party for a while., I just got back from a road trip from Michigan. I dont give a rats ass about informing anyone about the death of Plimpton. He appeared in commercials for Oldsmobile and Intellivision, and appeared. George Ames Plimpton (March 18, 1927 - September 25, 2003) was an American journalist, writer, literary editor, actor and occasional amateur sportsman. Kaltenborn was a famous mid . Its something different, and Ive not encountered that in the mid-Atlantic. After St. Bernard's School, Plimpton attended Phillips Exeter Academy (from which he was expelled just shy of graduation), and Daytona Beach High School, where he received his high school diploma,[16] before entering Harvard College in July 1944. We were going to go looking for strange birds. But he has never employed that voice professionally, and certainly does not speak that way in real life. In the 50s Plimpton and staff came to New York, where they kept the Review going for half a century. [37] His son, Taylor, described it as a mixture of "old New England, old New York, tinged with a hint of King's College King's English."[14]. (What else happened that year??? . Whee!! Shootout at Rio Lobo", "The Smaller the Ball, the Better the Book: A Game Theory of Literature", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Plimpton&oldid=1137974740, This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 10:19. You heard it and it could only be him. After the technology improved the need to speak so histrionically went away, and so did "announcer English.". I just knew it was going to be something terrible. That was when Westbrook van Voorhis, the famous March of Time voice, did the intro narration of the pilot episode of The Twilight Zone. Oh now, Im joking, Carnac ( see? They all gathered there. his prose, and his down east, cultivated accent, although perhaps a bit pretentious, will remain with me as I reread one of my favorite books. He Was Shot by John Wayne. I think it was an affectation people adopted because they thought it made them sound much more intelligent! George was not vainhe didnt care a whit about his image. By strange coincidence, I actually became quite good friends with his (ex-)in-laws here in Manhattan. "[25] He had a recurring role as the grandfather of Dr. Carter on the NBC series ER. By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Plimpton sparred for three rounds with boxing greats Archie Moore and Sugar Ray Robinson while on assignment for Sports Illustrated. Shadow Box. December 17, 2022 Rafael Garca. That phony-baloney feigned British pronunciation thing. Lewis Lapham, editor, Harpers Magazine:Georges immense enthusiasm was his primary characteristic. Ive lived in Boston for 30 years and have never heard a George Plimpton accent; so I guess it must be a Larchmont accent, *Originally posted by Carnac the Magnificent! "[44], In 2006, the musician Jonathan Coulton wrote the song entitled "A Talk with George", a part of his 'Thing a Week' series, in tribute to Plimpton's many adventures and approach to life. Here's a look inside the space, where the Paris Review editor hosted legendary parties. It was as if he was trying out again. Are you saying that the denizens of Larchmont sound like Plimpton did? Thats a common name for such an accent. Plimpton also appeared in the closing credits of the 2006 film Factory Girl. Hes just trying it out and will come back and write a book about his experiences. He was also known for "participatory journalism," including accounts of his active involvement in professional sporting events, acting in a Western, performing a comedy act at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and playing with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra[1] and then recording the experience from the point of view of an amateur. They spoke in this manner, and it seemed perfectly natural, evocative of a background spent among the gentry of the northeast. . During my fight, my nose got badly broken in the second round, but I did last all four scheduled rounds, though I lost. All rights reserved. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. [29], His enthusiasm for fireworks grew, and he was appointed Fireworks Commissioner of New York by Mayor John Lindsay,[29][30] an unofficial post he held until his death. Vault. ), this isnt some kind of morbid contest to see who can be the first to inform the board of some celebritys death. And he told everyone that night, and for many years after, that hed diverted me from a career of filling prescriptions. Along with all the other things he does, George is an editor of the Paris Review, a literary quarterly published by the Aga Khan's uncle, Sadrudin, and his apartment is overstuffed with the comforts and legends of its use as a literary salon. Big, tall, good-looking guy, easy-going. Except at parties. He also served as editor of the Harvard Lampoon. Now you know! We had the book party for my selected poems, Sailing Alone Around the Room, at Georges house on Sept 10, 2001. The Writers won the game with a home run in extra innings, but the highlight was Plimptons hit. One reader writes: I've wondered whether that "announcer English" was at least partly caused by poor loudspeakers and microphones. If he couldnt be taken quite seriously, that was fine with him (he took himself lightly, and relished being in on the joke). (He intended to face both line-ups, but tired badly and was relieved by Ralph Houk.) He has the same type of patrician upper-class New Yorker accent as Jane Wyatt. Larchmont Lockjaw? Spoke in a mid-Atlantic accent, reflecting a privileged Upper East Side (in New York City) upbringing. Both of Plimpton's maternal grandparents were born with the surname Ames; his mother was the granddaughter of Medal of Honor recipient Adelbert Ames (1835-1933), an American sailor, soldier, and politician, and Oliver Ames, a US political figure and the 35th Governor of Massachusetts (18871890). Plimpton played quarterback for the Detroit Lions and triangle for the New York Philharmonic, an. Starring George Plimpton as Himself, "George Plimpton, Urbane and Witty Writer, Dies at 76", "Obituary: Frances T. P. Plimpton, 82, Dies", "Obituary: Pauline A. Plimpton, 93, Author Of Works on Famed Relatives", "Milton at the Midpoint of the Last Century: One Collection of Memories", "How Failing at Exeter made a Success of George Plimpton", "Legendary Humorist, Poonster Dies at 76 | News | The Harvard Crimson", "George Plimpton, Paris Review Founder, Pitches 1980s Video Games for the Mattel Intellivision", "The Simpsons: I'm Spelling As Fast As I Can", "George Plimpton, Author And Editor, Is Dead at 76", "Professor Muhammed Ali Delivers Lecture; Poems and Parables Fill Talk on Friendship | News | The Harvard Crimson", "George Plimpton | Full Film | American Masters | PBS", "George Plimpton, Still Burning His Punk at Both Ends, Finds a Sport in Which He Can Sparkle", "George Plimpton: The Professional Amateur", "Some Really Dangerous Jobs For George Plimpton", "Being, And Appreciating, George Plimpton", "Obituary: Willard Espy, Who Delighted In Wordplay, Is Dead at 88", "George Plimpton, Writer and editor, Is Wed to Sarah W. Dudley, a Writer", "Obituary: James C. Dudley, 77, Investment Adviser", "Naming the Sky: The true story of one man's quest to give George Plimpton a permanent presence in orbit", "DEAD END-DRIVE-IN | Plimpton! His friendships testified to what an eclectic man he was. I dont give a rats ass about informing anyone about the death of Plimpton. Get a life. Thats where there was that cross-section you once found in Parisof literary people, of people who were illiterate, of people down on their luck, and people of status. Congratulations Carnac, for posting about George Plimptons death at 3:44 PM. The name George Plimpton is synonymous with a kind of all-in participatory journalism. Sometimes, we used to have quarrels, because he thought I took too many poems: Are you turning this magazine into a poetry magazine? he would say. I had made about five thousand egg and tuna sandwiches. Ill pick you up., I had a hard time sleeping that night, as you might imagine. Exeter Academy after an incident involving a Losing, he knew, always makes a better story than winning. Felix Grucci Jr., of Fireworks by Grucci (Plimpton wrote about the Grucci family, widely held to be the first family of fireworks, in Fireworks: A History and Celebration):George had a very big passion for fireworks. From looking at Labovs study, I know today, as I didnt know yesterday, that linguists use the term rhotic to describe whether a person pronounces, or doesnt, the R sound before a consonant or at the end of a word. Plimpton embedded with the Detroit Lions for their three week training camp, an adventure which culminated with him playing quarterback in their annual intra-team preseason scrimmage. It was so tiny that if you saw him in it, you couldnt believe hed be able to get himself out of it. [11], His mother was Pauline Ames,[12] the daughter of botanist Oakes Ames (1874-1950) and artist Blanche Ames. Revolutionary musket, a stairwell and a housemaster), Congratulations Carnac, for posting about George Plimptons death at 3:44 PM. Sidd Finch was a fictional character George had created for a Sports Illustrated story, supposedly the greatest and fastest pitcher in the world. He loved the ones that made a lot of noise and racket and excitement. Your transparent jealousy is very unbecoming, Carnac. This book is the party that was George's life-and it's a big one-attended by scores of famous people, as well as. George Plimpton, Out of My League: The Classic Account of an Amateur's Ordeal in Professional Baseball, 2016, Little And so fuck was definitely out of the question, but what about I love you? (My dads been dead nearly ten years: not that he held many in his life, but what grudges could he possibly be holding on to now? I just heard that George Plimpton has died. There was intellectual heft in the Plimpton genes too: one Ames was a Professor of Botany, another was Governor of Massachusetts, another relation was a publisher, and yet another a writer-philanthropist fascinated with the subject of how the great figures of the past were educated Young Georges educational path was precisely that of a The Scout Is a Lonely Hunter. George Plimpton, who has died aged 76, became a best-selling author by not only writing about sporting heroes but by participating in those sports as well. News children today have no concept of the Mid-Atlantic accent. After running the pilot, Rod Serling realized the narration needed a less pompous sounding and more natural voice himself. (The filmmakers assembled his voice-over from recorded speeches and other archival footage.) I just heard that George Plimpton has died. His response was "no, just affected.". 2023 Cond Nast. George Ames Plimpton (March 18, 1927 - September 25, 2003) was an American journalist, writer, literary editor, actor and occasional amateur sportsman. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007. Tom Nowatzke, fullback, Detroit Lions (In the 1960s, Plimpton briefly played with the Detroit Lions asresearch for the best-selling book Paper Lion, which was later made into a film):I was the No. While I don't normally think of Lithgow as speaking with a Mid-Atlantic accent, he does a great job affecting one for the role. I think the term Old Money or patrician pretty much says it. "I've decided to stay over here in . In the April 1, 1985 issue of Sports Illustrated, Plimpton pulled off a widely reported April Fools' Day prank. Realizing that I probably didnt know anyone, George took me around the room to introduce me to his guestsWilliam Styron, Norman Mailer, Robert Stone, and Gay Talese among them. Harris trained himself as a young man to lose his native Bronx accent - to the point that he was asked if he were British. He is widely known for his sports writing and for helping to found The Paris Review. The film used archival audio and video of Plimpton lecturing and reading to create a posthumous narration. :rolleyes: Ive got news for you, buddy, youre not even second in line! **Thats a common name for such an accent. George Plimpton is beautifully connected. It's a Scottish accent that's been modified somewhat for a mainstream audience that tends to associate them with Groundskeeper Willie. Plimpton was associated with the literary magazine in Paris, Merlin, which folded because the State Department withdrew its support.[why?] Between 2000 and 2003, Plimpton wrote the libretto to a new opera, Animal Tales, commissioned by Family Opera Initiative, with music by Kitty Brazelton directed by Grethe Barrett Holby. He once said that, in writing Paper Lion, he wanted to reveal the "humor and grace" of football. 3: Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". I have worked as poetry editor with editors on other magazines; only with George has the experience been entirely agreeable. "He speaks with an oddly mannered accent, sounding as though on the verge of a stammer, polite, genteel, perhaps just a little Woosterish. He appeared in the PBS American Masters documentary on Andy Warhol. I'm not an expert, but Bill Labov from UPenn is, and he is quoted thusly: According to William Labov, teaching of this pronunciation declined sharply after the end of World War II. Isnt that what they call it. Think of the accent of Jane Hathaway on the Beverly Hillbillies. George Plimpton was a literary man about town who did it all, from co-founding The Paris Review to boxing (and dribbling and quarterbacking) with the pros. Interesting that the two competitors for his anchor chair were both fully vernacular speakers from the South and West: Mudd and Rather. He died on September 26, 2003 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He is widely known for his sports writing and for helping to found The Paris Review. Anyhow, I asked Terry Gross from Fresh Air and George Plimpton to be auctioneers. He joined us in Monte Carlo when we won the international [fireworks] competition. George Plimpton Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family . These interviews are a collaborative effort, and, I believe, a fascinating contribution to literary history. In his July 1936 obituary, the New York Times described George Arthur Plimpton (13 July 1855-1 July 1936) as an "internationally known publisher and collector, college trustee and philanthropist." As the materials in the George A. Plimpton Papers testify, those four areas of activity dominated Plimpton's public and private lives. Actually, thats not far off from how my mom felt when she first met him. He watched the first pitch sail high for a ball, and then hit a rope into left field. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Family (1) Spouse After finishing at Harvard in 1950, he attended King's College, Cambridge, from 1950 to 1952, and graduated with third class honors in English. He was also an accomplished birdwatcher. No, my fathers voice was not an act, something chosen or practiced in front of mirrors: he came from a different world, where people talked differently, and about different things; where certain things were discussed, and certain things were notand his voice simply reflected this. For such admissions to escape my fathers lips, they always had to be a little removed somehow. Heres a sampling for today, with more planned in the days ahead. He smiled broadly, signaled for the coach to send Lupica in to run for him, and trotted back to the sidelines. I live in Connecticut which is both the richest and poorest state in the union - I think we still are - and we have our fair share of extremely rich folk who sit around all day in their large victorians wearing rockport loafers, no sox, khaki pants and a polo-shirt with the collar up. Among other challenges for Sports Illustrated, he attempted to play top-level bridge, and spent some time as a high-wire circus performer. She is the product of a line of the original Dutch settlers of New York and grew up in Tuxedo Park and the Gramercy Park area of Manhattan, very exclusive. So it was that my father played himself not just in movies and on TV, but in life, too. By George Plimpton. Off screen, George Plimpton and Gore Vidal come to mind. Between 1945 and 1948, Plimpton was a soldier in the United States Army. Buckley clearly flaunts it, probably to set himself apart from the hoi polloi of his contemporaries. By George Plimpton. . As an old film buff, I am used to this voice, though it figures unevenly in old movies. These are some of the things my father could not say: Shit. Fuck. I love you. His curses were never actually curse-words, though it was perhaps because of this that they held such weight. Another entertainment-related explanation for the shift, right about the time of the Eisenhower-Kennedy transition: The plumby announcer voice that hovers over the Atlantic midway between the Eastern Seaboard and England was mortally wounded in 1959. Several weeks later at a book party, he spotted two writers who had played in that game. I think that perhaps Harris' portrayal of Dr. Smith made the accent so identified with cowardly buffoonery that no one in the baby boom generation and later would want to use the accent as anything other than a joke.