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🎵 PRELUDE: Look At Me I’m Sandra Dee
The song “Look at Me. I’m Sandra Dee” is from the musical Grease. It was written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical was originally performed on stage and was later adapted as a musical film in 1978. The movie starred Olivia Newton-John as Sandy Olsson and John Travolta as Danny Zuko.
For those who have not seen the movie, it’s about an American boy, Danny Zuko, and a vacationing Australian girl, Sandy Olsson, who meet and fall in love at the beach. Danny is a greaser and Sandy, a “goody two shoes” or “square,” as they would describe someone like this in the 50s, the setting for this show. At the end of the movie, Sandy decides to change her public persona and image to fit in with the Pink Ladies and greasers in order to win Danny’s heart.
“Look at Me. I’m Sandra Dee” is sung twice in the movie. First, by the characters Rizzo and the Pink Ladies (girl greasers) and also at the end of the movie (the reprise) by Sandy. In this latter version, Sandy revises prior lyrics and states, “Goodbye to Sandra Dee.”
Olivia Newton-John was a British-born Australian singer, actress and activist, and four-time Grammy Award winner. Her music career included five number-one hits. She passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California after a long battle with breast cancer on August 8, 2022, at the age of 73.
For those who love musical theater, the Bedford Playhouse is presenting its third installment of a series called “Broadway in Bedford” on Sunday, August 28. Three professional Broadway performers will take the stage and entertain the audience with songs from the “Golden Age of Broadway.” One of the singers, Janine DiVita, played Rizzo in Grease on Broadway as well as Eva Peron in EVITA.
— ELISA ZUCKERBERG, Founder of HearItThere.com, an online resource for live music events in the Hudson Valley and Fairfield County.
📰 ICYMI: This Week’s Features
Ice (Cream) Castles
How a flat tire in Hartsdale led to Tom Carvel’s multimillion-dollar ice cream empire — and a complicated legacy.
Local Photog Captures Magical Moment in Yorktown
Pic of special Springsteen tribute band fan tells more than 1,000 words
Local effort to combat gun violence: “It’s scary, it’s crazy”
Funding comes in aftermath of July shootings in Peekskill
Political Pot Poised to Boil
Big night for local center-left Dems
What to Do This Weekend: Your Best Bets
Westchester Reprises Local Volunteer Efforts for 9/11 Weekend
📡 THE FEED: Curated News in Brief
Democratic Incumbents Maloney, Bowman Win Congressional Primaries: Democratic incumbent congressmen Sean Patrick Maloney and Jamaal Bowman coasted to victories in their party’s primary Tuesday night. (Examiner)
Police Issue Warning After Rash of Car Thefts in Westchester: A total of 71 cars have been stolen out of the driveways of Rye homes over the last five months, and police say they’re concerned that the suspects are escalating to home break-ins. (Yahoo)
New Leaders at Putnam Valley High School Named: When students return to Putnam Valley High School in September, they will have two new leaders running the show. (Examiner)
Harry Potter – A Forbidden Forest Experience” Coming to Westchester: Twenty-five years after the first “Harry Potter” book was published, his wizarding world just keeps growing with movies, theme parks, and now an interactive experience in Westchester County. (CBS 2 NY)
Grants Announced to Combat Peekskill Gun Violence: For the City of Peekskill, the battle against crime and gun violence was just bolstered by significant funds received through grants totaling $100,000. (Examiner)
Fallen Firefighter in Thornwood Honored with Street Name: More than 100 people and several local fire departments gathered last Saturday afternoon to honor volunteer firefighter Sean Carroll who died in a fire in his family’s home early on Thanksgiving morning last year. (Examiner)
🔢 BY THE NUMBERS
📅 FLASHBACK: 1932
1932 photo of Westchester Country Club in Rye. The club was established in 1922 by John McEntee Bowman. After working his way up from stableboy to owner of the Biltmore hotel group in true American dream fashion, Bowman’s vision was a paradise, not too far from Manhattan, brimming with luxury and money. And so, after purchasing 583 acres and almost 100 more just a few months later (but not before joining the USGA), the Westchester-Biltmore Country Club was born. They went on to open The Beach Club only weeks later, bringing the project to more than 6 million dollars. Membership was just $25 — high for the time, but nothing compared to the $200,000 fee today. Presently, the club hosts frequent PGA tournaments, including the notable “Westchester Classic,” and continues to boast the iconic clubhouse from its original founding. — MADDIE STONE
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