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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 1995)
Arts ©Entertainment Tuesday, September 19, 1995 Page 9 Jeff Randall G.I. Joes memorable action toys Call me old, crotchety, and overly sentimental, but I remember the days when glorified violence for children really meant something. I remember when my life revolved around a collection of 3 1/2-inch plas tic action figures known collectively as G.I. Joes. And I remember how, every weekday afternoon, I would rush home from school in order to make it just in time to hear the strains of the G.I. Joe cartoon series’ opening theme. Now there was a “real American hero.” There was a real American toy. For $3.99 (or somewhere around there) you got an action figure, a min iature backpack and, at the very least, one tiny plastic high-caliber weapon of some sort — pistols, bow-and-ar rows, rifles, AK-47s, anything that maimed or killed (in the real world, that is) was welcome. And the kung-fu grip! Egad, there was hardly anything cooler to my 7 year-old imagination than an action figure that could actually swivel its forearm... ...... _r. . . My friends and I eagerly antici pated the day-to-day adventures of our favorite toys as they sprang to life on our television screens in full color, hand-drawn narratives. Somehow, I always knew that Duke’s voice was supposed to sound like that. And seeing Cobra Com mander actually reign terror in full animation was a sight we could hardly wait to see every day. When the show ended, we amassed our own versions of the characters and put on our own adventures, or contin ued the ones started by the cartoon series. We dug my neighbor’s sandbox into a complex desert landscape, com plete with twig cacti and garden hose fed rivers. We staged wars the likes of which the Pentagon could never have planned. Our battle plans were as re markable as those made by Julius Caesar or Napoleon. We were war kingpins on a massive scale. We put our action figures through excruciating torture— burying them in sand, dropping them from trees, and forcing them together in outstand ing duels to the death. But in the end, when the afternoon’s adventure ended and we went to our respective homes for dinner, we still had our hyperactive imaginationsand, most importantly, we still had our action figures. It’s been a long time since those days, and I have long since sold off my G.I. Joe collection, but I still have the memories. And I will still occasion ally find a 1/4 inch plastic Uzi in my sock drawer. Mighty Morphin ’ Power Rangers? They’ve got nothing on my childhood 'heroes. Randall Is a sophomore news-editorial major and a Daily Nebraskan senior re porter. Send your “Deja Vu” to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68S88-0448 or e mail dn@unlinfo.unl.edu. Submissions become the property of the Daily Ne braskan. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject all submis sions. ^ James Mehsling/DN Jazz legend Exhibit features Ellington’s cultural impact By Jeff Randall Senior Reporter He may have been just one man, but when Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington performed and composed the music that made him famous, he spoke for many. “He says what needs to be said about the lives we all live, and he says it with a lot of class and a lot of grace,” said Venita Kelley, a profes sor of communication studies and African-American/African studiesat UNL. “What else can be said? He’s the Duke.” Much more will be said in the next few weeks, though, during a series of musical, historical and philosophical events about the life, times and music of Ellington. The events arrive in conjunction with a traveling Ellington exhibit created by the Smithsonian Insti tute. The exhibit, entitled “Beyond Category: The Musical Genius of Duke Ellington” is housed on the second floor of Love Library and will remain there until Nov. 2. The exhibit opened Monday. Eva Sartori, a development li brarian at Love Library, said the exhibit was a valuable resource for both seasoned jazz fans and the un familiar. “I think it’s a wonderful opportu nity to begin learning about a period and a place in American culture, as well as learn more about Duke Ellington and his music,” Sartori said. Love Library is one of 30 librar ies nationwide selected to house the exhibit, which features photographs, papers and video presentations con cerned with Ellington and the cul ture in which he lived, Sartori said. One of its features is an interactive video that will allow people to hear the different parts of Ellington’s or chestra. As a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance and one ofthe founders of jazz music, Ellington is remem bered for contributions to both mu See ELLINGTON on 10 Warrant to invade country By Gerry Beltz Senior Reporter " Tonight, two-steppers and headbangers will come together. Warrant, whose hits include “Cherry Pie” and Ode to Tipper Gore,” wifi play at Guitars and Cadillacs, 5400 O St., as part of a world tour supporting their latest re lease, “UltraPnobic.” Matt Rohlfs, entertainment director at Guitars and Cadillacs, said the band fit the club’s goal of looking for a variety of entertainment. “We’re looking to do a va riety of stuff right now,” Rohlfs said. “Country-western music is right up there, but as a club venue, we’re always looking for other stuff.” This isn’t the first or last time that a non country act has played at Guitars and Cadillacs, he said. Rohlfs said .38 Special will be playing at the club on Oct. 8. “We’re still hard-rocking to country-western, but we’re trying to have a little for everybody,” he said. And the dichotomy of musical tastes between fans of Warrant and typical Guitars and Cadillacs patrons isn’t a concern for this concert, he said. “This is the best place around to catch a live show; the acoustics here are just great, and there’s not a bad seat in the house. It’ll be a sweet show.” Part of the concert’s anticipated success should be credited to KIBZ-FM, he said. “We’ve been working closely with ‘The Blaze,”’ he said. “They were a little nervous coming out here because of our venue, but quickly became excited about it.” Rohlfs said advance ticket sales had been good, but he expected an even larger crowd. “We’re expecting a large walk-up crowd,” he See WARRANT on 10 Bradymania strikes East Union tonight From Staff Reports Bradymania is about to hit the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Union. Barry Williams, TV’s Greg Brady, brings his irreverent humor and Brady insights to campus tonight at 8. Williamshasbeen touringfor several years, performing for sell-out crowds at college cam puses across the country and teaching Brady fans what it was really like to grow up in the Brady house. Williams’ presentation will include a ques tion and answer session, a brief biography of himself, a biography and history of the Brady Bunch and an interactive performance where the audience gets to dance like the Bradys. He will also sign his best-selling book “Growing Up Brady.” The show is open to the public, and tickets are $3 for students, 55 general admission. Upcoming events Now through Nov. 2: "Beyond Category: The Musical Genius of Duke Ellington," historical exhibit, at Love Library, 2nd floor. Tonight: Nebraska Jazz Orchestra plays Ellington's "Suite Thursday" at Ramada Hotel in Lincoln, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30: "Duke Ellington and His Music," lecture by Wynton Marsalis at Kimball Recital Hall on UNL City Campus, 7 p.m. Sept. 30: Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Wynton Marsalis, concert at Lied Center for Performing Arts, 8 p.m. Sept. 30: Opening reception of "Beyond Category: The Musical Genius of Duke Ellington" at Love Library, 2nd floor, 10 p.m. Oct. 10: "The Music of Duke Ellington," lecture by professor David Sharp at Westbrook Music Building, Room 119, 7:30 p.m. Oct 13: "TTie Music of Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus," UNL Jazz Ensemble, conducted by professor David Sharp, concert at Kimball Recital Hall, 8 p.m. Oct. 27: "Duke Ellington and the Harlem Renaissance," lecture by professor Venita Kelley, Love Library auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9: Angela Hagenbach and the Musa Nova Sextet, concert at Kimball Recital Hall, 8 p.m.