Kestrel Explains It All For You

     Those of us who have been blessed with erudition often find it incumbent upon ourselves to explain those references in our everyday speech that might perhaps fall outside the purview of the average reader. And so Mr. Payne, the manager of our little enterprise, has asked me to step forward and make what explanations I am able concerning this particular installment of out first adventure.

• Earl to my Louis: Earl "Fatha" Hines, piano, and Louis Armstrong, cornet & trumpet, were two of the pioneering lights in the American art form known as jazz. The two men apparently didn't care much for each other's company, but the recordings they made together in the 1930s--especially their marvelous duet "Weatherbird"--redefined the very essence of the music;
• Babs to my Buster: Babs Bunny, voiced by Tress McNeille, and Buster Bunny, voiced by Charlie Adler, were the "first among equals" in the ensemble cast of the cartoon show Tiny Toon Adventures. They often joked about how they were not related to each other and indeed were linked romantically by the time the series ended;
• Harvey to my Elwood: These are the main characters in Harvey, Mary Chase's immortal classic of the stage and screen. I am comparing myself to the idealistic and possibly delusional Elwood P. Dowd and imploring Tersichore to play the part of Dowd's not-quite-imaginary best friend, a six foot tall invisible rabbit;
• Irma to my Jerry: Irma, a semi-persian alley cat, and Jerry, a pedigree cocker spaniel, meet in the novel Irma and Jerry by George Selden, best known as the author of The Cricket in Times Square. The cat and dog become more than friends while having adventures in and around New York City's Greenwich Village;
• Sand to my Chopin: Aurore Dupin, born in Paris in 1804, became one of the foremost literary figures of her day under the pen name George Sand. She met the composer and pianist Frederic Chopin in 1838, and the two inspired some of each other's most interesting work during their stormy, nine-year-long relationship;
• Ignatz to my Krazy: Those unfamiliar with the incredible 30 year run of the comic strip Krazy Kat owe it to themselves to leave this falderal behind immediately, fire up their internet connection, and take this link to what I believe is the official Krazy Kat web site. Ignatz Mouse attempted to dampen the ardor of Krazy Kat's affection for him by hurling bricks at the kat's head, all to no avail;
• Stan each other's Ollie: Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy hurled more than bricks during their long screen partnership. "Two minds without a single thought" stands as more a philosophical statement with these two than a motto;
• Bob each other's Bing: Bob Hope and Bing Crosby were paired in a series of wonderfully silly films that played upon their collective strengths as comedic improvisators. Their adventures inspire me to this very day.

     There. I hope this has provided some enlightenment to you.

                                        Sincerely Yours,
                                  
                                        Kestrel B. Finch

P.S.: This link will return you to the Terebinth page in question.