THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Until 1955, before Elvis Presley got a sniff of stardom, he was on the brink of greatness. Months later, his name was “marqueed” in capital letters nationwide. A 20 year-old credited with making rock-and-roll music a national phenomenon, he could not have known how short “brinks” sometimes can be. About six months after crowding

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury When my Uncle Mort draws a bead on topics, he redefines “random.” He’s as likely to converse about frogs “belly-bouncing” into his favorite fishing hole as he is about whether there’s life in distant galaxies. Recently, he targeted a favorite snack, Graham Crackers. How’s that for random? His latest query may justify placement at

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The story goes that a long-ago West Texas man–beloved in his community–talked incessantly about Fort Worth, his favorite city, even though he’d never been there.  He usually referred to it as “Cowtown” or “Where the West Begins.” (The former nickname was introduced by cattle barons in the 1860s; the latter description started in 1923.

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury About two months ago–after more than 23 years of writing weekly columns–I took my leave. (OK, maybe it’s my “weakly” assembly of words masquerading as columns might be more accurate.) Whatever, I’m back.  Perhaps a few of my pieces have been tolerable, some meriting smiles that gave way to laughter, and –on rarest occasions–a

THE IDLE AMERICAN THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Readers with long memories yearn for more clean, creative humor. Sadly, folks in the first half of their lives are clueless about the golden years of radio. It featured 30-minute comedy shows with multiple thigh-slapping moments via radio. The late Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding teamed up for the Bob and Ray

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury It’s no  longer likely that many sons and daughters will enter their parents’ professions.  There are exceptions, of course. Seventy-six-year-old Harold Barton is one, son of the late Sonny Barton, who opened his downtown Fort Worth business in 1949, then re-located Barton’s Garage in 1963 to its current location.  It could hardly be more obscure–1615

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Persons claiming to have the same mental faculties and physical capabilities that they had a half-century ago probably fib about other things, too. Some formerly judged such jokers to be guilty of committing “terminological inexactitudes,” a term far kinder than “bald-faced liars!”  Most readers  identify with old age and have heard the oft-told jokes about

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Too much is expected of us–we folks of a certain age–whether man or woman.  Society yawns as we strive to avoid violent foul-ups in the fast lane; we weep, choking on the dust of the younger set, some of whom are eager to push us toward side roads.  Sometimes, side roads can be found.

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Whoops! I almost used the age-old idiom about never saying never. First in print back in the 14 th century, it was featured in 2020 as background music for the popular movie, The Karate Kid. It is familiar to the masses, and that’s well and good for most of us. But not all.  Brian Janak, my