Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 10, 2015

12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 Mountain Views News Saturday, October 10, 2015 

Jeff’s History Corner By Jeff Brown

SEAN’S SHAMELESS 

REVIEWS:

FORT LEAN – QUIET DAY 

By Sean Kayden


1.Back in 1891, a man named Edwin Waldo Ward 
Sr. moved to Sierra Madre with a dream. He 
first purchased 10 acres of land from the town’s
founder, Nathaniel Carter, and planted the land 
with Navel oranges. He acquired 20 more acres 
a few years later totaling 30 acres of land. At
the time, he was a salesman for James P. Smith & Co., 
a New York importer of luxury foods. Ward became 
the company’s western representative. He married in 
1900 and built the beautiful home and the red barn at 
273 E. Highland Ave in 1902. Ward’s big dream was 
to produce his own marmalade. In 1915 he retired as 
a salesman and for three years experimented with 
marmalade making. By 1918, satisfied he had the recipe 
he was seeking, he began his preserving business.The
business thrived, and for years, when dining was 
a fine experience on trains crossing America, 
Ward’s marmalade was the only one served on
many trains. Over 100 years later, E. Waldo Ward 
& Son’s list of products has grown and marmalade 
now only accounts for 10 percent of their sales. The 
company is now being run by the third and fourth 
generations of the Ward family who have kept the 
farm intact, including the historic canning factory 
building and the newly restored red barn.Still a great 
place to visit and get wonderful jams and jellies.
2. On October 6, 1950, the last Pacific 
Electric train left from Sierra Madre.In 1951, 
Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team was 
established by Larry Shepherd and Fred 
LaLone. In 1967, Britains’s Princess Margaret 
visited the British Home in Sierra Madre.


3.Predominately through the efforts of a few 
dedicated Sierra Madre residents, the Sierra 
Madre Historical Wilderness Area was established
by declaration of the City Council on January 24, 1967. 
When it was dedicated on January 27, 1968, Sierra 
Madre was the first city in Southern California to own 
a wilderness preserve. The Sierra Madre City Council 
added the Mt. Wilson Trail to the Sierra Madre 
Register of Historic Cultural Landmarks in 1993.


4.California is bigger than eighty-five of the smallest 
nations in the world.


5.California holds within it the most diverse 
environment on the planet.


6.The Central Valley of Calif., a flat plain 75 miles 
wide and 430 miles long had become the richest 
farming region in the history of the world.

Quiet Day has been in the 
making for some time for 
the Brooklyn quintet, Fort 
Lean. The group has been active since 2011 when 
they first released their eponymous EP. Throughout 
the years of discovery, searching for an identity 
and experimentation, Keenan Mitchell (vocals, 
guitar), Zach Fried (guitar), Will Runge (keyboard, 
guitar), Jake Aron (bass) and Sam Ubl (drums) have 
developed much buzz surrounding their released 
singles. Likewise, their live performances have 
stirred much excitement while opening up for acts 
like Future Islands and HAIM. They’ve explored an 
indie rock sound that balances between slacker rock 
and breezy pop rock. I’d have to say their style is the 
amalgamation of early 2000s rock (think Weezer) 
and modern day (think Surfer Blood). However, 
after all this time of collective songwriting, tweaking 
their pop sensibilities, and honing their craft, the 
band is completely prepared to introduce their debut 
album via Ooh La La Records. Is the band still on 
the right track as their buzz from 2012-2013 feels like 
yesterday’s news? 

 “Cut To The Chase” features the yearning vocals 
of Keenan Mitchell alongside charging drums and 
billowy snyths. With jangly guitars and powerpop 
tendencies, the opening track is a great way to get 
things underway. “Just A Little Spirit” gets you in the 
dancing mood with its pithy melodies and uplifting 
arrangements. Fort Lean create sharp tunes that are 
lean and mean. There’s no filler or fat on the edges 
and this allows the listener to really sink into each 
of their tracks. “Don’t Make It A Habit” is a bit more 
introspective than the previous two tracks. There’s a 
classic 60s rock quality to it making Fort Lean a band 
that can connect with those of previous generations. 
The format of the song shines throughout as Mitchell 
convincingly belts out the lyrics in the final stretch 
of the tune. “New Hobbies” explodes out of the gates 
with thumping guitar sounds and pounding drums. 
At less than two minutes, it’s the shortest track off 
Quiet Day, but remains equally as effective. The title 
track closes out the first half of the record. Fort Lean 
slows down their tempo tremendously with this 
dreamy, psychedelic endeavor that has the listener 
becoming lost within. The contemplative song walks 
a fine line between gloom and impending doom, but 
with all the somberness there’s still something rather 
endearing to be had. 

Artist: Fort Lean

Album: Quiet Day

Label: Ooh La La Records

Release Date: October 2nd, 2015

Review By: Sean Kayden

“In The Hospital” is Fort Lean’s most vigorous and 
well-crafted gem in their lineup of ten tracks. First 
of all, it’s irrefutably cool as the band takes a bleaker 
turn within their signature style. The self-destructive 
tune has a compelling chorus as Mitchell belts out 
the line, “I hope this night doesn’t put you in this 
hospital.” The guitars kind of shuffles back and forth 
before the chorus erupts into something hauntingly 
good. “Might’ve Misheard” brings Fort Lean back 
to their usual sound of explosiveness. It is a heavily 
layered as it is brimming with electricity. This band 
keeps moving forward with each track and it feels 
Fort Lean probably has way more to offer than just 
these ten cuts that made it to the record. “21” floats 
effortlessly with tender guitars and a lo-fi vibe. Once 
again, Fort Lean leans toward a dreamy affair, but 
never overplays that card. As dream-pop/dream-rock 
becomes more popular, Fort Lean knows exactly how 
to utilize this type of sound without wearing out its 
welcome. “Home For Dinner” is a bright, poppy, surf 
rock effort. Swirling guitars and fast drums are once 
again the right recipe for Fort Lean to cook up. 

The record flies by, but it is so, so good. It has this 
particular way of being an ideal way to transition 
from summer to autumn. Quiet Day is a cohesive, 
consistently sounding album from a band that’s 
always had a lot of promise and potential. While it 
took some years to finally see the light, Fort Lean’s 
debut LP doesn’t disappointment and should have 
them back on everyone’s radar that may have counted 
them out in recent years. 

Grade: 7.9 out of 10

Jeff’s Book Pics By Jeff Brown

Red and White Quilts: Infinite Variety: 
Presented by The American Folk Art 
Museum by Elizabeth Warren and Maggi 
Gordon

This significant catalog is a highly detailed look at 
the world’s most celebrated collection of red and 
white quilts. Like the Log Cabin or Baltimore-
style, the red and white quilt is a hugely popular 
genre of quilting. Colorfast Turkey red dye 
became readily available in the mid-nineteenth 
century, so red and white quilts became extremely 
popular, due not only to the newness of the color 
but also because of the extremely vibrant and 
punchy contrasting color scheme. Featuring over 
650 quilts from the past three centuries, this 
book is filled with the gorgeous and imaginative 
designs of feathered stars, diamonds, animals, oak 
leaves, baskets, lettering, and snowflakes, as well 
as fascinating examples of careful embroidery 
and appliqué. With inspiring handiwork, designs, 
and visual histories, this book exemplifies the 
sheer magnitude and poetry of red and white 
quilts and is a staple compendium of this beloved 
art form.Maggi is a Sierra Madre resident and 
has written a number of wonderful quilting 
books which are available on Amazon.com.


Columbus: The Four Voyages, 1492-1504 
by Laurence Bergreen

He knew nothing of celestial navigation or of 
the existence of the Pacific Ocean. He was a self-
promoting and ambitious entrepreneur. His maps 
were a hybrid of fantasy and delusion. When he 
did make land, he enslaved the populace he found, 
encouraged genocide, and polluted relations 
between peoples. He ended his career in near 
lunacy. But Columbus had one asset that made all 
the difference, an inborn sense of the sea, of wind 
and weather, and of selecting the optimal course 
to get from A to B. Laurence Bergreen’s energetic 
and bracing book gives the whole Columbus and 
most importantly, the whole of his career, not 
just the highlight of 1492. Columbus undertook 
three more voyages between 1494 and 1504, each 
designed to demonstrate that he could sail to 
China within a matter of weeks and convert those 
he found there to Christianity. By their conclusion, 
Columbus was broken in body and spirit, a hero 
undone by the tragic flaw of pride. If the first 
voyage illustrates the rewards of exploration, this 
book shows how the subsequent voyages illustrate 
the costs - political, moral, and economic.


Odette: World War Two’s Darling Spy by 
Penny Starns 

Odette Brailly entered the nation’s consciousness 
in the 1950s when her remarkable—and 
romantic—exploits as an SOE agent first came to 
light. She had been the first woman to be awarded 
the GC, as well as the Legion d’Honneur, and 
in 1950 the release of a film about her life made 
her the darling of the British popular press. But 
others openly questioned Odette’s personal and 
professional integrity, even claiming that she had 
a clandestine affair with her supervisor Captain 
Peter Churchill. In the first full biography of this 
incredible woman for nearly 60 years, it delves 
into recently opened SOE personnel files to reveal 
the true story of this wartime heroine and the 
officer who posed as her husband. From her life 
as a French housewife living in Britain and her 
undercover work with the French Resistance, 
to her arrest, torture, and unlikely survival in 
Ravensbruck concentration camp, it is revealed 
for the first time the truth of Odette’s mission.For 
Pat.


On the Marquee: Notes from the Sierra MadrePlayhouse

THE CONSTANT JUGGLE

By Artistic Director, Christian Lebano

The deadline for these essays seems to creep 
up on me lately. My day job has suddenly 
become more demanding and I find that I 
have less time to satisfy all my obligations at 
the Playhouse. It is a difficult and constant 
juggle as there is so much to do at SMP – 
and so much more I could do if I just had 
more time to devote to it.

Just last night I met with a possible designer 
for The Glass Menagerie, and today I was on 
the phone with another for a show which will 
be a special bonus for our audiences – about 
which I’m not quite ready to talk about. 
Yesterday I had a long talk with a director 
and we have decided not to go forward with 
Of Mice and Men this season which leaves 
a hole we are trying to fill. This was not 
an easy decision (I love that play) but the 
right one. We have a few terrific ideas for 
a replacement and will decide soon. I was 
very disappointed this week when we were 
turned down for rights for what I thought 
would be the perfect summer musical 
follow-up to Always…Patsy Cline – you never know why you don’t get rights for a certain show. 
I’m talking with Robert Marra (Patsy’s director) about what other shows might satisfy our patrons 
in that slot.

These are the conversations I need to be having as Artistic Director, but as lean a staff as we have 
makes me have to deal with a lot of other things that are vital to the growth and future of the 
Playhouse, as well. It’s a constant juggle. But I’m not really complaining. As I said a few essays back, 
this is what I have always imagined doing with my life – I just wish I could make my living this way 
and not have to squeeze it into what time I have left over!

We are always looking for an extra set of hands – if any of you have talents that you can share with 
the Playhouse or can convince others who do to help, I would be thrilled to talk with you. I can 
be reached at ArtisticDirector@SierraMadrePlayhouse.org. We are looking for a law firm who 
can help us with contracts and employment questions, we are looking for a CPA firm who would 
undertake a forensic audit so we can apply to more foundations for grants, we need a technical 
director to join our theater. Oh, the list goes on and on. If anyone wants to join me in juggling, I’ll 
supply the chainsaws!

Tickets are on sale now for A Christmas Memory and are selling briskly already. I think with the 
extraordinary reception we’ve had to Patsy and the great number of new patrons who have found 
us because of that show that we are likely to sell very well. We cannot extend this show, but should 
sales warrant it, we can add performances – we currently have 20 planned. I hope we’ll see you at a 
show over the holidays.

If you haven’t seen Patsy you have until October 30 to do so. If you think a show may be sold-out it 
is still worth calling Mary Baville in our box office and getting on the waiting list for the show you 
want – we sometimes get cancellations and Mary will call you and let you know. Remember we give 
20% discounts for groups of 10 or more who purchase their tickets ahead of their attendance date. 
Please call Mary at 626.355.4318 to arrange your purchase. 


DEAD MEN TELL NO LIES AT 

SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE ON OCTOBER 18

Anyone for a treasure map to….murder? Detective 
Charlie Chin gets involved with intrigue while 
looking for his son and uncovers a boat load of 
strangers, a treasure map, pirate ghosts and…
murder! Superstition can be deadly!

 Dead Men Tell No Lies. An interactive mystery. 
Presented by SanZman Productions, Renaissance 
Murder Mystery Players, and Sierra Madre 
Playhouse. At Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. (Sierra 
Madre is just east of Pasadena.) Ample free parking 
behind theatre. Sunday, October 18, 2015 at 7:00 
p.m. All seats $20. Reservations: (626) 355-4318. 
Online ticketing: www.sierramadreplayhouse.org