Here’s What’s New At The Zoo!

Some of you caught on right away. Some have been away all summer and might have missed it. Others might not have noticed anything at all.

This June, The Heavy Petting Zoo turned 13 years old. That’s right, the awkward teen years are upon us! So perhaps it’s no coincidence (but mostly it is…) that now’s the time we flip the switch on a number of changes I’d been pondering for some time.

One change is simple: The show’s subtitle.

“Make-Out Music and More from the 1930s, ‘40s, and ‘50s” was adopted when the show expanded to two hours, and my music library needed to expand along with it. But the truth is we sometimes dip into the 1920s on HPZ and, in the summer especially, into the kitschy sounds of the 1960s. 

Even though it’s a small thing, it’s always bothered me that the subtitle is simply not accurate! So we changed it.

Now HPZ proudly features “Make-Out Music and More from the Big Bands and Beyond.” 

It’s just as much of a mouthful (#marketinggenius) but leaves room for flexibility.

Rest assured the show remains the same great celebration of vintage classics you’ve come to love!

No More “Pettin’ In the Park”

Now, on to the next thing: The theme song.

For years, the “doot-doo-doot-doooo” of a muted trumpet was the bugle call that alerted listeners it’s time for HPZ. Dick Powell, star of radio and film, wasn’t far behind with a curious song about the merits of outdoor canoodling.

The ditty comes from the Busby Berkley film Gold Diggers of 1933, and the lyrics alone made it the perfect, somewhat humorous kickoff for a show hocking “make-out music.”

Dick Powell with bookA couple years ago, in the waning days of my cable TV subscription, I caught Gold Diggers of 1933 on TCM. I landed on the film just as they began singing “Pettin’ In the Park” and sat attentively, excited to finally see the song in its original context. Then, I was horrified.

 The audio-only version of the song entails Dick Powell declaring:

Every night a body should relax /
After all the wear and tear.

Get the oxygen your body lacks /
Get it in the open air.

In film, he’s singing these lyrics aloud as he reads a book called Advice For People In Love. The object of his affection is seated next to him on a park bench. And that’s when a trademark Busby Berkeley dance sequence unfolds, a scene which begins in a box of animal crackers-turned-zoo and introduces us to a baby (a BIG baby, who can somehow roller skate) who shoots spitballs at cops.

Those curiosities aside, it was the portrayal of women — and the treatment of women by men — that mortified me the most.

Some of this is to be expected when one watches films of this era, a time when some might say women “knew their place” and traditional gender roles were depicted prominently on screen and radio.

 But in Gold Diggers of 1933, specifically during “Pettin’ In the Park,” we see men so adamantly pursuing women that not only does our “Big Baby” (henceforth known as Perv Baby) lift a curtain on the women so the men can watch them change out of their rain-drenched clothes, we also have to sit back and watch as these women put on dresses made of tin to try to keep the men at bay. After all, the men won’t take “no” for an answer.


But tin bodices are not enough. The camera zooms in on Powell, who throws his chin in his hands in a fit of frustration and leans away.

That’s where Perv Baby step in. And guess what, he can talk.

“I can help you,” he whispers to Powell as he hands over a pair of metal-cutting shears. With a bit of force, Powell turns his unwitting partner around so her back is to him, and he begins cutting away at the back of her dress.

Her body is his, not hers.

I presume most HPZ listeners have not seen this film, and many never will. Now that I have, I am unsettled.

I’m ashamed to have continued to use this theme song for as long as I did since seeing it in context (one of the perks of being on the radio is that you, dear listener, couldn’t see me cringe every time I played it).

I should have found a temporary theme song in the meantime until I found the perfect replacement.

“Make Yourself Comfortable”

Steve Lawrence and Eydie GorméAt least we can say something good came out of my acquisition of 43 albums (that I have no room for) at a recent SWAP Shop record sale. A diamond in the rough was the track “Make Yourself Comfortable” by Eydie Gormé and Steve Lawrence from Gormé’s album Eydie Gormé Delights.

In contrast with “Pettin’ In the Park,” we hear the voices of both a man and a woman (in fact, mostly the woman) dancing around their own mutual interest in one another. After hurrying through their dinner, hurrying through a dance, and leaving before a “picture show” was through, they settle in as Gormé declares, “I’ve got some records here to put you in the mood.”

Incidentally, that’s also HPZ’s specialty.

As the show fully embraces its awkward teen years, I hope you’ll keep tuning in to WSUM each Saturday night at 7 PM (Central) for “make-out music and more from the Big Bands and Beyond.”

Make yourself comfortable.

–Grandma Cyd

Ticket Giveaway November 12!

River City 6 The River City 6 are coming to the Coliseum Bar on Sunday, November 20 at 1:00 p.m.

Hailing from Iowa, the River City 6 is one of the most popular groups in the Midwest.  This versatile “little big band” consistently delights listeners with its unique and entertaining performances.  Their repertoire consists of Big Band, Swing, Latin, Dixieland, New Orleans and classics from the Great American Songbook.

YOU could win two tickets to the show!

Enter our drawing by emailing Grandma Cyd, posting to the HPZ Facebook page, tweeting us, or calling during a live HPZ broadcast to say you “want it!”

A drawing will be held on-air on Saturday, November 12 at 8:00 p.m.!

One entry per person, please. Current Madison Jazz Society members are not eligible to win.

Final Four Badgers logo

HPZ’s Final Four Survival Kit

The Badgers have advanced to the Final Four!!!
Wait… what’s that? You don’t give a rusty hoot?

Well then, look no further than right here for your…

HPZ “Final Four” Survival Kit!

It includes:

Instant access to Grandma Cyd’s Pandora station
Pandora logoAn audio archive of last Saturday’s show:
(in case you didn’t already hear it because you were watching the Badgers win in the Elite Eight)


Record the broadcast!

Can’t be near your radio or computer on Saturday night? Here’s a way to record the broadcast and listen later! Just follow these somewhat putzy instructions:

  1. Go to http://www.dar.fm
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  2. Click on “Click here to register” in the upper righthand corner of the page and follow the steps to create an account.
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  3. After you’ve created your account and signed in, type “WSUM” into the search bar at the top of the page.
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  4. Set the record time. You can choose to record on a specific date or to record on a weekly basis. Be sure to set the start time at 7:00 p.m. Central Time (GMT-06:00). The recording length is 2 hours.
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  5. Type in a name for your recording and click on “Schedule this recording”

After the show, you can play it back under the “Player” tab. You can also find instructions for mobile downloading and playback under the “Devices” tab.

Enjoy!

March 19, 2011 Playlist

The second half of this week’s show featured songs about the moon and moonlight in honor of the Super Moon.

Wisconsin Capitol Dome & Super Moon

Photo by Grandma Cyd

[1] Let’s Have Another Cup Of Coffee by Enric Madriguera & His Hotel Biltmore Orchestra from Paper Moon soundtrack

[2] Love Made A Gypsy Out Of Me by Rudy Vallee from Heigh-Ho Everybody, This Is Rudy Vallee

[3] I Got Rhythm by Judy Garland from The Very Best of Judy Garland

[4] The Continental by Artie Shaw from A String Of Pearls: Great Stars of the 1940s

[5] Between the Devil and the Deep Blue by Patricia Norman with Eddy Duchin & His Orchestra from Best of the Big Bands: Eddy Duchin

[6] Put Your Shoes On, Lucy by Russ Morgan from —-

[7] Our Winter Love by The Lettermen from Let It Snow! American Christmas Classics

[8] That’s Amore by Dean Martin from Capitol Collectors Series

[9] Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me by Connie Francis from Shaken, Not Stirred

[10] The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down by Music In the Russ Morgan Manner from Top Hits of the 1930s

[11] Time After Time by Frank Sinatra from The Magic Of Old Blue Eyes

[12] Love For Sale by The Three Girls Friends w/ Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians from Cole Porter: The Ultimate Collection

[13] The Girl From Ipanema by The Four Freshmen from Let’s Bacardi Party

[14] Young and Healthy by Dick Powell from Lullaby of Broadway [request]

[15] Eee-o-eleven by Sammy Davis Jr. from Heavy Petting Mix

[16] I Cover The Waterfront by Johnny Hartman from The Johnny Hartman Collection

[17] Moonlight Serenade by The Boston Pops (Arthur Fiedler, conductor) from Pops Varieties

[18] Moon River by Perry Como from The Best of Perry Como

[19] Moonglow by Doris Day from Whatever Will Be Will Be

[20] The Lamp Is Low by Ray Eberle w/ Glenn Miller and His Orchestra from The Great Band Era (1939)

[21] Moonlight Mood by Skip Nelson and the Modernaires w/ Glenn Miller and His Orchestra from The Great Band Era (1943)

[22] A Sailboat In the Moonlight by Carmen Lombardo w/ Guy Lombardo & His Orchestra from The Great Band Era (1937)

[23] Ol’ Buttermilk Sky by Bing Crosby from The Songs I Love

[24] Magic Is the Moonlight by Julie London from —-

[25] How High the Moon by Mary Ford and Les Paul from Moments To Remember

[26] In the Misty Moonlight by Dean Martin from Dino: The Essential Dean Martin

[27] Moonlight and Shadows by Lew Sherwood w/ Eddy Duchin & His Orchestra from The Great Band Era (1937)

[28] Moon Country by Hoagy Carmichael from Hoagy Carmichael Sings Hoagy Carmichael

[29] It’s Only A Paper Moon by Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra from Paper Moon soundtrack

[30]  East Of the Sun (And West of the Moon) by Arthur Tracy from Top Hits of the 1930s

[31] Honey-Coloured Moon by Hildegarde from Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup

[32] Moonray by Helen Forrest w/ Artie Shaw & His Orchestra from The Artie Shaw Story

[33] Allegheny Moon by Patti Page from —- [request]