Author Archives

As a reporter for Channel 7 in Boston for 31 years, I was witness to most of the major events affecting the region. I met a lot of people ... politicians, actors, moguls, criminals and many regular folks caught up in extraordinary situations. Sometimes, I write about the people I've met and places I've been. Sometimes, I write about life, my family, my dogs and me. Or what might otherwise be called Life.

• Notes on a Cowardly Lion: A Biography of Bert Lahr

  By Garry Armstrong on June 4, 2023 • ( 4 )

  

  It’s been more than a week since I finished reading the Bert Lahr biography, “Notes on a Cowardly Lion“, written by his son, John. I am still emotionally involved. Why? Why does a book written more than 40 years ago about… Read More ›

• JIMMY STEWART AND THE ALMOST INTERVIEW

  By Garry Armstrong on May 31, 2023 • ( 7 )

  

  Full disclosure upfront, I never met Jimmy Stewart. No interviews. No emails. No phone conversations. But I’ve got Jimmy Stewart in my brain, TCM’s was airing most of the legendary star’s films from the 1930s through 1980s. There was a… Read More ›

• TWO RIVERS

  By Garry Armstrong on May 23, 2023 • ( 3 )

  

  Photos: Garry Armstrong Location: Mumford and Blackstone Rivers Uxbridge is ready for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. The flags are up and will stay in place through the summer. There never seems to be a good reason to… Read More ›

• TO OWEN GARRY KRAUS, HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS

  By Garry Armstrong on May 7, 2023 • ( 5 )

  

  First, let’s get the confusing part out of the way. This is a tribute to my stepson/godson. Say what? Let’s jump on the time machine and, at warp speed, go back to the early 60’s. It’s so clear but I… Read More ›

• VILLAGE MEMORIES: HARRY BELAFONTE by GARRY ARMSTRONG

  By Garry Armstrong on May 2, 2023 • ( 16 )

  

  In 1968, back when Greenwich Village was where all the “cool people” hung out, Leon Bibb was a popular folk singer and a frequent guest on the folk show I hosted at WVHC at Hofstra University (which was still a… Read More ›

• THE DOG WITH A YELLOW BOW

  By Garry Armstrong on April 24, 2023 • ( 21 )

  

  Photos by Garry Armstrong The Duke is Marilyn’s secret weapon. When the cowbirds are being particularly obnoxious, she tells him to go outside and bark at the birds. He used to look confused but these days, he goes outside. Sniffs… Read More ›

• “TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD” REVISITED – GARRY ARMSTRONG

  By Garry Armstrong on April 24, 2023 • ( 23 )

  

  We talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. We seem to be going backwards. It’s great cocktail conversation among progressives, but not much happens when the party is over.

• HEMINGWAY: THE MAN AND THE LEGEND – Garry Armstrong

  By Garry Armstrong on April 19, 2023 • ( 16 )

  

  Hemingway was my first literary hero. He wrote the way people talked. Brief, blunt and brave. I consumed his novels as a teenager the way I would finish off a pizza. I couldn’t put it down. “The Sun Also Rises”… Read More ›

• GARRY DOWN BY THE BLACKSTONE

  By Garry Armstrong on April 14, 2023 • ( 2 )

  

  FOTD – April 14 – DOWN BY THE BLACKSTONE As is typical, when one of us is taking pictures, there are two of us. And so it was yesterday, the first really hot day of 2023. And make no mistake, it… Read More ›

• MOSES, MEL, AND ME – GARRY ARMSTRONG

  By Garry Armstrong on March 27, 2023 • ( 31 )

  

  Before I put a finger on the keyboard, I admit this is probably heresy, at least to some people. As Easter approaches, one simply doesn’t make fun of religious movies. But I do. Last night, Marilyn and I had our annual viewing of… Read More ›

• WE NEVER WERE A CURRIER AND IVES COUPLE by GARRY ARMSTRONG

  By Garry Armstrong on March 26, 2023 • ( 14 )

  

  Who knows what will be coming down the road? Today might be “the good old days” a month from now.

• WAR STORIES AND PODCAST MEMORIES – Garry Armstrong

  By Garry Armstrong on February 18, 2023 • ( 33 )

  

  I’ve procrastinated too long on writing “my book” about life in the fast lane as a TV news reporter for more than 40 years. I may have found a reprieve thanks to an old friend who has given birth to… Read More ›

• MEMORIES AS THE DAYS PASS

  By Garry Armstrong on February 10, 2023 • ( 7 )

  

  Cue up Sinatra’s “My Way” for this one. It’s applicable for some of the random thoughts I’ll float your way. It’s perfect for some of the bonehead things in my past. My way is how I did some things through… Read More ›

• THE REAL BEGINNING

  By Garry Armstrong on February 3, 2023 • ( 18 )

  As much as I hate telephones, I loathed pagers. I was, admittedly, spoiled by years of minimal interference in the field. We did the usual schtick on the 2-way. Hand over mouth responding, “We can’t hear you. You’re breaking up…. Read More ›

• INTOLERANCE: REEL AND REAL By GARRY ARMSTRONG

  By Garry Armstrong on December 17, 2022 • ( 47 )

  

  A friend today posted a review of “Schindler’s List” which he had just seen for the first time, 30-years after the acclaimed movie’s release. My friend talked about the film’s haunting power, its narrative about one man’s brave quest to… Read More ›

• UXBRIDGE BY NIGHT by GARRY ARMSTRONG

  By Garry Armstrong on December 4, 2022 • ( 24 )

  

  They haven’t put up the holiday lights yet. They usually do it at the beginning of December, so if it doesn’t snow too much, early next week the lights will go up. Hope everybody had a good holiday, no matter… Read More ›

• LATE GOLDEN OCTOBER DAYS

  By Garry Armstrong on October 27, 2022 • ( 6 )

  

  Festival of Leaves 2022 Week #6: Late October Color in the Blackstone Valley All photographs: Garry Armstrong It may not be the absolutely last day of this beautiful autumn, but it’s getting close. I went to bring down the recycling bin… Read More ›

• BAD BEHAVIOR TRUMPS RACE, CREED AND GENDER – GARRY ARMSTRONG

  By Garry Armstrong on October 8, 2022 • ( 9 )

  

  What our angry world does not need is even more pointless intolerance. There’s no excuse for not using a modicum of civility when dealing with others, especially in the workplace. It doesn’t matter how bad a day you’ve had. Do… Read More ›

• Y IS FOR YELLOW LEAVES ON AUTUMN TREES – By GARRY ARMSTRONG

  By Garry Armstrong on October 8, 2022 • ( 3 )

  

  FOTD – October 8 – YELLOW LEAVES ON THE TREES Yellow with brilliant red patches. The world aglow with color and with the sun out? It’s absolutely blinding!

• GARRY AND BERNIE SCHWARTZ

  By Garry Armstrong on October 3, 2022 • ( 8 )

  

  Those of you who are regular visitors to this site know I like to share stories about my encounters with legendary stars from old Hollywood. The shares come from my working days as a TV news reporter. It was a… Read More ›