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“OVER MY SHOULDER”

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"Over My Shoulder"
by
Steve H Kehoe


On August 8th of this year movie fans the world over lost one of their greatest female performers. Patricia Neal died at the age of 84, having spent most of her life in movies and on Broadway, since the age of 20. Her most famous role was that of Helen Benson in 1951's "spaceman classic", "The Day the Earth Stood Still", opposite mysterious Michael Rennie, who played the spaceman "Klaatu". Her finest achievement, for which she won an Oscar in 1963, was playing frowsy housekeeper Alma Brown, alongside Paul Newman in "Hud". This writer's favorite role for her was as Nurse Maggie Haines, in 1965's "In Harm's Way", opposite John Wayne's character, Admiral Rockwell Torrey.

Kentucky-born Patricia grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and studied drama in Evanston, Illinois at Northwestern University. After arriving in New York, she won a Tony award in only her second appearance on Broadway. Her film career launched in 1949; in that same year began her love affair with married man Gary Cooper, in "The Fountainhead", based on the controversial novel by "Objectivist" Russian emigree, Ayn Rand. After "Operation Pacific" in 1952-her third successful film-the breakup of her relationship with Cooper caused her to have a nervous breakdown, after which she returned to Broadway from Hollywood's mad scene. She enjoyed several consecutive successes, including a role opposite Audrey Hepburn in 1961's faux classic "Breakfast at Tiffany's. Her Oscar in "Hud" was the capstone of her career, but she did receive many other film awards. She was offered the role of Mrs. Robinson in "The Graduate", but turned it down owing to her three stokes suffered; "The Subject was Roses" (1968) marked her return to the silver screen, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. Moving to the small screen, she starred as Olivia Walton in several episodes, winning a Golden Globe. Her health prevented her from being headlined in that role, which was continued by Michael Learned. She had an opportunity to showcase her failing health in 1975's "Little House on the Prairie", playing a dying widow trying to comfort her three children. Pat received a Lifetime Achievement award in 2009, capping a sixty-plus year acting career. A personal life laced with tragedy held back a major portion of her talent, to be sure, but her screen presence in the movies I mentioned vault her to near the apex of female actors.
She will be missed. The great ones always are.
Steve H Kehoe, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

"Over My Shoulder"
Restaurant Review: Yamato Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
WSW Loop 323, Tyler, Texas

"Domo! Arigato!" is what you'll be saying to your host or hostess as you pay your check and exit this very nice establishment on the Southwest side of Tyler. Recently built to compete with Shogun, which has been a staple in the area for many years, Yamato effects both the look and the ambiance of the Benihana chain, known for so long to this writer, his "B.W." (with whom he was on an abekku-a date), and their dining companions celebrating a birthday. Liberal parking starts off your adventure on a good note; there is also valet parking available should that be desired. Once inside, you are greeted by a kimono-clad hostess-or host-dressed in black with crimson floral adornments, and shown to one of around a dozen hibachi tables, which seat twelve comfortably. Though this was on a weekday night and the place was not full, still, reservations are desired. Removal of your shoes is not necessary, nor even hinted at (Deo gratias). Should you desire, you may turn right, & enter the spacious sushi bar to view and sample the various offerings that range from $3.95 to upwards of ten dollars, depending on quantity and specie available. But for our party of four, we elected to head straight to the first open hibachi table, where the chef was ready and at once began his culinary showmanship routine, with whirling knives and spatulae which he tossed about with great aplomb while he spread cooking oil on the ultra-hot-and-ready table grill. The four of us were properly regaled by both the quality and quantity of the food being prepared right before our eyes by a veteran chef, whose snappy patter and gesturing was neither overdone nor annoying.

Appetizers and drinks were ordered; Yamato had Kirin beer as well as most any kind of domestic brew, wine, mixed drinks including manhattans, and sake, which could be served either room temperature, or warmed. Available in two sizes-"regular" for $4.00, or "Larger" for an additional three, your writer opted for the "regular", heated, and was not disappointed in either the quantity or the taste. While we were finishing our salads, our chef was frying rice simultaneously with rib-eyes, cut and cubed, and shrimp, along with noodles. He served each in turn as soon as it (and we) were ready, so we felt neither rushed nor neglected. I'm here to tell ya, folks, you will be impressed, as we were, with the quantity of really good food, as well as delighted with the "show" in its preparation. Some of us opted for the nightly special: both rib-eye and chicken for only $16.95, and others ordered the Shrimp and scallops for $20. Both entrees included the salad, a mega-helping of vegetables cooked right on the hibachi, and the rice and noodles. If anybody gets up to leave not feeling full, they just were not trying. You want chicken fried steak? Don't come here.

Since it was our friend's birthday, out came the waitstaff chanting "Happy Birthday" in Japanese (although it could have been a Houston accent, I don't know...) carrying both a gong (to ward off the evil spirits of old age, one must assume) and a "pineapple boat" sectioned into small bites and laden with whipped cream and maraschino cherries. We witnessed an extra delight: There was a 14-yr old boy present with his family, and he received the same birthday treatment. In addition, his chef flipped him a cooked shrimp from about ten feet away, which the lad caught in his mouth on the first try!

Now I ask you: Who has more fun than people? I can only think of three reasons why you should travel to south Tyler and visit Yamato: (1) Ample parking (2) GREAT and healthy food, with large portions (3) A table-side show that will leave your guests gasping in amazement. Do visit Yamato next time you have a special occasion to celebrate-or-just to indulge your appreciation for the extraordinary.

Steve H Kehoe, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it