A TOAST TO A SAFE AND HAPPY YEAR!
The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Na’ama Yehuda
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Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100
ED SULLIVAN PRESENTS
“My 8th grade friends adored the Monkees.”
“You didn’t, I presume.” Dale sips her Sangiovese.
“Beatles copycats created by NBC. Actors.”
“Not Kosher, eh?”
“As a ham sandwich. Like every other American kid, I glued myself to the TV, February 9, 1964, dazzled by the four lads from Liverpool. My 10-year-old heart floated on the clouds, unaware of any other guest stars.” I click a link. “Until now.”
“Anyone I’d know?”
“Ever hear of Davy Jones?”
“The Monkee? Sure.”
“He reprised his Oliver Twist role as the Artful Dodger that very night.”
“Who knew?”
I raise my glass. “Vive internet!”
*
*
The Monkees were handpicked by NBC for a silly television show to capitalize on the Beatles’ movie Help. Ironically, these four guys did become a band in their own right. And, for the record, I do enjoy their music.
R.I.P. David Jones – December 30, 1945 to February 29, 2012 😦
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
He had a not unconvincing London accent too
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He was born in Manchester.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I keep seeing Shrek in my head! I’m a Believer! Oh no, now the song is going to be stuck on repeat in my mind all night. Thanks, Rochelle lol.
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Dear Tanille,
There are worse songs to stick in your head, right? You made me laugh. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There are waaay worse songs! 😀
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No Daydream Believer, m’lady!
But when George sang ‘Here comes the sun…’ we all joined in!
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Dear CE,
I actually am fond of both songs. Of course, I’m fond of anything Beatles,
Shalom, little darlin’.
Rochelle
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Never heard of them before. Time to check out another band 😀
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Dear Bernadette,
To be fair, they’re before your time. 😉 I still like their music.
Shalom and happy new year,
Rochelle
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The monkeys, as a band I recall them well, thank for the memory
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Dear Michael,
The Monkees were actually put together by NBC but, ironically, became a band that toured for many years afterward. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As a preschooler, The Monkeys were my favorite. Was that clip the same night as The Beatles? That would be too much of a coincidence! Also, as a little kid, the Artful Dodger from the musical Oliver was my favorite character…
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Oh, I meant to stick in a joke about “The Pre-Fab Four” since I didn’t see it anywhere else. I guess next time… (The Beatles are still one of my favorites and I am currently drinking my coffee from a Sgt. Pepper mug (I have 10 Beatles mugs, each and album cover…)
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Dear Trent,
Funny, how four guys who got chosen for TV roles really did become a band. I really did, and still do, like the Monkees’ music. Yes the clip is from that same night the Beatles appeared. Truth is stranger than fiction. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Pre-Fab Four. Oh I love that. 😀
Happy New Year.
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I remember this group being on Saturday morning TV during my childhood. My siblings and I would never miss them for anything.
Thank you for reminding me of a wonderful period in my life.
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Dear James,
The Monkees were fun and did continue as a real live band. One of the Monkees referred to themselves as Pinoccio. Thank you.
Shalom and happy new year,
Rochelle
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A lovely and well-written tribute to a talented and hardworking man, Rochelle. Thanks for the interesting links about his background. I especially enjoyed the music. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
Davy left us way too soon, didn’t he? I did love the music despite my early criticism re their being put together by NBC. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom and happy new year,
Rochelle
PS One Monkee down, three to go.
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Shalom and Happy New Year 2021 to you also, Rochelle. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Rochelle,
I, for one, also enjoyed the Monkees 😉 And…didja know that David Bowie was really David Jones but had to change his last name as the Monkee was registered as an artist before he was? One of those useless tidbits picked up over time…
Shalom and lotsa musical love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I did know that about David Bowie. Fortuitous for both of them that he changed is name. And you know me. Useless tidbits make great fodder for short stories. 😉
Shalom and lotsa Pleasant (Valley Sunday) hugs,
Rochelle
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I think I mighta mentioned that before 😉 And yes, I do! Plus they are fun to learn…
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Hey hey we’re the Monkeys and people say we monkey around! I thought they were great and in the words of Oliver, please, sir, I want some more!
Happy New Year Rochelle and here’s to another twelve months of inspirational prompts!.
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Dear Keith,
One Monkee down and three to go. 😉 They really did turn into a real group like Pinocchio turned into a real boy.
To twelve more months of prompts indeed. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom and happy new year.
Rochelle
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Wow, I did not know that about the origin of the Monkees! Both bands were before my time, so to be honest I still tend to get the two groups confused. Now I know why: one was based on the other. What a fun story!
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Dear Anne,
I’ve no doubt the two bands are before a few peoples’ times. 😉 At the time I was adamantly opposed to the “fake” group, but they did come into their own. Thank you. 😀
Shalom and happy new year,
Rochelle
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The Monkees were supposed to be America’s answer to the Beatles. In truth, they weren’t a bad band for being put together, as strangers, by a TV show. They were each talented individuals so it figures. Good job.
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Dear Jan,
The wonderful irony is that, while they were put together by NBC, they became a band in their own right…and sometimes in their own write. 😉 Two actors. Two musicians. In the end it all worked out. Thank you for your comment and support, m’luv.
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Ooooh! cool facts I learned today! (and, hi to Dale, who ‘stars’ in this piece, as well!) 😉
Happy New Year to you, Rochelle!
Na’ama
PS Yay for using my photo! 🙂 Made me smile!
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Na;ama y’karah,
I love sharing facts, as you know. Adding Dale to it was just fun. (And soon the three of us must face to face to face. 😉 Happy New Year to you, too. Thank you for the loan of the great photo. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yeah! You do so very well, too!
Here’s to a better 2021 and a lot of friend-in-person-fun!
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Wow. He’s only two years older than I. It’s startling to see well-known people dying from “old age”. when they are part of your own generation!
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Dear Linda,
How well I know. And yesterday we lost Mary Ann aka Dawn Wells. Still I don’t think Davy Jones died of old age. Funny our perspectives change, isn’t it?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve always been so sorry their era was light years before me time. I’ve always listened to them.
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Dear Larry,
Light years? They put out some good music that I still enjoy.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I wasn’t around then so it might as well have been ancient history, but I really so enjoy them too. Happy New Year ,Shalom
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Lovely tribute to a pre-Fab 4 cast. Shalom and Happy New Year Rochelle
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Dear Neel,
Thank you and a Happy New Year to you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved the Monkees and watched the show all the time, not so much for the music as for the humor and the manic way it was filmed, using the “new, groundbreaking” Hard Day’s Night style. When someone clued me in that they were “just actors”, I shrugged. Who cares? It was fun, and Davie Jones was adorable.
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Dear Genie,
What NBC brought together became a real band in the end…more than “just actors.” Thank you for coming by. Happy New Year!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, I remember the big fight for them to be allowed to write and perform their own songs, while the producers just wanted them to make money.
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Happy New Year Rochelle.
Here’s my contribution
https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2020/12/30/friday-fictioneers-new-years-day/
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Happy New Year, Di.
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thank you!
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Loved this touch of pop history, Rochelle! Many blessings to you in the New Year, my friend.
Shalom,
Dora
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Dear Dora,
Glad you enjoyed my bit of history. A good and peaceful new year to you, my friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, where have all the good bands gone… long time passed everyone…. singing and making up words to a Peter, Paul, and Mary song. Loved the Beatles, and the Monkees. Sigh… Thanks to the internet and youtube, they’ll never truly die from our collective hearts. Great story to finish off the year with, too. 🙂 <3. Happy New Year! L'Chaim!
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Dear Bear,
I loved the Beatles, the Monkees (took me a little while to warm up to them, though) and Peter, Paul and Mary. Thank you for your kind words on my story. L’chaim and to a better year.
Shalom, my friend,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle. Sometimes we forget to say it, but it’s always there. I dearly love Fri Fic and look forward to it every week. Shalom, my friend, shalom in abundance. Bear
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I didn’t know The Monkees were a corporate concoction. Corporations have created worse things. Educational and entertaining as always, Rochelle.
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Dear Nobbin,
In the case of the Monkees, NBC did something right and Pinocchio became a real boy. 😉 Thank you re my story…glad you enjoyed.
Shalom and a happy new year to you and yours,
Rochelle
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Thank you for reminding me of the Monkees. They had some very pleasant songs, but lacked the creativity of the Beatles, don’t you think?
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Dear Penny,
In the beginning, the Monkees were an NBC creation inspired by A Hard Day’s Night and Help. Their music was written by others. But in the end they did become the real thing. Truly no comparison to the Beatles who literally rose from the Cavern. 😉 There will never be another Beatles, will there? Thank you.
Shalom and happy new year,
Rochelle
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Oh man, I loved the Monkees. The shows, the music, it was all great fun. And I believe it was Davey Jones who invented White Out. We owe him a great debt of gratitude for many good things. Great stuff, Rochelle!
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Dear Eric,
The Monkees were a lot of fun. However, it was Mike Nesmith’s mother who invented Liquid Paper. But then that’s a story for another time. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom and Happy New Year,
Rochelle
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I do remember watching The Monkees. Back then I never put the Beatles connection together. I just liked em. And to Davy Jones, I remember when he appeared on The Brady Bunch, he was Marcia’s crush.
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Dear Marco,
I was such a Beatles purist that, even at 13 and 14 I saw the connection between the four lads from Liverpool and pre-fab four from NBC. I will admit that I thought Davy was adorable and I love Micky Dolenz’s singing. 😉 Shh…it’ll be our little secret.
Shalom and happy new year,
Rochelle
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I ain’t saying a word, 😉
Shalom and the very best of everything to you and yours in 2021.
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Funny how serendipity steps in isn’t it. Very enjoyable story, Rochelle. Happy New Year.
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Dear Lisa,
It is amazing how what NBC put together grew into the real thing. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom and a happy new year,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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I used to love the Monkees TV shows as a kid. And to their credit, they did ultimately learn to play their instruments!
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Dear Ali,
Micky Dolenz confessed to taking a year to really learn to play the drums. They did become a real band and I still love listening to the old tunes.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i could only imagine living without the internet. 🙂
happy holidays and thanks for being a great host.
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Dear Plaridel,
I grew up in the Dark Ages with rotary telephones and black and white televisions. 😉 Truthfully I can’t imagine life without internet either. Without it I wouldn’t have made such wonderful global friends. Happy New Year and thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Happy New Year, Rochelle! I hope you have a great 2021. I used to watch the Monkees on reruns when I was a kid. I still like their music pretty well.
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Happy New Year to you and Leah, David. Perhaps one day you’ll come through KC again. The Monkees did have some good music no matter how they came together.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“Let our New Year’s resolution be this: We will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.” – Göran Persson
Wishing you 12 months of success, 52 weeks of laughter, 365 days of fun, 8,760 hours of joy, 525,600 minutes of good luck, and 31,536,000 seconds of happiness.
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Dear Kally,
Thank you for stopping by with your lovely new year’s wishes. 😀 And the same to you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Never knew he did that. Cool. I always learn something from your stories.
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Dear Athling,
My favorite comments are when a reader says they’ve learned something. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A lovely memory. I admit to a weak spot for The Monkees, but it’s The Beatles that hold the heartstone!
A fun piece.
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Dear Laurie,
I’ve come to appreciate the Monkees as I’ve gotten older and learned how they strived to become a band in their own right. Like you, though, the Beatles still sit upon the throne. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I loved The Monkees’ tv show, but not so much their music. The Beatles were okay, although Sergeant Pepper was the only album of theirs that I ever owned. I was into the heavier stuff such as The Who & Jimi Hendrix. But I also loved Jazz, folk & medieval. It would be interesting to see a re-run of The Monkees show, now it’s officially getting on for quaint vintage (like us!!). I’m sure the scenery and special effects will look as charmingly archaic as early Doctor Who.
I didn’t realize that The Monkees show was meant to capitalise on the movie “Help”. As usual, I learn something new from the Lady in Purple 🙂
All best & safe wishes for 2021,
Sarah x
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Dear Sarah,
I recently turned on a rerun of The Monkees. It was too painful to watch much of it. Funny that I don’t feel that way about Help and A Hard Day’s Night, both of which I own the DVD’s. I see that some of our music tastes were the same. I loved folk and medieval…still do. I’ve only come to appreciate The Who in later years. Hendrix…not so much.
Thank you for your kind words. I look forward to our first three-way chinwag of 2021 soon.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oliver Twist- One of my favorites! I didn’t know that tidbit. (Another tidbit- I was Oliver in our schools production of the musical.)
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Dear Roger,
I’m sure you have some great memories. I loved Oliver Twist. Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, I remember watching when I was a wee thing! Davy Jones was my big sister’s crush. Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith were actually musicians. Nesmith wrote “Different Drum,” which was Linda Rondstadt’s first big hit–music trivia for you. 🙂 Happy New Year, Rochelle!
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Dear Sascha,
I did know Mike Nesmith wrote “Different Drum.” 😉 Davy was awfully cute and aged well. Sad that he’s gone. Thank you and happy new year to you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Delightful dialogue. Best wishes to you for 2021, Rochelle!
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Dear Mags,
The dialogue was fun to write and not far off from actual conversations I’ve had with Dale. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom and a happy new year to you,
Rochelle
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That’s why the dialogue rings true. 🙂
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You had me at Sangiovese. I raise my glass too. Cheers to 2021. 🍷
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