A celebration of self-expression

‘Cadillac is more than a statement. It’s a celebration of self-expression.

And a declaration of your independence.”

I’m not fond of quoting William Barr, but that is what the New York Times used to refer to as a “barnyard epithet.”

You did see that Steve Bannon said to Barr, “We’re coming after you, Bro,” for Barr’s temerity to use that barnyard expression.

I’m having a hard time imagining that that expression is ever used in a barnyard.

Reminds me of Ex- Prez’s saying that his Access Hollywood tape was using “locker room talk”.

A number of National Football League players were asked if that is the way they spoke when suiting up, suiting down, and to a player said they were too busy discussing their IRA’s.

The British playwright Doug Lucie says that “advertising is the revenge of business on culture.”

Two pals in Chicago did very well there in the ad world, one retiring at 33 after coming up with Spell Cheese, K-R-A-F-T. ( Miracle Whip, the Bread Spread, less successful). Jonathan Abarbanel then went on to produce my first play there, 49 years ago, so I shan’t be too hard on him.

The second, retiring a bit later, now goes to Africa three times a year and supports all sorts of great causes, including Chicago’s most needy theaters. So I shan’t be hard on Nancy McDaniel either.

The friend of many of us, Clifton Read, of Dark Entry and Cornwall Bridge, was head of Advertising for the Cancer Society during the Mad Men days.

One of my favorite Clif stories — the three martini lunch.

The one that consoled you for the morning’s work.

The one you really enjoyed.

The one that gave you the courage to go back to work.

Clif, who never smoked a cig in his life. Although his wife died of it.

How did these adsters do it?

Cadillac is more than a statement. A celebration of self-expression. And a declaration of Your independence.

Really? Could Clif or my Chicago pals have written that obfuscatory drivel?

Clif who grew up in St. Paul next to Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, a not so distant relative of the composer, F. Scott who wrote jingles to pay the rent. Nothing like the Unsingable Star Spangled Banner, I suspect.

Tender Is The Night, This Side of Paradise and The Great Gatsby, The Original Great American novel, F. Scott who gave us the phrase The Jazz Age. A white dude came up with that? Would we have those books without those jingles?

I am guessing not. That we would have those books, that art. All in all, Bless you, Old Adsters. Old Masters.

Martinis, anyone? Or is lunch over?

Lonnie Carter is a playwright, Obie winner and his signature play is “The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy.”

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Lakeville Journal and The Journal does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

Latest News

Cornwall board approves purchase of two new fire trucks following CVFD recommendation
CVFD reaches fundraising goal for new fire trucks
Provided

CORNWALL — At the recommendation of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, on Jan. 20 the Board of Selectmen voted to move forward with the purchase of two new trucks.

Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, was chosen as the manufacturer. Of the three bids received, Greenwood was the lowest bidder on the desired mini pumper and a rescue pumper.

Keep ReadingShow less
Robin Lee Roy

FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.

She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.

Keep ReadingShow less
Marjorie A. Vreeland

SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.

At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rafael A. Porro

SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.

Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.

Keep ReadingShow less