An autobiographical note as an introduction to the Hungarian and Romanian Images in American Culture

"Knowing" Romanians (or at least, Tran-Syl-va-ni-ahahah-ns)

As a child, when it came to Romania, I knew, of course, Dracula, or at least his pop-cultural/film (Re-, and seemingly endless) incarnation. After all, if I knew where she was from a place called "Transylvania", which was its own country - in this case must be looking pretty cool stamps, spooky castles on mountain tops and forbade the like - or an imaginary place. II guess this should not be surprising to have a child because of the many Dracula films there, like "Billy the Kid against Dracula (1966)." (Where did all, Dodge City?)

Dracula's birthday, as we all know is 31 October, with Halloween just happens, causing some confusion. In any case, so when I trick-or-treat as Cornelius from Planet of the Apes "was - was the 70 is fine, and I was a child, was to know how I am ... I actually thought about it?Soylent Green is people - in a costume that is likely to prove dangerous today, fireworks - do not say anything about the mask, a mold of cheap plastic with a rubber band that broke inevitably, what you must support destroy it and any property so you could people who came had their doors ... unless of course they tried the "Please, just take a" surprise,candy-in-the-bowl-out front-with-the-light-off-not-really-are-home-socialism-in-action method - most of the time, I met countless Dracula. They had the cape, fake teeth, fake blood and that is cool ... and perhaps some of these cool stamps. . (Context is everything on the day of Halloween My younger brother went a few times in the late '80s as "Jason" horror series "Halloween" an old lady who opened the door of a house, he said. "Ooooooh Look to the skin? Little hockey player, "By the way, what happens if you go to someone's house in a ring of costume and say trick or treat, on a day other than Halloween I guess one thing that can happen on two things: 1) calling the police, or 2) groped to analyze the remaining balls of popcorn and peanuts regift last Halloween about more than the left.)

If Dracula was present only in person at Halloween, he could find the rest of the year, on television - especially, perhaps ironically,Kids. It 'was the Count of Sesame Street. The Earl theme song included a line: "When I'm alone I consider myself one, to make a [Ahahahaha of thunder in the background ]..!" Interesting can, according to the encyclopedia of the Internet ("The Count") do, there are some vampire folklore that vampires can be possessed and suggests things that you should never count in front of one another, throwing sand or seeds help to distract them (a bit ...). stroke

L 'The design is a symbol of Count confused mixture of Romanian, Hungarian, Slavic, and sometimes inexplicable elements that make up the composite Dracula added. For example, as in Seinfeld in the introduction scene (source whose characters actually speak a few words of Romanian in the scene!, But that nevertheless the name Katya (the gymnast) and Mischa (circus implementation Acrobat), names (diminutives), or the Hungarian and Romanian), bats Conte to obscureThe reason, Slavic name - Grisha, Misha, Sasha, and so has the elements are clearly inspired by Bela Lugosi's (actually, a real Transylvania (in Lugoj), of Hungarian origin) 1931 Presentation of Dracula (up to focus Count von Count) and as it seems, Count Cameo friend "of the Countess Dahling Dahling" is inspired by the Hungarian actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, famous because it is famous, as I said, and for calling people "Dahling" (appropriately, he said because thenYou'll never does anyone remember the name).

Finally, there was Count Chocula, a staple of TV series and commercials between Saturday morning to catch them (nothing compared to today, however, as the commercials have much less time to do so). All I knew is that he presided over what looked like a really tasty chocolate cereal, which seemed more sweet breakfast. This, of course, explains why our mother refused to buy it for us. Already inthe in-retrospect-not-a-bad-time-to-be-a-kind, now much-maligned, hedonistic "Have a Nice Day Smiley Face," "Me" decade of the 1970s, the throat as one of the seven deadly sins capital has been given a temporary exemption. Gluttony was in. .. although chocolate cereal with marshmallows in some families. (In those days, 'fair food "is not accepted as names like slapping Sugar (renamed Honey knows suggestions) or Sugar Pops.)

Hungary "Knowing"

MyIntroduction in Hungary was dark like that. As I found Dracula at all with any place, was when I pointed out, Transylvania, to the extent that it is a country, Romania - still not game for many times by the owners of the private room I was to remain in Hungary later years, "Ah, so you're going to Transylvania, you know, part of the country are - one, a kingdom dismembered ahahahahahaha - until they took away (to the accompaniment of thunderBackground). "What I know and when do I know (well, it was the era of Watergate, you know)? E 'in no instance was only years later that I realized a fact that I had once lived as in the Hungarian American Mecca is Cleveland, or that the Austrian family, we bought our house in a suburb of Toronto in the early 70s, was appointed Feleky (E 'was a road which we then lived (1970-1974); . my parents, Irish immigrants naturalized U.S. citizens only, the mother of a friend aPrague Spring Czech refugee, and many new Greek family, no doubt noticed that some right-wing military junta from 1967 to 1973.)

My mother, the staple food of many American families (at least for a time), "Hungarian Goulash Soup" ... to make the sound morbid, but it tastes delicious. (As has been said many times, is the American version of a similar stew (goulash-like), as a stew (soup).) I liked it, although I did not know what it was or where it came from. (E 'only you can tellIronically, even though I did not realize it was ironic that at a time: (! A police officer) My father is a '56er, but he was from Dublin, a relative rubbed on the harbor, and so he wandered the streets New York, with its heavy Irish tweed suitcase in India during the summer, only to duck into a bar, some notes from Don Larsen's Perfect Game in World Series, an event whose meaning was inscrutable to see how many '56er Hungarian However, he felt like a Martian (see below for moreon the Hungarians as "Aliens"). No, my father is not Frank McCourt in shock!)

"Goulash", certainly has a long history on television from this point, what with mad scientists in Warner Brothers cartoons, make your life talking about "Transylvania", with thunderstorms and "spider goulash and specialties like mad scientist. (The other Hungarian touch are used in a series of cartoons - including a classic Warner Brothers cartoon by Fritz Freleng Bugs Bunnyas a pianist ("Rhapsody Rabbit") and a classic MGM cartoon by Hanna and Barbera Tom and Jerry "is a piano duel (" The Cat Concerto "), is released in a few weeks each in 1946 on the mutual accusations that the competitor was guilty of plagiarism (see Wikipedia entry) -. is the manic-depressive, manic mostly wild music of Franz (Ferenc) Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2) "goulash" was the plot of what was, by his appearance today, a significantracist episode ("a majority of two," 4/11/68) of the 1960 sitcom "Bewitched," which was, as usual, "Darrin" (aka "Darwood") to entertain an out-Guest city-of-business you want to do a high ball, sir, that double, I'm sorry that change the cost, dinner at the rear has been reduced Darrin ...-- the Japanese on this occasion. The whole episode, Darrin's wife, a witch named Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) tries to track down how to prepare the meal application by the operator, the Secretaryhad passed: Hun-gai-ran-Gou-eruption. E 'worried, of course, to lose face because the Japanese businessman when asked what is actually a concern that the entire episode, if that someone happens to be the face literally disappeared, apparently leaving a spot of white-out . People who naturally have a good laugh in the end, however, only after the entrepreneur has courted a bit 'of Asian appearance (it did not seem tooooo Asia) hosts, and it turns aroundthe entrepreneur really wanted was "Hungarian goulash," but his accent Secretary ... All except the woman nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz can be derived in the home of Stevens' spy show "Dragnet" or "The FBI" as "Freak Out" parties have been reported at this address. ..

Then there was the show "Green Acres ,"... something was definitely, but that's what I did not know. Even though I knew that the character of Lisa Douglas was eccentric, I did not knowHungarian know, I know not sure Eva Gabor and Zsa Zsa Gabor, as has often been confused. As a child I thought I did not understand the show, because I was a child. Nope. Now, years later, I know that was not the problem.

Exactly how do you describe "Green Acres?" The plot was that character Eddie Albert apparently wanted to experience the "real Livin '" Landscape (now known as "reality show, starring acelebrities like-for-being-famous Paris Hilton ... which is actually related to the Gabor (see below), however, means that we are serious existential questions at this point in this sentence). Eddie Albert Hungary would not want to drag his wife with him, and not very happy with the situation because, as we learn from the title song, which prefer to shop on Park Avenue. (The landscape was so common in the CBS sitcom in 1960 that some critics mockingly callit is likely that as the "Land Broadcasting System.") Anyway, they lived in some rural areas, several hundred miles from Chicago, Illinois. Despite the small size of the city where he lived, was not able Hooterville home to one, but two sitcom Green Acres (1966-1971) and Petticoat Junction (1963-1970). (The city was apparently better known for the large breasts of young female stars of Petticoat Junction, because, as it turns out, the choice of name is not accidental). The twoShows were the presence of Sam printer, it seems the city grocer, postmaster and banker, and the unforgettable character of George Jefferson USA (oh no, sorry, too soon, that was strike of 1960, the then). As the Wikipedia entry notes printer Hooterville had grocery store and the hotel from Petticoat Junction ... Pixley not exactly material (not to mention Mount Pilot to say), and probably that huge sucking sound on the state budget. At least the city has no Goober orHoward Sprague, ambiguous personality of the local Chamber of Commerce will advertise when they try to attract investment).

Also, I would assume it was a city where the locals do not "over the top" or "break the record harvest," of course, despite the collectivist tendencies of Eve. Instead, a lot of time with the defense of the clubs are angry, including featherheaded bureaucrat of the state, county agent Hank Kimball Court, a brother and sister ambiguous genderteam of Painting and Arnold Ziffel, the pig TV "fun"-watching, apparently "Green Acres" s'answer Mr. Ed (a gradual, but wrong, urban legend has it that the cast Arnold ate after the show was canceled; the truth is that, on the set made him nostalgic for the sense of stye). The gag of the series, is that Mr. Douglas (Eddie Albert), wanted to be there, but nothing went well and the locals drove him crazy, while Mrs. Douglas, despite his love for fluffy dressing gowns andDiamond in the right measure and understand the locals. Your show was the Hungarian alternative exotic, proud, sexy / ditzy reason (as connoted by his accent) and obviously forgotten -. "Otherness" yes, a veritable goulash

One might suppose that "Green Acres" could be explained in a more sophisticated with the application: that was kind of a) a reflection of the scene of the entry of drugs creative intelligence (after Alice had to whisper the wind,Maria still cry ... "Green Acres", a random selection of the title?), Or b) there was some deep allegory at work here that is looking for a utopian rural life is a chimera, but that is a pig electrification and TV-watching. (Fittingly, when she and other countries such as radio in 1971 were canceled, it was as if the saying "Rural Purge"). E 'likely that the show was only escape, almost unintentionally absurd - even if you leave aScore works well for the Hungarian translation for a sketch in a summer language camp years later. (One of the best charges of American realism Cold War period are shown in the movie "Forrest Gump" in a recovery room for wounded soldiers during the Vietnam War in the background ... "Gomer Pyle, USMC" playing on a TV ... In five years, Gomer never somehow made from a basic training in Vietnam ...)

With the eyes of an American child of the television age: IdentifyHungarians and Romanians and Hungarians and Romanians ... by the World Wide Sports

Al "The Mad Hungarian" Hrabosky

About Eva ... Zsa Zsa I mean, no, I mean, once introduced this law, Zsa Zsa Gabor ... an appearance in another rural market issues 1960 television show us to our next topic: the Hungarians as "mad" or crazy (a la Lisa Douglas). In one episode (January 28, 1962), Wilbur congratulated his talking horse Mr. Ed, with Zsa Zsa cured their fear of horses,Mr. Ed says, "It 's my fear of Hungary cured" ("The Best of Mr. Ed," multiple sites, Mister Ed aired 1961-1966 on, you guessed it, CBS). In JD Salinger's "Franny and Zooey" (published in its entirety in 1961) says Mrs. Glass Zooey: "You could have a haircut, young man ... you like one of those crazy Hungarians or something you use to get a look from a pool of "(section also contains a reference to Zsa Zsa Gabor and use of the descriptor" Balkan ", now I rememberRead this book by huge trees below the Pannonhalma abbey in Hungary in June 1990) http://www.freeweb.hu/tchl/salinger/frannyandzooey.doc. (I'd be curious to know here: This section first appeared in The New Yorker in May 1957, a Hungarian and the reference to "come out of a pool" - a rather strange comparison - inevitably to mind the famous bloody water polo match between the Soviet and Hungarians December 6, 1956 at 1956 Summer Olympics (yes,Yes, because the Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia this year). The Hungarians defeated the Soviets in a game with more political overtones - Hungarian angry fans reportedly willing to accept a Soviet player for a shot to the eye of a star Lynch Hungarian - the game is barely a month after the Soviet suppression of the Hungarian uprising) .
My personal success as the first Hungarian Hungarian, however, came around 1976, attributed to the quality of "neutral" toHungary, and appropriately targeted, Al "The Mad Hungarian" Hrabosky. Hrabosky was a relief pitcher for several teams in 1970 and early 1980, but his best years with St. Louis and Kansas City, 1975 to its record year in the books of the Cardinal. Mid-1970s, the days of colorful characters in baseball, pitchers in particular were: the Cuban cigar chewing the Boston Red Sox Luis Tiant, the way we had players on the field seemed rather throwas the catcher for its launch, Sparky Lyle for the New York Yankees, filled his cheeks like a blow-fish with chewing tobacco, and Mark "The Bird" Fidrych the Detroit Tigers, who said the ball as if he were alive and his boyish enthusiasm has unfortunately not been able to overcome the wounds that strangled her career in its infancy.

Then there was Hrabosky, Slovak Hungarian, in spite of declining claims sound surname. The comparison between the lack of colorful charactersamong the pitchers today, Gordon Edes wrote in a beautiful - if it was Hungarian, one could also say "sweet" - Article in 2003 on Hrabosky as follows:

But for sheer theatricality, a reliever remains in a league of its own: Al Hrabosky, known as the "Mad Hungarian" when he started for the Cardinals, Royals and Braves from 1970 to 1982. With his Fu Manchu mustache, long hair and a silver ring, the Gypsy Rose of Death (white "I'm not the stupid story I did on itwas so far-fetched -. probably a family heirloom of Dracula "), Hrabosky would any trip to the new performance art had to stomp up the hill towards second base, eyes blazing, the fury practically seeps through his uniform as it is again addressed the beater , who left the flat and waited fact, he worked in an altered state he called his "controlled hate routine, then pounded the ball spun into his glove while the home fans in general went crazy. (Gordon Edes,, "The Boston Globe" "Hrabosky had an air about him," March 28, 2003, F9, reprinted on the Internet)

How did Hrabosky get his nickname? Told Edes:

The nickname, he said, came from a team publicist. No one was sure of his nationality - "called Burt Reynolds, once me," [the star of American cinema] The Mad Russian "-. And only the spelling-bee champions got his name right, but then one day said a publicist Cardinals, Jerry Lovelace, "Hey, MH," the young pitcher in OaklandCalifornia and a nickname was born .... I said, 'What do you mean? " He said: "Mad Hungarian." I said: "I like it." (Edes, 2003)

Hungary, I have concluded to be taken out to watch his TV appearances and by his nickname must be crazy here. That is, as of course many pictures will not be passed with malice, but as descriptors for the individual, a way to assign identity and for marketing purposes. Hrabosky behavior "crazy" before his nationality (as determined BurtReynolds called him "The Mad Russian" and displays a negative and a positive reflection of the "East European ethnic group in the United States at the time - a melting pot of interchangeable parts, though separate from those of western European ethnicity - although constructionists culture that "every country" would have written more dark (see below) all), rather than its Hungarian population identified first, and saw his behavior as an expression of Hungary. After the two areintertwined, however, and prevail, given the propensity for collective associations to individual organizations, it was difficult and almost irrelevant what came first - the two were married and interchangeable in the popular imagination, or at least the fantasy of sports fans .

Nadia ...

It was the bicentennial summer of 1976, when the Romanians were introduced to the sport. It 'was, of course, by Nadia Comaneci (CN I), a handsome young Romanian gymnastthe scored seven perfect 10s, drew the still perfection driven home by the fact that the billboards just went up to 9.9, a perfect score of 10 considered unreachable! (The scoreboard shows 1.0 because it can not invented by 9.9 .... Spinal Tap invention of Taxco, not 11.) Produced Nadia "Nadia (ro) Mania," a kind of ABC, made the Olympics in Montreal United States mounted a musical theme, the gymnast's performance, "Nadia's Theme", thenclimbed the pop charts! (In fact it was the theme of an American soap opera "The Young and the Restless," but it was through his relationship with Nadia, she shows for his land that was famous used).

Of course, I then asked, would the reaction, the outpouring of genuine warmth and admiration of Americans (Canadians, and the West in general) have been the same had Nadia representing Bulgaria and Romania will not be - not to say nothing of the SovietUnion? True, the USSR produced Olga Korbut enthusiasm four years ago in Monaco, but nothing like Nadia. He was young and comparative Nadia "cuteness / sweetness / prepubertal? E 'was his coach, the charismatic, the bear-like Hungarian Bela Karolyi (referred to as an indication of their relationship, the" warm-ethnic relations "with "Ceausescu's Romania" program) Maybe, but I think it was against the background of the Romanian has worked on and the United States and Western courted high-resolution imagesCeausescu Romania brave to offer as a major thorn in the side of Moscow before Soviet and Western in its culture and people ("a Latin people in a sea of Slavs") - that is, not just the Balkans or "Eastern", a sort of go, incidentally caught behind enemy lines. " It 's just hard, that something like Nadia-mania may occur in the post-Cold War I think it was the mirror image of time that has taken place.

Of course, the applause for the Romanian delegationas the Los Angeles Coliseum was the summer Olympics of 1984 - which offered, unfortunately, easy to use continuous Ceausescu then during the most difficult years of his government - and the flight of Nadia by Romania in November 1989, metaphors and barometer Romanian political situation and the US-Romanian relations. The suitably surreal moment, "1984" reflects the Chernenko, Gorbachev's first nadir of Soviet-American relations in the years 1980 - DisarmamentThe talks "have been established mainly on ice between late 1983 and 1985 - and continued most significant foreign policy of Romania's Ceausescu's" Golden Era "Domestic Policy (1984-1986 period with perhaps the worst and most desperate, according to some, in what at times brutally long, and the weakness of the reform movements at this time in other parts of the block) until 1989 with the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in full swing and with image in -. "Gorbymania" changedthe Soviet Union, mostly in the U.S. - the image of a renewed Nadia - as if 1976 never happened - involved in an affair with a married man of cheese (Constantin Panait), seemed to escape from Romania symbolize the ills of Ceausescu's Romania, and as time was in sharp contrast to the rest of the Eastern bloc. As indicated by the Seinfeld episode, and as I discuss in more detail below, wedged under the gymnast in the popular imagination, though. And 'Nadia was theset of mold.

(A Romanian-American scholar, once told me how surprised look of the day on a screen in November-December 1989, only the married father of four children to see the Romanian immigrant who has been a time of aging and plump Nadia Ceausescu had allegedly left Romania. the student had a bar with the guy ... and the guy still owed him more money my first encounter "real life" with the Romanians in Romania also had a sad topic of sport in a sense wasKeleti pu., The eastern train station in Budapest, May 1985. The applause of rusted toilet flange and the intermittent flow of urine fell on the tracks, Romanian boy was hunting in shabby suits with blue trim that, once a distinctive white and the other for self-propelled "CFR" of the time .. .)

Thanks To : womens fashion watches Blog Good autobiography insurancequoteterm