AUGUST 2015
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From "Face the Nation" to "The Brady Bunch" & "Gilligan's Island," the Television Industry has been significantly influenced by the life and work of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request). |
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August 1
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TV producer Sherwood Schwartz based the sit-com “Gilligan’s Island” on the 1875 novel Dickinson’s Island by Qwerty Jean Dickinson, Emmett Lee Dickinson’s daughter. The novel recounts a time in Emmett Lee Dickinson’s life when a three-hour boat tour ended in misfortune when the boat was shipwrecked on an unknown island in Lake Erie off the coast near Erie, PA. Dickinson was stranded on the island with the boat’s skipper, a millionaire and his wife (John Jacob Astor III and his wife Charlotte), a professor from Pennsylvania State University, an actress (Margarita “Babe” Fischer), and a Lithuanian goat herder(Marjuanni Sumnoracklotski) who had been living near Washerst. More information is found HERE. |
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August 2
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Though "The Golden Girls" was not based on the life of Emmett Lee Dickinson, the show holds the record for the most episodes based on poems by Emmett Lee Dickinson and Emily Dickinson.
In 1990, they appeared on the cover of TV as the show prepared for a very special episode based on Emily Dickinson's poem "After great pain, a formal feeling comes." In the episode, called "This is the Hour of Comedy," the girls travel to a ski resort in the Poconos. While there, Sophia suffers great pain -- her fifth major heart attack. The girls sit ceremonious, like tombs. However, after Sophia's quick recovery, Dorothy plans a formal affair to celebrate, but Blanche has to juggle all the men she's met at the resort. Her feet, mechanical, go round! In the episode, as Blanche maneuvers through her maze of suitors, she utters one of her most famous lines in the show's history. Rose asks, "Was it he, that bore -- yesterday?" Blanche replies, "First chill, then stupor -- then the letting go!" |
August 3
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Bill Cosby, who attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Philadelphia, has made no secret that he loves the poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson. As a matter of fact, he starred in four specials dedicated to Dickinson. In the 1990s, he appeared in a one-hour stand-up special called "I Serve A Liquor Never Brewed." The special was co-sponsored by the international liquor distributor, Bacardi, and the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer.
Of course, It's strange now -- knowing what we know about Bill Cosby -- as we look back on his career and on his time at the Dickinson School for Boys. One of his English teachers recalled that Cosby's favorite poem by Dickinson was "I saw her cleavage in my mind" (below on the left). Dickinson's poem inspired his third cousin Emily to write her poem, "I felt a cleaving in my mind" (below on the right). |
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By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
I saw her Cleavage in my mind – My widened Eyes were lit – I tried to watch to ascertain – The Letter of the fit. I caught a glimpse, but strove to hide My curiosity – Just thankful for – though out of Reach – Her generosity. |
By Emily
Dickinson:
I felt a Cleaving in my Mind – As if my Brain had split – I tried to match it – Seam by Seam – But could not make them fit. The thought behind, I strove to join Unto the thought before – But Sequence ravelled out of Sound Like Balls – upon a Floor. |
August 4
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Gene Roddenberry, who attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Houston, TX, always made it known that it was the poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) that inspired him to create the sci-fi hit Star Trek. Below on the left: The poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson that inspired Roddenberry; Below on the right: Dickinson's poem also inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "Where every bird is bold to go."
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August 5
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Did you know that Jerry Van Dyke's hit-show "My Mother The Car" was based on Emily Dickinson's poem "Because I could not stop for death?" The pilot episode, entitled "Because I could not stop for mother, she kindly stopped for me," was a huge hit! So much so that the network ordered 3 more years of shows, & the sitcom ultimately ran for 9 seasons.
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August 6
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"My Favorite Martian" was a hit American drama based on Emily Dickinson's poem "I lost a World the other day." Click the image below to enlarge.
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August 7
Above: Joyce Carole Oates wrote one of Sanford & Son's top-rated episodes and introduced the line, "This is The Big One, Elizabeth! I'm coming to join ya honey."
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Sanford and Son ran on NBC from January 1972 through March 1977. It was based on the BBC's Steptoe and Son. However, many of the show's episodes were based on poems by Emily Dickinson and Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request).
One of the highest rated shows of Sanford and Son was a tragi-comic episode written by Joyce Carol Oates called "Blue Uncertain Stumbling Buzz." In the episode, Fred's son Lamont catches him in a compromising position with a topless waitress (played by Lena Horne). Fred "suffers" a heart attack, and summons his girlfriend, Donna, and Aunt Esther so that he can will away his keepsakes -- what portion of him be assignable. And then it was -- there interposed a fly -- and hilarity ensues! |
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August 8
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Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "If I can stop my Cart from quaking" inspired his third cousin Emily to write her poem "If I can stop one Heart from breaking." Her poem inspired a Valentine's Day Batman special in the first season of the show in 1966. In the episode, penned by Gore Vidal, a group of super villains collude to terrorize Gotham City. In the hour-long special, Batman has to stop more than one heart from breaking at the wedding of Commissioner Gordon's niece Penny, and he has to ease one life the aching at the funeral of Chief O'Hara's long-lost twin. The show finally reaches its climax when Batman has to rush to Gotham General Hospital after Robin faints unexpectedly. |
Above: Gore Vidal's magnum opus "One Fainting Robin" garnered the highest ratings ever for the Batman TV show in the late 1960s.
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August 9
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Jon Stewart attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Lawrenceville, NJ. It was there he developed his love of the poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request). Later Stewart admitted that it was his love of the poetry of Dickinson, America's greatest poet, that shaped his views and his approach on The Daily Show.
Pictured at the right: Jon Stewart's final episode of The Daily Show included a heart-felt tribute to Emmett Lee Dickinson. Pictured below: One Stewart's many "favorited" tweets of @The_Dickinson, the official twitter account of the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (above the coin-op Laundromat on Dickinson Boulevard). 
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Below: Jon Stewart's favorite poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson, "Facts -- are not the Realm of Fox":
By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
Facts – are not the Realm of Fox Nor Certainty of Source – Clamorous reports Until their Anchors all go hoarse. |
Below: Dickinson's poem inspired his third cousin Emily to write her poem, "Distance -- is not the Realm of Fox."
By Emily Dickinson:
Distance – is not the Realm of Fox Nor by Relay of Bird Abated – Distance is Until thyself, Beloved. |
August 10
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Neil Patrick Harris has starred countless times at Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) in numerous shows in a variety of genres. However, in "How I Met Your 3rd Cousin," the basis for "How I Met Your Mother," Harris played Barnabus "Barney" Sweeney Todd, the brother of Amherst College's astronomy professor David Peck Todd.
In the show's pilot, David's wife Mabel introduces Barney to Emmett Lee Dickinson who is in Amherst to visit his obdurate relatives. Barney brings meat pies to a potluck meal at the Homestead dubbed "Slapsgiving" where everyone wonders if Emily Dickinson will slap her third cousin a third time (from a slap-bet that began years before over a close game of bowling at Amherst's Kegler Lanes). Mabel serves as the Slap Bet Commissioner, and tension mounts throughout the episode as everyone wonders if Emily will get the chance to slap Emmett Lee. Below left to right: "How I Met Your 3rd Cousin" also starred Shelley Long as Emily Dickinson, Bernadette Peters as Mable Loomis Todd, Michael J. Fox as David Peck Todd, Edie McClurg as Lavinia Dickinson, and Jack Elam as Austin Dickinson. |
August 11
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The sitcom "Mr. ED" was originally supposed to be a biographical series about Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) called "Mr. ELD." The pilot starred Alan Young as Emmett Lee Dickinson.
However, the head writer for the show -- J. D. Salinger -- convinced the producers that the premise worked better if the series included a talking horse as the poet himself. The name was switched from "Mr. ELD" to "Mr. ED" (hence the TV Guide article "Mister ED Gets the Last Laugh"), and Alan Young's character was changed to be the horse's owner, Wilbur Post. Salinger came up with the idea of the talking horse after reading Dickinson's poem "I know my Horse -- he steps so quick," which -- according to Salinger -- suggested a talking horse. Below on the left: Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "I know My Horse -- he steps so quick." Below on the right: Dickinson's poem inspired his third cousin Emily to write "I know Suspense -- it steps so terse." |
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
I know My Horse – he steps so quick And never turns away – Besides – My Horse is neighborly When I am standing by – I’m always at the Stable Though when my life is grim And mention to my Horse That my need is for him – |
By Emily Dickinson:
I know Suspense – it steps so terse And turns so weak away – Besides – Suspense is neighborly When I am riding by – Is always at the Window Though lately I descry And mention to my Horses The need is not of me – |
August 12
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Did you know that the pilot episode of "Moonlighting" was called "Dickinson & Dickinson"? The original premise starred Cybill Shepherd as Emily Dickinson, and Bruce Willis as her third cousin, twice removed (at her request), Emmett Lee Dickinson. The two solved crimes in the brutal world of "publish or perish" prevalent in the field of publishing dominated by the "Five Families" (information HERE).
Though the show's name was changed to "Moonlighting," and the character names were changed to David Addison and Maddie Hayes, the program continued to focus on themes found in the poems of Emily Dickinson and Emmett Lee Dickinson. In the show's highest rated episode, "So Many Clowns," David and Maddie are hired to investigate the suspicious death of a circus clown who was crushed to death in an over-crowded clown car. Written by Tom Wolfe, the episode was based on the poem "A Clown withdrew from the Car" by Emmett Lee Dickinson (below on the left). Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to write "A Cloud withdrew from the Sky" (below on the right). |
Above: The highest rated episode of "Moonlighting" -- entitled "So Many Clowns" -- was written by Tom Wolfe.
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By
Emmett Lee Dickinson:
A Clown withdrew from the Car Exterior Hurried he And that Clown and his Auxiliaries Were forever exiting. Had I but further scanned Had I a better View Perhaps I could unlock the How To the compact clown milieu. Never from my bad Angle Could I glance down to See Just how they packed so many Clowns In tension like Sardines. |
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Emily Dickinson:
A Cloud withdrew from the Sky Superior Glory be But that Cloud and its Auxiliaries Are forever lost to me Had I but further scanned Had I secured the Glow In an Hermetic Memory It had availed me now. Never to pass the Angel With a glance and a Bow Till I am firm in Heaven Is my intention now. |
August 13
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Red Skelton said he owed his career to Emmett Lee Dickinson because he gained fame by playing the part of Gurgles the Clown, a character originated by Dickinson's Uncle Hobart. For information on Hobart Dickinson and his persona, Gurgles the Clown, click HERE. Pictured at the left: Skelton appeared in over a dozen TV specials where he portrayed Uncle Hobart's "Gurgles the Clown." Below on the left: Skelton said that he first came up with the idea of portraying Hobart Dickinson's "Gurgles the Clown" after he read Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "A curious Clown surprised this Guy," a poem which Dickinson dedicated to his Uncle Hobart. Dickinson's poem inspired his third cousin Emily to write, " A curious Cloud surprised the Sky" (below on the right). |
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
A curious Clown surprised this Guy, ‘Twas Jester with a Horn; His nose was Red – His Shoes were Huge – They all but roofed the floor. So low he seemed – with grimace blue – And, too, a bad toupee, And so his sodden seltzer spray Had not the comedy. |
By Emily Dickinson:
A curious Cloud surprised the Sky, ’Twas like a sheet with Horns; The sheet was Blue – The Antlers Gray – It almost touched the lawns. So low it leaned – then statelier drew – And trailed like robes away, A Queen adown a satin aisle Had not the majesty. |
August 14
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The hit show "The Sopranos" was based on the brutal "publish or perish" gang wars during the rise of the publishing industry's "Five Families." The Five Families originated in the mid-1800s out of the lower east side of Amherst, Massachusetts, from the "publish or perish" gangs of Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College and Smith College. Edward Dickinson, Emily Dickinson's father, was a consiglieri to one of the front bosses to Don Vito Houghton. Emily Dickinson's role in "the family business" is unknown. Was she a soldier? A savior? A calculating spectator or an innocent bystander? In "The Sopranos," loosely based on the lives of the Dickinsons, James Gandolfini played a part based on Edward Dickinson, and much of Edie Falco's character was based on Emily Dickinson. The first episode was titled, "My Life had Stood A Loaded Gun." For information on Amherst's "publish or perish" gang wars, click HERE. |
August 15
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You know all those CSI shows -- CSI: Las Vegas, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, CSI: Knoxville, CSI: Tallahassee, and CSI: Sonoma Valley? They were all spin-offs from the original show, CSI: Amherst. In CSI: Amherst, Don Knotts played Officer Jeeves Rossiter, and he investigated crime scenes from the brutal world of academia's "publish or perish" gang wars. CSI: Amherst also inspired The Andy Griffith show where Knotts played Deputy Barney Fife, and The Sopranos, where Knotts portrayed various corpses in the streets of New York and New Jersey. Pictured at the right: Don Knotts as Officer Jeeves Rossiter in CSI: Amherst |
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August 16
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Oprah Winfrey credits her success directly to her love of the poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson. She said in her autobiography that whenever she would have to make a major decision in her life, she would consult her volumes of his poetry, and reading Dickinson gave her clarity and direction.
Also, she featured Dickinson's poetry often on her "Oprah's Book Club" and on her daily talk show, and those shows always garnered her highest ratings. Pictured at the left: Oprah Winfrey reads her favorite poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson during a segment of "Oprah's Book Club." Below left: Oprah's favorite poem by Dickinson. She said that it has given the most meaning to her life. Below right: Dickinson's poem also inspired his third cousin Emily to write this poem. |
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
My Body grows out width – In an increasing way – With my diet – it can’t hide My Temple expands – away. Enlarged – swelling – inflating – It’s quite a grand display The Whole of my circumference In massive quantity |
By Emily Dickinson:
The Body grows without – The more convenient way – That if the Spirit – like to hide Its Temple stands, alway, Ajar – secure – inviting – It never did betray The Soul that asked its shelter In solemn honesty |
August 17
The Marx Brothers hold the record for most family members portraying Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request). Groucho appeared on television as Emmett Lee Dickinson three times; Harpo appeared once in a solo speaking role as Dickinson, and once as Emily Dickinson (in one of the shows with Groucho). Chico appeared on TV thirteen times as Emmett Lee Dickinson; and Zeppo appeared only once -- but as part of an eight-part mini-series called "Poetry Man."
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August 18
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Before there was "The Beverly Hillbillies," there were "The Dickinsons of Washerst," an odd-ball comedy that tried to answer the question, "What if the Dickinsons of Amherst lived in Washerst?" In the show, Buddy Ebsen starred as Edward Dickinson, and the comedy told the tale as if he had settled his family in Washerst, PA, instead of Amherst, MA. The show also starred Irene Ryan as Emily Dickinson, Donna Douglas as Lavinia Dickinson, and Max Baer, Jr., as their brother Austin.
The idea for "The Dickinsons of Washerst" came from a Hallmark special focused on the relationship of Emily Dickinson, played by Donna Douglas, and her third cousin, played by Buddy Ebsen. Pictured at the right: Donna Douglas and Buddy Ebsen starred as Emily Dickinson and Emmett Lee Dickinson in a Hallmark special. Pictured at the far right: The cast of "The Dickinsons of Washerst," the inspiration for "The Beverly Hillbillies." |
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August 19
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Many Brady Bunch episodes were based on Emmett Lee Dickinson poems. Schwartz said that his favorite episode was one based on Dickinson's poem, "They say Italian sausages" (below on the left). Dickinson's poem also inspired his third cousin Emily to write "They say that 'Time Assuages'" (below on the right).
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By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
They say "Italian sausages" – Grilled and sweet sausage – Actually stuffed and then sautéed As Skillets do, with sauce – Can bring Digest of Trouble – Without a Remedy – If such it prove, it prove too That you’ll know Malady – |
By Emily Dickinson:
They say that "Time assuages" – Time never did assuage – An actual suffering strengthens As Sinews do, with age – Time is a Test of Trouble – But not a Remedy – If such it prove, it prove too There was no Malady – |
August 20
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Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) was a prolific inventor. Most of his inventions are fixtures in our society: corn chowder; marching bands; candy corn; novelty coffee mugs. For more information on Dickinson's inventions, click HERE.
However, not every one of Dickinson's inventions succeeded, including a soft-drink named 6-up, a nationwide coffee chain called Starcoins Coffee, and a package retrieval service called UPR (Untied Package Retrieval). Other inventions of Dickinson's that didn't quite catch on are pictured below and at the right: ShamOkay, Preparation G Suppositories, and WD-39, a penetrating oil and water-displacing spray.
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Emmett Lee Dickinson also invented what has now become known as the "Infomercial." The concept grew from a poem of Dickinson's called "buy one now -- the," below on the left. Dickinson's poem inspired E. E. Cummings to write a similar poem called "let it go -- the." below on the right.
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
buy one now – the no matched on my word sham wow or the slap-chopped slashed price – buy one now it is bound to go buy them now – the costsave buyers and the shrewd sharp shoppers get the grills and juicers – you must act now they are down to go buy all now – the clap on clap offingest snug snuggier really the firmest of abs things – buy all now spend no refunds |
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E. E. Cummings:
let it go – the smashed word broken open vow or the oath cracked length wise – let it go it was sworn to go let them go – the truthful liars and the false fair friends and the boths and neithers – you must let them go they were born to go let all go – the big small middling tall bigger really the biggest and all things – let all go dear so comes love |
August 21
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Journalism or profits? Accuracy or ratings? Talking points or talking heads? The evolution of television news has been influenced significantly over the year by the poetry and views of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) countless newscasters, news directors, and news program producers have attended Emmett Lee Dickinson Schools for Boys all across the country. Pictured at the left: One of many TV Guide covers over years that tell the story of "Emmett Lee Dickinson's Vision of Television news." Dickinson's poem "A Word dropped often on the News" is often cited as one that foretold the transformation of the news due to the advent of 24/7 cable network news. Dickinson's poem is below on the left. He poem inspired his third cousin Emily to write "A Word dropped careless on a Page," below on the right. |
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By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
A Word dropped often on the News Does stimulate the ire When folded in perpetual stream Of Cable News shows’ fire Inflection in their sentences breed A feeling of Despair We need to distance Ourselves Or take the shows Off Air – |
By Emily Dickinson:
A Word dropped careless on a Page May consecrate an eye When folded in perpetual seam The Wrinkled Author lie Infection in the sentence breeds We may inhale Despair At distances of Centuries From the Malaria – |
August 22
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Sonny Bono was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys there, and became a great fan of the poet's life and poetry.
Later in life, Bono patterned "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" after the relationship of Emmett Lee Dickinson and his third cousin Emily Dickinson. One of Bono's favorite poems by Dickinson, "Love is fun when Love's begun" -- and it is the very poem from which "Cher" took her name (from the 4th line of the poem) Pictured left and right: Two TV guide covers featuring Sonny and Cher as Emmett Lee Dickinson and Emily Dickinson. Below left: Bono's favorite poem, "Love is fun when Love's begun." Dickinson's poem inspired his third cousin Emily to write "Love is done when Love's begun (below on the right). |
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
Love is fun when Love’s begun, Sages say, But do Sages know? That I’ll share your Tune I got you Babe! |
By Emily Dickinson:
Love is done when Love's begun, Sages say, But have Sages known? Truth adjourn your Boon Without Day. |
August 23
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Neil Simon, who attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Manhattan, found great success with his early play "The Odd Couple" which was based on the volatile relationship between Emily Dickinson and Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request). The play was later adapted for the silver screen where Walter Matthau played the character based on Emily Dickinson and Jack Lemmon portrayed the character based on Emmett Lee Dickinson. Pictured at the right: TV Guide's cover asked the question, "How two third-cousin poets inspired 'The Odd Couple'," and featured Jack Klugman as the character inspired by Emily Dickinson and Tony Randall as the character based on Emmett Lee Dickinson. Neil Simon said that he got the idea for his play "The Odd Couple" from Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "It's such a little thing to sweep" (below on the left). Dickinson's poem also inspired his third cousin Emily to write "It's such a little thing to weep" (below on the right). |
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
It’s such a little thing to sweep So short a thing to clean – And yet – by Toil – we men with these Try not to intervene! |
By Emily Dickinson:
It's such a little thing to weep – So short a thing to sigh – And yet – by Trades – the size of these We men and women die! |
August 24
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Below and right: Jimmy Fallon and almost every past SNL cast member has been significantly influenced by Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request). Click the images to enlarge.
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Below left: Tracy Morgan starred as Emily Dickinson in the Tony award winning play "The Woman in White." Below middle: Bill Murray starred as Lavinia Dickinson in the film "The Sisters of Amherst." Below right: Dana Carvey starred as Emily Dickinson in the film adaptation of Lyndall Gordon's book "Lives Like Loaded Guns."
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And remember Toonces the Driving Cat? He wass named for Mr. Toonces, the beloved cat of Qwerty Jean Dickinson, Emmett Lee Dickinson's daughter. Dana Carvey, who attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Missoula, Montana, suggested the name for the character, and all of the cast at the time -- all great aficionados of Dickinson -- agreed!
To see our three part tribute to Toonces (who was completely overlooked during the SNL 40th Anniversary Show),
click HERE (Part 1), HERE (Part 2), and HERE (Part 3).
click HERE (Part 1), HERE (Part 2), and HERE (Part 3).
August 25
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VH1's highest rated show EVER was the "Behind the Words" feature on the poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson -- read by celebrities who gathered in Washerst, PA, on Dickinson's birthday in 2003. The Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum display includes the VH1 poster (pictured at the left), Judge Judy's gavel, William Shatner's dopp kit (left behind at the Travelodge Motel when he departed), and Omarosa's sequined top (provided by the Washerst Dress Barn). Controversy swirled after the airing of the show when it was discovered that pop-duo Milli Vanilli had lip-synced their renditions of Dickinson poetry from a recording of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.
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August 26
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Did you ever wonder why Bob Schieffer and other newscasters featured on "Face the Nation" are shown in the classic pose of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request)? It's because CBS first aired the show in 1954 as a tribute to America's greatest poet, Emmett Lee Dickinson. The program was called "Face the Nation" as an obvious allusion to the fact that the only known likeness of Dickinson shows the back of his head. The first guest was Senator Joe McCarthy, the junior Senator from the state of Wisconsin, and he shocked the nation when he accused the Dickinson Organization of Poetry Enthusiasts (DOPE), headquartered in Washerst, PA, of being infiltrated with communists. His attack on DOPE and the citizens of Washerst became known as McCarthiWASm. More information on "Face the Nation" is found HERE near the bottom of the page. |
Below middle: The idea for "Face the Nation" grew from the fact that CBS in its early days would interrupt its programming broadcasts for "CBS Poetry Bulletins" where CBS stars would read poems by Emmett Lee Dickinson. Below left and right: To this day, Bob Schieffer says that "My best side is my Emmett Lee Dickinson side" -- and he insists that he be shot from the back whenever possible.
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August 27
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As Emmett Lee Dickinson was pursuing the publication of his poetry, he was also ending his two-year failed marriage to his fourth wife, Oliveti Remington, daughter of Eliphalet Remington, manufacturer of firearms and typewriters. Oliveti left with their daughter, Qwerty Jean Dickinson (for whom her grandfather designed the typrewriter's top row of keys) when rumors surfaced that Qwerty Jean's real father was Jarvis MacKinnon, the Lieutenant Governor of California. Soon after this news broke, MacKinnon was gunned down in Skidoo, California, and Dickinson was accused of but never convicted of the murder. An account of these events are now celebrated in the operatic ballad "Bohemian Rhapsody" by the British rock group Queen.
This murder mystery was the first covered by Dateline when the newsmagazine premiered in 1992. The ratings were so high, NBC developed the program into a weekly info-tainment program. |
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August 28
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Jerry Springer, who attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Queens, New York, grew to love the poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson. In his autobiography, Ringmaster, Spring called Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) a "visionary," and he reported that it was Dickinson's poem "The Rating's high -- the Crowds are mean" (below on the left) that inspired his daily talk show. Dickinson's poem also inspired third cousin Emily to write "The Sky is low -- the Clouds are mean" (below on the right).
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August 29
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Many television networks were inspired by the life and work of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request): the Food Network, the History Channel, OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), the Discovery Channel, MSNBC, and more.
One of the earliest networks to go on the air because of Emmett Lee Dickinson is TV Land. That network was based on Dickinson's poem "The Stars are old, that starred for me" (below on the left). Dickinson's poem also inspired third cousin Emily to write "The Starts are old, that stood for me" (below on the right). |
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
The Stars are old, that starred for me – The Best a little worn, For newer shows the only Gold I ever care to spurn – Rewatching on the tube reruns With infinite delight, The vanquished shows that shaped my past, ‘Tis History in light. |
By Emily Dickinson:
The Stars are old, that stood for me– The West a little worn, Yet newer glows the only Gold I ever cared to earn – Presuming on that lone result Her infinite disdain, But vanquished her with my defeat, ’Twas Victory was slain. |
August 30
Even though Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) has influenced the television industry more than any other individual, Dickinson was also a visionary who warned about watching too much television. His poem "These -- televisions" (below on the left) foretold the dangers of viewing too much TV, and it also inspired third cousin Emily to write "These -- saw visions" (below on the right).
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
These – Televisions – Watch them rarely – They – hold Simple – Foolish shows – With – compressed into short segments – Ads – Half-Truths – so miss them so – This – Is stoked – Unnumbered Channels – That – entice you to a daze – Programs for a Slim Intellect Not so cerebral – this Haze – Thus – adjust – the on-off settings – Pass – the Watching – Pass the Shows – My advice – the only Solace Cancel the reception – now – |
By Emily Dickinson:
These – saw Visions – Latch them softly – These – held Dimples – Smooth them slow – This – addressed departing accents – Quick – Sweet Mouth – to miss thee so – This – We stroked – Unnumbered Satin – These – we held among our own – Fingers of the Slim Aurora – Not so arrogant – this Noon – These – adjust – that ran to meet us – Pearl – for Stocking – Pearl for Shoe – Paradise – the only Palace Fit for Her reception – now – |
August 31
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Late in life, Emmett Lee Dickinson began advancing theories of the unconscious mind, experimenting with treatments for neuralgia, and inventing therapeutic techniques such as the use of free association and phrenology. He took in a young apprentice named Sigmund Freud, and together they advanced the "mind over matter" school of cogitation ("What is mind? No matter. What is matter? Never mind.") They also pioneered treatments for sorghumitis, a condition whereby an individual suffers from rapid heartbeat, dizziness, confusion and even hallucination when exposed to fresh corn, usually when corn is particularly plentiful and flavorsome.
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When Dickinson worked with Freud (and earlier, too, when he worked as a child psychologist with Dr. Zephian Mezmer, Dr. Zeus Mezmer, and Dr. Neville Spellbind) he invented test patterns that later inspired Hermann Rorschach's to create ink blots.
Above left: The first test pattern Dickinson developed was retired rather quickly because for those who stared into it, it was reported to cause a "blue uncertain stumbling buzz."
Above right: Following the issues with his blue test pattern, Dickinson designed a very successful black and white test pattern. The "W" is for "Washerst" (pronounced "WAS-herst"), where Dickinson was born and raised.
Above left: The first test pattern Dickinson developed was retired rather quickly because for those who stared into it, it was reported to cause a "blue uncertain stumbling buzz."
Above right: Following the issues with his blue test pattern, Dickinson designed a very successful black and white test pattern. The "W" is for "Washerst" (pronounced "WAS-herst"), where Dickinson was born and raised.
