Kevin Conroy — the 1973 Staples High School graduate and former Staples Players star whose voice was the definitive Batman — died yesterday. He was 66 years old, and had battled cancer.
Conroy was Batman’s voice on the animated television series from 1992 to ’96. He continued with the character through 15 films, 400 TV episodes and 2 dozen video games.
“Kevin brought a light with him everywhere, whether in the recording booth giving it his all or feeding first-responders during 9/11 or making sure every fan who ever waited for him had a moment with their Batman,” said Paul Dini, producer of the animated show. ”A hero in every sense of the word.”
AP says:
Conroy) attended Juilliard and roomed with Robin Williams. After graduating, he toured with John Houseman’s acting group, the Acting Company. He performed in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Public Theater and in “Eastern Standard” on Broadway. At the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, he performed in “Hamlet.”
The 1980s production of “Eastern Standard,” in which Conroy played a TV producer secretly living with AIDS, had particular meaning to him. Conroy, who was gay, said at the time he was regularly attending funerals for friends who died of AIDS. He poured out his anguish nightly on stage.
In 1980, Conroy moved to Los Angeles, began acting in soap operas and booked appearances on TV series including “Cheers,” “Tour of Duty” and “Murphy Brown.” In 1991, when casting director Andrea Romano was scouting her lead actor for “Batman: The Animated Series,” she went through hundreds of auditions before Conroy came in. He was there on a friend’s recommendation — and cast immediately.
In 2016 — when the New York Times profiled Conroy — “06880” posted this story:
In the eight-decade history of Batman, no one played the Dark Knight more.
For over 20 years, the 1973 Staples High School graduate has lent his “deeply charming, yet virile voice” to 9 Batman TV series, 12 animated movies and 7 video games. No other actor has played Batman for so long, or been as closely identified with him.
Today, the New York Times finally took notice.
Kevin Conroy (Photo/Ben Esner for NY Times)
The Arts section features a full-length story on Conroy — who, it should be noted, is hardly a 1-trick Batman. The Juilliard alum also toured nationally with “Deathtrap,” appeared on the soap opera “Another World,” played Laertes in the New York Shakespeare Festival, acted on Broadway, and was a regular on “Ohara” and “Tour of Duty.”
But it’s as Batman he’s best known, and that’s the Times hook. Jeff Muskus writes:
He has logged the most screen time of anyone in the comic-book vigilante’s 77-year history — without ever showing his face onscreen for the role. Still, his voice, deep and resonant, has defined the character for fans who grew up with his shows, and again for those devouring his three Arkham video games.
“It’s so much fun as an actor to sink your teeth into,” Mr. Conroy, 60, said over lunch in New York’s theater district. “Calling it animation doesn’t do it justice. It’s more like mythology.”
The story notes that “school plays” — aka Staples Players — provided Conroy with a home, away from his dysfunctional family (he lived some of the time with friends).
Muskus concludes:
Unlike Batman, Mr. Conroy has managed to resolve much of his childhood trauma. First, he sought a modicum of financial stability….He saved during his stage and Los Angeles days, flipping houses on both coasts, and supported and made peace with his parents in their final years. “I was able to speak for my father at his funeral and sing for my mother at hers,” he said.
Mr. Conroy said he’s grateful for his long-running second act. “I’ve been really fortunate to have gotten Batman, because he’s a character that’s just evolved,” he said. “It’s just been a character where you can ride that wave for 24 years. Keeping him alive, keeping him from getting just dark and boring and broody, is the challenge.”
Click here to read the full New York Times story. Click here for the Times’ selection of Conroy’s standout Batman performances.
There’s a good reason why Westport schools are in session on Veterans Day.
It’s a chance for students to learn the meaning of the holiday. Some classes have special discussions. Some buildings hold special assemblies.
At Greens Farms Elementary School, youngsters hear from veterans themselves. Some served in long-ago wars. Others — including the father of at least 2 current students — are serving now.
Greens Farms School principal Kevin Cazzetta welcomes Lieutenant Commander Ryan Weddle, father of students Ben and John. He has served in the US Navy since 2008, with deployments to Guantanamo, Afghanistan and Qatar.
Each year, teachers organize a ceremony. Several dozen servicemen and women are honored. This year, nearly two dozen took the stage.
Veterans on stage. The “Missing Man” table in front is decorated with symbols representing missing family members (rose), love for country (red ribbon), tears shed for those lost (salt), missing soldiers 9inverted) glass and hope (lit candle).
They were serenaded with songs of all the armed forces branches — including, this year, the new Space Force tune.
The Greens Farms PtA sponsors a reception too.
GFS 3rd grade teacher Karen Frawley (right) with her mother Doris Serbu Seipel. She is a first lieutenant in the Air Force Nurse Corps, and a captain in the New York State National Guard.
“It’s the best assembly of the year, every year,” says longtime music teacher Suzanne Sherman Propp. “It’s really heartwarming.”
Greens Farms 3rd graders are ready.
She helped organize the event, with colleagues Amy Murtagh, Karen Frawley, Dan Seek, Jason Hubball, Catherine Vanech and Lisa Doran.
Greens Farms Elementary School 3rd grade teachers (from left): Karen Frawley, Catherine Vanech, Amy Murtagh, Jason Hubball.
Former Bedford Middle School math teacher Salpi Tokatlian (right) with her granddaughter, GFS 2nd grader Ella, and husband Sgt. Matthew Charles Tokatlian, US Army 1968-71. He served in Vietnam, and earned a Sharpshooter Medal.
(Hat tip and all photos: Suzanne Sherman Propp)
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Reess Kennedy is a software engineer and tech entrepreneur.
As a sideline, the Staples High School Class of 2000 graduate studies innovation history — especially involving late 19th-century American entrepreneurs.
Think John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan and Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Plus Morris Ketchum Jesup.
Morris Jesup, and his very impressive mustache.
A September “Friday Flashback” on Jesup caught Reess’ eye. He read with interest that the founder of the Westport Library (and namesake of our town green) was also a major benefactor of the American Museum of Natural History. (He also commissioned a 5-year anthropological expedition to Alaska and Siberia, which is why the northernmost piece of Greenland is named Cape Morris Jesup).
The next month Reess was at the New York museum’s American wing, exploring its labyrinth of oil paintings.
He found a work he remembered from college art history: “Fur Traders Descending the Missouri” (George Caleb Bingham, 1845). A few days later, opening an old textbook to learn more about the work, he noticed a credit line: the “Morris K. Jesup Fund, 1933.”
“Fur Traders Descending the Missouri”
Digging into the Met’s database, he learned Jesup was associated with an astonishing 313 pieces of art: paintings, sculptures, decorative boxes, you name it.
He’s returned to the Met’s American Wing since then, proud of the impact someone from his hometown had on the space.
Reess Kennedy, at the Met.
Reess adds: “Maybe it’s just getting older and appreciating everything more. Maybe it’s that I spend so much time on my small laptop screen nstead of in these grand galleries.
“But I also think it’s the deep lesson of the pandemic: We shouldn’t take for granted that we’ll always have permission to get our eyes inches from the brush strokes of these beautiful masterpieces. It’s such a wonderful gift.”
And how few people know that the donor is a long-ago Westporter, whose name we remember only for a bust in our library, and a bit of green space nearby.
BONUS FEATURE:Reess offers more information on Morris Jesup, his fund and the Met.
He offered significant financial support to Frederic Edwin Church, a Hartford-born artist whose work is featured in the American Gallery.
Jesup’s generosity helped Church produce his masterwork “The Parthenon.” It was bequeathed to the museum by Jesup’s wife.
Thanks too to Reess, for uncovering this great photo of Morris Jesup, and his dog:
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All around town today, flags fly proudly to honor our veterans.
Matt Murray captured this inspiring view this morning, on Compo Cove:
(Photo/Matt Murray)
A reminder: Today’s Town Hall ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m, The Community Band will play; speakers include 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Staples High School senior Tyler Clark; the Westport Police Honor Guard, American Legion Post 63 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 399 wilk participate too.
Good news for supporters of A Better Chance of Westport, and fans of Millie Rae’s.
On November 17, 20% of all sales will be donated to ABC — the great program that provides educational opportunities here to academically-gifted and highly motivated young men of color.
It’s a great way to buy holiday gifts and decorations, jewelry and more. Plus: wine and nibbles will be served from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
This first-ever MoCA Film Salon features 2 highly acclaimed documentaries about the art world.
“Jay Myself” is a behind-the-scenes documentary about photographer/ artist Jay Maisel — directed by renowned photographer and Westporter Stephen Wilkes). It’s set for December 10 (3 p.m.) A conversation with Wilkes follows the screening.
“The Art of Making It” (December 11, 3 p.m.) examines the lives of 17 young artists navigating emerging careers in the contemporary art world. It screens
Tickets ($20 for one show, $30 for both) include complimentary light bites. Drinks and cocktails will be available for purchase. Click here for tickets, and more information.
And Finally … Joe Tarsia died last week in Pennsylvania. He was 88.
You may not know his name, but you’re heard his work. A recording engineer, he was a key developer of what the New York Times calls “the lush, fervent blend of soul, disco and funk known as the Sound of Philadelphia.” Click here for a full obituary.
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It’s a quasi-holiday. Banks and post offices are closed. For most of the rest of us, it’s business as usual.
But as we pause to remember the millions who served our nation, let’s think about the stories of every man.
And woman.
In 2017, children at a Fairfield elementary school eagerly filled out forms honoring veterans they knew.
Six-year-old Declan O’Gorman proudly wrote “Grandma.”‘
Kendall Gardiner — a longtime Westport resident — joined the Army in 1967. She volunteered for Viet Nam.
Kendall served as a combat nurse on the ground, treating badly wounded soldiers in a M*A*S*H-type unit. She and her fellow nurses worked 12 hour shifts, 6 to 7 days a week.
But Declan’s school balked at “Grandma.” They made him rewrite the form, with help from his 7-year-old brother Luke.
“I think the school missed a great opportunity to educate the children about all the different people who choose to become soldiers,” Kendall writes.
“And they missed an opportunity for my grandson to learn I haven’t been ‘Grandma’ my whole life.”
She’s right. Names don’t matter. Actions do.
Thank you for your service, Kendall “Grandma” Gardiner.
Kendall Gardiner, in Viet Nam.
Thanks too to all your fellow nurses, doctors, pilots, soldiers, sailors, and everyone else who served: the few remaining World II veterans; those in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan; those who were stateside, and those no longer with us.
Today, we honor you all.
(For more on Kendall Gardiner’s service, click here. Don’t forget this morning’s Veterans Day ceremony at Town Hall. The Community Band plays at 10:30; the speakers take the auditorium stage at 11.)
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Mark your calendars for the 2nd annual Holiday Stroll. It’s Saturday, December 3 (5 to 7 p.m.).
Last year’s first-ever event was sponsored by “06880.” This year, we’re teaming up with the Westport Downtown Association, for an extra-special event.
It’s family friendly, with a visit from Santa, special activities for kids, and songs from the Orphenians and more. There will be a tent outside Cold Fusion.
Downtown merchants — including some across the river — will offer promotions. For example:
Walrus Alley: Happy hour prices for food and drinks
Lift Wellness Group: discount on bundled psychotherapy and nutrition services, gift cards with 10% discount applied for virtual and in person psychotherapy and nutrition services.
Upnorth: 10% off, and a giveaway.
Merchants and restaurants wishing to participate can click here for more information.
Westport honors its vets tomorrow (Friday, November 11), with a ceremony at Town Hall.
The Community Band welcomes visitors with patriotic tunes, at 10:30 a.m.
At 11 a.m. — the hour the armistice ending World War I took effect — the program begins.
First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Staples High School senior Tyler Clark will speak. The Westport Police Department will fire a salute. The Community Band will play the “Armed Forces Salute.”
The public is invited.
The doughboy statue on Veterans Green. Tomorrow’s ceremony takes place in nearby Town Hall. (Photo/Ted Horowitz)
The new shop in the former Fleishers Craft Butchery is the creation of chef (and Staples High School graduate) Matt Storch and Susan McConnell — both of Burger Lobster and Match — plus Jimmy Bloom (Copps Island Oysters) and butcher Paul Nessel (well known from his Craft Butchery days across Riverside Avenue).
Stephanie Webster of CTBites calls Saugatuck Provisions “a new concept offering customers a curated selection of the very best ingredients from the land, sea and grocery, enabling guests to create beautiful restaurant quality meals at home.”
Saugatuck Provisions (Photo and hat tip/JD Dworkow)
For Old Dominion, winning “Vocal Group of the Year” at the CMA Awards never gets old.
The country band — whose lead guitarist is 1997 Staples High School graduate Brad Tursi — took top honors for the 5th time, at last night’s 56th annual event.
Tursi was best known at Staples as a star soccer player. Now he’s scoring on a much bigger stage. (Hat tip: Jeff Lea)
The first evening of the Westport Library’s Short Cuts Film Festival earned rave reviews.
The second night is Thursday, November 17 (7 p.m., Trefz Forum).
Four short documentaries — all from the Tribeca Film Festival — will be shown.
“More Than I Want to Remember,” by Amy Bench. Winner, Best Animated Short, Tribeca. In the Congo, 14-year-old Mugeni runs to the forest, escaping bombs and surviving without her family.
“Beirut Dreams in Color,” by Michael Collins. This heart-rending story follows an openly gay Arab rock star and his activist fan. Tragedy results “in Cairo.
“Kylie” by Sterling Hampton. A Black ballerina tries to make it in the traditionally white ballet world?
“John Leguizamo Live at Rikers Island,” by Elena Francesa. The actor performs and spends time at the prison, inspiring justice-involved young men to reflect about their lives and the challenges of incarceration.
After the screenings, Kevin Wilson Jr. — an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, chats with Short Cuts producer Nancy Diamond.
The festival continues December 8, with an evening of narrative shorts.
Tickets are $25. Refreshments and popcorn will be served. For more information and tickets, click here.
“I always thought of ‘Compo’ as coming from the Native American ‘Compaug.’ So I was surprised to see this clock at The Castle Museum in York, England.
“I looked it up and found: ‘Original Metal Front/Vanner & Prest’s Molliscorium Compo Embrocation Trade Mark/Advertising Clock with Restored Paint, circa 1905 to 1910.
“Etc., etc. — but with no explanation of ‘Compo.'”
Deej hopes the “06880” crowd can crowdsource this mystery. If you have any idea where “Compo” fits in all this, click “Comments” below.
The Westport Police have released arrest reports for November 2-9.
Three people were detained in custody. One was charged with identity theft and larceny, 3rd degree.
One was arrested for sale of hallucinogenics, drug paraphernalia, weapons in a motor vehicle, carrying a pistol or revolver without a permit, misuse of plates, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle under suspension, insurance coverage fails minimum requirements, failure to wear safety belt
One was detained for for violation of parole and narcotics possession.
The following citations were issued:
Violation of any traffic commission regulation (11)
Traveling unreasonably fast (7)
Misuse of plates (3)
Operating an unregistered vehicle (3)
Speeding (2)
Failure to obey control signal (2)
Insurance coverage fails to meet minimum requirement (2)
Readings of the new musical “Psyche,” starring Jay Armstrong Johnson and Johanna Moise, are set for today and tomorrow (November 10 and 11 at New York’s DiMenna Center .
But you can be forgiven if you think it’s a Staples Players’ Class of 2017 reunion.
The musical’s book and lyrics are by Emily Garber. The score is from Jake Landau.
Rounding out the production team are developmental producer Lauren Weinberger, dramaturg Phoebe Corde, and gender and sexuality consultant Shira Helena Gitlin. All collaborated on many Players productions.
“Psyche” was featured in Broadway World (click here). Click here for the website, with a full synopsis and link to demos.
Speaking of performances: “Cheese Fries & Froot Loops” — the funny, poignant solo show written and performed by Weston’s Chris Fuller, about this lifelong dream to play on the PGA Tour while living with bipolar manic disorder — returns to the Fairfield Theater Company November 30 (6:30 p.m.).
His brothers Jeff and Judd Fuller (both professional musicians) and Chris’ step-sister Vicky — all raised in Westport — offer a special musical performance prior to the show. The theme is mental health awareness.
Chris was recently invited to join the United Solo Festival on New York’s Theater Row.
Click here for more information about the FTC show, including tickets.
Art of Everyone is launching Connecticut’s first Hybrid NFT & Traditional Art Exhibition.
The 2 mediums will be merged under one roof. The exploration of the convergence of traditional visual arts and NFTs puts artists back in control of their careers.
Set for this Saturday (November 12, 4 to 9 p.m.), it’s part of the Bridgeport Arts Trail. The Knowlton (305 Knowlton Street) has donated their entire 10,000-square foot space, audiovisual resources, staging and technology for the event.
Among the participants: Westport artists James Chantler Brown (Art of Everyone co-founder), Linda Colletta and Alison James.
Westporter Herm Freeman is showing too. He helped curate and hang the entire exhibit.
With so many options for music — Spotify, Sirius, personal playlists — how do 92% of Americans listen each week?
Radio.
The good, old-fashioned way: in a car, or at the office.
And the good, new-fashioned way: streaming on a laptop or phone. Or through Alexa.
In Connecticut, chances are good that the station is a long-time favorite: WEBE 108, WPLR, the Fox, Star 99.9 or WICC.
If you’re on Long Island, it may be WALK 97.5.
They’re 6 of the 13 radio stations owned by Connoisseur Media. It’s one of the most highly regarded companies in the industry: community-minded, well-run and profitable.
And it all happens from a downtown Westport office.
On Tuesday morning, Jeff Warshaw sat at his desk overlooking the Post Road. It was 8 a.m. He’d already left his home a view minutes away, voted, and had coffee.
Jeff Warshaw, and his expansive view of Westport. (PHoto/Dan Woog)
He settled back, and talked about his lifelong passion: radio.
His father and uncle were in the business. (Wolfman Jack was one of their DJs). Warshaw built his first station — literally constructing it, in Portage, Indiana — after answering an ad in Broadcasting Magazine. At the time, the Long Island native was a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
He sold it, then bought and sold a number of distressed stations. In 1993 — still in his mid-20s — he founded Connoisseur Connoisseur Communications Partners, with a station in Flint, Michigan.
Seven years later, he sold what had become a 39-station group (in places like Youngstown, Ohio and the Quad Cities in Iowa and Illinois) to Cumulus Broadcasting. The price was $258 million.
A few years later, he started his second Connoisseur company from scratch. This time he concentrated on Connecticut and New York.
None of the original stations remain in his portfolio. Selling and buying brought him his current stable. He looks for “a strong local presence, good facilities, and good people.”
The dozen-plus stations play different formats. But all share core values, Warshaw says: community service, dedication to listeners, results for advertisers, an excellent work environment, and integrity.
Nine Connoisseur Media stations …
Under Connoisseur, WEBE and Star 99.9 — once “blood enemies,” according to Warshaw — have become different. Both are thriving.
So is WICC. Bridgeport’s first radio station, and one of the first in the state (it signed on 96 years ago Tuesday, with call letters standing for “Industrial Capital of Connecticut”), it is unlike the other Connoisseur stations.
WICC programs mostly talk radio. But — defying trends in the rest of the country, while holding true to the company philosophy — much of it is locally based.
The daytime slots are filled by Melissa in the Morning, Lisa Wexler (a Westport resident) and Paul Pacelli.
“You can hear national talk radio anywhere,” Warshaw says. “The local commitment makes us special.”
It’s more expensive. Syndicated talk show costs just 2 commercial minutes an hour.
But, Warshaw says, that’s the Connoisseur way. And it’s their way whether a station hosts talk shows, or plays music from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s or today.
… and 4 more.
“It’s easy to be cheap. We have more people, and we pay to have them. We have more vehicles than some New York stations. We sponsor dance-a-thons, and food and toy drives.”
Connoisseur works closely with organizations like Bridgeport Rescue Mission, and veterans’ groups. WEBE’s holiday gifts to needy listeners are a particularly costly — but beloved — tradition.
Warshaw says that the format — and the budget — pay off in the end. “I’ll stack my team against any radio company in America.”
That’s not just a CEO bragging. Connoisseur wins awards — for management and ad sales.
“It’s our responsibility. We enjoy it,” Warshaw insists. “And we make money. Otherwise we’d say, ‘Just listen to Spotify.'”
On the wall in Jeff Warshaw’s office: a guitar signed by Jeff Beck, and a collage with the faces of hundreds Connoisseur Media employees. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Warshaw is bullish on the future of radio. It’s multi-platform: anyone can tune in via a dial, computer, smart speaker or app. And in an age when so many people worry about privacy, radio stations don’t rely on knowing who, personally, every listen is.
So how big will his company get? Will they outgrow their Westport headquarters?
“We’re connoisseurs, not gluttons,” Warshaw jokes. “We will do the job we think is important. But being great is more important than being big.”
The CEO moved from New York to Westport in 1996 — both his office and home, on the same day.
He came for the same reasons as many — great schools, space, a wonderful town to raise kids — and he has never regretted it.
Looking out over the Post Road — “There’s David Waldman!” he said, spotting the commercial real estate developer across the street — he has no reason to move.
He’s in a vibrant town. There are plenty of excellent restaurants. He works just a few minutes from home, and the club where he plays tennis.
Every Connoisseur radio station has a tagline: “Fairfield County Rocks.” “The Rhythm of the City.” “Long Island’s Best Variety.” “Today’s Best Mix.” “Connecticut’s Music Variety.”
I vote for everyone who helped make yesterday’s elections run smoothly.
Town officials in the registrars’ and town clerk’s offices; volunteers at the polling places; League of Women Voters members who handed out non-partisan information; the behind-the-scenes custodial, maintenance and administrative folks wherever votes were cast; Staples High School students who greeted voters and passed out,= “I Voted” stickers; police officers who were ready in case there were any issues … anyone who had a hand in making sure democracy worked yesterday: thank you.
No matter the outcome, you won.
A soothingly familiar scene, year after year in Westport.
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