- Playing
- The Lone Ranger of Looney Valley
- From
- Rupa Marya
In San Francisco's Noe Valley neighborhood, you'll find a relic of the city's past. This was once a working class immigrant neighborhood, a bastion of conservative values. Harry Aleo's real estate shop window is filled with pictures of this old San Francisco, and it's also populated with pictures of Ronald Reagan and Dwight D. Eisenhower set against the backdrop of an American flag. You will also find political slogans saying things like "repeal the 19th amendment"- that's the one that gave women the right to vote. A San Francisco native, Harry has watched the city outside his window change over his 84 years, while his attitudes have held steady. Today his window is the only visible expression of political dissent in liberal Noe Valley.
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Piece Description
In San Francisco's Noe Valley neighborhood, you'll find a relic of the city's past. This was once a working class immigrant neighborhood, a bastion of conservative values. Harry Aleo's real estate shop window is filled with pictures of this old San Francisco, and it's also populated with pictures of Ronald Reagan and Dwight D. Eisenhower set against the backdrop of an American flag. You will also find political slogans saying things like "repeal the 19th amendment"- that's the one that gave women the right to vote. A San Francisco native, Harry has watched the city outside his window change over his 84 years, while his attitudes have held steady. Today his window is the only visible expression of political dissent in liberal Noe Valley.
2 Comments
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Review of The Lone Ranger of Looney ValleyThis is literally and figuratively a window onto the current political climate in the US. In a liberal landscape Harry Aleo's storefront window is a dash of diversity. Aleo's display of an illuminated Uncle Sam and promulgations of conservative values not only stimulate political discussions among neighbors and passersby but also leaves you contemplating what it means to be an American. Although this piece is largely composed of sound bites and vox pop it transcends its own convention by allowing Henry Aleo to talk at length about growing up in San Francisco as a child of immigrant parents. In hearing his story you come to understand and sympathize with his need to express himself. You are also left with a renewed appreciation of what a lot of Americans take for granted: freedom of speech. This should be braodcast ideally before November 2. In tone and mood this is perfect for ME /ATC. You can even play this after the election in the context of the First Amendment. |
Broadcast History
Broadcast on KALW October 24th, 2004.
Transcript
HOST LEDE:
In San Francisco's Noe Valley neighborhood, you'll find a relic of the city's past. This was once a working class immigrant neighborhood, a bastion of conservative values. Harry Aleo's real estate shop window is filled with pictures of this old San Francisco, and it's also populated with pictures of Ronald Reagan and Dwight D. Eisenhower set against the backdrop of an American flag. You will also find political slogans saying things like "repeal the 19th amendment"- that's the one that gave women the right to vote. A San Francisco native, Harry has watched the city outside his window change over his 84 years, while his attitudes have held steady. Today his window is the only visible expression of political dissent in liberal Noe Valley. Rupa Marya [Roopuh Mah’-ree-yuh] has the story from both sides of the glass.
[clock striking three, ambience of store]
HA: I’m Har...
Read the full transcript
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Sondra Sneed
Posted on November 25, 2004 at 05:56 AM | Permalink
Review of The Lone Ranger of Looney Valley
THANK GOD for Rupa Marya. Give me this piece, a walnut tree and lemonade, then leave me to rest among the weary.
So often people have forgotten that freedom is a joy of rarity; a jewel created by heat and emmense pressure. Everyday we are pulled into a system that keeps us from running our own system. Aleo's storefront is a portal to the imagination, which is the engine that drives what we will of life ever-giving. This will allows us to reject the mass of hearding dogs around us who say, "You can't say that!". Well yes I can, because I live in the land of the free and the brave.
Like Aleo's plastic Uncle Sam that holds a plastic flag, this country may get weathered but even mother nature cannot destroy her value for independence and self-hood. Keep it waving, Uncle Sam, I am here to wave back. And smiling.