Mel Shavelson

McNeil writes to tell me that I missed an important passing: that of Mel Shavelson. Now you know I don't want the "blog" to become a list of interesting people who have died, but McNeil is right... Shavelson is of particular interest to the "blog," and not only for his long association with Bob Hope. The GILLIGAN'S ISLAND theme song was recorded in HIS HOUSE! And he created MY WORLD AND WELCOME TO IT (I had no idea before reading his obituary) a forgotten sitcom that introduced me to the work of James Thurber and sparked my first real intention of becoming a "writer," back when I was just a little kid. Thanks, Mel Shavelson!