The more cynical among you are likely to suggest that Rule of Three’s editorial decision to slap Taylor Swift’s name and image at the top of this week’s column is a shameless attempt to attract clicks and pageviews. You might even openly question whether or not this piece is actually about Taylor Swift. Let me assure you, in keeping with our impeccable journalistic reputation, and our commitment to fair and accurate reporting, this column may very well provide a comprehensive review of the noted Kansas City Chiefs fan’s performing career arc. . .or, it might not.
No one can argue with Ms. Swift’s rapid ascension to the stratosphere of music performers, and, in fact, her transcending that space to become a true pop culture icon.
But, I maintain that it takes a much longer period of time than Taylor Swift has thus far commanded of the public’s attention to cement a legacy of achievement. Because we here at Rule of Three like nice, round numbers, we believe that number is one-hundred. That’s right, one-hundred years.
Why one-hundred years? Well, it seems as if that’s a long enough period of time to demonstrate true staying power. If people are still talking about someone or something a hundred years down the line, we believe that qualifies that person or thing to be enshrined in the “Immortals Hall of Fame.”
Some of the most famous centenarians include: Kirk Douglas; Bob Hope; George Burns; Queen Elizabeth (no, not that one - her mother); Grandma Moses; Irving Berlin; and Norman Lear.
A few other celebrities got very close to one-hundred, and, with some generous rounding, could be included in that elite fraternity, including: Betty White; Bob Barker; Prince Philip; Zsa Zsa Gabor; Billy Graham; John Wooden; Max Schmeling; John Paul Stevens; and Hugh Downs.
These are names which continue to resonate with me - if they don’t mean anything to you, Google them - they each left behind a memorable legacy of some sort.
Also, Reader’s Digest has been kind enough to offer us a list of “100 Things Turning 100 in 2022,” endorsing our choice of one-hundred years as a meaningful benchmark. In addition to Reader’s Digest itself (ah, now I get it!), the article cites: Time (the magazine, because, you know time itself is fleeting and also marches on); Stouffer’s (Thanksgiving stuffing, right?); State Farm Insurance (Jake, from State Farm, is a mere youngster, however); Jaguar (the auto company, not the animal); Belle Tire; the blender (giving each of us the keys to craft our own margaritas in the comfort of our own home); Technicolor movies; radio commercials (hey, I never said this was a list of beloved things, simply long-lasting things); waterskiing; the Rose Bowl (the “Granddaddy of them all!); Yankee Stadium (the “House That Ruth Built”); Centre Court at Wimbledon; the Lincoln Memorial (itself commemorating a memorable President); the USSR (I’m not sure why this one is on Reader’s Digest’s list - as far as I can recall, the USSR expired before the ripe old age of seventy, right?); the Teapot Dome scandal (Watergate put all political scandals to shame, but this one is still recalled by historians); the Hollywood Bowl; and the discovery of King Tut’s tomb (now, that boy has been around for a lot longer than one-hundred years!). Gratuitous inclusion here of Steve Martin’s classic song, as performed on SNL in 1978. . .
You know, it's customary to show your appreciation for a musical performance with applause - in lieu of that gesture, you may simply click the button here to subscribe now to Rule of Three - it's free!
Note that, in the interest of brevity, and, also because I found a number of the items on that list to be of little interest (to me, anyway), I didn’t include all one-hundred items in this piece. But, you get the idea - for the most part, things that have survived for one-hundred years mean something.
In an attempt to put my own personal stamp on this issue, I can report with pride a couple of brushes with hundred-year-old treasures, a near miss, and a math error.
I joined the University of Kansas Alumni Marching Band, about fifteen years ago, as it celebrated one-hundred years of marching band excellence logged by the real band, composed of undergraduate members - the Alumni Band itself is apparently marking fifty years - respectable, but not enough to make the cut for the “Immortals Hall of Fame” - Rule of Three has planned a follow-up column for 2073, in which the Alumni Band is expected to be featured. As you well know, Rule of Three doesn’t happen purely by chance - editorial calendars are developed well in advance.
I became aware of another institution’s hundred-year milestone, roughly twenty years ago, when the local newspaper publisher with whom I worked at the time, the Wilmette Life, published a feature on a local church, Kenilworth Union Church, as it celebrated one-hundred years of existence. I was able to procure a framed keepsake of the edition, as a gift for Gilbert W. Bowen, its longtime pastor, who was in charge at the time.
Having spent a few years on the board of the Toledo Ballet in the mid-2010’s, I became friends with the organization’s founder, Marie Vogt, who was still a member of the board at that time, in her 90’s. Marie founded the ballet company in 1939, which, I know, doesn’t yet qualify it for inclusion in the “Immortals Hall of Fame,” but my nomination is for Marie herself, who died a couple of years ago, at the age of 99 (the “near miss”). Toledo Ballet first performed The Nutcracker in 1941, and holds the record for the longest, consecutive-running production of The Nutcracker in the U.S. My personal collection of Marie-centric items includes a number of hand-drawn greeting cards she had addressed to me, and a book she published in 1973, entitled “The Businessman’s Ballet Book,” a primer on the art of ballet, including hand-drawn illustrations. A tribute to Marie, and her ballet company was the subject of a Rule of Three column a couple of years ago - feel free to revisit here. . .
The final piece of the puzzle involves a visit I had with my dad, six months or so before his death. At one point during our time together, he looked intently at me and stated, proudly, “I’m going to be one-hundred in a few weeks, on July 17th.”
Although by this point in his life, he was becoming a bit confused by things, he did, indeed, have the date right - his birthday was coming in a few weeks, on July 17th. The part that was not correct was that he was turning eighty-eight, not one-hundred. I felt badly gently correcting him, but I felt that it was the right thing to do. His visible disappointment betrayed his belief in the power of one-hundred, I suppose.
Our research indicates that Taylor Swift’s performing career began around 2006, which leaves about eighty-three years before the “Immortals Hall of Fame” might come calling. Take heart, Taylor - know that you’re not alone in having to wait to see your legacy recognized. Why, Rule of Three has been delivering award-winning content for just more than three years, so we’ve got 97 years before we are able to achieve our own dream of immortality. . .or not.
Fortunately, you don't have to wait 97 years for more Rule of Three - simply click the button here to subscribe now to Rule of Three - it's free!
>> If people are still talking about someone or something a hundred years down the line, we believe that qualifies that person or thing to be enshrined in the “Immortals Hall of Fame.”
Sorry Ringo Starr, you're gonna have to wait 40 more years to see if you and your band-mates qualify.
You forgot my mother, Bea Forrest, who lived to 102 and was famous in her own right: on the Phil Donohue show, testified in front on Congress, on the cover of the Winnetka Talk protesting our dog Ernie being discriminated against, international speaker on vocational education and fashion icon.