Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Here's to you, original headline writers

Yes, there were some original headlines about the death of Anne Bancroft. But most people resorted to a variation on a theme:

Anne Bancroft, star of theater and screen, dies (New York Times 1A promo)
Oscar Winner Anne Bancroft dies at 73 (Washington Post 1A promo)
Versatile, but Forever Mrs. Robinson (Los Angeles Times)
Role of seductive Mrs. Robinson brought cult status (Dallas Morning News)

Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson (New Orleans Times-Picayune 1A promo)
Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 1A promo)
To you, Mrs. Robinson (San Antonio Express-News 1A promo)
Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Here's to you, Anne Bancroft (USAToday.com)
And here's to you, Ms Bancroft (London Times)
Here's to you, Mrs Bancroft (The Age of Australia)
So here's to you, Mrs Robinson ... (Scotsman.com)
'Graduate' co-star dies: Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson (San Jose Mercury News)
And Here's to You... Remembering Anne Bancroft (Slate)

UPDATE: Check out a right-on skewering of this headline-writing process on CJR's site (via Blogslot [I know; that links to this, this links to that. It's all too incestuous]).
You take a breath. What were the lyrics to that song again? "Koo-koo-ka-choo, Mrs. Robinson?" That's not much of a headline.

But there's that part about DiMaggio -- Jolting Joe has left and gone away, or whatever it was. Maybe a play on that.

"Anne Bancroft has left and gone away"? That's pretty good. She'd like that.

Still, that's just your first try. You can do better. Was Bancroft religious, maybe? 'Cause there's that religious part in the song, about how "Heaven Holds A Place For Those Who Pray."

That's really pretty awesome, all by itself. Too bad the slot editor is an atheist.

4 Comments:

At 5:52 PM, June 08, 2005, Blogger Bill said...

Hey hey hey. Hey hey hey.

 
At 6:03 PM, June 08, 2005, Blogger Nicole said...

I suppose it is better than "Heaven holds a place for those who pray."

 
At 6:51 PM, June 08, 2005, Blogger Bill said...

Imagine reaching that far back in the cultural zeitgeist for a reference. I mean, who can remember the LEMONHEADS? -- sheesh!

 
At 9:02 AM, June 09, 2005, Blogger Mike said...

Bud Light should consider Mr. Original Headline Writer for its Real Men of Genius campaign.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home