Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by Bill - Potomac, MD on May 18, 2009:

Bob Levey, in his Bob Levey's Washington column in the Washington Post, used to run groups of apropos names from time to time. Unfortunately, I can't remember what he called them. But I pointed out to him that the tradition ran back as far as the 1920s - columnist FPA (Franklin P. Adams) called them "aptonyms" when he came across them.

I remember reading about Herb Caen - never read his columns, as I never lived in a city where they were published.

Posted by Camilla, Kentucky on May 18, 2009:

You brought up a wealth of memories when you spoke of Caen. I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 15 years and my favorite place to go in the paper was Herb Caen's column. Although I wasn't born there, he had a way of making me feel connected to the area and the written word. When he retired, I didn't know what I would do because I knew the newspaper would never be the same without him. Now it is all clicking for me. That is probably the very reason I love "This is True". (I wish I could remember how I started reading it, but knew one day I just had to become a premium subscriber) You are the best. And now I know why I use the three dots in my text messages...thank you, thank you, thank you.

Posted by robert hoff-Seattle on May 18, 2009:

...Wow, I hadn't thought of Herb Caen in a very long time...I grew up in the Bay Area and am very familiar with his byline...He would pick the most off the wall things to comment on, anything that caught his fancy or gave him pause to think...He even mentioned the business my father worked for and in a follow up column he mentioned my father...the business, located in San Mateo and with a big sign right next to Bayshore Freeway (hwy101) was named Bay Slurry Seal...it was an aaphalt resurfacing company that used an asphalt slurry to reseal streets, parking lots and really anything one might imagine...Mr Caen saw the sign and made a comment in his column asking what the heck is a Bay Slurry Seal; is it a contraction of Slippery and Furry or what?...when my father saw the column, he called Mr. Caen and explained all about the business and Mr. Caen most graciously passed on the explanation to his readers in his next column...minor celebrity for my father and the business for a few days and a most gracious thank you from Mr. Caen for dad supplying the information...in this day and age of very questionable "journalism", it is nice to remember a Real Journalist...thanks, Randy, for bringing to mind a nice memory....

Posted by Daniel - Arizona on May 18, 2009:

I lived in SF from 1975-86, and Herb Caen's column was the first thing I turned to every morning. (I remember when he changed the "skyscape" behind his name to include the Transamerica pyramid, tweaked at an angle next to Coit Tower). His columns are as much a cherished memory to me as the noon news on KSAN and lengthy, calf-developing strolls through The City. Thanks for the reminiscence, Randy...you're not the only writer he left his mark on.

Posted by Cory, Topeka Kansas on May 18, 2009:

It is always fun to reminisce about mentors - intended or not. It can be even more fun when you realize that they are more important to you than you initially figured.

While I have never knowingly read the man's work myself, I have for many years enjoyed your writing, including the unique style you employ.

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Posted by David, Canada on May 18, 2009:

I must say I've never had the pleasure of reading Caen until now (but I have heard of him) - now I can only think of him as just a copy of Randy Cassingham!

I have heard the term Caen uses for "Berkeley" before, but I've always seen it spelled "Berzerkeley" - maybe it's just a regional/Canadian thing, looked odd his way to me ...

Posted by JohnHenry - Turlock, CA on May 18, 2009:

I was an early admirer of Herb Caen. One of my first jobs 1962-64 was to deliver the SF Chronicle by bicycle in Modesto, CA. My last stop each morning was a early opening tavern where factory workers came after their graveyard shift. The owner of the place let me have a coke while I enjoyed Herb's writing. The short pieces moved together making it the Life like I wanted to live. I continued my education and enjoyed my career, but I continued read Herb Caen until he was gone.

I miss him even today... Thanks for the memories.

Posted by Dan, Port Hueneme, CA on May 18, 2009:

Great notes and memories of Herb Caen.. I grew up and lived many years in San Diego where we didn't get much of Herb or the Chronicle, but the story reminded me of Frank Rhoades, a San Diego Union columnist that had a similar style to Herb Caen. Thanks, Randy, for a ride on the 'way back machine'!

Posted by Deborah, San Jose on May 19, 2009:

I remember Herb Caen because I subscribed to the Chron for several years when I lived in Hayward and Oakland. His column was a must-read every day, even though I often had never been to many of the places he wrote about. Now I know one of the reasons I like your writing - he copied you!

Posted by Steve, Coronado, CA on May 19, 2009:

Growing up in Southern California, I found I didn't agree with all he wrote, but one observation of his I do remember: "Scotch tastes to me like a low grade of gasoline".

And I found my favorite restaurant in SF was his noon-day haunt, Jack's. It opened during the Civil War and pretty much stayed open ever since, closing after the quake until rebuilt, and for about a year-and-a-half in this century. It's now called "Jeanty at Jacks". There are pictures of Herb Caen on the walls upstairs....