Carl Ames lives! Or so he says.
Last week in this space I lamented the passing of a couple of Madison radio personalities of my acquaintance, Jim Packard and Carl Ames. Sadly, Mr. Packard is indeed gone, but Mr. Ames protests his dismissal from the mortal coil.
I began to fear that I had made an erroneous report shortly after last week's paper hit the streets. The person I thought had told me the news said they didn't, and I was unable to confirm it with another I then thought was the source. I didn't hear any protests to the contrary for a few days, but now, a week later, people are excitedly telling me that Carl Ames lives, though no one has reported seeing him.
Among those who say that Carl Ames lives is Carl Ames. On Tuesday of this week, I received a lower-case email from him that read thus:
as clemens said, "the news of my death has been greatly exaggerated." no wonder work has been slow lately. i still have a voiceover business and you, my old friend, are not helping that.
The reference is to Samuel Langhorne Clemens (otherwise known as Mark Twain) and his note to a newspaper correspondent after the incorrect report of his death in 1897 at age 62: "The report of my death was an exaggeration." He lingered for another 13 years.
So, my old friend, I apologize and greatly regret my hasty and mistaken report. Perhaps this will lead to a renaissance of sorts, where your business comes alive and your mellifluous tones once again flood the airwaves. You might even consider hiring me as your agent. I've got the idea of a press release announcing your late-in-life marriage to Gina Lollobrigida. That should get you some attention.
Or perhaps you prefer I make it Britney Spears.
