Blog
October 23, 2023
Been a bit of a crazy summer medically for me and I missed a lot of things going on, both good and bad.
I didn't realize that Gary Wright had passed at 80 years old on September 4, 2023.
Gary was born in New Jersey and started as a child actor at age 7 on television, and then started acting on Broadway before being cast on the Brady Bunch for several years.
He was a musician from an early age and decided to back up that career by becoming a doctor! He then went to Germany to study and specialize in psychology.
All this time he was in many bands and the most notable was Spooky Tooth. He also played on former Beatle George Harrison's album, All Things Must Pass. He even went to India with George for some musical events.
In the 1970's he went solo and his most famous song is probably Dream Weaver in 1975.
I had the pleasure of photographing him in 1977. It was a nice show with great lighting and numerous fog machines. It made for good photos!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
October 9, 2023
March 20th, 1976 I was in my apartment on 45th and North Avenue when I heard sirens and smelled smoke.
Looking outside, a block away I saw a fire taking over a house and first responders arriving at the scene.
Being a photographer working for the Bugle American newspaper in Milwaukee at the time, I grabbed the camera and went to check it out.
This was a full blown house fire and Milwaukee firefighters were setting up hoses and blasting the fire with water.
I came across this old film a while ago and it shows our incredible first responders of the Milwaukee Fire Department in action. Many thanks to them for what they do daily!
There is fire coming out of the windows and water is coming out of the doorways to the sidewalk. Firefighters wearing all their gear went inside to check for any person or animal that needed rescuing.
Take a look at the photo of the fire truck and check out all the gear they are using. Shows us how much improvement has been made to equipment for fire departments and first responders. They undoubtedly require the best we can give them.
Also notice a couple of television journalist friends filming away for the evening news report.
This gives you an idea of how photojournalists also risk their lives with the work they do. For me I can think of two situations where it got very dangerous.
First would be when I was almost squished to death with a general admission audience for The Who waiting to be let into a show in Madison, Wisconsin at the Dane County Coliseum. A security friend got me through the door before mayhem happened. A moving crowd wanted to get in through the glass doors NOW!!! I almost broke through the glass door because of people pushing and shoving me as I was right up front at the door.
Another time, I was in pit lane at the Milwaukee Mile. Marco Andretti missed his pit spot during practice and I thought for sure he was aiming for me!
As a rock'n 'roll and auto racing photojournalist since 1971 I have to keep my eyes open for anything and I thought I'd seen it all but still get surprised every now and then.
Enjoy a look at the Milwaukee Fire Department doing what they do best.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
September 25, 2023
It's been a very busy summer as I haven't done a blog in a month!
My stage 2 bladder cancer is so far under control after the right kidney was removed on July 24th. I feel almost normal again! Another CT scan in a little over a month to check things out.
On August 27th at the Milwaukee Mile, NASCAR came back to town! Last visit for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was in 2009. They ran for 15 straight years starting in 1995 at the Mile.
"The Clean Harbors 175" NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race ran along with the "Sprechers 150" ARCA Menards Series race. It was a beautiful day for racing and a great crowd showed up at race time.
Bonnie Blair our Milwaukee multiple Olympic gold medal skater was the Grand Marshall for the Craftsman Truck Series race which was very nice. Plus, we got a flyover with a C-130 and two F-35 fighter jets! Always love flyovers and the pilots need the practice and hours.
A few Wisconsin drivers were participating most notably Ty Majeski from Seymour, WI. who had just won the previous race, the Lucas Oil IRP. Other Wisconsin drivers were Josh Bilicki, Dexter Bean and Derek Kraus.
Ty Majeski qualified second but was penalized after a right rear tire was confiscated during a pre-qualifying inspection. I actually saw being done Sunday morning when I walked by the inspection area.
He qualified second but the penalty put him to 13th for the race and the crazy day saw him finishing seventh. The was docked 75 points as well as five playoff points. Crew chief Joe Shear was suspended for the next four races and fined $25,000. That's racing folks!
Friend and racer Josh Bilicki who we had big hopes for had a tire issue that put him out early and the race was won by rookie Grant Enfinger.
On another note, Hailie Deegan finished 13th for a pretty good day.
Grant also raced the ARCA Menards race but William Sawalich won the ARCA race at 16 years old after a great last restart and race with Joel Love.
Great weekend of racing at the Milwaukee Mile. Enjoy some photos!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
