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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

When the Red Red Robin . . .

What do robins, hit songs, and burgers have in common?
More than you might think – as  you will find out in this post.

Meanwhile, there’s been a lot of robins in and around the F&P backyard this spring-summer. We’re caught some of the offspring in the yard – not actually – only through the lens.

Thanks to Red Red Robin songwriter Harry Woods (more details later). First, some “awww” photos.IMGP0662

2 robin babbies0509 2 baby robins (4)  finding food (3)There’s nothing quite as tasty as worms – if you’re a baby robin.

 

feeding robins (2)

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Proud mother and fledgling.
Notice any family resemblance?

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Ready for my close-up nowIMGP0707

IMGP0697 IMGP0700IMGP0796  IMGP0805 IMGP0812 IMGP0809 IMGP0814  IMGP0801 L-U-N-C-H

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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IMG_8446IMG_8459     Good looking little guy and a good model

OK, now some answers  . . . (What were the questions?)

When the Red Red Robin Comes Bobbin’ Along ( Harry M. Woods ) was a hit in the mid 1920s and recorded by several popular singers including “Whispering” Jack Smith and Al Jolson who had a #1 hit. In 1952, Doris Day recorded another hit version. The song inspired the name of the Red Robin American casual dining restaurant chain, which started as “Sam’s Red Robin.” Sam, the original restaurant owner, sang in a barbershop quartet which often sang the tune. The business was originally called “Sam’s Tavern” but was renamed after the song in the 1940s. The restaurant, located in Seattle at the corner of Furhman and Eastlake Avenues E. near the University of Washington, became a popular student hangout.

In 1969, Gerry Kingen, a Seattle restaurant entrepreneur bought the business, renamed it  to Red Robin and expanded it. Today there are over 400 Red Robins throughout the U.S. and the chain is known for gourmet burgers, bottomless steak fries and freckled lemonade. Its Royal Red Robin Burger  has a fried egg on the patty. The original restaurant closed in March 2010 reportedly because of  costly maintenance for the old building.

Rockin' Robin is a song written by Leon René under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas and recorded by Bobby Day (born Robert James Byrd) an early American rock and roll and R&B musician. In 1958 Day’s solo recording was a a “one-hit wonder” and reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold record.

Despite numerous recordings with various record labels, Day never achieved another Top 40 hit. But, he was also a songwriter, and his credits include Little Bitty Pretty One popularized by Thurston Harris (1957), Clyde McPhatter (1962) and the Jackson Five (1972) and  Over and Over which was a hit for the Dave Clark Five (1965).

14 comments:

Lois Evensen said...

Oh, yes, definitely "awwww" images. I was aware of Red Robin restaurants, but didn't know the history until now. It's amazing how much we learn out here in blog land. ;)) Great post!

HermitJim said...

Boy, you definitely gave us a nice history lesson today! Gonna have to give you a "two thumbs up" on this one!

I really love the pictures of the baby robins...funny how all baby birds seem to be all mouth, isn't it?

Great post!

Montanagirl said...

Great series of photos - and nice history lesson too!

Theotherjew said...

As the others said, great photos! I ate in a Red Robin in our area and wasn't impressed, maybe I'll have to try it again. I seem to recall they had too many things on the menu, and I ended up ordering a regular old burger after salivating thru all those fancy ones.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Lois, I have learned a lot since starting to blog because it's fun (for me) to find out and include information. And, those who comment (yourself included) seem to enjoy the history too. Thanks for the nice words!

Hey HermitJim - thanks for the thumbs up (all 2 of them). Guess their mouths have too open wide for those tasty worm treats.

Thanks Mona, I learned lots of new things too today.

Hi BikeRider, we've never eaten in a Red Robin chain, though we have seen them although Grenville says he hasn't...maybe next time we see one we'll stop in - just for the experience. Glad to hear via Grenville that your road trip was going well and that you were having lots of adventures and fun!

Elaine said...

Awww is right. Excellent series of shots! Those babies are just too cute and I love the wide open mouth shots. Baby robins always look like they are pouting. I'm sure they think the folks just aren't feeding them fast enough.

We have eaten at several of the Red Robins in Seattle and Anchorage for quite a few years, and we have always got a good meal. They have some very tasty drinks too. I didn't know the history though, and that was interesting.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Hey Elaine, maybe the baby robins should try the resaurant chain with the bottomless fries? I've never eaten at one, but the next time we see one we're going to try it and make an exception to not dining in chain restaurants, except IHOP for breakfast anytime. Did you ever get to the original RR in Seattle? I read that another restaurant may open in the building.

FAB said...

Thanks for the lesson. Robins the world over all have an endearing character. FAB.

possum said...

NIce shots! As a rehabber, I always loved the baby robins best of all the birds... their little voices are so sweet and "twittery" whereas some babies have the most raucous sounding squawk or a persistant cheep, cheep, cheep.
Once released, baby robins are GONE, whereas baby blue jays, for example, will hang around for weeks and beg for food whenever they see you out in the yard! We've had jays come back for years and even bring their babies. They would sit on the window sill and tap on the window begging for a handout!

Ginnie said...

Those are some amazing pictures. "Red Robin" is one of the songs that I play on the dulcimer but I never actually knew the background of the song. thanks.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Yes Early Birder and Possum, you are both right about robins. We awake to their cheerful song nearly every morning, although it was easier to hear them when the windows were open (pre heat wave). And thanks Possum for letting me know that robins leave once they can, unlike blue jays and others.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Ginnie, interesting to learn that you play a dulcimer as do a couple of friends who also own a dulcimer shop in Blowing Rock, NC. You can "find" them online here...
http://www.thedulcimershop.com/
Thanks too for the robin pics :-)

Anvilcloud said...

Aw indeed. We once got some neat video of robins hatching in a hanging flowerpot at the edge of the deck. It was in the days of tape though.

Elaine said...

Beatrice, I don't think I ever ate at the original Red Robin, although I used to live not too far from its location. We moved to Alaska in 1973, about the time it was transformed from the original tavern. Three of my kids live in the Seattle area, so we visit there a lot, and have been to several different locations.