Anthony Kalberg

Thought for the day from Open Windows: “Kind words are good medicine, but deceitful words can really hurt.” Boy! Howdy! Do I need to remember Proverbs 15:4. It describes two different people – one wise and the other ignorant. “The wise person thinks before speaking, is open to advice and counsel, and encourages others. The […]

Throwback Thursday – Wow! In a theater long, long ago… Eddie is one of my all-time favorite directors! What fun times we had. And her able assistant, D. Delk, one of my oldest, dearest friends. Dear Chester…gone but not forgotten. For those of you who have directed, as you know, there’s always that one cast […]

Lookout Mountain, FBC choir tour. 1969. That hair!! Come to think of it, I wish I still had that much hair! And now you know why I never wear short sleeves. Later Giggling Gaters! Big hug! (Originally published August 11, 2019)

Sunday Afternoon Nostalgia – In 1971, these snaps appeared on the front page of The Hattiesburg American. The headline read: “Dorm Life’s Not What It Once Was.” This was my private dorm room at William Carey College, Room 319, third floor of the “Bryan Hilton.” The color scheme…resplendent red, white, and blue…with a dash of […]

Greetings! I just returned from seeing the WATP production of Xanadu! A big thank you to the director, cast and crew for two hours of campy silliness, corny jokes, a few tears, a ton of laughs, great singing–amazing singing–and choreography. AND of course roller skates! You should all give yourselves a pat on the back […]

Greetings! One month from today, the lights will dim, the curtain will slowly rise, and a favorite book, movie, and now a play will unfold before me in all its scary, Victorian horror- THE WOMAN IN BLACK. If you hear a scream from across the pond, it’s probably me. Poor Sam, how embarrassed he will […]

Greetings, Y’all!! From our little flower garden, we wish for you a great week! Please remember, there are times when a great week is a choice — that choice is yours to make. Big hug.! (Originally published August 8, 2022)

Greetings! I’ve just returned from a lovely, long weekend in Madison with my dear friends Janie and the Signs’ – Fred, Jennifer, and Weston. It had been a number of years since last we sat around her dining table. Walking into her grand house was like coming home. Thank you, Janie, for the food, the […]

Greetings – Well, it’s been one of those days…Mom’s not Mom. She got up around 4:30 this morning–agitated and restless–and has been going strong every since. But Rachael Gabrich Hatten save the day! She graced us with a visit and said, “Have you tried giving her a doll to hold?” No was my answer. When […]

The 1930s!!!! My favorite decade of the 20th Century! Brother can you spare a dime? If you can, you’re the cream in my coffee! And even as the years roll by, let me say with love…thanks for the memory…of rainy afternoons…liting dance bands tunes…and prunes! Big hug, y’all! (Originally Published August 5, 2009)

Gulfport Little Theater’s Summer Musical “Sweet Charity” – 1984. Wow! So many old friends, some of whom have been called Home. David Delk, Phylls Durr – thankfully we’ve not changed in 40 years! (LOL!) Later Theatrical Gaters! (Originally Published August 5, 2017)

Greetings! On a friend’s FB page, Professor Charles Davis, a beloved, local history teacher, posted the following statements concerning depression: “I often asked my students if they could go back in time, where would they go and in what time period? One student said the womb…and never come out. There is so much depression among […]

Greeting! Just returned from a long, delightful weekend at Perdido Beach. Nothing like a few days of sun, fun, and great food! All of which was augmented by the company of dear friends! I’m happy to report that moi found a grand total of three puzzle pieces. Life is good! Later Happy Gaters! (Originally published […]

Greetings! As I age, I’ve come to treasure the joy of dear friends, both old and new. Yesterday at the Harbor View Cafe in Long Beach, these ladies and myself hopped and skipped down memory lane. The banter was lively, and many tears were shed. Tears? Tears of laughter! I laughed so hard, reliving old […]

Greetings! This is one of my favorite TITANIC stories, a semi-frozen Phoenix that rises from the fridge cold waters of the dark Atlantic. My friends, times are frightful, the world a scary place. But with grit and determination, and God’s help, we’ll survive our own “fridge cold waters” of this dark world. Never give up, […]

Greetings! A mimosa, some crape myrtles, and Blanche DuBois. Thank you dear lady for a lovely afternoon of titillating banter and joyous felicitations. LIfe is good! Big hug, dear friends. (Originally Published August 3, 2023)

     Greetings! A few weeks ago, I sat in the peeling splendor of our dear old Saenger Theater and was mesmerized by Broadway South’s production of “Sunset Boulevard.” The cast and crew did an amazing job with the show! Terese Garguilo Evans, Jacqueline Coale, David Delk, Cliff Thompson, and Sean Maurer were stand outs in […]

Good morning! Here’s your “Thought for the Day” from Coach Lou Holtz. I know…you’re shocked that I know a little about baseball, or is it soccer, or… Have a great week and don’t waste the days you have left. Big hug. “This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day […]

Cancer! It is one stupid disease. It devourers the very thing that gives it life. And now, this evil, pain-racking disease has taken the life of a dear, dear friend: Tully Rhodes. He was a faithful member of Gulfport’s First Baptist Church and one of my favorite Sunday School teachers. I so enjoyed his incorporation […]

A wee bit of history: “originally, the dog days of summer ran from July 24th through August 24th. It was thought that this was an evil time when the sea would boil, wine would turn sour and dogs would go mad. Disease would also be on the rise. The dates for this period have varied […]

These words came to me during a morning walk, as the sunshine glistened amongst shards of glass from a broken bottle: Due to the shattered pieces of yesterday, sometimes it’s best to dance in your own fantasy rather than drown in the quicksand of reality. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published July 31, 2022)

Greetings! Went to the afternoon performance of Center Stage’s MUSIC OF THE NIGHT, The Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Some songs, I knew every word. Some songs I’d never heard. But all the songs were amazingly sung by an amazingly talented ensemble of notable Coastal singing talents. In a world gone mad, sitting in the […]

It’s midsummer, muggy and hot! The new school year’s just around the corner and these languid summer days will soon be a thing of the past. So too will be that most ubiquitous of all summer delights–the family vacation. Where did you go this summer? Europe, on a slow cruise down the River Danube? Alaska, […]

     In church this morning at FBC Gulfport, I was shocked (but not surprised) to hear of your decision to deny a black couple’s marriage in your sanctuary.  Was it due to their color?  Is it somehow related to church politics?  Or a power struggle to rid the church of some member or staff member?  […]

Good morning! What a splendid evening we had last night. Thank you, Constance, for the lovely dinner. Your delicious food was augmented by the sparkling conversation under your sparkling chandelier. Surrounded by these lovely ladies, I felt like a bramble among the roses. Of course, our dear Pam Meinzinger gobbled down more food than all […]

Greetings! For those of us old enough to remember the antics of Morgus and Chopsley, isn’t this a great snap of the old boys! Late Saturday nights haven’t been the same since those two went off the air. And to this good day I still refer to some folks as “idiots.” As Morgus often said, […]

Mornin’ Book Lovers! Here’s another Famous Last Line from Twain’s novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” — “I got to light out for the territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before.” Twain’s 1884 novel is contentious to […]

Went to the picture show yesterday afternoon to see WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. This isn’t your picture if you’re looking for blood and guts, sex and violence. But if you wish to see a sweet, romantic movie with a few dramatic twists and a surprise ending, I recommend you see it. Leaving the theater, as […]

Funerals are never easy. The grieving family stands before the open casket, their loved one seemingly asleep but lifeless to the eye and cold to the touch. Friends and loved ones gather. Handshakes and hugs abound. The Pastor gives a touching eulogy. Loving remembrances are heard. Soaring songs are sung. Tears flow. Sobs resound. Then […]

At 10:09 a.m. on the misty, foggy morning of July 26, 1956, the sleek and beautiful Andrea Doria, the pride of the Italian Steamship Line, sank off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, into the cold, black waters of the North Atlantic. The loss of such an elegant and majestic vessel was a tragedy that reverberated […]

Have you ever said something that you later regretted? I certainly have! Alas, we ofttimes do not pay enough attention to what we say and how we say it. Words are powerful, they have significance. God, in His infinite wisdom, spoke the world into being with nothing more than just words. What we say to […]

Sam, Glynis, Adam, Evelyn, Beverly, and Bill! What a fun night it’s been! Wonderful food, lots of laughs, great stories, but most of all being with great friends! Big hug. (P.S. Thanks for listening too. ) Originally published July 24, 2022)

  Good morning on the train to Salisbury. The lush English countryside is whizzing by at 95 miles an hour. The train’s packed with a cornucopia of different nationalities. So cool to hear their different dialects and see their colorful clothing. As we race through the countryside, I can’t help but ponder what wonders await […]

Ol’ Lycus and his girls…for the most part! LOL! Come see the show!! Big hug, y’all! (Originally published July 23, 2016)

Greertings! Does anyone know what happened to this old coot? If memory serves, he was privileged to have been a part of KNS’s rib-tickling production of “Lit’ Abner,” which opened twenty-six years ago tonight. The cast and crew were amazing! A fond memory, to be sure! Later Dogpatch Gaters! (Originally published July 23, 2019)

Greetings! What a fun time I had at the old depot in downtown Gulfport for the Historical Society’s raffle. Interesting historical exhibits, paintings, and memorabilia. I felt right at home with all that old stuff. For those who know me, you know how much I love history! Later History-Loving Gaters! (Originally published July 23, 2022)

       Good afternoon from Edinburgh! It’s a cold, blustery day, Christopher Robin.      The past and present swirl all around me. From ancient St. Giles Cathedral, where the Queen lay in state, to numerous woolen shops selling everything from cashmere scarves and men’s and women’s kilts, as well as long johns in every color–(No, […]

What a great day!! Lunch with four of my favorite ladies!! Mary Slivka Bass, Mary Lou Lee Frambes, Margie Reid. Carolyn Dale! Later Gaters! (Originally published July 2, 2015)

Greetings! I’ve decided to switch from Hollywood trivia to something more literary: First and last lines from famous novels. I started with a personal favorite: “The Great Gatsby.” Here’s another. Enjoy your memories of reading these famous novels for the first time. “I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among […]

Thank you President Obama for ordering the nation’s flags lowered to half staff in honor of the service members killed by gunman, Mohammad Abdulazeez. Thank you…at last. Later Gaters. (AMGB) (Originally Published July 21, 2015)

Greetings! My former pastor, Dean Register, has some enlighten words concerning the “cancel culture” madness that seems to be sweeping the country.He wrote: “The current demand for “posthumous perfection” is insane. It’s popular today for news anchors, social activists, and historical revisionist to vehemently denounce the flaws of America’s founders. Indeed they were flawed. But […]

Good afternoon! Wow! What a fun lunch we had! I’m always humbled to find myself lunching with WLOX Retired Royalty at my favorite watering hole, The Chimneys. Great food. Great drinks. Great service. And great conversation! Y’all can sleep peacefully tonight; we solved the problems of the world. Big hug Rhonda, my dear. Big hug […]

“Kalberg, what were you thinking? Putting your phone numbers on Facebook. That gives tons of people access to your private information. You could open yourself up to harassment by strangers or scammers who target people by phone.” Thank you, Mr. Delk, for reminding me that the world is not as innocent as I am, even […]

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” Good night all! (Originally published July 20, 2021)

Richard Kalnins is with Anthony W. Kalberg. In the snap below, you can see actor, author, raconteur, and fop Anthony Kalberg lounging wistfully in his opulent Gulfport manse pre-Katrina. To learn more about Anthony–and to read his articles published in Coast Magazine–visit www.anthonykalberg.com. Ordinally published July 19, 2009. You can read the Coast Magazine article in the […]

Greetings! Is there anything more comfortable, more snuggly, more relaxing than a dear, ol’ shirt? I loved this old shirt. Grew attached to it over the past 15 years. I thought we would go through life together, alone, but knowing nothing could separate us. Alas! Life always has a way of rearing its ugly head. […]

The End of an Era – Walter Cronkite has passed away. Now that he and Paul Harvey are gone, who is there to take their place? I sooooo miss Paul Harvey’s “Goooood Morning Americans. It’s Friday!” Originally published July 17, 2009.

This and That – Snakes!

  Directing a play is no easy task, especially when it’s a classic like A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE.

Please pray for my mother. I awoke to find her on the floor in a pool of blood. She hit her head. The ambulance is here now, we’re on our way to Memorial. Please pray… Update on Mom – – She’s in ICU at Memorial. She has a small intercrainal hemorrhage from her fall. The […]

The afternoon question: When’s the last time you came down from your safe, ivory tower and encountered the real world? The last time you left your comfort zone to discuss the world and its problems with others of a different opinion? With those who do not look or think like you, or worship as you […]

While reading Psalm 36 this morning, I could not help but think about our dear country. There are those who would destroy us from within, eviscerating all that Americans hold dear, caring not how they accomplish their goals or who is murdered, or injured, or humiliated in the process. Those “Americans” hear the whispers that […]

What a fun evening at the Mary C. in Ocean Springs for the Firefly Open House! The building was filled with the smell of the chef’s scrumptious cooking and the artist’s turpentine and oils. Jazzy live music filled the rooms, as did the giggles of children creating sculptures from painted rocks. The art gallery was […]

This was an amazing production with an amazing cast! Alas, so many dear friends in this cast have been called Home – Gloria Gaines, Keith Ballard, Bobby Steele, Jame Henry LeBatard, and Tina Marie Johnston. Big hug, ya’ll! (Originally published July 13, 2011)

Greetings, family and friends! This evocative rendering of the Titanic’s bow underwater is new to me. Can’t count how many pictures I’ve seen of her above water, but none below. This picture was posted on the Titanic Historical Society’s FB page. My question to the members was this: Would that many lights still be lit […]

Greetings, dear friends and family. This poem has powerful words that deliver a powerful message. I hope some of you will read them, take them to heart, turn a new page and…let go. All my love, Andy (Originally published July 13, 2023)

Norma and Joe ensconced in her palatial mansion on Sunset Boulevard! Curtain’s going up on the Sunday matinee, the final performance of a great cast and crew!! Later Gaters! (Originally published July 12, 2015)

Good morning on this cloudy morn! From our summer flower garden to yours, here’s wishing all my FB family and friends a peaceful, stress-free week. Remember, it takes both sunshine and rain to make a rainbow. Look for the rainbow’s of life and learn to dance in the rain. Later Dancing Gaters! (Originally published July […]

I wrote the following in response to a Facebook post that a former student, Scott Lionberger, posted, July 11, 2012: Goodness grashus! Aviator glasses and polyester! The 70s were not a good time for fashion. 🙃 Poignant what I remember about some of the kids in this snap.      Monica Seibold’s grandparents had peacocks on […]

Thought for the Day – “The same sun that softens butter, hardens concrete.” Are you experiencing tragedy in your life? Only lemons, never lemonade? Have family or friends hurt you with their actions and words? You have a choice. Either you will soften your heart with forgiveness or hardened it with anger and hate. Do […]

Saturday afternoon! Yard work is finally finished. Yay! But Baby, it’s hot! I’m drenched. Now, a relaxing bubble bath and then a big steak, along with a baked potato and a tall, cool glass of sweet wine. Since it’s just me, I’m pretty easy to please. Later Staying Cool Gaters. (Originally published July 9, 2022)

My brilliantly talented friend, David Slatten, created this great picture of lit’ ol’ me. But with all due respect for his talent as an artist, and with all due deference, I must admit that my picture at our local Post Office is the better of the two likenesses. LOL! Thank you David for your time […]