Many people will certainly keep in mind Phil Hammer, that passed away Aug. 28 at age 86, as the partner of late San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer, however the family members legislation attorney deserves his very own accolades for his function in shaping San Jose– serving on the beginning board of the San Jose Representative as well as assisting expand the San Jose Museum of Art in its formative years.
Phil and Susan were both tremendous fans of the arts, and also both of their names poise the Phil as well as Susan Hammer Theater Facility, which was the San Jose Rep’s home for its last years and still makes it through under the management of San Jose State.
Yet there are two tales concerning Phil Hammer that talk with his enthusiasm for the Constitution and also totally free speech. The very first was a case Hammer obtained included with in the 1970s. It entailed 2 trainees from Temple Emanu-El’s Junior Young people Group who were chased away from the Pruneyard in Campbell while attempting to gather signatures for a petition asking President Gerald Ford to come out versus a current U.N. resolution equating Zionism with racism. Hammer argued that exclusive shopping mall had come to be the brand-new public squares so the rights to cost-free speech as well as assembly applied. The instance went all the way to the UNITED STATE High Court– where Hammer won an unanimous decision.
The 2nd– coincidentally around the same time Hammer was saying the situation of both Jewish students versus the Pruneyard– happened in 1977 when participants of a Nazi group intended to have a rally at St. James Park. The San Jose City board elected to revoke the rally’s permit, but Hammer was amongst those that refuted that choice, stating that the most effective method to deal with the Nazis’ hateful speech was to address it, not silence it. The 8 Nazis that showed up at St. James Park that October were satisfied by greater than 1,000 people that differed with them.
Hammer’s factor was well made, as well as San Jose was fortunate to have him on our side.
BEAM OF LIGHT HIM UP: The inimitable William Shatner of “Star Trip” fame was the most significant draw at SiliCon with Adam Savage at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center last weekend break. The man who will certainly for life be called Captain Kirk revealed he has no plans of reducing at age 90, informing the crowd about a future cd, “Expense,” and a forthcoming talk program, “I Do Not Comprehend with William Shatner.” Yet Sunday’s appearance in San Jose virtually didn’t occur.
Shatner had been at his grandson’s wedding event the night prior to in Temecula, went home to L.A. and overslept for his Sunday early morning flight to San Jose. He said he woke up at 7 a.m. with a start understanding he required to be someplace– though that someplace was the airport at 7:15. “It’s really important to me to be at these occasions,” he informed the fans, describing just how many people go through an early morning regimen of bathing, shaving and obtaining dressed. “I did none of that. Below I am. Unclean but with a second sight.”
Talk about the one-time Shatner truly required a carrier.
SiliCon, incidentally, became a best return occasion for the convention facility. Visitors took the mask plan and also temperature checks at the door in stride, individuals moved openly in the wider-than-usual aisles as well as they handled to maintain some room between groups in the panels.
THAT WAS SPOOKY FAST: Immersive Los Gatos– the brand-new endeavor by hockey player-turned-restaurateur Alex Hult and also event manufacturer Donovan Friedman– have an appeal their hands. Their very first initiative is to transform the old Mountain Charley’s in Los Gatos right into the Haunted Bar, a pop-up style bar that will certainly use a “Haunted Supper”– a seven-course Halloween-themed meal offered by evil spirits and also accompanied by sword swallowers, aerialists, illusionists, singers, professional dancers and other performers.
When tickets for the very first three sneak peek “programs” Sept. 27-29 went on sale over the weekend break, they offered out faster than you can claim “boo”– in a hr, 4 minutes and also less than one min, respectively. Much more shows are being included, Hult said, and also guests can subscribe to be alerted at www.immersivelg.com.