The Late and Great Judy Ritchie in Judge Leonard Jacobson’s Production of “Justice-All that Jazz”

Back on December 15, 2010, I posted an entry about Judy Ritchie, who was the first full time Master in Baltimore County Circuit Court.  I discovered, during the Oral History of Jacke McCurdy, that Judy had worked as Jacke’s legal secretary early in Jacke’s career.  Later Judy went to work for her late husband, Wiley Ritchie.  While working for him, she went to law school at night and then established her own practice.  From all accounts she loved by all for her sense of humor and strong personality.  In fact, there are such fond memories of Judy that her portrait hangs in a Courtroom in the Circuit Court Building.

In watching the DVD from Judge Leonard Jacobson’s Production of “Justice- All that Jazz”, I came across the song shown below that has to be seen by any one who knew Judy or heard stories about her.  It is that good.  You will be quite impressed with the way that Judy and the other singers, playing waitresses from the Towson House Restaurant, manage to balance the trays of food and drinks- until you see the end of the video.  There are actually two videos below, the first part is the intro, with the second entry being the song itself.

You may also recognize a young singer in the back row as retired Judge and past President of the Maryland State Bar Association Barbara Kerr Howe.

This video is a scream!  Enjoy it & have a great holiday weekend.

Copyright, 2011, Jeff Scholnick and Far Corners Historical Productions.  All rights reserved.

 

Remembering a Real Hero- Michael Radcliffe

I will always remember Mike Radcliffe as a Baltimore County Bar member whom I greatly admired.  With that bushy mustache, broad smile and those broader shoulders, he looked more like a rugby player than a lawyer.  Driving around Towson in his sharp convertible BMW, he always gave the appearance of strength and the confidence to overcome all obstacles.  So, when I heard about two years ago that Michael had ALS, I was shocked- it seemed as improbable as Lou Gehrig having the disease.

Even when stricken by the disease, Mike Radcliffe was the epitome of class and strength.  He chose to be an advocate for ALS fundraising and his friends, family and members of the BCBA heeded his call to provide support.  People who wouldn’t get out of bed early on a Saturday morning, even if their life depended on it, chose to drive down to Baltimore City to run a 5k race starting at 8AM on a Saturday morning (two years in a row, even) to be part of the “Radcliffe Team” for ALS.  He was at each race, never hiding the disease or his fight against it and never engaging in any self- pity.

I want to remember Michael the way he was before this terrible disease attacked him.  I want to picture him in my mind in his youth, filled with hope, determination and that devilish twinkle in his eye.  Therefore, I have placed below two entries from Michael’s life before ALS .  Please read the wonderful article in the Winter 1990 BCBA Quarterly and watch the clip from the 1986 BCBA musical production “Justice- All that Jazz”  produced by Judge Leonard Jacobson. The other members of the BCBA you will see singing include retired Judge  Lawrence Daniels, Jim Beach, past President Alan Bussard, Lewis Fleury and Judge Jacobson’s son, David.  Mike may not have been the loudest in the group, but he was the calm that helped make the song work.

That is the way we must remember Michael Radcliffe- the calm, the strength, the vigor, the jovial personality of his younger days.  ALS may have silenced Michael, but it cannot diminish the energy we see in the photo and the video.  The disease cannot vanquish what Michael taught us about the gusto with which we must live.

Please note that you have to double click on the article in order to enlarge it.  For the movie, you need to click on the arrow to start it and then you can click on the arrows in the bottom right hand side of the picture to make it full screen.  Also, if you want to see related posts about Michael Radcliffe on this blog, please go to entries on May 8, 2011,  May 14, 2010 and March 22, 2010.

Please stay safe & cool in this weather and have a good week.  Jeff

Copyright, 2011, Jeff Scholnick, Esq and Far Corners Historical Productions. All rights reserved.

Judge Jacobson’s Jesters- Part IV- “Justice- All That Jazz” Finale

What is so special about the Baltimore County Bar Association is the camaraderie between members. Lawyers often say that they feel very welcome when they join the BCBA and that the informality of the Baltimore County Bar makes the practice of law a little easier.
This goodwill was perhaps most evident in the musical productions of Judge Leonard Jacobson in the 1980’s. A good example was the Finale of “Justice- All That Jazz” which was performed in 1986. The sheer joy of the cast and the enthusiastic response of the audience contrasts with the typical adversarial nature of the practice of law.
I hope you enjoy the video below and you recognize a few of the cast.
Thanks for reading and watching and have a great week.
Jeff Scholnick

Judge John Fader is Judge Jacob Kidd in “Justice- All that Jazz”.

You have to watch the video below to see the most amazing song & dance. Retired Judge John Fader played Judge Jacob Kidd in Judge Leonard Jacobson’s 1986 production “Justice- All that Jazz”. Judge Fader sings, dances and even plays harmonica as he plays a Blues Brothers Judge a la John Belushi. He is brilliant as he signs “Messin’ with the Kidd.” If nothing else, you have to watch the below video because it took me half last night trying to figure out how to import this to my blog. 😦 You may have to wait a couple of minutes while the video loads, but it is worth the wait. You may also have to right click on the video & choose “Reload Page”, but it’s worth that also.
By the way, I recommend that you hit the button on the bottom right of the video to make it full screen
Have a great 4th & enjoy!

Judge Jacobson’s Jesters- Part II- All that Jazz

I wrote last week about the spectacular, comical musicals that Judge Leonard Jacobson wrote and directed in the 1980’s. BCBA Executive Director Doris Barnes was kind enough to let me borrow the DVD of the 1986 version entitled “All That Jazz” and I have to tell you that it is a scream. If you have been a member of the BCBA for more than ten years, you will recognize most of the cast and will laugh through the songs and skits. We have to make duplicates of the DVD for people who wanted their own copy to take home and watch. The “Juice is definitely worth the squeeze.”
I was able to freeze some of the shots so that I can post them on my blog. However, you have to see the original in action to really appreciate the show.
Below are a few teasers:
Retired Judge John Fader plays Judge Jacob Kidd, a jurist with soul a la the Blues Brothers:

Here Judge Fader is being robed by bailiff Mike Radcliffe:

Jim Beach is the first Defendant on the docket, a Mr. Daylight, who is charged with visiting a porno joint and “taking matters into his own hands:”

Steve Kroll is a Baltimore County Police Officer who appears in front of Judge Kidd. The fruit on his head was adorned during a Caribbean sounding song in which the Officers lamented failing to give Miranda warnings to Mr. Daylight:

Retired Judge Lawrence Daniels played another Baltimore County Officer who was preparing for a practice with the police football team:

Finally, the late/great Judy Ritchie played a waitress from the Towson House restaurant. Her dance routine is hysterical. Just when you are impressed with her ability to balance the drinks and food while she dances, you realize that all of those items were glued to the tray. It is priceless:

I hope you enjoy these pictures and please remember that you can double click on each picture to enlarge them. If you recognize anyone else in the frames, please let me know. As always, have a great week and thank you for reading and viewing my blog.
Copyright, 2011, Jeff Scholnick, Esq. and Far Corners Historical Productions. All rights reserved

Judge Jacobson’s Jesters- Photos from the BCBA Follies

Judge Leonard Jacobson served on the Baltimore County Circuit Court from 1983 through 1994. He then served as a Special Master to the Baltimore County Settlement Court from 1994 through 1999.
However, his greatest contributions to the BCBA may have been the musical productions that he wrote and directed for the benefit of the BCBA. Our Quarterly magazine included many wonderful photographs of Baltimore County attorneys participating in the festivities. According to the Summer, 1985 Quarterly, the actors and actresses were affectionately referred to as “Jacobson’s Jesters.”
Below are hysterical photographs of BCBA members “caught in the act” from five of these musicals performed between 1980 and 1988. Thank you to the BCBA for allowing me to republish these photos and thank you to Master Theresa Beck and Former BCBA President Myles Friedman for their dedicated service in taking these pictures. Please remember to click on each image below to enlarge it.

From the 1980 production of the “Tsorus Line” are these shots in the Summer,’80 Quarterly (including great pics of the Honorable Judges Fader and Kahl, former BCBA President Steve Nolan, the late President Earle Plumhoff and the late Judy Ritchey):

From the Summer, 1982 Quarterly is the June,’82 production of “Hillen Street Blues.” How many people do you recognize?
Doesn’t Judge Daniels look particularly judicial firing off a gun in the bottom picture?

June,1985 brought the production of “Star Chamber,” as recorded in the Summer,’85 Quarterly. Check out the Hollywood style photo-ops of Judge Levitz:

“The Fifth Network” played to a packed house at the Towsontown Dinner Theatre, according to the Summer, 1987 Quarterly. Note Judge Jacobson receiving the cast gift in the bottom picture:

The merriment continued in “It’s News to Me,” as shown below in the Summer, 1988 Quarterly. I particularly love the bottom photo in which four barristers show off their artistic qualities 🙂 . If you can identify any of these exhibitionists, please let me know:

I have only had a chance to look through the Quarterlies, ending in 1990, so I cannot tell if there were any other musicals by Judge Jacobson that I have not included. If there were any, please let me know, so that I can check out the relevant Advocate issues for other classic photos. Also, if you have any photographs from happy BCBA events, please consider bringing them to Executive Director Doris Barnes, so that we can incorporate these in a poster or collage. There have been so many joyous occasions in our history, and we need to highlight these.
Thank you all for reading this blog entry and enjoying the pics. Please have a wonderful weekend and Father’s Day.
Copyright, 2011 by Jeff Scholnick, Esq, Far Corners Historical Productions (and Baltimore County Bar Association as to the photographs.) All rights protected.

On this Memorial Day, let us remember some of our Judges and Presidents from the past

Over this long Memorial Day weekend, I have been going through some of the old BCBA Quarterly newsletters that were the predecessor to the monthly Advocate. These publications, from the 1980’s, include some wonderful articles and pictures. I have scanned some of the photographs so that we can enjoy them together. Thank you to Doris Barnes for granting permission for me to use these old gems.

From The Summer-Fall, 1984 Edition is the below photo taken at the Retirement Dinner of Judge James Langrall. The event was held on October 1, 1984 at the Greenspring Inn. Judge Langrall served on the Baltimore County Circuit Court from 1980 to 1984, when he retired due to illness. This photo is wonderful because Judge Langrall is flanked by two beloved Judges of the Baltimore County Circuit Court, Judge William Hinkel and Judge James Sfekas. Judge Hinkel served on the Baltimore County District Court from 1971 to 1981 and then on the Circuit Court until 2002. Judge Sfekas served on the Circuit Court from 1980 through 1988 and then served as Settlement Court Judge for many years thereafter.

Below is a photo of Judge Albert Menchine from the Spring 1984 Quarterly (see post below about Judge Menchine). He is receiving the second annual BCBA Man of the Year Award from the BCBA President, Earle Plumhoff, who is remembered in another post below.

Below is a photo of the great Judge John Grason Turnbull, Sr, from the Winter 1984 Quarterly. He was speaking at the January, 1984 Annual Meeting in support of the Old Courtroom 5 Restoration Project initiated by Earle Plumhoff during his presidency.

Below is a photo from the Summer 1983 Quarterly taken at Judge Leonard Jacobson’s investiture to the Circuit Court. The oath is being administered by Elmer Kahline and is being witnessed by the Judge’s wife.

Judge Jacobson was known for his theatrical talents and for the musicals he directed for the BCBA. Below is a photo from the Fall 1985 Quarterly in which the Judge is participating in the festivities of a St. Michaels weekend over that Summer.

Finally, from the Winter 1984 Annual Meeting is a picture of three BCBA Presidents. From the left is Richard Reid, Victor McFarland and Earl Plumhoff. It is my understanding that Vic McFarland is healthy,retired and an honorary member of the BCBA. We certainly wish him well in his retirement

Thank you as always for reading and have a wonderful holiday.
Copyright, 2011, Jeff Scholnick, Esq., and Far Corners Historical Productions. All rights reserved.

Masterful Memories of Judith P. Ritchey

Many members of the BCBA have fond memories of Judy Ritchey, who passed away in 1990. Fortunately, Master Terri Beck was present at her BCBA Memorial Service and wrote an enduring article for the Summer, 1990 edition of the Baltimore County Bar Quarterly, the predecessor to the BCBA’s monthly Advocate. The following is reprinted from the Quarterly, with the permission of Master Beck and the BCBA:

“Ceremonies honoring the late Master Judith P. Ritchey were held in the Courthouse on June 11, 1990. Chief Judge Murphy, The Circuit Court Bench, as well as many District Court and Appellate Judges assembled in Courtroom #2 at 4:00. They were joined by Master Ritchey’s sister Michele Bannister and her family as well as many members of the Baltimore Women’s Bar Association and the Baltimore County Bar Association.
“The speakers at the ceremonies remembered Judy as a trail-blazer, friend, and jurist. To many Judy is to be remembered primarily as the first Woman Master in Baltimore County, if not for her roles in the Bar Association Shows, but Judy’s impact was far more reaching. No doubt, Judy’s interest in law was inspired by one of her early employers, M. Jacqueline McCurdy, the first woman member of the Baltimore County Bar Association. According to Jacque, Judy, apparently, didn’t need the full legal degree before she was giving legal advice over the phones of the office. Shortly thereafter Judy left the role as legal secretary to become a lawyer, completing her legal training at the Mount Vernon School of Law. Jacque McCurdy related numerous other humorous stories of their friendship.
“Judge DeWaters, responding for the bench, noted Judy’s accomplishments as Baltimore County’s Juvenile Master. Leonard Shapiro, Esquire, spoke of Judy as a source of legal information but also as a source of encouragement to himself and other attorneys. He noted Judy’s frequent references to her niece Mary and that when he didn’t have any other reason to call Judy, he still wanted to call just to find out the latest news on Judy’s favorite niece. Mary and Leonard Shapiro unveiled the portrait which is to displayed in the Circuit Court along with plaque identifying the many contributors.
“After the ceremonies, the many friends, cast members for the Bar Association Shows, and family members toasted with champagne provided by Jacque McCurdy and other light refreshments from Chef’s Expressions.”

According to an article in Summer-Fall, 1984 Quarterly by Judge G. Darrell Russell, Judith Ritchey was the first full time Master in Baltimore County, sworn in on September 14, 1984.
She was employed as a secretary to Wylie Ritchey, who had quite a successful law practice. (Mr Ritchey also served as Magistrate in Baltimore County from 1951 through 1955.) After nine years working for him, she married Wylie, who was widowed. They worked together for a total of 16 years, until Wylie died in 1967, Sun, December 3, 1967, “W.L. Ritchey is Dead at 62.”
While working with Wylie, she also realized her love for the law and enrolled in the pre-law program at Eastern College (later part of University of Baltimore). She then proceeded to Mount Vernon Law School (which later merged into University of Baltimore Law School), from which she graduated in 1970 at the top of her class.
While working for Wylie and going to school, she assisted her family’s business known as Spaldings Restaurant on Reisterstown Road. When she passed the bar, she rented the space where her husband’s office had been located. She continued to work at Spaldings as she developed her practice. But, Spaldings was sold and Judy then devoted herself to her career and the BCBA. She closed a thriving practice to serve her pioneering role as Master.
Judith Ritchey is remembered because she exhibited an energy and determination to improve herself in a time when the expectation was that she would be satisfied to remain a secretary. Her passion for life and humor made her a natural for the BCBA Shows directed by Judge Leonard Jacobson.
The Judith P. Ritchey Youth Services Center, a mental health & substance abuse services facility, was located on Belair Road and named in her honor. This was only appropriate, given her work with Juveniles as a Master.
The Judith P. Ritchey Achievement Award is presented in her memory by the BCBA annually on Law Day for members making significant, unrecognized contributions that enhance the BCBA. Judy’s devotion to her husband, her career and her County, make her the only choice for whom to name the Award.
Below is a photo of Judy from the BCBA Quarterly, Summer-Fall 1984 edition, reprinted with the permission of the BCBA.
Thank you as always for reading and have a great week.
Copyright, Jeff Scholnick, Esq., 2010. All rights reserved.