Monday, January 05, 2009

Quick hits: Character actor Hingle dies at the coast and state parks now take online reservations

Actor Pat Hingle dies at 84
"Actor Pat Hingle died Saturday night after a battle with blood cancer. He was 84," according to the Wilmington Star-News.

"The veteran of stage, television and film acting passed away at 10:45 p.m. Saturday at his Carolina Beach home, according to family spokesperson Lynn Heritage. He suffered from myelodysplasia, with which he was diagnosed in November 2006. He was survived by his wife, Julia, two sisters, five children and 11 grandchildren.

"Born Martin Patterson Hingle in Miami on July 19, 1924, Hingle had a long career that took him around the country until he settled in the Wilmington area in 1986 after filming the big-screen thriller 'Maximum Overdrive.' More recently, while living in Carolina Beach, Hingle continued to work in commercial productions, including 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,' which filmed in Charlotte, as well as local independent productions 'The List' and 'Undoing Time.' He also appeared on Wilmington stages in plays such as 'Tuesdays With Morrie' and 'Our Town.'

"When most people think of Hingle, any number of iconic images emerge. He is known as much for his role as a cantankerous judge opposite Clint Eastwood in 'Hang ‘em High' (1968) as he is for the role as Sally Field’s father in 'Norma Rae' (1979). Younger generations know him better as Commissioner Gordon from the late ’80s and early ’90s Batman movies. ..."


State parks to take reservations online
"Planning a camping trip to a state park during a popular time of the year will become less of a gamble for North Carolina residents beginning in April," says the AP.

"The Winston-Salem Journal reports that a reservations system will replace the state's first-come, first-served system of assigning campsites, cabins and shelters at its 37 parks. The system will go online on April 22.

"Most of the state's 3,000 campsites will be assigned through the new reservations system. However, a few sites at some parks will be reserved for walk-in registration. ..."

No comments: