ED AMES OFF STAGE
In his quest for Ecology and concern for the Environment I think this quote from him says it all:

" In some ways I guess I'm an outdoor nut--a nature lover,
a conservationist.  I hate it when glass and brick eat up grass and woods."
.....Ed Ames
                         
To quote the Patterson and Associates article again,

"He traveled through the Far East for the State Department, as a guest of local governments to help spur interest in ecology and
environment as well as care and protection of wildlife.  Ed was invited by the Russian Academy of Sciences to film a
documentary on Lake Baikal in Siberia. He was a part of a team of American and Russian marine biologists and scientists, and
participated in many important scientific discoveries."    
Freedom, fairness, family, friends, ecology and the environment, things all of us deem important. There are those in the public eye,
who use these things to stay in the public eye to "better" their careers.

Mr. Ames is not one of those people. What he has done in the past for freedom or the environment and what he is doing today
you won't see in the headlines or on television.  He works for what he believes in, in the quiet of those who call him family or
friend, and side by side with his peers. That is why it is not always easy to find out of some of the interesting and important things
he has done---off stage.

The things I have shared on this Off Stage page about him I found in my own research of magazine articles, Internet articles,
theater programs, even the backs of his record albums.  I share them with much respect to his privacy, with sincere admiration for
his humility and deep regard for his convictions in what he believes in.       
I found this reference to Family in of all places a cookbook, with the help of my friend, Paula Davis, who brought it to my attention.  From
the Celebrity Kosher Cookbook by Marilyn Hall & Rabbi Jerome Cutler. Mr. Ames' recipe was for Przepalanka(Potato Soup), a sign of
the hard times he grew up in. It included four ingredients: potatoes,water, margarine, flour, and salt & pepper to taste.  At the end of the
recipe he added, "you can make this a fleishedike soup by adding slices of kosher frankfurters. Allow one frankfurter per person.  Hard to
imagine those four strapping, over six foot tall Ames Brothers growing up on such a meager recipe.  And there were five other sisters and
brothers to boot. But they did and very happily as I share what Mr. Ames wrote to go along with this recipe.

"Saturday Afternoons"

"I had to learn Yiddish to speak to my grandmother, whom I visited once a week. At the time I thought she felt it was a duty call on my part;
but just before she died, she gave me a beautiful prayer book, and I realized how much my visits really meant to her.  I have that book to
this day and often open it and read a passage and remember my grandmother.

I remember many other things about my boyhood in Boston, particularly those wonderful, cozy Saturday afternoons when my mother would
take out the ingredients to bake sugar cookies.  We'd turn on the radio, and the dulcet tones of Milton Cross and the Metropolitan Opera
would fill the room.

We'd listen to the great operas, and the smell of warm, sweet cookies permeated the room.  Afterwards, we'd have them with tea, and my
brothers and I would sing, accompanied by my mother, who played the guitar.

I used to sing for my cookies; now I sing for my supper."     











An early Ames Brothers photo.
A man of freedom and fairness, family and friendship, ecology and respect for the land, that is what I have found Ed
Ames is when he is "off stage."  Whether it be present day or during his singing and acting career spanning from the
1950's up through the 1990's and beyond.  

I hope, in the items I have included on this page, that I am not invading his privacy,
but rather sharing some nice things about a nice man.    
FAMILY
ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
FAIRNESS & RESPECT
Mr. Ames, in his television portrayal of Mingo, the half-Cherokee, half-English friend of Daniel Boone performed a Cherokee song
of death on the episode titled "Not In Our Stars."  He made certain, in respect to Native Americans, that the Cherokee version he
sang was authentic.  Anytime Mingo spoke a Native American language on the series, Mr. Ames took the time and learned the
proper words and pronunciation.

Also while he was on the Daniel Boone show it was reported by Bruce Gordon of The Yonkers Record, "...Ed Ames, who plays a
Cherokee on TV's Daniel Boone, has received a letter from the Arizona Indian Association saying, 'You have done more for the
Indians by your excellent characterization than all the missionaries, government officials and book authors combined.' "

He continues still to be interested in fairness to and respect of Native Americans.     
FREEDOM
There is an organization called the American Freedom Alliance.  From their website it says:  American Freedom Alliance unites individuals
and communities throughout the United States who share an abiding reverence for the values that make the United States of America a
symbol of freedom of thought, speech, and self-expression.  The Alliance's programs, publications, conferences and websites develop
tools and strategies to counter the growing influence of ideologies and movements that deny the sanctity of the personal conscience.  

They have an award called the Heroes of Conscience Award. I quote:  "It pays tribute to men and women who stand at the forefront of
the battle to preserve our freedom. We are grateful for their courage and tenacity in confronting those who would imprison our thoughts,
stifle our imagination and rob us of our liberty.  In defense of our freedom they have dared to venture beyond the comforts of family,
career,  and personal commitments, taking great risks on a daily basis in order to elevate the truth."

On Sunday, May 18, 2008 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, at the American Freedom Alliance's second annual  
dinner Mr. Ed Ames was one of the five people honored as a Hero of Conscience. I didn't find this in the headlines of a newspaper or on
a television entertainment news show.  I found it searching the Internet, four or five pages into the search. I hope he doesn't mind me
including this honor for him on my site.         
Hero of Conscience Honor
The Zionist Organization of America
ZOA
The ZOA, founded in 1897, is a Jewish organization that has been fighting for interests of the Jewish people and Land
of Israel. It works today to strengthen US-Israeli relations through educational activities, public affairs programs,and
working with Capitol Hill.

In March of 2005 the ZOA set up a chapter in Los Angeles and named Mr. Ames as their President. In announcing
the appointment, the national ZOA President Morton Klein said, "We want to have an important voice on the West
Coast, so we chose the best voice we could find."
FRIENDSHIP AND WARMTH
The Patterson and Associates bio of Ed Ames that I have quoted from here, is usually what you will find in any of the programs or Playbills of the
theater productions Mr. Ames was in. These programs are few and far between. If you were lucky enough to be present at any of his performances
you probably have one. Otherwise you are like me, you have to try and outbid the next person on Ebay who would like one as badly as I do.

I particularly like the opening paragraph of the bio:

"There are only a handful of entertainers who have distinguished themselves in more than one area of human endeavor.
Ed Ames is one of these men.  Aside from being prolific in virtually every phase of performing, he is a scholar, an athlete, and, in an age of
overworked cynicism, an extremely sanguine individual."

I had to look up sanguine in the dictionary: it means, "cheerful, hopeful, confident."

From what I have read, from people I have talked with, this describes Ed Ames one hundred percent.
His warm smile,and gracious handshake welcomes whoever he meets. I have not yet had that pleasure.

I dream of the day when I can shake his hand and tell him thank you for all the pleasure he has given me.

Let me share with you some of the things I have found people to say about Ed Ames, after meeting him.
They range from people like you and me, to his peers in the world of entertainment and those in the media.
And they span his entire career, from the early years to present day.    

***************
Live On Tape blog, September 30, 2008

This is from a blog entry written by "Tom" in L.A. His blog is called Live on Tape. On 9/30/08 he writes a really nice entry about his Dad, Lyle Hart.  
Mr. Hart worked at one point with Centron Studios which made industrial and educational films. Tom writes that many times these films had famous
celebrities in them. Often his Dad would take him on the shoot with him. Tom says,  "When I was very little I remember getting to meet Ed Ames,
who offered me a bite of an apple he was eating."  

*****************   
                                   Kokomo Morning Times, Town Crier, October 14, 1967                             
The picture at left is from a newspaper supplement called the Town Crier. The date, October 14,
1967, and the staff news writer, Penny Blaker.  The caption under the picture reads, "Expressive, One
of Ames' truly remarkable traits is his expressive nature.  His eyes and hands, speak a language of their
own as the singer tells of his work, his accomplishments, and his tomorrows. He is relaxed, friendly,
and charming. Ed Ames, in essence is a star."

The entire article speaks of the warmth  I hope I am sharing here. Ms. Blaker obviously experienced
that warmth as her article begins, "He is a handsome man. Tall, lean, and rugged. His voice is deep,
strong, and alive.  He is Ed Ames.  The setting:  Room 601, Stouffer's on the northern fringe of
Indianapolis. The door was open.   He met us with an outstretched hand, a smile, and a handshake that
was firm and warm.  His eyes smiled a welcome."
In 1995 Ed Ames narrated a documentary
on the history of mining in the state of Utah.
The documentary was called
Treasure House: The Utah Mining Story.
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