Leonard Bernstein and the Dumbing-Down of America

This post has nothing to do with cruising, but as this is my only blog, this is where the post shall live.

When I was a kid, Peter and the Wolf, narrated by Basil Rathbone, was one of my favorite albums.  It was released on 3 78-rpm records and I listened to it so often I practically wore out the groves.  A few years ago, I bought the version narrated by Leonard Bernstein, but somehow, it didn't seem the same.

Yesterday, on a hunch, I discovered that the original, Basil Rathbone version was available for download.  I compared the two versions and discovered that Bernstein really dumbed-down his version.  How sad.  Here, without comment are several sentences and phrases from each version.

Rathbone Version	Bernstein Version
The little bird hopping back and forth along the bank.	The little bird hopping after her along the shore.
Suddenly, something caught Peter’s eye.	All of a sudden, something else caught Peter’s attention.
So stealthfully, she crept toward him on her velvet paws.	…and she slowly crept toward the bird on her velvet paws.
…while the duck quacked angrily at the cat.	…and quacked at the cat with all her might.
The duck quacked excitedly and splashed her way out of the pond.	…and in her excitement, she jumped right out of the pond.
And suddenly, he caught her.	And bang, he got her.
Presently, he ran into the house…	He ran home…
…take care that he doesn’t catch you.	…watch out he doesn’t catch you.
How the bird irritated the wolf.	Oh, how the bird did tease that wolf.
All at once, some hunters came out of the forest.	Just then, Peter saw some hunters coming out of the woods.
Imagine the triumphant procession.	Just imagine the victory parade.
Grand pa-pa shook his head.  This is all very well, but what if Peter had not caught the wolf?  What then?	Grandfather, of course, was pretty grumpy about the whole thing.
In his haste, the wolf had swallowed her alive.	The wolf, in all his excitement and hurry, swallowed her alive.