Chim chimney chim chimney chim chim cheree
We are as lucky as lucky can be
Yes, this sweet man is still alive. Don’t panic. 98 and going strong. He turns 99 December 13th.
Now that I might have spooked you, sorry about that, back to the show, shall we?
I grew up in the era of the Sensitive Man. Don’t know what I mean? Look up “real men eat quiche” for a fascinating glimpse into an odd cultural war. It’s why in Marlo Thomas’ wonderful “Free to Be You and Me”, it was a Moment for huge football player Rosey Grier to sing about it being okay to cry (video at the end). It was the time of Phil Donahue, Mr. Rogers, Alan Alda, who was part of “Free to Be You and Me”—yes, men worrying if it was okay to consume “girly” foods and drinks (The Kids in the Hall have an amazing skit called “Girly Drink Alcoholic” referring to this, where the addict in question is covered in paper umbrellas and tiny swords)—and Dick van Dyke.
The silly, playful, tall drink of water who sang and danced and stumbled and tumbled and did any task with delight, you could just see it. And although he has been Rob Petrie for several generations now thanks to Nick at Nite’s airing of The Dick van Dyke Show, to my generation, he will always be Mary Poppins’ whatever-she-needs-him-to-be chimney sweep and one-man band, Bert, to Gen X. No, I have not forgotten Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but I am in my feelings here after seeing him with his chimney brush, so bear with me.
Ever read the Mary Poppins novels? They’re a surreal fantasy dream world that I wish David Lynch had explored. In one, Mary awakens the children late at night, takes them to a gingerbread shop, where they wrap gingerbread stars in shiny foil with her friends and hang them in the sky. The next morning, she won’t discuss it and acts like it didn’t happen. My babysitter brought over a Doyle book that taught me many ways to play solitaire and how to build a card house, I don’t know about you. Dick van Dyke stepped right into this delicious world just as Bert easily steps into the sidewalk chalk drawing with Mary.
I could ramble so much further about this sweet man, who is exactly as he seems, gentle and kind, with no scandals, just a lovely family man who adores entertaining us, but I shall just share this Spike Jonze video instead. Coldplay and Jonze got together and made a tribute to him while he is still alive and can enjoy it, and he enjoyed it greatly. Thank you for existing, Mr. van Dyke. Thank you for all your goodness in the midst of the darkness.
Below this video is the Rosey Grier video, and the list of how to read Mary Poppins in order. When you look at the stars tonight, send a thank-you wish out to one of them for Dick van Dyke. That one, there, the one that suspiciously looks like a cookie…We are so very lucky to be alive at the same time as this force of nature.
Mary Poppins series, P. L. Travers
Dick van Dyke’s filmography at Letterboxd
Mary Poppins at Letterboxd, with where to find it on streaming
Dick van Dyke’s books:
I never read the Mary Poppins books, but as Carla's fellow Gen Xer I can confirm that we adore the Disney film. I'm also quite fond of the Emily Blunt sequel in which Bert makes an adorable appearance near the end. I do love men who are gentle. Men who are secure in their masculinity feel no need to shove everyone in the world into two narrow little gender boxes; that is the behavior of the insecure. If strict gender roles were assigned by nature, then there would be no need to enforce them.
Julia Sweeney talked a bit about how amazing DVD is on her Substack. It seems to be 100% legit and sincere.