Well, dear readers, what a gay and wonderful time we had at our handy-dandy DVD signing. The joint was jumping and we all had a blast. We signed many DVDs and while we were doing so they showed the film and while they showed the film people were standing there and howling with laughter. It was so cool to hear that, because I haven’t seen this film with any kind of an audience in over twenty years. Seeing any comedy with even a small crowd is a totally different experience than seeing it by yourself. In any case, we had several cast members present (several who were no-shows had scheduling problems that could not be avoided), I met quite a few nice people and we even had that splendid historian of the musical theater, Miles Kreuger, laughing away. Our very own Tammy Minoff and Juliana A. Hansen were there, as was Cissy Wechter and Susan Gordon. Among the cast were Leslie Ackerman, Greg Finley, Lloyd Gordon, Jeff Harlin and John Kirby. Also present was our documentary director, Nick Redman and his spectacularly beautiful daughter Rebecca Redman.
Shortly I will be off to do the Hollywood Collector’s Show signing and I’ll have a full report for you on Sunday.
I picked up another wonderful two-fer CD on the Collectibles label (they put out the Percy Faith two-fers), this one with the velvety trumpet stylings of Bobby Hackett playing music from Sweet Charity, Mame and Oliver. The Oliver tracks especially are really wonderful and I recommend this CD to one and all and also all and one. Bobby Hackett had one of the most beautiful trumpet tones of anyone – very lush and romantic – in fact, whenever we would record a ballad that had a trumpet solo I would always go whisper to our trumpet player to Bobby Hackett it. If you want to hear what I mean, pull out your Prime Time Musicals album and play One Starry Night.
I do have to keep these here notes very brief today because I’m in a rush to get to the signing. All too soon people will be knocking at my door and then we will all pile into my automobile and head over to the Beverly Garland. I do hope I’ll see a dear reader or two there.
Has anyone noticed that these notes have not one or even two whits of wit? Not a whit of wit, what’s wit’ that? How can I have allowed that to happen? Well, for one thing, I’m quite tired. For another thing, well, there in no other thing but I already wrote “for another thing” so I suppose I should make up another thing just so I can end this sentence. For another thing, I ate soup. One simply cannot have wit when one has eaten soup. So it is written, so it shall be.
Let’s all click on the Unseemly Button below and see if there’s any wit in the next section.
Nope. Nary a whit of wit anywhere. Whilst at our signing I picked up the brand spanking new DVD of the film version of 1776. I’m anxious to look at it and I’ll have a full report for you as soon as I do.
Today is, of course, our Unseemly Trivia Contest, but I really didn’t have time to prepare a question – so, I’m going to do something a little different. Today’s trivia question regards a play, not a musical. It is researchable and it might be a pleasant change of pace. If it isn’t, then just make up guesses and we’ll publish the funniest ones. The question:
In the late thirties a popular play was produced first in Washington and then on Broadway. In the cast was someone who, thirty years later, would go on to do a very popular musical in which he played a very popular historical figure (also playing that role in the film version of said musical). Also in the play was someone who became famous for saying the line, “You’re next!” in a very popular fifties film. Also in the cast was someone who would do a very popular film about Santa Claus. Also in the cast was someone who would go on to play a very famous Dr., although not a Dr. you’d ever want to go to – in other words, he would play a very famous villainous Dr. Is that enough damn clues to choke a damn horse? Name the fershluganah play they all appeared in. Final clue: The play was directed by a well-respected playwright.
Remember, DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS TO THE SITE! Simply e-mail them to me at bruce@haineshisway.com or just use the handy-dandy unseemly Ask BK button. Bonus points and tie breakers to those who can name all actors and film roles.
Well, dear readers, I do realize there has not been one whit of wit in these here notes today. I do realize it, and yet there is not a damned thing I can do about it because people are knocking on my door and ready to go. It would be unseemly of me not to answer their incessant knock, knock, knocking at my door while I search for a whit of wit. But I’ll be back this evening to see what you people are up to. Do remember there is just today and tomorrow for us to beat that damn month of May, stats-wise. Also, I know several of you have let me know that you’ve posted reviews to barnesandnoble.com for Benjamin Kritzer. For that, many thanks, and feel free to post your reviews at amazon as well. After all, we must spread the word like caviar on a cracker. Today’s topic of discussion: If you could suddenly possess one talent that you don’t possess, what would it be. One talent, once choice only. I’ll start: I would love to paint, to have the talent to be a painter. I have no aptitude for art whatsoever. But I love art, I love paintings and drawings of all kinds and I would truly love to be able to do it. Your turn.