Well, dear readers, I am back in Los Angeles, California after having a splendidly splendid trip to New York, New York. The Jet Blue experience was a mixed bag. On the one hand, it’s very comfortable, I liked not having to deal with LAX, and the people are very nice. On the other hand, for reasons I don’t understand, each flight took an hour longer than any flight to or from New York I’ve ever taken. Not because we took off late (we did, but I’m only counting “in air” time), either – the actual flying time was an hour longer. That, coupled with the fact that there is no served meal, makes the flight seem endless. I was so bored coming home that I actually watched two episodes each of Judge Joe and Judge Judy. I cannot believe these shows are popular with the populace, but I guess they are. In any case, we had a lovely spontaneous live chat last night. Do you suppose that the fact that it was unannounced (well, announced at the last minute) was the reason we had no count them no uncouth interlopers with us? I’m happy to be home, and there is lots of work to do.
Today I go back to editing the book – it’s really endless. Next week, we’re going to start having meetings on the film, even though pre-production doesn’t officially start until February 15. There are a few other things in the wind which I hope to be able to report on in the next week or so.
This Saturday the Art Director’s Guild is having a little soiree for our very own Tony Walton, and I shall be attending with bells on, oh, yes, I shall jingle, jangle and be there with bells on. I shall, of course, have a full report for you. I’m also baby sitting a dog this weekend and if it works out that very dog might just be adopted by that very me. The dog belongs to David Wechter’s brother, Jerry Wechter, who, because of his long hours, isn’t able to spend any time with her. She just sits alone like so much fish on a tiny patio, sometimes for twelve hours or more. He feels very bad and wants to find her a lovely home. I certainly trust Jerry Wechter more than the last people (the Luckie owners) who withheld key information about Luckie’s psychological difficulties. From what I’ve heard from Jerry and David, Molly, the Dog, is just about the sweetest most lovable dog who ever lived, and she loves being in the yard, doesn’t pee if you look at her in the wrong way, and is gentle and kind to strangers (Luckie growled at any stranger or child). Stay tuned for a full report on Molly, the Dog.
Well, dear readers, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below so I can get to your excellent questions.
Very well, then, I see no reason to have any further ado, do you? I feel we’ve had far too much ado in these here notes today. And by gum and by golly we’re having no further ado and that is just the way it is. So, without further ado (which, by the way – BTW, in Internet lingo – we’ve had enough of), here are the answers to your excellent questions.
Philip Crosby asks what musicals do I wish I might have had a hand in, whether as author, performer or director? Oh, quite a few as director. I would love to direct The Wizard of Oz (the stage version) and I would love to put together my own version of Peter Pan, based on my album of the same name, with settings by Mr. Tony Walton. There are a few projects I would love to have helped out on, but I wasn’t asked, and there are a few projects I have helped out on because I was asked (although I am not allowed to mention them). And there are a few projects I’d love to bring to the stage (adaptations) which I will not mention because we wouldn’t want anyone ripping off the ideas, now would we?
Allan wonders why, when he makes compilation CDs from various tracks, the sound levels vary so wildly? Why is there not some standard sound level for all recorded music? An interesting question. When CDs are mastered (the final step before pressing), that is where the sound levels are set. It really depends on your mastering engineer – most of them suck, frankly. I had/have the best, Mr. Joe Gastwirt. Now, Joe and I both like to master things “hot” – so one doesn’t have to go jacking up the volume button. Some mastering engineers don’t like to master “hot” and for those CDs you do have to jack up the volume button. But the worst is when the levels vary within one CD, from track to track. Nothing makes me angrier than when a track is soft, I adjust the volume, and then the next track comes on and it’s too loud and I have to readjust the volume. If the mastering engineer doesn’t use compression, that can happen within the tracks themselves. A lot of classical music and certain rerecordings of film music are done this way and it’s disgusting. I want a consistent volume and that’s that. Only three times in all of my albums did a track get by that’s a bit louder than the previous track (most people wouldn’t notice but it drives me crazy) – because I was merciless when I would proof the test mastering – even one lowly little db wouldn’t get by me. But, no, there is no standard sound level.
Jrand52 asks how many Internet Service Providers I went through before I found one I liked. You must understand, I am completely ignorant of such things. I didn’t even own a computer until just a few years ago. Prior to that it was Web TV (which I still use to peruse newsgroups). When I got the computer I got AOL, and even though I don’t like it, it’s what I’m used to so I still have AOL. This is called being a creature of habit.
Jose asks if I like to cook. Yes, very much. I don’t make many things but what I do make is very good (Beef Strogonoff is my specialty). Do I like to bake? I have never baked a thing in my life. Do I have any house plants? Other than myself? Yes, one plant, that my then-assistant Esther gave me. It is still alive and well after four years. Do I have a gas or electric stove? Gas, baby, gas.
JMK asks how I met the Wechters. Did I know David first and then meet Julius and Cissy. Yes, I met David at a party – we’d both directed and written segments for a cable comedy show called Likely Stories. We hit it off instantly. I can’t remember exactly when I met Julius and Cissy – probably a year later. And, of course, I cajoled Julius into the studio to record a new album with a new jazz-flavored Baja Marimbas. They all became very close friends and have remained so.
William E. Lurie asks if the Wechter Tribute JMK posted about is the same as the Tourette’s Benefit. Yes, the benefit is a tribute to the life and music of Julius.
Tom from Oz asks if I’ve ever watched a pirated version of a new movie. I don’t think so. I did see Chicago on tape, but it was one of the official Miramax screeners. I guess I do have some weird stuff on tape, films, that aren’t really available commercially – I’ve gotten them on eBay or from a guy who has obscure stuff, and the quality is usually just so-so.
Matthew has a burning question about Benjamin Kritzer. Did/does Benjamin ever meet Susan again? Well, I know the answer to that question, but I think I’ll let you read the sequel to find out (or the sequel to the sequel, which, believe it or not, I will start on in late March).
S. Woody White asks what tricks do I use whilst traveling to make it easier for myself and for security people when I go through security. Well, for one thing, I pack very light – I only have a small overnight bag and my laptop. I have never had a problem with security, and if they care to run that wand over me or my laptop I am very cooperative. What do I like to order when at Joe Allen. I always start with their yummy Caeser Salad, then I will either have (depending on hunger or mood) a bacon cheeseburger, a grilled chicken sandwich, the tostada with eggs and chorizo, or the steak. Although, this trip, I tried their penne pasta with chicken and creamy tomato sauce and it was excellent. We usually end up ordering a hot fudge pudding cake for the table – it’s a great dessert.
Kerry asks who played the harmonica on Randy Graff’s recording of I Walk a Little Faster – he thinks it sounds like Toots Thielmans. Normally, I did all the harmonica stuff as overdubs in LA, but that album, which was recorded entirely in New York, I used a NY harmonica player whose name I don’t remember. I simply told him to “Toots” it, and he did it rather wonderfully, as you can hear.
William F. Orr says that in the original cast of Chicago they sang “all that ja-yazz” but in the revival and film they sing “ja-azz”. Which do I prefer? The original.
Now, TD, don’t get upset, but I cannot answer your question without doing research, and I simply haven’t had time to do the research. However, to make it easy, why don’t you e-mail me the songs that didn’t win that you’d like recorded – or just a list of thirty non-winning Oscar songs, and I’ll take it from there.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must edit and correct, not necessarily in that order, I must bitch-slap Mr. Mark Bakalor who has not put up our photos yet, I must stay on him to also put up the cover art for Kritzerland. Today’s topic of discussion: Moving right along on our favorite films for each decade, we come to one of my personal favorite decades, the 50s. So, what are your all-time favorite films from the 50s? I’ll be back in a bit to check out your excellent posts.