Well, dear readers, you won’t believe it. I can hardly believe it myself and yet it is as true as the Lord made little green apples. I jogged two count them two miles yesterday and I am here to tell the tale. I sorely needed to start jogging and now I have and am sorely sore. The first mile I thought I was going to die right there in Studio City and I thought that tomorrow in the local section of the paper they’d write, “Jew found dead from jogging”. The second mile was, funnily, a bit easier. I then tried to watch a motion picture on DVD but I could not concentrate, no, I could not concentrate at that time. So, I ended up watching the special features of three count them three DVDs – Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Day for Night and A Man and a Woman. The Roger Rabbit documentary was very informative, and I’m looking forward to seeing the film again.
Have I mentioned that I am sorely sore from having jogged two count them two miles, which, by the way (BTW, in Internet lingo), I sorely needed to do. It is very windy here. The winds are gusting and blowing, not necessarily in that order.
I had to deliver something yesterday and when I saw the person to whom I had to deliver it we, of course, hugged, since it had been a while since I’d seen her. When I got back to my car and closed the door I was greeted by the most wonderful aroma of that person’s perfume and I smelled it as I drove around doing other things. I finally had to call her and find out the name of said perfume, as it was making me dizzy and causing me to drool (both in good ways) – she told me it was called Ralph Lauren’s Romance. I don’t like the smell of many perfumes, but boy do I like the smell of Ralph Lauren’s Romance. Of course, not all perfumes smell the same on all people, so there’s always that. That there’s always. Always there’s that.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because don’t I have excellent questions to answer whilst being sorely sore and remembering the smell of Ralph Lauren’s Romance? I do, and I shall, not necessarily in that order.
Ah, yes, questions to answer. I must now buckle down (no mean feat) and answer them. Or should I buckle up and answer them? I know not.
William E. Lurie asks if there are any movies that I was fond of years ago that most people don’t remember and that are rarely shown today? Absolutely, and both Benjamin Kritzer and its sequel are filled with them. But I’d add to those Frank Tashlin’s virtually forgotten Bachelor Flat, Frank Perry’s virtually forgotten Ladybug, Ladybug, The Mind Benders (just out on DVD), and many other movies on both top and bottom halves of double bills. Some of them have gone on to be considered worthy films, some of them have languished in obscurity.
Jose asks have I ever sorely regretted buying a piece of clothing that I swore would look good on me but then, after wearing it, didn’t. I’m such a creature of habit, clothes-wise, that I never buy things that are out of the ordinary – although there was that Hawaiian shirt which made me look quite stupid. What is the oldest piece of clothing I have and still wear? I tend to not throw things out and I still wear t-shirts and polo shirts I’ve had for five years. Is there a particular style of clothing I hope will come back into style? Yes, baggy pants. Do I wear boxers or briefs? Briefs, always, except on stage.
Donna asks what biographies I’ve read that I’d recommend as good reads? Well, Beverly Gray, who wrote the Ron Howard book I’m reading, did a really nice book on Roger Corman that I’d recommend. Otherwise, I just really haven’t read much in quite a while, because I don’t like to read when I’m in the process of writing.
Ron Pulliam asks if I know of a movement to get Disney’s Song of the South issued on DVD. I think there’s always a movement to get it released, and I think they’re always thinking about it. I find it so silly of them to take the stance they take – it’s a movie from a specific time and it’s actually a lovely film. I don’t remember it well enough to say whether it would offend or not, but really, it was made, it came out, and I don’t see why there should be a problem having it released. It reminds me of when Paramount shelved Sam Fuller’s brilliant movie of Romain Gary’s White Dog because they thought it was inflammatory, when it is the very opposite. Hopefully, Disney will come around someday.
Sandra asks why she always chooses the only computer in the whole Writing Center that keeps crashing? This is known as the Choosing the Computer That Crashes Syndrome and it is quite prevalent amongst young women who eat floop.
Tom from Oz asks if I like train travel and what is the longest journey I’ve taken by train. I’ve never really traveled by train, other than taking a train from New York, New York to Boston, Boston. What are my favorite songs about trains? When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam, Toot Toot Tootsie (is that about a train?), and I can’t think of anymore train songs.
S. Woody White asks if I’ve given any thought to collecting all my musings on DVDs to a special section of this site. Well, it might be something to think about, but it would take Mr. Mark Bakalor a year to implement it, so I don’t think about it much.
MattH asks if I have a television program that is a “must-see” for me. I don’t watch television at all, but when I get digital cable then the new season of The Sopranos will be it.
Arnold M. Brockman asks if I remember a movie by Elia Kazan called Panic in the Streets, starring Paul Douglas and Zero Mostel. I do indeed and I really like it. It’s Fox so I’m sure they’ll get around to it at some point.
Michael Shayne asks if there is a different process for a record producer when he/she produces an album of classical music vs. jazz vs. vocals vs. Broadway, or is producing a CD the same no matter what genre one records. Nope, each and every one of those mentioned has different needs, requires a different set-up, is thought out in different ways. Of course, many producers don’t understand that and just show up and hope their engineer does something right. But every album requires thought and care and design. Would I consider resurrecting my musical of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus, if Miss Lee should pass on or if the rights became available? It’s been so long since I’ve either read or heard it I have no idea. It was my first, I was very young and I have no idea if it sucks or not, although I assume it had to have something to interest the Seattle Rep and Don Murray. However, knowing that Miss Lee was not in favor of it being musicalized, I probably would respect her wishes. For his 70th birthday, Mr. Sondheim made a list of songs he wished he’d written (many of which I’d recorded on various Unsungs and Lost Ins). What five songs by other writers do I wish I had written? These are always very hard, but off the top of my head – That’s All, When I Fall in Love, Every Day a Little Death and Pick Yourself Up. Did I research which widescreen TV to buy or did I get what was on sale? I went to the store and let my eyes make the choice. I chose the one that looked best to me and I’ve been very happy with it ever since.
George asks if the two cut songs from Gypsy (Mama’s Talkin’ Soft and Nice She Ain’t) would still be in the show if the little girl who was supposed to sing Mama’s hadn’t been afraid of heights and if Klugman could sing. Well, Nice She Ain’t I think would have been cut anyway – it’s not very good, but Mama’s Talkin’ Soft is a great song and that might have stayed in. According to the Lost in Boston notes, Mama’s Talkin’ Soft was supposed to be sung in counterpoint to Small World. Why didn’t we record it that way – did we not have access or rights to do so? Well, here’s my thought: Urban Legend. There is no way the two songs can be sung in counterpoint because the harmonic structure of each is completely different than the other. We tried, oh, yes, we tried, but there’s no way. What I think was meant, and what was misunderstood, was that Mama’s Talkin’ Soft was sung AS a counterpoint to Small World, not IN counterpoint. In other words, it was a response to Small World. But, since no one seems to have a clear memory on the subject, we’ll probably never know. Is there any reason those two songs shouldn’t be put back into the current revival and if I were a producer and someone made that suggestion would I even consider it? I suppose not, because Gypsy is really perfection as it is, and why tamper with perfection (I’m talking about book and score here, not staging). Are there any other well-known musicals that could benefit from cut songs being put back in? Oh, I suppose maybe – they’ve done it several times with 110 In The Shade, but no one ever seems to think it helps, no matter how good the cut songs are.
KT asks what are desirable or attractive traits I look for in a woman. Blonde, brunette, or redhead? What do I notice in a person to want to get to know them better? Well, first and foremost, they must wear cotton underwear. I always look for a sense of humor and brightness first, then I like beautiful eyes and smiles, then the rest follows from there. I’ve never gone out with a real redhead, but I’ve gone out with a couple of fake redheads. I’ve dated blondes and brunettes, and I basically like all hair colors. They must like food and fun and movies and theater. I do like them to have some different interests to mine because it’s always fun to learn new things. And, of course, like me they must be loyal and true. What am I, date.com all of a sudden? What vibes have I gotten from and actor-auditionee that makes me crazy to cast that person? It’s hard to put in words – there’s something that makes me think they’ll be fun to work with, and that there won’t be high drama and, of course, they must have the talent to do the job well.
Laura asks if I figure my own taxes? Do I usually get a refund? If so, do I spend it on an indulgent item? Figures and BK are an oxymoron. I don’t know from figures, so I leave the figuring to others. Refund – sometimes yes, sometimes no. Indulgent item – yes, my lawyer.
Well, what an excellent batch of questions that was. My mind is not petered out from answering them. Not georged out, mind you, or even steved out, no, my mind is petered out and there are no two or three ways about it.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must be sorely sore and yet try to jog again today, I must take out three sheets and go outside so I can be three sheets to the wind, I must write, call, and drive. Today’s topic of discussion: I’ll cadge KT’s excellent question and make it the topic of the day: What do you look for in a romantic partner. Be detailed and specific. I’ll check back later, so let’s have lots and lots of posts, shall we?