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November 20, 2004:

TRIVIAL PURSUIT

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I must hurry and write these here notes because not only is she of the Evil Eye going to be here shortly, I have to hie myself to the Wood of Holly to attend the 88th birthday bash of Mr. Famous Monsters of Filmland himself, Forest J. Ackerman. I met Mr. Ackerman when I was in junior high school. For those who’ve read the Kritzer books, you know that Benjamin, in those days, lived on Sherbourne Drive. Well, so did Mr. Ackerman, about two blocks up. I remember walking by his house one day and the door being open and seeing some kind of Frankenstein thing – he ended up inviting my friend and I in to view his impressive memorabilia collection, in what was the first incarnation of his famous Ackermansion. After that, I must hie myself to the Dale of Glen where I must visit Bookfellows, where I’ll be doing the first Writer’s Block signing on December 4th. I’m delivering them a book, so they can read it prior to the signing. Then I must hie myself back to the City of Studio where I must pick up laundry and newly-framed paintings. All in all, a busy little Saturday. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?

I have been giving a look-see to the W.C. Fields set on DVD. I have never seen any of these movies all the way through, and I must say I’m finding them a bit of a trial. They all have moments, and Mr. Fields is amusing, but I just am not finding them funny in the way that I find the Marx Brothers funny or Jack Benny funny or Preston Sturges funny or even Laurel and Hardy funny. Perhaps I need to see them with an audience.

Yesterday, I had quite a relaxingly relaxing day – all I did was ship packages and then sit on my patio taking notes for my upcoming projects. It feels nice to be done with the script – I owe them one polish after I get their notes, so I’ll probably be doing that in the first two weeks of December. Last night the Pogues and I dined at Schwab’s and we had a sparkling and festive time – we saw our two “regular” gals, the waitress we usually have, and the bartender, who is our waitresses friend. The food was, as always, excellent, but either my stomach is shrinking or I can just not pack it away like I used to. I thought I was going to explode. The Pogues will be on their way to London, England on Monday.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because the moment you’ve all been waiting for for ages is about to occur.

Mother of pearl, the moment is here. Mother of agnes, the moment is here. Mother of eulalie, the moment is here. What moment is here you might ask and I might tell you, for why should I withhold such things from you dear readers. The moment, of which I’ve been speaking, is here and that moment is the resurgence of our Unseemly Trivia Contest. And for our first contest in a ‘coon’s age we have a doozy (yzood, spelled backwards). Here it is:

This play was written by a writer who’d just a few years before had written an iconographic novel set in Southern California, said novel eventually was turned into a motion picture entertainment directed by someone who had directed a famous motion picture a few years prior, said motion picture which was turned into a flop musical. In any case, this play by the writer of the iconographic Southern California novel was a flop, only eking out a little over 100 performances on Broadway. The play was a “comedy” which no one found all that amusing. The leading man of the play was a beloved character actor who appeared in two well-loved films of the fifties, both of which were turned into hit musicals. Also in the cast was a young man who would go onto major motion picture stardom a few years later as a comic actor. Also in the cast was another character actor who, exactly ten years after this play would play a co-starring role (as a town official) in one of the most successful films ever made. The play was directed by someone who was related to one of the most well-known and beloved figures in musical theater.

Name the play

Name the author

Name his iconographic Southern California novel and its movie version

Name the beloved character actor leading man and the two films he appeared in that were turned into hit musicals

Name the young man who would go on to movie stardom

Name the character actor who would co-star in a hugely successful film

Name the director

When we bring back a trivia contest we bring back a trivia contest – we don’t fool around. Remember: DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS TO THE SITE – send them to me at haineshisway@aol.com. The high winner of the contest will, of course, receive a sparkling prize. Good luck to one and all and also all and one.

Mother of pearl, mother of ida, mother of rosalie, I must get crackin’.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must begin my busy day, I must attend birthday bashes and bookstores and framing stores and cleaners, and I must also grocery shop for I have run out of Diet Coke. Today’s topic of discussion: Who are your favorite painters and favorite paintings, and what are your favorite museums that you’ve visited? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and let’s have loads of lovely guesses for our trivia contest.

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