Well, dear readers, I do believe I have survived the first day of the Ray Courts Hollywood Collectors show. I arrived promptly at nine-thirty with my helper, Miss Tammy Minoff. We were shown to my table whose location, as it turned out, was not so hot for this particular show. I have been to other Courts shows where this location had been very crowded (when Larry Hagman attended), but for whatever reasons it just wasn’t where people were walking today. It wasn’t because we didn’t have good people in our section – we did. But the crowd just seemed to gravitate and stay in the center of the room. Even the outside tables in the center weren’t having that much traffic. I must say, that my day started off with a bang when, prior to the doors opening, I sold two DVDs, a script and two photographs. I always have a good time at the show no matter what, and yesterday was no exception. I had very nice people stop by the table, sold quite a few items, and had some nice chats with a few of the celebs in attendance. One interesting fellow stopped by my table twice – once to have me sign the board games for Laverne and Shirley and Happy Days (he even knew my character names for the multiple episodes I did), and then to sign a Happy Days model car. The only downside to the day was the horrendous air conditioning, which was keeping the room at fifty degrees. That sort of dry cold air is the worst possible thing for a hoarse throat and, of course, I never shut up the whole day, and that compounded the problem. By the time I left, I barely had any voice left at all. I picked up some EmergenC, which I had when I got home, and that helped immediately. Within a couple of hours things were better. I’m very concerned about being in that air conditioning all day today, and I may say something about it when I arrive. But, if I have to I’ll wear a coat and a scarf around my throat. My tablemate, Penny Peyser, was trying to get us moved to the center of the room for today. I told her that as soon as they do that everyone will then be in the other part of the room. I’ll be taking more photographs and hopefully will be seeing some folks I know. For photographs and more details, see yesterday’s posts.
Last night, after supping on chicken soup, a turkey sandwich, and some macaroons, I finally opened my Kojak DVD set. I watched the first episode of the first season, 1973. What it shows is how fast these things date – back then, it was cutting edge cop show, very gritty. In twenty years time when people watch CSI or Law and Order, it will be the same exact story – people will watch them and think, “How quaint.” What Kojack obviously has going for it is Telly Savalas, who is marvelous, as always. I have the feeling there are many interesting guest stars and co-stars on the show. In the premiere episode, the lead is played by a very young Harvey Keitel; it also features David Proval, the great Arnold Soboloff (who everyone will soon see when they resurrect my Tabitha pilot), and several other fine character actors. The script for the premiere was kind of a dog, and the direction was very TV standard. What isn’t standard is Telly, and also the great, great score of Billy Goldenberg. The transfer and source material are incredible – this show has never looked this good. I’m sure they went directly from the camera negatives, and it’s really top-notch quality. I just finished the second episode, which guest stars Hector Elizondo and my old pal Bruce Kirby (father of Bruno and John). Much better writing, by TV vet Jack Laird. A good, strong show about a cop gone bad. Better direction, too, by the same fellow who did the premiere. Show three is directed by Richard Donner.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’ve got another long day ahead of me.
One other thing that was fun: Someone stopped by the table to chat and said that he’d discovered this here website (googling something obscure which we, of course, had mentioned at some point) and that he really enjoyed it. That’s always nice to hear.
Now, listen, you people, I am going to be gone all the livelong day, so everyone must pull their weight, posts-wise. I will only be home for an hour or so after the show, and then I must go to the Passover dinner. I’m sure everyone here knows how to pull their weight. Just grab on to your fatty bits and pull. I just pulled my weight, for example, and I’m telling you it was a little too easy for me to grab onto the fatty bits. I hate when that happens, don’t you?
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, sit at a table all the livelong day, I must sell books, DVDs, and photographs, I must chat with celebs, I must drink EmergenC, and I must have fun. Everyone else must grab onto their fatty bits and pull their weight. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics of discussion and we all get to make with the snappy responses. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics, and loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we all grab onto our fatty bits and pull our collective weight.