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July 31, 2006:

GOODBYE JULY/HELLO AUGUST

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, thus a new week begins. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, thus a new week begins. That was quite a poetic way to begin these here notes, wasn’t it? And factual, too. Not only has a new week begun thus, but this is also the final day of July, and I for one am pleased as punch, and I think we all know how pleased punch is. July has been The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, and it was too darn hot and in certain ways it was too darn annoying. However, in other ways, it was very nice – sort of a combo platter. Tomorrow will bring us August and I’m hoping and praying that August will be a lovelier than lovely month because I can certainly use a lovelier than lovely month right about now. During the month of August, Mr. David Wechter and I will be fixing and polishing The Brain From Planet X, which I then cast in early September. Also during the month of August I shall be writing a new play (the new project I was alluding to). As I mentioned in a post yesterday, I am putting aside the new book until after the first of the year. I really like the idea of the book, but I’m afraid I got off on the wrong foot and I finally realized that I don’t like to start new books until the first of a new year and I don’t really know why I did. I mean, I finished the book of short stories earlier this year and that’s this year’s book. So, I will be making notes on the new direction of the book and I will have it simmering inside Ye Olde Cranium, and then I will begin writing anew in January. I cannot say anything about the new play other than it’s a two-hander and it’s being written for a specific actress and that it’s begin created for a very specific reason. I know I have other things to do in August, but I can’t remember what they are. Of course, this week we’re wrapping up the cabaret series, so there’s that to attend to. I would also love to take a couple of days off and go somewhere fun, but I don’t know that that will be happening, as I have to attend to the release of the Kevin Spirtas DVD, and I think I also have to attend to starting to create a new show for a singer. There are also a couple of CD releases in the pipeline that I have to get ready so we can put them up for preorder. I’m already tired just thinking about August. Speaking of August, yesterday was a strange day. I was lethargic all the livelong day and night – I just couldn’t get with it. Oh, I jogged, and I ate a reasonable meal, and I answered some e-mails, but mostly I sat on my couch like so much fish, occasionally nodding off (I’m really overtired), and I was just restless.

Yesterday, I did watch five episodes of an old TV program entitled Staccato, starring Mr. John Cassavetes. It’s sort of a cult item, but I don’t find it all that good, certainly not as good as Peter Gunn, which it certainly is trying to emulate (or did Staccato come first – I don’t think so). Mr. Cassavetes is always great, and there are some crackerjack guest stars like Shirley Knight, Martin Laundau, Ruta Lee, Charles McGraw, and others, but the writing isn’t great and it’s just plain odd at times. The show had interesting directors – Mr. Cassavetes directed several episodes, as did Boris Sagal and a few other good directors. Where the show shines, however, is its music by Elmer Bernstein, which is superb. Since some of the show takes place in a jazz club (Johnny Staccato is a jazz pianist/private eye), we do get glimpses of some great LA jazz players like Red Norvo, Shelly Manne, and a very young John(ny) Williams. The camerawork is also quite good and quite nourish – several episodes were shot by John Warren who, a year later, would shoot Hitchcock’s Psycho. I got all thirty-nine episodes on five home-grown DVDs on eBay – they were taped off Trio and the quality is excellent. I then tried to watch The Desperate Hours, a DVD I’ve had for years and have never gotten around to. I must say, it bored me to tears and I had to finally shut it off. That’s very unusual for me, especially since I’m a huge William Wyler fan, a Bogart fan, and a Fredric March fan, but I just found it leaden.

What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because we must prepare to say goodbye July and hello August. Thus, let’s click away, baby.

Can you believe July is just about over? Where in tarnation has this year gone? It’s shocking. Today, I must get an early start and do many things, and then new dear reader Jeanne is coming into town to see some friends and family, and we’ll be getting together for dinner. Then, later in the week I’m quite excited to have dear reader Laura and her lovely daughter Sandra coming in, accompanied by dear reader Kerry and the long-lost MusicGuy. That will be a lot of fun, I must say.

This week is going to be quite busy, as I have to rehearse with both Kevin and Linda Purl in preparation for their respective shows. I also have several meetings and a lot of errands to do.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog, start writing a new play, drive about in my motor car, and then have dinner with new dear reader Jeanne. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite amusement park rides, and your all-time favorite arcade games? I used to love the Ocean Park House of Mirrors – not exactly a ride, but it was grand. As those who’ve read the Kritzer books know, I loved the old Flight To Mars ride, and I loved the ride to the moon at Tomorrowland in Disneyland. I’ve never liked rollercoasters so I have no opinion on those. I did use to like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, too. As to arcade games, in the old days it was Skeeball – I was quite addicted to it. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we close the books on July and open our arms to thus embrace the coming of August.

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