Well, dear readers, we are in the home stretch for the kids show. Today begins our final push – we’re in the theater from here on in, doing run-throughs, tech, and all that jazz. But, I’m getting ahead of myself, which, I suppose, is better than getting aknee of myself. I must say that today feels like a Wednesday to me. Therefore, it’s a good thing it’s Wednesday, because it’s not any fun if it feels like a Wednesday on a Sunday. I do like when it feels like a Thursday on a Tuesday, though. I have lost the point… Where was I? Oh, yes, the home stretch, the final push, full steam ahead, don’t look back, keep your eye on the sparrow, and like that. Speaking of like that, yesterday was like that. It was supposed to be a day off, but I had too much to do so the off part didn’t really kick in until about four. I’d like to know why the off part kicked in – what did in do to deserve being kicked, that’s what I want to know. Where was I? Oh, yes, the off part. Prior to the off part, I got up, I packaged up two huge boxes of CDs, and then I had to drive up to Montrose of all places (it used to just be called Montrose – but now it’s Montrose Of All Places) to deliver something that had to do with the favor I did for Mr. Rupert Holmes. I then shipped the big boxes, as well as a couple of smaller packages, and now I am completely caught up. I then had to do a few more errands and I finally got home and then the off part kicked in, much to in’s chagrin. At long last I ate tuna sandwiches and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I watched three count them three motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture (which I’ve been watching the past few nights) was entitled The Return of Dr. Mabuse, a German programmer from the early 60s. I’m rather fond of these 60s Mabuse films (Fritz Lang did the originals back in Ye Olde Days) and he’s the one who brought back the franchise in 1960 with The Thousand Eyes Of Dr. Mabuse, a really fun film. A couple of years ago, Thousand Eyes came out on DVD, in its proper ratio and with both English dub and the original German audio (with English subtitles). Also released were two other Mabuse films from the 60s. They were also presented in their original ratios and with both English and German audio options. Now, from Retromedia, comes three more Mabuse films on one DVD. The Return of Dr. Mabuse is silly, but I just find these German programmers very entertaining and weird. Even the cast is weird – Gert (Mr. Goldfinger) Frobe, Lex Barker, Dahlia Lavi – a real International smorgasbord. It’s directed by Harald Reinl, who did a lot of the German Edgar Wallace movies I’m fond of. In any case, I enjoyed it very much. That’s the good news. The bad news is that unlike the earlier Mabuse releases, these three movies are presented full-frame – not open matte, but zoomed in, with heads cropped in half, as well as bodies on the side of the frame cropped in half. The print used for the transfer is in decent shape, but we needed them to be in 1:85 or 1:66. The other bad news is that only the English dub is available – too bad, as the English dubs on these films is horrible and seeing them in German presents a much better experience. So, while it’s nice to have this set, it’s frustrating because we’ll probably now never get a proper presentation of these films. I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, another Hammer noir entitled The Glass Tomb. This film’s slumming American star is John Ireland. This was a bad film. Badly directed, badly everything. There was some dialogue that was so bad that John Ireland literally looked like he was dazed while having to spout it. This was probably the nadir of these Hammer noirs, but the good news is that it was only fifty-nine minutes long. I then watched the third motion picture on DVD, which was another Hammer noir entitled Paid To Kill. Once again, Dane Clark was the slumming American star (I’ve now watched three with him in the lead). Since I like Mr. Clark, I enjoyed this film much better – the plot made sense, it moved right along and it was fun.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s Wednesday, and frankly it FEELS like a Wednesday.
Today, I must get an early start – I have to make a few telephonic calls, I must shave and shower, I must drop some clothing at the dry cleaners, and then I must arrive at The Colony Theater to write light cues with our tech director. He has the lighting script that Adriana Patti and I prepared, so it should go very smoothly. I’ve allotted two hours for that. Then the cast arrives and we begin by doing a run-through of some sort, getting them used to the stage. We will do a second run in the later afternoon, in partial costumes and makeup. We’re still trying to adjust some of the wardrobe and makeup. After that, I shall sup, and then try to watch a motion picture on DVD.
The Brain From Planet X is at the mastering facility and I hope to have it up for preorder by the end of this week, or beginning of next week. I still haven’t seen a booklet mockup with the photos, so I shall have to light a fire under our designer. Also up for preorder will be our reissue of the Joan Ryan CD that I produced a few years ago. Very few people know of this CD and it’s quite good, so I hope a few of you will take a chance on it.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, get up, get going, and get gone – that about sums it up. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we have a lovelier than lovely Wednesday that feels like a Wednesday.