Well, dear readers, by the time I finish these here notes it will be August. When I began them it was still July. But now it is a brand spanking new month called August and I, for one, wish everyone a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful. I must say, July really flew by, like a gazelle with the dragon tattoo. And now it is August. The final day of July was quite nice. I was awakened by the knock, knock, knocking of she of the Evil Eye. I then did a two-mile jog, after which I delivered a big box o’ CDs to a local dealer. After that, I did some errands and whatnot, got the second envelope I was expecting, along with a package, and then I came home, where I did some work on the computer, printed out a few orders, and had a few telephonic calls. I then sat on my couch like so much fish and watched the documentary on the making of Picnic at Hanging Rock. I always find it amusing when the documentary about a film is longer than the film itself. It’s quite repetitious, but still had some interesting factoids. One of the actresses feels that Peter Weir didn’t really have the right to make the excisions that he made recently to create his director’s cut – not after the film had been out and seen by so many people, many of who remembered and missed the deleted sequences. Mr. Weir defends his decision, saying he should have done it back then. But this is an old argument – how would we feel if a painter decided to make changes to a historic and beloved painting, saying they should have done it back then? I have no problem with it as long as the original version is available, but the original version of this film is not to be found on this Blu and Ray. After that, I popped open season two (which has only taken about six years to get done) of Dragnet 1968. I love these Dragnet shows, so I couldn’t wait to watch. The first thing on DVD 1 was, in fact, a two-hour pilot for the series, done in 1966. Two hours is, I’m afraid, ninety minutes too long, and it was almost a total bore. Then episode one came on and the very first shot in it was at the Studio Theater (now a Bookstar) literally down the street from where I live. A reissue of Dr. Zhivago was playing in 1968. The buildings surrounding the theater are all still there – they’ve just been many things in the intervening years. Interestingly, there was a teeny-tiny bridal shop just to the right of the theater. When Bookstar moved in, they removed the wall and that became their bargain room. After Joe Friday and Bill Gannon leave the theater they drive down Ventura Blvd. There is a wonderful shot looking east at Ventura and Laurel Canyon, which is where I supped last night, at the Daily Grill. In that very space (the little strip mall that is there now has three restaurants, a bank and a few other little jernts) was a Standard station and car wash. Just to the east of the car wash was a wonderful coffee shop, Tiny Naylor’s, and right next to that was Du-Par’s. So much fun to see it as it was. I watched a couple more episodes, which had wonderful shots of Lankershim, Vanowen, and Victory and Laurel Canyon. I’m looking forward to the rest of the episodes.
The work session with Miss Alet Taylor was cancelled because the pianist was under the weather. Alet and I met for dinner at the Daily Grill, where we had the delicious double chicken breast. We also split a dinner salad and their grilled artichoke, and for dessert we each had about half of a brownie with ice cream. It was all yummilicious. We talked about her act, we talked about the Gardenia show, and we laughed and laughed and just when we thought we could laugh no more, we laughed again. After that, I came home and dealt with a couple of very minor annoyances.
I was told that the one-hour radio interview on KGIL came off very well. I haven’t listened yet – haven’t decided if I will or not – I don’t live listening to myself doing these things. Also, we found our cast replacement for David Engel – he got a show at Goodspeed, and we now have a wonderful singer/actor named Damon Kirsche. I’m very much looking forward to meeting him and working with him. I think I’ve got all the material chosen now, so I’ll send everyone mp3s of their songs, and tomorrow I’ll gather up the sheet music.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below for it is a new month and one that will hopefully be filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.
Today, I’m supposed to go to a housewarming of some sort, but it’s really going to depend on how much work I get done. I have two sets of liner notes to write, and I have to do an editing road map for an upcoming project – I’m hoping that won’t be too difficult, but it always takes the time it takes. I’m not even sure what time the housewarming thing is, and it is quite a drive from here. Still, if I get everything done or at least on its way, then I’ll probably drive out there.
Tomorrow, we’ll be addressing whatever boxes are left to address, shipping a few things, and, most importantly, going to storage and getting sheet music. The rest of the week will be meetings and shipping and meetings and meals and we’re also going over to the Beverly Garland Hotel to check out stuff for our potential upcoming signing shows, which is looking like it’s going to become a reality.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, write liner notes, write my new scene for the screenplay I’m writing with Mr. David Wechter, I must do an edit road map, and I must perhaps attend a housewarming thing. Not exactly a day of rest, but things must be done. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. Let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we welcome August, a month that will hopefully be filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.