Well, dear readers, it’s late so I must write these here notes in a hurry, which is fine, given the extreme length of the notes the last couple of days. On Monday I’ll resume with the longer notes, because I have some fun stuff to talk about. But for now, may I just say that the estate sale I went to yesterday was one of the most nauseating things I’ve ever attended? I may, and I do. The person I was going with was supposed to be to my house by nine-thirty so that we’d get there right at the start of the sale, at ten. But she got stuck in terrible traffic and didn’t get to me until just before ten. We then drove to Los Feliz, where former LACC theatre teacher, Norman Mennes, lived. When we got there the house was already jammed with people, but not just any people – no, these were people who were vultures, dealers, rude individuals who buy and then resell at extremely marked-up prices. They are not there to admire, the are not there to buy for personal use or because they knew Norman – they are there to be vultures, to get everything worth getting before any other vulture can swoop ahead of them and get something. That’s what happens when you turn these things over to an estate sale company. The prices were truly reasonable and there were excellent deals to be had, but one couldn’t have them because of the vultures, who would literally shove you aside to get to something before you. I should have left. All the theater posters were apparently snapped up by one individual instantly at ten. The books were picked through, although I don’t really think there was anything for me in that regard. I did end up getting about ten programs from 1960s plays and musicals – two from New York, but, much more to my interest, the rest from LA productions of things from the 1960s. Those were a buck apiece. And I got one beautiful I don’t know what you’d call it – a figurine maybe – a Japanese warrior on horseback – it was very inexpensive and very beautiful and no one had found it yet. Norman was an inveterate collector of stuff – fine china, beautiful flatware, antique sofas and tables and lamps and figurines and ashtrays. He had some nice paintings, not to my liking, though. My friend bought a little dining room piece and some books. After thirty minutes I told her I had to get out of there, and she was just as nauseated as I was. But we couldn’t just get out of there, because we had to wait in a long line to pay. They had three people at a table taking the dough, but we were in that bloody line for almost forty-five minutes.
After that, I needed to sit and relax, so we went to Fred 62 diner where I had their spectacularly good breakfast burrito with chorizo and eggs. Whilst checking my e-mail, I saw an “urgent” one from the STAGE people. Apparently, someone opened their mouth to the musicians and rather than explain everything properly, the caused a problem. Calls were made to the AFM, who were very nice, but it was too late to do what would need to be done to get a waiver to do it. It’s always a little shocking to me that everyone and I mean everyone involved in these benefits, does it for free, for the charity, for AIDS victims – but never and I mean never the musicians. So, I told them to cancel immediately. I then had to tell my engineer, whose been putting in a lot of time dealing with the rentals, that it was off – he was not happy. He cancelled the rentals, and I then had to contact the insurance company because I’d already paid to insure. They were great and refunded the money instantly. So, we won’t be recording the show and I’ll just be seeing and enjoying it.
I then came home, then went and picked up no packages and an important envelope, after which I did some banking. Then I did some work on the computer, had some rather long telephonic calls, and did a little more work on the new Blu-ray release. At six, I went and had a sandwich and no fries, then came home and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Pal Joey. I wish I liked the film, but it just has never “gotten” to me. I do like the songs and vocals, and I’m a fan of director George Sidney, and certainly Kim Novak is gorgeously photographed. But the story is unappealing and putting two low energy stars next to Sinatra (Novak and Rita Hayworth) does not exactly produce fireworks. Add to that the banal choreography of Hermes Pan and what are you left with? Well, an absolutely stunningly beautiful transfer. Want to know what color should look like – here it is. Compare and contrast Pal Joey with the fully brown Camelot and you’ll know exactly how Camelot fails in every way. Warners simply likes brown – a lot of brown. Blue they don’t want to know from, but blue is our friend especially from that era. I cannot imagine Pal Joey’s theatrical prints looking as good as this Blu and Ray, so it is highly recommended. And you do get those songs sung by that voice to the great Nelson Riddle charts.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I have not been getting enough sleep and need a really good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after a good night’s beauty sleep. I shall jog, I shall do some errands and whatnot, I shall hopefully pick up some packages, and then we have our final Melody rehearsal. After that, Melody and I will mosey on over the hill to the Saban Theatre, find a good place to park, and then walk to a nearby restaurant for a leisurely meal. Then we’ll go to the theater, get our tickets, and peruse the goodies in the silent auction. Then it’s the show and I’m sure I’ll go backstage and visit with folks I know.
Tomorrow is, of course, Melody’s show. We’ll have a sound check at four, then she’ll eat a little something, then we’ll eat our dinner and then it’s show time for her first performance as a fourteen-year-old. Then on Monday we have our first Kritzerland rehearsal, and the rest of the week is more rehearsals, meetings, meals, and all kinds of everything, including announcing our new Kritzerland title.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up some packages, have a rehearsal, eat, and then see the STAGE benefit. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite kinds of things to go on the hunt for, whether in antique shops, memorabilia shops or on eBay? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall be far from the estate sale vultures.