Well, dear readers, I’ve got news for you – it’s Cinco de Mayo. Yes, it’s the fifth of Mayonnaise, a day to put on our gaily-colored serapes and dance around a large Mexican hat to the strains of the Mexican Hat Dance. But that’s not all we’re celebrating on this fifth of May. No, this is a rather amazing date in history, for it was on this very date forty years ago – that’s FORTY years ago – that a little low-budget movie began filming at Producer’s Studio (now Raleigh Studios) across the street from Paramount. Forty years ago, that was a Monday morning. The film, which would ironically be released by the studio across the street, Paramount, was, of course, entitled The First Nudie Musical. Whoever made the schedule was inept enough to start us with a nude scene. We should have begun with something innocuous that would have been trouble free, but when you start the first shot of the day and it involves two co-stars of the film being completely nude, you know things will not begin smoothly. It wasn’t terrible or anything, but I did have to step up and make sure everyone was comfortable and keep the atmosphere light. It took me about fifteen minutes to do that and then we were off and running. Over the next eighteen days we shot our little film. So, a big haineshisway.com anniversary cheer to the little film that could. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM ANNIVERSARY CHEER TO THE LITTLE FILM THAT COULD!!!
And if you haven’t gotten the Blu-ray yet, what in tarnation are you waiting for? Yesterday was a perfectly adequate day as days go. I got about five hours of sleep, then went and looked at a rehearsal studio for the Sami show, since we can’t get the one we wanted. I wasn’t too keen on what I saw – didn’t like its vibe, so we’re looking at other places. Then I went and had a patty melt and came right home. I spent some time choosing songs for the next Kritzerland show. I was happy to hear that the books were arriving, which was amazing since they all shipped on Saturday. I had a long telephonic conference call with the entire ALS team, and then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched the first half of a motion picture entitled Lust for Life. Somehow, it’s one that had escaped me all these years – don’t really know why. It’s quite good so far, but then again Kirk Douglas is terrific and the director is Vincente Minnelli. The transfer looks excellent although not quite as excellent as some comments had led me to believe. I’ll finish it at some point today or this evening.
Today, I will continue choosing songs, hopefully pick up some packages, then I have a lunch meeting, then we’ll try to finish casting the show.
Tomorrow is another lunch, this one with Nick Redman and Jean Louisa Kelly, then there are other meetings and meals, then I’m seeing a musical that Barry Pearl directed on Saturday night and Sunday we have a short work session with Sami and our musical director, to work out the dance section of one number.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora or the Jerk, because today is the birthday of our very own dear reader George. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own dear reader George. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN DEAR READER GEORGE!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, choose songs, have a lunch meeting, hopefully pick up packages, cast, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: When did you first hear of The First Nudie Musical and what was your first experience actually seeing it? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be celebrating not only Cinco de Mayonnaise but the fortieth anniversary of The First Nudie Musical.