Well, dear readers, yesterday I took delivery of a hefty new book entitled We Can Be Who We Are by Lee Gambin. It’s a history of the movie musicals of the 1970s, a most interesting decade for screen musicals, especially several musicals written especially FOR the screen. I’m happy to say that The First Nudie Musical is prominently featured in this hefty tome. The author contacted me a year or so ago and then e-mailed me a lot of questions, which I answered. Those answers make up the bulk of our section. He’s happily a fan of the film and “gets” it, so that’s fun. I was very happy with how it all came out. There are several typos in my answers and in his text that I wish someone had caught, but companies like Bear Manor Media don’t really have people who proof even though they like to position themselves as a real publisher. But it’s not just them – there are shameful errors even in books from major publishers. I’m looking forward to working my way through the book from start to finish, as the musicals of the 70s are fascinating – not always good, but always fascinating.
I did not get to sleep until almost five in the morning, which was so irritating that I was irritated. I slept until noon, which I hate doing, but even then it was only seven hours of sleep. I had a lot of catching up to do once I was up. I chose one of the final two songs, so one to go. I had tons of e-mails to answer, too. I finally got out for some food around two – I had a patty melt and about five small onion rings. Then I picked up some packages, including the hefty tome and best of all the Li’l Abner poster. I’ll take that to be framed today – I have a forty-dollar gift coupon for the framers and that should just about cover the frame, as I just use the basic black they have in stock. Then I came back home and did some work on the computer and at the piano. I’m almost through with my new song and if I’m feeling bold I may decided to premiere it at the September Kritzerland show – Robert Yacko would sing it and he’s standing by. I have a backup in place in case I decide not to. Then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched one of the worst things I’ve ever seen – it truly boggled my mind and I’m shocked I never heard of it. I was given it by a friend – it’s a 1973 TV musical called Old Faithful – the cast is deliriously wacky, including Zero Mostel, Burgess Meredith, Bobby Sherman, Joey Heatherton, Jason Robards (I’m not making this up), Jill St. John, and a cameo appearance by Sammy Davis, Jr. (I’m not making this up). There are some original songs that are really bad – I was surprised to see they were by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn who a year later would win an Oscar for the song from The Towering Inferno. And there are some standards thrown in, all with a smallish orchestra conducted by none other than Irwin Kostal. The producers were Burt Rosen and my old pal David Winters. Though taking place at Yellowstone National Park, most of it was shot on a soundstage. There’s a concert scene at the end and some location shots that were filmed at the park. As far as I can tell, this aired once on ABC, brought to you by Chevrolet. The fact that anyone green lit this thing is what’s so insane. The costumes are by my pal Pete Menefee, done the same year I worked with him at the Mark Taper Forum. Mr. Sherman wears one of the most hilarious jumpsuits you will ever see. I managed to endure it all. Hearing Miss St. John and Mr. Robards attempt Brush Up Your Shakespeare was, well, interesting.
Then I watched a little MGM noir from 1949 entitled Tension. I’d watched it back in 2007 and here’s what I wrote about it then: Tension is a nifty little noir starring Mr. Richard Basehart, Mr. Barry Sullivan, and most importantly Miss Audrey Totter, who is wonderful in the film. The film is very good, with excellent direction by the then about to be blacklisted John Berry. Miss Totter is truly one of the great bad girls of cinema, and Mr. Basehart gives a fine performance. Mr. Sullivan’s cop character is so out of line for most of the film, behaving unprofessionally and immorally, that you can’t really say he’s a good cop just getting the job done – he’s really sort of loathsome. Tension was also mostly shot on location, and most of the locations were very close to MGM Studios in Culver City. My favorite scene took place outside and inside the Culver Theater (now the Kirk Douglas) – how great to see it in its glory days.
Then I did some more work on the computer and that was that.
Today, I will try to finish the new song, I’ll hopefully pick up packages, I’ll eat, jog, and then I have a meeting with a lighting designer who will hopefully come on board for Welcome to My World should we get along and have a meeting of the minds. And then it’s the countdown to the end of the Welcome to My World Indiegogo campaign. We need some hefty miracles, I’ll tell you that. So, let’s DO this. Puuuuush!
Tomorrow and Sunday I haven’t a clew about not. Not a clew. I am clewless about Saturday and Sunday.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, hopefully finish a song, pick up packages, eat, jog and have a meeting. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, who knows? Blu and Ray, Deliverance, a film I am loathe to tell you I have never seen. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as I work my way through a hefty tome that includes ME.