Well, dear readers, I have begun the organization process to find out just what the HELL I actually have hiding in various places. Last night, I began with the closet in the book room. You can’t even walk in there it is so filled with stuff, piles of stuff. So, I began with one corner that had a lot of stuff sitting there like so much fish. And I found some rather astonishing things in that one little corner. They include:
Two original conductor scores for film music cues – one by Ronald Stein (a complete cue) from Dementia 13, and one by Jerry Fielding (just the first page) of a cue from, I think, Hogan’s Heroes. Those of course are in the composer’s hand. I also have a photocopy of the first cue (after the main title) of James Bernard’s score to The Hound of the Baskervilles, and that is signed by Mr. Bernard to me, on the occasion of me recording it for our Sherlock Holmes CD.
Two framed original paintings for paperback covers – one a nurse cover, which I’ve never found the book for, and the other a western paperback that I do have the book for. A painting used for a portion of the original Italian poster for Pasolini’s The Decameron – not sure what they call this – a maquette maybe? But it’s original and was used in the upper left portion of that original poster (there are several hand-drawn scenes around the main art, this being one of them). It also looks like the title treatment on this was used.
Two original cels for Kiki’s Delivery Service and two for the TV anime Noir. Original color photos for one of the later Ozu films. A whole slew of great color photos from the Bells Are Ringing movie. A signed Ride the High Country lobby card (Joel McCrea). An original French photo from Morocco. An original what I think is called a silver gelatin print of Natalie Wood from her photo shoot for the cover of Cinema Magazine. Not the shot that was used, but an alternate – very, very rare and probably the only copy anywhere – the photo is by the legendary William Claxton.
An original unused unfolded carton for Superman Orange Drink. Several original gag cartoons, including one from an early Life Magazine by Garrett Price and four by a cartoonist named – Kimmel. Two original Gasoline Alley daily cartoon strips, and one early 40s Nancy daily original cartoon strip.
Still to come, a lot of rolled posters for movies – I have no idea what these are and it will be interesting to find out. A lot of stills from movies I’m fond of. A few choice pressbooks, including North by Northwest, Li’l Abner, Invaders from Mars and the like. A box containing all my correspondence with Mr. Sondheim – probably over two hundred notes, plus notes from Mr. Kander, Mr. Schmidt, Mr. Strouse, and many others. I also found an original Harvey Schmidt framed drawing he did – he doodled it while we were having a long telephonic conversation and at some point I had it framed along with his note saying he’d done it while we were talking. That’s fun. I’ll try to photo some of these things and post them. Speaking of photos, I forgot to post this one from the Disney Hall concert.
Yesterday I slept only four hours. Once up, the helper came by and got some invoices, and then I went and had a Chinese chicken salad and a bagel. After that, the helper came back and we did a Costco run – mostly waters and Diet Cokes, but some Airborne, Claritin-D, Pepcid, and a few other essentials. Then I picked up a couple of small package in which there were a couple of small things, then I came home. I answered e-mails, listened to the three redone tracks that I’d had little nitpick notes on, approved the master, and then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I finished watching The Hound of the Baskervilles. It’s really quite an odd Sherlock Holmes movie, but the actors are fun and it has a certain style to it. The transfer looks better than I thought it would – quite pleasing color and relatively sharp, especially in the close ups. I did like the score by James Bernard very much. In fact, I think it’s time to pull out my Sherlock Holmes CD, which I haven’t heard in many, many years, certainly over a decade.
I then watched the first thirty minutes of the new Blu and Ray of John Ford’s She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, starring Mr. John Wayne. I know this is heresy, but I’m not crazy about the cavalry pictures – I appreciate their artistry, of course, and especially the photography, but I’ve just never loved them. That said, this new transfer is spectacular with a capital spectacular. It’s got those real Technicolor hues, just the way the should be. If only they’d go back and fix that vile yellowish transfer of The Searchers and make it look like this. It’s simply breathtaking.
Then I went treasure hunting, and that was the rest of my evening.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after a good night’s beauty sleep. I’m not planning on leaving the house save for picking up packages because it’s gonna be another hot day. Yesterday was around 108. Then I’ll mosey on over to the Hills of Beverly because I’m supping with Sandy Bainum – it will be my first visit ever to Mr. Chow’s, which I, of course, wrote about in Patrick Bronstein Presents. But I’ve never actually eaten there, so it will be fun.
The rest of the week is meetings and meals and going and doing – there’s something definitely happening on Thursday but I can’t remember what, and tomorrow something is going on but I can’t remember what. Hopefully someone will remind me at some point, or maybe I’m misremembering. On Saturday I’m speaking to a group of musical theater and cabaret aficionados, which I’m looking forward to.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, hopefully pick up packages, do work on the computer, and sup with Sandy Bainum. Today’s topic of discussion: What hidden treasures do you have? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have unearthed some hidden treasures of my own, with hopefully more fun stuff to come.