Well, dear readers, this week is flying by, like a gazelle playing the tuba and doing the Highland Fancy. I myself was doing the Highland Fancy just the other day, but I was doing it on Cahuenga. Then I did the Cahuenga Fancy on La Brea and now the city of Hollywood is in disarray, Fancy-wise. What the HELL am I talking about?
Yesterday, now there was a day. The good news is that I did get eight hours of sleep but could have used more. Once up, I never even had time to go on the computer. I had a telephonic call and then had to go get some food and pick up a package. I had a patty melt and a side Caesar salad, for those who are interested in such things. Only then did I come home and I had to prepare for our three o’clock rehearsal.
Everyone arrived on time. I began with the two new numbers that needed staging. I staged both of them in about thirty minutes and they’re really pretty cute. It’s pretty much in place staging as we have five mics on stands, so it’s hands and turns and little moves, but when it’s simple and clean it really does look good. Then we began at the top of the show. I gave little notes as we went along and adjusted a few things. Our author arrived at four and was with us until we finished. He loved the way we did the two new numbers, so that was nice. It’s really a wonderful cast of five.
After we wrapped, I went over to Ralph’s and got some Diet Coke and a few other things. I came home, caught up with e-mails and such, had some snack things, like a Kind bar and some pretzels, and did stuff on the computer for about an hour. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched the new and improved Blu and Ray of This Is Cinerama. The older Blu-ray was taken from a 70mm composite of the original three-panel image – many generations away from the camera negative and while it was fun to see, the quality was what it was. But now we have this new version, where my pal Dave Strohmaier had the original camera negative for each panel scanned. The result in not only an uptick in quality, it’s a HUGE uptick and upgrade and the clarity and sharpness is really something and at times quite breathtaking. And the color is much improved, too. The film itself is a bit of a slog, but if one has ever seen it on a real Cinerama screen then it plays as it should and the hugeness of it all disguises all kinds of shortcomings. Still, in Smilebox it’s really fun to watch. I got through half and will watch the second post-intermission half this very evening, about a quarter to nine, in Jolson parlance.
After that, I relaxed and continued taking my preventatives, since some people who’ve been here are a bit under the weather and I have no time to be sick. So, better safe than sorry, say I. And someone posted the entire film of Where’s Charley, a very hard-to-see film, and I watched a bit of that.
Today, I’ll be up by eleven and I have a noon o’clock lunch meeting, which should take a bit over an hour. Once that’s done, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, then I’ll come home and do nothing but relax and take care of myself. And I’ll start those damn liner notes, too.
Tomorrow is our second Kritzerland rehearsal, which takes up most of the afternoon, otherwise I can rest. Friday, we have a revue rehearsal from eleven to two, and then I’m supposed to do an interview for a documentary. Hopefully I’ll be up for it. Saturday is our stumble-through, Sunday is sound check and show, Monday I can relax a bit, I think, Tuesday we have a revue rehearsal and then I go directly to the Nick Redman memorial, and Wednesday we play our revue.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a lunch meeting, hopefully pick up packages, write some liner notes, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall dream of doing the Highland Fancy on Highland.