Well, dear readers, it was a pleasant Valley Sunday in the Oaks of Sherman, just the kind of pleasant Valley Sunday that I needed. Everything was pleasant in a pleasantly pleasant way, which was pleasant. I listened to a lot of music throughout the day and evening. I’ve gotten through all of the Ormandy-conducted stuff in the Ormandy box, but there are still three CDs left, but conducted by others – I guess they’re included, well, I don’t know why, really. We get one Bruno Walter, one Kostelanetz, and one by some conductor I’ve never heard of – all the Philadelphia Orchestra, of course, but still. So many treasures in the set, just incredible, really, including the final Ormandy album of Victor Herbert selections, which is fantastic. And it’s all in iTunes save for the few things I’ve nuked, so I can go back to stuff when I feel like it – same with the Rodzinski small box. I also watched another Sam Fuller movie, House of Bamboo, which is a whole lot of fun – beautiful color, early Cinemascope, Robert Ryan, Robert Stack and a colorful cast. It’s pure Fuller as all Fullers are. It moves along very quickly and a lot of it was shot on location in Japan, although one robbery sequence is set firmly on the backlot of Fox and its soundstages. It made me laugh. I love Robert Ryan and he’s great in this.
It was a pleasant food day, too. First food was a bacon and cheese omelet of my own concocting, and I must say it came out rather well. I looked at it admiringly for a while before eating it. After eating it, I could look at it no more. Then I went and picked up little package that had arrived – just some Some Days Are Murder fun stuff that I do for every book – some magnets, a tote bag, a cap, and a cup, not necessarily in that order. Once back home, I got some videos and got those where they needed to go, I caught up on e-mails, relaxed, then had some veggies with the onion dip, which was actually great. And then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish and watched House of Bamboo. After I finished, I listened to a bit of the Nick Redman and Julie Kirgo commentary, but it made me sad so I shut it off. Nick is much missed by the likes of me and everyone who knew him.
I did a quick trip to Gelson’s for some cauliflower for the onion dip, and I got some Keto friendly chip things – not great but anything tastes good when slathered with onion dip. I forgot how much I love Lipton onion dip. I could eat the sixteen ounces of it in one sitting and used to. But I stopped without even eating four ounces of it. I had a Fruit Punch Sparkling Ice that was very refreshing.
Then it was back to music and relaxing, not necessarily in that order.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll eat, but mostly I’ll be keeping on everyone to get me the last of the videos for the Kritzerland show. Actually, we’re only waiting on about three things. Then I’ll forward all the ten-CD perk lists to the helper, and we’ll get that shipped. And I’ll be getting all the other items ready for shipping this week and next week, and I’m still hoping for a Tonight’s the Night check disc. Then at some point, I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
The rest of the week is more of the same, a dinner at the Smokehouse with Marshall Harvey, there are two Zoom casting sessions for the one-act plays, although not a single person has signed up to audition for the one I’m doing, so we’ll see if I’m needed or not. I have to announce new titles, so that will take some doing, and then on the weekend it’s a dinner with the Kirkner gals.
Remember back in January, I finally figured out the date when The First Nudie Musical had its very first sneak preview in Pasadena, with the work print and interlock mag sound. August 8, 1975. I hadn’t figured out how to screen shot the listing in the Times, but here it is for your mental delectation.
Isn’t that fun? Fun is what that is and don’t we all need some fun right about now?
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, do whatever needs doing, hopefully pick up some packages, eat, maybe get a check disc, get the last of the Kritzerland show videos, get the 10-CD orders to the helper and begin preparing all the other perks for shipping, then I’ll watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Robert Ryan and films and TV shows of Robert Stack? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a pleasant Valley Sunday.