Well, dear readers, the proofing continues, slowly but surely or, to put it another way, surely but slowly. There’s no way I’ll be finished today because my non-functioning brain calculated 100 pages a day, but this is a 390-page manuscript, so Tuesday it will be and it will be Tuesday, if I survive until Tuesday, that is. And now, I must write these here notes in a hurry because I dozed off whilst taking a break from proofing. I’d also taken a ninety-minute nap earlier due to only getting a bit over six hours of sleep. Anyway, I proofed 114 pages, basically doing the same thing I’d done – moving a paragraph or two where it made more sense, smoothing out a couple of awkwardly-written passages, and fixing typos. The big thing I did is add three-and-a-half pages of a new thing, which I’ll run by Muse Margaret today. It doesn’t slow anything down and it’s hopefully interesting. What else? I had Taco Bell for food. I did watch a motion picture entitled The World of Henry Orient because someone had been talking about it and it made me want to see it again. I saw the movie a few days prior to its release back in 1964. They invited a bunch of high schools to a free screening to try and build some word of mouth for the picture. My high school drama class had been invited. I think it was a ten o’clock screening on a Saturday at the Wilshire Theater. I wasn’t sure what I thought of the movie, frankly. I loved Peter Sellers, but it wasn’t really his movie, it was about the two young teen girls who were obsessed with his character. I did like their relationship and Sellers was funny but when it’s a movie starring Peter Sellers, one had, at that time, certain expectations. The director, George Roy Hill, seemed to be unsure of the tone a few times and I still think that. Tippy Walker was there and signed autographs. I’m pretty sure it was just her and not Merrie Spaeth. Both girls were very good and I will admit to getting Tippy’s autograph but I was a smart-ass drama student and said something that was stupid (not about her or her performance, just who she should sign the autograph to) that I’ve always regretted. What I did love about the film back then and love most of all now, is the last thirty minutes, with Tom Bosley giving an Oscar-worthy performance as Tippy’s dad and Angela Lansbury’s husband. Lansbury is also great as an awful mother and wife. Bosley’s scene with Tippy is very moving.
Interestingly, Merrie Spaeth, who’s terrific in the movie, only did two TV guest shots after the movie and then left the business and had an interesting career as a producer for 20/20, media relations director for President Reagan, media relations for Ken Starr, teacher, and a staunch Republican. Tippy did a few guest shots and two more movies, but she left the business around 1971 and never looked back. She opened an art gallery, was and apparently is a free spirit, and she’s on Facebook and now I’m her Facebook friend. Of course, there was a musical version of the film called Henry, Sweet Henry, which has some good songs and had choreography by Michael Bennett, just before he broke through with Promises, Promises. There’s a wonderful musical number done on the Ed Sullivan Show with co-star Alice Playten called Poor Little Person. It’s on YouTube and if you’ve never seen it, it’s great. You’ll see Baayork Lee and Pia Zadora in the number. I’d love to read the libretto if anyone happens to have it handy. The musical was also directed by George Roy Hill. And in the scandalous department, apparently the director and his sixteen-year-old star had a romantic relationship during filming.
Today, I’ll be up by eleven at the latest, I’ll do whatever needs doing, proof, have a brief telephonic meeting, proof, eat something, have a Zoom with David Wechter, have a brief call with Muse Margaret, then continue proofing until I watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, I should finish proofing and then the book will go to the proofers for real proofing. Then it’s back to writing the screenplay with David Wechter. We are in need of several modern major miracles, and I have a couple of meetings and meals and other things to deal with, plus hopefully the timely arrival of two important envelopes.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by eleven, do whatever needs doing, proof, have a brief telephonic meeting, proof, eat, have a Zoom with David Wechter, a call with Muse Margaret, proof, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films and stage performances of the one and only Miss Angela Lansbury? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, continuing the wonderful wide, wide world of proofing.