Well, dear readers, this week has flown by, like a gazelle wearing a kaftan. Does anyone still wear a kaftan? Long ago and far away, Allan Carr was the king of the kaftan – The King of the Kaftan – that’s the title of my next novel. But I have no time for these utterances as she of the Evil Eye will be here even earlier than she usually is thanks to a former dear reader who also uses her services and who needed her to come earlier. So, I must get crackin’ with these here notes.
Yesterday was a day that happened and there was nothing intrinsically wrong with it. In fact, it was kind of a nice day. I got up at nine-thirty – that was nice. I answered e-mails and such, then did a three-mile jog. After that, I returned some tapes to a vault. Then I went and had a small grilled cheese and bacon sandwich and no fries or onion rings, after which I came home, since there were no packages to pick up. The publisher received all the stuff and will look it over on Monday, after which it will go the gentleman who has handled the last five books for me – and he will assemble everything. I’m hoping to see a galley by the end of next week or the first part of the following week. I did some work on the computer, made a first pass show order for the Kritzerland show (all songs chosen, all music to singers), had some telephonic conversations, then went to Gelson’s for some fruitstuffs. Then I came home, made myself a low-cal cheeseburger for the rest of my daily food, and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled The Boston Strangler, which was entirely coincidental to what’s been happening in the world. I saw the film when it first came out and liked it fine and thought Tony Curtis did a really fine job in it. I’ve only seen it once since, about a decade ago. Seeing it again, I really don’t think it’s very good. First off, it takes a very interesting true-life case and trivializes it by making its suppositions about the strangler fiction. Why? It’s patently ridiculous. They basically say he’s guilty, they invent some illness for him, a multiple personality thing – that gives Mr. Curtis some acting stuff to do, but it has nothing to do with the real Albert DeSalvo, who was neither indicted nor convicted of one strangler crime (he was convicted of several rapes). He eventually confessed to a fellow inmate, but a lot of people don’t think the confession was true. He got some details right, but also got some wrong. But in the movie – he did it. And then to make more ridiculous than what is already ridiculous, they have a title card come up that states definitively that Mr. DeSalvo was never indicted or convicted of the strangler crimes. Really? What did we just watch then? A movie called – wait for it – The Boston Strangler. The Thomas Crown Affair and Grand Prix had made the use of split screen popular back then, and this film uses it to no real purpose and it just becomes irritating. Due to the split screen, there are a LOT of opticals in the film, and the transfer pretty much looks just like the film looked back in the day – not great, but a very good transfer in that it replicates the look of the film – that is a good transfer’s job.
After that, I listened to some music, took a shower, and did some work on the computer. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get as much beauty sleep as possible.
Today, I shall be up at eight, I shall do a jog, I shall do some errands and whatnot, and then I’m seeing a matinee of West Side Story at a high school, after which I will sup with the Staitmans.
Tomorrow I will relax and start to write the contextual commentary for the Kritzerland show – really want to get that out of the way, and then I’m seeing Inside Out at the Wilshire Ebell Theater – there’s some kind of dinner thing directly after. Next week is very busy – seeing Dr. Chew, writing liner notes, a work session with our musical director, a meeting about all the upcoming haineshisway.com website changes, seeing some shows, and having some meetings and meals.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, see a matinee, and sup. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Mr. Tony Curtis? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall be The King of the Kaftan.