Posted by Stephen Farrow @ 04/23/2002 01:12 AM PST

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend Stephanie (4/14/02 Entry). I can't imagine your grief at such a tender age. I hope James Ellroy can shed some light on the tragedy.

Have you ever met James Ellroy or seen him in interviews on television? I once was at a bookstore when he was reading from "My Dark Places"--the book about his mother's murder. Since I didn't have the money to purchase the book, I bought a paperback copy of his "Dick Contino's Blues" for him to sign. When I got to the front of the line, he looked at me--or rather THROUGH me--and made some insulting remark, which I won't repeat here. What prompted this I have no idea, as I am not one who normally inspires insulting remarks. Then, adding insult upon insult, he "signed" or, more accurately, "defaced" the book with his "signature"--a diagonal line from corner to corner. The guy is WEIRD!

P.S. Even though my reading preference tends towards "spare" writing, I couldn't get through "Dick Contino's Blues." It was much too lean and staccato for my taste. I prefer instead the writing style of someone like Dick Francis.

Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 04/23/2002 02:42 AM PST

I looked up Racquet on the Internet and saw that Bruce was in it. Never saw the film, but saw that Monty Rock III was also in it. I vaguely remember him seeing him on talk shows when I was a mere child and I asked my mother "Were there three of him?" and she said "God I hope not"

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 04/23/2002 04:19 AM PST

First, let me congratulate Bruce for his dedication in managing to write today's column in a semi-somnulant state with no loss of brilliance.

I was going to guess that Bert Convy was Bruce Kimmell--isn't everyone else?--but I checked out Racquet on the IMDB to be greeted with the review, "Possibly the worst movie ever made." After that, the reviews start to get bad. Ah, but the list of stars is mighty impressive.

Anyway, I have a Question for Anybody.

There is a much-quoted-around-our-house exchange in "Applause" that goes like this:

"You're just a body and a voice. I'm the Brain."

"Until the autopsy, there's no proof."

That last line is so useful in many situations. [Last night it was in response to "I'm only human."]

My question is, was this in "All About Eve", or did Comden and Green write it?

And the reason I didn't post about buying albums is that I have no idea what my first album purchases were. All through college, I checked out OCR's from the library and copied them onto reel-to-reel with my old trusty Wollensack. Then some of us discovered a record club whose name escapes me which offered "Any record in the Schwann Catalog for 80% of list" and no minimum purchase, and I started to amass OCRs and all those weird foreign-language versions that you can only find at Footlight these days.

That record club, alas, eventually became like every other one with prime savings only on this month's blockbusters--which, of course, I had no interest in.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 04/23/2002 05:04 AM PST

For William Orr: The exchange you quoted was written by the brilliant Joe Mankiewicz for "All About Eve" and picked up by Comden and Green for "Applause."

A very interesting note on that show I only recently learned: originally, the producers were not able to secure the rights to the film script, only the original story by Mary Orr (a relation?), so nothing Mankiewicz created for the film could be used ... the reason why neither Addison deWitt nor Margo's dresser Birdie appear in the musical.

It was only after Comden and Green were called in to overhaul Sidney Michaels' original book that the rights to the film script were secured, enabling Comden and Green to use that exchange, along with many others, and for Strouse and Adams to write the song "Fasten Your Seat Belts."

Ain't musical comedy grand?

Posted by Philip Crosby @ 04/23/2002 06:12 AM PST

Actually, Addison does appear in a very minor role in the musical. And, of course, Birdie has been replaced by the gay dresser.

My grandmother's name was Mary Orr, and her letters from Barttlesville use to read like, "Cliff an them was up this weekend an we all reel good time.", so I doubt she was responsible for the source material.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 04/23/2002 07:07 AM PST

To pick a nit, while a gossip columnist does appear in "Applause," he is neither by name or manner Addison deWitt. (Without being played by George Sanders, how could it be? :-) )

"Applause" always brings back fond memories for me. It was my first Broadway show (at the Palace, no less!) and even though we didn't see Ms. Bacall, we did see Miss Anne Baxter who, as I recall, had a much better singing voice ... she and Penny Fuller looked so much alike, it made Eve's machinations all the more creepy and fun.

Posted by Phil Crosby @ 04/23/2002 07:26 AM PST

Let us all play a virgin of Drop That Name.
It is very interesting that,when talked about,these performers are known by their FIRST name or their LAST name.
LIZA not MINNELLI
JUDY not GARLAND
ROSIE not O'DONNELL
BERNADETTE not PETERS
ELLA not FITZGERALD
STEVE AND EYDIE not LAWRENCE &GORME
OPRAH not WINFREY
STREISAND not BARBRA
STRITCH not ELAINE
BOGART not HUMPHREY
DUSTIN not HUFFMAN
OLIVIER not LAURENCE
FRED and GINGER not ASTAIRE and RODGERS
MARILYN not MONROE
THE LUNTS not ALFRED LUNT AND LYNN FONTAINE
TALLULAH not BANKHEAD
Most Composers and Lyricists are known by their last names-

COMDEN AND GREEN
RODGERS and HART
RODGERS and HAMMERSTEIN
SONDHEIM
KERN
PORTER
BERLIN
BOCK and HARNICK

However we say THE GERSHWINS when we also say GEORGE AND IRA.

The other interesting fact is we have an ambidextrous person in our midst- BRUCE is just as recognizable in these parts as is KIMMEL.or taking it one step further the same for HAINSIE or KIMMLET.

AH-The magic of it.

Can anyone out there think of more.?? The gauntlet is thrown.. As NOEL said NAME AWAY!!

Posted by Arnold M. Brockman @ 04/23/2002 08:36 AM PST

Hello, everyone. Isn't it a lovely day? Here in Maryland the sun is shining and everything is green. What is the weather like where you are? What's in everyone's cd players? I'm listening to the concert of Anyone Can Whistle (I know, it's terrible, but I love it anyway), Somewhere in Time (not the movie, a collection of nicely arranged songs from the good old days), Stephen Hough's Piano Album, On the Twentieth Century (I'm in a Madeline Kahn phase ;)), and the She Loves Me OCR. Anyone else?

Posted by Lolita @ 04/23/2002 09:07 AM PST

Off to rehearsal momentarily, but wanted to say that thanks to freedunit, playbill.com has added the name of the producer of the album of Do I Hear A Waltz? to their press release. Thank you playbill.com and Christine. Not their fault, of course, they only print what they are given. Yes, siree, that is what they do. Print what they are given.

I was also happy to see how many posts there were so early in the morning. Why, did you know there were even people searching for things (using our handy-dandy unseemly search box) bright and early this morning. I will be back this afternoon and catch up on all your lovely posts then. And Racquet really was/is one of the single worst movies ever made. It was directed by David Winters (A-Rab in the film of West Side Story) with whom I'd worked on The Donny and Marie Show. When they sent me the script (it was one of the few parts I was simply offered) I turned it down three times - finally David asked what it would take to get me to do it - I said "star billing - single card" and they gave it to me. Oh, well. But I'm in good company with Edie Adams, Phil Silvers and such. Also, Racquet was the film debut of Tanya Roberts.

Posted by bk @ 04/23/2002 09:21 AM PST

It's a beautiful morning in sunny Phoenix, Arizona. The high should be around 94F today. The CD in my inside player is The Jello is Always Red. The car player has Guy Haines, of course.

I used a wonderful backwards word today when a car rudely turned in front of me: toidi.

Donna from Cabaret West: Can you tell us about the Cinegrill remodeling and when it will be complete? Also, can you give me a link to cabaret schedules there in the LA area, please. My DH told me I could plan a weekend trip, and we'd like to know if there's anything interesting to go see. He must be feeling guilty about something. I won't ask; I'll just go with it!

Posted by Laura @ 04/23/2002 09:26 AM PST

So, we're free to talk amongst ourselves. BK doesn't seem to farklempt, but must truly have his hands full. I'll wish him the very best with the benefit and to break many, many legs in the process!

I misused the nice workd "tishpid" on the way to work today -- I said it backwards, I'm afraid, and I don't regret it at all. : )

I don't know how many of you are aware of the 1995 film version of "The Fantasticks," but I want to go on record as saying I think it a beautiful film. It was, if I am not mistaken, Michael Ritchie's last and it's surely one of his finest. I hadn't heard it was filmed until this time last year!! Go figure!

The commentary informs us that it was filmed in the same location as "Oklahoma!", which wasn't filmed in Oklahoma at all (imagine that!).

Jonathan Tunick is to be praised for exquisite orchestrations which enrich the score's basic simplicity without being overblown.

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joel Grey....Amos Bellamy
Barnard Hughes... Henry Albertson
Jean Louisa Kelly...Luisa Bellamy
Joseph McIntyre....Matt Hucklebee
Jonathon Morris .... El Gallo
Brad Sullivan .... Ben Hucklebee
Teller .... Mortimer
Arturo Gil .... The Bavarian Baby
Tony Cox .... His Assistant
Victoria Stevens...Jo Jo, The Chicken Lady
Trayne Thomas ....Tattooed
Shaunery Stevens ...Roustabout
Dyrk Ashton.... Roustabout
Gregory Amato...Smuin Ballet/SF Dancer
Lee Bell...Smuin Ballet/SF Dancer

It can be acquired through amazon.com or through any purveyor of DVDs.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 04/23/2002 10:23 AM PST

Taking my youngest son to the J this morning for pre-school, I heard an ad which perhaps explains the search for "xm" the other day. XM is evidently a satellite radio service--perhaps your searcher was wondering if Donald's show was featured there. Of course, he/she may have simply been looking for Haineshisway clothes in extra-medium size.

Posted by JMK @ 04/23/2002 11:05 AM PST

Ron, go to the deleted scenes on the DVD for a hilarious continuity error involving the motorcycle cop. Keep your eye on his hair length.

Posted by JMK @ 04/23/2002 11:07 AM PST

It is also a lovely day here in Texas. In my cd player is my compilation of Japanese girl bands. Really fun stuff.

I wonder when nudie musical stuff will be available. I was really tempted to pre-order it from Amazon but I stopped myself just in time.

Anyone a fan of Indian Bollywood movies? I cannot get enough of them these days.

Posted by Mattso @ 04/23/2002 11:40 AM PST

That pesky old imdb.com! I did a search for David Winters and found five of them. David Winters(I) is an actor, David Winters(II) a producer/director, David Winters (III) a writer and editor, David Winters (IV) a director, and David Winters (V) a choreographer.

Well, as they say, imdb tells me that (I) was in WSS but (II) directed Racquet. What makes me suspicious about their distinctions is that (I), (II), and (IV) all worked on the same films.

But then, there is no perfect database.

--------------------------------

And since tomorrow is Ask Bruce day, I want to warn you all that I will have a trivia question for him that is so complex and obscure that it will serve as my revenge for all of his complex and obscure trivia questions.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 04/23/2002 11:48 AM PST

I meant to say "tihspid" was the word I said backwards. That's cause I can't spell it frontwards!

Continuity errors -- that's a wonderful subject for discussion (thanks for the tip about the motorcycle cop...I'll look for it).

One of my very favorite continuity blunders in an A-movie is in "The Natural" -- in the first meeting between Roy and Iris at the drugstore. Iris is seated with a cup in front of her. Roy comes in and is seated. The soda jerk comes over and takes the cup. The cup is gone. Then the cup reappears. Then the cup is gone and you see the soda jerk walking off with it...but he had already gone several frames earlier...that's one of those things that should have been re-shot, but I guess it was cost-prohibitive.

What are some of your favorite continuity boo-boos????

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 04/23/2002 11:59 AM PST

Isn't it a lovely day to be caught in the rain? Which I just may be, sooner or later, as the clouds continue to roll in. It was in the nineties and dripping with humidity earlier, but sunny -- thanks for asking, Lolita.

There's a continuity error of note in a film to which BK has a particular connection: "Seven Minutes in Heaven." Polly Draper and the girl playing her daughter are sitting on a porch swing. In a long shot and then in the medium shot of Polly sitting there, Draper has one arm slung across the back, behind her daughter. Then she brings her arm down. So in the medium shots of Draper during their conversation, her arms are down. But in the medium shots of her daughter, her arm is still slung across the back of the swing! It's REALLY obvious, and fairly comical, because it makes it look like Polly Draper is some kind of three-armed freak.

Another favorite is in Ed Wood's classic "Bride of the Monster," where the scary receptionist-type lady is talking to a detective (or something...look, frankly, I lost the thread of the plot about 30 seconds in, all right?). During their conversation, the camera shoots from behind her, showing her back and his front in the shot. At such times, she has a pencil stuck behind her right ear -- it's very obvious. Then the camera switches to his back and her front...and the pencil's gone! Of course they cut back and forth several times between these two shots, making it look like some kind of disappearing act.

NOW...as to All About Eve. I don't remember the exchange in question about You're only the voice, I'm the brain. I remember a conversation between Lloyd and Margo where he rants, wondering "when exactly an actor decides those are HIS words he's speaking," etc. Is this where it comes? Not that I know the film backwards and forwards, but I'm surprised to find there's an entire exchange that I've forgotten. Any forthcoming enlightenment would be appreciated.

Posted by Lulu @ 04/23/2002 03:04 PM PST

Lovely free-for-all going on here, in my opinion. I am back from our house band rehearsal, and they sound great. I have just jogged (I am truly pathetic-looking when I jog) and am getting ready for tonight's meeting/rehearsal with our hosts Charlie Brill and Mitzi McCall, as well as special guest Bill Dana (yes, Virginia, Bill Dana).

There are a couple of good continuity errors in North By Northwest, in the dining car scene with Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint (keep your eye on the cocktail glass). Someting Wicked This Way Comes is very amusing, continuity-wise, because they reshot a lot of the film, and one of the kid actors had grown considerably, plus they had to put a wig on him to match his hair. It's quite obvious when you're aware of it (we had a similar problem in Nudie Musical when we went back six months later to shoot an additional scene - Cindy Williams and Stephen Nathan's hair was totally different - we ended up putting a hat on her - but Stephen's rather large hair suddenly gets less large for one scene.

Posted by bk @ 04/23/2002 04:13 PM PST

Arnold M. Brockman wanted to [;ay a "virgin" (his word not mine) of Drop That Name. Unfortunately I don't know any.

For Ron Pulliam: I have the Fantasticks on DVD. It only has the Francis For Coppolla version of the film. But has all loads of musical numbers that were cut and/or shortened for the film. Also Try To Remember was cut from the film! (Only the reprise at the end of the film is heard!)

Which then reminds me of this story. When I lived in Montreal (For more than 30 years) I had access to French TV. I remember seeing How To Succeed... in the French dubbed version. ALL the musical numbers were cut out!!

Posted by Michael Shyane @ 04/23/2002 04:16 PM PST

Don't getme started on continuity mistakes!

One that comes to my mind right away is in The King and I. While the King sings (sorta) am earring keeps appearing dissappearing.

In the film version of Hair. During the song Easy To Be Hard. During the POV of the singer a man on a park bech keeps on appearing and disappearing. When He is not there there are people in the distance who are there. When the man is on the bench they are not there. Obviously taken from two different takes.

PS Sorry for the typos on the earlier post. I had just woken up from a nap was a little bleary eyed.

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 04/23/2002 04:24 PM PST

To friends, she is Elaine, but Stritch is more fun.
Dustin is never Huffman, because he is always Hoffman.
Ginger Rogers is not related to the composer, and Virginia Katherine McMath was without Fred when she won her Academy Award.
Mrs. Alfred Lunt was Lynn Fontanne (FAHN-tan).

Ampersands for collaborative teams and/or direct partners:
Betty & Adolph (Comden & Green)
Dick & Larry (Rodgers & Hart)
Dick & Oscar (Rodgers & Hammerstein)
Dick & Dick (Rodgers & ego) LOL

Elizabeth, not Liz nor Taylor.
Betty, not Lauren--if it is to be kept printable.
Betty Lynn, not Betty.
Celestia, not Anne. LOL

Posted by freedunit @ 04/23/2002 04:30 PM PST

I can tell you from personal experience that Mr. Hoffman also goes by "Dusty." I once answered the phone at my Uncle's NYC apartment and a voice that seemed somehow familiar asked for my Uncle, who was not there. This voice then said "Tell him Dusty called." When my Uncle returned he said "You know who that was, don't you--Dustin Hoffman."

Posted by JMK @ 04/23/2002 04:46 PM PST

Question to Freedunit-

Sorry for the typos---Rogers,Hoffman,Fontanne..Are your initials H.F..by the way??

Posted by Arnold M. Brockman @ 04/23/2002 05:36 PM PST

JMK, how exciting! Were there any calls for your uncle from Bobby or Marty while you were there?

Posted by Lulu @ 04/23/2002 06:19 PM PST

Has anyone else ever noticed that the first paragraph of a post, such as this one, is always formatted with full justification, whereas all that follow have left-justification? Is this posting justification for an investigation? I wonder if it is related to the mysterious drift to the right...

What would everyone think of the unseemly E-mailing of questions to Bruce on question day so that they are surprises to everyone else? More importantly, what would Bruce think? Would it overwhelm his E-mail box or, possibly worse, might it underwhelm it?

Would you believe I have never ever seen The First Nudie Musical? I am trying to figure out the best place to buy it. Would it be better to purchase it directly from http://www.haineshisway.com/, with funds sent directly, or from a place such as South-American-jungle-river-dot-com, so that a purchase would help its rating, et cetera? [I hope I de-feeted web-trawlers with that one!] Anyway, I want an autographed copy. Do you think autographed DVD's will be available? Would you believe I do not possess a DVD player? What would possess me to buy a DVD without a DVD player? Do you think http://www.haineshisway.com/ or the river-dot-com would sell DVD players? I want a leading DVD player.

Re 04/22/2002 The Home Stretch:
I am still trying to figure out how one stretches a house. Is it like taffy-pulling?

Addendum to my previous post:
And if you really want to mess with her, do not call her "Betty" or "Betty Lynn," but "Miss Close," and watch her go buggin' nuts! ROTFL!

To A.M.B.: By "H.F.," I assume you mean Hugh Fordin, who I am not. Perhaps I should find a new identity. This one was fun for a while.

Posted by freedunit @ 04/23/2002 08:26 PM PST

"Celestia, not Anne" who?

I feel like I got plopped into a road performance of "Bells Are Ringing," and I can only listen while everyone else sings "Drop that Name."

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 04/23/2002 10:18 PM PST

TO LAURA of PHOENIX ... Re CABARET IN L.A.: When you click on my name below, you'll find it is a link to our website. In the "Calendar" section, you'll be linked to the April schedule where you can find bios and act descriptions of the performers (we change it every month). Contact info you'll find in "Venues". Go to "Members" and you'll also find over 80 links to our members' websites. Suggest you visit the "Spotlight" section also where you can read an entertaining piece by songwriter Ray Jessel ("Baker Street"). CabWest was founded in 1995. I've been doing the Calendar and Newsletter since 1996. I work for free as does Les Traub who is the President and Treasurer. We cover cabaret wherever we find it on the West Coast. Currently, we have over 500 members from L.A., San Francisco, New York and other areas. Membership is $25 a year and is open to, not only performers and clubs, but patrons and other enthusiasts. Right now, we're in the midst of a site redesign. Our web address is http://www.cabaretwest.org.

Re CINEGRILL: The Cinegrill is in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Blvd. You used to get to it by climbing the vintage tiled stairs from the valet parking entrance in the back of the hotel. In the remodel, the Cinegrill will be relocated one floor down on the parking level (no more stair climbing). The reopening was to have taken place in February but it's been postponed until June or July. The delay is not so much because of the Cinegrill remodel than because of the rest of the hotel renovation. When the new owners took over the hotel, they immediately wanted to turn it into a sports bar! Although you can find cabaret at many venues, the Cinegrill--along with the Gardenia--are two of the few places that feature cabaret exclusively. To lose the venue would have been a real blow to the cabaret community, as well as to our faithful patrons. Fortunately, the Cinegrill Manager, J.D. Kessler, is a CabWest member and was able to convince them otherwise (along with increased covers and attendance). Even with the move downstairs, it will still be traumatic. After all, there are the resident ghosts to consider! You DO know that the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is haunted, don't you? They would be a good source for planning your trip. The Roosevelt is right across the street from Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the new Kodak Theatre in the new Hollywood-Highland complex. There is also a self-guided walking tour you can take around the area. Here are some helpful websites:

http://www.hollywoodroosevelt.com
http://www.seeingstars.com/index.shtml Click on
Hotels then Hollywood Roosevelt AND
Landmarks then Hollywood and Highland

Have a great time on your mini-vacation with your DH!

Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 04/24/2002 12:16 AM PST