haines his way

08/19/2002:
"THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT"

Well, dear readers, our handy-dandy book signing is coming up this Saturday, and I do hope some of you will be able to attend. I shall be reading from the book if I can only figure out what in tarnation to read. The fact is, I have never been to one of these reading/signings – do they read whole chapters? Do they just pick a few paragraphs from various parts of books? If you have any ideas or any thoughts, post them today (if you’re making suggestions about which parts to read, then make sure you don’t include spoilers). All help gratefully appreciated.
Last night I watched a motion picture entitled Night of the Demon on DVD. I first saw this motion picture in the seventies and really liked it then and really like it now. It was made in 1957 and released here in the USofA in 1958 under the lurid title, Curse of the Demon, and it was shorn of about 13 minutes. Well, this brand spanking new DVD has both versions of the film. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too? Yes, Virginia, you can watch the long version or the short version or you can even watch the short version or the long version. The long version, for example, is longer than the short version and vice versa and also versa vice. I chose to watch the long version and it was longer than the short version which is the version I watched in the seventies. The seventies seemed shorter than the eighties, so there you are. It’s quite an atmospheric little film, shot in gorgeous black and white by Ted Scaife. In fact, I’d go as far as to say the photography is stunning and a lesson in how to photograph these types of film. It helps that the transfer is great. Dana Andrews stars and he’s fine. The female lead is the beautiful Peggy Cummins, who starred in one of the great film noirs of all-time, Gun Crazy. If you’ve only seen her in that, it will amaze you to see what she’s really like. This movie also has a great cast of supporting players, especially Niall MacGinnis as Dr. Karswell. It’s directed by the vastly underrated Jacques Tourneur, who did The Cat People for Val Lewton. There’s no gore (although much to Mr. Tourneur’s chagrin, the studio did insert a literal demon into the film – it’s a pretty good one, though). This film has one moment that never fails to make me jump out of my seat – even though I know it’s coming. And the joke is nothing happens – a hand enters a shot, but it’s so unexpected and the music stings it so well, that I just get taken every time. I prefer this longer version – the cuts seem to be little bits from here and there, and then one major three or four minute sequence is gone in its entirety (and it’s not really needed, save for the atmosphere and some information that gets skipped over without it). In any case, if you like atmospheric chillers, you should check it out.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Should I do two versions of these here notes? The long version and the short version? Maybe the long version could be for overseas and the short version for the USofA. Maybe not.
If you missed the weekend notes, do check them out – there are many various and sundried facts imparted which you will be without should you not check them out. You must never be without your various and sundried imparted facts or otherwise you will not be one of the with it, one of the coolest, one of the greatest, one of the ginchiest, one of the in crowd, one of the grooviest; in other words, you will not be the bomb. I’m jiggy with that if you are.
Well, perhaps we should all click on the Unseemly Button below, whilst asking this simple question: Where has Mr. Mark Bakalor disappeared to? He, the bitch-slapper of haineshisway.com has been MIA for quite some time. So have other regulars around here, but I suppose that is to be expected during the summertime, when the livin’ is easy.

We have had only two count them two attempts to answer this week’s trivia contest question. I guess I’m getting to tough, although frankly I thought this week’s question was not all that difficult. Remember, dear readers, you must have moxie, you must gird your loins, you must do the research and find the answers. Otherwise, there will be no sparkling prizes for you. Speaking of sparkling prizes, the two or three that I’m behind on will be going out this week, so never fear.
As promised, I nosed around the Internet and checked out a couple of these Internet dating services. One was called JDate and that one is for Jewish people who wish to date other Jewish people. Do not go to JDate if you are Catholic or Mormon or Buddhist – you will have no luck at all. They have various categories, for example women seeking men, men seeking women, women seeking women, men seeking men, but I found no category for women seeking doughnuts or men seeking ancient catacombs. I feel this is a failing on the part of these Internet dating services. I checked out some of the profiles and I found out that these people on JDate are Jewish. You can search for your particular needs – for example, you can put an age range in, you can put certain weights in, certain heights, hair colors, etc. You can put in whether you’re searching for an Orthodox Jew or a Conservative Jew or a Reform Jew. Isn’t that interesting? Isn’t that just too too, or in this case, Jew Jew? The other Internet dating service I checked out was called date.com. It was similar except you didn’t only have to be a Jew. You could be anything, and I do mean anything. They had the same categories but the search criteria is much more limited. I checked out some of the profiles but it seems like every one I looked at the person liked to wind surf. Well, I draw the line right there.
I do have a friend who belongs to JDate, and he has gone out on many many many (that is three manys which is maybe two too manys) JDates. He hasn’t found “the one” yet, but still, he gets to meet some nice people, or so he says.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must scurry about like a mouse in a maze, I must get in my automobile and drive east, west, north and south, I must read and write and ‘rithmatic, I must think on weighty subjects and I must weight on thinky subjects. That is the long version of what I must do - the short version is that I must amscray. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite classic chiller films and plays? Not slash and dice fests either – I mean the classic chillers and thrillers. I’ll start – Psycho, of course, Alien, the original The Cat People, Wait Until Dark, Deathtrap (stage version only), Black Sunday, Kill, Baby, Kill (the latter two both directed by Mario Bava), Eyes Without a Face (one of my all-time favorites), The Haunting (original version), Horror of Dracula and many more. Your turn (and do talk about other things if you are not interested in the topic of discussion).

Replies: 42 Unseemly Comments

Does JDate have a category for Jews who eat ham chunks and cheese slices?
Posted by Kerry @ 08/19/2002 10:12 AM PST

Wait Until Dark and Deathtrap (as you said, the stage version) are two of my favorites. I like Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte, in spite of the camp factor now attached to it (I don't know if it's really a thriller but it's fun). Never heard of Eyes Without A Face but it sounds like fun!
I've been to a few of the kind of readings you will be doing, BK, and it depends on the author as to what they read. I have heard some authors read large sections and others read short paragraphs, enough to make sense of what's being read, but not too long. I think one of the things you should defintely read is the True Story of Easter. When you read it on the Broadway Radio Show I laughed and laughed and then when I read it again, I laughed and laughed.
Posted by Ben @ 08/19/2002 10:25 AM PST

A word about contests...
I would be more inclined to enter such contests, if the winner was determined in a fair manner. For example, on a website not to be named here, I have entered a contest, and been the first to submit a perfect score, only to find that someone else wins. This seems unfair.
Likewise, I have entered BK's contests, and had the correct answer - even for the bonus questions - and still not won a prize! Again, is this fair, I ask you?
Also, I would be more motivated to enter the contest if I knew what the prize was in advance. Then again, maybe not. Some prizes are more motivational than others...
Posted by Dave @ 08/19/2002 12:02 PM PST

The problem with the first correct answer being the winner, is that people tend not to enter if they don't think they'll have the first in. The problem with mentioning the prize in advance is I never have any idea what the prize will be. The prize, however, is not the reason I have the contest - I have it because people profess to like it. I even offered not to have it but the majority spoke. I am happy to not have it if that is fine with everyone.
Our handy-dandy electronic hat keeps things fair and spread around pretty evenly, it seems to me.
More importantly, I am beginning to have to think about this here site - because with posts getting fewer and fewer for the last week, and with only three thus far today (as compared with fifteen on usual days) well, I should rather go out with a bang than with a whimper if you get my drift. I do not want this site to become some pathetic thing that three people visit. It's ever so much more fun when everyone is here and taking part and having a splendid time. In our haineshisway.com ad that is currently running it says (I think it says - certainly it said in ONE of the versions) there's always a party going on. And for the last four months it's been totally true, as it was for the first week of this month, when we went through the roof. I would simply like to know what has happened between now and then or, for that matter, between then and now. I don't mean to go on about it (and I wasn't going to), but seeing these three excellent but lonely posts, well, I must now rethink things a bit.
Posted by bk @ 08/19/2002 12:41 PM PST

I for one find the Unseemly Trivia Contest quite fun just for the sake of tracking down something that at least resembles the correct answer (just submitted my guess for this week...think I actually nailed it this time!). I have learned much about many things theatrical by researching for the trivia contest. Yes, the fershluganah electronic hat can be a cruel mistress, but I don't find it unfair by any means.
Those of us who participate in the contest have very different time periods available to us to solve the puzzle, thus the 3-day period to submit answers. I would hate for some dear reader to miss out on every chance to participate in the contest, simply because they may be unable to do so right off Saturday when the question is posted.
As for pre-guess knowledge of the prize, well, I guess I like a little mystery in my life.
Alright, that's quite enough from me now. I'll stand down from the soapbox now and return it to BK...thanks for lending it to me, good sir.
Posted by Jed @ 08/19/2002 12:51 PM PST

Hi BK!
The minute you walked in the joint, I could see you were a man of distinction.....
You look frenzied, your look frazzled.....
So could we start again please?
Before another hundred people just got on through the web and came looking around.....
So give me some men (and women) who are stouthearted men.....
Remain diligent BK - perhaps many of our crew are off to points unknown. Vacations do that to people when they don't have laptops!
Also - how do I update my email address her at Hainesville (I'm changing ISP's)
Posted by Phil @ 08/19/2002 01:02 PM PST

I should rather go out with a bang than with a whimper if you get my drift
Don't even suggest such things, Bruce! Heck, as discouraged as I've been by the paltry, puny, posts by the populace, I can just imagine how it must frustrate you, but don't dare think that we're on the downward slope here at haineshisway.com! Phut I say to that! Phut!!!
Come, Hainsies, Kimlets, lurkers, one and all, all and one! If Bruce's comments frighten you all as much as they do me, be heard! Show him that the party continues on as strong as ever here!
Must be off to stock up on ham chunks and cheese slices for the Welcome Back Errant and Truant Dear Readers party!
Posted by Jed @ 08/19/2002 01:05 PM PST

This has been, so far, the worst day of my entire life. I feel like complete scheisse and I'm supposed to audition for a workshop tomorrow and I can barely speak. That's just the beginning of my problems. BK, if you decide to shut down this web site I don't know what I'll do. It keeps me occupied and happy while I'm at my otherwise boring and unhappy job and it gives me something to look forward to in the mornings, evenings and in-between times. Please don't shut us down!
Posted by Jason @ 08/19/2002 01:40 PM PST

Play: Deathtrap. Especially the final moments of Act One.
Film: The Haunting (original)
The Legend of Hell House
Watcher in the Woods (until the ending)
Wait Until Dark
Posted by Michael @ 08/19/2002 01:42 PM PST

BK:
I am at work at 7;30am (east coast time) M-F. Way to early to read that days posting. I am usually home after 4pm when I have the opportunity to read it.
Even though I may not post every day. I do read what you have to say. Don't get down on the lack of postings. I am sure it will pick up.
I also forgot to send my answer for the trivia question which will be on its way shortly after this is posted.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 08/19/2002 01:48 PM PST

I've always been a sucker for THE BAD SEED (and its musical version RUTHLESS). Of course the play is better because the movie's ending is a total code-required cop out.
By the way, Im sure traffic for this here website would be greater if people knew about it. Perhaps a small ad in SHOW MUSIC or some similar magazine would draw people here. It's a shame you couldn't mention it on the cover of TFNM DVD as the official website of the film. I know I read it every day. If the topic of discussion is of interest, I'll add my comments and check back often. And remember, a lot of people are on vacation this time of year who have no access to the site except at work. They'll be back soon. If you close this site, I'll never eat another cheese slice or ham chunk again.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 08/19/2002 01:56 PM PST

I like the mystery contest. Sometimes I enter because I have a clue. And other times, I just wait to see what the answers are.
When I've been correct, the acknowledgement of same has been enough for me. The prize does not matter and it can go to anyone else but me should I be the one whose name gets drawn.
In theater talk, the play's the thing...not the Tonys.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 08/19/2002 02:40 PM PST

Well put, Ron.
Posted by Jed @ 08/19/2002 02:51 PM PST

We had a lovely post from Anna, a former One From Column A dear reader, but she posted to an archived column. If she finds her way to the current column, welcome Anna!
Thank all you sweet dear readers for the nice show of support - I just don't want this to become a lame thing. I do enjoy doing it on a daily basis and I, of course, love our family here. We'll see how it goes for the next week. The funny thing about human nature is that when you tell people they should post and that we're dropping, post-wise, that tends to make them post LESS not more. Funny how that works. So, perhaps I'll just keep my mouth shut for the time being. I'm jiggy with it, really. The only thing that crossed my mind was to perhaps cut the daily down to three times a week or something - but then that seems like it defeats the purpose of this here site, doesn't it? I began this site for two reasons, and if all goes according to plan, then one of those reasons doesn't exist anymore. The OTHER reason was to creat a website where people could find out what was/is going on with me, and also become part of a fun theater/film/whatever community with no backbiting, no usual Usenet or ng crap and in that we have succeede, no question. As to ads - we have one currently running on a very heavily-traffic-laden website and there was a link to the site in the full page ad in Scarlet Street. I should have put something on the DVD, but it didn't occur to me.
Posted by bk @ 08/19/2002 02:58 PM PST

Random tidbit of info for the day... If you do a Google search on the word "fershluganah," you get 140 hits. Each and every one of these 140 come from the keyboard of our very own BK, either at this site or from Column A at sondheim.com, plus one article he wrote at Talkin' Broadway.
Wow...can you tell it's a slow day at work???
Posted by Jed @ 08/19/2002 03:04 PM PST

OK so the Trivia is difficult. i think the hat shares the prizes around well. I'm with Ron. Who cares about the prizes anyway? The fun is the research and where it may lead. I don't always have the time to search but when I do the experience is fun and I don't really care two hoots (or even more hoots) if i am "right or wrong" (That's a Wanda Jackson song).
Send Jason good thoughts.
I just had virus arrive from NY. Hopefully is deleted as my system could not do repairs. As I don't correspond much or use net sites much etc the virus may well have come from someone connected tot his site (accidently of course).
Forgot to write about he topic.
Derorah Kerr in "The Innocents".
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 08/19/2002 03:13 PM PST

Thanks, Tom. :-)
Posted by Jason @ 08/19/2002 03:16 PM PST

I love the challenge of the chase when it comes to the trivia question. Most of the time I have to search it out and in the past I have had a completely different answer from what BK was thinking and it still worked. It is fun and I don't always get the correct answer. So ever Saturday I spend sometimes an hour or so tracking down the answers. That's what I love the most and I love being stumped like I was last week even though if I had Miss Leland Palmer in my list of touring performers (pat on the back) I would have eventually got it. But that's part of the fun!!!!!
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 08/19/2002 03:27 PM PST

Anyways I am off for a couple hours. Must dash down to Fort Lauderdale. Hope to see lots more posts when I get back!!
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 08/19/2002 03:29 PM PST

We've been out at appointments all day, hence the lack of postings. We just now got in to read today's notes. We'll all post later on today, after we get caught up on stuff.
Posted by Laura @ 08/19/2002 03:34 PM PST

Phfffft!, I say. I say, Phfffft!
That is, number one, Phfffft on changing the trivia contest in any way. The fun is the game, sillies, not who wins or gets a prize. Hello, my name is Bill, and I am a cross-word adicted...
I did get a prize once from our magnanimous host and half the fun was waiting for it to come to see what it was. Like Christmas, and incidentally in July.
Second, I say Phfffft on changing the web site. There are ebb tides and neep tides, highs and lows, ins and outs, ups and downs and probability pockets. Sometimes I'm too busy to post, but I always lurk and read everything that appears here, no matter how inane.
Most of my favorite topic suggestions have been mentioned, but I will note that Night of the Demon was introduced to me by my Joe, as detailed the last time we discussed this topic.
My complete description of Joe's childhood terror at this movie can probably found by judicious use of the Unseemly Search Button.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 08/19/2002 03:51 PM PST

Do you know that I saw the name "Leland Palmer" on the Broadway database while researching that mystery question a couple of weeks ago. And it amazed me to learn that it was a woman and that the woman kept her own name when she did the play...she was "called" Leland.
There had been only the tiniest, remotest tickle that I knew the name "Leland Palmer" -- but I let it pass because I learned "he" was really a "she", and thus the connection was never made to "Twin Peaks" and the clue about how the name was popularized in a hit TV show.
I LEARN GOOD STUFF here!!!
And I've only started scratching the surface! Do you guys realize I've spent about $500 on theater-related CDs since visiting here daily starting last March? My CD collection of OBC's has more than trebled! And I've bought second-hand, and third-hand at bargain prices, I've bought new at new prices...and I've even "outbid" folks for stuff like "House of Flowers" paid a handsome sum for the privilege.
And I'm loving it!
I don't think there should be any second doubts. It's August, for pity's sake. Folks go away, offices are very busy BECAUSE folks have gone away and the rest of us pick up the slack. We can't find as much free time ALL the time as we'd like.
I'm wondering if BK might not be getting tired of coming up with lengthy daily columns.
If so...shorten 'em. We won't care. Say good morning, tell us what you did last night, or what you're planning on doing today -- either or neither -- or just introduce a topic or something you'd like to get a reaction to and leave it to us.
Continue with Ask BK. Continue with free-for-all. Continue with the Unseemly Mystery Question.
Solicit "guest essays" on stuff -- what Sondheim means to me; or my favorite theatrical remembrance; or my favorite musical recording; my fondest personal experience in theater. Print one a week.
Don't give up on us, BK.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 08/19/2002 06:29 PM PST

Oh, it's not the length of the columns - I actually enjoy doing it or I wouldn't do it - it gets my brain going in the morning. When I feel like a shorty I do a shorty. And I would never give up on you dear readers. I've just been concerned, but I shall shine it on and we shall continue and whoever is here is here. I just didn't want us to fizzle. I don't like to fizzle. To fizzle is unseemly. But I might think about some of these suggestions, as this type of thing has been bandied about before and it probably would be fun once a week to have a "guest" half-column.
Posted by bk @ 08/19/2002 07:22 PM PST

Actually, Leland Palmer's major credit was YOUR OWN THING, an off-Broadway musical that has not worn well with age.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 08/19/2002 07:26 PM PST

BK, since you are new at the internet dating, I thought I would give you some guidelines.. some translations if you will. You know, like IMHO = In My Honest Opinion, but for the dating world.. here goes:
Petite: No longer means thin. Now you can be 5'2 and 400 pounds and be petite, it's not weight, it's a height allocation.
Glamour shot = taken years ago, and no one ever looks like that (think headshot of an actress)
If they list cats or dogs, they might as well be real people, because that's how they will refer to them (as their roommates) and you will always come after them...
Add 3-5 years to their age
(and for the ladies, you would subtract 3-5 inches off their height)
Independent: as long as you are around whenever they want and you aren't when they don't
Relgious Stream:
Unaffiliate = What does Shalom mean?
Political views:
Unspecified = doesn't know from being left to being right
---------------
Well that should get you started at least... I am sure other people have other translations when reading the personals...
----
Here's to tomorrow being a better day...
Posted by Craig @ 08/19/2002 07:52 PM PST

Very good - now I am Internet-savvy.
Leland Palmer was also the original Fastrada in Pippin. I also had the pleasure of being a series regular with both Leland and Diana Canova on a CBS summer replacement series (we replaced Carol Burnett for the 1975 summer) called Dinah (Shore) and Her New Best Friends, which I do believe has the distinction of being one of the worst television programs in the history of the medium. Perhaps I'll write of it tomorrow.
Posted by bk @ 08/19/2002 07:57 PM PST

For chiller movies, I'd have to go with "Wait Until Dark," although it still scares me to watch it. So I won't. "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" also has to be up there (if nothing else than for Agnes Moorhead). And "The Spiral Staircase" is one of my all-time favorites.
And yes, keep the daily column; keep the trivia contest. You all can't abandon me now!
Posted by Kerry @ 08/19/2002 08:02 PM PST

As a relative newcomer to the site, I must say that I have enjoyed every posting I have read since I first stumbled upon this merry mayhem not too long ago. There's nothing like it; where else can one find a heartfelt tribute to Peggy Cummins and a variety of opinions on the delightful Leland Palmer? (Let's not forget her turn as a thinly veiled Gwen V. in ALL THAT JAZZ). The site is a port in a storm, an oasis in a desert, an Auntie Mame in a room full of Foscas.
Favorite chillers?
PSYCHO of course.
THE OTHER with Uta Hagen
THE SUSPECT with Charles Laughton.
And REBECCA still gives me the creeps.
Oh, and I love the Saturday trivia quiz.
Don't change a thing, Bruce!
Posted by Tim H. @ 08/19/2002 08:06 PM PST

We don't remember the name of it, but it was an Alfred Hitchcock movie with Jimmy Stewart. A woman jumped off a bridge and Jimmy Stewart saved her. We couldn't watch it all because it was too scary.
Note from Megan: Please don't shut down the site!! I just got here!!
Posted by Sandra and Megan @ 08/19/2002 08:16 PM PST

Well, Hitch's VERTIGO and PSYCHO (along with pretty much the rest of the Hitchcock canon), my favorite thrillers are
(and a few of them I have mentioned here at haineshisway before):
THE WICKER MAN
SLEUTH
SUSPIRIA
THE INNOCENTS
THE HAUNTING (Robert Wise)
WAIT UNTIL DARK
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HELEN
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?
BLACK SUNDAY
LIFEFORCE (and its stunning Mancini score)
THE TAMARIND SEED
PATRIOT GAMES
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
WHAT LIES BENEATH
Posted by td @ 08/19/2002 08:50 PM PST

Sandra and Megan, you are speaking of Hitchcock's Vertigo, one of his greatest films.
Well, you two better get off your butt cheeks and post until the cows come home, that is all I have to say.
Posted by bk @ 08/19/2002 08:51 PM PST

What Lies Beneath freaked me out.
So did Fatal Attraction.
As did Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
In addition to Misery.
Arachnaphobia still makes my skin crawl.
Silence of the Lambs makes me check under my bed for creepy skin-suit wearing transvestites with poodles.
"It rubs the lotion on it's skin...it does this whenever it's told..."
CREEPY!!!!
Posted by Jason @ 08/19/2002 08:57 PM PST

Of course-- "Rebecca" and "Vertigo."
And "Obsession."
I thought we had done this topic, but that was scariest moments, I believe.
Everything seems like deja vu these days.
Posted by Kerry @ 08/19/2002 09:21 PM PST

Everything seems like deja vu these days.
Posted by Kerry @ 08/19/2002 09:22 PM PST

Oh yes, Bruce, please tell us about Dinah Shore and Her New Best Friends. I enjoy immensely reading your memoirs before their official publication. Every chapter is a delight in my book (Chapter 25: Every Chapter Is a Delight, Including This One).
Posted by William F. Orr @ 08/19/2002 09:29 PM PST

Since this is not a list service you don't have a membership base to know how many of your readers are lurkers. I'm sure there are quite a few. I know I'm guilty of doing that quite a bit. There are days I can't really think of anything interesting to post. At least something I think is interesting. It's the dog days of summer and people are on vacation, out of town, yah-da yah-da.
To steal a lyric from "Bye Bye Birdie":
We Love You BK, Oh Yes We Do
We All Will Bitch-Slap You If Your Through
So Keep Your Chin Up, You're True
Oh BK We Love You.
Ok, so it's not Cole Porter.
To touch briefly on the contest. If the "winner" was determined by the first correct answer, a lot of us wouldn't participate. If someone was poised at their computer at 12 midnight and had the correct answer great. We all have jobs and live in different time zones. Having it stretched over 3 days works.
The way the "sparkling prizes" are distributed works. Of course I am not biased because I am one of the people who won a sparkling prize a few weeks ago. I'm glad you mentioned that you hadn't sent them out yet Bruce. I was going to develop a complex:-).
As Guy Haines would sing:
Pick Yourself Up, Dust Yourself Off and Start All Over Again.
Dennis
Posted by Dennis Clancy @ 08/19/2002 10:30 PM PST

I hope you don't mean A GUEST column. Maybe a Lurie, a Pulliam, a Brockman, a Shayne or an Orr column but not a GUEST column.
I have enough trouble writing a shopping list
Keep posting gang.
Jason. Maybe your virus has attacked my computer. How do I check fro Phelgm in its programme?
Posted by Tom Guest @ 08/19/2002 11:02 PM PST

Bruce,
The first time I had heard of you was when "Unsung Sondheim" was released (low these many years ago)! Since then, I became a total fan of the work that you've done over the years, especially with Varese Sarabande and Fynsworth Alley. When I had heard that you were no longer associated with that website/company, I was terribly disappointed because to me, YOU WERE Fynsworth Alley. I didn't know (and didn't care) about the actual ownership, the "business" side, etc. I just loved what was being done.
Times (and jobs) have changed, but I've been fortunate to rediscover your wit and humor on this website…YOUR website (oh, yea…and Guy Haines'). Over the last few months, this website has truly become my favorite. Even though I've never even come close to being able to answer your trivia questions, I've learn so much about theater (or theatre) from you and all the Hainsies/Kimlets out there. I also don't have to feel guilty that I don't contribute as often as others do. I put in my 2 cents when I can.
Bruce, if this site goes away, there would be a period of mourning and I would be very sad. Please don't make me sad. I know I wouldn't be the only one! You can be secure in the knowledge that you are doing good for the world. And thanks for so much fish!
Posted by George @ 08/20/2002 12:52 AM PST

Well, well, well...
The last time I posted, I was number three, and this time I am number 39. Bruce, you can thank me later for rousing the lurkers from their slumber... ;-)
In truth, my post was mostly facetious. The notion of a "first correct answer wins" is not appropriate to the internet, where the contestants span across multiple time zones.
I still think it would be good if Bruce announced what prize the winner has won.
My only legitimate trivia contest grip is this: there has been more than one occasion where there has been more than one correct answer to the trivia question, but BK rejected other correct answers because they were not the ones he was thinking of when he posted the question. Seems like the rules could have allowed for multiple correct answers in that case.
As Bruce can attest, I have entered the contest many times (sometimes even with correct answers!) and will continue to do so. I derive more pleasure from the thrill of the hunt than I would from any prize that is offered.
I seriously hope that BK is not seriously considering folding his haineshisway briefs and going home. Like many others here, I have been a fan of many of his recordings since the Varese Sarabande days, and continue to look forward to his next project(s).
Posted by Dave @ 08/20/2002 08:11 AM PST

NOTICE: I have been asked to let everyone know that there is a problem with the form BK uses to post the notes with each day, and until it is fixed, Bruce can't get the new notes up. Hopefully, it will be resolved soon. Please be patient.
Posted by Susan Gordon @ 08/20/2002 08:40 AM PST

Oh dear!! We'll all be suffering from haineshisway.com withdrawal!!
Posted by Laura @ 08/20/2002 08:52 AM PST

I'm crashin', man...I'm crashin'! I need a fix!!
Posted by Jason @ 08/20/2002 09:20 AM PST

Ask BK: Got a question? Ask Bruce Kimmel...

© Copyright 2001-2003 Bruce Kimmel.
All Rights Reserved. Site design by hijinks design.