Posted by bk @ 10/31/2002 07:20 AM PST

I vote for Sunday night for the chat.

One of the funniest Halloween costumes I was forced (yes, forced) to wear was when I was an adult. I was working for a temp service (in their office) and the manager had me dress up in a gigantic pumpkin outfit (green leggings, big pumpkin globe covering me from my neck to my groin), and a little leaf hat. Then I had to go out on the streets of downtown Portland and hand out tchokes from this temp service as promos. I did do two very funny things out there (at least, I found it funny). This was back in the days when the Scientologists were out in force on the streets of Portland, and their "come on" line was always "Can I ask you a question?". Then they'd follow up with "Are you really happy?" etc. So I went up to the corner where they always stood and walked up behind some guy and said "Can I ask you a question?" As he turned around (his face when he saw me was priceless), I continued, "I keep having a delusion I'm a giant pumpkin, can Scientology help me?" For once, a Scientologist did not have a glib response. Then later that day I saw a woman carrying a bunch of small carved pumpkins down the street and I started running after her screaming "Child murderer!" Needless to say, the "promo" aspect of this particular job fell by the wayside.

Posted by JMK @ 10/31/2002 07:24 AM PST

Bruce.. if you look at the very top of your Browser (where you type in the website to visit), on the page that allows us to post.. you will see "http://www.haineshisway.com/archives/00000363.html#more" (today's entry)

hence, today's "archive" # is 363, which would make Saturday's notes #365 (despite a few hiccups during the year, since Nov. 9th should be that #)

I guess it's a BONUS to have "More" that 365 posting in one year... it's like an extra present!

Posted by Craig @ 10/31/2002 07:33 AM PST

Oh dear.. I have broken the site with that long link. I am a site breaker - that is my lot in life. It's not a lot.. but it's my life...

Posted by Craig @ 10/31/2002 07:34 AM PST

Okay, I'm posting.

Happy now?

Grrrrrrrr!

(And now, do you want to see something REALLY scary?)

Posted by William F. Orr @ 10/31/2002 07:47 AM PST

Bruce... it's your favorite lil witch. Can you dress up like Adam Stephens?

Posted by Tabitha @ 10/31/2002 07:55 AM PST

Ah, Adam - what fond memories. Shooting in San Francisco, being treated like royalty by the network, walking through walls.

Ten scary posts ten - excellent. And the party is just beginning!

Posted by bk @ 10/31/2002 09:07 AM PST

If chat is to be on Sunday at 6 PST (8 CST), I'm happy to have TWO VCRs--one for The Sopranos and the other for The Forsyte Saga (vastly inferior to the 1969 one, but....)

My best Halloween costume ever was the one from my freshman year in college. I was in an all-girl dorm, and the costume cannot be spoken of in mixed company.

Posted by Pam @ 10/31/2002 09:21 AM PST

Well, I vote for Sunday nights, since that other chat room will be on Monday nights and we may all want to participate in both!

My favorite Halloween was exactly 25 years ago. I was on a cross-country bus to New York City at the time. Yes, folks, I'm celebrating my 25th Anniversary as a New Yawker!

Posted by Robert Armin @ 10/31/2002 09:22 AM PST

Sunday is not a good chat night. It's the only night of the week with several good television shows, plus it's the end of the weekend and there are things to do.

What other chat room is on a Monday? Certainly not from the label that can't be named because nobody from here would use that one.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/31/2002 09:52 AM PST

I guess my favorite costume was when I went to a party (many years ago) dressed as Mary Hartman. Some people got it, and some people didn't. This person's got it, and this person's spreadin' it around. (got carried there).

An interesting story (although far from a favorite) was when I had lent my younger brother (who was about 16 at the time) my nun costume (from a previuos party). He was working as a bag boy at Safeway at the time, and they were encourgaed to wear a costume to work on Halloween. The funny part (to me) is that no one (even the customers who knew him) would let him carry their groceries or let him help them out to their cars. On a related note, on the night I wore the costume to a party, I made sure I hadn't shaved-- a nun with a slightly hairy upper lip seemed more authentic. Boy, now that this is in writing, it seems even less funny.

Posted by Kerry @ 10/31/2002 10:21 AM PST

BTW (by the way in internet lingo) - I would like to take this opportunity to ALSO wish Donna Lynne Champlin, Michele Pawk and the rest of "Hollywood Arms" the very best tonight as they open on Broadway... Here's to good notices from the NY critics!

Posted by Craig @ 10/31/2002 10:38 AM PST

My favorite Halloween/costume combo was back in 1982! I was 34 years old and was invited to a Halloween party in Indianpolis, IN. I was "assigned" there by the Navy and was an instructor at the Defense Information School located at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, home of Army Finance Center and my school which was for all the military services.

My costume was para-military and my makeup was camouflage paint applied ala "Conan the Barbarian" when he and his two cohorts invaded the snake worshippers' ceremony. In fact, I played that music over and over and over while I was prepping for the party.

The party itself was great, if a bit too boozy, and I had one of the best times of my life.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/31/2002 10:56 AM PST

Consider this lack of posting LULL broken. Now everyone may start posting again.

Posted by Breaker of Lulls @ 10/31/2002 11:38 AM PST

Ahright! Ahright! I posted! So where's my medal?

Posted by William F. Orr @ 10/31/2002 11:58 AM PST

Happy Halloween!

I agree with the person who said Sunday night is a bad night for chats. Bruce obviously isn't an Alias/ The Practice fan! :)

Btw, this year my creative pumpkin of choice was to make a snowman. I put a little pumpkin on top of a bigger one, and decorated it with a scarf, hat, button eyes, cork nose, and twigs as arms. It's very cute!

Jennifer

Posted by Jennifer @ 10/31/2002 12:03 PM PST

Hi all -

Sorry for the long post, but every little bit helps when you're advertising community theatre! I realize most of you are out of the SF area, but what the heck.

Just a little plug for a local production of "Side By Side By Sondheim", a revue of Sondheim's work up until and including "Pacific Overtures". It's a great revue, witty, funny, cute, and just plain fun. A nice break from the normal routine. 3 awesome perfomers, an very articulate narrator, and 2 ambitious pianists make up this wonderful evening. Hope to see you all there, the info follows.

St. Matthias Community Theatre
Proudly Presents

SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
and Music by Leonard Bernstein
Mary Rodgers
Richard Rodgers
Jule Styne
Continuity by Ned Sherrin

Starring
Dan Adamson
Judy Girard
Alexandra Kaprielian
Mary Ann Maclachlan
Kristina Muhlker
Matthew Stenquist-Mattei

With Musical Direction by Matthew Stenquist-Mattei
And Staging Direction by Lizabeth Kaprielian and
Raegena Raymond
Produced by Cathy Mattei

Performances
Friday, November 8 at 8:00pm
Saturday, November 9 at 8:00pm
Sunday, November 10 at 2:00pm

Tickets
General Admission: $10.00
Students: $5.00
Please call St. Matthias for ticket reservations at
(650) 366-9544
St. Matthias is located at 1685 Cordilleras Rd.,
Redwood City

Thanks, Matt

Posted by Matthew @ 10/31/2002 12:09 PM PST

My favorite Halloween costume would have to have been from the year I dressed as Scarlett O'Hara. I made my very own velvety, sea-green hoop skirted dress from draperies and hula hoops. Fortunately, I had just played Hysterium in FORUM,and had a short tunic, which I could tuck into the skirting, added some sleeves to it (out of draperies of course), a snood over a black wig, elbow-length gloves and a veil made from the drapes, too. The only downside was that I looked far more like Barbara O'Neill (not that's there's anything WRONG with that) than Vivien Leigh.

As far as Halloween stories, I'm still quite fond of Shirely Jackson's THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, and Robert Wise's film of it.

For some truly fine Halloween reading, I urge everyone to check out the new issue of Scarlet Street magazine, and ponder over David Skal's article on Halloweens in San Francisco and New York City. It is quite an eye-opening article, and I cannot recommend it enough. Then again, while you have the magazine in your hand, there are excellent interviews with the various CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON people. Most excellent reading on a Halloween night.

Posted by td @ 10/31/2002 12:15 PM PST

Halloween as been and gone here in the land "Down Under" and no-one noticed. Is that scary?
No costume stories as it is a non event.
I hope all the Hainsies and Kimlets have a wonderful night and so much fun. I trust the parties will be truly horrendous, evil, scary and wicked etc. I really would like to see some pictures on this site.
Ron: How did you get into that costume?

Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/31/2002 12:40 PM PST

Boogity boogity boo!! Did I scare you? I thought I would. I think my very favorite Halloween costume would be my infamous "Phantom of the Opera" costume. I even figured out how to re-create the Broadway make-up design with a little latex and cotton balls. I did this particular costume/makeup for several years. It even earned me an "A+" on my stage makeup final exam! :-)

I'm not doing anything scary tonight (I'm working TURANDOT at the Met) but tomorrow night I'm seeing the debacle that is DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES starring the pre-recorded Michael Crawford. Considering this show has been called "the next CARRIE" I think it's safe to say that I should be scared out of my mind tomorrow evening. Let's hope so at least--I never got to see CARRIE so I'm expecting a lot out of DOTV.

And speaking of flops...let's have a moment of silence for AMOUR. I loved that show...it makes me sad that it's closing. I do so wish SOMEONE ahem BK would record it...if only just for the vocalised overture.

Posted by Jason @ 10/31/2002 01:14 PM PST

Boy...was that subliminal or what? I'm so sneaky!

Posted by Jason @ 10/31/2002 01:21 PM PST

Since the American AMOUR will probably not be recorded, does anyone know where to get or order the French recording? It is not even listed at Footlight and I searched every Michel Legrande recording they had listed.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/31/2002 01:31 PM PST

I would have to say that my best Halloween costume would have to be the one I am wearing right now. I'm dressed as a Gibson Girl and I am really cute.

Posted by Sandra @ 10/31/2002 01:31 PM PST

In case anyone is interested, here is Discount Code information for DINNER AT EIGHT at the Vivian Beaumont:

From ad in the Nov. 4 issue of the New Yorker -
-Special Advance Price if you order by Dec. 18 - $45
-Bring ad to box office in person or call Telecharge
at 212-947-8844 and mention code DENYMAG
-10 Weeks only Nov. 21 thru Jan. 26
-Sat. Eves excluded
-Schedule- thru 12/29 - Tues-Sat8pm/Wed&Sat2pm/Sun3PM
from 12/31 - Tues7PM/Wed-Sun-same as above

extra perf - Mat-Fri-11/29&12/27
Eve-Mon-12/23&Sun12/29
no pref - Thanksgiving, Xmas or Xmas Eve

Posted by Donald @ 10/31/2002 01:39 PM PST

Dinner at Eight.. with Emily Skinner.. woohoooo :)

Posted by Craig @ 10/31/2002 01:54 PM PST

The French CD of Amour, according to our very own Todd Ellison, musical director of the Broadway version, is impossible to find. It must have had a very small pressing.

I am jiggy with Monday evenings for chat - but as I said, I won't be able to start until 7:30. If everyone is jiggy with that then that is what we shall do, starting this Monday.

Posted by bk @ 10/31/2002 02:18 PM PST

Halloween and the return of Francois. Coincidence? I think not. Scary.

And Ron. I meant the Cat costume!

Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 10/31/2002 02:37 PM PST

I too have been truly errant and truant and even truant and errant. I've been gearing up to move across town, although I haven't even started packing yet!

I vote for the Sunday night for the chat since I don't watch much TV on Sundays. I don't know why, I just don't. And even if I did, I have two working VCRs (and a third that doesn't).

I'm now sitting here at work (on my break) after a long and sugar-filled pot-luck lunch wearing my Charlie Brown costume from when I was in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" back in March. (It was my shirt to which the costume coordinator added the zigzag stripe.)

td's Scarlett O'Hara costume story reminds me of a (male) friend who went to a party dressed as Carol Burnett's version of Scarlett O'Hara, including having a curtain rod going through the shoulders! It was hysterical!

One of my favorite costumes that I've worn is my Charlie Brown shirt and shorts. Another favorite was the year that I dressed as a tourist with funky sun glasses, funny hat, Hawaiian shirt and shorts. I also had a camera that flashed without film and when kids rang the doorbell, I pretended to take pictures of everyone that came to the door.

Posted by George @ 10/31/2002 02:54 PM PST

I just read the post that was posted before my post posted, and I most likely can do Mondays without much trouble.

Posted by George @ 10/31/2002 02:57 PM PST

I would like it on Sundays.

I cannot make it at 7:30pm on Mondays.

Since I initiated this idea can we please, please have it on Sundays??

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 10/31/2002 02:58 PM PST

Booh!

Scary haloween to all of you !

Le Passe Muraille -- original
French recording of AMOUR
did not sell well -- I have "my"
copy..... I can look for other
copies for those of you who
are interested !

Let me know ! I'll be happy to
help....

It is Michel -- and NOT MIchelle
( ma belle, these are words....)
-- Legrand, NO "e" at the end.

Michelle Legrande was TOO
SCARY for me !

Booh !

Ron: shame on you for doing
THAT to your Miss Vickie !!
Hope it's a digital trick !!!!!
Charlie CATplin ?!?!

Posted by François @ 10/31/2002 03:04 PM PST

My "official" vote is for Sundays, even though I could do Mondays.

Posted by George @ 10/31/2002 03:04 PM PST

I HOPE "my" Halloween with
one L only scarred the L out of
you !....

Posted by François @ 10/31/2002 03:10 PM PST

Why not alternate the chats... one week Sunday, the next Monday, back to Sunday, etc. Thisd would give more people a chance to participate on a regular basis.

Also make sure to include instructions before the first chat.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/31/2002 03:34 PM PST

If forced into picking a
preferred night for chat, I'd
probably say Monday, but
Sunday would probably work
as well.

Posted by Jed @ 10/31/2002 03:40 PM PST

Tom, I know you really meant the paramilitary costume.

What part of me wasn't painted stepped into the costume one leg at a time!

The gun belts were strapped, crosswise, over my chest! The beret sat at a jaunty angle on my close-shaven (we call those haircuts "high 'n' tights") head.

I was ready for anything, met the challenges of the evening, and had one heck of a good time.

I remember being in the company of three other people with whom I watched the sunrise while lying on the bank of a pond a good walk from the house where the party had already ended!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/31/2002 03:52 PM PST

I am handing out candy for my mother-in-law, who is pretending she doesn't hear the doorbell ring. It is about 38 degrees outside in Chicago, and all the precious little children are dressed in jackets tonight.

Dear Reader Sandra -- have your dad take a picture of you as a Gibson Girl, please.

Posted by Laura @ 10/31/2002 05:13 PM PST

Dad already took a few pictures. He bought Reese's peanut butter cups for me to hand out. Do you know how hard it is for me to give away Reese's peanut butter cups?

He's also hiding in his room pretending not to hear the doorbell. He must get that from his mother.

Posted by Sandra @ 10/31/2002 05:26 PM PST

A little girl just came to the door dressed as a leopard. Leopard spots from head to toe. She got an extra Reese's peanut butter cup.

Posted by Sandra @ 10/31/2002 06:00 PM PST

Why are these posts in Todd-AO? The trick or treaters have been arriving for the last fifteen minutes and they are very scary indeed. One dad was wearing a gaily colored Afro. I've given out lots of candy already and I'm getting a proper workout going to the door over and over again.

Posted by bk @ 10/31/2002 06:12 PM PST

I too would love to find the French CD of "Le Passe Muraille" (Amour) - but I believe it's out of print. At least, that's what it says if you look it up at fnac.com.

In honour of Halloween, I'm listening to the scariest CD I own - the OBC of "Aida".

Posted by Stephen Farrow @ 10/31/2002 06:14 PM PST

in honor of H'ween I am watching the SCARIEST movie ever made... GLITTER with Mariah Carey.

Just kidding.. but if you've been subjected to this movie like I was (on the longest 3 hour flight EVER) - My heart goes out to you...

Posted by Craig @ 10/31/2002 06:57 PM PST

post #363 acccording to my browser!!!

Hurry Up and post people!

Posted by td @ 10/31/2002 07:23 PM PST

This is a most excellent month for Kimlets in Print:

Susan Gordon has that great interview in FANGORIA. Dear Susan even mentions haineshisway.com and a certian Mr. Armin, too.

Bruce hold the honor of having the first letter in the Scarlet Letters section of Scarlet Street magazine. For those of you who thought I was going overboard with my suggestion that Bruce do a "ME" magazine, if you read BK's letter (complete with nods to myself, and to haineshisway.com) you'll understand...
Leading off the Screen and Screen Again! Section of Scarlet Street is yours truly's review of MGM's double feature dvd of WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HELEN?/WHOEVER SLEW AUNTIE ROO?

Where is Ross Care, btw? I miss his RecordWracked column in Scarlet Street?

have I left anybody out?

I think that it is most definitely time to dance! A skeletal dance! A Danse Macabre! This missive brings us all one step closer to #365!

Posted by td @ 10/31/2002 07:30 PM PST

I suppose I should say something witty with Post #365 (if indeed this is truly that), but all I can think of is from Disney's HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME:

Well, pour the wine and cut the cheese!

PARTY!

Posted by td @ 10/31/2002 07:32 PM PST

favorite costume: has to be
during my poor college
days...back when I scrounged
pennies for new dance clothes.

So this one year I was so broke
that I pulled a pair of dance
tights over my head and rolled
the legs up into triangles...then
I sewed them up, with black
eyeliner for wiskers..and
voila..I was a cat. And I'm not
even a cat person..totally a dog
person.

wow..I forgot those college
days....scrounging for
pizza...sleeping once a
week....and all in the name of
art :-).

Happy Halloween

Posted by Jen M. @ 10/31/2002 07:37 PM PST

I have returned from T or T-ing with my two adorable little Spidermen.

TD, methinks you are confusing the number of today's blog (#363 in a series of....well, 363, kind of) with the number of posts made by us.

And a good friend of mind Jack Randall Earles, also has his first review in the new Scarlet Street (though he hasn't told me what he reviewed--maybe you could enlighten us). JR is another Farmer fanatic (or Franatic, as I term those of us with this particular obsession), and also has a lot of acting credits. Indeed, for those interested in flops, he actually did "Miss Moffat" with Ginger Rogers in Indy.

Posted by JMK @ 10/31/2002 07:41 PM PST

Of course, while JR is a good friend of mind, he is also a good friend of mine. And it occurs to me maybe he wrote about Allison Hayes, as he is somewhat of a Hayes nut, too.

Posted by JMK @ 10/31/2002 07:42 PM PST

So what pray tell is a "Gibson Girl"?
Should I be very afraid?

Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/31/2002 07:51 PM PST

Yes, the excitement did get the better of me...two more days til #365, and what a party it will be then, right?!?!?!?!?

Also, Sunday chat is bad for me, that's my SONGFEST night: an evening of rehearsal, try-outs and what-nots.

Monday is great, if it could happen.

Posted by td @ 10/31/2002 08:02 PM PST

The "Gibson Girl" was the ideal woman in the early 1900s. Evelyn Nesbit was one.

Posted by Sandra @ 10/31/2002 08:08 PM PST

Thanks Sandra. Nesbit I know. (Thanks to "Ragtime")

Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 10/31/2002 08:19 PM PST

Sandra,

Does that mean that the
"Hallmark Girl" is the ideal
woman for today ????

NNTAT: no need to answer
that !!!!

They never had Gibson girls
way down under, neither did
we here in France....

Yes, Tom, ideal women are ....
pretty frightening !!!!

Posted by François @ 10/31/2002 08:27 PM PST

Now, that is a nice number of posts. We are jiggy with that number. The Gibson Girl was so named for the girls that the artist Charles Dana Gibson drew and painted. His cover portraits graced many magazines from the turn of the century through the twenties. A wonderful artist. There are a couple of wonderful art books on him - worth seeking out.

Posted by bk @ 10/31/2002 08:30 PM PST

When the crypt doors creak
and the tombstones quake
Spooks come out for a
swinging wake
Happy haunts materialize
And beguin to vocalize
grim grinning ghosts come out
to socialize

As the moon climbs high on
the dead oak tree
Spooks arrive for the midnight
spree
Creepy creeps with eerie etes
Start to shriek and harmonize
grim grinning ghosts come out
to socialize

Posted by Ghost Host @ 10/31/2002 08:36 PM PST

eerie etes ?????`

eerie EYES !!!!!!

Posted by Sorry Ghost Host @ 10/31/2002 08:39 PM PST

Jak R. Earles is represented ( this is one very large issue, btw) by his review of the Criterion Edition dvd of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST.

So, yes, the Haines/Kimmel connection is complete in the Street....

Posted by td @ 10/31/2002 09:00 PM PST

Good evening. Or should that be (thunder, lightning) Good Eeee-ve-ning (more thunder and lightning).

I'm sorry for not posting earlier, but I had a full day of Mamma Mia! - a band rehearsal and then a show. -Now, if you want to talk about scary... the purposely ill-fitting costumes for the curtain call...

My favorite Halloween costume - and my favorite Halloween - was two years ago when I was on the road with a bus & truck tour of Anything Goes. -We played 42 cities in 66 days - now THAT was SCARY!

Well, Halloween became our "Christmas" during this tour. We even did "Secret Satan" gift exchange. And everyone really seemed in the spirit of the season. Every time we stopped at a mall, it became a mission to find a costume. Well, I had never really been much of one to dress up, and still wasn't at this time. Well, we stopped somewhere in North or South Dakota for Halloween night. The company manager had made arrangements for a big suite so that we could have a nice party.

Well, there was a mall nearby, and I suddenly decided I wanted to dress up. After looking at a couple of options, I began to get discouraged. Nothing really seemed to appeal to me. Then, while walking through Target, I happened to come across a rack full of Clearance items - all maternity clothes. So... I picked up a skirt, a non-matching blouse, and began to shop for accessories. I bought various shades of makeup and nail polish, and even found a nice pair of aqua-green fuzzy slippers. And Voila! I called her "Imelda in Exile". -Now THAT was SCARY!!!! -And I have the pictures to prove it. My one and only time in drag.

I had a blast. The party was great. We even headed down to the hotel bar, and participated in the karaoke - of course, with a bunch of actors in there, there were a lot of ringers, but even the locals soon took a shinin' to us. *And you should have seen the looks on the faces of the guys who were wearing cowboy hats - and who were NOT in costume.

It truly was one of the favorite nights of my life. *And the "scariest" costume of the evening was worn by one of the men in the cast - he came as one of the hotels we had stayed in which was truly a scary place. -It was supposed to be a Travelodge - but apparently, they had lost the franchise rights, so the marquee had the "Trave" blacked out. It was now, just plain "lodge".

Well, needless to say, there was much imbibing at the party, and the next morning came way too fast... And here's where the story gets REALLY scary... We all started getting up and noticing that there was quite a storm brewing - lots of rain, wind, cold. Well, apparently, a major snow storm was coming in... So, instead of spending one more night there as originally planned, the company manager decided that we should leave that morning... in other words, soon. So, those of us who were up started making phone calls and knocking on doors. Talk about scary - Halloween Hangovers! We eventually got everyone up, and onto the bus and headed out of Dodge - well, I think it was actually Rapid City, South Dakota. And it turned out to be one of the quietest bus rides the whole trip - everyone was sleeping. Awwww... everyone except me, of course, since I could never really sleep on the bus anyway, and I took a wonderful picture of the whole bus asleep.

*And, as it turned out, we missed a record 18-22 inches of snowfall in one night.

Now wasn't that scary?!?!?

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/31/2002 11:33 PM PST

Oh, and Halloween, well October 31st is also my brother, Michael's, birthday.

Happy Birthday, Mike!

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/31/2002 11:34 PM PST

Tom and Sandra: Do you know your "All About Eve"?

There's a line at Margo's party, spoken by Bill Sampson who has just joined his group of friends after a trip to Margo's bar.

Bill: (To Karen) "Karen, you're a Gibson Girl." (He hands her a drink)

The drink was a martini, made with Gibson's.

The other definition is, of course, the correct one in the original usage.

But there are alternatives to many things....

: )

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/01/2002 01:18 AM PST