haines his way

12/14/2002:
"LETTING MY HAIR DOWN"

Well, dear readers, Luckie has moved in and seems perfectly happy and I have had my last day in the madhouse known as reality television, at least for now (I’ve already been broached about directing some interviews next week – we shall see). I’m ready to start writing every day and, in fact, can’t wait to do so.
My goodness we had a lovely number of posts yesterday and not only were they a lovely number their content was most excellent, oh, yes, their content was most excellent. Today I shall be doing errands and catching up, shopping for groceries and so on and so forth and also so forth and so on. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Also, my friend Nick Redman has told me to run, not walk, to my nearest compact disc emporium to pick up Mr. John Williams’ soundtrack to Mr. Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me if You Can, which he tells me I will love.
Despite dire predictions of rain it does appear to be quite sunny outside. Of course, when Los Angeles, California weather people direly predict rain one can always count on sunny skies. Can someone please tell me how December can be half over? I haven’t done any Christmas shopping or even Christmas decorating. But starting Monday I shall be doing both. Also, starting Monday we’re going to start our countdown celebration to Christmas right here at haineshisway.com. Yes, Virginia, the spirit of Christmas will sparkle brightly every single day, so don’t miss out on the fun for one single moment.
Also, tomorrow at six p.m. Pacific Mean Time is our Unseemly Live Chat which, in just a few short weeks, has become the most popular chat room on all the Internet. What fun we have and if you haven’t partaken you must partake so that you can say you partook. It is wild and zany non-stop fun, let me tell you that. People let their hair down, let me tell you that. Why do people let their hair down? What did their hair ever do to deserve such insensitive treatment? What the hell am I talking about?
Perhaps we should all click on the Unseemly Button below because don’t I have some excellent questions to answer? Don’t I have to let my hair down? Don’t I have to amscray because the cleaning lady has arrived and is giving Luckie and me the evil eye?

There, I’ve let my hair down and my hair is now sulking like a little baby in the corner. Well, on to your excellent questions.
Craig asks if the rumor he heard, that Rupert Holmes is bringing Drood to ABC Television is true? I shall e-mail him and get an excellent answer for you.
Jrand55 asks if I ever met or did I work with Kevin Coughlin, Carroll Baker and Debbie Reynolds. If Kevin was/is a casting director, yes. No to Carroll Baker (although I always liked her) and no to Debbie, although we’re asking her to do a cameo in my upcoming film.
William E. Lurie asks if Guy Haines and I exchange Christmas gifts and if so what are some of the gifts I’ve given him? Well, Guy Haines has never given me anything (except attitude occasionally) – I, on the other hand, gave him many albums to sing on. But he has a devil-may-care attitude so what can one do. He did say thank you once and I nearly fell over onto a divan, oh, yes, I nearly fell over onto a divan. If a school or community or stock theater wanted to present a show that had had a Broadway revival with a revised book, are they stuck doing the new version or can they still do the original script? I don’t know a definitive answer, but I believe that it varies from show to show. Does the original librettist (or their estate) have any control over this? It would depend on their contract, who held the overall grand rights of the show, and what deal they or their estates signed when the revival was done.
Sandra asks how are the literary techniques in Edgar Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado similar to those in Edith Wharton’s Roman Fever? Also, how are they different? To address the latter before the former: They are different in the following way – Edith Wharton wrote one of them and Edgar Allen Poe wrote the other. Also, they have totally different words in their respective titles, although there are certain words that do appear in both books, such as “the” and “and” and “who”. As to the literary techniques between the books, I find they both use sentences and paragraphs. Also, the first word in each sentence is capitalized. I hope this helps you on your paper. Did you know that the original title of Poe’s story was The Cask of Armadillo? But when an armadillo threatened a costly lawsuit, Mr. Poe changed it to Amontillado. Of course, changing it did no good because he was then sued by Chester Amontillado.
Michael Shayne asks if I can write one or two sentences as to what it was like working with the following people: Brent Barrett, Liz Callaway, Petula Clark, Jason Graae, Randy Graff, Debbie Gravitte, Judy Kaye, Rebecca Luker, Sally Mayes, Michelle Nicastro, Christianne Noll, Paige O’Hara, Helen Reddy, Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley and Twiggy. If they asked me I could write a book – oh, a Rodgers and Hart reference. Here goes: Brent – totally professional, easy to work with, takes direction as well as anyone I’ve ever worked with and is totally there to do the best he can. Liz – dreamy. Again, very open, there to do her best and wants to be very involved in everything. She’s an amazing talent. Petula – a legend. I loved every minute of working with her. Again, totally open to direction, a total pro and a very randy sense of humor. Working with her was a dream come true and we had a blast and laughed constantly. She was amazed that we could do an album as fast as we did, but she loved the experience. Jason – a laughfest, start to finish. Easy as pie, a wonderful person, and we adore each other so it’s just pure joy. Randy – it was a difficult album for me – I wasn’t thrilled with some of the charts and arrangements, but she and her musical director were hard-nosed about what they were doing. I should have taken more involvement early on, but I was in the middle of two other albums. However, in the studio, once we got used to each other, she was faboo, simply a wonderful singer/actress and she did a fantastic job and we had a great deal of fun. Debbie – I’ve known Debbie since she was nineteen. She’s a diva (in a good sense) and we love working together. She’s used to doing her thing, and I’m very strong about interpretation and subtlety and playing the lyric for all it’s worth, and she’s phenomenal to direct. I really do love singers who can take a note you give them, make it totally their own and unique and give you something fresh and wonderful. Judy – what a great person. Again, I’ve known her for ages, and we just get along great (this is a recurring theme here) and she’s a dream in the studio. Terrific singer/terrific actress. Rebecca – Rebecca was going through some bad personal problems when we did her album. I think she’s brilliant, but I must tell you that she did not understand the concept of “scratch vocals” (when we do the band I always have the singer do vocals on each song – then on three successive days they come back and do their final vocals). She just nailed practically everything because I’m not sure she understood she was coming back to do finals. Ninety percent of her album was from that first session which is pretty amazing. Sally – tough but fun, and again, we really understand each other and are on the same wavelength. Michelle – the nicest human being you’d ever want to meet and doing her four albums were a total treat. Christianne – one of the guys, and one of the most amazing vocal instruments ever – she can really do everything. Like most Broadway folk, her tendency is to want to “sell” but she’s very good at trusting me and listening and going to new places and trusting her subtle side. I adore her. Paige – I never really got close to Paige, and again I would like to have been more involved in the selection and arrangement process. But she’s very talented and we did have a nice time in the studio and I like her album. Helen – well, that’s a toughie. A great voice, but she doesn’t really like to listen, she just does her thing. She’s also very randy but not in as much fun a way as Petula. Still and all, when she opens her mouth the angels sing. Emily and Alice – what can I say? They are wonderful, each in their own way, and you couldn’t ask for better voices, nicer people, or a more wacky time. I’d work with either one any time, any place. Twiggy – well, I love Twiggs with a passion. In terms of great sessions, she’s in the top ten – she was just a blast and a dream to work with. She loved getting direction, craved it, and then delivered in spades when she got it. A funny story – when Tommy Tune came in to do his duet with her, I went up to him after the first take and said a couple of things, and he sort of looked at me funny. Twiggs saw it and said to him, “You listen to Bruce, he’s brilliant.” (brilliant is her favorite word). And Tommy listened and I simply am charmed to pieces by that duet. Whew, what a trip down memory lane.
Tom from Oz asks if I have any favorite Andrew Lloyd Webber how tunes. Sure – Tell Me on a Sunday is lovely, and so is Unexpected Song. I really like the tune of All I Ask of You and I love the song Laurie Beechman did from Jeeves, Half a Moment.
Jed asks if there is a long-running show, past or present, that ran so long that it made no sense to me. Not really. I mean, I have never understood the popularity of Cats, but people went and went and went again. Even when it was cool to like Cats (when it first opened) I didn’t really think it would ever have nine lives. I was surprised The Life lasted a year, and I was really surprised Titanic lasted as long as it did.
Jose asks if I’ve ever played a cast album backward. Well, the needle would never go in that direction even though I tried when I was a mere sprig of a twig of a lad of a youth. I suppose one could say that when I listen to Merrily We Roll Along I’m listening to it backward. But, no, I usually start at the beginning and go right through. I’m conventional in that and every other way, especially when I am in a dither. Who has surprised me in a role that I didn’t think they’d be able to pull off or they were not appropriate for. Certainly Phyllis Diller in Hello, Dolly! I thought it would be a joke and she was one of the best Dollys I’ve ever seen. Marin Mazzie surprised the hell out of me (no mean feat) in Kiss Me Kate because while I really like her, I had no idea she could do the comedy as well as she did. Do inchworms stop adding after sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two. Certain inchworms do, but others continue on although they are usually castigated for doing so.
Donna asks if she’s right in noting that the way a show is developed has changed since the golden age – aren’t workshops relatively new and wasn’t A Chorus Line developed through a series of workshops? Yes, and I am on record as saying that I don’t think all these workshops and endless readings are so healthy. Michael Bennett started it all with A Chorus Line, but it is much different today – fully staged workshops with lots of friends in attendance, with full publicity and now even the public in attendance. It’s really gone too far and shows like Seussical and Sweet Smell of Success have suffered for it. Both of those shows came out of their multiple workshops with such a sense of cockiness and sureness that when they opened out-of-town and totally didn’t work that their creators were so taken aback that they could never do all the fixing the shows needed, because they sat there and scratched their collective heads and said, “But the workshop was great.” The Producers did one go-through and then opened in Chicago, did the fix-up work they needed to and came in. What about heavy advance ticket sales? Donna read an article that said that society women’s groups were the impetus behind the huge advance for The Producers. Did that method exist before? Oh, my, yes. The theater party ladies have been around forever. In the golden age, they were absolutely instrumental in advance ticket sales and in making shows have long runs, and even insuring that a tour for the show would happen. They used to do special run-throughs or tab versions of new musicals for the theater party bookers.
George asks when I purchase movies or even TV shows do I prefer widescreen or pan-and-scan or does it matter? It matters very much – I always want the original aspect ratio of whatever film or TV show I’m purchasing. I want how it was shown originally – if that’s 1:33 (the old Academy ratio) that’s what I want. If it’s 1:85 (most post 1953 films were shown in and continue to be shown in that ratio) then that’s what I want, etc. Have I ever chosen not to buy a movie because the only available version was pan-and-scan. Sure. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, originally scope, is only available full-frame and I avoided it like the plague. I will buy certain 1:85 films if they’re full-frame even though they don’t thrill me. George then brings up Dick Tracy which he feels should have been in the Academy ratio because that’s the way it was originally shot. He feels they cropped it top and bottom to show it widescreen and feels it should have been full screen. Well, I’ve read this before, but it’s more complicated than that. While the creators of the film can say anything they like (and I’m not sure what they’ve said, frankly), the fact is that Dick Tracy was never shown full frame anywhere except on home video. There are only a handful of theaters in the US that even have the ability to show full frame. The creators of Dick Tracy shot the film and new how it would be projected in almost every theater in the US – i.e. 1:85. So, the current DVD of Dick Tracy replicates the theatrical version. I don’t want any film or tv show altered from the original aspect ratio it was projected or shown in. I endured years of Nudie Musical being shown on video full frame (open matte) where you could see over the tops of the sets and one of the most famous gags in the film was ruined because you could see the bottom of the frame. How many other Bruces have I known? Oh, a few, I suppose. I had a chiropractor named Bruce and I knew several other Bruces in school. What’s the most number of Bruces I’ve been with at one time? Two. Other than family, how many Kimmels have I known? I know of many other Kimmels but I don’t know them personally. What’s the one question I’ve been asked most often on Ask BK Day.? Surprisingly, we haven’t had a lot of repeat questions, and I can’t remember which ones were – although I’m pretty certain it was album-related.
Well, my goodness, I had some long-winded answers. However, I do hope I sufficiently let my hair down and provided some decent ones.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must travel hither and thither and then thither and hither all the while letting my hair down because frankly I have had it with my fershluganah hair. Don’t forget the live chat. I’ll have details tomorrow. Today’s topic of discussion: What was the first toy you remember getting? And what was the first board game you ever got? I’ll check back later, but post away and post often and while you’re at it let your hair down just to teach it a lesson.

Replies: 33 Unseemly Comments

I don't remember the first toy but the first board game was Candyland.
Christmas seems to be coming so fast because Thanksgiving was the latest it can be this year.
It's coookie baking day. I wish I could send all of you a cookie, but since I can't that's more for me (and the doorman and the delivery boy and my co-workers, etc.).
Posted by Wilian E. Lurie @ 12/14/2002 10:13 AM PST

Board game: Candyland
Toy: Either platic bowling ball and pins or the dashboard, steering wheel and windhield of a car that worked. Of course the first time out I had an accident. What do you except I was only 4 and way too young to drive
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 12/14/2002 10:16 AM PST

I know that this is off subject but will we ever get to see a photograph of lucky Luckie?
Posted by Arnold M. Brockman @ 12/14/2002 10:39 AM PST

Thank you for the help, BK. With insight like that I will most certainly get an A.
My first toy was my pink gingham doll named Lolly. And my brother had a sock monkey named Bo Bo. The first board game we got was Candyland.
As a matter of fact, it is Candyland at our house today. We are making candy. We are making chocolate peanut clusters, chocolate covered macadamias, chocolate rice crispy thingies, and white chocolate Oreo thingies.
That reminds me of a story. We were watching that PBS thing with Broadway love songs, and I came up with a brilliant game. Every time some one said "love," I would eat a white chocolate patty. It was great until Michael Ball started singing Love, Love Changes Everything. Do you know how many times he says the word "love" in that song?? And then he did an encore! By the time he was done, my mouth was full of white chocolate and I was about to puke.
Wasn't that a lovely story? Wasn't that just too too?
Posted by Sandra @ 12/14/2002 10:41 AM PST

Why, Mr. Brockman, I do believe that I emailed a picture of Luckie to BK some time ago. I took a lovely photo of her when we were there last month.
Posted by Laura @ 12/14/2002 10:53 AM PST

Game - yet another Candyland
vote. My younger sister always
quit the game if godforbid I got
Queen Frostine before she
could. She thought she
deserved get the pretty one.
My sister was a little brat when
she was a kid.
Toy - wow, thinking way back
here. I think it'd have to be a
toy loom I got when I was 4 or
so...I loved that thing, but never
had the patience to finish
anything I started on it.
Not on topic, but I must share
a little theater experience I had
last night. Actually, that's
exactly what it was...a show I
saw at the Tacoma Little
Theatre, a production of R&H
Cinderella. The director was,
according to his bio, the
greatest thing ever to walk the
planet. He listed awards he'd
gotten in everything from
directing to set design, and
he's done over 250
productions in 12 states..etc
etc. I do dislike a lengthy bio.
It's one thing to toot one's own
horn. It's quite another to play
a fuge on one's own horn.
Anyway, from what I saw, the
director's strong points lay
clearly in the areas of set and
costume design, which he did
for the show , and not so much
in actualy stage direction.
Granted he was dealing with a
community production, but
still, with good direction
community members can
often pull decent things off.
Most of the cast was adequate
but not particularly noteworthy.
Cinderella was decent
enough, except when the
music required her to sing
harmony with anyone else...at
which time she would
promptly move into another
key, usually a half-step or so
away. *shudder* The royal
chef was acutally quite
amazing...in his one short
song, he managed to never,
ever, not one single time, hit
the beat at the same time as
the music. That actually
seems like it'd be harder than
occasionally getting on the
right beat. Which brings me to
the music itselt...well, call me
a snob, but I've just never been
a fan of an "orchestra" done by
three keyboards set to different
instruments. It just sounded
tacky.
On a better note, the costumes
were all done a la 20's style,
which was great fun and
worked very well, and the set,
done on a circular rotating
stage, was excellent.
Okay, I've had my Ken
Mendelbaum moment...back
to studying for finals...
Posted by Ann @ 12/14/2002 11:09 AM PST

What a wonderful column to day FULL of information that is decorative & useful!
Carroll Baker is one of MY favorites as well. Met her once at a Hollywood autograph show and she looks great, has a great sense of humor, and talked to all and sundry. At a table across the aisle was the other 1965 Harlow, Miss Carol Lynley, who likewise was very gracious. There were those who seemed to be expecting a Rock 'em Sock 'em Pseudo-Harlow rumble, but it never materialized.
No....I think Kerwin Coughlin is the casting agent you might be thinking of, and strangely enough he was not related to Kevin Coughlin. Kevin starred a in a few TV shows (he was Patty Duke's military school cadet date) and in a supporting role in WILD IN THE STREETS.
Debbie in a cameo? 8-D Terrific, just stand back and let her work! She ain't down yet.
Toys? Probably a car - my first games were Mr. Potato Head and Tiddly Winks.
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/14/2002 11:13 AM PST

Oh...board game.....a lovely checkers set that also included chess pieces! And since we didn't know how to play THAT game and those pieces were neater looking, we just played checkers with the chess pieces. CROWN ME!
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/14/2002 11:16 AM PST

Three in a row....my memory....
Jose - have a great opening night!
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/14/2002 11:17 AM PST

My first board game: Uncle Wiggily!
The earliest toy I remember receiving was a squeeze toy called "Hobo the Joe" -- at least, that's the way I remember it. It may well have been "Joe the Hobo" but I remember my mom always asking me where my "Hobo the Joe" was! It was a hobo, plain and simple. And I loved it dearly!!!
I stand before you all -- rather, I sit before you all -- and admit that for the past two weeks, I was a "Taken" junkie.
I thoroughly enjoyed the series even though I'd never cast Matt Frewer in anything if I could possibly have that ability...the man's nasal voice and skeletal skull are huge turnoffs.
Still, the little girl was amazing. And, being a film music "fanboy", as it were, I have to say the score by Laura Karpman was first-rate and often totally amazing and transcendent.
She developed a rather nice main theme that soared when she told it to and which broke the heart in gentler mode...and she flexed her talent with touches of (Alex) Northian atonality which sent shivers up and down my spine. Thursday night, there was an incredible sequence performed primarily on piano that thrilled me. Last night, a couple of full-orchestral onslaughts had me holding my breath at the audacity of her skills.
Through it all, there was nothing overbearing or otherwise ostentatious or unwelcome.
She's a major musical voice and should be joining the ranks of A-list composers.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 12/14/2002 12:37 PM PST

First games were probably "ludo" and "snakes and ladders". Other than soft toys my earliest memory of a toy was a clockwork boat that lasted many years and lived on or near our fishpond. I probably was given a few toy cars but I no doubt ignored them (along with any sporting equipment) and went to read a book.I was an avid Enid Blyton reader. Those were the days when Christmas presents consisted of maybe two books and a few things for the new school year.And we were very happy. I find it difficult to accept the need for parents to spend so much money on gifts these days. As far as I know all my childhood books are with my niece these days - awaiting the arrival of her first child (Jan 3). My niece and nephew both grew up with a love of books and hopefully so too will the next generation.
Thanks again for all your good wishes yesterday. I did check the late posts Ron!
A thought for the coming New Year. It might be a good time to do another countdown of "who we are" (If we can remember the lies we told last time). We have had some new dear readers join us of late.
Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 12/14/2002 12:57 PM PST

BK: I haven't heard the word "am-scray" since my mother died! No-
one says good stuff like that anymore.
First Toy: a Wetsy-Betsy doll
First Game: either Monopoly or
Chinese Checkers, til my sisters lost all the game pieces and marbles. I still carry a grudge.
KT
Posted by KT @ 12/14/2002 02:16 PM PST

Just read yesterday's notes and am sorry that I missed Tomofoz's Birthday. So:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOMOFOZ!!
AND MANY HAPPY RETURNS!!!
(oh--a Patrick McGoohan reference!)
As to my own, it is on the 23rd of December, and I will be turning 58 and playing my very own Birthday Song "The Christmas Child" in both the original cast of Irma la Douce and the Broadway Christmas version with Greg Jbara, Ron Raines, and Lee Wilkof. My brother's daughter was actually born on Christmas day, so they celebrate her "half-birthday" on June 25, which btw (by the way in Internet Lingo) is Saint William's Day.
I want to thank Ben for mentioning that he was listening to the Manhattan Transfer Christmas album. When I read that note, my Joe had on an MT album to do laundry to. When I went out for milk, I picked up their Christmas album, and I look forward to playing it for Joe, who is a big fan of theirs.
Now to get the pizza heated up for a night of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring on Starz, while we record Ocean's Eleven on HBO and Bent (alas without Richard Gere, whom I saw do it on Broadway) on Showtime 2.
Joy, Joy, Joy, to all.
P.S. While I was at Borders for Manhattan Transfer, I asked about Brent Barrett's album, and they didn't have it. But I know someone here found it at a Borders. Ah wee! I contented myself with Tony Bennett & k.d. lang's album, plus "Billion Dollar Baby" in the York Theatre verstion. I confess I had never heard of it. But with Comden & Green, how could I go wrong?
Posted by William F. Orr @ 12/14/2002 02:52 PM PST

First toy -- Beanie & Cecil stuffed animals.
First board game -- Kurplunk!
Posted by Angela D. @ 12/14/2002 04:30 PM PST

Oh, Angela D., what a memory rush I have had. Beanie and Cecil! I had a Beanie Copter, a hat with a wind up plastic attachment and when you pulled the string, the attachment flew off the hat, into the air. What fun! I still have an original Mickey Mouse Club tie bar from the show. I don't know when my parents got it for me, but I wore it whenever a 4 or 5 year old had to wear a tie. I wear it now for special occasions such as seeing Company and Sweeney Todd and Night Music at the Kennedy Center, and various office functions. People always ooh and ahh and say "Do you know how much you could get for that on E-Bay?" Actually, I don't know but it's a moot point because I wouldn't sell it for nuttin'
I remember having a cowboy outfit which I loved to wear more as a costume then to play Cowboy and Indians. I think that was a link to my theatrical future. I also remember one of my first Christmas presents being a toy store which went along with my sisters (plural, at that time I had 3, two older and one younger) toy kitchen. They could buy food from my store and then make it in the kitchen.
Board games-I remember Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders (loved that game) and Sorry. As we got older, we learned how to play Cribbage from my English grandfather and my father. Still love a good game of Cribbage, but it's hard to find people who know how to play.
Posted by Ben @ 12/14/2002 04:58 PM PST

Now, now, now (that is three nows - do three nows equal a then?) where in tarnation IS everyone? Having a life? That is totally unacceptable. We must have more posts otherwise I shall have to whip you into a frenzy like in Ben-Hur when Mr. Charlton Heston is rowing the big boat. Now, let's get the lead out, you Hainsies/Kimlets, and when you're through getting the lead out, get the ink out. We are having far too much fun.
Posted by bk @ 12/14/2002 04:59 PM PST

What about the graphite? Can we leave that in? ;-)
First toy: I don't remember. I remember having this yellow teddy bear, though, and I think it was there when I was born, so I'll say that was my first.
Favorite Board Game: I love Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and the Game of Life. I also am a Yatzhee freak.
Posted by Jason @ 12/14/2002 09:06 PM PST

Jrand55: Thanks for the belated opening night wishes. We had a very good show, and even though most of the food was gone by the time we got up to the reception, it was great hanging out for a while.
As for first board game: Either "Operation" - which is not really a board game, but... I do remember "Candyland" and "Parcheesi". Oh, and "Sorry". However, my favorite one was "Bermuda Triangle" - it was this 3-d game board with the "cloud" that was on a small casters. You rolled the dice to move to certain places on the board. When someone rolled the "triangle" you would move the "triangle" over the corresponding area. The "triangle" had magnets in it, so some times a piece would "disappear". Cheesy, but fun and effective. There was also a similar game called "Titanic" which was lots of fun.
First toy: Had to be some sort of Tyco race track. Loved making the cars derail.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 12/14/2002 09:12 PM PST

First toy that I remember was a little boy dolly. It was one of those one piece rubber things like all the girl dolls, but it was a boy. He had shorts and little white T-shirt molded on his body. I don't know what I called him at the time, but I later called him Scotty (it's a long story that probably doesn't even make sense). My grandmother had kept the toy, and after begging for it for some time, my aunt finally gave it back to me. So, it's been on the shelf with some books for 15-20 years.
First board game: Candyland, of course. But the first version, not the thing they have out now. After I looked for one for years, my partner found one on e-bay several years ago and got it for me. I always liked the Ice Cream Floats and often tried to land there. I never liked the Peanut Brittle Shack.
Posted by Kerry @ 12/14/2002 09:24 PM PST

The first board game that I remember playing is SORRY. My parents had that when my sister and I were small and we still play it now (we've replaced it several times over the years). We've also had AGGRAVATION for a long time.
I've had too many toys to remember the first. One of the earliest that I can remember (and probably the most dangerous) was a Time Machine, based on the 1960s movie, I think. It came with little plastic-y/rubbery squares that you put into the "Time Machine" chamber (a clear plastic dome with a sliding door). The floor of the chamber was just metal mesh over a heating element like a stove top. Talk about a safety hazard! When you turned it on, the element heated up and the little plastic-y/rubbery square sort of melted out of the square shape and turned into a warlock. You would carefully take it out of the chamber and play with it after it cooled. You could heat it back up and put it in the de-evolver crusher thingy that squeezed the monster back into the little square. There were squares of different colors and each was its own monster. It was fun while it lasted. I think we lost it when we moved from Germany to Colorado.
Posted by George @ 12/14/2002 09:32 PM PST

Today, my mom took me to see The Full Monty. They took off their clothes in front of everyone!!! How unseemly!
Posted by Sandra @ 12/14/2002 10:42 PM PST

The Full Monty: Woohoo!! Men in thongs!
Posted by Laura @ 12/14/2002 10:44 PM PST

Congratulations to Jose on the South Pacific opening - word has it that it went swimmingly.
Sandra, shame shame. You are not supposed to be looking at men's monties, full or otherwise. We will have to bitch-slap you if it happens again. We shall have to make up for the dearth of posts today with a plethora of posts tomorrow or I shall be sad.
Posted by bk @ 12/14/2002 11:34 PM PST

I saw the lovely Danny Gurwin in THE FULL MONTY...and when I say I saw him, I mean I saw ALL of him. Not that I was looking or anything...*ahem*
I'm afraid I need to ask for your positive Hainesie/Kimlet vibes again. My friend Mo, who, as you may remember is suffering from lung cancer, is going into the hospital on Monday for an undetermined period of time. He's to have part of one of his lungs removed, even though he's already very tired and weak, so I'm thinking it must be pretty bad. All the doctors told him back in the summer that they didn't expect him to live past Christmas. His operation is scheduled after the holiday. He sent me an email letting me know that he has cancelled his AOL account, packed up his things and is preparing to go into the hospital. I'm afraid that may have been the last time I will ever hear from him, which has made me incredibly sad. It's a lot harder to handle than I expected and I really would appreciate you keeping Mo and his friends and family (including myself) in your thoughts from time to time. I know its strange to feel so close to someone you never met in "real" life, but it doesn't change the fact that I feel that I'm losing a very close friend. The friendships I've made here at HHW.com mean a great deal to me, too, and I just wanted to let you guys know that.
Wow! Do I know how to bring a room down or what? Who has cake? I think I need some...
Posted by Jason @ 12/14/2002 11:57 PM PST

Jason, Mo will be in our thoughts and prayers, as well as you and the rest of his family and friends.
Posted by Laura @ 12/15/2002 12:10 AM PST

Oh, my! Where was I yesterday to have missed a celebration?!
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, TOM!
Posted by Susan Gordon @ 12/15/2002 12:11 AM PST

Jason, I just read your post and was so sorry to hear about Mo's pending surgery. Know that the strength of all our prayers and good wishes go out to Mo, to his family, and to you. We are, indeed, a family here at HHW, and we care about one another.
Believe in miracles. They do happen.
Posted by Susan Gordon @ 12/15/2002 12:24 AM PST

BK:
Will it be unseemly for Dear Reader Laura and Dear Reader Sandra to see The First Nudie Musical: The Musical? Most unseemly, most unseemly.
Dear Reader Jason,
Our thoughts here are with Mo. There is ring of friends that girds the planet with qi. This is "real life", too.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 12/15/2002 02:12 AM PST

Thanks Susan & William for your wishes.
Jason's post puts our lives into perspective somewhat. Friends are so important. My thoughts are with you Jason and every good vibe I can muster is going Mo's way. Love can ease one hell of a lot of pain. Friendship has its own special magic.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 12/15/2002 02:17 AM PST

William--I agree with you. There is a ring of friendship and love that is sometimes simply too good to believe.
I have forwarded your well-wishes and thoughts to Mo. I hope that he will be as touched by them as I am right now. You guys are wonderful...but, I already knew that.
Thanks for caring.
Posted by Jason @ 12/15/2002 02:40 AM PST

Jason, Of course I will be sending all positive thoughts to Mo (and you). It doesn't seem silly at all to feel love for people you've never met. I love you. That's we hainsie/kimmlet types are all about.
Now, about that cake......
Posted by Kerry @ 12/15/2002 05:42 AM PST

Isn't THE FULL MONTY about Mr. Wooley after a Thanksgiving dinner?
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 12/15/2002 08:01 AM PST

I thought it was about Mr Clift. 8-D
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/15/2002 08:19 AM PST

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