Posted by Craig @ 12/18/2002 09:54 AM PST

5 days until William, Craig and Bruce's Brother's birthday

Posted by The Birthday Police @ 12/18/2002 09:56 AM PST

Several short questions:

1) Since you are no longer working outside the house will you go back to answering Wednesday's questions on Thursday instead of waiting until Saturday?

2) Do you know the dates yet for the NYC Tourette Benefit and when do tickets go on sale?

3) What do you think of Broadway producers who know an above-title performer is going to be out of the show on certain dates but continue to advertise that performer as if he or she will not be missing any performances?

4) Do you think that previews on Broadway should be at a lower price than performances after opening since the show is still in an unfinished working state?

5) And in keeping with the season: What child is this who lay to rest?

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 12/18/2002 10:03 AM PST

And don't forget Mr. William F. Orr. That will be some celebration, let me tell you.

And I forgot to tell my story. But also the post I meant to print didn't print, so maybe I will print that here in a little while THEN tell the story.

Posted by bk @ 12/18/2002 10:06 AM PST

I didn't forget William F. Orr - he is listed first.

...must get back to eating donuts...

Posted by The Birthday Police @ 12/18/2002 10:30 AM PST

So, BK, what is your favorite Disney animated feature? And who would you say is your most favorite yet unlikely musical theatre performer?

Posted by Philip Crosby @ 12/18/2002 10:32 AM PST

My dog Shar-Pei Holly nevers moves from in front of the fireplace and is quite miffed when it is not burning.

My ask BK question:

What do you think is the most honest celebrity autobiography you have read?
And which is the - uh - opposite?

And how do you suppose Debbie Reynolds celebrates Christmas?

And last of all - did you get my order for Benjamin Kritzer? 8-D

Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/18/2002 10:35 AM PST

She never moves either.

Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/18/2002 10:36 AM PST

It's nice not to be forgotten. I didn't know it was Bruce's bro's b'day, too. (That's three B words. Sorry, I'm all out of V's.)

We mathematicians love to do the "Birthday problem" in class, which has to do with the probability that a group will contain two people with the same birthday.

It turns out that with a group of 23, it is about 50-50. You get a class of 30 or 40, and it is extremely likely, although most people would not expect it to be.

Of course, when you actually do it in class, you end up with that class where no two people have the same birthday.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 12/18/2002 11:01 AM PST

Dear BK,
1) Do you put up a Christmas Tree?
2)What other deocorations do you put up?
3)Today in K-Mart I saw a Louis Armstrong doll that sings Hello Dolly when you push a button. Do you suppose Jerry Herman get a check for 2 cents every time one of those is sold?

Posted by Sandra @ 12/18/2002 11:03 AM PST

Here is the post to which I alluded yesterday. Actually, I didn't "allude" to it I thought I'd printed it. Anyway, to recap: This is a person I ran into in Palm Springs - I worked with her thirty years ago when she was but a talented sixteen year old piano player. She bought Benjamin Kritzer and read it and then posted, but for some reason I don't really understand, she posted it to an archived notes. In any case, here is what she posted:

I thought it was a lovely post. Now, I do have a really interesting story that goes along with this post, but I will save it for later in the day, so do check back.

Posted by bk @ 12/18/2002 12:01 PM PST

Hmmm. Why is it not allowing me to cut and paste what she wrote into this Unseemly Comment Box. It shows up, but when I post it goes away. Do any of you techno people know what in tarnation is going on? How can I post it?

Posted by bk @ 12/18/2002 12:03 PM PST

Bruce -

if you want to email it to me.. I'll see if I can post it for you..

Posted by Craig @ 12/18/2002 12:07 PM PST

I'm a little slow. I like hard-boiled egg slices and the arrangement of Jingle Bells in Forever Plaid Christmas.

Sorry. I've been "studying" for finals.

Posted by Sandra @ 12/18/2002 12:10 PM PST

What a frightening thought Sandra. A room full of celebrity dolls all singing their "hit" song.
Question thus for BK: Should a Barbie doll sing "People" or "Second Hand Rose" (or do you have another sugestion)

Posted by Tom from OZ @ 12/18/2002 12:11 PM PST

You're right, Tom. It sounds like the musical version of Attack of the Puppet People.

Posted by Sandra @ 12/18/2002 12:14 PM PST

BK-

When will we see a photograph of Lucky Luckey?? Perhaps a two shot of the two of you??

Posted by Arnold M. Brockman @ 12/18/2002 12:40 PM PST

Golem, in Jewish legend, an image or form that is given life through a magical formula. A golem frequently took the form of a robot, or automaton. In the Hebrew Bible (see Psalms 139:16) and in the Talmud, the term refers to an unformed substance. Its present meaning developed during the Middle Ages, when legends arose of wise men who could instill life in effigies by the use of a charm. The creatures were sometimes believed to offer special protection to Jews. The best-known of the golem stories concerned a Rabbi Löw of 16th-century Prague, who was said to have created a golem that he used as his servant.

and now Bruce you know what the hell a Golem is :-)

Posted by MDS @ 12/18/2002 12:41 PM PST

My questions are picking up from last week as I forgot to ask about Judy Kuhn and Linda Purl. In case you forgot Cqan you write one or two sentences on what it was like working with him.

2) The story behind Carol Burnett, JAckee HArry, Sinbad and Woody Wodpecker laughing on I LOVE TO LAUGH on Michelle Nicastro's Reel Imagination.

3) Is there really a Vineland Gospel Chorus (and the Redux) or are they just a name fior the studio singers (Although I do recognize some of them)?

4)Do you keep all reviews (good and bad) of your recordings?
(I only can find a handful online archives)

5)Where did the concept of the "Hidden Track" come from and were you the first producer to do it? Do you prefer a song like Disneyland on the Michelle Nicastro's On My Own, Sound Effects like on No Way To Treat a Lady, or fooling around like Jason Graae or Skinner and Ripley do?

6) How did it become Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley and not the other way around?

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 12/18/2002 01:01 PM PST

Finally, here is the post to which I alluded yesterday...

I don't know how unseemly-a-mood I am in right now. I just wanted to say: charming, engaging, your book was so sweet and touching. Nostalgic, but not drippy. At least not post-nasal, maybe Washington Post, in March, anyway. Anyway, it was an odd and unexpected delight to see you, BK, in, of all places, The Palm Springs Street Fair!? It jolted me into the past and drenched me in colorful memories
My father still refers to William Jarvis as "a genius, a genius!" referring, of course, to his acting by the numbers method. If my father was ever sane, he's lost it all now. I had forgotten that that was the first place we met...I always found you to be intriguing, unique, a little scary for a vulnerable young prodigy as myself. But, perhaps that "crush" I had on you, explains some of my temperament?
It took me a couple of nights to read the novel, not because I'm slow, but I had to read it in-between other demanding projects. But it was a delight! I can't wait for the sequel. My first restaurant? Probably Bob's Big Boy. But my first important one: The Pizza Show: Hawthorne, CA. The whole family could eat, pizza AND spaghetti for under $10! The cheese was tangy, and even better, you could see the pizza maker tossing the round dough into the air and catching it on his knuckles. I was only about eight years old. OH yes, and there was the Beverly HIlls Hotel, crab legs and ....pasta? The surroundings were impressive and I met Jack Fina at the piano, although I didn't even think of ordering Jack Fina for dessert! I'd like for you to see my plays when they happen: sometime next year, exact date is still negotiable.
Tell me more about YOU. Inquiring minds want to know. Oh yes, I think you definitely were adopted and raised by Martians. But, Martian or not, she must have loved you very much to have cried everytime she beat you with a hanger. If that helps. Did you wait until the Martians had died or returned from whence they came, before writing the novel?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Love,
Leslie

Posted by bk @ 12/18/2002 01:27 PM PST

Jesus Christ Superstar! I missed all of yesterday's late posts. Wow! You'd have thought people were discussing the artistic values and shortcomings of Dance of the Vampires on All That Chat for all the bickering back and forth. The bottom line of it is, this is Bruce's site. He can do what he wants with it. We are guests on his site and should respect him as our host. If he does something we don't like, we very much have the right and ability to leave and not return, so why is it that he isn't afforded the same rights? I think had BK not posted about the situation, and Robert had, there would be a whole OTHER "discussion" about "why hasn't BK addressed this situation? What's going on? Blah, blah, blah." If someone doesn't fully understand why BK did what he did, then perhaps that person should go to the source and ask through an email. That's all I'm going to say, and I ain't gonna say no more.

Now it's off to the Met for me. Have a lovely evening, folks!

Posted by Jason @ 12/18/2002 01:34 PM PST

But what about the $%^#ing fashion tips???

Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/18/2002 02:01 PM PST

Jason..

Did you go to Diner Stories? And if so.. spill it!

Posted by Craig @ 12/18/2002 02:08 PM PST

My question (I knew I had one in there someplace):

You seem to have a knack for choosing songs that fit Guy Haines (both his range and his style-- which we all know was stolen from you). Have there been songs that you picked for Mr. Haines that just didn't work after you tried them? If so, which songs were they, and why didn't they work?

A pet behaviorist/trainer can help immmensely with Luckie's problems. If you find one now, you can save yourself MONTHS of hopelessness and frustration. Trust me on this.

Posted by Kerry @ 12/18/2002 02:31 PM PST

I had chosen not to continue the discussion about Bruce's decision of yesterday, but since Jason has brought it up, I will respond.

Yes, Jason, each of us has the right to leave if we so desire. That is very much different from being asked to not return. I think we all know and understand that.

And as for emailing Bruce privately to ask him to explain his actions, let us bear in mind that it was Bruce who chose to air his decision in this very public forum. I don't understand why our questions must suddenly be kept private.

So, in keeping with the spirit of "Ask BK Day", I will ask my questions here in public, as it is encouraged here at HHW.

i) Please give your definition of "loyalty". In the context it was used yesterday, it seemed very puzzling indeed.

ii) Please explain the difference between Mr. Armin's association with your former label, and that of the performers who will be taking part in his online chats.

iii) In the past week, several of the Kimlets at this site have mentioned purchasing a CD that has been issued by your former label. Can we expect that they will no longer be welcome here at HHW?

iv) Do you intend to post a list of rules that participants in this forum must adhere to, in order to continue to be welcomed at this site?

v) What steps will you be taking to ensure that the undesirable element do not post at your site?

Posted by Dave @ 12/18/2002 02:42 PM PST

Is it just me or are these endless posts about Mr. Armin getting a bit monotonous (a Siegel and Carroll reference)and repetative? And using Ask BK Day to continue this will just drag it on. BK has already answered most of the concerns in the above question. Many of us support his decision, some don't. This is beginning to mar the Christmas at HHW festivities. Enough is enough.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 12/18/2002 03:20 PM PST

You know, Dave, I'll answer right now. I saw your posts of yesterday and I've now seen this one. I tried to handle yesterday with as much decorum as I could muster. You seem to think I handled it otherwise. That is your right, most here disagree with you. Mr. Armin himself e-mailed me and basically said if the situation were reversed he would probably have reacted the same. If you spent more time here Dave, you would know that I have encouraged our dear readers to purchase albums that I have produced, no matter what label they are on. WHERE they purchase them is their business, although most tend to purchase them from online sites because, they tell me, the service is reliable and the prices cheaper. Mr. Armin's case is a specific one and if you don't understand that then I'm afraid I can't help you. Mr. Armin and I have shared many e-mails about it and we are adults and each of us understands the other's position. We may not agree with it, but we understand it.

If I choose to have an artist THAT I HAVE EMPLOYED AND WORKED WITH AND CREATED WITH on a chat then I will do so. You keep bringing up Brent as an example. I hate to break it to you, but Brent did the album with ME - he didn't do it because someone he didn't know called him and asked him to. I gave Brent his two albums because I believe in him and find him immensely gifted and we have a ball together. What is difficult to understand? Mr. Armin's situation is totally different - again, if you can't see it no amount of my explaining is going to MAKE you see it. As I said yesterday - I am not comfortable with a member of that family posting to this site. If you cannot understand that, I cannot help you. There are no "rules" here other than courtesy and friendliness even when opinions differ. If you cannot see that I tried to handle yesterday with decorum then I cannot help you. I did not "ban" Mr. Armin, I asked him as a courtesy to me not to post.

As to the meaning of the word "loyalty" as regards me - I'm truly sorry you were confused by my use of the word - No one else seemed to be confused and frankly I'm bored of this whole topic.

So, Dave - it's things back to normal here at haineshisway.com. If you'd like to stay and participate, fine and dandy. If not, we wish you well in whatever you do. I must say I found the tenor (not the alto or the soprano, mind you) of each and every one of your posts antagonistic and mean-spirited, unnecessarily so.

Posted by bk @ 12/18/2002 03:28 PM PST

Anyway.... I think since Al Gore has decided not to run, we ought to form our own party for the next presidential election.

VOTE THE HOTTENTOT TICKET

President - Betty Hutton
Vice President - Gale Storm

Those two gals could shape us up!

Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/18/2002 03:56 PM PST

I just received a very nice e-mail from Mr. Robert Armin and he asked me to post a part of it which I will now do. This puts a period on this subject as far as I'm concerned.

Bruce, I am so sorry. I NEVER intended to cause friction on your site or to set one Kimlet against another. If you thought it would do any good I would be happy to post a plea for people to stop and let this go. I don't feel that I need to be defended because I don't feel that I'm under attack. I'm sorry you took my decision so personally, but I fully understand why you did. I'm doing my best to get on with my life and I wish your readers would allow you to do the same.

I must say that it is only two people who have had any problem whatsoever with the decision I made, and one of those two has e-mailed me privately and we have discussed the matter calmly and rationally.

Now, it is the Christmas season and we are celebratin' pardners, we are decoratin' the site, pardners, and no one no how is gonna put a damper on our Christmas spirit. Any varmint (it is V day) who tries will be thown in a trough and pumped full of lead, and then ink. Mr. William E. Lurie is right - we got us some celebratin' to do (and we are about to make him a happy camper in terms of our very own chat room).

Posted by bk @ 12/18/2002 03:57 PM PST

Anyone for popcorn?

Posted by One Hungry Camper @ 12/18/2002 04:16 PM PST

I have qvestions!

1--Did you try coaxing Luckie out from under the table with puppy cookies? Goldie knows the word "cookie" ("cookies are funny"--The Sunshine Boys) better than her own name. Also, the words "flashlight" and "here, kitty, kitty" makes her run around and bark.

2--Can you conjure up a golem house-boy for me?

3--Have you ever gotten an award for Wit-And-Parry? You should.

4--Do you think you should send New Year cards instead? It will buy you another week.

5--What is a "V Day"?

Posted by KT @ 12/18/2002 04:31 PM PST

My "Ask BK day" question: How did you meet/choose Niki Harris to provide the taps on some of your albums?

Posted by Mark L. @ 12/18/2002 05:19 PM PST

How about some toast?

Posted by Another Hungry Camper @ 12/18/2002 05:33 PM PST

I have another question for BK. What should I send two of my cousins for Christmas? One is Hindu and the other is Buddhist.

Posted by Sandra @ 12/18/2002 05:36 PM PST

Part of my final for my Shakespeare class is writing a paper on a Shakespeare tragedy. I just so happened to have a paper for my English Lit class about KING LEAR. So I read the assignment for the Shakespeare paper, and it had to be 500-750 words. The one I turned in for English Lit just so happened to be exactly 750 words. WOO HOO!!

Posted by Sandra @ 12/18/2002 06:37 PM PST

As BK knows, I spent most of today in a recording studio. We managed to get 12 rather complex songs in the can, with only a few milliseconds that are going to drive me crazy for time and all eternity (ooh, a Mormon reference!).

So, my Ask BK question is: what is the most amount of material you have managed to get final takes of in one day? Have you managed to complete an album in one day? How soon after completing it did you check in to the nearest sanitarium?

On another completely different subject--you seem to celebrate Christmas. My family celebrated Christmas, too (but, of course, I am one of the dreaded "half-breeds"). My wife is 100% Jewish and tends not to want to have anything to do with Christmas. I have told her I know many Jews who do something (that is, other than going to movies) for Christmas. Do you know other Jews who celebrate in some fashion Christmas? If so, how do they celebrate (if you know)?

Posted by JMK @ 12/18/2002 07:49 PM PST

My BK questions (just in the nick and nora of time)

1. Do you remember what song was playing (if any) when you had your first kiss?

2. Where and what were you doing when 1) Kennedy was shot, 2) Challenger blew up, 3) 9/11

3. What are your plans for new years?

4. If your local dvd place is going out of business - does that mean you are losing your advance screening capabilities?

5. What are the top 5 dvd's that aren't out yet that you would want to have? What extras would you want on them?

6. What's the best advice someone has ever given you?

7. Do you have one teacher that inspired you the most or stood out from all the rest? If so - who was it and why

That should do it.. that's a mini plethora if ever I saw it!

Posted by Craig @ 12/18/2002 08:11 PM PST

Well, I hope my post-show questions/post make it in time...

1) Do you ever long for snow around this time of year now that you are based in L.A.? -Almost a "White Christmas" reference.

2) Was there ever a studio session where the singer or instrumentalist was sick, but the finished product showed no signs of any illness?

3) And was there ever a session where someone was sick, and you just had to scrap it since there was no way you were going to get a good take?

4) What album took the longest from initial concept to final production and pressing? And/or which album took a lot more studio time then you had planned for - a LOT more.?

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 12/18/2002 08:49 PM PST

A green butterfly silk dress is a great ensemble for the Holidays! So says Frances Farmer, one of Indianapolis' better-dressed women of 1962!

Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/19/2002 02:37 AM PST

If you click on my name in the above post you will see the lovely photo....fingers X'd.

Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/19/2002 02:38 AM PST

Dear Reader Sandra - there was a lovely song in ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE!

Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/19/2002 02:57 AM PST

Picture link doesn't work....sorry.

Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/19/2002 02:58 AM PST

Alright, I warned you, and you know who you are!

So here it is:

You cannot watch "Buzz Corbet, Space Cadet" tonight. No cake for five days.

Now let us hope I don't have to plop lumps of coal into anybody's stockings.

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

Oh yes, questions for BK.

Will you be doing the Disney/ASCAP thing this year, or will your multitudinous projects get in the way?

Posted by William F. Orr @ 12/19/2002 05:50 AM PST

Bwaaaaaaaa HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Buzz Corbet is a wimp!

Posted by Rocky Jones @ 12/19/2002 06:11 AM PST

I am shocked! Shocked, do you hear? Not one of you caught my elementary error, my dear Watson, not one.

It was Tom Corbett, Space Cadet. Buzz Corry was the main character in Space Patrol (or, as they said at the beginning of the show, "The Spaaaaaaaaace Patrol!" The two series aired from 1950 to 1952.

This is really shocking. Don't they teach history in the schools any more?

Posted by William F. Orr @ 12/19/2002 06:31 AM PST

Well, my dear Mr. Jones, I have read your reviews, indeed I have. Here is a quote from

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0046639#comment

"He looks like Kirk but acts like Spock, only not as excitable. He's about as fun to watch as a dead hamster."

So nya, nya, nya, I say!

Posted by William F. Orr @ 12/19/2002 06:37 AM PST

Please, gentlemen. We must show respect for those who have gone where no one has gone before before us.

Posted by Cpt. Katherine Janeway @ 12/19/2002 06:40 AM PST

Bruce,

I thank you for replying to my post. I recognize that this was a difficult decision for you, and I am sure you knew in advance that there would be some who would disagree with your decision. Obviously, I am one such person. Ron was another. Perhaps there are others who have simply chosen not to post.

As you say, this site encourages discussion - "even when opinions differ". In this case, my opinion differs. I hope you will understand that I disagree with your decision, and am disappointed in the manner in which you have behaved. That you handled the matter with decorum is not a question. If anything, the situation was very amicable. That doesn't change my opinion that the decision to ask Mr. Armin to discontinue his involvement here was somewhat drastic.

However, it was never my intention to be antagonistic. I went back and re-read all of my posts again this morning, and I maintain that the comments I made and questions I asked were legitimate, and were an attempt to rationalize your actions in the context you had explained them. If you read my first post, you will find the following:

"My hope is that BK will reconsider his decision from a more calm and mature point of view, and extend an open invitation to ALL the Kimlets to join in a true spirit of community and harmony.

And that is my Christmas wish."

If you read that as antagonistic, then you have inferred a meaning that was the opposite of my intent. As Craig pointed out, tone is often difficult to determine online. If my writing style is to blame for the inferrence, then I apologize.

I will try to be as clear as possible in explaining my concerns:

In asking Mr. Armin not to continue posting, you said it was a matter of loyalty. This suggests to me that you view his involvement with your former label to be an act of disloyalty. (Please correct me if I have misinterpreted this.) If this is the case, then it would seem logical that you would also look upon others who associate with that company as being disloyal to you. When I note that artists who have previously recorded with you - some of them at your former label - are continuing their involvement with that label, I have to wonder whether you view their actions as disloyal, too. Obviously, I was being facetious when suggesting that you would object to people purchasing recordings from that label. I only meant to suggest that there are degrees of loyalty/disloyalty, and the circumstances would seem to dictate your reactions.

Also let me be clear: I am not attempting to defend the actions of Mr. Armin (I am as confused by them as most of us are), nor would I *ever* wish to defend or excuse the actions of your former label. But you have always maintained that we are a family at HHW, and your actions are equivalent to "disowning" a family member because you disapprove of their life choices. I am sure there are *many* of us here who have lived through such a real-life circumstance, and can relate the pain that it involves. It destroys the sense of true family and loyalty that previously existed. That is what I feel has happened here, and as I said before, I find it truly, genuinely sad.

For the record, I have been reading your daily notes since the days on your former label, and there is scarcely a day that goes by that I am not visiting this site - often several times a day. I do not post every day, as I don't always have something of value to contribute to the topic at hand, but I have rarely been "errant" or "truant". I will now need to consider whether I wish to continue as such.

And by the way (BTW, in Internet lingo), I am neither a tenor nor a soprano, I am a baritone.

Feel free to reply via private email, if you wish to discuss the matter further. I will not post to this forum regarding the matter anymore.

Posted by Dave @ 12/19/2002 07:04 AM PST

Whoever wrote that IMDB has obviously not seen Mr Jones in action in Crash of Moons or Pirates of Prah! Hmmphhh!

Yes his name was Tom...but I am sure SOMEONE called him Buzz...

As for teaching in school...well I don't know how to find the area of a circle but I do know all the lyrics to Pineapple Princess so I would say the educational system here is FINE.

Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/19/2002 07:13 AM PST

Captain Video and his video rangers blow all the others out of the galaxy.

And though nobody asked, Tom Corbett's two assistants were Cadet Astro and Cadet Manning.

(How do I remember all that #$&% from my youth when I can barely remember things from a month ago?)

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 12/19/2002 07:35 AM PST

Rocky's assistant was named Winky (Scotty Beckett) and his navigator was Vena Ray (Sally Mansfield) and his friend was Bobby (Robert Lydon) who had the coolest kid job in the WORLD!

Even though most of the exteriors were filmed at the Griffith Observatory and the Los Angeles water works -it sure looked like the FUTURE to me!

Rocky Jones rulz. >8-D

notice the antennae

Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/19/2002 07:44 AM PST

I haven't a clue as to what you people are talking about, but I once had a one-eyed dog and named it Winky.

Posted by Jay @ 12/19/2002 08:47 AM PST

Oh, dear Reader Jay - you probably can't name the investigators from 77 Sunset Strip either. 8-(

Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/19/2002 09:09 AM PST