Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/28/2003 08:52 AM PST

First post - huzzah!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/28/2003 08:53 AM PST

WOW.. I can't believe it.. finally we all get to see what Meltz and Ernest look like...

They are every bit as I imagined them to be.. you can see such talent, creativity and intellect in their eyes...

Posted by Craig @ 02/28/2003 08:54 AM PST

So true, Craig. And the toupee looks so natural!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/28/2003 09:12 AM PST

CD Player: Tap Your Troubles AWay, the Jerry Herman tribute.

VCR: My tape of KMK from the other night, which I have not yet watched due to what's in my DVD.

DVD: The just-released, long-awaited (by me, anyway) THE FORSYTE SAGA complete series (not the recent terrible one; the great 60s black-and-white one with Kenneth More, Eric Porter and Nyree Dawn Porter). 26 episodes on 7 DVDs, which should keep me busy for quite a while....

Posted by Pam @ 02/28/2003 09:14 AM PST

JRand (and everyone else, too): Please read my late posts to yesterday's notes (from about an hour ago).

Also, now that you've seen A&C, what did Tony tell Cleopatterer?

In my CD at work: The Bobby Darrin Story

In CD at home: Whatever Joe is listening to, probably Supertramp or Candy Dolfer

In Downstairs VCR: Kiss the Sexiest Man Alive, Kate!

In Upstairs VCR: blank tape to record Farscape, which will immediately be replaced by another blank tape to record Bruce Kimmel's Sex Sex Sex on Showtime's Penn & Teller's Bullstuff.

Which he was evidently too modest to mention in his notes today.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 02/28/2003 09:26 AM PST

Currently taking up lodging in my Discman is Mike Oldfield's AMAROK. I really have no clear idea why it is there, other than that I've always enjoyed Oldfield's non-vocal work. (As a songwriter he's not very interesting, but as an instrumentalist he's very very. When it comes to songwriters, I'll stick with Meltz and Ernest, thank-you very much.)

I have decided there is one trait of my ever-loving der Brucer's that is frustrating as all heck. I simply cannot trust him to behave himself in a grocery store. His eyes will wander, and the next thing I know he'll pick up some item, a squash or fruit or cucumber, and into the cart it will go. I will have planned out dinner rather well, and found the needed components, and when we get to the checkout stand the cart will be loaded with three times what I was looking for, all of which he will want me to add to the night's recipes.

It is even worse when he decides to go to a grocery store on his own, because he will invariably find his way to Trader Joe's or some other specialty store and return home with things I've never even heard of. Fortunately, when we move to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and we will someday soon, we're going to have a much larger kitchen and a much larger pantry to accomodate his shopping habits.

Now, to figure out what to do with that danged cucumber.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 02/28/2003 09:27 AM PST

I apologize for my truancy this
week...it's been the week from
hell. Spent wednesday
evening through thursday
morning in the hospital having
a sleep study done, which is
no picnic, then came home
and went to work only to be
fired at the end of the day.
Spent the evening in tears, I'm
afraid. Never been fired
before, and I must say I do not
enjoy the experience one bit.
Particularly when I know I've
been trying my very hardest to
do this job well. But oh well,
you can't please everyone I
suppose.
Now to figure out what to do
about the absent paychecks...

Back on topic -
In the Computer CD - Take 6
"Reprise"
In the other CD - "Send in the
Clowns" a sondheim balad
collection
In the DVD - Eddie Izzard
"Dress To Kill"
In the VHS - Currently my
morning yoga video

Off I go to face another
day...let's hope it will be better
than the last one

Posted by Ann @ 02/28/2003 09:46 AM PST

I'm listening to Sarah Vaughn Live in Japan right now. Nothing in the VCR at the moment. Also blank is the CD player at home. I'm still tweaking things on my new computer and find that I end up not listening to the music anyway, so why put it on. I'll listen later. And, I have all weekend to listen to things.

Posted by Ben @ 02/28/2003 09:53 AM PST

CD - Some "cutouts" I ordered that came in this week: Richard Rodney Bennett plays ballet music by Harold Arlen, Cole Porter and Richard Rodgers; a compilation Betty Buckley disc with showtunes she sang in various shows; and Rob Fisher's Coffee Club Orchestra playing songs from the 20s (and marred only by Garrison Keeler' participation as singer/and or reciter on a couple of numbers).

DVD - Just bought THE CARDINAL and Season 3 of M*A*S*H (even though BK is only in Season 1)

VHS - In addition to a blank tape for "Sex, Sex, Sex" tonight and KMK which I will watch over the weekend, I just watched the 1990 City Opera Production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC which was broadcast live on PBS. It is the same production that I'll be seeing next week but with a different cast and I want to compare the two. The cast from 1990 was mostly opera singers (with a few exceptions) and the new cast is mostly theatre/film people including our own Michelle Pawk.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/28/2003 10:06 AM PST

In my CD player - A...My Name Will Always Be Alice (though my name isn't Alice...but it's in my CD player anyway).

In my VCR is the BBC4 telecast of 'On An Average Day', a recent West End play starring Kyle McLachlan and Woody Harrelson.

Downstairs DVD player has Copacabana - the Barry Manilow TV movie which is now rumoured to be getting a remake (or even better yet, there will be a movie based on the musical... which was based on the TV movie...which was based on the song...which was based on the actual Copacabana )

And upstairs DVD player has Jerry Herman at the Hollywood Bowl. Strange to see that the video was put out by Varese in 1993...and yet it had nothing to do with BK. I like to believe they he influenced people into recording it...

Posted by Wee Stevie @ 02/28/2003 10:08 AM PST

In the vcr: KISS ME, KATE from Wednesday night.
In the cd player: MAMBO SINUENDO; I've said it before and I'll say it again, this Ry Cooder and Manuel Galban collaboration is my favorite instrumental album of the year.
In the dvd player:
LILO & STITCH
GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT
AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
RIVER OF NO RETURN
DON'T BOTHER TO KNOCK

Posted by td @ 02/28/2003 10:14 AM PST

Ann - it will get better.

LOL...re yesterday's notes. I bet Jan Clayton was a GREAT Kate! Who was her Fred?

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/28/2003 10:17 AM PST

Jrand: Hecky durn if I can remember. All my programs are packed away in box somewhere, along with the rest of my life.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 02/28/2003 10:50 AM PST

TD - how is DON'T BOTHER TO KNOCK on DVD? It is one strange movie. Any extras?

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/28/2003 10:57 AM PST

As usual for me, nothing in my... Oh, wait, I did listen to a few CDs this week: Hair Original Broadway, London and Movie Soundtrack recordings. -Just trying to get some ideas for some different "feels". Chicago movie soundtrack. John Mayer - "Room for Squares". As for the other players... nada, zip, zero. *My "vacation" is coming up in a week, and I plan to catch up on some things - including a few things in NYC! Alas, Seattle and San Francisco will have to wait for later - just not enough time to fully enjoy those cities.

-Just four more MAMMA MIA!'s left for me...

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 02/28/2003 11:09 AM PST

I am home today -- playing hooky.

Tomorrow I will spend most of the day in "The City" -- San Francisco. Will shop a bit, eat, then see the matinee of "A Night With Dame Edna", then will finish up with some more shopping before BARTing back to the East Bay.

So, today, I needed to do my Saturday chores. I've dropped off/picked up laundry, I've replenished my cat's medication, and I've grocery shopped and filled the auto with petrol ($2.23/gallon -- the Bay Area has the highest gasoline prices in the U.S. of A.).

Too many things are in my CD player -- recent additions being the expanded/remastered "Diamonds Are Forever," "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and "Live and Let Die." Additionally, the PHENOMENAL expanded soundtrack for Michel Legrand's gargantuan score to "Ice Station Zebra."

And, because I have loaned out my DVD of "La Boheme," my CD of "La Boheme" (Broadway cast) is in my player.

My tape of BB's "Kiss Me Kate" is currently in my VCR, but will be replaced by my third tape for the current season of "Farscape."

Pet peeves and show music: Do you guys ever hear a song and suddenly realize that either the singer or the lyricist has taken liberties and violated patterns or logic?

Two fer'instances: In the song "Soliloquy" from "Carousel," Billy sings, "...I'll go out and make it, or steal it, or take it...."

In Billy's case -- as is true in every case -- stealing and taking are the SAME thing. Thus, a redundancy because Oscar Hammerstein II couldn't find a third thing Billy might do to get money????

In the "movie" version of "Billy Rose's 'Jumbo'", Doris Day sings "Why Can't I" with Martha Raye. One of the sections of the song deals with "opposites" -- "Romeo had Juliet, Hero had Leander,
"Every heifer has her bull, and every goose her gander.
"Every stallion has his filly,
"and every nanny goat has her billy."
Then she sings:
"Ducks have drakes,
"and lambs have ewes..."

And it boggles my mind because it should have been "rams have ewes"!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know what to think -- that Doris Day arbirtrarily changed the lyric or that she did it subconsciously...but that NO ONE caught it and had it corrected is astonishing.

Anyone else have these peeves/examples to share??

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/28/2003 11:26 AM PST

Bill L.

I LOVED Prairie Home
Companion !!

... marred by Garrison
KEILLOR, you say? Merde
alors!!!

What's that cd!! What's that cd!!

I remember vividly wonderful
appearances of Karen Morrow
and Maureen McGovern on
that show... I still have audio
tapes of those shows
somewhere...

Ah, memories.....

Posted by François @ 02/28/2003 11:27 AM PST

In the car cd player: Brigadoon, starring Rebecca Luker, Brent Barrett, and Judy Kaye.

Posted by Laura @ 02/28/2003 11:28 AM PST

Garrison Keillor.... I just remember one hilarious episode that featured a banjo duo man and wife who country-fied some of the best of Broadway...does anyone remember it?

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/28/2003 11:49 AM PST

Francois (sorry - no cedilla on my keyboard)

The CD is called "Shaking the Blues Away" - it was originally issued by EMI Angel in the early 90s, then reissued by them about 10 years later. It's now a cutout. Let me know if you need a copy.

I was never a fan of Keillor. I always felt that a little of him (which was okay) went a long way although I do know many people think he was the best radio personality in the last twenty-five years. In any case, the music on this CD really has the feel of Big City 20s and the three times Mr. Keillor comes on in his folksy country manner is very out of place with this type of music. I would expect to hear him on a Flatts and Scrugg or other Bluegrass/C&W CD rather than one devoted to 20s pop.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/28/2003 12:02 PM PST

Mr. Pulliam,

The gaffe that has always grated on me is on the OCR of Stop the World, where Anya says, "Malyenki malchik is a leetle boy; malyenki davushka is a leetle girl."

Could they not have consulted with someone halfway fluent in Russian? It is malyenkaya davushka, in the feminine. And I got a C- in my one semester of Russian.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 02/28/2003 12:05 PM PST

I could have added this to my other post, but we must all do our part for God and country to up the number of posts on this, the last day of February.

José: Your costume for Hair? Are they costuming the orchestra, or are you the new Burger? Youth wants to know. And so do I.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 02/28/2003 12:07 PM PST

Ann,
Don't feel too bad: we've more
or less all been through that at
one time or another, and even
unrightfully, which meant
going to court and winning in
the end, but one year later......

Good vibes are sent your way,
even from France!!!

Posted by François @ 02/28/2003 12:56 PM PST

In my CD player at work: 2 CDs of live concerts by The Manhattan Transfer recorded from the Internet. One is their concert from bluenote.net, which has since been removed from the Blue Note website. The other is an Internet radio broadcast from Sweden. The announcer speaks Swedish, but they don't sing in Swedish. I don't remember which website I got it from. Each is about an hour long and they're different concerts. The Swedish radio concert is a better quality recording/broadcast, but the Blue Note concert was certainly worth keeping.

In my DVD player: "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"

In my VCR: the London "Kiss Me, Kate" with Brent

WEL: to make the cedilla, hold down the "alt" key and type "0231" on the number keypad, then let go of the "alt" key. The "ç" will then appear as if by magic!

Posted by George @ 02/28/2003 01:01 PM PST

ç It worked!!! Is there a list of combinations like that for things like the accents over the e or a?

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/28/2003 01:26 PM PST

Or... since I can't remembe numbers, being a mathematician:

type: ampersand, "ccedil", semicolon.

without the quotes. Or should that be

ampersand, "ccedil" [without the quotes](and also without the [without the quotes]), semicolon.

It should look like this when you type it:

ç

and come out like this

ç

Now if I got that right on the first try, I will pat my back.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 02/28/2003 01:28 PM PST

Sending good vibes to Ann!!

Posted by Laura @ 02/28/2003 01:39 PM PST

DVD "Bend It Like Beckham"
Cds" She Loves Me - NY Revival
"Marina Prior - Leading Lady"

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/28/2003 01:40 PM PST

Tom --- What is "Bend It Like Beckham"? Is it an exercise video?

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/28/2003 01:43 PM PST

What, no birthday greetings to Brent Barrett yet? Guess I'll have to start the ball rolling. And while I'm at it, birthday greetings to Bernadette Peters and Tommy Tune, too. They all just missed being Leap Year babies.

Posted by O.M. Time @ 02/28/2003 01:59 PM PST

Ann:

While I don't have an "I was fired and it was all for the best" story to share with you -- and I'm sure such stories are out there -- I went through a six-month unemployed spell back in 1994. I kept going out on interviews and getting no callbacks. One day, someone suggested I register with a temp agency. There are varous agencies out there specializing in placing folks with specific skills. Within days of being accepted by an agency, I had a temp job that turned into a second career.

I choose to believe that sometimes things happen for the best, where I'm concerned, and it helps get rid of the "what if I done's" and replaces them with the "what if I do's".

ç -- le voila!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/28/2003 02:15 PM PST

There is a little program on every computer that I've owned (Windows-based only, I don't know about Macs) called "Unicode Character Map." It gives ALL the available characters and alt-number combinations for every different font installed on the computer. Try and find it. It's usually in the "system32" folder and the actual fine name is "charmap.exe." Then you can (for the most part) type things like à á â ã ä å æ è é ê ë ì í î ï ñ ô ò ó õ ö ø ù ú û ü ý þ ÿ ß À Ç È Ì Ó Û etc......

Posted by George @ 02/28/2003 02:15 PM PST

Ach! The "what if I had done's"...that is!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/28/2003 02:16 PM PST

Oh, what the heck. I'll play along...

VCR: KISS ME KATE (still waiting to watch Act II...maybe tonight)

DVD: Nothing right now, but I might stop off at Blockbuster on the way home, to see what new releases are available.

CD (home): FOREVER PLAID (upcoming auditions)

CD (car): RAGTIME (upcoming auditions)

CD (computer): DREAMGIRLS in Concert (just for the heck of it)

So I'm listening to DREAMGIRLS right now, and wondering, 'If they let Billy Porter go back and re-record his vocals, why in the world didn't they let Heather Headley go back and re-record "Ain't No Party?!"' She sounds positively dreadful on this track. I mean, most of the cast is over-singing and showing signs of vocal fatigue toward the end of the second act, but this song in particular is difficult to listen to without cringing.

Posted by Dave @ 02/28/2003 02:19 PM PST

You might also find the Character Map by going to the Start button on the task bar to Programs to Accessories. That's where my shortcut is. Hope this helps.

Posted by George @ 02/28/2003 02:33 PM PST

Happy Birthday, Brent Barrett!

I liked everything about your Fred 'cept the do-rag in the second act. 8-D

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/28/2003 02:40 PM PST

William: As for my costume for Hair, the whole "stage" will be in costume - cast, crew and orchestra. I will not be the new Berger, but I'll most likely be singing back throughout the show. And it looks like we'll be in some kind of "hippie top". -Which is a lot easier for me to deal with than the original plan which was a semi-Sgt. Peppers get-up. Sometimes lack of budget is a good thing. ;-)

Oh, and as for my name... I have no accent over the "e" in my first name. Pour François, sans accent aigu. -I think it's a Filipino thing.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 02/28/2003 02:58 PM PST

Yes, a merry birthday for Brent. I shall forward all your wishes on to him.

I got an advance copy of Beginning of the End DVD on which Susan Gordon, her mum and I do a commentary track. I had no memory of what we talked about or said, but I must say it's pretty amusing and Susan and her mother are totally captivating throughout the seventy-two minutes we gabbed.

The best news and I had no idea it was even being released: Tomorrow morning I'll be picking up the new DVD of Sweet Charity!!!

Posted by bk @ 02/28/2003 02:59 PM PST

Pam: I have good memories of the old "Forsyth Saga". Glad I did not dream it. The new version was such a disappointment.
Ben: Eva Cassidy is very popular down under too - particularly with "older" folk. Gives us a change form Nora Jones!
William: Bend I Like Beckam is a 2002 football movie from the UK. It is about a young Indian girl (in London)who is good at soccer but has to deal with all the cultural issues at home. Another feel good movie from Britain - "Brassed Off", "The Full Monty" and "Billy Elliot" etc.
And I don't know much about or like football - whatever type!

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/28/2003 03:02 PM PST

CD player:

Sally Mayes: the Story Hour.

Christiane Noll: the Ira
Gershwin Album.........IMHO,
the BEST sounding BK
produced album with fantastic
arrangements, without
mentioning Christiane's
gorgeous voice..........

Who could ask for anything
more?........

..... and also, The Grand Tour.
OBC.

Posted by François @ 02/28/2003 03:09 PM PST

Treat yourself to two dazzling
Japanese animated features;
go and see:

SPIRITED AWAY and
THE CASTLE IN THE SKY........

Posted by François @ 02/28/2003 03:15 PM PST

Beginning of the End - or Giant Grasshoppers Invade Chicago featuring Peter Graves, Peggie Castle AND a 1955 Chrysler - plus the commentary BK mentions above is available for pre-order at Amazon.com
for delivery after March 25, 2003!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/28/2003 03:35 PM PST

Ann: Good positive thoughts for your new day and a bright future with a choice of wonderful doors through which to walk.
Laura: That "Brigadoon" is brilliant. I love all those McGlinn productions. "Showboat" has to be one of the best productions on disc of any show ever. The sound is brilliant. IMHO.
BK: I had not known that there was new "Charity". Who, where, what etc?
ç Brilliant. I have only worked out how to do a ç in word!
AH! François. Now it won't only be emails that get it right. Thank you George.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/28/2003 03:45 PM PST

ç ! Wow!

Posted by KT @ 02/28/2003 04:09 PM PST

Glad to be of help, Tom!

I love "Brigadoon" because it was the very first musical that I had ever performed in. I love McGlinn's recording of "Brigadoon" because it was the very first CD that I owned that was more than 78 minutes long. It's actually 79 minutes and a few seconds. I thought that that was so cool. And any Brent Barrett or Judy Kaye recording is always welcome, but to have them both on the same CD is just Wunderbar! (a Cole Porter reference).

I also love McGlinn's "Show Boat" because it's pretty much the whole freakin' show. I even love the extended sequences and bonus material at the end of the recording and the fact that they preserved the original version (for historical purposes) with the original (and now politically inappropriate) lyrics.

Posted by George @ 02/28/2003 04:22 PM PST

Sweet Charity and Thoroughly
Modern Millie, in DVD format,
available March 4 from
Amazon.com and others........

Posted by François @ 02/28/2003 04:32 PM PST

The "whole freakin' " show,
George?

Could not work as a tag for
Show Boat though! ;--) IMHO

Posted by François @ 02/28/2003 04:36 PM PST

François! François! François!

In my DVD right this very moment:
"Company: The Cast Album" and Stritch is discussing her disastrous first take on "Ladies Who Lunch".

Earlier this P.M., I watched "Signs" and thought it wonderful!!!! Very nicely done, with exceptional performances.

Now if only the direcctor would tackle a realistic subject!!!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/28/2003 04:36 PM PST

Just realized.... --Hey, Mr
producer, I'm talking to you, sir!
-- that Judy Kaye would make
a great Kate ! Judy... Kate!

Posted by François @ 02/28/2003 04:40 PM PST

Where's BK when one needs
compliments for being good
"posters"?!?!?

Posted by François @ 02/28/2003 04:48 PM PST

I almost said something in my last post about how jiggy I am with all these posts, but every time I do that the posts stop, just like that. Prove me wrong, you lovely Hainsies/Kimlets, for I am jiggy I tell you.

Posted by bk @ 02/28/2003 04:54 PM PST

Thank you Mr Producer!

Posted by François @ 02/28/2003 05:06 PM PST

Thought some of us would
enjoy reading this:

February 25th 2003
(www.canoe.ca By Jim Slotek,
Toronto Sun)
Legendary Julie Andrews back
taking care of the little ones

On the East End set of the
Disney TV movie Eloise At The
Plaza, the buzz of power tools
intrudes as craftsmen work
noisily between scenes. For
Julie Andrews, it evokes a
1960 Toronto, in Camelot with
Richard Burton and Robert
Goulet.

"Oh my Lord, the O'Keefe
Centre had barely been
finished. We'd rehearse and
people were still hammering
away!" she recalls, referring to
the theatre now known as The
Hummingbird.

Not long after that, of course,
she took a nanny job -- the
lead in Disney's Mary Poppins.

Ironically enough, she's here
40 years later playing another
Disney nanny -- the character
of "Nanny" in Eloise At The
Plaza and Eloise At
Christmas. The TV-movies,
based on the Kay Thompson
books about a little girl living in
the Plaza Hotel in New York,
have just wrapped.

"Of course, Maria in The
Sound Of Music was also a
nanny," says Andrews. "I
figured three times may be the
lucky charm.

"But this nanny loves her pint
of lager and loves to watch the
fights on television on Friday
nights," she says with a laugh.

ON A ROLL

The laugh is lilting and only
slightly throaty, imperfections
one notices in the wake of
polyp-surgery that robbed her
of her four-octave singing
ability in 1997. The effect on
her speaking voice is almost
imperceptible.

"Thank you," she says, "my
speaking voice is much, much
better than it was. I do test my
voice, but if you heard me sing,
you would know. The damage
is done. I would never stop
being optimistic. But I'm not a
fool. I know the situation. I
know the research and there
is a possibility down the line
that voices could be saved. But
I could be 93 for God's sake!"

Instead, at 68, she is inspired
and motivated. She fundraises
for damaged vocal cord
sufferers -- cancer cases and
premature babies with
damage from tracheal tubes.

And professionally, Andrews is
on a roll. She was recently on
tour with Christopher Plummer
and Charlotte Church in A
Royal Christmas. She just
finished voicework on Shrek 2
(she plays the Princess's
mom), she's set to co-star in
The Princess Diaries 2. She's
writing children's books with
her daughter Emma Walton.
And this summer, she debuts
as a theatre director, helming
an off-Broadway production of
The Boy Friend, the musical in
which she made her
Broadway debut in 1954.

"It is gratifying to know I have
other things to offer. It gives
one pause. I seem to have
never been busier, and other
avenues have opened up to
me that I might not have
explored."

One thing hasn't changed for
the woman who taught
moppets in sailor suits to sing
Do-Re-Mi. She still plays with
child stars -- Charlotte Church,
The Princess Diaries' Anne
Hathaway and the precocious
Sofia Vassilieva who plays
Eloise.

Today's kids aren't what they
used to be, Andrews says;
they're better.

"You'd think (my attitude)
would be 'Well, they've got a lot
to learn.' But I was stunned by
the kids in The Princess
Diaries. They were
professional, on time, their
manners were impeccable.
Did I get set straight! And this
little one (Sofia), there's
nothing I could teach her."

FAME MACHINE

The downside is that the fame
machine is tougher -- a
dynamic she saw with the
preternaturally talented singer
Church. "I have a lot of
thoughts about Charlotte. I
think the press are very
irresponsible with her. She's
only 16, a young teenager
going through what teenagers
go through. When we were on
tour, the British press said she
was acting up, that I was
counselling her, this and that.
All 100% untrue."

On the other hand, they may
need the occasional bit of
schooling in the classics. She
recalls a friend of her
then-high school age
daughter, "telling me she was
studying musical theatre. And I
said 'Really,' and she said
'Yes, I'm singing a lot of
ballads. You know, songs
from The Fantasticks.'

"And I asked 'Are you singing
any Rodgers &
Hammerstein?' And she said
'Who?' ... Oh, the horror I felt."

Posted by François @ 02/28/2003 05:11 PM PST

I got my METROPOLIS dvd today and have been watching it. Terrific transfer and what a fun movie. The extras are terrific!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/28/2003 05:19 PM PST

François (hey, it works!)

Typically, one posts the link to a published article - usually for legal reasons.

Nice story, though. Funny to hear it called the O'Keefe Centre again. I have friends who live in Toronto who refuse to call it the Hummingbird. Can't say as I blame them...

Posted by Dave @ 02/28/2003 05:23 PM PST

OK-- CD's

Lincoln Center production of "Annie Get Your Gun"

"Nine" (OBC)

"Passionate Guitars"- Bucky and John Pizzarelli

A compilation CD of Vera Lynn

Posted by Kerry @ 02/28/2003 05:35 PM PST

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR BRE-ENT!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

And you should be glad that my singing voice wasn't involved with the above.

Anybody know how many candles?

Posted by William F. Orr @ 02/28/2003 06:28 PM PST

Just finished watching of the mostly mundane features on the DVD of "High Noon." The Maltin documentary was good, but the rest was dross.

And yet the film is magnificent, of the highest caliber and possessed of a vitality and tension few, if any films, have ever achieved. And Gary Cooper's achingly haunting performance as Sheriff Will Kane continues to be one of the great pieces of "natural" acting committed to film -- he was an awesome man!

It's half an hour until "FarScape" and I'm already contemplating bedtime...long day, filled with chores and movies...and lots of excitement tomorrow! It's wonder I'm not frothing at the mouth...oh! yes!...I could froth if I allowed myself to get all het up.

And then I'd be a pretty picture. Indeed. And totally sapped of energy and then where would I be?!

I've several more new DVDs to view -- but not tonight. Nossirree Bob.

Anyone remember "Love That Bob"? Or was that just a tagline for "The Bob Cummings Show"? And remember his gal pal/employee Schatzie (sp?) played by Ann B. Davis...and his sister played by Rosemary DeCamp?

Oh! Them were the days.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/28/2003 07:22 PM PST

Just to bring the posts to an even 60, I'll ask this question:

Who was the last person here to get bitch slapped?

Who slapped whom and over what?

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/28/2003 07:24 PM PST

It SHOULD have been that
Sadam (sic) who posted a few
days back.......

Posted by François @ 02/28/2003 07:31 PM PST

Laughter on the 23rd Floor disappointed me (and I had a friend in that cable-film) because the issue of McCarthyism is mentioned, and then dropped like a dead leaf. I feel this is a great time and place of a show, though.

Posted by Noel @ 02/28/2003 07:54 PM PST

So where did everyone go and why wasn't I invited?
I am listening to the "new" recording of "Tenderloin" today.It sounds great. Another show I guess I will never get to see staged.
I will probably do my usual follow-up to Tenderloin with a visit to Bobby Darin's Artificial Flowers. Are William Orr and I the only fans?

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/28/2003 08:38 PM PST

Just found that info regarding
Ron Husmann who was one
of the stars of the original cast
of TENDERLOIN...must be
one or two years old....

"For the record, I would really
like people to know my reason
for retiring 15 years ago was
the loss of my singing voice to
Multiple Sclerosis. I have a
relatively mild case: I walk with
a cane, but unfortunately the
muscles which control the
singing voice, along with a few
others, are gone. I tried to work
briefly after I became ill but
found it impossible; even
wearing a microphone, I had
no low notes or ability to
sustain tones. And in addition,
I discovered that when you
have to *think* to walk, your
concentration is gone.
I really did enjoy teaching -
much more than I would have
imagined. I also learned a lot...
Now that I am retired from that,
I have begun writing and am
glad for the new challenges
that work offers."

Posted by François @ 02/28/2003 08:56 PM PST

I am completely jiggy with these posts!

Love High Noon - a film I never tire of. I can literally watch it over and over again and it's always surprising and wonderful.

Love Vera Lynn.

And I was an impatient Hainsie/Kimlet and couldn't wait until tomorrow to pick up the DVD of Sweet Charity. I've been watching it and am almost through and will have a complete and full report on it tomorrow. Let me just say in advance - I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE IT.

Posted by bk @ 02/28/2003 09:17 PM PST

Now THIS is a proper
Hainsie/Kimlet end of the
month flurry of posting! I'd say
this calls for cake! Jose, what
kind do you have for us this
time around?

I was also unaware that Sweet
Charity was coming out this
week... may have to hunt down
a copy of that myself. Also
saw that a director's cut of Das
Boot is coming out this week...
how much more could be
added in a director's cut of a
movie that's already 3-1/2
hours long I have no idea, but I
find it to be a truly outstanding
movie, and one who's
absence in my collection I
think must be rectified and
right soon.

Posted by Jed @ 02/28/2003 09:46 PM PST

Hold it - I think you're gonna like this picture!

And Dwayne Hickman as his nephew and Nancy Kulp as the leader of some sort of bird watching group and Joi Lansing as a bathing suit model in every other episode.... What a swinging bachelor that Bob Cummings was. I loved that show as well, Ron!

Bobby Darin is another favorite. I haven't gotten a BD CD because I can't decide which one is best. I don't need EVERYTHING he EVER recorded - so a greatest hits compilation will be fine!

Where is Jason....he is errant and truant!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/01/2003 04:09 AM PST

First post for March!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/01/2003 04:10 AM PST

I loved "Love That Bob." I saw some episodes a few years ago, and it was amazing how many episodes centered around Bob trying to line up a date for the Photographers' Ball. I agree that we need cake. Hear that, Jose?

Posted by Kerry @ 03/01/2003 06:40 AM PST

In a flurry of March activity, let me answer a few questions which were directed this way:

JRand, the only features on the Marilyn Monroe discs, other than a plethora of trailers, is the "Restoration Comparison," which is NOT Marilyn doing the "The Country Wife," but a most excellent look at how much restoring the films themselves needed to be perfect on dvd. (It's in my player as a follow-up to my first Scarlet Street feature on the 1st "Diamond Collection.")

BK - Once again, I thank you for introducing me to The Cliff Richard Collection - the comments on the SS website have been wonderful, and your buddy, Max Preeo was fascinated by my piece on the films.

Tom, et al, - You're sharing HHW with one of the biggest Bobby Darin fans in the world: MOI! I even managed to track down his "BD sings Doctor Dolittle" (on lp) and listen to it quite a bit. His "Artificial Flowers" is indeed a great version, and I also love his take on "Guys and Dolls." I have quite a few obscurities on cd. . .you know what to do if you'd like to have them. . .

Posted by td @ 03/01/2003 07:51 AM PST

BK - Will you be using Tad and Chad in the stage Nudie Musical?
They could alternate as the stunt cock.

Also, is Dr. Butterworth for real?

My partner Ray Emrich's birthday is today (Saturday). Even though I do all the posting, he reads this here site so you might mention it.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 03/01/2003 07:56 AM PST

...oh, also, the THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE dvd has been postponed until April or May.

Posted by td @ 03/01/2003 08:11 AM PST