Posted by Noel @ 09/16/2003 07:29 AM PST

In my rush to be first post, I misspelled choreography.

That's the thing (I'm learning) about choreography: You have to take it slowly. Can't rush into it.

So, you'll forgive me if I do the first post dance WAY under tempo.

Posted by Noel @ 09/16/2003 07:31 AM PST

Chat on Wednesday would work fine for me as tonight I must watch Ms. Laurie Mitchell in her episode of SURFISIDE 6 and at the same time must tape BB4 or vice versa...although neither of these shows will be on during the 6 o'clock hourI guess it does not really matter. Oh well.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS is a favorite huge movie of which you are speaking...I am not a religous man at all but for some reason I am very partial to religous themed movies. SONG OF BERNADETTE, KING OF KINGS, THE SIN OF ADAM AND EVE (LOL), etc. are some of my favorite films...I don't know why but I am sure some psychologist someplace would have a lot of fun with that. Anyway, I try to watch THE TEN COMMANDMENTS every easter and have done so since I was a kid. It must have looked magnificent on the big screen, and of course any one who was anyone in Hollywood was in this picture!

Posted by MBarnum @ 09/16/2003 07:38 AM PST

Oooooooooh...the Queen of Outer Space on Surfside 6! Neat. Does she wear the mask?

Posted by Lulu @ 09/16/2003 07:40 AM PST

Noel - I kind of like the word choroeography.

SILK STOCKINGS...and the interview with Miss Taina Elg is interesting. Kay Kendall...mmm..and Mitzi Gaynor, well! She does a nice job dancing with Gene Kelly in the "Wild One" ballet - and Kelly's pretentious dance comeuppance is something that I REALLY enjoy seeing. X-D

Roadshow movies? Get your tickets early.

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD, THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE, HOW THE WEST WAS WON, and CLEOPATRA.

Lots more but these are the ones I remember seeing!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/16/2003 07:43 AM PST

oh - duh - Wednesday will be fine.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/16/2003 07:43 AM PST

I have never seen a "roadshow" version of a movie. I don't know if at age 37 I'm too young, or if I just never went to see one because I (or my parents) didn't know about them.

Althought tonight might be a little better for me, if we have the chat tomorrow ... that's okay, too (an Into the Woods reference).

Posted by George @ 09/16/2003 07:47 AM PST

Noel, the one and only time that I stage managed a show was Nunsense II here in Olympia. The director / choreographer was named Troy and when he staged his dances, we all called it "Troyography."

Posted by George @ 09/16/2003 07:50 AM PST

Lulu, no scary mask for Laurie on SURFSIDE 6 tonight...but you know what she still owns that evil outer space queen mask!

Posted by MBarnum @ 09/16/2003 07:54 AM PST

Chaps
Who did Taps
Aren't tapping any more.
They're doing choreography.

Posted by Irving Berlin @ 09/16/2003 07:56 AM PST

BK - When you watch "Silk Stockings" make sure you catch the extras. One of them is a twenty minute adaptation (with about 5 or 6 songs) of Cole Porter's "50 Million Frenchmen" starring Bob Hope.

My all-time favorite road show movie was "Around the World in 80 Days" (a film which doesn't hold up well but was quite fun in it's day). And without even seeing it I am sure it is still better than the upcoming remake with some Asian Martial Arts expert in the David Niven role. I also first saw the film of WEST SIDE STORY in a roadshow engagement and enjoyed it almost as much as I had enjoyed the show on stage.

Honorable mention goes to "This Is Cinerama" for the sheer novelty of it. I can never hear the "Triumphal March from AIDA" (the Verdi, not the Disney) or ride a roller coaster without thinking of this film. About 20 years after its initial release it was reissued, but was just shown on a large screen with one projector and thus it lost it's whole purpose.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/16/2003 08:09 AM PST

Good morning to all the lovely DRs, and to our esteemed Grand High Poobah Nabob, BK...

The only "big, reserved seat" showing that I can remember, was a school field trip. All the way up to glamorous Hollywood, to see "Ben-Hur" at the Egyptian Theatre. There were beautifully printed programs, and the entire forecourt area had props and costumes from the very real, actual, film on display. That was pretty heady stuff....getting to touch the chariot that had (maybe) actually had Stephen Boyd sweating on it.... Zowie !!

Posted by MusicGuy @ 09/16/2003 08:24 AM PST

Hmmmm...you know I didn't see 10 Commandments as a roadshow (before my time maybe?), just on TV.

You know I am getting to the age where not too many things were before my time anymore!

Posted by MBarnum @ 09/16/2003 08:31 AM PST

WEL, a bit of a correction on the remake of AtWi80D. Jackie Chan is playing Passepartout, not (mercifully!) Phileas Fogg.

Still, I have low hopes for it. Fogg is Steve Coogan, best known for the Alan Partridge show, there are seven writers listed besides Verne himself, and the director is Frank Coraci, best known for Adam Sandler comedies.

Even the chance to see Kathy Bates as Queen Victoria (!) may not be enough to make this one worth watching.

Actually I rather enjoyed the 1987 star-studded miniseries with Pierce Brosnan and Eric Idle as Fogg and Passepartout. It also boasted Lee Remick as Sarah Bernhardt.

Posted by William F. Orrw @ 09/16/2003 09:10 AM PST

Well, I'm afraid I don't know from Roadshow movies, being too young to have seen one in a theatre. But I love Oklahoma! in glorious Todd AO...does that count?

WFO--have you ever seen The Divine Sarah with Glenda Jackson as Bernhardt? The movie itself isn't that great, but Glenda rocks. What a shame movie lovers had to lose her to the political arena.

Jason--(from last night's posts) Feel better! healing vibes~~~~~

Posted by Maya @ 09/16/2003 09:29 AM PST

Oh--and chat tomorrow wouldn't be the best thing for me, as I have an evening class that gets out at about 10. But if we do have it tomorrow, I will try my best to get home early enough that I have a half hour or so to chat. That is if the PC is working (I'm typing this from a school computer)

Posted by Maya @ 09/16/2003 09:35 AM PST

I have to take someone to the airport tonight during chat time. So I guess that Wednesday would work for me better. Sandra, however, could probably make tonight if she's awake.

Posted by Old Laura @ 09/16/2003 09:43 AM PST

Maya: Glenda always rocks. Like Dame Judi. Perhaps when they cast Judi as M they should have thought of Glenda as Bond.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/16/2003 09:47 AM PST

Ya know, my schedule is such that I don't think I could make chat any evening this week. Sorry.

Posted by Jay @ 09/16/2003 10:03 AM PST

Music Guy Music Guy Music Guy - thanks for the CD's...they rock! I can't quite pick a favorite track on either of them yet....but I am working on it. And yes thanks for the REAL GH theme!

You shore kin tickle them iv'ries!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/16/2003 10:06 AM PST

Bill - that 50 Million Frenchmen is a great extra! I had forgotten about it. Find Me a Primitive Man!

DR MBarnum - I didn't know Laurie kept that mask. Hmmm...would that be a costume piece or a prop? Somebody at Allied Artists probably added that to the bottom line! Hey when you meet Laurie and Diana (and MR BK) - I've always wanted to know how much someone was paid for a movie like that....scale or according to billing or what? And did the agent get involved in it...or what? Or is it none of my business...or what?

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/16/2003 10:09 AM PST

WFO---
Thanks for the correction on the "Around the World" remake. I've never heard of Steve Coogan or Alan Partridge. At least it makes (slightly) more sense that Chan is Passpartout instead of Fogg but the big question is still "why bother?".

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/16/2003 10:10 AM PST

Troyography...LOL... Sometimes if someone is trying to teach me a step - trying - and I can't get it or it doesn't work...I just always ask them if they got their dance training in Miss Ludie's basement.

I lot of us started there, you know.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/16/2003 10:11 AM PST

Good afternoon (or good morning to our west coastians) everyone!

I honestly have no idea what would constitute a roadshow picture, having (to my knowledge at least) never seen one. So that area of conversation is out for me, alas.

I just came from the looooonnnngggesst class ever. On tuesdays and thursdays, courses are filled on 90 minute blocks instead of the regular 60. That last half hour hurts. Especially when you have a 80 year old prof. bumbling his way through defining a protracted conflict. No... this one is different from the prof. that reads his lectures on CONFLICT, CRISIS AND WAR without looking up. I'm a terribly conflicted person this semester.

Today's highlight was the recurring battle of ageing professor vs. projection machine. The victor of today's battle was the machine - even after the ageing professor brought in his youthful TA reserves :)

I'd hate to admit it, but the only thing that got my through this latest boring class was the realisation that I had chat to go to tonight. It wouldn't kill me if it was tomorrow - but I'd much rather have it tonight.

If you want BK, I can be your chat alternate. Look how good I am already:

"There are [blank] number of people in chat tonight!"
"Soon we will be the most popular site on the internet"
"What is it, fish?"
"Is anyone wearing a thong?"
"Did I ever tell you the story about the randy vicar?"

and of course

"KISS MY ASS!"

Think about it BK. You'll never know when you'll need a good fake you!

:)

Posted by Emily @ 09/16/2003 10:14 AM PST

It works great, Emily!!!

Posted by Sharon and Susan @ 09/16/2003 10:19 AM PST

WFO--the thought of Glenda Jackson in a movie today is too tantalizing. And the thought of her acting with Dame Judi is even more outlandishly wonderful! That such things could be....

Oh, and wonderful news about Wonderful Town! Jennifer Westfeldt from Kissing Jessica Stein will be playing Eileen! In case no one has figured it out yet, that is one of my very favorite movies and I urge everyone to see it. It's nice to know that she has had so much musical theatre experience!

Posted by Maya @ 09/16/2003 10:20 AM PST

Emily--LMAO! :)

Posted by Maya @ 09/16/2003 10:22 AM PST

I loved the roadshow movies when I was a kid.
As mentioned by DR WEL, Around the World in 80 Days was one of my favorites, as was Ben Hur and 10 Commandments previously mentioned. Other favorites were:
West Side Story
2001
How the West Was Won (mentioned above)
Cleopatra
The Sound of Music
Fiddler on the Roof
There were lots of others, not "favorites" that I remember seeing as roadshows such as:
Hallelujah Trail
Man of LaMancha (ugh!)
Sandpebbles
Greatest Story Ever Told

Posted by steveg @ 09/16/2003 10:26 AM PST

steveg - I had forgotten that FIDDLER was a roadshow presentation...as indeed it was. And a GONE WITH THE WIND release in WIDESCREEN was as well.

I think BEN HUR and THE TEN COMMANDMENTS were both a lot of fun - though I saw both later now at Popular Prices!

The only ROADSHOW I saw that I didn't really like was THE PRIDE AND THE PASSION. X-/

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/16/2003 10:40 AM PST

Other favorites I forgot:
Funny Girl
Oliver
Lawrence of Arabia
My Fair Lady
Star
Spartacus
Hawaii
Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Posted by steveg @ 09/16/2003 10:41 AM PST

Emily, LOL and I don't even go to the chat room.

Was Oklahoma a road show? If so, that would be my favorite. I remember going for a birthday party and we had two or three rows reserved for us. Twice, I went to reserved seating for Sound of Music.

For you on diets, the watermelon and soup dropped some pounds off of me and my cold is greatly improved. Unfortunately Keith now has my cold and we have three flights to take tomorrow to get to Banff. If we hadn't planned this months ago and weren't meeting friends we probably would have cancelled. I'm sure once we are there we will have a good time. Since the weight I lost needs to be found, I should have fun eating all I want while we are away. I'll be back in around ten days.

Posted by Jane @ 09/16/2003 10:42 AM PST

Maya, you forgot:

People come, people go at the Grand Hotel.

Posted by Jay @ 09/16/2003 10:43 AM PST

Oh, how could I forget Lawrence of Arabia! I didn't remember Fiddler on the Roof was a road show. I hesitated to mention Gone With the Wind as a favorite, though it was very exciting as the time. I seem to recall we went two days in a row but Keith doesn't remember that.

Posted by Jane @ 09/16/2003 10:49 AM PST

I think Oklahoma was a roadshow also. It was filmed both in Todd-AO and in Cinemascope, and I guess the Todd-AO prints were shown roadshow, but I somehow don't remember whether we went to see it on its roadshow run.
Other favorites that I forgot:
Dr. Zhivago.
I also saw the following as roadshows:
Ice Station Zebra
Circus World
Khartoum
Mutiny on the Bounty (Brando version)
Ryan's Daughter
Fall of the Roman Empire
El Cid
The Bible

Posted by steveg @ 09/16/2003 10:52 AM PST

I've seen every film listed here
today, most in their original
engagements. I'd add to
these Seven Wonders of the
World and The Wonderful
World of the Brothers Grimm,
both in Cinerama.

Let's do the chat tomorrow
night, as I'd hate to miss it,
despite the excellent
impression by dear reader
Emily.

Posted by bk @ 09/16/2003 11:06 AM PST

Okay... okay...

does this mean I have to return the costume I rented? :)

Posted by Emily @ 09/16/2003 11:08 AM PST

JRand53..I will ask Diana and Laurie about their pay. I do know that Laurie was paid an extra $500 for picking up the slack from Zsa Zsa. The producer was so grateful to Laurie for being so easy to work with he ordered the extra money given to her!

Posted by MBarnum @ 09/16/2003 11:12 AM PST

For RonP: The final Head of Household for Big Brother 4 is determined by the winner of HOH1 vs the winner of HOH2. So the person you mentioned (who did not win either HOH1 or HOH2) will not get to compete :(

Posted by Jennifer @ 09/16/2003 11:16 AM PST

MAMMA LOVETT!

Louise Pitre is going to be Mrs. Lovett in a canadian mounting of Sweeney Todd...

Discuss...

Posted by Craig @ 09/16/2003 11:18 AM PST

Craig, any word as to whether it's a national tour of Sweeney - or is it just going to be in one city?

Posted by Emily @ 09/16/2003 11:19 AM PST

Hey JRand53, did BK ever answer your question regarding the Warner Bros. shows? If so which show was his fave? I vote for Surfside 6 myself..Van Williams...Lee Patterson...'nuff said! Oh, and cute little Margerita Sierra too!

Posted by MBarnum @ 09/16/2003 11:21 AM PST

clicking on my names tells ALL!

Posted by Craig @ 09/16/2003 11:26 AM PST

Emily---
People have given examples of roadshow movies, but nobody has explained to you what they are. At one time, movies did not open at 2,000 theatres around the country on the same day. They opened in one or two theatres in NY & LA, then spread out to one or two theatres in other large cities and then eventually in more theatres in the large cities and theatres in smaller areas.

From the mid-50s to the late-60s, many films preceeded all this with Roadshow engagements. These films were shown 2 or 3 times a day with reserved seats and higher prices at some of the largest movie palaces in the country. They began with the NY/LA and large cities engagements like other films, but it then took a lot longer to spread out to other cities and other theatres in the initial cities. When they did open at other theatres they were frequently advertised as "Direct From Roadshow Engagements - Now At Popular Prices". Most of these films were big budget epics (BEN HUR, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA) or Musicals (SOUTH PACIFIC, SOUND OF MUSIC) on large screens and with special stereophonic sound systems. A few (THIS IS CINERAMA, SCENT OF MYSTERY) were made to show off a special filmmaking process. A lot of them had overtures and exit music; most had intermissions. Just about all of them sold lavishly illustrated programs and many gave out free playbill type programs as well.

Roadshows were killed by two things: first of all changes in Hollywood caused studios to want to get their films in as many theatres as possible as soon as possible; and also the late 60s saw an increase in the number of Roadshows being shown at the same time with a definite decline in the quality (PAINT YOUR WAGON, STAR, DOLLY).

Let me know if you have any questions.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/16/2003 11:26 AM PST

You will be happy to know that
most of these films appear in
Kritzer 3 in one way or another.

Posted by bk @ 09/16/2003 11:42 AM PST

Ohmigod. I simply had to share this with you guys. I was just doing research for the speech I have to give in a couple of weeks. It's going to be on how to avoid paying really inflated prices on Broadway tickets, and to begin my research I added up the prices on my ticket stubs from the last two years.

$730.50. In the last two years alone, and I've been a serious theatregoer since I was 13 or so!

I have an addiction. I need help.

Posted by Maya @ 09/16/2003 11:55 AM PST

Wow, Maya, you could have bought a new computer at Walmart with that money! LOL!

Posted by MBarnum @ 09/16/2003 11:56 AM PST

MBarnum: "picking up the slack from Zsa-Zsa"??? Do tell!

(yes, I know this lends itself to any number of Zsa-Zsa jokes, but I want the real story, darn it, not a punchline!) ;)

Posted by Lulu @ 09/16/2003 12:11 PM PST

LOL, Lulu, the whole sordid story of the making of QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE, and my interview with with Laurie Mitchell, will be in an issue of FILMFAX soon...let's just say that Zsa Zsa, bless her heart, wasn't always the easiest person on the set to work with! At least from the producers point of view!

Posted by MBarnum @ 09/16/2003 12:14 PM PST

But she was the best damn Venusian scientist around!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/16/2003 12:24 PM PST

Since Zsa Zsa played out den mother's (late) mother in PICTURE MOMMY DEAD I'll bet she has some juicy stories.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/16/2003 12:29 PM PST

Go avay!

You are disturbing my vork!

Posted by Talleah @ 09/16/2003 12:40 PM PST

Yes, who would have guessed a Venusian with a Hungarian accent!

Posted by MBarnum @ 09/16/2003 12:57 PM PST

Botch-eee-no!

Posted by Big Ugly Girl @ 09/16/2003 12:59 PM PST

Listening to the radio show reminded me that Dave Willock of QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE played the father of Baby Jane and Blanche in the infamous movie!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/16/2003 12:59 PM PST

Why izzit that the sound of starting up a beta disentegrator sounded like a 1954 Nash Rambler?

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/16/2003 01:01 PM PST

A Roadshow Story:

My father was an aircraft engineer, working on helping design experimental aircraft during the 50s, 60s, and 70s. As a result, he would bring test pilots home with him on occasion, so that they could have a home-cooked meal, my mother being a pretty decent cook. But that’s not what this story is about.

The other result of his work was that he would be away from home, sometimes for a month at a time or more. Because of the top-secret nature of the job, he wouldn’t be in communication with us during these long stretches. Mom, fortunately, was a trooper, raising my sister and I the best she could on her own. I think it says a great deal about how much Mom and Dad loved each other that they never fought, and understood to the best of their abilities what the other was going through.

Usually, Dad wouldn’t know much in advance when he would have to leave, or how long he would be gone. There was one time however, in the autumn of 1965, when he got word that he would be gone for a two-month stretch. My sister and I knew something was wrong, because Mom actually raised her voice to him over some trivial matter, not just a rare occurrence but an unprecedented one.

My father came up with a way of making up for his upcoming absence, however. The weekend before he was scheduled to leave, on a Saturday, we all got dressed in our suits and best dresses, the stuff we normally reserved for church, and we went to the movies. Dad had purchased, in advance, tickets for a matinee showing of Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. He made a point of buying us the full-color souvenir program, which we passed back and forth while waiting for the movie to begin in our pre-assigned seats, and again during the intermission. And after the movie, he took us to a Japanese restaurant in the Hollywood hills where we had to remove our shoes before being seated on cushions on the floor at very low tables to feast on sukiyaki, prepared tableside for us by a very pretty woman

The next day, we again donned our Sunday best, which seemed strange because we had slept late and missed church, but my father had things well planned. Again, we drove into the Hollywood area, to a different theater. Again, the seats were assigned. Again, we passed the program back and forth before the film and during intermission. Again, we were thrilled by a widescreen movie, only this time it was The Sound of Music.

My father never made mention of how he was giving us a special treat, or why. That was never his style.

Those Magnificent Men hasn’t aged well, since some of the film’s pacing and some of the humor seem slow and dated now. Also, it suffers when shown on the diminutive television screen, the sight of the tiny early aircraft losing something when they are reduced to mere flyspecks against the expanse of cloudless blue. The Sound of Music has faired much better, having a stronger story and more close-ups. The memory of the weekend my father took us to the movies has barely dimmed at all.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 09/16/2003 01:04 PM PST

This joke of the day comes direct from Dr. Joyce Brothers.

She spoke at my venue the other day and shared this story..

She was talking to her daughter on the phone who has 4 kids. Each of them like and don't like different foods and making dinner was always a headache. So Dr. Brothers suggested that each child gets to pick a night of the week and that night, they get to choose what's for dinner.

A few weeks later, Dr. Brothers goes to her daughters house for dinner.... and says, so what will we be having..

Her daughter replies, "Well it's Angie the 3 year old's night to choose so we're having gum"

Posted by Craig @ 09/16/2003 01:04 PM PST

I have just returned from a very good day at school, not much at all happened. My Biology teacher is planning on taking us to Disney World in early November to do a scientific study of the park (which really means spend an hour each day writing down velocity and studying the Animal Kingdom, and having the rest of the day in the park). I'm REALLY hoping he get's this approved, since I've never been to any amusement parks besides Kings Dominion and Hershey Park. Tres fun.

I, like the other youngin's here, obviously never saw a Roadshow film. I wasn't even negative when it they were happening, since my own mother wasn't even born until late 1958. But I HAVE seen many of the films listed here, and they're all wonderful.

Emily: ALL of my classes are 90 minutes long. I have four consecutive classes every day, each 90 minutes long. We have "A" days and "B" days, the four classes switching every other day. Does that make sense? Anyway, that started when I was in seventh grade, and I remember going from 45 minutes to 90 minutes, and almost dying from boredom. But I like it now, because we have time to learn and still have fun, and I don't have to do the homework that day, I have 2 days to do it.

Chat tomorrow is fine, it actually works out better for me.

Posted by Sarah @ 09/16/2003 01:32 PM PST

Do my eyes deceive me, or did William F. Orr actually misspell his own name? I mean, I thought my "choroegraphy" mistake was bad. I mean, is anybody else addled by still not having a location for his wedding less than four weeks from the event? That could make a guy misspell his own name.

Posted by Nole @ 09/16/2003 01:52 PM PST

S. Woody White I loved that story! Sounds like you have some great memories!

Posted by MBarnum @ 09/16/2003 01:56 PM PST

DR Jrand53, weren't you talking about the LES GIRLS DVD and not SILK STOCKINGS? I didn't see anyone else ask you about your first set of comments, but Taina Elg is not in SILK STOCKINGS, and I think Cyd Charisse is the host for the documentary on that DVD (don't know for sure, though. I haven't upgraded my laser of SILK STOCKINGS yet).

Roadshows. Boy, were they a BIG part of my moviegoing life as a kid and teenager. You did get dressed up in your Sunday clothes, and it was a BIG deal to get reserved seats to see something like MY FAIR LADY or LAWRENCE OF ARABIA or especially the Cinerama epics like HOW THE WEST WAS WON or THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM.

The first time I ever bought tickets for a roadshow and drove myself (as opposed to going with family) and a date was for STAR! The date could have been a hundred miles away, however, because I was so excited to be in the opening night gala premiere audience for the movie. There was a cocktail party at intermission where champagne cocktails were served gratis, and the movie was wonderful to me because it was so theater-based (most of the musical numbers were actually show based songs and performed on what was supposed to be the stages of the shows which contained them; of course, they weren't), and it had a Julie Andrews we had never seen before. I was astonished and so thrilled. One of the most memorable nights of my then-young life.

Posted by Matt H. @ 09/16/2003 02:01 PM PST

WEL... I adore you.

Sometimes (i.e. 99% of the time) the vintage film references on this board go straight over my head.

Thanks for clearing up the roadshow question for me. I think it would be very exciting to have been able to see one.

I imagine those special programs are now quite collectible! Ah... Ebay... if only we could have predicted you... :)

Posted by Emily @ 09/16/2003 02:07 PM PST

eBay is great for souvenir
programs of any kind. I had a
souvenir book from Scent of
Mystery in Smell-o-Vision but it
was in a box in storage, and I
needed it for my book. Went to
eBay and voila - got it. Also got
a souvenir program from the
Broadway Li'l Abner, too.

Posted by bk @ 09/16/2003 02:20 PM PST

Yesterday at this time we had
already passed 100 posts.
Let's get crackin' shall we?

Also, I'm happy to report that
yesterday was our biggest day
ever in terms of visits (not
hits), surpassed only by the
day before. I feel safe in
saying that soon we will be the
most popular site on all the
Internet.

Posted by bk @ 09/16/2003 02:43 PM PST

Woo-hoo! We rule!

*crack*

Posted by Maya @ 09/16/2003 02:45 PM PST

No, no, no, we must not have
lulls on this Tuesday. The
gray went away by nine-thirty
and it is once again sunny and
hot.

White t-shirt with an open plaid
shirt, jeans and sneakers with
white socks.

Posted by bk @ 09/16/2003 03:15 PM PST

Well I'm back from babysitting, and there is a *drumroll* FOUR new posts to read. Where ARE you people?

I now have a plethora of algebra homework to do, and I hate algebra, so it shall be mucho fun...not.

Black shirt with a pink S on it, jeans and Pink Vans sneakers.

Posted by Sarah @ 09/16/2003 04:17 PM PST

Of course, that should say "there's a whole *drumroll* FOUR..."

I forgot the whole. There's a hole where the whole should be. Holy Guacamole!

Posted by Sarah @ 09/16/2003 04:19 PM PST

So how did I spend the better part of my day today, you ask? Well, this morning when I got to my car I discovered that I had a flat tire. So I had to wait for AAA to come put on the spare. (You didn't think I would do that myself, did you?) I then go to Just Tires to get the flat fixed and oh no, the tire could not be repaired and oh, by the way, the opposite tire was mighty worn and I really needed two new tires. OK, I'll take two just like the ones that will remain on the car. Great says the guy, who a few minutes later informs me that they don't have the tires in stock in the store, but they could be there in an hour. Fine I say. The tire store is near a mall, I figure I can get lunch, pick up a few things, and that would work out great. Of course, it took over two hours for the tires to arrive, and so my day (and my wallet) have effectively been shot.

Posted by Jay @ 09/16/2003 04:34 PM PST

Wow, Sarah, I thought I was the only person in the world who said Holy Guacamole.

That lull lasted one hour and 14 minutes...let's not let the next lull last that long!

Posted by Lulu @ 09/16/2003 05:48 PM PST

Try saying the last nine words of my post three times, fast.

Posted by Lulu @ 09/16/2003 05:49 PM PST

Let's all follow BK's example and have a clothes call!

I am looking very gothic today in black jeans and a black t-shirt with a sparkly pic of Maleficent on it that I bought at Hot Topic a year ago. I am wearing tan socks. They don't match but no one can see them so I don't care.

Posted by Maya @ 09/16/2003 06:05 PM PST

I just got home from work and have been wearing (all day) blue Hilfiger shorts and a grey (or is it gray? I can never remember) polo-type shirt, plus my asics running shoes (even though I never run, I do walk a lot ... but not enough).

I just had a largish bowl of Lucky Charms cereal. It's been so long since I've had Lucky Charms (how long was it?) it was so long ago that they now (actually, again) have totally different marshmallows! They now have:
Pink Hearts
Shooting Stars
Purple Horseshoes
Green Clovers
Blue Moons (almost a Rodgers and Hart reference)
Pots of Gold
Rainbows and
Red Balloons

Why, when I was a kid, all they had were:
Pink Hearts
Yellow Moons
Orange Stars and
Green Clovers

That's it. Plain and simple with realistic colors. Now they have to have blue moons and purple horseshoes. Anyway, it still tasted pretty darn good but no different than when I was a kid. Just more hype. Like they sing in The Rink, "What happened to the old days?"

Can you tell that I've had a very boring day?

Posted by George @ 09/16/2003 06:29 PM PST

A uniquely frustrating day, but some progress was made on the duet and our choreographer was very pleased by the strides we were making.

This dancing stuff is hard. At one point, the choreographer said "You see, what you see Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers do in those films is not easy." I said "Not once did I ever look at Fred & Ginger and say `I could do that. Their work day is like a day at the beach'" Nope. That comment was reserved for Frankie and Annette.

Posted by Noel @ 09/16/2003 06:58 PM PST

And Ginger did it backwards, in high heels...

Posted by Sarah @ 09/16/2003 07:12 PM PST

You're not alone with boring days, George. The highlight of my day was driving to the airport.

Posted by Old Laura @ 09/16/2003 07:36 PM PST

Oh, how I wish I could find more time to post here! I miss it so much!

DR Emily-- got the CD yesterday! Thank you so much, I love it so far!

I actually have free time [gasp] tomorrow afternoon/evening so I'll MAKE time to post here. I want so bad to be a Hainsie/Kimlet regular!

Well, well, must sleep. G'night.

Posted by Paulie @ 09/16/2003 08:20 PM PST

Paulie--we want you to be a Hainsie/Kimlet regular too! :) Post more often, boy!!

Well, the cast list for Macbeth was put up tonight. I did not get Lady Macbeth like I hoped. But I did get Lady Macduff. It's not a bad part, even though she has only one scene. I'll get to have a dramatic death scene, won't have as many lines to memorize (more free time!) and one of my best friends (female) is playing my son, lol!

The director wants to do a nontraditional version of the play, so it should be interesting. He wants to set it in a post-apacolyptic future. One of the things he's thinking about is making the three witches, "the three bitches"--dressing them up like homeless ladies who make their home around a radioactive trashcan. Should be very interesting indeed.

Hey Virginians--how bout that Hurricane Isabelle heading our way?

Posted by Maya @ 09/16/2003 08:36 PM PST

**"The Thane of Fife had a wife.
Where is she now?"**

Well, really...

Lady MacBeth she's right here at HHW of course! ;)

congrats Maya!

Posted by Emily @ 09/16/2003 08:41 PM PST

DR Laura -- Even though your day didn't sound too thrilling, sometimes easy and uneventful can be nice. For tomorrow, I'll envision mad, romantic, dangerous adventures for you; something with cake, chocolates, and a dashing man on a nimble horse. Or, a nimble man dashing to get a romantic horse. Oh dear, now I've convuluted your entire fantasy.

DR Kerry and I just had a nice meal at KPC, and later will have a surprise dessert. Life is simple, here on the ranch!

Posted by MusicGuy @ 09/16/2003 08:45 PM PST

Jennifer: I learned about that third part of the competition just this evening while watching BB4. It hardly seems fair. If it's in three parts, it ought to allow for a tie and a tiebreaker. As it is, part 3 IS a tiebreaker.

But Robert will be competing just as surely as Ali and Jun...he'll be driving wedges between Ali and Jun sure as heck.

Bottom line: If Robert goes to final two w/Ali, he will win. If Jun goes w/Ali, Jun will win. Ali will be in second place no matter who goes with her. If Jun takes Robert, Robert will win. So truly, Jun can benefit from taking Ali, but she has to decide who she hates most if she gets to take someone.

Was awakened this morning by a stabbing, throbbing headache and sinus congestion. Stayed home. Didn't get out of bed until after 3 p.m. I'm better now...feel a bit numb from all the meds I took to get rid of the headache...am breathing better, too.

The whole house smells of garlic...had garlicked mashed potatoes with my evening meal. Yum.

Great widescreen memories: All from 1956 -- my FIRST movie memories: "The Ten Commandments," "War and Peace" and "Anastasia."

Favorite roadshow experiences: "The Sound of Music," "Funny Girl," "Camelot," "Finian's Rainbow."

I saw all the other bigscreen epics, but they weren't roadshow/reserved tickets when they came to my city: "Lawrence of Arabia," "Mutiny on the Bounty," "Doctor Zhivago," "The Agony and the Ecstasy", "My Fair Lady," et. al.

My FAVORITE widescreen memory: The 1963 re-release of "The Robe" played at Greenville SC's Carolina Theater -- home of the first CinemaScope screen in the city (and the widest). "The Robe" filled the screen to its widest boundaries...I'd never seen a CinemaScope movie quite as wide or as thrilling.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/16/2003 09:34 PM PST

Ooops! I forgot the biggest of them all...but it wasn't reserved seat when it arrived: "Cleopatra"!!!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/16/2003 09:36 PM PST

Out of all these movies you folks have mentioned today, the only one I saw in a theater that I can remember was "The Sound of Music."

Posted by Old Laura @ 09/16/2003 09:46 PM PST

"Roadshow" movies are not a concept familiar to Australians. I do have the souvenir progammes for "Bridge On The River Kwaii" and "Tommy" so I guess they were significant events (Though in the beautifully named latter film, not a significant movie).

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/16/2003 10:30 PM PST

What's the matter here? We can't make a measly 100 posts? C'mon, you people, we must not drop the ball because then the ball will roll away and then what? Post, you people. Puuush.

Posted by bk @ 09/16/2003 10:53 PM PST

Emily--thanks for the congrats! :)

And now to quote Lady Macbeth "To bed, to bed."

BK--we should have 100 by tomorrow morning! (Or for me, that would be today morning I guess.)

Posted by Maya @ 09/16/2003 11:03 PM PST

A question for anyone who knows:
After The Producers leaves the Pantages Theater in January, what is going into that theater?

Posted by Old Laura @ 09/16/2003 11:12 PM PST

I remember poor Jean Simmons "going to the lions" in "The Robe". What a shock it was to see her alive again and living in Sweden and making an living as an actress "the one and only Desiree Armfeldt".

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/16/2003 11:16 PM PST

Roadshow movies... Hmmm... Although I didn't see it in a Roadshow Engagement, my family always used to watch The Ten Commandments when it used to come on TV every year - around Easter - ??? I remember being scared by the plagues.

In other news... We had a wonderful day of auditions. Good turnout. Good quality. And the New 42nd Street Studios are very nice. *I stopped at Cold Stone Creamery on the way out - it's OK. I appreciate the gimmick of mixing up all the flavors on the spot, but, consequently it ends up taking at least five minutes to get a scoop - or bowl(!) - of ice cream - and that's after the wait in line for your "entertainer". I also got to see Take Me Out tonight - I was able to exchange my ticket from the night of the blackout. What an amazing play. Funny, touching, thought-provoking and moving. Dennis O'Hare truly deserved the Tony! -And he was very gracious at the stage door after the show. After walking around Time Square for a little bit, I met up with some of the USJ crew at Don't Tell Mama's. A nice end to a very good day. -Tomorrow is the dance call... Until then...

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 09/16/2003 11:31 PM PST

MattH you are right, I was confusing LES GIRLS with SILK STOCKINGS...the extras that is. Grrrrrrrrr....sorry!

I got them both on the same day and watched them so they kind of run together now...

Hmmmmmm....no one else noticed, guess not EVERYONE reads EVERY post...LOL. Thanks!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/17/2003 03:52 AM PST

Good morning everyone...it is much to early to be 7:02...someone must have changed all of the clocks...Eh...

I know I'm posting this late, so I'll probably post it again today, but I was told from an inside source that the musical this year might be Godspell. I know absolutely nothing about this show, except that it depicts the last few hours of Jesus' life, and that they're all dressed up like clowns. Help?

Posted by Sarah @ 09/17/2003 04:04 AM PST

"...all dressed up like clowns"?

Sarah, click on my name and you'll be set.

Posted by Lulu @ 09/17/2003 05:23 AM PST

I'll post this again later, for those who don't read morning posts; but I wanted to give the early birds something to do if they so desire. :)

If I told you who wrote this, you'd either not believe me or not check the article out...and that'd be a shame, because it's definitely of interest to theater fans. So the author of this article will just have to be a surprise. Click on my name to read "Invasion of the Early Birds."

Posted by Lulu @ 09/17/2003 05:26 AM PST

Lulu - what an interesting article. Lot of truth there as well....thanks for the link!

Theatre goers will be INTERESTED in this opinion piece.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/17/2003 05:36 AM PST

Doh - hello, Jose! Sounds like you are having a GREAT time!

Sarah - GODSPELL needs a good director and musical director, but it's lots of fun - listen to the CD, but don't watch the movie too early on.

But when you do, yes that is Victor Garber.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/17/2003 05:39 AM PST

Uh...uhm...I guess EVERY musical needs a good director and a good musical director.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/17/2003 06:17 AM PST

LOL, Jrand! :)

Posted by Lulu @ 09/17/2003 06:22 AM PST

I was listening to Sweet River this morning, and I thought: Harvey Schmidt's cover art must truly be a reflection of his deep affection for BK, who brings new life to lovely music.

Posted by Dan-in-Toronto @ 09/17/2003 06:40 AM PST

I agree, Dan.

Both of the covers reflect the books perfectly - even moreso in retrospect - but they have a kind of lost/alone/cultural vastness about them that is fascinating.

And the colors! I can hardly wait to see the third one!!!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/17/2003 06:43 AM PST

Comes in...looks around....clicks the counter to 100!

Posted by Counter @ 09/17/2003 06:49 AM PST

I'm glad to see we made it to 100 even if it took 23 hours to do it.

Not only is King of the ABC/Disney Movie Victor Garber in the film of GODSPELL but so is the late, wonderful Lynne Thigpen.

And Garber was in the Toronto stage production along with Gilda Radner, Martin Short, Andrea Martin and a couple others of that ilk who I can't remember.

I know there have been a couple of recent revivals, but I wonder how GODSPELL holds up today since most of it's style is in that late 60s/early 70s genre best described as "story theatre" and its score is definitely of the same period. In its day when it was fresh and new, it was a great show, but I wonder if it's a show whose day has past? You really can't play it as a "period piece" like you can HAIR. If any DR has seen a recent production I'd be interested to know just how well it holds up today and what --- if anything --- was done to bring it up to date.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/17/2003 07:10 AM PST

Sorry to have been E&T yesterday. I was away at work and then when I got home, who was online and chatting with me but my friend Mo! Remember him? Well, he's doing quite well, and may even be moving to the States for a while to finish school. I chatted with him for a couple of hours (I haven't heard from him in several months) and then I watched some TV, took a shower, slapped on some Vicks Vap-O-Rub and went to bed.

I am feeling quite a bit better, and I thank you all for your get-well wishes. Unfortunately, I am not well enough to make the audition tomorrow, so I just called and cancelled. :-( Oh, well. Life will go on another year without Derby Dinner Playhouse. At least this way I'll get to work tomorrow, which is a good thing. Now if I could just cough the rest of this stuff up and be done, I'd be a happy, happy boy.

Anyway, I must shower (to get the Vicks off) and hie myself to work post-haste. I'm running pretty late already. Until this evening...

Posted by Jason @ 09/17/2003 07:15 AM PST

Eugene "American Pie" Levy and Dave Thomas were also in the Toronto run of Godspell.

Posted by Lulu @ 09/17/2003 07:35 AM PST

That must have been something to see and hear.

Bill - I am like you - in my mind GODSPELL is firmly set in the 1970's - but that certainly doesn't mean it couldn't be done now. As Friedrich Von Trapp asks: "But how?"

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/17/2003 07:39 AM PST

I saw a production of GODSPELL about ten years ago, which did little to "update" the piece, and it was *terrific*. I saw another production two years ago, in which the director tried to superimpose his "concept" on the show, and it was dismal.

The two most recent cast recordings (the 2000 Off-Broadway and the 2000 Touring production) do update the arrangements of some of the songs, and it works quite well, IMO.

I would argue that even more than a talented director and a talented musical director, this shows requires a very talented cast, and that cast needs to bond early to function as a true ensemble. Each member of the cast has his/her moment to shine, but it is the relationships between the characters that give the show its impact at the end.

I read an announcement yesterday that Lincolnshire in Chicago will be doing BEAUTY AND THE BEAST as part of their season next year. Jason, does that mean what I think it means?

Lincolnshire have also announced that they will be staging SUNSET BOULEVARD. Does that mean that Rodgers & Hammerstein will have a press release soon, too?

Hmmmmm.....

Posted by Dave @ 09/17/2003 07:42 AM PST