Haines His Way

OK, here goes.  I think I've cropped this photo so it won't send us into widescreen:

That's a swell car!

I spy a new Dear Reader!! Jump on in, RusticM. Glad you're here!

(Adjusting his blindfold)

Mystery Guest, do you work in the fashion industry?

I read several reviews saying that "this Harry Potter just isn't the page turner the others were"

The Vixter and I, on the other hand, agree with you... we couldn't put it down.   One reviewer said the first ten chapters could have been completely done away with... I found the early stuff some of the most intriguing items in the book...

I agree.  I felt the entire opening chapters had a different feel than the previous books.

I'm shocked anyone would think you are 62

I found it quite interesting as well... I have developed a theory about Snape.. and now I'll have to wait another year or so to see if I'm right!

Me too.  I will email you.

The Trotter Trio play "She Loves Me' sounds good to me. "The Fantasticks" worked well. I too play the Sondheim ones quite often.

Charlie showed up today -- complained a lot, worked a little, left trash all over, turned on the AC in every room he worked in and left it running, then left early without finishing. He promises to be back tomorrow.

Goodbye, Charlie

Trotter plays some Andrew Lloyd Webber would be nice

Frightening thought Matthew - lol. May as well have Trotter plays Puccini et al and get it right.

(BTW I am going to see "Sunset Boulevard" on Friday week. I'm hoping the non top heavy version works better. I still don't think the show can ever really work without "Close ups". I'm hoping for great performances by Judi Conneli and David Campbell. (I've seen Buckley and also Hugh Jackman in different productions.) Jackman was a wonderful Norma (or was that Peter Allen?)

Apparently, Donna has not been reading this site, or she would know that all those things were mentioned, and that I, in fact, put together Mr. Spirtas' show and directed it.  So, she will be getting both of us in Feb.

Now, opinions needed section:

In Japan, they do these wonderfully cool things called mini LP packaging.  They are slightly bigger than jewel case packages (instead of 4x4 they are basically 5 1/4 x 5 1/4).  These releases look exactly like what their name implies - miniature LP albums.  I really love them, and I'm thinking of trying to bring this style of packaging to Kritzerland.  I think if I were to do this, we would, as always, see a host of other specialty labels suddenly imitating us as if they'd thought of it themselves.  For cast albums, for example, we would do a gatefold mini LP - just like the cast albums of Subways, or  Sound of Music or Hello, Dolly! on LP.  The interior two pages of the gatefold would have lots of photos.  The back of the jacket would have track listing and maybe credits.  Then, inside the sleeve would be a single double-sided page which fold open and is, in essence, eight panels of text, even though it's just like a folded piece of paper, so in essence you'd get eight pages of text.

What do you all think of this idea?

I visited our pressing plant today and showed them the packaging and our gal there was completely blown away by it and will be talking to her printers tomorrow to see how much they think it will cost them to do it.  If it's the same price (she actually thinks it may be LESS expensive, but we shall see) or even a few pennies more, I may just try to do it.  But, I'd like some opinions.  They'd be much easier to ship, no broken jewel cases or hubs ever, and I could conceivably lower the shipping costs by seventy-five cents.

I think it is a fab idea and you should go for it!!

If anyone who has and knows the Trotter albums would like to make suggestions, we're listening.

All instrumentals or will there be a vocal or too thrown in?

Trotter plays some Andrew Lloyd Webber would be nice

Bite your tongue.

I DID miss MattH who was in town here. I would have given you PLAYBILLS in advance of your shows. Wouldn't that be fun to walk into the theatre and be asked, "Playbill?" and casually say, "Nope. I already have one." Sounded like you enjoyed SCOUNDRELS as I did.

Yes, sorry I missed you, but them are the breaks. Maybe next year?

Any spare Playbills of any OTHER shows you have lying around I would greatly appreciate. I do collect them.

One of my 5 x 5 Cds.  The spines can still be read. The "Album" opens out like an old gatefold.

I think it's a great idea.

Watched AFTER THE THIN MAN tonight. It seemed grainier in the close-ups than ANOTHER THIN MAN, and there also seemed to be more problems with the print, more dark scratches in several places than in the third film.

However, the contrast and sharpness are still better than any previous video incarnation I've seen, so I'm still glad to have it.

Someone should have done a commentary on this one. So many famous folks in the cast besides the two stars: Jimmy Stewart, Sam Levene, Jessie Ralph, Elissa Landi, George Zucco, Joseph Calleia, Penny Singleton (before she changed her name). There had to be some interesting backstage stuff to report.