Haines His Way

Archives => Archive 2 => Topic started by: bk on October 08, 2004, 12:02:42 AM

Title: CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: bk on October 08, 2004, 12:02:42 AM
Well, you've read the notes, you know that chicken is the theme, you've hummed the theme from chicken, and how it is time to post until the chicken themed cows come home.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Sandra on October 08, 2004, 12:42:49 AM
I'm saying my paper is done. It's not quite four pages, but I've said all I have to say and then some. I am going to sleep!!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: George on October 08, 2004, 12:42:55 AM
Well, it had a lot of words (and several passages of said words went right over my head), but Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead was a wonderful production of a wonderful show.  It just zipped along and it seemed that everyone said everything that they were supposed to (in other words, no awkward pauses or obvious mistakes).  I always like that in a show.

Anyway, in honor of chicken being the theme of the day, I thought I'd watch "Chicken Run," "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" "Porn 'n Chicken" and "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." ;D

Actually, I don't have any of these movies.  It just sounds funny. :)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: George on October 08, 2004, 12:52:11 AM
Yesterday, Panni wrote:
Quote
I guess the new Aladdin DVD doesn't have the famous "Take off your clothes" moment. And that's not an urban legend. I, Panni, personally saw it.
When did this happen in the movie? :o I'd never heard of this happening.

In response, S. Woody wrote:
Quote
I thought that was a "heard it" moment.

There have been a lot of slips in the Disney catalogue over the years. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is filled with them, some intentional for those with freeze frame capabilities. "For a good time, call Alice," on a bathroom wall, for instance. But I've never been sure whether Jessica's panties was intentional or not.
I have the original release of the laserdisc and I would think that it's intentional that Jessica ain't got no panties on!  Also, when Baby Herman walks under some woman after shooting the Baby Herman movie, it's very obvious that his middle finger is sticking up as he does it...as he pushes her skirt out of his way. ;)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jrand74 on October 08, 2004, 01:12:41 AM
I used to always laugh when I played the chickens singing "In the Mood."
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jrand74 on October 08, 2004, 01:14:24 AM
I just saw this really strange movie that I did not know existed.  It was called BLUE SUNSHINE and starred Zalman King and Mark Goddard.  And if anyone has seen it, you know why I am now bewitched, bothered, and bewildered....well, bewildered anyway!

What was that.

DR TD - this movie must be immediately paired with THE APPLE for a double feature night of....well....
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jrand74 on October 08, 2004, 01:17:16 AM
In the DVD player:

JUST FOR YOU - the color is fantastic.  Jane and Bing are a fine match.  Robert Arthur is cute.  Ethel Barrymore's reaction when Bing suggests they get married is as funny and perfect as anything....  And little Natalie Wood has a sequence when she doesn't wear anything on her left wrist and it is indeed disfigured, with her wrist bone sticking out at an odd angle.  In most films and photos she ALWAYS wore something on her left wrist to cover it....

CD - Phantom of the Opera, OBC

VCR - Some Allison Hayes surprises, taping to send to DRJAY.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Danise on October 08, 2004, 03:43:01 AM
Morning all!

It is 64 degrees here in sunny Florida!  The weatherman is starting his "crisp" crap again.  I'm here to tell you--it's COLD!


François de Paris --I'm sorry, I must have missed your post about Tom and England.  

Gotta run for the bus!  Have a good day all!

 




Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ben on October 08, 2004, 04:27:09 AM
Busy day at work today. Thankfully only two more Saturdays (tomorrow and the 16th) and one more week of arriving at 6am!

DR Francois, thanks for the clarification. Entre act. So that's where that word comes from  ;) Yes, you must see more of your own country, young man!

The Grand Canyon is an amazing thing. Even for one with a fear of heights. I recommend it highly.

Ireland is a wonderful country. I fell in love with it and would go back in a heartbeat. From what I hear, while no civilized country is without poverty, much of the poverty that suffused Ireland in the 80s has been lessened. Ireland's economy has been improving and it's considered a model for small countries now. They have a large technology sector and the brain drain of young people, from what I've heard, while not stopped completely, is not as severe as it was in the 80s when I was there.

Anthony is feeling better and is now back in the city. He regrets missing the dinner party on Wednesday.

Glad to hear DR Elmore was such a great tour guide to DR Jane. Second Avenue Deli. Good Choice! It was a lovely day for sightseeing yesterday.

DR Jose, your avatar disappeared for a while this morning. I thought you were going to put up a new one but then the old one re-appeared.

I'm listening to BBC Radio 3 right now. I don't know what I will listen to during the day. I forgot to bring CDs with me this morning. I have tapes to listen to, though. Many, many tapes (brought in before I was able to listen to CDs). I could conceiveably listen to Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Morris, Bette Midler, Linda Ronstadt, Michael Feinstein, Romanovsky and Phillips, Noel Coward and any number of Broadway musicals. I just don't know at this point.

We watched the last episode of Two's Company last night. It was cute. Now I've seen the entire run of the show. I'm glad. I read that after Two's Company, Ms. Stritch went into the British version of Maude. I can't remember what it was called but it only ran for two seasons. She was the writer for the first season. When first approached to do the show she said she didn't like the character but if she could write it she would be interested. I've never seen it listed on DVD or VHS and as far as I know it's never been part of a Britcom playing cycle on PBS.

Anthony brought in a DVD with Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette McDonald and I'm so tired I can't remember the name of the movie. Score by Rodgers and Hart. Oh, well. We will watch it this weekend if I don't fall asleep.

I needs must return to the printouts.

DR Jane, if you see this, it was wonderful to meet you. Hope you have a safe and uneventful trip back to Oregon. Enjoy the CD. See you (on-line) soon.

Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: beckon on October 08, 2004, 04:45:44 AM
MEDIA CHECK

Cassette: Annie Get Your Gun (JAY w/ Judy Kaye & Barry Bostwick), Bette Midler's Songs For A New Depression

CD: Floyd Collins, Assassins (OC)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan (the Man) on October 08, 2004, 05:27:54 AM
MEDIA CHECK

Cassette: Annie Get Your Gun (JAY w/ Judy Kaye & Barry Bostwick), Bette Midler's Songs For A New Depression

I've always considered Songs For A New Depression to be the last of the good Midler studio recordings.  It was such an odd ecclectic mix of songs that somehow worked.  After that, she went disco and then pop and then self-consciously attempted to go back to camp, but she never really recaptured the sheer fun of those first four albums (I'm counting Live in Cleveland here.)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on October 08, 2004, 05:32:24 AM
Since Chicken is the theme, I thought I'd pop PROMENADE into the CD player and listen to:

"Chicken Is He" (Who Does Not Adore Me)

I love this musical. I also love the poster/cover art by Morrow, with a voluptuous naked lady popping out of the top of a big cake while prisoners, a policeman, and an elegant older couple spin about the base.

(http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000DFUU.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg)

Earlier, I was listening to the cassette of ANYONE CAN WHISTLE.
For tonight's video viewing, I'm thinking about renting TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ben on October 08, 2004, 05:46:19 AM
Right now I'm listening to an old cassette of Sarah Vaughan  Live in Japan. It's one of those that will need to be transferred to CD. I love this concert. I think it's 1972 or 1973. Sarah Vaughan was AMAZING (IMHO). I saw her once in concert at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. What a show!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ben on October 08, 2004, 05:46:47 AM
I have nothing about Chicken to add to the day's discussion.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan (the Man) on October 08, 2004, 05:58:41 AM
Media Chick of Me

CD Player (at the coop):  Queen Latifah, The Dana Owens Album -- this one is wonderful!  Queen Latifah posesses such a warm inviting voice.  She doesn't attempt to imitate any of the great women of blues--she's her own gal!  Go out and buy this CD!

CD Player (at work):  Bernstein, conducting the NY Philharmonic, doing the Candide overture, dances from WSW, suite from On the Waterfront, and the Fancy Free ballet.  Just 'cause...

DVD Player:  Nothing right now, but Fahrenheit 9/11 is on the tap for this weekend.

VHS:  The last hour of Love Me Tonight, which I've already watched.  However, also on for this weekend will be the complete and uncut version of Tiger Cruise, generously supplied to me by DR George.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan (the Man) on October 08, 2004, 06:13:31 AM
[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
[/move]
1000th Post!
[move=right,scroll,6,transparent,100%]
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
[/move]
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: William E. Lurie on October 08, 2004, 06:17:15 AM
CD - HENRY, SWEET HENRY which I am seeing tomorrow; also the newly released OBCs of SOMETHING MORE (Barbara Cook) and A JOYFUL NOISE (John Raitt)

DVD - Before the deluge of new releases Tuesday I'm catching up on old tv - "Our Miss Brooks" and :The Mothers-In-Law", both with Eve Arden.

VHS - Nothing

Books - The new Ethan Mordeen "The Happiest Corpse I've Ever Seen" covering musicals from the last 23 years.  (His volume on thr 30s musicals comes out in March which will complete the series).
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ben on October 08, 2004, 06:25:10 AM
DTM, is that what's called

The Chicken Dance???

:-)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 06:45:36 AM
Good morning, all!  Today I spend the day with my friend Ginny, from my hometown.  Tomoorow, I don't get out of bed!

Dear Friend BK, my first roommate in New York, Melanie Carvil, was Jack MacGowran's stepdaughter.  Unfortunately, she had no stories about THE EXORCIST or DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES.  My first memory of seeing him was in TOM JONES.  The MacGowran family was cursed:  Jack died after filming THE EXORCIST and Melanie died of a brain tumor around 1987.  I have a wonderful photo of her holding a Siamese cat.

DRD-I-T, I too love PROMENADE and I regret missing it when it opened in 1969.  In grad school the costume shop played the recording constantly, and it turned out that one of the friends of a boy in the theatre dept. was the nephew of Shannon Bolin, so he saw the musical several times.  He said that Shannon was very protective of him because there were few straight men in the show!

So much for gossip.  I have nothing in any contraption this morning.  When I go to the recording office, I plan on listening to HAINES HIS WAY, and possibly THE GIRL WHO CAME TO SUPPER, because I haven't yet determined if I think it's first-rate Noel Coward or not; my last opinion:  third-rate, except for Tessie O'Shea.

DVD:  I have to watch over the weekend THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY and return it to Netflix.  After that, possibly Olivier's RICHARD III since DRMattH has been talking about it in the past few days.

Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan (the Man) on October 08, 2004, 06:55:03 AM
DTM, is that what's called

The Chicken Dance???

:-)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/ckndance.gif)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan (the Man) on October 08, 2004, 06:55:58 AM
DVD - Before the deluge of new releases Tuesday I'm catching up on old tv - "Our Miss Brooks" and :The Mothers-In-Law", both with Eve Arden.

The Mothers-In-Law is on DVD?  This, I got to have!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: MBarnum on October 08, 2004, 07:03:44 AM
Media check:

VHS: DAMES, LOVE ME TONIGHT, and GOLDDIGGERS OF 1935. Hope to get to all three this weekend.

CD: CLEOPATRA CAFE volumes 1 and 2.

And my Bollywood movie, which I watched last night:

NEELA AKASH (1965). Cute, colorful romance about love between and airline pilot and a flight attendant.

(http://216.247.121.93/dvdImages/b5402.jpg)



Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Noel on October 08, 2004, 07:22:14 AM
I listened to Wicked so much, prepping for my Schwartz group interview, I got quite sick of it and had to throw on his lovely Baker's Wife to cleanse the palette.  Also, some Saint-Saens concerti and the CD that goes with the upcoming PBS documentary Broadway: The American Musical.

Unopened are some sampler CDs from the upcoming Broadway musicals Bklyn and All Shook Up.  There's no "roo" in Bklyn.  People call it Brooklyn, and, indeed, the lead character, a girl from France, is named Brooklyn, but the musical itself is Bklyn, sans roo.  One wouldn't want to see a musical of Winnie the Pooh sans Roo, and I'm not too enthused about Bklyn.

However, I twice saw A...My Name Is Alice WITH Roo Brown doing all that silly poetry, and had a ball.

So, the moral of the story is: Don't leave out the Roo.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Panni on October 08, 2004, 07:53:28 AM
U nat ghve to miss my walk this morning. ...I left the previous sentence just as I wrote it. Sometimes the fingers land on the wrong "home keys" when you touch type and all hell breaks loose. (What I was trying to say was that "I may have to miss" etc.). Anyway, I need to get ready for my notes meeting on my script, shower, drink a lot of coffee and jump start my brain. Au revoir, mes amis!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Matt H. on October 08, 2004, 07:55:21 AM
Friday Media Chick:

CD - THE SECOND BARBRA STREISAND ALBUM

DVD - THE NAME OF THE ROSE

DVR - last night's JOEY and WILL & GRACE
         yesterday's ONE LIFE TO LIVE
         MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Matt H. on October 08, 2004, 07:57:24 AM
I know I've never seen the real version of THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS. I remember watching a heavily edited version on the CBS LATE MOVIE in the 1970s and not caring much for it, but that's an unfair judgment based on an edited version chopped up by endless commercials. I'll look forward to seeing the real thing at some point in the near future.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jay on October 08, 2004, 08:09:53 AM
Yesterday, Dear Reader JRand54 wrote:

Quote
DRJAY I will work on a video tape for you of a couple of Miss Allison's performances!  


Gosh, that'll be swell.  And awfully nice of you to do so!  Thank you!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jay on October 08, 2004, 08:47:11 AM
I made the mistake of going into Tower Records earlier this week and the result of my sojourn fills my automobile's CD player:

Highlights from the PBS Series "Broadway--The American Musical"

A recital album of Miss Kiri Te Kanewa singing Puccini, Verdi, Mozart and others

Mr. Thomas Schippers conducting the New York Philharmonic in Mr. Sergei Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky and Mr. Modest Mussorgsky's (well, with a helping hand from Mr. Maurice Ravel) Pictures at an Exhibition

Mr. Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde (complete) from the Bayreuth Festival of 1966, conducted by Dr. Karl Bohm and starring Miss Birgit Nilsson and Mr. Wolfgang Windgassen
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on October 08, 2004, 08:48:07 AM
DR Elmore,

I was fortunate to see Promenade at the Promenade in 1969. What I recall is how much the audience enjoyed the show - either killing themselves laughing or applauding wildly after an extraordinarily talented cast (Alice Pleyton, Shannon Bolin, Pierre Epstein, Gilbert Price and - singing the Chicken song - Florence Tarlow) - performed back-to-back showstoppers.

Do you consider Eddie Sauter among the finest orchestrators? I don't know a lot about orchestrating, but I know what I like* and can often identify orchestrators. I especially enjoy the sound of the albums to which Sauter's name is attached (Promenade, Milk and Honey, The Apple Tree and, especially, It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman).


*Jerry Rothlein, my art history professor, would say: "I know a lot about art, but I don't know what I like."
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Noel on October 08, 2004, 08:55:27 AM
I made the mistake of going into Tower Records earlier this week and the result of my sojourn fills my automobile's CD player:

Highlights from the PBS Series "Broadway--The American Musical"

That's what I have in my CD player.  Uncanny!

Next you'll be telling me we share the same Alma Mater.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 08:59:58 AM

A recital album of Miss Kiri Te Kanewa singing Puccini, Verdi, Mozart and others

Mr. Thomas Schippers conducting the New York Philharmonic in Mr. Sergei Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky and Mr. Modest Mussorgski's (well, with a helping hand from Mr. Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov) Pictures at an Exhibition


DRJay, does she forget the words or tunes?  

Pace, DRJay, but with the Mussorgsky, don't you mean Mr Ravel's helping hand?
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 09:11:01 AM

Do you consider Eddie Sauter among the finest orchestrators? I don't know a lot about orchestrating, but I know what I like* and can often identify orchestrators. I especially enjoy the sound of the albums to which Sauter's name is attached (Promenade, Milk and Honey, The Apple Tree and, especially, It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman).

DRD-I-T,  Eddie Sauter's genius is evident, I think in two scores:  THE APPLE TREE, in which he makes his 25-28 piece orchestra sound like three different bands for the three one-acts and 1776, which is such an anomaly for a former jazz man.   PROMENADE is scored for ( I recall )  violin, bass, clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, piano and percussion, and it's scoring is transparent and light when called for, and very full when it needs to be.  Mr Sauter was a very talented individual.

PROMENADE is one of my favorite pieces; I always said it was like a version of CANDIDE written by an absurdist like Ionesco.  Some of the Waitress' flights of coloratura owe a great deal, I think, to Mr Bernstein's 1956 score and OBC recording.  Whatever happened to some of that cast, like Misses I and O?  I saw Ty McConnell in THE FANTASTICKS at Playhouse in the Park in 1964, and he died of AIDS in the mid-1980s.  I saw the actor who sang  "Little Fool" (Mr R?) and Pamela Hall, one of Madeline Kahn's replacements, on tour in 1776, which was not so good as the Broadway production, but the original cast was stupendous.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 09:14:39 AM
[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]

Page 2 Dance!  Dance, Poolboy!

[/move]  
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: bk on October 08, 2004, 09:17:09 AM
And Sauter's orchestrations for 1776 are wonderful, too.  He also wrote a terrific film score to Arthur Penn's Mickey One, and has a masterpiece of a jazz album he wrote and orchestrated for Stan Getz, called Focus.

Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: bk on October 08, 2004, 09:18:23 AM
I know I've never seen the real version of THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS. I remember watching a heavily edited version on the CBS LATE MOVIE in the 1970s and not caring much for it, but that's an unfair judgment based on an edited version chopped up by endless commercials. I'll look forward to seeing the real thing at some point in the near future.

Also, it's a scope film, so you were missing half the image as well.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: bk on October 08, 2004, 09:19:03 AM
I'm going to have to go buy Love me Tonight now, because I've never seen it and everyone says it's brilliant.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: DearReaderLaura on October 08, 2004, 09:41:21 AM
Car CD player: "Give Me Jesus" by Bruce Ewing.

None of the other music/video devices are hooked up.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jay on October 08, 2004, 09:45:44 AM


Pace, DRJay, but with the Mussorgsky, don't you mean Mr Ravel's helping hand?

Yep, it was Ravel, not Rimsky-Korsakov.  Mea culpa.  Original post has been modified.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: JoseSPiano on October 08, 2004, 09:51:32 AM
Good Afternoon!

Another sinus-y day for me, but not too bad...  In any case...

It's another beautiful Fall day here in Richmond.  Great light.

I finally got my travel itinerary for my trip to Houston on Monday.  I'll be flying out from Washington National (DCA), which is good since it will allow me to drive to up to Fairfax on Sunday night and catch up with my family before heading to Texas.  -Plus, they can also watch my car for me and start it up every now and then.

I need to get some laundry done this afternoon, and I want to make one more pass through the The Producers book.  Hopefully, I can multi-task those two items.

In the meantime, I'm vegging out with "The Young & The Restless", and some Ben & Jerrry's Ice Cream - Di's Candy Drawer - it's an all right flavor, but I probably won't buy it again.

Laters...
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: William E. Lurie on October 08, 2004, 10:12:06 AM
PROMENADE is also one of my favorites.  I saw the original production but MadelineKahn was out of it already.  All of Al Carmines' shows have great scores, and I wish he wasn't almost forgotten today.

Re THE  MOTHERS-IN-LAW on DVD - only 4 episodes so far from Video Steve... a catalogue of classic tv shows not "officially" released.

Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan (the Man) on October 08, 2004, 10:34:03 AM
I'm going to have to go buy Love me Tonight now, because I've never seen it and everyone says it's brilliant.

You are in for a treat!  I don't even want to say what there is in it that you will like, because each scene brings a surprise.  I am awaiting the DVD from Amazon.

Likewise, I think I'll have to go out and pick up Promanade since everyone is talking that one up, too.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Charles Pogue on October 08, 2004, 10:44:00 AM
So yesterday, after my interview for the new FLY DVD, the director of the interview (my old Video store friend) showed me two scenes that were shot for The Fly that were cut from the original film and that I had never seen before.  Both were based on variant scenes that were in my original script.  One where a Goldblum sprouts a fly leg out of his side; the other where the machine, using a monkey and a cat, produces a monkey-cat hybrid.

Unfortunately, Cronenberg may not allow him to put the cut scenes on the DVD as extras.

My pal also gave me a 2-disc collector's edition DVD of MASTER & COMMANDER with all the extras he produced on it.  So I may have to get into that sometime this weekend.

I also  have a DVD of a Michael Caine movie SHINER that I picked up.

CDs...I'm listening to Live At the Longview which is Ian Tyson doing cowboy songs and my Prince of Foxes soundtrack by Alfred Newman.

Last night the Lovely Wife and I went to see a production of Richard III done in a lovely theatre in Barnsdall Park that few actually know exists.  The company is called the Independent Shakespeare Company and we saw them last July fourth when they did free Shakespeare  in the open air amphitheatre of The Park.  

They are a no frills company "exploring the conditions facing a performing troupe in Shakespeare's time, not as a limitation but as an opportunity for the most intense collaboration between the actors and the audience."

Basically this means there is very minimal costuming, set design,or lighting.  They are a very unusual company...in last night's production we had British, Italian, Hispanic and American performers.  There is an amalgamation of accents.  Everyone in the cast doubles or triples roles...women sometime play men.

The summer production we saw...a comedy, Two Gentleman of Verona, worked very well and was quite charming.  This Richard III also was, in its unique way, charming and eminently watchable, if not always my idea of Shakespeare.  

Part of my problem... a little one...was that Richard III is probably my favourite Shakespeare, I know it very well, and I have very definite ideas and concepts regarding the play.  So it took some time for me to wrench my frame of reference and preconceived notions around and the let the production's  unique and often original staging work on me.

It often succeeded and I had a good night at the theatre.  That said I'm not sure the play ever had the power I feel it should have, though it gained in power in the second act.  

Both Julieanne and I felt Richard emphasized wrong phrases and words in his speeches, which affected meaning and subtlety.  But he also had somesurprisingly wonderful moments.  

I also felt that it was very hard for some of the foreign performers to play against the natural rhythms of their native languages and so very often the verse speaking got very dodgy. At times, almost decipherable. But on the other hand, portions of the play were clearer and more accesible than I have ever heard it.  The duel between Richard and Hastings was very cleverly staged.

The Richard/Anne wooing scene is the yardstick by which I measure this play.  It is one of the most amazing scenes ever written.  In space of a few short minutes, Richard manages to convinced a woman whose husband he has slain, a woman who hates him, to marry him at the end of the scene.  

I think the scene works because of an undercurrent of sexuality and lurking attraction.  Both Richard and Anne are sharp witty people.  Despite the intensity of her hatred, I think Anne must delight in the wordplay and badinage she engages in with him.  She must be subconsciously attracted to this very dynamic man is should be attractive and charming (on the surface) despite his deformities.  

It's a very tough scene to do successfully.  It did not work for me last night.  Anne rushed her whole scene and had no sex about her.

On the other hand, the scene of Richard wooing Elizabeth for her daughter's hand worked better than I've ever seen it done.  Elizabeth, who has always been something of a thankless cypher in this play for me, was strong and wonderful and quite memorable.

Margaret was all-one-note, started at fever-pitch, and had no where to go, which left her screeching with little breath control.  and the Italian accent didn't help matters.

Who am I?  George Jean Nathan all of sudden?  In any event, they are a very fascinating company whose work is always interesting, if not always pristinely polished, and we will attend future productions with anticipation.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Stuart on October 08, 2004, 10:53:23 AM
Next you'll be telling me we share the same Alma Mater.

You and my brother shared Alma Mahler?

And Sauter's orchestrations for 1776 are wonderful, too.  

I am also a big fan of his 1776 orchestrations, as well as the ones for SUPERMAN.  (Somewhere along the line, I read something -- Peter Filichia's column, perhaps? -- that mentioned that some local newscast in some lower third market actually used the opening measures of the SUPERMAN overture as their throbbing "isn't the world of broadcast journalism fascinating and fast-paced?" intro music.)

Media Check:
Car (still w/o CD player):  Old mix tape
Office:  Have gotten back into the Showtune station on AOL.
DVD: Empty
VCR:  LOST, SURIVIVOR and APPRENTICE, all for the Dear Partner.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: bk on October 08, 2004, 10:54:13 AM
Did your friend say when The Fly SE will be coming out?
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jay on October 08, 2004, 11:02:23 AM
You and my brother shared Alma Mahler?

Yep.  Gustav, Walter, Franz, Noel and me.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 11:10:29 AM
Books - The new Ethan Mordeen "The Happiest Corpse I've Ever Seen" covering musicals from the last 23 years.  (His volume on the 30s musicals comes out in March which will complete the series).
Aha!  Two more books to add to my "must" list.    

I've often wondered why the book on the 30s has been delayed...and delayed, and delayed.  My bet is that he's going to comment on the interplay between Broadway and Hollywood during that decade, which called for his doing extra research.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 11:11:46 AM
[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
[/move]
1000th Post!
[move=right,scroll,6,transparent,100%]
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
[/move]
Happy Double-Deus to you!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 11:16:07 AM
Mr. Thomas Schippers conducting the New York Philharmonic in ... Mr. Modest Mussorgsky's (well, with a helping hand from Mr. Maurice Ravel) Pictures at an Exhibition
Fine as Mr. Ravel's orchestrations are, I still prefer the original version of Pictures, on solo piano.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 11:24:05 AM
As mentioned earlier this week, L'il Abner was in the car's CD player.

But I haven't been watching much of anything else.

I have been skimming through Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page's Dining Out, their book on restaurants and critics.  It's one of the best books written on the craft of criticism, a good read that by extention applies to criticism of all the arts.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Charles Pogue on October 08, 2004, 11:24:52 AM
No...Friend did not say when The Fly would be coming out.  But he said he's send me a DVD when it did.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 11:25:16 AM
There are lots of chicken farms in Delaware.

There's lots of air pollution in those parts of Delaware, too!   :o
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ben on October 08, 2004, 11:29:15 AM
Coincidence time. In my long morning post I mentioned that Anthony had brought in a DVD from the Long Island library. It was an early film musical with McDonald and Chevalier but I couldn't remember the name since it was so early in the morning. That little DVD is Love Me Tonight (which has been mentioned more than once since my post). He has already watched it and says it's wonderful. We will watch it this weekend.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on October 08, 2004, 11:33:29 AM
Friend did not say when The Fly would be coming out.


Where's TCB when you need him?
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on October 08, 2004, 11:34:17 AM
And where are some of our other friends? Has anyone heard from td?
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on October 08, 2004, 11:49:39 AM

When I go to the recording office, I plan on listening to HAINES HIS WAY, and possibly THE GIRL WHO CAME TO SUPPER, because I haven't yet determined if I think it's first-rate Noel Coward or not; my last opinion:  third-rate, except for Tessie O'Shea.


In the summer of 1964 I worked as an office boy in New York. One of the managers I schmoozed with was the source of all sorts of musical theatre gossip. I remember him telling me that Noël Coward hadn't written about half of The Girl Who Came To Supper. That makes sense, since I do think the score mixes first-rate and third-rate. (Could Coward really have written the hopelessly unwitty "Sir or Ma'am?") This same fellow also told me that he was trying to develop a one-woman show for Barbara Cook. He predicted that she would become extremely famous, and remembered more for her work as a mature singer than as an ingénue. This was in 1964, when Barbara Cook's career appeared to be in decline; her most recent performance had been as Sandy Dennis's replacement in Any Wednesday.

Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jay on October 08, 2004, 12:46:07 PM
I should mention that I saw Movin' Out last night at the historic and beautifully restored Pantages Theatre in the heart of Hollywood, California, U.S. of A.

By intermission time, I was rather unimpressed.  Two of the three male leads were danced by swings.  (A writer to the Los Angeles Times last week noted that all five leads were played by swings the night he went.)  The dancing and Twyla Tharp's choreography were ordinary, and the absurdly overamplified music destroyed any hope of making out most of Billy Joel's lyrics.  

The second half was an improvement.  The story seemed a bit tighter and the dance more compelling.  Holly Cruikshank (who was divine as The Woman in the Yellow Dress when Contact played here a few years ago) was impressive as Brenda (the girl who goes from one boyfriend to another in the first act); her legs must be eight feet long.  Sam Franke (one of the swings) as Tony (the boyfriend Brenda ends up with) was more than easy on the eye.  He even danced pretty well.  Ron Todorowski, however, was astounding as Eddie.  Tharp demands extraordinary athleticism from Eddie for much of his time on stage in the second act, and Todorowski supplied plenty of it.  The music was just as loud in Act 2, however, and I'm surprised Mr. Joel allows the sound design to get in the way of his lyrics.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on October 08, 2004, 12:55:00 PM
I should mention that I saw Movin' Out last night at the historic and beautifully restored Pantages Theatre in the heart of Hollywood, California, U.S. of A.


Our historic and beautifully restored Pantages Theatre was renamed "The Canon" a number of years later, when that company put up big bucks. Let's hope that doesn't happen to yours.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Sandra on October 08, 2004, 12:58:18 PM
I'm tired. The library's only copy of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead has been checked out. I'm tired.

That's all I have to say.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan (the Man) on October 08, 2004, 01:01:58 PM
I guess everyone's heard that the Plymouth and the Royale in NY are being renamed after Gerald Schoenfeld and Bernard Jacobs.  I'm not crazy about the spate of theatre name changes we've had in the past five years or so, but the above names are vastly preferable to the Dow Chemical Playhouse or the Wal-Mart Theater.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Stuart on October 08, 2004, 01:02:29 PM
Like my brother, I have been remiss in menitoning my thoughts about "BROADWAY: The Golden Age."

I enjoyed it very much, don't get me wrong, but was left a bit perplexed as to what the fuss has been about.  (OK, except for the Laurette Taylor clip....)

What it made me realize was that I had already seen this, basically, but in print.  Several years ago, we picked up a copy of "It Happened on Broadway" a piece of non-fiction by the same authors of "It Happened in the Catskills" (which is a must read for anyone who has ever uttered the word "kibitz.")  I believe the authors names are, ironically enough, Frommer.

Well, their book is precisely what the movie is.....stars from that age talking about their experiences were on Broadway during that "golden age."

Well, except the part where Lainie Kazan and Michele Lee (who knew that they lived in the Dear Partner's former apartment building, the Whitby?) re-hash the Detroit SEESAW debacle.  That wasn't in the Frommer's book.

It was in Ken Mandelbaum's A CHORUS LINE AND THE MUSICALS OF MICHAEL BENNETT.

OK, so maybe I am the only show queen that commits volumes such as these to memory.  (I am not, though.  I know of at least one other.  Dear Partner John.  And maybe that's what has made the last 13.5 years so much fun!)

At any rate, I didn't feel that there was much unchartered water covered in the movie.

I liked it an awful lot.  But I didn't love it.

Favorite moment?  Easy:  Miss Lansbury and all those red-jacketed chorus members.  Heaven.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Matt H. on October 08, 2004, 01:13:59 PM
I'm going to have to go buy Love me Tonight now, because I've never seen it and everyone says it's brilliant.

It's a wonderful musical, and it's beautifully shot. The score is sent from heaven above. I've had the DVD for quite a few months and have watched it several times. Simply grand.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 01:15:11 PM
Der Brucer and I now have a cage in our dining room.

It is not for chickens.

It's intended as temporary "shelter" for a dog we're going to be fostering for a little while.  Zeus, who appears to be a border collie mix, is very shy, and is used to having a cage as a "home," sort of a security blanket.  His owner has to moving to a place that doesn't allow pets, and wasn't able to find him a new home before the moving date.  I expect there will be a few damp eyes when we go to pick up Zeus this evening.

The cage itself measures about four feet by three, and three feet high, which is plenty of room.  It's also very airy, a friendly enclosure.  All it needs is a blanket on the bottom (which is already solid) to make it homey.  (We could use it for some kinky stuff, but we're not into that, and haven't been for...uh, never mind.   ::))  

Thus begins our great experiment, to see if we can help as a foster family until the dogs we take in can find a permanent home.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Matt H. on October 08, 2004, 01:19:35 PM

I also  have a DVD of a Michael Caine movie SHINER that I picked up.


I got a used copy of that a couple of weeks ago but haven't as yet had time to watch it.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jennifer on October 08, 2004, 01:30:46 PM
Oy.  Had another sort of run in at my favorite jewelry counter (in the same department store where a few weeks ago the guy wanted to call security on me).

They put out new stuff in the liquidation rack occasionally.  Well there was this Tommy Hilfiger necklace I had been looking at.  But it was $60 regular price.  Well today it was on the reduced rack for 30% off $33.  And it had matching earrings.

Anyhow I buy them.  The woman takes off the discount.  Then I ask for a box.

And she looks at me like I am crazy.

Then she proceeds to say, "we don't have any boxes and haven't seen Christmas".

Okay I"m already in a bad mood, but can she be serious?  I shop there at least once a month, and I've always gotten a box.  Plus there are hundreds of red boxes sitting out with reduced jewelry in them.  So I ask if I can take one.

"No!"

Can she be serious?

I'm sensing deja vu. :)

Finally I say (and I might have been a bit snippy), "I shop here all the time and i've always gotten a box, are you sure you can't find me one?"

(i really hate when they throw expensive jewelry in plastic bag, like it's crap).

So finally she tells me she will go look in another department and I thank her.

She comes back with nothing.

Then finally gives me one of the red boxes.

Oh I forgot the best part. After I said, "are you sure you can't find me a box, i really don't like carrying silver jewelry rattling around in my bag" she said, "okay well you don't have to buy it, i can give you a refund" (as she proceeded to grab my stuff).

What is with these people?  Why do they try to have you return merchandise to solve disputes???
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jennifer on October 08, 2004, 01:37:38 PM
Comments about last night's JOEY.

DR MattH, don't read if you haven't watched it yet.













Last night's Joey was very funny.  But it sort of bothered me how much liberty they took with how plays are put on.

Joey took 3 understudy jobs at the same time.  Well all 3 understudies called in sick the same night (the first night?).

He didn't know any of this lines.  And they were having him go on stage without rehearsal.  This already was slightly ludicrous.

But then Joey shows up and does the Richard III monologue in the wrong play.  Now it was very funny.  But come on, there are stage managers, and at least some people standing backstage.  Like nobody would notice he was dressed in a robe and crown istead of a cowboy suit!?!

This was actually really funny.  But the other thing really bugged me.  Because they totally made it seem like that is how theatre is done.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Stuart on October 08, 2004, 01:44:56 PM
Also, re: "B'way: The Golden Age."

I think it's high time that Edie Adams and Mimi Hines do a stock tour of SIDE SHOW.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jrand74 on October 08, 2004, 01:50:56 PM
LOVE ME TONIGHT is very funny....somewhat dated...and how much you like it depends on what you think of Chevalier, I think.  I don't like him much, so it's not the HIT some people think it is.  BUT it is very clever and fun.

FOR a 1930's comedy - although not a musical - I will take DESIRE with Gary Cooper and Marlene Dietrich...LOL....
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: bk on October 08, 2004, 02:20:28 PM
Might I just ask where in tarnation IS everyone on this beautiful Friday (it's about ninety degrees here).  Just got back from errands and my new 'do, and now I'm on my way to see some video footage of What If.  Keep the home fries burning, you hear?
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: George on October 08, 2004, 02:26:56 PM
It's raining here in Olympia.  Last night I ushed for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and there was wonderful weather.  I wore a black polyester (ugg) button-down short-sleeved shirt, black jeans with black socks with a pair of leather sandals.  The problem is that I left my tennis shoes at my house and after ushing, I went to the house where I'm house-sitting.  I've been walking around in sandals with no socks in the rain (I went out for lunch).  Not a smart choice on my part.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ron Pulliam on October 08, 2004, 02:28:23 PM
Oy.  Had another sort of run in at my favorite jewelry counter (in the same department store where a few weeks ago the guy wanted to call security on me).

What is with these people?  Why do they try to have you return merchandise to solve disputes???

Are you kidding us with this?

This happened?  And you didn't go straight to the store manager and lodge a complaint????

I'd have screamed bloody murder until that sales clerk was fired!

You HAVE to tell someone in the store management.  

The treatment you received was absurd and grossly incompetent.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ron Pulliam on October 08, 2004, 02:30:35 PM
Also, re: "B'way: The Golden Age."

I think it's high time that Edie Adams and Mimi Hines do a stock tour of SIDE SHOW.

If Edie and Mimi pass on it why don't you and DB Jay work it up and take it for a spin?

Maybe BK would produce/direct it for you!

:D
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ann on October 08, 2004, 02:46:19 PM
It's POURING in Tacoma right now.  I just bought the SE of Aladdin...I do love this movie...
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jrand74 on October 08, 2004, 02:47:13 PM
Jennifer I agree with RLP....this is the SECOND time....go speak to someone before your next transaction.  THIS isn't good customer service.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Stuart on October 08, 2004, 02:55:29 PM
If Edie and Mimi pass on it why don't you and DB Jay work it up and take it for a spin?

Maybe BK would produce/direct it for you!

:D

LOL   ;D
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Panni on October 08, 2004, 03:04:46 PM
I've caught up on the posts, but I've just come from a very LOOOOOONG meeting (followed by a nice lunch on the producers -- well not ON them) - and I'm too tired to post and must do some errands.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Charles Pogue on October 08, 2004, 03:09:52 PM
Matth, my copy of Shiner is also used. got it for like  $4.95 or something.  I figure when you can buy a movie for under five bucks that you want to see why rent it.

Tonight I must sup with Harlan Ellison.   Tomorrow we get a new dog.  I don't think there is any discernable connection to those to sentences.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 03:37:04 PM
and how much you like it depends on what you think of Chevalier, I think.  I don't like him much, so it's not the HIT some people think it is.  BUT it is very clever and fun.

WHAT???? :o

... and I thought so highly of you, DR Jrand!!

Of course, Allison is not in it ;) but there's Jeannette is she's not chopped-liver!

I LOVE MAURICE!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jennifer on October 08, 2004, 03:37:36 PM
Are you kidding us with this?

This happened?  And you didn't go straight to the store manager and lodge a complaint????

I'd have screamed bloody murder until that sales clerk was fired!

You HAVE to tell someone in the store management.  

The treatment you received was absurd and grossly incompetent.

No, I'm not kidding. I described it pretty much as it happened.

But I actually left feeling bad, like I was too forceful.

I always say thank you and try to be very nice.  But I believe that 90% of customers accept what the sales clerk says.  For example I am quite positive that most people would have left without a box the instant they were told there were none.

My problem is that I don't take no for an answer (if they don't do what I ask).  And especially in this case where I have gotten boxes for every jewelry purchase I've ever made (and we're talking more than 30).

I believe that she didn't have any of the correct boxes.  But there were boxes for other reduced jewelry.  And boxes for gold jewelry.  And I'm pretty sure the other clerks just give whatever.  This woman was most likely going by the book.  It just really bugged me that she wouldn't do a thing to help me.

So which part do you guys find bad on her part?  That she tried to refund my purchase?  Or that she wouldn't give the box?

This is a huge department store (The Bay).  It has 3 floors.  And most of their customer reps are really nice.  There are probably 15 who do jewelry.  And a bunch of them are extremely nice.

The thing is I'm not even sure if this lady has a manager.  I see her there a lot, and wouldn't be surprised if she was one of the higher ups in that department.  But of course there are managers for each floor.  It's just a really large department store.  So it's not really obvious how one would complain.

She didn't technically do anything wrong.  She informed me there were no boxes.  And everything she said was in a very sweet tone.  I just wouldn't let up.  And like I said, normal customers don't do that.  

The funny thing is the other clerk who was working today is one of my favorites.  She always compliments me on what I'm buying and tells me what great taste I have.  Now that is what a clerk should do. :)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 03:40:04 PM
Jennifer I agree with RLP....this is the SECOND time....go speak to someone before your next transaction.  THIS isn't good customer service.

Don't ask for Maurice Chevalier!
You'd get funny looks and he sure can't help you anymore in this matter! ;)

I can't believe there are people who don't like Chevalier!
Republicans! :o ;D
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 03:42:15 PM
LOVE ME TONIGHT is very funny....somewhat dated...

Somewhat DATED! 1932!

You can say that again! :)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jennifer on October 08, 2004, 03:43:54 PM
Jennifer I agree with RLP....this is the SECOND time....go speak to someone before your next transaction.  THIS isn't good customer service.

Like I said, this isn't a regular store.  It has so many departments (and i buy stuff there a lot), that I couldn't really speak to someone BEFORE my next transaction.

But I'll definitely keep my eye out on the jewelry crew.  And hopefully they won't mess with me again. :)

Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 03:56:35 PM
Like I said, this isn't a regular store.  It has so many departments (and i buy stuff there a lot), that I couldn't really speak to someone BEFORE my next transaction.

But I'll definitely keep my eye out on the jewelry crew.  And hopefully they won't mess with me again. :)



Boycott The Bay!
Boycott The Bay!

http://www.fact-index.com/t/th/the_bay.html

I patronized The Bay when I was "Canadian" but mainly the bargain Basement section! :D
It's true!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ann on October 08, 2004, 03:57:58 PM
***VIBES REQUEST***


Okay, all you dear HHW folk, I have a vibes request.  It's not for me, however.  I know DR Jed has drifted from the flock of late, but he needs vibes now nonetheless.  After months of searching and coming up with zip, he has finally found and applied for a job that's absolutely perfect for him.  Having a degree in music education, and five years experience working a library...what could be more perfect than a Music Library job??  The people would be nuts not to hire him.  So I'm asking for vibes on his behalf, because I believe in the amazing power of the HHW vibes.  Let's all hope he hears back from these people...and eventually hopefully gets the job.

Thanks  :D
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ron Pulliam on October 08, 2004, 03:59:26 PM
Jennifer:  It should not matter who the lady is or thinks she is.  Customer service is an "institution"...and the customer is always right.

Did you not tell us that you'd always gotten boxes there before?

Did you not tell us that she suggested giving you a refund rather than finding you a box?

That, alone, should send the higher echelons of store management into a fit of rage.

File a customer complaint.  Don't rationalize about it by thinking of how much better other salespeople treat you..THEY aren't the ones you're reporting.  

I assure you, though, that one bad apple CAN and often DOES spoil a barrel.  If you like that store and want to continue going there and be happy about it, you owe it to yourself, and the store, to nip this little problem in the bud (or butt, as the case may be)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ron Pulliam on October 08, 2004, 04:01:27 PM
Don't ask for Maurice Chevalier!
You'd get funny looks and he sure can't help you anymore in this matter! ;)

I can't believe there are people who don't like Chevalier!
Republicans! :o ;D

There has been some rumor floating around since WWII that Chevalier entertained the Nazi occupiers.  It has been perceived as sympathetic, but it did not ruin his international popularity or career.  It's just "out there" and leaves a bad taste in some folks' mouths.

Probably because of "The Sorrow and the Pity" (and this is from Doug Savant's review off the internet):

"Maurice Chevalier is featured prominently in the documentary.  He's the grinning boulevardier singer, who with most entertainers in Paris, weathered the occupation living a high life with the German occupiers, while the non - V.I.P. population lost an average of 25 pounds each due to malnutrition.  Some of his songs provide infrequent background for archival footage.  The picture ends with a newsreel of him, grinning like a baby, claiming he was not a collaborator.  The charges against him that he was one were false, you see, because he never went to Germany to perform singing engagements for the Nazis, not once!  He did go to sing for French P.O.W.'s in their camps, and that was it!  Honest, you can believe Maurice!  He's just a singing, non-political carefee guy!  After all the sincere testimony from citizens, important and humble, Chevalier's image-mending comes off as particularly heinous.  This must be the 'pretty, Guilty world' that Orson Welles spoke of in The Lady from Shanghai.   Chevalier then goes on to associate himself with the Americans, singing his debut song from Paramount on Parade (1930), which has the the jaunty lyric, "I'll be making Rain - bows, sweeping the clouds away.'  The Sorrow and the Pity make a better case for dragging those clouds back and taking a good hard look at them. "

:D
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: George on October 08, 2004, 04:06:32 PM
***VIBES REQUEST***

Okay, all you dear HHW folk, I have a vibes request.  It's not for me, however.  I know DR Jed has drifted from the flock of late, but he needs vibes now nonetheless.  After months of searching and coming up with zip, he has finally found and applied for a job that's absolutely perfect for him.  Having a degree in music education, and five years experience working a library...what could be more perfect than a Music Library job??  The people would be nuts not to hire him.  So I'm asking for vibes on his behalf, because I believe in the amazing power of the HHW vibes.  Let's all hope he hears back from these people...and eventually hopefully gets the job.

Thanks  :D

From one library worker to a potential library worker:

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]~~~~~ BESTEST JOB VIBES TO D.R. JED!!! ~~~~~[/move]

[move=right,scroll,6,transparent,100%]~~~~~ BESTEST JOB VIBES TO D.R. JED!!! ~~~~~[/move]
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: George on October 08, 2004, 04:08:38 PM
But on a sad note, Playbill.com just reported that Wally Harper has died.  Click HERE (http://www.playbill.com/news/article/88913.html) to read the article.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ron Pulliam on October 08, 2004, 04:16:09 PM
The news about Wally Harper is a MAJOR BUMMER!  His influence in the concert career of Barbara Cook -- and the music they've made together the past 35-plus years -- makes this loss devastating.

I feel extremely fortunate to have seen/heard him with her at San Francisco's Curran Theater last year in her "Mostly Sondheim" tour.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ron Pulliam on October 08, 2004, 04:18:44 PM
Just for Jed....a vibe from Oakland CA:

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]THRUM-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M[/move]
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on October 08, 2004, 04:19:03 PM
Yes, such sad news about Wally Harper. I saw him and Barbara Cook in Toronto during their last appearance here. They truly were a team.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: MBarnum on October 08, 2004, 04:25:46 PM
Vibes for DR Jed! May he get the job AND return to HHW!!

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]Hire Jed....Hire Jed...Hire Jed...Hire Jed...Hire Jed...you'd be fool not to hire Jed...Hire Jed...Hire Jed...[/move]
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: MBarnum on October 08, 2004, 04:26:58 PM
I have added a couple of movies to my weekend viewing (it is raining lots...so not much else to do)...The 1960s Italian sci-fi THE WILD, WILD PLANET starring Tony Russel (who I interviewed last weekend) and.....
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: MBarnum on October 08, 2004, 04:31:35 PM
...for my 2nd Bollywood movie this week I decided to watch JISM. Yes, JISM. The word means the same in Hindi as it does in English. LOL! It stars Bollywood hunk John Abraham in his first movie role and the films is evidently a remake of DOUBLE INDEMNITY. Somehow I can't imagine Barbara Stanwyck ever making a film called JISM! LOL!

(http://www.erosentertainment.com/erospromos/eros_us/Product/image_b/Jism_b.jpg)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 04:32:54 PM
RLP,

I don't think Jrand 54 was referring to what you posted re:Chevalier.
I may be wrong but Jrand doesn't seem to care for the artist; Period.

I have the book from which that excerpt is; Chevalier was almost sentenced to death and executed.
I believe Cocteau saved his skin by hiding him for a few weeks in the south of France!


There have been TONS of rumours like that after the war regarding loads of French artists and European ones; Jean Pierre Aumont, Renoir, Louis Jourdan, Danielle Darrieux....

Some of them did perform and filmed for the Nazis BUT did work with the Resistance at night!

Years after, it's easy to trash people; we, ourselves, what would we have done if we had been in their shoes??

Oh, boy! This is way too heavy, and I didn't want to head that way in the first place!

If Chevalier had been a bastard, we would have known it a long time ago!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 04:33:59 PM
What is happening with the site tonight???

That cinemascope thing drives me crazy... or crazier!! LOL!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: bk on October 08, 2004, 04:40:41 PM
What Cinemascope thing?  Looks fine from where I sit.  

Back from seeing video footage, which looks better than I could have imagined.  It's being cut together by some editor guy (who works on The Simpsons) and I'll see what he's done next week.  
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: MBarnum on October 08, 2004, 04:43:17 PM
Ladies and gentlemen Mr. John Abraham.

This productions still is just to show you that I am really only interested in Mr. Abraham's (strange name for a Hindu!) acting abilities!  ::)

Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Danise on October 08, 2004, 04:50:09 PM
Evening all.

Best of luck job vibes to DR Jeb!
[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/move]

Not much else to say tonight.  

I received a scam e-mail from my bank stating that I had bought a two hundred thousand dollar necklace in Spain.  They were expecting payment ASAP unless I clicked on the link they provided and gave proof that it was not me that made the purchase.  

I went to my banks real web site and found their scam report page.  I forwarded it to the address they gave.  

I have to admit, it was a bit of a chuckle.  Like I would even have a credit/debit card that would have that kind of limit on it.  In my dreams......

I can't help but wonder what a two hundred thousand dollar necklace would look like.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Stuart on October 08, 2004, 04:50:20 PM
Good job vibes to DR Jed.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 04:50:45 PM
What Cinemascope thing?  Looks fine from where I sit.  

Back from seeing video footage, which looks better than I could have imagined.  It's being cut together by some editor guy (who works on The Simpsons) and I'll see what he's done next week.  

Well, from where I seat, in front of that iMac I'm using, every page is w a y   too   l a r g e!

But I might be the only one with the problem, so I have to bear with it, or mouse with it, or elephant with it! :(
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 05:04:59 PM
You are in for a treat!  I don't even want to say what there is in it that you will like, because each scene brings a surprise.  I am awaiting the DVD from Amazon.

Likewise, I think I'll have to go out and pick up Promanade since everyone is talking that one up, too.

Yes, LOVE ME TONIGHT is one of my faves, and Myrna Loy is so wonderful in it.

DRDan(TM), so much of PROMENADE is a hoot, but I'm particularly fond of "the Cigarette Song," "Capricious and Fickle," and "The Moment Has Passed," not to mention today's "Chicken is He!"
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 05:08:26 PM

CDs...I'm listening to Live At the Longview which is Ian Tyson doing cowboy songs and my Prince of Foxes soundtrack by Alfred Newman.


DRCharlesPogue, didn't we discuss Ian Tyson several months ago?  "Four Strong Winds" is one of my all-time favorite songs.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: bk on October 08, 2004, 05:09:54 PM
Just ate some yummilicious Chinese food (not in bed, alas).
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 05:15:23 PM
Marlene Dietrich and poet Louis Aragon helped Chevalier, who had a juish wife, save his skin!

(Sorry, could not find this in English!)

Début 1942, il retourne chez lui à la Bocca, près de Cannes. Mais en septembre, il est de retour au Casino de Paris pour son nouveau spectacle, "Pour toi Paris". En 1944, il fournit une nouvelle cachette et de faux papiers aux parents de sa compagne. Cependant, après le débarquement américain du 6 juin 1944, les ennuis commencent pour Maurice Chevalier. Il est une des cibles du comité d'épuration qui recense, entre autres, les artistes ayant fait preuve de sympathie voire de complicité envers l'occupant allemand. Les rumeurs concernant le chanteur vont l'obliger à se cacher pendant plusieurs mois pour échapper à une épuration souvent expéditive. Puis, défendu par de nombreux autres artistes et intellectuels dont Marlène Dietrich et le poète Louis Aragon, Maurice Chevalier revient à Paris et participe même à un défilé organisé par le parti communiste le 10 octobre 44. Cette fois, le malentendu semble disparaître même si l'image de Chevalier en sort écornée. En 45, il fait quelques concerts dans un Paris juste libéré, mais la presse anglo-saxonne reste très sévère à son égard. Londres lui refusera un visa pendant encore quelques années.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on October 08, 2004, 05:20:17 PM
DR Elmore,

Even more of a hoot? The PROMENADE CD notes. I guess they were printing the notes for DARLING OF THE DAY at the same time, so the fourth cut is listed as being sung by Patricia Routledge and Teddy Green.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan (the Man) on October 08, 2004, 05:23:19 PM
[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]! ! ! ! !  GOOD JOB VIBES FOR DR JED  ! ! ! ! ![/move]
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 05:23:26 PM
Wally Harper was a lovely gentleman, and this is truly depressing.  DRPennyO saw him when she was in New York in early June, and she told me he was not looking well.  He was a major talent, and he will be missed by many.

DRJennifer, many years ago, right out of college, I applied for a job with a bank in my hometown (I had no career goals then).  The horrendous woman who ran personnel for the First National Bank told me I was overeducated, and if I were to find a job in Middletown, Ohio, I should go to the Public Library and apply for a job!  I went to see Arthur Wolman, the director of the library then, and he was very patient in telling he he had no openings and how sorry he was I was being passed from pillar to post.

Still unemployed several weeks later, I went back to the bank to tell the old bag I was still looking for work.  She snapped at me, "What are you doing here? I sent you to the Library."

My reply:  "I'm still looking for work and I hoped one of your tellers had dropped dead." Then I left.  I scrounged off my parents for another six months before I went to work in the 1972 box office of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival.  Don't let that jewelry clerk give you grief; throw it right back at her and get her ass fired.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on October 08, 2004, 05:24:07 PM
I've been humming "Chicken Is He" on and off through the day.

DR Elmore, DR WEL: Any recent information about Al Carmines? I tried Googling, and the only recent items are about hymns - very nice hymns about diversity and inclusiveness - that he has written.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 05:26:37 PM
Ladies and gentlemen Mr. John Abraham.

This productions still is just to show you that I am really only interested in Mr. Abraham's (strange name for a Hindu!) acting abilities!  ::)



From the sound of that title, DRMichael Barnum, I think you were hoping for more skin than that!

DRJed, good vibes on employment!!!!!!

I, too, like Chevalier:  what would LOVE ME TONIGHT, THE MERRY WIDOW, GIGI and THE CASTAWAYS be like without him?
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Dan (the Man) on October 08, 2004, 05:27:01 PM
I didn't know from Chevalier aside his appearance in Gigi.  But I can certainly understand his appeal after watching him in Love Me Tonight.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 05:28:52 PM
I can't help but wonder what a two hundred thousand dollar necklace would look like.

Probably cheap and gaudy like one of Diana Ross' earrings.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: MBarnum on October 08, 2004, 05:37:53 PM
 I am watching LOVE ME TONIGHT right now. I thought DAMES was first on my vhs tape, but I was wrong. Cute movie so far. Who knew Charlie Ruggles had such a good physique??
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 05:43:14 PM
I am watching LOVE ME TONIGHT right now. I thought DAMES was first on my vhs tape, but I was wrong. Cute movie so far. Who knew Charlie Ruggles had such a good physique??

DRMichaelBarnum, isn't that Charles Butterworth?  Is Ruggles in it as well?
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 05:44:29 PM
I am watching LOVE ME TONIGHT right now. I thought DAMES was first on my vhs tape, but I was wrong. Cute movie so far. Who knew Charlie Ruggles had such a good physique??

Well, knock me down!  You're right!  I'd forgotten he was in it.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: PennyO on October 08, 2004, 05:46:03 PM
wow - I'm so sad about Wally... the news comes on the tail of such a lovely day i spent with Jane. She's off to the theater now, to see Movin' Out with her nieces and then to JFK tomorrow at the crack of dawn to go home to her husband and little menagerie. What fun we all had at Barrymore's the other night, and with Elmore yesterday. Oh, my heart is breaking about Wally. he was a good friend, and the funniest, most lovable guy in the world. he loved his life so much. He had grace. Oh, Wally.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Sandra on October 08, 2004, 06:00:23 PM
Job vibes for Dear Reader Jed! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope the public library has Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. If not, then I am going to have to improvise.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 06:28:06 PM
Well, knock me down!  You're right!  I'd forgotten he was in it.

If one were to watch the French version, the cast is all French apart from the two main parts!

Yes, at least for the Merry Widow, as far as I remember, Jeannette also does the French version... in French! ;D
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Ron Pulliam on October 08, 2004, 06:34:06 PM
I'm watching the debate....and this is the debate in which George Bush was said to possibly hold the edge based on his affability with face-to-face....

...but what I'm seeing and hearing is...

...John Kerry is kicking Bush's butt across the stage and back, time and again.

Bush looks like he's going to cry.....
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 06:41:47 PM
I'm watching the debate....and this is the debate in which George Bush was said to possibly hold the edge based on his affability with face-to-face....

...but what I'm seeing and hearing is...

...John Kerry is kicking Bush's butt across the stage and back, time and again.

Bush looks like he's going to cry.....

Dubya certainly sounds more rattled, doesn't he?  Kerry's so calm.

I loved Dubya's transformation line during the question about restarting the draft:  he's transforming poor boys, who most likely enlisted for the money or because of some court order, into pine boxes!  I hate this war!!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Matt H. on October 08, 2004, 07:48:59 PM
Reading about Wally Harper's death here was my first news of this tragedy. Oh, what a marvelous team they were!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 07:52:01 PM
Tonight I must sup with Harlan Ellison.   Tomorrow we get a new dog.  I don't think there is any discernable connection to those to sentences.
If Mr. Ellison is a dog person, you'll be able to share stories.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 07:52:53 PM
Page Five Dance:

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%][size=20]Chow Chow Chow![/size][/move]
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Matt H. on October 08, 2004, 07:55:20 PM
I didn't know from Chevalier aside his appearance in Gigi.  But I can certainly understand his appeal after watching him in Love Me Tonight.

Well, you MUST get a copy of the cast album of WHOOP=UP to hear Maurice's indescribable rendition of one of that show's hit songs "Nobody Throw Those Bull." No, he wasn't in the original cast. This was offered as a bonus track. Maurice did it as a cover to the song from the smash hit show.

:D
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 07:56:15 PM
Vibes for Jed!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jay on October 08, 2004, 08:01:57 PM
If Edie and Mimi pass on it why don't you and DB Jay work it up and take it for a spin?

Maybe BK would produce/direct it for you!

:D

That's an awfully sweet thought, Dear Reader RLP.  But, my dear, if you ever heard me sing you would understand why this could not possibly happen.  Besides which, The Dear Brother has far shaplier legs than I and I would not want to be embarrassed in front of theaters full of people.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 08:05:43 PM
Jennifer:  It should not matter who the lady is or thinks she is.  Customer service is an "institution"...and the customer is always right.
Uh...wrong.

The customer is not always right.  The customer can be very wrong, in demanding things that he/she doesn't deserve, or demanding that a product be handled in such a way as to make it inferior.

I've had to deal with customers who wanted discounts that were not in effect, such as handing two coupons to the cashier at once when each clearly stated "not valid with any other discount."  

And there is a well-known story about chef Mark Peel at Campanile in Los Angeles, who had to deal with a customer who a) demanded that a chicken breast sandwich be served without it's standard dressing, and then b) complained that the sandwich, without the dressing, was "too dry."

In both of these cases, the turning point was when the customers became quite loud and, sadly, used obscene and abusive language.  The customer is always right?  Not at that point, ever.

Fortunately, DR Jennifer is not the sort who would treat the staff in that manner.  Nor was she asking for anything out of the ordinary.  This particular customer was certainly right.

What I would suggest, DR Jennifer, is writing a letter to the management, detailing to them what you have told us.  I would further couch the letter in terms that make it clear that, since you are a frequent customer your own continued patronage is not in question, but you would not want to be a first-time customer and receive such treatment.  Make it clear to the management that you are, in fact, on the store's side, and want to help them make sure their image is spotless.

Christmas, and holiday shopping, is just around the corner, after all.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jay on October 08, 2004, 08:09:00 PM
I can't help but wonder what a two hundred thousand dollar necklace would look like.

Regardless of what it looked like (though I picture rubies surrounded by diamonds--and I don't mean rhinestones), I am more than certain that the person who sold it to you would have offered you a red box for it without question.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 08:09:11 PM
Back from seeing video footage, which looks better than I could have imagined.  It's being cut together by some editor guy (who works on The Simpsons) and I'll see what he's done next week.  
If Susan or Tammy ends up with Marge's hair, I'd protest.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jay on October 08, 2004, 08:19:42 PM
Dyed in the wool Democrat and Kerry supporter that I am, I looked at the debate tonight as objectively as I could and saw, essentially, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee going at it.  It was a case of his word against his.  I can't imagine any undecided voter being swayed by this debate, which is ironic, because the members of the studio audience, supposedly, were all screened by the Gallup Organization and determined to be bona fide undecided voters.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 08:22:51 PM
I have a god reclining on my bed.

Zeus has joined us in our household, at least for now.  As predicted, it was sad for the family he had to leave.  But staying with us, even for a while, is much better than having to stay at the pound (and that would be guaranteed to be a short stay  :P).

He's a very nice dog, of totally uncertain lineage.  From what his previous family said, they found him as a stray near where they live a few years ago.  He was already housebroken, and they found him towards the end of summer, which suggests that he might have been owned by a summer family (people staying as resorters for the summer), who then discarded him as they left for home.  He was also a pup at the time, maybe nine months old according to their vet, which further suggests the first owner theory.

He has a lovely disposition, very quiet and friendly.  He loves to be petted, and handles being on a leash very well, almost showing off.

Right now, Zeus is asleep on my bed, with Bonnie close by and Marty on the floor.  Buster is under my bed, snoozing away.  

Now, we just need to find Zeus a good home.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 08:23:40 PM
Dyed in the wool Democrat and Kerry supporter that I am, I looked at the debate tonight as objectively as I could and saw, essentially, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee going at it.  It was a case of his word against his.  I can't imagine any undecided voter being swayed by this debate, which is ironic, because the members of the studio audience, supposedly, were all screened by the Gallup Organization and determined to be bona fide undecided voters.

DRJay, this ardent democrat feels much the same, and I wanted to feel my boy won.  I was disappointed in Bush's answer to his three mistakes, because I don't believe he thinks he's made any, except for a few apointments, and I think he's made quite a few!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: bk on October 08, 2004, 08:24:13 PM
I just finished watching the video footage of the entire closing weekend Friday night performance, which was a really good show for the most part.  The editor had "roughed" together Act One and it looked excellent, and Act Two was all from one camera angle for now but when it's put together it too will look excellent.   I have asked that about four numbers come from the Saturday night performance, where they were stronger, so he'll add those by the next time I see it, which should be late next week.   But we have a really good video record of the show, for which I'm really grateful.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jay on October 08, 2004, 08:33:00 PM
Let me add:  I consider Supreme Court appointments a highly critical aspect of this election, though it has not received much coverage in the press or emphasis in the campaign dialogue.  I thought the President's initially flippant response to the question about the matter quite telling, and Senator Kerry's stated requirement of Constitutional objectivity the answer I'd hoped to hear.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 08:44:09 PM
Ann Coulter, that horror, is on Larry King right now.  She says Iraq has been a success, and I think the peroxide's given her varicose brains.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 08:47:18 PM

Now, we just need to find Zeus a good home.

Yours! :)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 08:53:42 PM
 She says Iraq has been a success,

Seen from another planet, yes!

Who people like that are trying to foul!????

Afghanistan is a success!
Tchetchenia is a success!
North Corea is a success!
Suddan is a success!
Of course, in "success" there's "suck!" :o
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Charles Pogue on October 08, 2004, 08:55:50 PM
Why is that all these Republican female pundits like Anne Coulter are always blonde, anorexic, pinched blondes with anger pouring out of every pore.

We may have talked about Ian Tyson before Elmore.  He's really gotten into cowboy music.  I love a song of his called Barrel-Racing Angel.

We ended up not having dinner with Harlan tonight,postponed till monday.  He is a dog guy...You must read the piece he wrote about his dog, Abu, sometime.  

He did put The Lovely Wife in tears today.  He sent us over a book.  A new edition of STRANGE WINE.  The Dedication reads: "This one, with love, for my friends, JULIEANNE and CHARLES EDWARD POGUE.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Panni on October 08, 2004, 08:57:22 PM
Good job vibes to Jed.

Perhaps an unpopular view, but I think life is too short and too filled with hardship and tragedy to get so upset about jewelry boxes. I also don't believe in getting people fired over such a relatively silly matter. Do we know what was going on in the life of that clerk that made her so testy (other than the confrontation itself)? Do we know if she has a family to support? Is it REALLY that important to make sure that she loses her job?
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Panni on October 08, 2004, 08:59:39 PM
Back in ye olde days in Canada, I loved watching and listening to Ian and Sylvia. What a talented and gorgeous couple they were!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Panni on October 08, 2004, 09:00:33 PM
Anne Coulter makes me sick. Blechhhh!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 09:06:18 PM
Good job vibes to Jed.

Perhaps an unpopular view, but I think life is too short and too filled with hardship and tragedy to get so upset about jewelry boxes. I also don't believe in getting people fired over such a relatively silly matter. Do we know what was going on in the life of that clerk that made her so testy (other than the confrontation itself)? Do we know if she has a family to support? Is it REALLY that important to make sure that she loses her job?

I've said it before and i'm saying it again; you're a sweet person Panni -- in case you had to be told!! ;)

I support your view on this!

This person is "more to be pitied than censured"! :D
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 09:10:05 PM
Good job vibes to Jed.

Perhaps an unpopular view, but I think life is too short and too filled with hardship and tragedy to get so upset about jewelry boxes. I also don't believe in getting people fired over such a relatively silly matter. Do we know what was going on in the life of that clerk that made her so testy (other than the confrontation itself)? Do we know if she has a family to support? Is it REALLY that important to make sure that she loses her job?

Yes! Sack her butt!  

Actually,I agree with DRSWW, in his comments earlier; I find the customer is usually wrong, and then it all depends on how you handle their frustration.  When I first started at the Upper West Side Barnes & Noble in 1998, the cashiers brought me a hostile woman who'd thrown a fit with the cashiers because a book she was told would be held for her wasn't at the register.  We didn't have copies of the book, and she became quite vituperative, even moreso when I asked if she might have called another store in error, so I got her name and called the nearest B&N.  It turned out her book was being held at the Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble, which she'd called instead of the Upper West Side store.  Was she grateful?  Not a bit.  She let us know what fools we were for making her look like the dumb ass she obviously was.  We have one customer whose entire goal is to come into the store daily and let the clerks know what uneducated fools they are, and last winter she made a scene because the stupid clerk in the film/theatre section couldn't find an autobiography of Marni Nixon, which is currently being written.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 09:11:16 PM
Anne Coulter makes me sick. Blechhhh!

She's truly a loathesome horror who's narrow mind and frightening outlook remind me of the more winning traits of Eva Braun.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 09:12:04 PM
I've said it before and i'm saying it again; you're a sweet person Panni -- in case you had to be told!! ;)

I support your view on this!

This person is "more to be pitied than censured"! :D


Only a bird in a gilded cage!
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Jay on October 08, 2004, 09:13:26 PM
Perhaps an unpopular view, but I think life is too short and too filled with hardship and tragedy to get so upset about jewelry boxes. I also don't believe in getting people fired over such a relatively silly matter. Do we know what was going on in the life of that clerk that made her so testy (other than the confrontation itself)? Do we know if she has a family to support? Is it REALLY that important to make sure that she loses her job?

Dear Readers S. Woody White and Elmore3003 have correctly pointed out that the customer is NOT necessarily always right.  The customer, however, IS always the customer.  Jennifer's request was a simple one and one that had been fulfilled in the past.  The clerk's offer to take back the merchandise in lieu of meeting her request was not only uncalled for, it was rude.  I can assure you that The Bay's management would be appalled to learn of the clerk's suggestion.  People who are rude to customers have no business being in customer service oriented businesses.  As you can probably tell, this is a soapbox issue for me, someone who cut his career teeth in the retail business.  When merchants expect to take my good money in exchange for merchandise, I expect to be treated with respect.  I am not suggesting that this clerk be fired, but she needs to understand that without satisfied customers, there would be no The Bay and, in turn, there would be no job for her there.  If she's intent on insulting customers, then she should work for the government.

(Okay, that last sentence was a joke.)

And, Dear Reader Panni, I do not recall you being so concerned with the bank's employees' life issues at home when you dealt with your deposit going astray the other day.  
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 09:19:29 PM

We may have talked about Ian Tyson before Elmore.  He's really gotten into cowboy music.  I love a song of his called Barrel-Racing Angel.


DRCharlesPogue, I just looked up his CDs on B&N.com, and I really had no idea he was still recording.  I shouldn't be surprised:  Eric Andersen, whose "Thirsty Boots" is another favorite song, is still recording.  Which of his albums has the song you mentioned?
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: bk on October 08, 2004, 09:24:07 PM
I, too, believe that the customer is not always right.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: bk on October 08, 2004, 09:29:45 PM
Countdown to 70,000 posts: A mere 750 to go.

I'm about to get in the Jacuzzi to soothe my aching muscles (aching because of all the coughing I was doing up until yesterday).  
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: JoseSPiano on October 08, 2004, 09:41:12 PM
Good Evening!

Tonight was my last audit night for The Producers.  I'm on for tomorrow's matinee.  Thankfully, I was "pre-warned" that the other Leo understudy will be going on, and that he sings two of his songs in different keys, so I was able to practice those charts in advance.  I'm feeling OK about the whole situation.  I'm just trying not to get overwhelmed with all the stuff I have to get done before leaving for Houston on Monday - well, leaving for DC on Sunday night.  I really don't have to do that much "stuff", but it's just matter of finding the time to do it.  -At least I did some tidying up in the kitchen as soon as I got back from the show tonight.

I've also been fighting some bug/cold thingy the past few days.  It may just be my fall allergies, but something just doesn't feel "right".  We'll see.  At least the "tiredness" helps to keep my adrenaline in check - which will come in handy during tomorrow's matinee.  And, boy, I can already tell I'll be breathing a huge sigh of relief as soon as the Exit Music finishes.  And then Steve and I are supposed to have dinner tomorrow night.  I am definitely taking tomorrow night "off" - I just need the break.  And I just want to spend an evening with Steve too.  :)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Charles Pogue on October 08, 2004, 09:42:11 PM
Elmore, the song I mentioned was put on a CD of eclectic cowboy songs that a friend burned for me.  I don't know what album it's on.

I, as well, do not believe the customer is always right...which is why I rarely ever worked retail and never worked food service.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: JoseSPiano on October 08, 2004, 09:45:24 PM
Reading about the passing of Wally Harper...  He will be missed.  Thankfully, his work as a producer, composer, arranger, collaborator and accompanist is well-documented and well-preserved on recordings.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: MBarnum on October 08, 2004, 09:45:46 PM
I finished watching LOVE ME TONIGHT, and despite Myrna Loy and a wonderful cast of character actors I am afraid I didn't find it as entertaining as many of the other DRs did. I didn't find it to be terrible or anything, just wasn't my cup of tea I guess...afterwards I watched the Busby Berkley musical DAMES starring Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, and Joan Blondell...now that is the kind of musical!! Those big production numbers were fantastic!  
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: JoseSPiano on October 08, 2004, 09:48:55 PM
As for the customer always being or not being right...  When I worked retail - sheet music store - I did like my interaction with the customers - and even some of the confrontations with the customers - but I always found my favorite part of retail was dealing with inventory.  It was just me and the music. ;)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Charles Pogue on October 08, 2004, 09:49:55 PM
Regarding Jay's point, I agree the customer should be treated with respect.  But by the same token, I don't think any clerk needs to meekly accept abuse or rudeness from a customer.  

Unfortunately, the words "customer service" went by the wayside long ago.  Too many of these slackers, if not rude and unknowledgeable, are just plain indifferent. I stood in an ARBY'S for five minutes today with about six people behind the counter before anybody ask if they could help me.  How many times have you gone up to a counter to pay for a purchase and the clerk rings you up without ever breaking her cell phone call.

I remember when I was working in a book store, I decided for the hours I was there I would do the minimal requirements of the job.  I soon found out that my idea of "minimal requirements" of the job was so far beyond what was expected and what most other workers did, that I could have been managing the place if I had wanted.  I attribute it to my good old Puritan work ethic.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: JoseSPiano on October 08, 2004, 09:51:01 PM
BK - I hope your jacuzzi time helps with your aches and pains.  -Have you seen a doctor?  *I seem to remember a director I worked with recently encouraging - well, basically demanding - that his cast members see a doctor if they were dealing with a cough, sore throat, etc.  ;)
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: JoseSPiano on October 08, 2004, 09:53:10 PM
OH!

Do any DRs have any must-see's, must-eat-at's, must-do's, etc. in Houston?  *I get a car with the contract, so...
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 09:53:42 PM
DRCharlesPogue,  I see a trek to Tower Records this week to find the Tyson album.

I've always liked working in bookstores and the library, and I miss my two days a week at Barnes & Noble.  I like having a job that takes me out of my usual group of colleagues and puts me into an entirely different social milieu.  I'm hoping I'll be back before the Christmas holiday sales begin, but it all depends on my health and the surgery.  I currently can't stand up for a long period of time without tiring, and I can't be as active as the job requires.  I actually do like helping customers, but I'm lousy when I get a hostile one because I give it right back to them, and that isn't always a good thing.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: JoseSPiano on October 08, 2004, 09:54:36 PM
~~~~GOOD NEW JOB VIBES FOR DR JED!!!~~~~
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 09:57:34 PM
So many of the clerks at B&N are college students, but I find there's a current lack of broad education in this generation.  A composer friend of mine went into the Upper West Side B&N about a year ago and asked a clerk where he could find "Rip Van Winkle."  The clerk asked, "Is that the author?"
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: elmore3003 on October 08, 2004, 10:00:06 PM
OH!

Do any DRs have any must-see's, must-eat-at's, must-do's, etc. in Houston?  *I get a car with the contract, so...

DRJose,  I was there for six weeks in 1991 with BABES IN TOYLAND. There's a fantastic Mexican restaurant, but I forget its name!  Just be glad you are there at this time of year.  The heat is impossible in the summer.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: bk on October 08, 2004, 10:05:00 PM
I feel ever so relaxed now, and I shall eat some grape licorice and watch It's Alive II.  Earlier I watched a region 2 DVD of Mr. Samuel Fuller's Forty Guns, about which more later.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: François de Paris on October 08, 2004, 10:08:22 PM


And, Dear Reader Panni, I do not recall you being so concerned with the bank's employees' life issues at home when you dealt with your deposit going astray the other day.  

That is low of you DR Jay to say so, because Panni said that the problem should have been the Bank's problem NOT HERS; she was not making things personal with any employee...

AND some huge amount of money supposedly lost is not the same as not getting a box to put some jewelry in...

If i recall correctly, Jennifer said that that woman was not being aggressive and somewhat seemed to be joking!

My... that "off with her head" attitude is so darn scary! ;)

Last night, i had some Canadian visitors, not guests of the hotel, taking a picture of me with their cellular, and i was not asked for permission! (and I did not really want to be photographed, and let it known!...)
They kind of joke at the result -- i could not care less -- AND I was given a 10 euros bill as a "tip"!
Well, I do think they were being rude, really!
So much for "exotism"....

Then, I guess the customer -- even when he is not a customer, has to be right!! >:(
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: Noel on October 08, 2004, 10:12:19 PM
So many of the clerks at B&N are college students, but I find there's a current lack of broad education in this generation.  A composer friend of mine went into the Upper West Side B&N about a year ago and asked a clerk where he could find "Rip Van Winkle."  The clerk asked, "Is that the author?"

The correct answer: He's on the second floor, sleeping on one of the couches.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: JoseSPiano on October 08, 2004, 10:15:18 PM
OK... I'm tired.  I need some rest.  I need some sleep.

Goodnight.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: JoseSPiano on October 08, 2004, 10:18:35 PM
...Oh, and there was that clerk I used to work with who would always look for Rimsky-Korsakov under the "K's".. ;)

But, of course, nothing tops music students - voice majors seem to be the major culprits - who sing/play songs from the "red book" or the "yellow book" rather than from the collection of Faure or Strauss songs.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: JoseSPiano on October 08, 2004, 10:20:59 PM
OH!  And since it's still Friday...

CD Player: Peter Cincotti's new CD.  Very interesting.  It's a bit more "edgy" than I was expecting.  And his own compositions definitely show the influence of Elton John and Billy Joel - at least according to my ears.

OK... Once again... Goodnight.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 10:41:33 PM
Yours! :)
We already have five dogs, Francois.  If we were to add a sixth on a permanent basis, he or she would have to be a playmate for Fletcher, the deaf Dalmatian pup.  That rules out Zeus, who is too old to be that playmate, and doesn't care for Fletcher at any rate.

I have no problem with turning our home into a foster home for dogs.  What we (der Brucer and I) want to do is find good homes for dogs who would otherwise be put to death by the pounds.  The problem is two-fold: getting word out to people that good pets are available, and matching the right dogs with the right people.  And there are no easy solutions to these problems, because we're dealing with individuals, both canine and human.

Fortunately, there are rescue associations that deal with exactly these kind of problems, and der B. has connected us with a good group of people.  So there is hope.

Right now, Zeus is sleeping on my bed, with Marty on the floor close by.  Marty is particularly concerned with this newcomer to our house, and is trying to make Zeus feel comfortable.  Remarkable, how dogs can react to situations, sometimes better than their human counterparts.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 10:44:11 PM
Anne Coulter makes me sick. Blechhhh!
Frankly, ditto.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 10:51:31 PM
OH!

Do any DRs have any must-see's, must-eat-at's, must-do's, etc. in Houston?  *I get a car with the contract, so...
It's been so long since I've been in Houston that I don't even know if any place I went to is still open.
Title: Re:CHICKEN IS THE THEME
Post by: S. Woody White on October 08, 2004, 11:34:19 PM
It's wussburger time.  Der B and I have a list of errands for tomorrow, which keeps growing and growing...

Like getting a new cartridge for the color printer.

Like getting refills for my meds.

Like getting photocopies of records.

Like managing our doggy day (and night) care center.

 :-\