Haines His Way

Archives => Archive 2 => Topic started by: bk on November 12, 2004, 12:03:11 AM

Title: A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: bk on November 12, 2004, 12:03:11 AM
Well, you've read the notes, you're hopefully not in a dither about the notes, conventional or otherwise, and now it is time for you to post until the conventional cows come dithering home.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 12:27:40 AM
Just to start the day with some beauty.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: TCB on November 12, 2004, 12:33:10 AM
Well, I am in a dither, because I can't seem to get to today's notes.  Damn them.  Damn them all to Hell!!!

I must confess that I spent this evening watching a film that I had never seen before.  Quite frankly, I originally avoided the film based on what other people said about it, which I don’t usually do.  The film is FOR THE BOYS with Bette Midler and James Caan.  Okay, the story is melodramatic at times, and the old age makeup is really awful, but I truly enjoyed this film.  In fact, I like it enough to go buy it, if for no other reason than to watch Christopher Rydell (director, Mark Rydell's son) as Bette’s adult son.  Woof!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: TCB on November 12, 2004, 12:35:01 AM
Well, if I can't read the the notes, then I might as well go to bed!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: George on November 12, 2004, 12:40:26 AM
I must confess that I spent this evening watching a film that I had never seen before.  Quite frankly, I originally avoided the film based on what other people said about it, which I don’t usually do.  The film is FOR THE BOYS with Bette Midler and James Caan.  Okay, the story is melodramatic at times, and the old age makeup is really awful, but I truly enjoyed this film.  In fact, I like it enough to go buy it, if for no other reason than to watch Christopher Rydell (director, Mark Rydell's son) as Bette’s adult son.  Woof!

I bought the laserdisc of this movie on eBay.  I've always liked it...didn't love it, but liked it a lot.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: George on November 12, 2004, 12:41:24 AM
After reading BK's notes for today, I don't know if I should admit that I'm planning on watching "Broadway:  The American Musical."  Too bad:  In my DVD player is "Broadway:  The American Musical."  Besides, I want to watch it.  Next will be "Broadway's Lost Treasures, Volume 1."  Volume 2 has been shipped, but not yet received.  After that will be Warren Miller's "Bloopers, Blunders and Bailouts."  I ushered for the Warren Miller film "Impact" a couple of weeks ago and bought this at the show.  It should be quite fun!

In my CD player:  some stuff that I have at work, but right now I don't remember what it is.

In my CD burner will be "Porgy and Bess" with Cleo Laine and Ray Charles after I clean up the .wav files a bit.  I borrowed the 2-record set from a friend and I have finished recording to my computer.  I have the CD of "Porgy and Bess" with Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.  I want to compare...probably oranges and apples.  But I love them all (almost a Weird Romance reference).
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: George on November 12, 2004, 12:43:39 AM
In my VCR is a tape to tape tonight's episode of "Star Trek:  Enterprise."  I missed taping the last couple of weeks and had to either watch it on Saturday or get a copy of the tape from a co-worker.  I want to make sure that I'm prepared ... just in case I don't make it home early enough.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: George on November 12, 2004, 12:44:25 AM
Wussburger...schmussburger.  I'm outa here. ;D
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Charles Pogue on November 12, 2004, 12:46:11 AM
BK, Glad you liked Broadway: The Golden Age.  It is maybe my favourite movie this year.  I too was moved, often to tears, by segments.  It shows you not only how exciting and rich Broadway was, but how our exciting and rich our culture used to before it degenerated into its slavish lust for lowest-common denominator pap and mediocrity.  We were fortunate to have Rick McKay show up after the screening we saw and talk about the film.  The Lovely Wife and I talked to him for about fifteen minutes afterwards in the lobby as well.  I really want to get the DVD as I want to see all the promised extras.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 12:58:55 AM
Started off the week enjoying Mr Berlin's "Call Me Madam" (Tyne Daly) which I really enjoyed. I have since been living in the world of Mr Kern. Absolute treasures are there in his lesser known works.

Without HHW regulars, my musical appreciation would be lessened so much.

DVD. Most recent - thanks yet again to a very generous Hainsette - some very funny episodes of "Frasier".
VCR: Last night's episode of "Kath & Kim"  and "Little Britain"  Funny stuff.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: S. Woody White on November 12, 2004, 03:07:19 AM
I must confess that I spent this evening watching a film that I had never seen before.  Quite frankly, I originally avoided the film based on what other people said about it, which I don’t usually do.  The film is FOR THE BOYS with Bette Midler and James Caan.  Okay, the story is melodramatic at times, and the old age makeup is really awful, but I truly enjoyed this film.  In fact, I like it enough to go buy it, if for no other reason than to watch Christopher Rydell (director, Mark Rydell's son) as Bette’s adult son.  Woof!
For the Boys was the film Martha Raye sued about, or tried to, claiming it was her life story being shown on the screen.  Well, if it was her life that Bette was playing, that sorta kinda makes James Caan's character sorta kinda Bob Hope, who to my knowledge never made a peep.

I sorta kinda met Ms. Raye during my softball scorekeeping days in West Hollywood.  It was the Los Angeles gay softball league, and a favorite restaurant/bar of hers was sponsoring one of the teams.  Loyal to the core, she was there for every game no matter how poorly her team played, and if they played well she got a genuine thrill from it.

There are some gay activists who were disappointed (read: angry) that she never came out of the closet.  Me, I never would have expected her to do so.  She was of a different generation, when such things were never discussed, and it's all supposition on the part of the activists who have no proof of anything about her life that I know of.  My hunch is, Ms. Raye's life was more complicated than we know, and would never fit in the simple compartments the activists prefer.  Good for her.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: S. Woody White on November 12, 2004, 03:27:42 AM
I'm just now getting caught up with yesterday's posts.

Vienna is sinking under the clomping of all those damn waltzers! One two three, one two three, clomp clomp clomp!  If they'd lay off the schmaltz, schnitzel und schlag the place might last an extra hundred years, but don't count on it.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: S. Woody White on November 12, 2004, 03:58:53 AM
Re: London.

Der Brucer and I were there (my second trip) about the same time as JRand, seeing Lettice and Lovage during previews.  Smith and Tyzak were magnificent, of course.

We did not see Metropolis.  Most of our choices of theater depended on what was on the TKTS equivalent board at Leicester Square (I think I've spelled Square correctly).  We did see Blood Brothers (ugh, but der B enjoyed it), A Walk in the Woods with Sir Alec Guinness, and a few other shows, finishing off with Henceforward with Sir Ian McKellen.  Very funny play, and very scary at the same time.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: S. Woody White on November 12, 2004, 04:09:54 AM
We've just had one of those "Dang, we need verbal punctuation" moments.

Der Brucer was worried that he'd left his reading glasses at the restaurant we were at last night (Nage, very upscale but they had a fantastic three-course prix fix that we couldn't ignore).

Fortunately, he found them here in the house, and commented "I had that 'I knew I'd left them somewhere funny feeling.'"

Now, there's two ways of punctuating that.  He either could have meant "I had that 'I knew I'd left them 'somewhere funny' feeling,'" or "I had that 'I knew I'd left them somewhere funny-feeling.'"  Same sentence, two totally different meanings.

 :-\ ::) ;)

(And trust me, getting the punctuation on that sentence correct, with either meaning, was a bitch!)
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: elmore3003 on November 12, 2004, 05:49:57 AM
Good morning, all!  I'm sitting here all teary-eyed from "My Cup Runneth Over," sung by my good friends Mr Ron Raines and Miss Karen Ziemba on Ron's new album, "So In Love with Broadway."  There are some wonderful tracks on it, including "Stars," which may be my favorite song from LES MIS.

So, that's in my CD player this weekend.  What else do I have lined up?

CD:  Valmouth (Chichester recording), Cinderella (Julie Andrews), Dvorak's Spectre's Bride, maybe Sullivan's The Golden Legend.

DVD:  Hildegarde Withers mysteries, starrng the great Edna May Oliver, courtesy of DRMBarnum, possibly a couple of Netflix films (Saved, Wet Hot american Summer), and possibly one of the Criterion Laurence Oliviers.  The complication is that I want to see the new Bridget Jones this weekend, so that will affect the DVD waqtching.

VCR:  Nothing, but I have to dig in my storage boxes for a couple I've not been able to find since the bookcases fell.  I also have to start planning the repair of the other wall before its shelves collapse.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Dan (the Man) on November 12, 2004, 06:10:28 AM
DVD:  Hildegarde Withers mysteries, starrng the great Edna May Oliver

Interesting.  I thought that the Eve Arden TV movie was the only instance of a filmed Hildegarde Withers.  Were the Edna May Oliver films done by MGM?
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Dan (the Man) on November 12, 2004, 06:32:32 AM
M'media check, m'dears:

CD Player (at home:)  Audra MacDonald -- Seven Deadly Sins concert

CD Player (at work:)  last night I said I was going to give Darling of the Day a listen, but I ran out of the house this morning without it, so I'll be listening instead to Look, Ma, I'm Dancin'.

DVD Player:  The Man Who Came To Dinner with Nathan Lane.  I don't care what the critics said--I love this production.  The cast is perfect, particularly Jean Smart.

VCR:  Last Sunday night I taped TCM's Treasures of the Silent Screen special, which I've yet to watch.

Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 06:32:38 AM
I want to get BROADWAY:THE GOLDEN AGE!  There I said it.  Add that Cd to the book list from yesterday!

Lovely photo TomOvOZ.

Drinks with Barbara Deutsch AND Kevin Spirtas!  MR BK certainly is a gadabout!

Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Dan (the Man) on November 12, 2004, 06:34:36 AM
Well, I was planning on letting Santa git me Broadway, The Golden Age for Christmas, but based on BK's raves in the notes, I've decided to pick this one up at Tower today and watch it tonight.  I can't wait!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 06:34:39 AM
Media Check:

VCR:  QUO VADIS with Robert Taylor & Deborah Kerr & Peter Ustinov - whew what a LOT of film.  And it of course features Patricia Laffan with a couple of leopards on a leash - two years before she became the DEVIL GIRL FROM MARS!

CD - Valley of the Dolls soundtrack

DVD - HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD the original cut
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 06:50:33 AM
Just went to DeepDiscountDVD and ordered BROADWAY: THE GOLDEN AGE for $15.22 and CALL ME MADAM for $10.33 with free (slow) shipping!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Michael on November 12, 2004, 07:12:03 AM
A quick hello from the great white north of Canada. Visiting family in Montreal. No snow yet here. Refreshingly cold up here. Rather like it. Nice chnage from Florida. Will be back on Tuesday when I will cathc up with all the most excellent BK notes and most excellent postings.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: MBarnum on November 12, 2004, 07:25:47 AM
Am glad to hear that Broadway: the Golden Age is such a hit! Rick McKay interviewed Fay Wray and David Manners for Scarlet Street magazine a few years ago and I have been a fan of his ever since. His articles were fantastic and I was pretty sure that his film would be, as well!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: MBarnum on November 12, 2004, 07:33:58 AM
Media check:

VCR: No Questions Asked taped off of TCM with William Reynolds as a female impersonator!

DVD: Buck Privates Come Home. No one of Abbott and Costello's best, let me tell you.

CD: Everybody Dance: 25 British Dance Bands of the 1930s, Courtesy of DR Elmore3003

and my Bollywood films of the week:

YAHUDI (1958) starring the fabulously beautiful Meena Kumari ( a favorite of DR JRand54s) and the oddly handsome Dilip Kumar. The film takes place in ancient Rome during the time of Jewish persecution...a Roman prince falls in love with a Jewish girl...tragedy ensues and people sing and dance. Very good movie. I particularly enjoyed this one.

(http://www.erosentertainment.com/erospromos/eros_us/Product/image_b/yahudi_b.jpg)
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Matt H. on November 12, 2004, 07:40:11 AM
Looking forward to receiving my copy of BROADWAY: THE GOLDEN AGE from Amazon (maybe tomorrow), but I'll restate again that I found BROADWAY: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL an incomplete but entertaining capsule of SOME of the musical movements of the 20th century. I saw things in it I hadn't seen before and didn't know existed, and I am ALL FOR any special that promotes the musical theater.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Dan (the Man) on November 12, 2004, 07:42:38 AM
and my Bollywood films of the week:

YAHUDI (1958)
(http://www.erosentertainment.com/erospromos/eros_us/Product/image_b/yahudi_b.jpg)

If one didn't know better, one might think that Yahudi starred A young Rick Moranis (of SCTV) and a younger Elizabeth Taylor.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Matt H. on November 12, 2004, 07:42:54 AM
As for the 1956 ANYTHING GOES with Bing Crosby, Donald O'Connor, and Mitzi Gaynor, I thought it was wretched beyond description, and I am a HUGE Bing Crosby fan. A golden opportunity to make a VistaVision, Technicolor version of one of the great Broadway musicals, and the results were a shambles: bits and pieces of the great score with the usual Porter add-ins, a totally new story that was not the least interesting, and performers who had NO chemistry at all with each other.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: MBarnum on November 12, 2004, 07:43:12 AM
...and the second Bollywood movie is of a more recent vintage (2004) and continues my obsession interest in Hindu actor John Abraham. The film is PAAP and concerns a police detective protecting a 6 year old who is the only witness to the murder of another police officer.

Am in the middle of the film and it is also quite entertaining.

(http://216.247.121.93/dvdImages/b6388.jpg)
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: William F. Orr on November 12, 2004, 07:45:19 AM
CD Player at Work: Just finished listening to Debbie Does Dallas.  Practically the whole show is on the CD, plus two karaoke versions, several 4-second tracks, and a very funny hidden "out-take", à la BK.

But now I am listening to The Noël Coward Album.  I haven't heard him sing these songs since I packed away my reel-to-reel tapes.  Such a delightful man!  But I've never been to a party where they honored Noël Cahd. Yesterday I was listening to "Sherry" on BK's Unsung Musicals, an it struck me that it was so veddy veddy Coward.  

Still working my way through those recently-arriven boxes of CDs.

CD Player at home:  Frank Zappa's Sheik Yaboudi.  The one CD in those boxes I got for Joe, just so he could play "Jewish Princess".

VCR:  A blank tape for "Enterprise", o' cuss, o' cuss.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Matt H. on November 12, 2004, 07:47:02 AM
Friday Media Check:

CD home - THE SOUND OF THE MOVIES - Shirley Temple soundtracks

CD car - NUNCRACKERS (OCR)

DVD - FRIENDS - The Complete 8th Season - Disc 1
          INDISCREET with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman

DVR - last night's JOEY and WILL & GRACE
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 07:51:48 AM
INDISCREET is such a romantic movie.....

MBARNUM speaks the truth Meena Kumari is probably my favorite Bollywood actress (with Helen a close second) - her performance in PAHKEEZAH is one of the most remarkable I have EVER seen.

William Reynolds as a female impersonator?  I know he was a male impersonator for MANY years!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 07:53:54 AM
William Smith Page Two Dance!  ;D

Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Ben on November 12, 2004, 07:54:34 AM
Well, I have returned. I am usually an early morning denizen but yesterday afternoon and through the morning I was getting a new computer at the office so I was not able to do my usual early morning read and post. I've had a fairly seamless transition thanks to some good folk in IT. I love my new system. It has a flat panel monitor so I now have desk room I didn't have yesterday. The screen resolution is also improved. It's faster and it has a working burner drive! The inner geek in me is in heaven.

Nothing in the drive because I've just finished setting things up the way I like them, changing icons and putting new wallpaper on the screen, etc. Now I must get back to real Foundation Center work. Oh, well.

Laters (as our friend Jose would say)
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Matt H. on November 12, 2004, 08:01:05 AM
DR JRand, I agree about INDISCREET although I haven't seen it in DECADES! I hope my memories of it are justified by this (used) DVD purchase.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Dan (the Man) on November 12, 2004, 08:14:56 AM
This book looks amusing for its cover alone, but the  description at Amazon   (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1555536239/qid=1100272261/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-7351891-8020058?v=glance&s=books) makes it sound like it could be interesting to read.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/RiseFallBwayMusical.jpg)
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: bk on November 12, 2004, 08:45:24 AM
Good morning.  I've now watched the extras on Broadway: The Golden Age - some very nice things.  And a preview of Broadway: The Next Generation - thirty minutes of raw unedtied interview footage.  I will only say that very few of the "new" generation can match those performers of the Golden Age generation.  First of all, as someone has pointed out, the Golden Age folks are all talking about NY, and the era, and the performers, and the plays and musicals, whereas the new generation folks are all talking about themselves - everything revolves around them.  Amanda Plummer isn't that way at all, and she's quite candid and refreshing.  BTW, her mother, Tammy Grimes, was in the main film briefly and I must say I was rather taken aback by how good she looked.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: bk on November 12, 2004, 08:47:04 AM
Oh, and MattH, as much as I disliked Broadway: The American Musical, I do believe that a) I said there were some good things in it, including a few clips, and b) that despite my dislike I recommended it to anyone with even a passing interest in the musical theater.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Noel on November 12, 2004, 09:08:56 AM
I was asked for my thoughts on Broadway: The American Musical by someone involved and here's what I wrote him:

It certainly had some clips I hadn't seen before, a handful of interesting interviews, some moving moments, and some glaring omissions.

What was obvious to me - and this may be true of many a documentary - is that they gave greater focus to whatever they had footage of.  Anyone telling the history of the American musical mentions the important Jerome Kern musicals known as The Princess Theatre Shows.  These had a huge influence on Rodgers & Hart and The Gershwins and were the most important step to writing shows about plain folks instead of exotic sheiks and such.  Broadway: The American Musical didn't mention them, and I can only assume it's because no film clips exist.

On the flip side, they spent a great deal of time on Porgy and Bess.  Now, I love Porgy and Bess as much as anyone, but I can't say it influenced other shows or was part of any tradition.  It's a rare work of individual genius - there's nothing remotely like it.  So, why did they spend so much time on it?  Well, they had vintage footage from the 1930s as well as recent interviews with the people who originated the roles of Porgy and Bess.  Loved seeing them, glad they're alive - but it got the show off the track.

I'm one who believes that everything great about musical theatre is exactly that which can't be seen on the screen.  It's about how the stars (Jolson, Cantor, Merman, Martin, Carol Channing or Jason Alexander) feed off of an audience's reaction, and then give back energy, a two-way street.  Once you put a camera in front of the footlights, the viewer's not reacting in any way the performer can feel...

Which leads to a lack of excitement.  I'm inevitably disappointed by anything I see on video as I know there's a fantastic connection that's being missed.

So, did the PBS series enthrall viewers and turn anybody who wasn't a musical theatre fan into a musical theatre fan?  I doubt it.  Like too many political documentaries (and I don't mean yours), it's preaching to the already converted.  And we love seeing footage of what are already our favorite shows.  It's an enjoyable thing for us, the converted, but it ain't nothing like the real thing.

So, those are some thoughts.  Thank you again, for letting us accompany you to that gala, and I thank you for whatever part you had in getting this show on PBS.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 09:29:30 AM
Hmmmmmm.....well, I don't know if this comes under the heading of chutzpah or hubris, but Kevin Spacey and an orchestra are going out on tour.  Spacey will be singing the songs of Bobby Darin.

The only opening act I think that can be considered is Patty Duke singing the songs of Judy Garland.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 10:00:06 AM
Congratulations to DRJOY !!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Stuart on November 12, 2004, 10:02:09 AM
...and the second Bollywood movie is of a more recent vintage (2004) and continues my obsession interest in Hindu actor John Abraham. The film is PAAP and concerns a police detective protecting a 6 year old who is the only witness to the murder of another police officer.

Am in the middle of the film and it is also quite entertaining.

(http://216.247.121.93/dvdImages/b6388.jpg)

And let me be the first to say that any derogatory comments about this film (or its lovely leading man) will be committing a PAAP smear.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Stuart on November 12, 2004, 10:03:16 AM
I believe that Rule No 1 in the bylaws here clearly states:

No groaning.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Stuart on November 12, 2004, 10:06:40 AM
But I love them all (almost a Weird Romance reference).

Perhaps a partial WEIRD ROMANCE reference, but a full one for BRING BACK BIRDIE. ;)
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Stuart on November 12, 2004, 10:08:35 AM
Tonight is my first adjudication for Stars of Tomorrow's 04-05 season.  GODSPELL at Geneseo High School.

Tomorrow is the opening of Pittsford Musical's MAME. (Remember the Dear Partner is Lindsay)

Sunday I rest.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 10:22:22 AM
DRSTUART - maybe on Sunday, you should go see the Kevin Spacey Concert!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jay on November 12, 2004, 10:22:22 AM
Sunday I rest.

Methinks your achievement of HHW God status has gone to your head, Dear Brother.

 ;)
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 10:52:13 AM
So let it be written - so let it be done!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Sandra on November 12, 2004, 11:11:13 AM
We've just had one of those "Dang, we need verbal punctuation" moments.

Der Brucer was worried that he'd left his reading glasses at the restaurant we were at last night (Nage, very upscale but they had a fantastic three-course prix fix that we couldn't ignore).

Fortunately, he found them here in the house, and commented "I had that 'I knew I'd left them somewhere funny feeling.'"

Now, there's two ways of punctuating that.  He either could have meant "I had that 'I knew I'd left them 'somewhere funny' feeling,'" or "I had that 'I knew I'd left them somewhere funny-feeling.'"  Same sentence, two totally different meanings.

 :-\ ::) ;)

(And trust me, getting the punctuation on that sentence correct, with either meaning, was a bitch!)

He could have done what my Shakespeare teacher of a few semesters ago did. He spoke his punctuation. He would have said, "I had that quotation mark I knew I'd left them somewhere funny quotation mark feeling." On second thought, he might not want to get in the habit of doing that.

And speaking of Shakespeare teachers, I just saw my current Shakespeare teacher riding bikes with his son. He recognized me, but couldn't seem to remember my name. I thought about telling him my name was Jessica, just for the heck of it, but I didn't.

Wasn't that a great story?
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Sandra on November 12, 2004, 11:14:09 AM
There's a sign on the door to the library that says that it opens at 12:01 a.m. and closes at midnight every night. Now what is the point of that?

We acted out more Alice scenes in my Children's Literature class again today. I was the White Knight Alice meets in the forest. I got to hold a plastic sword and fall off my imaginary horse. I wish I could do that for all my classes.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: bk on November 12, 2004, 11:15:27 AM
Must get ready to meet our Japanese lurker.  My test hardcover arrived and looks excellent.  But, to my surprise, my order also arrived, so I've got books in hand right now.  

Grant said to me (as we were doing the fourth set of fixes) "You never catch everything - there's always one or two that get away" and he was totally right.  I was going through the book trying to figure out what I'd do for the upcoming reading, and as I read aloud a passage I saw a weird spacing thing in one sentence - just a stupid-looking extra bit of space where there shouldn't be a space.  Oh, well, if that's the only thing we didn't catch I suppose we'll be fine.  At least it's not an incorrect character name (that was the case in the US Goblet of Fire Harry Potter book) or a mis-spelling (as in Agee's Death in the Family or Frazier's Cold Mountain).  
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Charles Pogue on November 12, 2004, 11:30:33 AM
Woody, I knew Maggie Raye quite well, having toured with her for six months in dinner theatre in an opus called EVERYBODY LOVES OPAL.  All I can say is if folks you knew were waiting for her to come out of the closet, I don't know what they were waiting for...

Every night after the show, Maggie insisted that her inner circle...most of the cast...gather at her apartment until she usually passed out.  Since I was travelling with Hotspur, my yorkie, she took a shine to me, and not only was I always invited, I always had to pick up Hotspur so he could play with her yorkie and poodle, Conky and Dickens.  She used to call me the Intellectual, because when she was my partner in password, I'd give her clues she didn't understand.  The ritual usually involved us playing games or watching old movies and Martha drinking straight vodka in a tall glass until she nodded off or tucked into bed.  She never drank before a show, it was always after, and she could pack it away.  She also liked me because I knew all about the films and stars of her era and when we watched the movies she would tell stories about them and her life.  

Though she travelled with a middle-aged English assistant/keeper/secretary who may or may not have been gay (I never got a vibe off her one way or another), Martha spoke about the men in her life and men in general fondly.  Often her ex-husband...number two or three out of like five, father of her only child and maybe her manager as well...Nick Condos would come in for a visit.  Though Martha at this point in her life was probably way past sex of any sort, mostly because of her drinking, I never got any indication from her that she was anything other than interested in men from a sexual point-of-view.  Nor did any of the other cast members who I knew and were closer to her than I ever suggest or hint at such a thing.  

She, of course, had a huge gay following and like most performers in show business had gay friends.  With her, I first saw Charles Pierce and met Rock Hudson who was a close friend of hers (and a very nice man).  

I think Martha's last marriage to an obviously gay man was an abberation of a woman who was ill, probably suffering from some form of alcohol dementia and diminshed capacity, and was looking for a caretaker at that point in her life.  In such a situation, opportunists circle.

Maggie could be a very difficult, exasperating woman.  But she could also be generous and kind and touching.  She was a trouper on stage and could wear a much younger person out with her energy.  And as you say, she was a more complex person than one might imagine at first glance.   I always loved to hear her sing and my fondest memories of her was when she would join some piano player in a bar and sing a number just for me.

One thing that I dislike about a portion of the gay community is that there are those in it...usually sad, unhappy individuals...who are always looking for company and try to insist certain individuals are gay or try to out people when they have absolutely no shred of evidence to support their claims or accusations.  Of course, if you are in show business, it is an occupational hazard.  At some time in your career you'll have the charge levelled at you.  I have heard it about almost every Hollywood star out here at one time or another.  
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: elmore3003 on November 12, 2004, 11:43:21 AM
...and the second Bollywood movie is of a more recent vintage (2004) and continues my obsession interest in Hindu actor John Abraham. The film is PAAP and concerns a police detective protecting a 6 year old who is the only witness to the murder of another police officer.


Would this be translated into English as a PAAP SMEAR?
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: elmore3003 on November 12, 2004, 12:04:29 PM
And let me be the first to say that any derogatory comments about this film (or its lovely leading man) will be committing a PAAP smear.

DRStuart, you beat me to the punch!  Congratulations on a job well done.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: elmore3003 on November 12, 2004, 12:12:05 PM
Woody, I knew Maggie Raye quite well, having toured with her for six months in dinner theatre in an opus called EVERYBODY LOVES OPAL.  All I can say is if folks you knew were waiting for her to come out of the closet, I don't know what they were waiting for...

DRCharlesPogue, thank you!  One other great performer often accused of being gay because she was a tough broad was Ethel Merman.   Michael Reidel on his NY Theatre Show used to talk about Butch Ethel as if she were a big dyke, and I've heard from too many people who knew her, including her publicist during the 40s, 50s and 60s, that there was no truth to the rumor.  I once had lunch with Louis Botto, editor of PLAYBILL and Robert Ullman, one  of ther great Broadway publicists, and they had me rolling on the floor with outrageous Merman stories, and she was truly a character.  The amazing thing in this business often is the ones you think might be gay aren't and vice versa!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: elmore3003 on November 12, 2004, 12:13:34 PM
William Smith Page Two Dance!  ;D

I didn't recognize him with his clothes on.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: DERBRUCER on November 12, 2004, 12:25:20 PM
A quick hello from the great white north of Canada.

Herewith Canadian Signage:

(http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL242/891350/5613952/72999973.jpg)

der Brucer
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: DERBRUCER on November 12, 2004, 12:28:07 PM
GOOD ADVICE:

(http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL242/891350/5613952/72999976.jpg)

der Brucer (who's making a list!)
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: DERBRUCER on November 12, 2004, 12:48:10 PM
Amanda Plummer isn't that way at all, and she's quite candid and refreshing.  

She sure kept me gripping my seat during "Agnes of God". And I really like her brief appearance as Ellen James in "The World According to Garp". She was also appealing in "Miss Rose White", written by whatzername.

der Brucer
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: elmore3003 on November 12, 2004, 12:55:45 PM
 Amanda Plummer isn't that way at all, and she's quite candid and refreshing.  

Amanda has been a friend since the early 1980s when she used to bring flowers to the clerks at The Drama Book Shop.  She mainly lives in LA now, and I miss seeing her around.  She's a genuinely kind and beautiful lady.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 01:04:16 PM
I saw Martha Raye as Miss Hannigan in ANNIE - she was wonderful.  She signed programs afterwards and had everyone laughing like crazy.  On the Judy Garland Show DVD - there is a wonderful set of out takes of Martha and Judy (in fact one extended out take was used in the broadcast) - and she shines.   Bravo, Martha!  There are more stories about her unfilmed and unheraled visits to soldiers than can be counted.  Bob Hope - it is said - wouldn't go unless there was a camera.   Bob is in a cemetery in San Fernando - Martha with the rank of Lt Colonel, the holder of a Green Beret, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest honor accorded to a civilian) is buried at FT Bragg.

Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 01:06:07 PM
DRCP - Did Martha ever mention Frances Farmer?  They were in RHYTHM ON THE RANGE with Bing Crosby.

I am still laughing at a line delivery Martha made in that movie to Bob Burns, she looked at him and did a slight double take and said:  "No matter what anyone says, you keep wearing that suit!"
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 01:11:48 PM
Scott Lee Peterson: GUILTY of murder in the first degree of Laci Peterson.

GUILTY of murder in the second degree of Conner Peterson.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 01:14:59 PM
Martha Raye Page Three Dance!  ;D
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 01:37:56 PM
LOL DR White Knight Sandra!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Charles Pogue on November 12, 2004, 01:44:41 PM
My favourite Maggie Raye moment in film is when she kisses Lynn Overman in Big Broadcast of 1938 and he gasps, "Aaa!  I've been kissed by a tunnel!"  Don't remember any Frances Farmer stories.  I remember her telling me very adamantly that Carole Landis did not commit suicide over Rex Harrison as has long been rumoured.  Guess Maggie knew her pretty well from Four Jills and A Jeep.  Maggie also had gotten a puppy from a litter sired by Arno, Errol Flynn's beloved dog.  And she once spoke rather sweetly and touchingly about how she let David Rose...one of her many husbands... go, because she knew he was in love with Judy and wanted to marry her.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: elmore3003 on November 12, 2004, 01:57:27 PM
DRCP - Did Martha ever mention Frances Farmer?  They were in RHYTHM ON THE RANGE with Bing Crosby.

I am still laughing at a line delivery Martha made in that movie to Bob Burns, she looked at him and did a slight double take and said:  "No matter what anyone says, you keep wearing that suit!"

When I think of Martha, I think of her in BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, HELLZAPOPPIN and her fabulous Annabelle in MONSIEUR VERDOUX; Chaplin clearly wanted someone on his level to keep him on his toes.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 02:00:50 PM
Oh...my....that means Carole was murdered.  Whew!  Scary!  Jacqueline Susann always said the same thing.

And DR CP - your comment about Martha and David and Judy makes that Judy Garland Show even more special.  The ladies were having a ball!  ;D
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: TCB on November 12, 2004, 02:03:48 PM
I met Martha ("Call me, Maggie, everybody does.") Raye back in the early 70s when I was living in Laguna Nigel.  At the time, she was quite a regular at a Laguna gay bar called The Little Shrimp. Drunk or sober, she was a delight.  Wait a minute I never saw her sober, but then I only saw her when she would come in to the bar late in the evening.  Sometimes she would sing something with the piano player, but usually she would just sit and chat with friends,  She was wonderful to anyone that would come over to meet her.  I never got the impression she was gay, but rather, she just loved the gay boys, because like all of her soldier boys in Viet Nam -- they never forgot her.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: S. Woody White on November 12, 2004, 02:04:59 PM
This book looks amusing for its cover alone, but the  description at Amazon   (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1555536239/qid=1100272261/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-7351891-8020058?v=glance&s=books) makes it sound like it could be interesting to read.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/RiseFallBwayMusical.jpg)
Caption for the picture:

"Which twin has the Toni perm?"
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: S. Woody White on November 12, 2004, 02:16:34 PM
...and the second Bollywood movie is of a more recent vintage (2004) and continues my obsession interest in Hindu actor John Abraham. The film is PAAP and concerns a police detective protecting a 6 year old who is the only witness to the murder of another police officer.

Am in the middle of the film and it is also quite entertaining.

(http://216.247.121.93/dvdImages/b6388.jpg)
It's amazing how a little makeup can make a six year old girl look at least a decade more mature.

 ;D
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: S. Woody White on November 12, 2004, 02:21:00 PM
He could have done what my Shakespeare teacher of a few semesters ago did. He spoke his punctuation. He would have said, "I had that quotation mark I knew I'd left them somewhere funny quotation mark feeling." On second thought, he might not want to get in the habit of doing that.
Der Brucer is already in the habit of saying "...semi-colin however comma..."  That habit is part of how I learned to use a semi-colin correctly.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: George on November 12, 2004, 02:24:07 PM
In my CD player at work:  Lorraine Feather (http://www.lorrainefeather.com/)'s "Such Sweet Thunder."  Lorraine (who recorded "Not While I'm Around" for BK's "Sweeney Todd In Jazz (http://www.brucekimmel.com/trottersweeney.html.htm)") took the music of Duke Ellington and wrote new lyrics and recorded this CD.  She did the same thing earlier with Fats Waller's music on her CD called "New York City Drag."  Both recordings are wonderful and I highly recommend them!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: S. Woody White on November 12, 2004, 02:33:46 PM
Woody, I knew Maggie Raye quite well, having toured with her for six months in dinner theatre in an opus called EVERYBODY LOVES OPAL.  All I can say is if folks you knew were waiting for her to come out of the closet, I don't know what they were waiting for...I never got any indication from her that she was anything other than interested in men from a sexual point-of-view.  ...She, of course, had a huge gay following and like most performers in show business had gay friends....One thing that I dislike about a portion of the gay community is that there are those in it...who are always looking for company and try to insist certain individuals are gay or try to out people when they have absolutely no shred of evidence to support their claims or accusations.  Of course, if you are in show business, it is an occupational hazard.  At some time in your career you'll have the charge levelled at you.  I have heard it about almost every Hollywood star out here at one time or another.  
As TCB noted, she was fond of the Little Shrimp in Laguna, and the sponsor of her fave softball team was the Carriage Trade, another gay bar/restaurant.  I'm not surprised people have jumped to the wrong conclusions because of the company she kept.  But if she was happy with that company, more power to her.

Neither place is still running, by the way.  The Little Shrimp has changed hands a couple of times, and changed it's name, never to be the same.  Carriage Trade has disappeared entirely.  And der Brucer and I can walk into any restaurant together and be accepted, even if we are obviously a couple.  We're living in a different era.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: S. Woody White on November 12, 2004, 02:45:37 PM
We haven't put anything new on our shelves this week.  Just as well; we're running out of shelf space.   :-\

Time to start getting dinner ready.  I've got chicken thighs that need marinating in lemon, garlic and basil.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: bk on November 12, 2004, 02:48:30 PM
I'm back from a lovely early lunch with our Japanese lurker and her friend, also from Japan, who is traveling with her.  She was delightful, quite pretty, and did her best to understand what the HELL I was talking about.  I did get her to teach me how to say "What is it, fish?" in Japanese: Kono sakana wa nandesuka?  I made her promise to at least attempt to post when she gets back to Japan, late next week.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: TCB on November 12, 2004, 03:15:30 PM
I'm back from a lovely early lunch with our Japanese lurker and her friend, also from Japan, who is traveling with her.  She was delightful, quite pretty, and did her best to understand what the HELL I was talking about.  I did get her to teach me how to say "What is it, fish?" in Japanese: Kono sakana wa nandesuka?  I made her promise to at least attempt to post when she gets back to Japan, late next week.

If our Japanese lurker hasn't posted yet,
 then who is Lachic that was here yesterday?



Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: George on November 12, 2004, 03:22:45 PM
If our Japanese lurker hasn't posted yet,
 then who is Lachic that was here yesterday?

Hmmm...our plot doth thicken! :o
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 03:37:37 PM
The name of Frances' gift shop in Nashville Indiana was

Frances Farmer's Carriage Trade
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: bk on November 12, 2004, 03:40:54 PM
I'm not sure if lachic is she or not - but I'm thinking not unless she posed prior to leaving Japan - she told me she doesn't have a computer here.  I love a good mystery.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Matt H. on November 12, 2004, 03:41:59 PM
BK, I am well aware of the (few) positive things you had to say about BROADWAY: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL, but your discussions about it have been predominantly negative, and all I was/am trying to do is reiterate that as a documentary, it had a little something to offer most anyone interested in the field and for a novice to the subject but someone who cared about musical theater, is would have been an entertaining way to spend a few hours. No, no great revelations for we old school veterans of the Broadway wars, but certainly a documentary of some merit.

Today, I got BROADWAY: THE GOLDEN AGE, and watched it from first to last including the special features (which explains why I'm hours late logging onto this site today). Yes, it's wonderful, moving, VALUABLE as a source of opinion and fact about the theater. And the fact that it covers plays as well as musicals makes it quite different from the other documentary. I really liked it a lot.

But it did contain at least one error that I noticed - a subtitle on some street footage that read New York-1955 with THE MIRACLE WORKER marquee clearly in the shot. It wasn't on Broadway in 1955. And didn't you, bk, have trouble with the movie footage (STREETCAR, MEMBER OF THE WEDDING)contained in this documentary (I remember you loathed the movie footage in the other documentary)? And this even used a DAMN YANKEES trailer with VERY distracting sell blurbs along with the visuals.

So, it was a great documentary, but it wasn't perfect either. And I certainly agree that the upcoming documentary footage doesn't resonate like the footage in the other documentary.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: DERBRUCER on November 12, 2004, 03:42:09 PM
At the time, she was quite a regular at a Laguna gay bar called The Little Shrimp.

Oh, Dear! I was a regular at the Little Shrimp in the 70's. Dear, TCB, maybe we know each other better than we think!
(I didn't have the beard back then.)

Remember Wayne and Brenda - and, or course, Rudi Delamore?

der Brucer
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Matt H. on November 12, 2004, 03:46:55 PM
I wanted to comment on FOR THE BOYS, also. I like the film. I found it very moving despite, as earlier posters noted, terrible age make-up and a script that seemed tattered and patched together. But I think it's Bette's finest cinema performance. I liked it even more than her work in THE ROSE.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: DERBRUCER on November 12, 2004, 03:47:08 PM
For our Nothern Friends:

Quote
The Golden Phone
 
An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the world.  For his first chapter he decided to write about American churches. So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to Orlando thinking that he would work his way across the country from south to north.  On his first day, he was inside a church taking photographs when he noticed a golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read $10,000 per call.
 
The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what the telephone was used for. The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 you could talk to God.  The American thanked the priest and went along his way.

Next stop was in Atlanta. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign under it.  He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in Orlando and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was.  She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 he could talk to God. "O.K., thank you," said the American.
 
He then traveled to Indianapolis, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. In every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same $10,000 per call sign under it.  The American, upon leaving Vermont saw a sign for Canada and decided to see if Canadians had the same phone.
 
He arrived in Edmonton, and again, there was the same golden telephone but this time the sign under it read "10 cents per call."  The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign. "Father, I've traveled all over America and I've seen this same  golden telephone in many churches.  I'm told that it is a direct line to Heaven but in every state the price was $10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?"
 
The priest smiled and answered, "You're in Canada now son, it's a local call."

der Brucer
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: TCB on November 12, 2004, 04:02:43 PM
I wanted to comment on FOR THE BOYS, also. I like the film. I found it very moving despite, as earlier posters noted, terrible age make-up and a script that seemed tattered and patched together. But I think it's Bette's finest cinema performance. I liked it even more than her work in THE ROSE.

I agree completely, MattH.  I also felt that, unlike her work in THE ROSE, which I loved, I could easily sit through FOR THE BOYS again and again.  One time through THE ROSE, no matter how well done, was all that I could take.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: TCB on November 12, 2004, 04:11:07 PM
That last post probably sounded very strange.  There are certain films that I have thought were wonderful films and very powerful films, that I am very glad that I had a chance to see.  At the same time, I would never want to subject myself to all of those emotions a second time.  I felt that way about MIDNIGHT COWBOY and I felt that way about THE ROSE, and a few other films.  Thank you very much for making those films, just don't make me sit through them again.  
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 04:19:15 PM
A strange sounding post from TCB. No way!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 04:23:50 PM
I wonder if Nilsson ever sang "The Rose" or Midler "Everybody's Talkin' ". That might be a strange sound or two.
It's morning here - Saturday.  Just to let you know what is happening on the far side of the planet. It's raining.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Matt H. on November 12, 2004, 04:24:49 PM
I agree with you, DR TCB. I would not want to sit through THE ROSE again. Or THE EXORCIST or BLACK HAWK DOWN.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Matt H. on November 12, 2004, 04:26:20 PM
It's been a gorgeous week here in the Carolinas until today when the heavens opened, and it's rained, rained, rained: sometimes downpours, sometimes sprinkles, but consistent moisture all day long. And just cold enough to make the rain miserable.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jane on November 12, 2004, 04:40:27 PM
Congratulations to Joy on a successful show.  Noel, sorry you can’t visit her.

Tomovoz your visit to the Pacific Northwest just might tempt a few others to come out this way.  :D The photo is beautiful, thank you.

Zeus is one lucky dog!  

MBarnum I ordered YAHUDI from NetFlix.  It will be awhile before it arrives as it is now 11th in our queue.

 
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jane on November 12, 2004, 04:44:29 PM
Methinks your achievement of HHW God status has gone to your head, Dear Brother.

 ;)

Then shouldn't he rest on Saturday?
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jane on November 12, 2004, 04:52:40 PM
There's a sign on the door to the library that says that it opens at 12:01 a.m. and closes at midnight every night. Now what is the point of that?


LOL  ;D
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 05:01:31 PM
Thank you Jane.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jane on November 12, 2004, 05:01:39 PM
I great, but painful to watch, movie I wouldn’t want to sit through again is THE PAWNBROKER .

DVD-THE FAST RUNNER, a 2000 Cannes Film Festival winner about two Inuit brothers.

TIVO-I’m tired after a day of errands and don’t remember.  Last night we watched LOST.

CD player is off and I have the radio on.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jane on November 12, 2004, 05:02:31 PM
Tomovoz I wish I were there now strolling along those beautiful streets
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: bk on November 12, 2004, 05:03:41 PM
I didn't love the movie clips, although I understood their use here a bit better than the other documentary.  And actually, one of my favorite things in the whole show was the screen test of Laurette Taylor.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: TCB on November 12, 2004, 05:17:36 PM
TOD
[/b]

DVD:  The Best of Abbott and Costello, Volume 3 (in particular, GO TO MARS and MEET THE KILLER, BORIS KARLOFF)

CD Player:  I would like to be able to say NUNCRACKERS, but no, it would still be SCROOGE, THE MUSICAL.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: bk on November 12, 2004, 05:19:25 PM
Okay, help is needed.  I just called the Doubletree reservation line and I'm being told that the best price room I can get is 459.00 a night which, of course, is balderdash.  Anyone have any ideas?  I like to be in Times Square, preferably in a little suite like the Doubletree has.  I know when I was in town a year and a half ago, there was that new hotel on 42nd St. near 8th, and they couldn't even give rooms away.  Anyone know about that one?
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: TCB on November 12, 2004, 05:21:26 PM
Congratulations to Joy on a successful show.  Noel, sorry you can’t visit her.

Tomovoz your visit to the Pacific Northwest just might tempt a few others to come out this way.  :D The photo is beautiful, thank you.



Jane -- Do you mean to say that a visit from Tomovoz is more fasinating than the fabulous group we already have living here???
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: MBarnum on November 12, 2004, 05:22:23 PM

MBarnum I ordered YAHUDI from NetFlix.  It will be awhile before it arrives as it is now 11th in our queue.

 


Oh Hurray! DR Jane is going to explore the joy that is Bollywood! Well you will be in for a nice surprise...or a huge shock...I don't know which! LOL! But I do hope you enjoy it.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 05:26:54 PM
Jane just has an interest in linguistics and accents.

Not much hope of me singing "Never Will I Merry" though.  Or was it "Never Will I Mary".
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: TCB on November 12, 2004, 05:27:03 PM
Do you mean the Westin New York at Times Square, I think that is at 43rd and 8th?




Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: TCB on November 12, 2004, 05:30:06 PM
Jane just has an interest in linguistics and accents.

Not much hope of me singing "Never Will I Merry" though.  Or was it "Never Will I Mary".

......and a Marry Christmas to you, Tomovoz!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: elmore3003 on November 12, 2004, 05:31:24 PM
Jane just has an interest in linguistics and accents.

Not much hope of me singing "Never Will I Merry" though.  Or was it "Never Will I Mary".

Or "Never will I, Mary"
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: TCB on November 12, 2004, 05:35:01 PM
Or the Hilton Times Square?
[/b]
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: elmore3003 on November 12, 2004, 05:38:11 PM
I'm going to watch THE PENGUIN POOL MURDER again, for Edna May Oliver's great line to her schoolchildren, "well, children, why don't you do something! Don't just stand there like a lot of grownups!"

I just watched the most beutiful opera performance on DVD, Verdi's comic masterpiece FALSTAFF conducted by Ricardo Muti and performed at the 326-seat  Opera House in Busseto, Verdi's hometown.  Young tenor Juan Diego Florez is truly one handsome juvenile, and Inva Mula, his romantic partner, has one of the loveliest light soprano voices I've heard.  The production was quite beautful, based on the 1913 performances conducted by Toscanini for Verdi's 100th annniversary.
It amazes me still that an 80-year-old composer could write such a masterpiece of wit and beauty!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 05:39:17 PM
Or "Never will I, Mary"
I think Mary knows that already Elmore. That's why she is not Merry.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 06:02:17 PM
Well - MRBK just a cursory glance at some hotels shows not many rooms available anywhere - IF you like the hotel - if it is where you want to be - why take a chance on spoiling your time in the BIG APPLE?

If you don't have a travel agent you trust, and if you don't get a PERSONAL recommendation for a hotel, I say "pay the two dollars!"
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jrand73 on November 12, 2004, 06:02:38 PM
Since it's a business trip, isn't it deductible?  And at the end of the year, too!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jane on November 12, 2004, 06:33:03 PM
Okay, help is needed.  I just called the Doubletree reservation line and I'm being told that the best price room I can get is 459.00 a night which, of course, is balderdash.  Anyone have any ideas?  I like to be in Times Square, preferably in a little suite like the Doubletree has.  I know when I was in town a year and a half ago, there was that new hotel on 42nd St. near 8th, and they couldn't even give rooms away.  Anyone know about that one?

Have you checked out the discount sites on-line?  We rarely book directly through a hotel.  You might also find a better deal if you call the hotel directly instead of going through their main reservation line.

It may be very nice inside the Doubletree, but just walking past the hotel and spending more than a few minutes in the area I was so glad they were booked when I made my reservations.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jane on November 12, 2004, 06:38:16 PM
MBarnum the story sounds interesting.  As I said it will be awhile before it arrives.  Oh, I passed your brother on my way home yesterday.  He was driving in the opposite direction but we waved.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jane on November 12, 2004, 06:39:43 PM
TCB, Tomovoz is correct-it’s the accent.  I enjoy repeating “what did you say?” over and over.

What I do mean is Tomovoz’s visit just might entice a couple of east coasters to come our way. :D
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Ginny on November 12, 2004, 06:45:14 PM
Friday media update:

CD (car):  Hairspray cast recording - one of the three shows I saw last month when in NY.  The others were The Producers and Brooke Shields in Wonderful Town.

DVD:  Old Masterpiece Theatre series, To Serve Them All my Days.  My husband, Richard, likes the curmudgeonly teacher and I like the headmaster's wife who grumps about making tea!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 06:49:32 PM
DR Ginny:  "To Serve Them All My Days" is a favourite in this house.. (and not because I was teacher).
Great adaption of Delderfield's book.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: bk on November 12, 2004, 06:50:46 PM
What are the online discount sites?

Also, I called my friend's daughter who works at the Renaissance, and she's going to try and get me something good in one of their hotels in NY.  One way or another.  My flight, however, is booked.  How exciting.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jane on November 12, 2004, 07:12:00 PM
expedia.com
hotels.com (Keith doesn't care for this one)
orbitz.com
hotwire.com

Check them all out because one might have a special that other's don't have.

You didn't say if you called the hotel directly.  You might have but at this hour got transferred to their main reservation line and not known it.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: elmore3003 on November 12, 2004, 07:16:46 PM

What I do mean is Tomovoz’s visit just might entice a couple of east coasters to come our way. :D


Yep, Nurse Jane, it just might . . .
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jane on November 12, 2004, 07:23:07 PM
 :D
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Jane on November 12, 2004, 07:31:02 PM
Bruce you might also try the hotel site.

If you want the best price and are willing to stay anywhere in a given area try priceline.com
Before bidding on priceline check out biddingfortravel.com
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Noel on November 12, 2004, 08:00:12 PM
It may be very nice inside the Doubletree, but just walking past the hotel and spending more than a few minutes in the area I was so glad they were booked when I made my reservations.

And, you'll remember, DR Jane, I approved of your choice.

But I loathe Times Square.  The only part of New York I hate being in (and I've been throughout the South Bronx.)  Always an unpleasant experience.

But BK likes it.  Which is what makes horse-racing.  One man's thoroughbred is another man's manure, as the French say.

So, a hotel near 42nd and 8th.  I hope you mean the Hilton, which has those fun sculptures we now have on the islands of Broadway (Otterness?  Something like that.)  The lobby is rather thin.  As a New Yorker, I can't really know what it's like to stay in the town's hotels, but, as pieces of architecture, well...

I hope you don't mean the Westin, which occupies the northeast corner of 42nd & 8th, and has its entrance on 43rd.  There's no doubt that this is the ugliest building built in New York in the past 15-20 years.  It looks as if the architect's kindergartner drew a building with crayons and the architect said "I can do better than this" and failed.  The so-called "clean-up" of Times Square has made it an uglier place, but new and large buildings make for a world of possibilities.  The Westin squanders these with silliness.

Can someone post pictures?  You'll all recoil!
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Matt H. on November 12, 2004, 08:19:13 PM
I didn't love the movie clips, although I understood their use here a bit better than the other documentary.  And actually, one of my favorite things in the whole show was the screen test of Laurette Taylor.

Yes, but I had seen that test before in the documentary HOLLYWOOD: THE SELZNICK YEARS.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: td on November 12, 2004, 09:10:39 PM
If I may be so bold, I'd like to recommend the Midtown Comfort Inn to you BK.
DR Michael Shayne and I roomed there in August, and I will be staying there again in two weeks.

The Comfort Inn Midtown, The only smoke-free hotel in
New York City, Is conveniently located on 46th Street
between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. Located in the
heart of the Broadway Theater District, walking distance
to New York City's finest restaurants and attractions.
Walk to Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Museum
of Modern Art, Grand Central Station, Pennsylvania
Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Fifth
Avenue shopping. Experience the history of the city as
you visit Central Park, The Empire State Building, St.
Patrick's Cathedral and the Statue of Liberty.
This 79 room hotel offers a variety of amenities and
services including free Wireless Internet (WiFi),
complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, daily
newspapers, personal safes at the front desk, free local
telephone calls (212 area code and 1-800 numbers only),
small refrigerator on demand (with extra charge), as well
as reduced-rate parking. All rooms are equipped with
iron, ironing board, coffee and coffee maker, hairdryers,
telephone with voicemail, as well as Web TV, Movies on
demand and Video games.
The Comfort Inn Midtown features a 24-hour business
center with complimentary incoming fax, Internet and
copying as well as a 15-person meeting room equipped
with audiovisual display.

Comfort Inn Midtown
129 West 46th St
New York, NY, US, 10036
(212) 221-2600
(212) 764-7481

We did find this one through the online sites.
It's right across from the former High School for the Performing Arts - everybody sing "Fame" right now.
Great little deli right next door, too.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Panni on November 12, 2004, 09:44:00 PM
Thank you for all the lovely welcomes back! I tried to post this morning (woke up at 4!) - but AOL would have none of it. I spent the rest of the day waiting for various people to show up at my new digs. I now have window coverings. I also have a bed I'll need a ladder to climb into. The extra padded mattress on top of the box spring makes the bed HUGE.

Pogue - I boarded Abie at Play it to the Bone in Studio City. 818-763-2904. It was recommended by a producer friend whose dog is her child. I reasoned that if she thought it was good, it must be. Abie had a good time - no ill effects. It's pretty reasonable as far as kennels go. And the staff is caring. Why don't you check it out.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Panni on November 12, 2004, 09:45:02 PM
To all those who are broom fanatics. I got a new broom before I went to Europe. It's happily living in the new place.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: td on November 12, 2004, 09:46:47 PM
Did Abie give you a wet and sloppy "welcome back?"
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: TCB on November 12, 2004, 09:49:19 PM
Welcome home, Panni!
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Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: bk on November 12, 2004, 09:51:43 PM
Thanks for the info everyone.  I'll be checking all of them out.

Here is an interesting new eBay scam:  A week ago I'd put a bid on a J.C. Leyendecker painting that was up.  I'd written the seller to commiserate with him that he hadn't gotten a bid higher than 1400 bucks (there was a reserve and it hadn't been met).  He told me what the reserve was (5K), so I told him I was going to bid it up into the twos at least, which I did (my bid was 2600 top, and it showed at 2400).  In the last seconds of the auction, some smart person got it for the reserve.  End of story, right?  Wrong.  Today I got two e-mails from different e-mail addresses offering me the eBay "second chance" deal - wherein, if the winning bidder defaults, the seller can offer it to the next highest bidder for their bid price.  I was very excited about it, but found it curious that it came from two different addresses.  However, I remembered that the seller actually had someone else list it for him, so it kind of made sense.  I responded to one of them because they put an e-mail address in the message.  The other I clicked on the "respond now" tab in the e-mail - it takes you directly to eBay and you have to sign in with username and password.  I responded to both, told them I'd take the painting, and would await word.  I got an instant reply from one, saying he'd use eBay's protection program for both of us, and all I had to do was send him my name and address.  I didn't do anything at that point, because I'd begun to smell a ratski.  So, I went into my bid history, found the item, and e-mailed both the fellow who listed it, and the owner of the painting (whose e-mail address was in the listing and completely different from either of the people who offered me the "second chance".  An hour later I got a reply from the owner saying the painting had indeed sold and been shipped at that this was a scam.  I immediately changed my password, and thankfully nothing in my eBay activities had been compromised (in other words, this particular username has no credit card associated with the account).  In the meantime, I got an e-mail from scammer number two offering to do the same "protected" eBay thing - which means they've got a scam program set up to look like eBay's program and I would innocently be asked to go to the eBay site via the e-mail, and give them my credit card number or paypal account number and all that stuff for them to scam me.  The weird thing, of course, is that the e-mails I received were both from working e-mail addresses.  I asked both to provide me with contact info so I could call and make the deal.  I think that probably has tipped them off, and I suspect that both e-mail addresses have been shut down.  I've alerted eBay and sent copies of all the e-mails they sent me.  We'll see what happens.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Panni on November 12, 2004, 09:53:22 PM
Thank you, TCB!

td - Yes, Abie gave me lots of sloppy kisses. I was so tired when I finally went to bed last night that I didn't let him out to do his final business of the night. He didn't seem to care. All he wanted to do was cuddle. As he slept at my feet, every once in a while he'd stretch and give a satisfied sigh.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: JoseSPiano on November 12, 2004, 10:08:38 PM
Good Evening!

I'm back from New York City!

Whew!

Saw some good shows.  Met some good people.  Ate some good meals.  Had a great time!  -Oh, and we even went back and tried a few more flavors of grappa (red currant and pear, in addition to the previous pineapple)!  -Thankfully, the restaurant was only a block away from the hotel! ;)

The drive back today was the most unpleasant thing about the whole trip.  It rained the whole time.  And since it was Friday, we also had to deal with the rush-hour traffic once we hit the DC area - we ended up taking a dinner/driving break at Tysons Corner (shopping center).

Well, I'm very tired, and this cold rain has just made me feel even moreso.  I'll catch up and post come morning.

Laters...

Goodnight.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: bk on November 12, 2004, 10:41:42 PM
Hi, Iris!  I'm comin' to NY.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 11:35:04 PM
Just read that the "Woman In White" is bound for Broadway in Nov 1965.
Maybe it will be entirely rewritten and rescored!

Thrilling news.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 11:37:21 PM
Guess it could be worse - "Eureka" is closing here.. That could move to Broadway and you would really have horror. The Oz rewrite of "Les Mis" with a touch of "Lola Montez".  Just what the world needs.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 11:37:50 PM
A dialogue with myself is so informative.
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 11:38:47 PM
I was given a copy of "Mozart" this week. Have yet to play it.  Has anyone else ventured into this musical?
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 11:40:44 PM
Also the European version of "The Ten Commandments" the other day. I think it may have been rewritten but what I heard was so bland. The last score I heard with so little variety was "Wuthering Heights". (Not to be confused with that other wonderful score for "Heathcliff).
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: Tomovoz on November 12, 2004, 11:42:44 PM
Has been a while since I was my own best friend (I mean since I was my own frenzy).
I wonder if the Dave Clark musical "Time" has ever made it to CD. Must check that out. There were so many songs released as chart possibilities from that show.  
Title: Re:A CONVENTIONAL DITHER
Post by: bk on November 12, 2004, 11:47:48 PM
Nobody here but us chickens.  Or gherkins.