Bjork Friday
Yesterday was Bjork Friday.
It governed most of my day, although if the mirror for Marisa's car had arrived earlier I might have been able to replace that. As it was, the mirror arrived too late for me to get enough time to do the change.
These days, with the cold mornings, the only time to do this kind of work is in the early afternoon on a dry day. That day is now today.
While I had hoped to work on the drainage system, the thought that I would work, work, work and then be pulled away from that to take Marisa to Clinton Street Theatre...well that was too much.
So, instead, I did research on Milton Sills and specifically on "Diana Ardway", the book; and "Satan, Junior", the movie made from that book.
I still have only five scenes from the movie, all I have gleaned from magazines. The magic lantern slide has a bit of a scene I don't think I have, so I might be able to work that image in as a 6th scene.
Also, I recharged the battery on the Minolta movie camera that Marisa gave me a year ago and read the instructions. Once charged, I did a trial run in the backroom.
Then 4:45 p.m. I quickly smeared some hummus on a bagel. This prepared bagel then would be both my lunch and dinner.
5:15 p.m. I went to the back and drove my truck to the front where I picked up Marisa. She had a tall staff which we needed to put in the bed of the pickup. Marisa was reluctant but had no choice: she had labored long to properly decorate that big stick. She put her costume and bag in the truck cab.
5:55 p.m. we arrived at 25th and Clinton, not the usual drop-off point (26th and Clinton), but Marisa was fine with getting off there. Then I drove back to Division, then 12th, but missed Harrison. However, I eventually wormed my way to my destination: Goodwill.
For almost an hour, I scoured the LPs and records ($3 LPs, $1 45s) and looked around. Settled on 6 LPs paid for with my $20 bill. I am pretty sure I did not have "Skatin' with Layton" a stereo album. I rejected an ABC-Paramount LP from Soupy Sales. The vinyl looked good until I noticed a bite of it took out the first tracks. A Mono Andre Previn combo LP was rejected because the vinyl looked bad. I did get an early Decca Lenny Dee album, "Dee-lightful." I probably already own it, but if I didn't already have it, this would be insurance. I got a half-Eddie Condon LP: the other half by the Rampart Street Paraders. Bobby Hackett did a jazz album for Capitol so got that. One LP was missing the record, so skipped an Audition LP of a band led by trombonist Bobby Byrne. Also: "Bobby Darin Sings The Shadow of Your Smile," and a dyna-flex LP of Paul Whiteman's band from the 1920s (volume 1). There were several 45s which looked interesting, including one by the DeCastro Singers, but each was 99 cents and I was trying to work within the cash budget.
I found interesting that Goodwill now arrays SLR lenses out on a shelf for reasonable prices (in the past they would lock them up in a display case). Single Lens Reflex cameras apparently are now passe, replaced by "mirrorless" cameras and, possibly, the old lens systems don't work for these?
Goodwill now closes at 7 p.m., so as I stood in line the public address system warned customers it was close to closing time. It worked well for me, as the doors opened for the Clinton Street Theatre at 7.
I drove down to 12th, then Division, then this time down 26th, went past the theatre a couple of blocks and turned right. No parking on the right side, but plenty on the left side, so drove around the block and back up the street and parked right before the intersection with 26th. I have parked here before: it is excellent spot when going to this theatre.
As I had already purchased my right to enter I just needed to give them my name. Like that I was in. No checking for items this time (apparently this only happens for Rocky Horror Picture Show performances, a mainstay for this theatre. We had been here earlier this year for a Rocky show complete with live performances along side the movie. For that one the guy asked me what I had in my pockets. It was confusing to me, so he let me go through without insisting. That was good because I usually always carry a pocket knife and an earlier "Marla Darling" show I had to surrender it and then collect it later: not fun. For this show I purposely took out my pocket knife).
I found an ideal aisle seat on the right side, first row. This was good because Marisa wanted me to record her performance. From here I could get a guaranteed unobstructed view of her and the back screen of the "waves".
The show did not start right at 8 p.m. These types of productions rarely do start on time. That is because they are loosely organized as a co-operative and often performers don't show up, music wasn't coordinated ahead of time: that sort of thing. Carol, however, kept it together somehow, when the sound guy had to leave for the 2nd half, one performance was arranged at the last moment with a new Bjork song introduced that week, and the co-host had to be replaced due to illness.
I only had three one dollar bills to be available for tips but only used one in the first half with a performance by someone with a shorter hair style: one side black, the other white. The performer arrived on stage with a see-through body suit, then pulled on a red leather jumpsuit, then took it off. Anyway, I liked it. Others in the first half were interesting.
The second half started much later than 15 minutes, the target intermission time.
This half had much more interesting performances, including Marisa's as the 5th in that half.
I kept my camera prepared in case Carol changed the line-up, but everything worked out.
One performer prepared sitting next to me...and when her spot arrived, she lept to the stage and did a very energetic, sort of African dance (at least it seemed to resemble African tribal dances I have seen). That was very good.
Another featured a single performer in what Marisa called a "bug" costume (with antennae). This had the performer lip sync in front of a large set piece which from the side didn't look like anything familiar, but from a front-view was meant to look like a large microphone. It was attached by a white cable to a boxy object at the wall. The video was of the same performer in a green leafy costume wearing green gloves. The video showed the performer reaching to the left and as this happened a giant green hand came out of the door and pushed the boxy object away. Simultaneously the lights went out on stage.
A performer named Mars did an excellent gender-bending performance hopping around and shedding costumes. It was incredible and funny.
When Marisa's time came, I became camera man. So I shot the introduction and the outro and held the camera steady as I panned to keep Marisa in the shot from stage level, showing part of the wavy video. It went very well, but it was difficult to tell how well as I watched through the viewfinder and my glasses did not allow me to see clearly. For Marisa's part everything went well except something broke off her staff mid-way in the performance. She didn't notice but it was very apparent to me. I think she did well by the character. As usual, when Marisa takes on a character she is that entity, not herself. The applause and, as I learned later, the tips showed that her appearnce was appreciated.
After the show I chatted with Marisa a bit and with one of the performers (Maxaroni I think) who did one act and also served as co-host when Marla did her act.
Then I used the facilities and waited at the back of the theatre while Marisa removed her costume.
The drive back was uneventful. It was midnight by the time we were in the house so I went straight to bed as Marisa wound down and took off her makeup.
I got up around 4:30 a.m. to "make my bladder gladder", went back to sleep and then woke at around 7:30 a.m. to feed the cats.
It governed most of my day, although if the mirror for Marisa's car had arrived earlier I might have been able to replace that. As it was, the mirror arrived too late for me to get enough time to do the change.
These days, with the cold mornings, the only time to do this kind of work is in the early afternoon on a dry day. That day is now today.
While I had hoped to work on the drainage system, the thought that I would work, work, work and then be pulled away from that to take Marisa to Clinton Street Theatre...well that was too much.
So, instead, I did research on Milton Sills and specifically on "Diana Ardway", the book; and "Satan, Junior", the movie made from that book.
I still have only five scenes from the movie, all I have gleaned from magazines. The magic lantern slide has a bit of a scene I don't think I have, so I might be able to work that image in as a 6th scene.
Also, I recharged the battery on the Minolta movie camera that Marisa gave me a year ago and read the instructions. Once charged, I did a trial run in the backroom.
Then 4:45 p.m. I quickly smeared some hummus on a bagel. This prepared bagel then would be both my lunch and dinner.
5:15 p.m. I went to the back and drove my truck to the front where I picked up Marisa. She had a tall staff which we needed to put in the bed of the pickup. Marisa was reluctant but had no choice: she had labored long to properly decorate that big stick. She put her costume and bag in the truck cab.
5:55 p.m. we arrived at 25th and Clinton, not the usual drop-off point (26th and Clinton), but Marisa was fine with getting off there. Then I drove back to Division, then 12th, but missed Harrison. However, I eventually wormed my way to my destination: Goodwill.
For almost an hour, I scoured the LPs and records ($3 LPs, $1 45s) and looked around. Settled on 6 LPs paid for with my $20 bill. I am pretty sure I did not have "Skatin' with Layton" a stereo album. I rejected an ABC-Paramount LP from Soupy Sales. The vinyl looked good until I noticed a bite of it took out the first tracks. A Mono Andre Previn combo LP was rejected because the vinyl looked bad. I did get an early Decca Lenny Dee album, "Dee-lightful." I probably already own it, but if I didn't already have it, this would be insurance. I got a half-Eddie Condon LP: the other half by the Rampart Street Paraders. Bobby Hackett did a jazz album for Capitol so got that. One LP was missing the record, so skipped an Audition LP of a band led by trombonist Bobby Byrne. Also: "Bobby Darin Sings The Shadow of Your Smile," and a dyna-flex LP of Paul Whiteman's band from the 1920s (volume 1). There were several 45s which looked interesting, including one by the DeCastro Singers, but each was 99 cents and I was trying to work within the cash budget.
I found interesting that Goodwill now arrays SLR lenses out on a shelf for reasonable prices (in the past they would lock them up in a display case). Single Lens Reflex cameras apparently are now passe, replaced by "mirrorless" cameras and, possibly, the old lens systems don't work for these?
Goodwill now closes at 7 p.m., so as I stood in line the public address system warned customers it was close to closing time. It worked well for me, as the doors opened for the Clinton Street Theatre at 7.
I drove down to 12th, then Division, then this time down 26th, went past the theatre a couple of blocks and turned right. No parking on the right side, but plenty on the left side, so drove around the block and back up the street and parked right before the intersection with 26th. I have parked here before: it is excellent spot when going to this theatre.
As I had already purchased my right to enter I just needed to give them my name. Like that I was in. No checking for items this time (apparently this only happens for Rocky Horror Picture Show performances, a mainstay for this theatre. We had been here earlier this year for a Rocky show complete with live performances along side the movie. For that one the guy asked me what I had in my pockets. It was confusing to me, so he let me go through without insisting. That was good because I usually always carry a pocket knife and an earlier "Marla Darling" show I had to surrender it and then collect it later: not fun. For this show I purposely took out my pocket knife).
I found an ideal aisle seat on the right side, first row. This was good because Marisa wanted me to record her performance. From here I could get a guaranteed unobstructed view of her and the back screen of the "waves".
The show did not start right at 8 p.m. These types of productions rarely do start on time. That is because they are loosely organized as a co-operative and often performers don't show up, music wasn't coordinated ahead of time: that sort of thing. Carol, however, kept it together somehow, when the sound guy had to leave for the 2nd half, one performance was arranged at the last moment with a new Bjork song introduced that week, and the co-host had to be replaced due to illness.
I only had three one dollar bills to be available for tips but only used one in the first half with a performance by someone with a shorter hair style: one side black, the other white. The performer arrived on stage with a see-through body suit, then pulled on a red leather jumpsuit, then took it off. Anyway, I liked it. Others in the first half were interesting.
The second half started much later than 15 minutes, the target intermission time.
This half had much more interesting performances, including Marisa's as the 5th in that half.
I kept my camera prepared in case Carol changed the line-up, but everything worked out.
One performer prepared sitting next to me...and when her spot arrived, she lept to the stage and did a very energetic, sort of African dance (at least it seemed to resemble African tribal dances I have seen). That was very good.
Another featured a single performer in what Marisa called a "bug" costume (with antennae). This had the performer lip sync in front of a large set piece which from the side didn't look like anything familiar, but from a front-view was meant to look like a large microphone. It was attached by a white cable to a boxy object at the wall. The video was of the same performer in a green leafy costume wearing green gloves. The video showed the performer reaching to the left and as this happened a giant green hand came out of the door and pushed the boxy object away. Simultaneously the lights went out on stage.
A performer named Mars did an excellent gender-bending performance hopping around and shedding costumes. It was incredible and funny.
When Marisa's time came, I became camera man. So I shot the introduction and the outro and held the camera steady as I panned to keep Marisa in the shot from stage level, showing part of the wavy video. It went very well, but it was difficult to tell how well as I watched through the viewfinder and my glasses did not allow me to see clearly. For Marisa's part everything went well except something broke off her staff mid-way in the performance. She didn't notice but it was very apparent to me. I think she did well by the character. As usual, when Marisa takes on a character she is that entity, not herself. The applause and, as I learned later, the tips showed that her appearnce was appreciated.
After the show I chatted with Marisa a bit and with one of the performers (Maxaroni I think) who did one act and also served as co-host when Marla did her act.
Then I used the facilities and waited at the back of the theatre while Marisa removed her costume.
The drive back was uneventful. It was midnight by the time we were in the house so I went straight to bed as Marisa wound down and took off her makeup.
I got up around 4:30 a.m. to "make my bladder gladder", went back to sleep and then woke at around 7:30 a.m. to feed the cats.