Before Dean Martin was a Rat Pack star, he and his partner Jerry Lewis had the most successful comedy team of all time.  Martin and Lewis started out breaking attendance records at nightclubs, where people would be lined up around the block to get in, and they went on to be a huge success on TV and in the movies.

Dean and Jerry’s popularity even inspired a comic book, issued from 1952 all the way till 1958.  Many are for sale today as collectibles, with the one below available on eBay for $175, which is not a bad return on an original price of 10 cents.

From the Rat Pack Impersonators  Blog and Rat Pack Impersonators Website.

Do NOT Stop Spreading these Videos!

The Salvation of 3 Generations could depend on it!

1. Go to GoodFight Theater! http://www.theater.goodfight.org

 Check out the AWESOME exposes and eye-opening clarity of the surprising spiritual motivations of entertainers! You will want to spread the news and the link, and order the dvds… then go to these youtube videos and spread them like a virus! The salvation of your generation depends partly on the LABORERS. We are going to wear satan out with God’s Grace & Truth just like he tries to wear us out with his sin & lies!

2
ICP think they sold their soul to the devil… But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-_3-YB2XMo

3
MTV and Madonna and Eminem and Method Man and Jimi Hendrix and Garth Brooks and Kid Rock think they sold their soul to the devil… But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.

The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKfGNEuGWMo

4
Dr. Dre, Eminem and others think they sold their soul to the devil… But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oify6AtKkFs

5
Korn and Ozzy Osbourne and Frank Zappa and Limp Bizkit and Red Hot Chili Peppers think they sold their soul to the devil… But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRPxkkP-ZGM

6
Do you realize the satanic plan in secular music and in the United Nations is the same plan that God foiled in Genesis 11. Why are these people doing it again? They will fail again!
Pick your team! Kingdom or Babylon!
Go hard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMDF4_zekbM

7
Carlos Santana, David Koresh, Jim Jones, Hitler, have a lot in common… But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wv9ldtDGds

8
This clip tells the story of Robert Johnson, a Black man who is called ‘THE FATHER OF ROCK & ROLL’ admitted that he sold his soul to satan in the 1950s. The roots of rock in satanism…  But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Aml1RZsxqw

9
Robert Johnston blues star and founder of Rock, actually sold his soul to satan. This is the root of the secular music you listen to. That’s why it does what it does to your soul. satanism…  But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvMfM_87tec

10
Eazy E, Bone Thugs & Harmony, Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Master P, DMX, Three 6 Mafia, and others think they think they sold their soul to the devil… But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC0WRXRrp2w

11
Wow… this guys testimony is amazing. He actually was writing music for satan when God delivered him! From Elvis to today… Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p0MruAg8wM

12
More mind-blowing footage about Elvis, Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, and other stars that masked themselves as harmless. Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yusiv3JDng

13
Singers like Spice Girls and Brittney Spears teach children to reject God’s laws and their parents laws like “Keep your mouth shut Keep your legs shut” Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJCWydWB9tY

15
The Truth about Elvis Presley… he was not a Christian. His bodyguards, the “Memphis Mafia” reveal his demonic forces and deception.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX7FJgtOti8

16
The Truth about Elvis Presley… he was not a Christian. He was deep into occult and actually thought he was a false christ and read from satanist Madame Blavatsky at his concerts! Also notice how SIMILAR Michael Jackson’s life ended the same way Elvis did – with PILLS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8AOzOvXwu4

17
More on Elvis… and Jerry Lewis actually condemns himself to Hell, he thought he sold his soul to satan. I wish he had repented before he died. Same thing with Little Richard. They don’t know how merciful Jesus Christ is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0wHc10VGMw
19
Most rock & roll artists have been influenced by Aliester Crowley… he taught drugs, sex, and “Imma Do Me.” In order to promote satanism and the Anti-Christ. How Timothy Leary and the Beatles helped spread satanism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6vLnAYjK2A

20
How Aliester Crowley sowed seeds of satanic discipleship (Harry Hayes and Dr. Alfred Kinsey) for the sexual revolution and how promotion of homosexuality and the rape of little boys is related to the Anti-Christ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnNkmNPptk0

21
HOw the Beatles promoted satanism under the influence of Aliester Crowley… they brought yoga (yoking yourself to a demon) to America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGy0Sk80amQ

22
“Making Movies is casting spells…” how the Rolling Stones and the Beatle helped promote satanism in 1967…. the end of this is DEEP!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgOzb_1wjig

23
Let’s look at the FRUIT of satanism, idolatry, and rebellion against God, from 1967. NOT Freedom- addictions, broken lives, sexual diseases, suicides, abortions, and broken families
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRcHT14oQr8

25
How drugs are related to witchcraft. Jimi Hendrix testifies to his servanthood to satan. Whoever is taken captive to this, there is still time. Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDH9j_f0YPk

26
Demon worship and Jim Morrison of The Doors – the connection.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6duGqjEFoVQ

27
satan is a lie. Even thru the greatest entertainers (false prophets) in the world. How the Beach Boys created the culture of southern California and created witchcraft music. Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die. The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKmh1mmjHV0

29
Michael Jackson spread sexual perversion and contacted demon spirits for his music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRf7wM6vLuI

31
Kurt Cobain… 90s grunge satanist, (I think he may have gotten saved before he died… Hallelujah!). Also NIN and U2 are covered in here! Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die. The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdWHjFhIvcs

32
U2 and CREED still has time to repent from their sins and trying to decieve Christians into the New World order. U2 is more blasphemous than Marilyn Manson. CREED signed their record deal in blood. Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die. The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp26vedLKDM

33
Charles Manson, rock musician and mass murderer, a satanist who worked with the Beatles and Beach Boys and taught his family to kill. Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die. The Mercy of the Lord endures forever,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqt2DLXDE7c

34
Anton Lavey and the satan worshippers who love Hitler and the soon coming antichrist, and national socialism. This is CRAZY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXs7Xd4JBXA

35
How the music is leading to anti-christ. Son of Sam was a satanist murderer as well, but I heard that he got saved in prison thanks to the mercy of the Lord. He sold himself to the devil but Jesus brought him back!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd3v4tR0sM8

Well,

I must say the time spent on this was well worth it, though it looks like I worked for days on my hair and makeup, it was actually only hours…..and it did manage to cause us some very sore stomachs from laughing our butts off when snapping the pix for the doo of the day which I put on Facebook or reading the comments…

In a nutshell, Suzanne had done some photos of some normal ladies (well when I say normal I mean they are not professional models, but I would not take the stand swearing to their normalcy in other aspects, especially Wingwoman Lylie) anywho, these pictures were going to be put together in a calendar for Victoria’s Attic in Grande Prairie to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. The title was W.O.W. (Women Of Wisdom) and there was going to be an unveiling, and booby shaped muffins, and some heads shaved… a gal named Shawna and my melon… then a bunch of others joined the group which is always good when a good cause is happening.  So all is good right? you would think so… people doing a calendar, Breast Cancer awareness, heads shaved, etc….. well, this is when I had a brainstorm of my own……

“Doo Of The Day Until Bald For Boobies or DOTDUBFB”

I was going to to a “Doo Of The Day Until Bald For Boobies” and put the pictures on my Facebook and Suzanne Sagmeister Photography’s page also….. and I was going to give it a cool name along the lines of Suzanne who always comes up with funny and cool slogans like W.O.W. or Sneak Peaks, so I called it “DOTDUBFB” which made no sense according to anyone that took English in school apparently…. “DOTDUBFB” which is pronounced “DOT DUBB”…. the “F” is obviously silent… you know, short for Do Of The Day Until Bald For Boobies…..but I digress… cool names is not what I doo… GET IT??? DOO !!! like hair DOO !!!!

Day 1 – So, Suzanne left me alone for a couple hours and after running around with scissors for a bit I decided that the natural part of my hair would be an AWESOME start of the “Day Doo’s”…

"The Parting of the Gray Sea" - I can't go to school today Mom, my hair's too short and my socks are too tight

I snapped this one with my phone, and had it as my background picture until it made me ill… which was a week later… manyways, I put it up and called it “Doo of the Day Until Bald For Boobies” on Facebook and really thought nothing of it… I got a couple of comments, mostly from my children, but that was about it… Suzanne suggested putting it on the fan page which I thought was awesome as I only have 2 friends and really wasn’t getting the publicity I deserved !!!

Day 2 – Nobody really commented too much on it, so I thought I had to step it up another level… my hair was not that long to begin with, and it really didn’t leave me with a lot of options, but I grabbed the hairspray, the gell, the hair glue and the brush and hit the bathroom and the mirror…

“I walked across the avenue, I never thought I’d meet a girl like you ah ooh…”

Flock of Seagulls got nothing on this doo !!!!

We thought Suzanne’s pink hoodie would really bring out the bloodshot eyes, and snapped the picture and this was really what started it all… people were now following the doo’’s… and were leaving comments… and were wondering what I might “doo” tomorrow…. ya, like I think stuff and things ahead of time, like I have plan…… WRONG !!!!… I figured a couple of pix, a couple of laughs, and on to my next project… WRONG !!!

Day 3 –  luckily while doing the Flock of Friggin’ Seagulls, I had a brainstorm about a superhero I might consider doo-ing… so I grabbed the gell and glue and spray and hair dryer and scotch tape and utensils from the drawer and away I went…

“Petroleum Jelly is Vaseline… grab some knives and tape and I is Wolverine”

It's like watching the X-Men Origins... seriously... on a $10.00 budget

Now it was just bizarre, Hollywood was calling, people were starting to gather outside our RV awaiting for my appearance and the Doo of the Day !!! ya right, I wanted to go uptown like Wolverine and spend the day like this… but someone, not mentioning any “Suzannes” had other ideas… I was going to do it anyways, but when I went to remove bats from the batcave (pick my nose) I just about took a nostril an eye and most of my forehead off… so, rather than remove my face to prove Suzanne wrong, I took it off to appease her….

“Captain’s log… Star Date 2009…… Klingons all around us… force field growing weaker… warp five.. live long and prosper ”

Day 4 – So now I was going to doo something I thought would be awesome, every Nerd on Facebook would love me, and I could do it WITHOUT losing an eye or part of my nose… all it was going to take was a banana, a whole lot of black marker like makeup pencil and a steady hand….. this one made people laugh and try to figure out how the Hell I got thick and lustrious bangs and pointy ears….

It like looking at a more handsome and younger Len Nimoy... I call him Len cuz I'm cool like that !!!

O.K., the people were starting to get into this… I on the other hand, was just about out of ideas with my short and receding hair… in fact…. my very small brain was now pretty much running on fumes… Suzanne was very supportive and told me to “stop crying soldier, drop down and give her twenty push ups and get back at it !!!”

Day 5 – I’m not sure how I came up with this one, but spend a few hours with gell and a brush and make up pencil, and you eventually come up with SOMETHING… we managed to drag our boy Angus into the fun, and (Suzanne) drew a circle on his face…. which by the way stayed on for 2 weeks… and then another 2 weeks when Suzanne put it on AGAIN!!!!

“Even a deaf dog knows when you are laughing AT him…. and not WITH him”

Little Rascals Alfalfa and Petey the Pit Bull

Well after I got out of the hospital after “Petey the Pit Bull” attacked me in my sleep, I had an idea… something so spectacular, something so awesome, something so GINORMOUS that even Ted Turner and his colorization technology would be impressed….

Day 6 – The thunder and lightning were going off every few seconds….the evil Doctor Kampelastein was working away in his mad scientist laboratory(bathroom) brewing up his next creature…

“The townsfolk were so afeared of this evil monster, they chased him with flaming sticks while he walked with arms outstretched and not bending his knees until his skin turned green…”

FrankenShane

I spent most of that night and some of the morning Stomping through the village with arms outstretched and legs straight, putting the fear of Shane into the townsfolk. Finally, I came to my senses and quit while I was ahead… or a head… a green head…

Day 7 – and the Lord rested…. no seriously, I rested… I was tired from all that stomping and walking and saying things like “Me Crush You” and “Why Don’t My Legs and arms bend?” and my hair was really sore from all the washing and scrubbing of the hair wax and marker off my skin……. “WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!” there, done crying like a baby..

“Jim Carrey may be dumb, but I am Dumber”

Day 8 – Always have been a fan of early Jim Carrey, ever since he was on In Living Color with the Wayan’s brothers… so what would be a doo of the day without a little James…. I tell you, that friggin’ make up pencil also works on teeth… mind you, I have a chip from fighting with a wheelbarrow and probably didn’t even have to color it in…

ALRIGHTY THEN !!!

Day 9 – Well, anybody with half a brain would know that Jim Carrey is the newer version of Jerry Lewis in the Nutty Professor… add some glasses, add some huge teeth, and pretty much you’re the Lewis… probably nobody remembers him in this movie, or even him for that matter, but google him and you will see I pretty much could go to the bank and cash cheques as him…. ya, pretty much….

Chiclets anyone??

Day 10 – Well, the fans were awesome, the remarks were fantastic and we had a blast doing it… thanks to Lawson for shooting some of the pictures for me, and thanks to Suzanne for NOT making them look awesome like she wanted too…. I find the crappier they look, the more they can see the drawn on hair and the fake teeth and the bolt in the neck!!! I thought that Elvis was a great way to finish it off, as he was the King, and he was leaving the building… I had to actually SHAVE my sideburns, as they are THICKER than Elvis’ were…..

“Hey Priscilla, can you hand me my peanut butter and pain killer sandwich!”

You.... ain't.... nothing.... but.... a ......hound dog... yer cryin' all the time..

Day 11 – finally, I got to go and get the head shaved…. cuz the hair was driving me nuts and it’s a short drive…

"Is that a car coming towards me?? " talk about deer in headlights look

NOW THIS IS BETTER !!!

Thanks again, hope you enjoyed it as much as we did !!! and remember, Breast Cancer or any kind of Cancer is not funny.. and many friends and families are hit with this devastating disease everyday… so shave your head, do fundraising, donate time, give generously, do whatever it takes to remove Cancer from our vocabulary…

Thank you... thank you very much.... thank you !!!!

Elvis has left the building….. dah dah daaaaaaaah.. dah dah daaaaaaaaaaah… dah dah daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah (theme song for Elvis left the building)

Until next time….

Phobloggrapher/Blogger in Chief

http://twitter.com/bloggerinchief1

http://twitter.com/ChixOnPix

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-Sagmeister-Photography/19661091848

http://www.suzannesagmeister.com/

I lived my life at 45 RPM

I’m in the middle of a two-part feature concerning three of the best groups of the ’60s (Herman’s Hermits, The Young Rascals and The Turtles) and figured I’d make this week’s theme about ten bands whose 45’s were a staple of my collection. For those born later, AM radio was king, and WMCA and WABC in New York City were among the kingmakers. After an era of crooner pop and teen idol mania, the charts were invaded by surf rock, Motown soul, garage/psych sides and that multi-wave British Invasion. Radio would never be the same.

Many artists have gotten their due critically and financially, from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to The Beach Boys and Simon and Garfunkel. Many have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, although several are either awaiting nomination or seemingly have no shot despite making a huge impact in a short and magical time.

I’m going to use today’s list to tout ten worthy artists who I feel are very under-appreciated. They’re enshrined in my Hall of Fame and I still enjoy hearing their music today. Not all have decent video clips, so I’m linking to a site where you can at least hear some audio samples and hopefully pick up a greatest hits collection, if not a few of their catalogue albums or a larger anthology.

If you’re a powerpop or garage fan, there are probably no surprises here. But if you only know these bands from a hit or two on oldies radio, I promise you there is more worth digging for.

Tommy James and the Shondells: A pretty fascinating story of how a guy accidentally becomes a bubblegum idol, hates it, and then becomes one of the more interesting purveyors of commercial psychedelic pop. How can a guy who strung together that many hits not be more highly respected? One of the era’s better producers as well.  Wiki.

Gary Lewis and the Playboys: Even the involvement of Snuff Garrett and Leon Russell couldn’t overcome the fact that Gary was the son of Jerry Lewis, so how could you take this stuff seriously. But Gary was no Dino, Desi and Billy; the band kicked out seven Top Ten hits in two years (!) and this new collection reveals how much great stuff you never got to hear. Wiki.

The McCoys: The band that spawned Rick Derringer had an immediate hit with the iconic “Hang On Sloopy” and never hit #1 again, but their singles included covers of “Fever”, “Come On Let’s Go” and the underrated “Don’t Worry Mother”. Great stuff on the albums, too; “Mr. Summer” is an unknown wonder. The core of the band would up backing Johnny Winter during his transition from Texas bluesman to arena rocker.  Wiki.

The Buckinghams: Another band whose hits came fast and furious and then they were gone. Catchy songs that added horns and time changes resulting in songs more progressive than most. Sometimes it didn’t work out (the middle section in the expanded version of  ”Susan” doesn’t age well) but Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears leveraged some of these tricks in their arrangements. Still  kicking today. Wiki.

The Grass Roots: Not certain why they never get included in the discussion of great groups of the era. Like The Turtles, they recorded the work of great songwriters (P.F. Sloan was even an original member) and had a string of radio hits that extended into the 70s. The songs were not only ear candy but many were socially observant, and they featured a great lead singer in Rob Grill. And yes, that’s Creed Bratton from The Office on guitar.  Wiki.

Paul Revere and the Raiders: Started as a raucous garage band in the Pacific Northwest, launched into America’s living room on an iconic television program and parlayed the opportunity into a string of hit singles, yet those costumes they became famous for led many to dismiss them as cartoonish wannabees. Wrong! Mark Lindsay’s looks got them onto teen magazines but singles like “Kicks”, “Hungry”, “Just Like Me” and the dynamic “Him or Me” cemented their legend. Wiki.

The Box Tops: I’m still amazed how powerful “The Letter” is forty years later, especially for a song that didn’t even hit the two minute mark. And while “Cry Like a Baby” was their only other Top Ten, that only scratched the surface of this great band. “Neon Rainbow”, “Soul Deep”, “Sweet Cream Ladies”…Alex Chilton would reinvent himself with Big Star and time has proven just how valuable Dan Penn, Wayne Thompson, Spooner Oldham and Chips Moman were to have around. Soul Deep was not only a great song, but a perfect description of the band.  Wiki.

The Troggs: Another band often mistakenly dismissed as a one or two hit wonder, they had several great sides. And as anthemic as “Wild Thing” might be, “With a Girl Like You”, “Love is All Around”, “All of the Time” and “I Can’t Control Myself” are superior songs. A great blend of garage band and druggy music with Reg Presley’s nasal sneer the icing on the cake. (Also famous, of course, for  the legendary taped argument where one member suggests that a track needs a little more fairy dust on it). Wiki 

Mitch Ryder: Mitch and The Detroit Wheels burned like a comet and recorded arguably the hottest rock’n'roll single of all time in “Devil With a Blue Dress / Good Golly Miss Molly”. Bad management and naive decisions broke the band up within a couple of years, but they had a few great singles and recorded a treasure trove of killer rave-ups. Most don’t know that Ryder continued to make great albums over the next forty years because he gets no airplay. (Hell, even his Wikipedia page isn’t up to date). Wiki.

The 1910 Fruitgum Company: Yeah, I know it’s a bubblegum group, but I will unashamedly put “Indian Giver” out there as one of the best singles of the late ’60s. “Simon Says”, “1-2-3 Red Light” and “Special Delivery” all got serious spin time at my house and remain irresistable hooks. Listen – if Joan Jett covers your song, you’ve passed the cool test. Wiki.

The Typewriter

Há coisas e pessoas eternas. E tem gente que gosta de Jim Carrey!

The Senate must soon increase the national debt limit to above $13 trillion — and Democrats are looking for political cover.

Knowing they will face unyielding GOP attacks for voting to increase the eye-popping debt, Democrats are considering attaching a debt increase provision to a must-pass bill, possibly the Defense Department spending bill, according to Democratic and Republican sources.

Adding it to the defense bill would allow Democrats to argue that they voted for the measure to help troops in harm’s way — and downplay that their vote also expanded the limit for how much money the country can borrow.

The strategy has not yet been finalized, aides and senators said. The House already approved a debt limit increase of $925 billion — above the $12.1 trillion ceiling Congress approved as part of the economic stimulus package last February — but Democrats may seek to increase the limit further so they don’t have to revisit the politically treacherous issue until after the 2010 midterm elections.

GOP Senate leaders — who expect their 40 members to unite against the debt limit increase and force Democrats to find the necessary 60 votes on their own — are eager to have a protracted amendment process on the floor.

“My guess is that we will try to offer some amendments to [the increase] because I think it’ll be a good opportunity for us to have a debate on spending and borrowing, and that’s obviously a debate that we want to engage in,” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), No. 4 in the GOP leadership.

To read the entire article go to http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28586.html

I went to the library today and took out a few books about Publishing and Literary Agents.

It’s important to do some research before you start working on your Query Letters.

First of all you need to figure out what genre your book is in.

From what I’ve been reading, the number one reason your Query is being tossed is because you are sending them to the wrong kind of Literary Agency or Publisher.

They are pretty specific in what they want. Under Submission’s is the companies guidelines.

One wants your manuscript’s Font in Courier New, another wants it in Times New Roman.

Guess what?

Send in the wrong Font, and automatically your manuscript is thrown into the garbage.

Why?

Because you didn’t follow one simple rule.

In short, a Literary Agent doesn’t want to work with someone who cannot follow guidelines and do as they are told.

Next is the tone of your Query Letter.

Are you coming across as blatantly naive, or stupid in your estimation of how “GREAT” you are as a writer?

Did you just say my family and friends read this book and they think it’s really great?

So what!

The agent can sniff a rookie by a mile.

You want to be professional in the way you present yourself.

So do some much needed research, for at least a week or two BEFORE you write your Query letter.

When deciding which Literary Agent to Query – Figure out what they want, who they have dealt with in the past and what they are looking for.

Don’t waste their time or yours.

We don’t like rejection letters, but they are going to be a part of a writer’s life.

Some agencies are looking for polished manuscripts, one’s that will not require an editor.

They don’t care how WONDERFUL your script is, if it’s going to cost them x amount of dollars to publish, it will be tossed in the garbage.

You have just wasted your time and theirs.

I think in my case, I know I’m going to need an editor, so I’m frustrated at what the Literary Agents guidelines are so far.

My idea to put my book in a Romance category, was destroyed today when I found out what is required to be classified as a ROMANCE book.

So now I must do more research, find my genre, then I have to find a Literary Agent that WANTS my genre of writing.

Once I find a Literary Agent, I have to follow every instruction on their website to the finest detail.

If they ask for a one paragraph synopsis with a Query Letter, that is all I can send.

Most are asking for a quick email and they give instructions what to put in the subject line of the email, who to address it to, and what information should be in there.

***Tip of the day – According to Kristin Nelson (who owns a Literary Agency and sells manuscripts) – A Literary Agent only reads the first 10 lines of your first paragraph in an email. If you catch their interest they finish reading the rest of it. If you don’t, you are deleted, or rejected.***

To see Kritin’s site “Pub Rant’s” click here…

Jerry Lewis -
Scene From Who’S Minding The Store

Inspirado por el deseo del rey Alfonso XIII de construir un hotel de lujo que estuviera a la altura del Ritz de París, el Hotel Ritz de Madrid, inaugurado en 1910, comparte con sus homónimos de París y Londres la reputación de ser uno de los hoteles más majestuosos de Europa. El hotel se diseñó y construyó bajo la supervisión personal del legendario hotelero Cesar Ritz, de quien adoptó el nombre.El Ritz ha desempeñado un papel esencial en la vida de Madrid durante el último siglo. Aún hoy, el hotel persiste como un punto de atracción clave para muchos visitantes de esta capital europea.

A principios del siglo pasado, el rey Alfonso XIII volvía de sus viajes por Europa con el recuerdo de los palacios que había visitado impreso en la memoria. Madrid era una ciudad de intensa vitalidad, con edificios soberbios y hermosos jardines. Sin embargo, de un modo u otro le faltaba algo. El Rey fue el primero en ser consciente de cuánto ganaría la ciudad si contara con un gran hotel de lujo de la misma categoría del Ritz de París o Londres.

Se puso manos a la obra y no perdió tiempo en poner estas ideas en práctica. Madrid debía ofrecer a sus visitantes algo realmente extraordinario: un hotel que pudiera satisfacer el gusto más refinado de un nuevo tipo de viajero, que sólo por aquel entonces empezaba a conocerse como “turista”.

El sueño del monarca comenzó a hacerse realidad. La edificación del Ritz -grandioso, luminoso y confortable- había comenzado con el respaldo de la Compañía de Desarrollo Ritz. Charles Mewes, de París, y Luis de Landecho, de Madrid, fueron los arquitectos responsables. En poco tiempo, las paredes del futuro hotel sobrepasaban ya las magnolias, los cedros y las acacias del Prado.

Lo último en comodidad y lujo en aquella época era contar con cuatro o cinco cuartos de baño en cada planta del hotel. Con instalaciones como éstas, el Ritz se convirtió de inmediato en uno de los hoteles más lujosos del mundo. Había un teléfono por piso junto al ascensor, el cual también estaba considerado como un ejemplo sublime del lujo moderno.

Actualmente, el Hotel Ritz mantiene estas tradiciones, aunque los baños y teléfonos son estándar en todas las habitaciones, las cuales cuentan además con conexiones Wireless de alta velocidad a Internet.

A su vez el  Restaurante Goya es cita obligada para los paladares más exigentes, el té de media tarde en el Lobby Bar, un almuerzo o cena en La Terraza disfrutando de los increíbles jardines unido a un discreto pero atento servicio, hacen de los Restaurantes y Bar del Ritz los lugares más exclusivos de Madrid. 

Para terminar, destacar la fabulosa ubicación del Hotel,  un auténtico lujo por si misma. El Hotel Ritz está situado entre el Parque del Retiro, el Teatro de la Zarzuela y los tres museos más importantes de Madrid: el Prado, el Thyssen Bornemisza y el Centro de Arte Moderno Reina Sofía.

El hotel se encuentra situado en pleno centro financiero de la capital, a escasos metros de la Bolsa de Madrid, y a 5 minutos a pie del casco histórico.

Sin lugar a duda, el deseo del rey Alfonso XIII de crear un hotel majestuoso se vió cumplido.

Durante casi cien años, el Hotel Ritz Madrid ha dado la bienvenida a las personalidades más representativas de todos los ámbitos: cultura, arte, política, ciencia, moda… El Libro de Oro del Hotel se ha convertido en testigo y testimonio importante de ello.

Esta es una pequeña muestra de algunos de los clientes ilustres del pasado y del presente que han firmado en nuestro Libro de Oro: Rey Alfonso XIII y la Reina Victoria Eugenia ,El Emperador Haile Selassie de Etiopía ,El Rey Jaled de Arabia Saudí , La Reina Sonia de Noruega , El Príncipe de Gales y la Princesa Diana , El Príncipe Raniero y la Princesa Gracia de Mónaco , El Príncipe Naruhito de Japón , El Rey Mohammed VI , El Maharaja de Kapurthala , El Príncipe Ernst August de Hannover , Margaret Thatcher , Fidel Castro , Mijail Gorbachov , Eva Peron , President Jaques Chirac , Kofi Annan , Vladimir Putin , Matta Hari , Romano Prodi , Yaser Arafat , Helmut Kohl , Tony Blair , President Bill Clinton , Nelson Mandela, Herbert von Karajan, Sir George Solti , Cher, Placido Domingo, Marc Anthony , Ana Belen , Madonna , Julio Iglesias , Frank Sinatra, Sting , Arthur Rubinstein , Jennifer Lopez , Elton John , Tina Turner , Brian Ferry , Lorin Maazel , Paul McCartney, Salvador Dali , Alberto Maravia , Fernando Botero, Catherine Deneuve , Sofia Loren , Michael Caine , Pierce Brosnan , Mel Gibson , George Clooney , Milos Forman , Salma Hayek , Nicole Kidman , Ridley Scott , Brad Pitt , Jerry Lewis , Tom Cruise , Monica Bellucci , Dennis Quaid , Sylvester Stallone , Jeremy Irons , Penelope Cruz , Morgan Freeman , Will Smith , Emma Thompson , Harrison Ford , Mel Brooks, Laurence Olivier ,Lesley Howard , Richard Burton , Ava Gardner , Woody Allen , Richard Gere , Roger Moore , Melanie Griffith , Zsa Zsa Gabor ,  Antonio Banderas , Julia Roberts , Henry Fonda , Ben Stiller , Jennifer Connelly , James Stewart , Holly Hunter , Dustin Hoffman , Michelle Pfeiffer , Jodie Foster , Burt Lancaster ,Anthony Hopkins , Marcello Mastroianni , Orson Welles, Alexander Fleming , Christina Onassis , Ivan Trump, David Delfin , Dolce & Gabana , Salvatore Ferraga , Manolo Blanhik , John Galiano.

Más información: http://www.ritz.es/web/orit_es/hotel_ritz_madrid.jsp

Dan Mitrione was a CIA torturer whose motto was “The precise pain, in the precise place, in the precise amount, for the desired effect.”

He ‘taught torture techniques to Uruguayan police in the cellar of his Montevideo home, including the use of electrical shocks delivered to his victims’ mouths and genitals.’ 

He was, to use a religious term ‘evil’ to say the least.

He was  also “A trainer in torture classes given to Brazilian police in Belo Horizonte, he led “practical demonstrations” of torture techniques using prisoners and beggars taken off the streets. According to a former student, Mitrione has insisted, in agreement with the CIA manual, that effective torture was science”

This was clearly a demented man. But, we should also be aware that he was following CIA manuals. Or as I like to call them, those ‘Cunts In America’. 

He was also in the Dominican Republic in 1965 doing the same thing.

He also ”helped train foreign police agents in the United States in the context of the Cold War. It has been alleged that he used homeless people for training purposes, who were allegedly executed once they had served their purpose”

USA! USA! USA!

“As the use of torture grew and the tensions in Uruguay escalated, Mitrione was eventually kidnapped by the Tupamaros on July 31, 1970. They proceeded to interrogate him about his past and the intervention of the U.S. government in Latin American affairs. They also demanded the release of 150 political prisoners. The Uruguayan government, with U.S. backing, refused, and Mitrione was later found dead in a car, shot twice in the head and with no other visible signs of maltreatment (beyond the fact that, during the kidnapping, Mitrione had been shot in one shoulder—for which he had evidently been treated while in captivity).”

Los Tupamaros  though had apparently, according to Raul Sendric (leader of Los Tupamaros) had no intention of killing Dan Mitrione  ”…the man who led the Tupamaros says the guerrillas had not planned to kill Mr. Mitrione but that it had occurred because of a breakdown in communications after Uruguayan security forces captured the leaders, who were unable to send instructions to those holding him.”

True justice is now being served in Uruguay with a strong leftist leadership and a (hopefully) soon to be elected Tupamaro leader.  And strong peaceful movements are underway right throughout Latin America.

As I like to say – everything comes full circle.

The US continues to torture people throughout the world though and it’s imperialistic march continues, drenched in so much blood – as we all now know.

Upon this evil mans death, Richard Nixon said that his “devoted service to the cause of peaceful progress in an orderly world will remain as an example for free men everywhere”

And Frank Sinatra and Jerry Lewis held a benefit concert for his family.

Axis of weasels.

Frank Sinatra                          Dan Mitrione                       Jerry Lewis 

Rep. Jerry Lewis Gives Goldman Sachs Gold-Coated Pork.  Although we often point out that Goldman Sachs was Obama’s number one Wall Street supporter, Goldman Sachs owns Republicans, too:
A mining company owned by Goldman Sachs and two private equity funds is in line to get a $3 million earmark for work at a rare earth elements mine in Mountain Pass, Calif. — raising questions as to why Congress would take on some of the risk for a bailed-out investment giant that’s already making a profit.

Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) inserted the earmark for the mine into the House Defense appropriations bill, and backers say it’s a legitimate national security concern. The military needs rare earth elements, and China — which is rich in them — has threatened to cut off exports.

I was deeply saddened to read that a superstar like Randy Quaid has had to resort to robbing innkeepers to make it through life. Even worse, he apparently drags his wife Evi along for these excursions.

(The Quaids before their lives went to shit.) 

Let me start with the most obvious observation. I am more than a little pissed off that Randy’s brother Dennis isn’t leading the charge to help his older, slightly retarded, brother. Dennis is flat out loaded so you would think he could buy Randy a trailer or something. 

Nonetheless, I am taking this cause on myself. Screw Dennis. To start, I am trying to reach out to Jerry Lewis to see if he would be willing to host some kind of telethon. Let’s be honest, he should be doing more than one a year anyway. 

I am also trying to put together a food drive so at least Randy and Evi can eat on a regular basis. I don’t have the logistics worked out, but I will be asking for you to send in food. Obviously, Randy is a superstar and can’t be eating crap like canned corn or a can of mysterious “beef stew”. (Sure, I bet there is a ton of beef in that can). 

No, he will need more of a surf and turf kind of menu. So please, put aside a little pate and caviar so Randy doesn’t have to eat like a peasant. Randy also strikes me as a guy that indulges in the drink a little so a fine scotch or bourbon would also be welcomed. (No PBR or Schlitz Malt Liquor will be accepted.) 

Also, to be totally honest, Randy hasn’t been in an excellent movie since The Adventures of Pluto Nash way back in 2002. If you know any directors or producers, could you please put in a good word for Randy? No one and I mean no one, plays the lovable drunk loser better than Randy. Sure, he is not really acting but it still counts. 

It is a tragedy when a national icon like Randy Quaid has to stoop to this level just to make ends meet. How can this happen in my country? Where is Obamacare for Randy? Where is his bailout? What’s next, Tom Hanks sleeping in a trashcan? Where will it all end? 

Please, for the love of all that is holy, let’s help this man. Stop giving all of your money to Sarah McLachlan to “save the poor animals”. Screw them…we have a genuine hero that needs our help. For probably $2.12 a week, you can feed the Quaid family. Won’t you help…please?

Una volta si poteva fare pubblicità alle sigarette. Bei tempi quelli, quando non si aveva paura delle favole raccontate dagli oncologi e dagli pneumoterapeuti.

Negli anni ‘50, quando Doc Emmett Brown chiedeva a Marty McFly arrivato dal 1985…

“Allora dimmi, ragazzo del futuro, chi è il Presidente degli Stati Uniti nel 1985?”
“Ronald Reagan…”
“Ronald Reagan? L’attore? Eh! E il vicepresidente chi è? Jerry Lewis?”

che poi non sarebbe tanto diverso se, mettiamo caso, qualcuno di noi tornasse indietro di poco meno di trent’anni…

“Allora dimmi, ragazzo del futuro, chi è il Presidente del consiglio nel 2009?”
“Silvio Berlusconi…”
“Silvio Berlusconi? L’affiliato alla p2? Eh! E il capogruppo del partito di maggioranza chi è? Cicchitto?”

Ad ogni modo, a quei tempi, negli anni ‘50, nessuno avrebbe sospettato che Ronnie sarebbe diventato uno dei presidenti più importanti della storia degli Stati Uniti d’America.  Noi non siamo tipi da revisionismo: certamente Reagan non aveva grandi qualità d’attore. Ad ogni modo, fu un ottimo reclamizzatore. E oggi, riguardando i cartelloni pubblicitari dell’epoca, non possiamo far altro che invitarvi a riflettere. Quando comprate delle sigarette scegliete bene. Scegliete Chesterfield! E regalatele anche ai vostri amici!

Nota: la Philip Morris (oggi Altria group) non ha cacciato assolutamente un centesimo per questa pubblicità. Questo si chiama volontariato.

September 18, 1954
St. Petersburg Times

Jerry Lewis Now
Expert On Daytime TV

HOLLYWOOD—It took yellow jaundice and 30 days in bed but Jerry Lewis is now an expert on daytime television.

The famed zanier half of the Martin and Lewis team now recovering from his illness, estimated that he watched television 20 hours a day “including test patterns.”

“I learned how to baste a pot roast and also 78 different ways of murdering my wife,” says Jerry.

“I also saw a talent show in which an accordian player didn’t win first prize,” he adds.  He said he watched so many quiz shows that he thinks he will produce one of his own.

“It will be called ‘Stop the Money.’  We’ll give away music.”

The weather shows also are great.

“I’m lying in a bed in Southern California and the forecaster tells me rain is expected in New Hampshire.  Nothing about Southern California.”

Jerry got so starved for good daytime entertainment that Dean Martin made a rare and free appearance on a local afternoon disc jockey show just so he could entertain his sick partner.

Is is just me ? or does Werner Goldberg look like Jerry Lewis ?
And what about Horst Geitner ? Richard Benjamin, right ?

The riddle of the Andrews Sisters’ recording contract is still unsolved.  The girls have split professionally, but Decca has a contract binding them individually as well as in the trio form.  Patti Andrews, currently crooning on her own, is a valuable property, but no word from Decca on whether they’ll record her by herself.    (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Bette Davis and family were in the path of hurricane Carol as it swept through New England and with trees falling and home threatened, they had to vacate in a hurry.  We don’t have hurricanes in California—just earthquakes.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Life stories of famous singers on LP records probably will be the next disc trend thanks to the fabulous reception Bing’s album—at $27.50 a copy—is getting.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Cecil B. De Mille escorted his daughter, Cecilia, to the premiere, and she goes with him to Egypt September 19 for his new picture, “The Ten Commandments.”  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Claudette Colbert’s eagle-eyeing of the scripts on her TV debut shows is giving the ad lads headaches.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Dana Andrews won an oscar for his radio show, “I Was a Communist for the FBI.”  The American Legion auxiliary presented him with a gold mike for his public service.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Gloria De Haven is peeved at Marilyn Maxwell for being a copy cat, she says.  Both gals divest themselves of their dresses during their nitery acts.  The only excuse for either is the hot weather.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Elaine Stewart is reported in love with this guy and that, but her heart belongs to textile tycoon Bob Evans, who was visiting here recently from New York.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Sam McDaniels, brother of late actress Hattie McDaniels, is hiring lawyers to determine what happened to over $250,000 she made in the movies that was reduced to nothing at the time of her death.  (Jet Magazine, 09-09-1954)

Caught Jack Webb waiting to go on TV.  He said he wasn’t thinking of marriage to Dorothy Towne—”until my divorce is final in November.”  But the way he read the line and looked at Dorothy, he didn’t fool me, let alone Sergeant Friday.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Janet Leigh must have been poured into her white Venetian lace fishskin-tight, high neck gown.  She bought it from her last picture, “Rouge Cop.”  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

My boy, Jerry Lewis, is financing bandleader Buddy Rich, in his solo P.A. tour  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Joe Di Maggio has a definite date in the East for the World Series.  But as of now, the guy going with Marilyn Monroe to New York, for location with her movie, is Roy Kraft in the Twentieth Century-Fox publicity department.  Someone has to keep the New York wolves away.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Not that Johnny Desmond has been guaranteed the starring role in the screen biography of Russ Columbo, the only remaining mystery about the picture is how the drumbeaters are going to explain to the vast army of moviegoers under 45 who Russ Columbo was and why they should be fascinated with his life story.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Katy Jurado wore a matador’s heavily embroidered coat, complete with crucifix, for the flashy premiere of “The Egyptian.”  She bought it in Spain . . . And Bella Darvi, the Babylonian menace in the film, twoed with Brad Dexter, who was married for a short spat to Peggy Lee.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Lester Young, the sax king, is superstitious.  He will not make a recording date on Friday, the 13th, which was the reason he quit Count Basie’s band 16 years ago.  (Jet Magazine, 09-16-1954)

Lillian Gish, who returns to the screen in “Night of the Hunter,” says picture making is not so different from the old days, except then every director wanted to act, and now every actor wants to direct.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Lucky Millinder’s estranged wife, Clara, and Bob Turner, the fabulous merchant seaman who returns from trips with perfumes and silks, are past the hand-holding stage.  (Jet Magazine, 09-16-1954)

Night Club Gossipers:  Actress Louise Beavers appears to be sharing friendly gossip at Hollywood’s Trocadero with an old friend, wealthy ex Ziegfeld Follies girl Mrs. Ethel Weiss (l.) and blues singer Dana Leslie, protege of pianist-composer Eddie Beal.  Trio attended club debut of band leader Louis Jordan.  (Jet Magazine, 09-09-1954)

Nat King Cole may co-star in a spy movie.  In Hollywood, producer Walter Wanger revealed that he is “considering” co-starring famed crooner-pianist Nat (King) Cole in a forthcoming movie opposite either Humphrey Bogart or James Cagney in a spy thriller.  (Jet Magazine, 09-16-1954)

The Rev. E. J. Cole of Chicago will pay his first visit to a night club Oct. 28 when he occupies a table of honor at the Copacabana when his son, Nat King, stars in the floor show.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)
 

Kissed by night club singer Billy Daniels, Hollywood glamour queen Marlene Dietrich blissfully closes eyes to return buss.  The singer’s torrid rendition of Old Black Magic is actress’ favorite tune.  Billy is currently at Hollywood club.  (Jet Magazine, 09-16-1954)

Pals are urging Martha Raye to take an extensive rest.  Her collapse during the Atlantic City night-club engagement has them worried, and so has her incessant offstage go-go-go.  They feel she’s ebullient enough as a performer, should coast when there isn’t an audience.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Pearl Bailey is training for her big role in “House of Flowers” harder than Marciano is training for Charles.  She’s dropped 22 pounds in three months and expects to shed eight more by opening night.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Shirley Temple can return to pictures any time she wants to.  She received the biggest hand from the bleacher fans.  Her husband, Charlie Black, is handsome enough to be a movie star.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Almost overlooked at the star-studded premiere was Simone Silva, escorted by Chuck McArthur.  “I start my first picture in Hollywood, ‘The Sicilian,’ next month,” she told me.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

“How d’ye like my guy?” Sonja Henie asked.  I did a double take and there was Superman—George Reeves—on her arm.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Imagine Ty Power’s astonishment, not to mention chagrin, when he was asked to grow a beard for his latest picture, “The Untamed,” and the hair on his chinny chin chin came out snow white!  The makeup department took care of nature.  (Pittsburgh Post -Gazette, 09-11-1954)

Yul Brynner left “The King and I” in Denver to return to Colorado for more plastic surgery on the nose he injured last year.  He hopes to rejoin the company in Iowa.  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

Yul Brynner, after that operation on his nose, phoned to say he looks like a Mongolian Rocky Marciano.  He’ll probably still be wearing the bandages when he opens in “The King and I” in Des Moines this week.  . . . plans for next year, Yul said, “When I finish ‘The Ten Commandments,’ I would like to go back to directing and leave the acting to others.”  (Toledo Blade, Sep. 12, 1954)

I LOVE classic movies.  When a new one is released on DVD or shows up at the local rep theatre, my excitement is palpable.  People always ask me if I have Turner Classic Movies in my cable selection and I tell them that if I did, I would never leave the house (the other side of that coin is that due to my…’involvement’ with a local video store that has one of the largest rental collections in Canada, from whom I receive free rentals, we only have basic cable, which doesn’t include TCM).  Now, when I say ‘classic’, I don’t mean The Breakfast Club or Happy Gilmore.  I don’t even mean The Godfather or Rocky.  I mean black and white.  I mean movies that are older than your parents (in some cases, your grandparents).  I get all aflutter over movies with Errol Flynn, Jean Arthur and Cary Grant in them.  I become giddy as a schoolgirl when I think of movies directed by Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford and Preston Sturges.  I actually know who Zasu Pitts, Franklin Pangborn and Edward Everett Horton are…and I like them!  When I say, “They don’t make them like they used to”, I mean it.  But my excitement came to a screeching halt a few weeks ago, thanks to an article in ‘Canada’s newsmagazine’, Maclean’s. 

On August 6, Maclean’s published an article entitled “Say goodbye to big screen classics”, (http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/08/06/say-goodbye-to-big-screen-classics/) which espoused the theory that classic movies on DVD would become as rare as the dodo, or a Toronto sports team winning a championship.  Through interviews with a smattering of highly placed studio execs, the story developed that studios, due to a downturn in sales, would be virtually discontinuing the release of classics, other than huge hits like The Wizard Of Oz and Gone With the Wind.  Even a ’boutique’ distribution company like Criterion would be paring back their schedule with more of a focus on modern film.  Well, I have a word or three to say on this…

I work in the trenches, retail trenches, that is.  As the sole person in charge of the ordering for one of the largest video stores in Canada (8,000 titles for rent, 10,000 titles for sale when the average Rogers and Blockbuster carries 1000-1500), I have a daily view into the soul of the DVD consumer and most of the time I don’t like what I see.  There has always and will always be crap.  The term ‘B movie’ came from the time when you went to the theatre for the evening, and saw two movies, the ‘big’ title, an ‘A’ title and a lower budget (and usually quality) ‘B’ title.  So yes, there will always be the Adam Sandler fan (don’t think he’s the first to make a fortune from lower-brow comedy…before him there was Chevy Chase, Jerry Lewis, Don Knotts, Lucille Ball, Arthur Lake (Blondie), Three Stooges and Fatty Arbuckle). 

It seems clear to me though that the quality of these classics are much higher than what today’s studios are putting out.  I don’t know if it’s the old studio ‘contract’ system which basically forced most actors and crew to appear in or work on whatever the studio heads told them to.  There wasn’t any of the script readings by actors and agents to decide if the potential movie fit his or her image (the studio head told YOU what fit your image).  You were on a weekly salary and you did what the bosses told you (which doesn’t sound all that different from my job, except for the pay scale).  A real difference is that while the Warners, David Selznick and Harry Cohn were businessmen first, they knew and loved movies while today’s execs are mostly MBA graduates who think that the French New Wave is Depeche Mode.  William Goldman famously said that in Hollywood, no one knows anything and that is more true today than ever. 

Yes, I admit that there is some good stuff coming out of Hollywood today (this year alone we’ve so far had Up, (500) Days of Summer, Away We Go, Inglourious Basterds and District 9) but most of this is coming from independent filmmakers or those who work outside the system with that system’s blessing.  I’ve already written a blog on the death of Hollywood (http://argento2665.wordpress.com/2009/05/30/the-blockbuster-and-the-death-of-hollywood/) so I don’t want to get back on that soapbox but I can’t help but think these issues are intrinsically tied together.  If we don’t learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it and if someone removes that history, we have nothing to learn from.  Classic DVD’s are that history and I would hate to see a day when I’m forced to resort to trading with other movie buffs on the information superhighway for a fourth generation VHS dub of Sullivan’s Travels (a movie about movies that will change the way you think about movies).  I fear though that day is closer than we all think.