For some reason, in 1963, Films and Filming magazine asked “a representative selection of British, American and Continental producers, directors and actors what, in their opinion, has been the most significant trend of the past eight years and what they hope will be the most significant trend in the years ahead.” Here are how some of them replied:
Here is the first installment of the John and Yoko 1970 Calendar. The first page had brief “autobiographical sketches” and after that it’s on with the year.
Beginning of the beginning
Posted in apple records, music, years after the event
As the blur reunion picks up steam (God, that Graham Coxon has got to be the worst dressed pop star of all time and one of the more irrititating), here’s Damon Albarn and Justine Frischmann. She’s more or less residing in the where-are-they-now file (Colorado really).
Posted in cute couple alert, music
Because I have been fixated on this recording of “Rock Around with Ollie Vee” for the past few days, Buddy Holly. Innovator, Life long smoker (though he only lived to twenty-two), singer-songwriter, rock and roller.
Here’s an seemingly rare favorable review for the last film that the great Preston Sturges directed, Les Carnets du Major Thompson aka The Diary of Major Thompson aka The French, They Are a Funny Race (you know, the more titles a film has, the better it generally is). By 1955, the year of this film’s release in France, Sturges was living in greatly reduced circumstances (compared to his Hollywood heyday) in Paris where someone (I forget the particulars but I’ll sort them out and add an update) allowed him to direct this film. It did nothing to restore his career. This surprisingly kind review appeared in the January 1958 issue of Films and Filming. Sturges fan that I am, I am somewhat embarrassed to report that this is his one film that I have not yet been able to see (if anyone out there knows how I can check this one out please make me aware), but it is usually dismissed as an unfortunate final act to an otherwise (more or less) great career.
Posted in cinema, context, dig the critics, Sturges
Plastic Ono Band “Give Peace a Chance” July, 1969.
I hope you’re all sitting down while reading this because I have a major announcement to make. Just today I received in the mail a copy of a 1970 John and Yoko wall calendar (got on ebay) and I fully plan on posting one page (representing one month) per week for the next thirteen weeks (yes, the calendar has thirteen months, the last of which is a blank grid that the owner was encouraged to fill out himself). Seeing as how this calendar was originally included in the first run of the Plastic Ono Band’s Live Peace LP and is therefore 12″x 12″, it is a touch too large for my cheap scanner to handle. Fear not, I have access to a larger scanner and will do the scanning tomorrow. You all will feel like it’s 1970 on some level or other within a day or so. To hold you over, study this beautiful ad and 45 cover.
Posted in apple records, context, music, on your sleeve, years after the event
Piece: (Beautifully mounted and framed) Postcards sent by Joe Keaton to his cousin Alva Keaton while traveling the vaudeville circuit.
Where: The Buster Keaton Museum in Piqua, Kansas.
Posted in cinema, museum piece
chained and perfumed 
