29 May 2013

what

Tom Beckett writes is profound.
it makes me laugh.
& want to love.

whenever I have an answer 
I go to him to find the question.

28 May 2013

"The Grass Harp"

Joe Brainard did this cover for one of my favorite original cast albums.



I never saw the musical which lastd only 7 performances on Broadway. but I've nearly worn out this album. not only does it preserve something of Russ Thacker but it also captures the legendary musical theater careers of Barbara Cook & Karen Morrow. & for good measure there's Max Showalter.

27 May 2013

Russ Thacker (1946-2012)

sometimes I wander around the net sans intention & learn all manner of new things. this afternoon I discoverd that this fine actor died 5 months ago.




I first saw him in summer stock opposite Gene Kelly in 1974.  the following year I saw him again opposite Yul Brynner in San Francisco. & in 1976 I saw him in summer stock opposite Vincent Price. but perhaps my happiest memory of him is on the original cast album of "The Grass Harp."

he had the kind of looks which cd melt me & the talent to be a much bigger star than he was. apparently he retired to Wilton Manors with his long-time partner John Olund. the local obit used his real name -- Aubrey Lee Thacker Jr.  either the national press faild to pick up notice of his passing or I was asleep thru the end of last year.  but on this Memorial Day when I always spend time thinking of lost ones I tip my hat to the handsome Mr. Thacker who gave me many pleasant moments over the years.

Memorial Day

from Alex in Movieland:

1975

brews sangria & grills chicken wings for his Memorial Day party

1976
marks Memorial Day by seeing Anthony Perkins & Keith McDermott in a Broadway matinee & Gwen Verdon & Chita Rivera at nite

1977
travels to Elyria to spend Memorial Day weekend with his parents

1980
signs sales agreement for James Price’s Morris Rd. property on Memorial Day

1981
receives Memorial Day calls from Alan Dalton & Lois Wilson

1983
hosts Memorial Day party with guests including his parents   3 Leeds   3 Tyrrells   2 Waidas & Ray Ownby

1988
celebrates Memorial Day by attending Hartville flea market with Dug Funnell   Michael Pierce & Dimitri followd by lunch at The Pantry

1994
sees “The Crow” with Dimitri on Memorial Day

1997
spends Memorial Day at Wild Thymes where he weeds Nancy Metcalf's mint bed & reads manuscript of Paul's "The Wonderful White Whale of Kansas"

1998
wears Jay Parsell's belt while unfolding panels from the AIDS quilt as part of opening ceremony for its Memorial Day weekend exhibition at Santa Fe Community College

2007
celebrates J. Eliseo Vigil’s 53rd birthday with a Memorial Day pizza party at Greg Teakle’s

2008
marks Memorial Day by employing his father’s Canton hand trowel to transplant a sapling

2010
wears his father’s Bermuda shorts to join Darryl Grimm to celebrate Memorial Day with a barbeque at Gary Sielaff’s

2013

sees “Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie” on Memorial Day