"Elvis has left the building."
from The New Zealand Herald:
Al Dvorin, famous for using the phrase "Elvis has left the building" at the end of the singer's shows, has died.
Dvorin died in a car accident as he and well-known Elvis photographer Ed Bonja drove from Palm Springs to Las Vegas.
He was thrown from the car and died at the scene, Elvis.com said.
Though details of the accident were not clear, it seemed Dvorin was adjusting his seat belt or had dropped something, and that Bonja reached over to assist and lost control of the car, the website added.
Earlier in the day, Mr Dvorin - aged 81 - had appeared at the Trump 29 Casino in Coachella, California, with Elvis impersonator Paul Casey, The Melbourne Herald Sun reported.
His catch-phrase was used by other announcers at Elvis shows, but Dvorin made it his own.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Film Composers
We often hear about our favorite movie stars passing away, but only occasionally do we hear about the loss of film composers. The last month has seen the passing of three of the greatest film composers of all time.
Elmer Bernstein died last Wednesday the 18th at age 82. Bernstein composed the scores for over 250 films and television shows. He had so many classic themes that everyone recognizes immediately, The Magnificent Seven being perhaps the most famous.
Bernstein first gained recognition for incorporating jazz elements into his scores for such films as The Man With The Golden Arm and The Sweet Smell Of Success, but he was also known for creating melodic themes for sweeping epics such as The Ten Commandments and The Great Escape. He could also create tender, intimate scores for films such as To Kill A Mocking Bird, The Birdman Of Alcatraz and Hud.
Bernstein also created memorable TV themes such as for the National Geographic Specials and Gunsmoke. After the success of The Magnificent Seven, he was enlisted to compose for many westerns, often starring John Wayne, including The Sons Of Katie Elder, True Grit, and The Shootist.
Late in his career, Bernstein composed themes for a number of now-classic comedies, including Meatballs, The Blues Brothers, Caddyshack, Trading Places, and Ghostbusters. He also composed the mysterious incidental music for Michael Jackson’s Thriller video.
Elmer Bernstein was nominated for Oscar awards 14 times, but won only once, ironically for Thoroughly Modern Millie, which was mostly an adaptation of music from other composers.
(National Public Radio had a nice retrospective.)
David Raksin is not a name most people recognize, but you have surely heard his music before. Raksin began his career in the mid-1930s, the golden age of film music, and he composed for such memorable films as The Bad And The Beautiful, Suddenly, and Pat and Mike. His most famous theme, however, will always be 1944’s Laura.
David Raksin died August 9 of heart failure. He was 92.
Jerry Goldsmith, who passed away July 22 at age 75, was one of my favorite film composers. The prolific Goldsmith composed over 300 scores for film and television and it is hard to underestimate his influence on the industry. There are no words fit to describe the profound impact of Mr. Goldsmith’s work, so I’ll simply offer a summary list highlighting his credits and let you “ooh” and “ah” for yourself.
Television: The Twilight Zone, The Fugitive, Perry Mason, Raw Hide, Dr. Kildare, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, The Waltons, Barnaby Jones, Police Story, Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, and many more.
Movies: Lonely Are The Brave, Lilies Of The Field, The List Of Adrian Messenger, Seven Days In May, Von Ryan’s Express, A Patch Of Blue, In Harm’s Way, Agony And The Ecstasy, The Sand Pebbles, Seconds, Our Man Flint, Bandolero!, Patton, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Papillon, Chinatown, The Wind And The Lion, Logan’s Run, The Omen, Islands In The Stream, Coma, Capricorn One, The Boys From Brazil, Magic, Alien, Outland, Poltergeist, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Under Fire, The Secret Of Nimh, First Blood (Rambo), Gremlins, Legend, Hoosiers, Innerspace, Rent-A-Cop, Wall Street, Total Recall, Medicine Man, Basic Instinct, Six Degrees Of Separation, Rudy, L.A. Confidential, Air Force One, Mulan, The Mummy, and on and on and on…
He also wrote the “Fanfare for Oscar” for The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (we hear it every Oscars broadcast) and the fanfare Universal Pictures, which we hear when we see the spinning globe before their movies.
My favorite score of Mr. Goldsmith’s, besides Alien and Poltergeist, has to be his most revered classic, Planet Of The Apes. Ask any young musician writing for films today and they will surely tell you that Planet Of The Apes was one of the films that inspired them to become a composer. Goldsmith broke all the rules by creating a 12-tone soundscape with non-traditional percussion (beating on pots and pans!) to evoke an odd, primitive view of an alien world. For freaky, spine-chilling effect, it simply hasn’t been topped.
Jerry Goldsmith was nominated for Oscars 17 times, and won only once, for The Omen.
(NPR also had an appreciation for Jerry Goldsmith, and you can hear the Main Title for Planet Of The Apes here.)
We often hear about our favorite movie stars passing away, but only occasionally do we hear about the loss of film composers. The last month has seen the passing of three of the greatest film composers of all time.
Elmer Bernstein died last Wednesday the 18th at age 82. Bernstein composed the scores for over 250 films and television shows. He had so many classic themes that everyone recognizes immediately, The Magnificent Seven being perhaps the most famous.
Bernstein first gained recognition for incorporating jazz elements into his scores for such films as The Man With The Golden Arm and The Sweet Smell Of Success, but he was also known for creating melodic themes for sweeping epics such as The Ten Commandments and The Great Escape. He could also create tender, intimate scores for films such as To Kill A Mocking Bird, The Birdman Of Alcatraz and Hud.
Bernstein also created memorable TV themes such as for the National Geographic Specials and Gunsmoke. After the success of The Magnificent Seven, he was enlisted to compose for many westerns, often starring John Wayne, including The Sons Of Katie Elder, True Grit, and The Shootist.
Late in his career, Bernstein composed themes for a number of now-classic comedies, including Meatballs, The Blues Brothers, Caddyshack, Trading Places, and Ghostbusters. He also composed the mysterious incidental music for Michael Jackson’s Thriller video.
Elmer Bernstein was nominated for Oscar awards 14 times, but won only once, ironically for Thoroughly Modern Millie, which was mostly an adaptation of music from other composers.
(National Public Radio had a nice retrospective.)
David Raksin is not a name most people recognize, but you have surely heard his music before. Raksin began his career in the mid-1930s, the golden age of film music, and he composed for such memorable films as The Bad And The Beautiful, Suddenly, and Pat and Mike. His most famous theme, however, will always be 1944’s Laura.
David Raksin died August 9 of heart failure. He was 92.
Jerry Goldsmith, who passed away July 22 at age 75, was one of my favorite film composers. The prolific Goldsmith composed over 300 scores for film and television and it is hard to underestimate his influence on the industry. There are no words fit to describe the profound impact of Mr. Goldsmith’s work, so I’ll simply offer a summary list highlighting his credits and let you “ooh” and “ah” for yourself.
Television: The Twilight Zone, The Fugitive, Perry Mason, Raw Hide, Dr. Kildare, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, The Waltons, Barnaby Jones, Police Story, Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, and many more.
Movies: Lonely Are The Brave, Lilies Of The Field, The List Of Adrian Messenger, Seven Days In May, Von Ryan’s Express, A Patch Of Blue, In Harm’s Way, Agony And The Ecstasy, The Sand Pebbles, Seconds, Our Man Flint, Bandolero!, Patton, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Papillon, Chinatown, The Wind And The Lion, Logan’s Run, The Omen, Islands In The Stream, Coma, Capricorn One, The Boys From Brazil, Magic, Alien, Outland, Poltergeist, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Under Fire, The Secret Of Nimh, First Blood (Rambo), Gremlins, Legend, Hoosiers, Innerspace, Rent-A-Cop, Wall Street, Total Recall, Medicine Man, Basic Instinct, Six Degrees Of Separation, Rudy, L.A. Confidential, Air Force One, Mulan, The Mummy, and on and on and on…
He also wrote the “Fanfare for Oscar” for The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (we hear it every Oscars broadcast) and the fanfare Universal Pictures, which we hear when we see the spinning globe before their movies.
My favorite score of Mr. Goldsmith’s, besides Alien and Poltergeist, has to be his most revered classic, Planet Of The Apes. Ask any young musician writing for films today and they will surely tell you that Planet Of The Apes was one of the films that inspired them to become a composer. Goldsmith broke all the rules by creating a 12-tone soundscape with non-traditional percussion (beating on pots and pans!) to evoke an odd, primitive view of an alien world. For freaky, spine-chilling effect, it simply hasn’t been topped.
Jerry Goldsmith was nominated for Oscars 17 times, and won only once, for The Omen.
(NPR also had an appreciation for Jerry Goldsmith, and you can hear the Main Title for Planet Of The Apes here.)
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Sleepy
Yours truly was in bed by 11:30 last night, Friday night!! I got back from the movies with Heidster (In A Lonely Place, starring Humphrey Bogart) and I had already started dozing during the movie, not an unusual practice of mine.
Got home and didn't even turn on the lights. Just went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and went to bed. After a full eight hours of sleep, I woke up to start teaching my English lessons online.
Then this afternoon I felt sleepy and took a two-hour nap. I was so tired I slept right through my last lesson. Oops!
It's ironic that I often go to bed early on the weekends considering I almost never make it to bed before midnight during the work week. Between cooking dinner, doing laundry, and finishing my homework (teachers always have more homework than students), it's not unusual for me to turn out the lights after one o'clock or later. The six o'clock alarm follows shortly and I'm up-and-at-'em for another round.
Yours truly was in bed by 11:30 last night, Friday night!! I got back from the movies with Heidster (In A Lonely Place, starring Humphrey Bogart) and I had already started dozing during the movie, not an unusual practice of mine.
Got home and didn't even turn on the lights. Just went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and went to bed. After a full eight hours of sleep, I woke up to start teaching my English lessons online.
Then this afternoon I felt sleepy and took a two-hour nap. I was so tired I slept right through my last lesson. Oops!
It's ironic that I often go to bed early on the weekends considering I almost never make it to bed before midnight during the work week. Between cooking dinner, doing laundry, and finishing my homework (teachers always have more homework than students), it's not unusual for me to turn out the lights after one o'clock or later. The six o'clock alarm follows shortly and I'm up-and-at-'em for another round.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Can you trust the media?
One of my favorite things to do if I have the time is to watch the national evening news. I especially love flipping between channels to see each network's interpretation of current events.
Tonight, there was a major story about Sport Utility Vehicle safety and a new report issued by the government. I am not kidding when I tell you that ABC and CBS had exactly opposite viewpoints on the same story.
CBS News reported that new crash statistics indicate that SUV deaths were slightly higher than those of ordinary cars, but that since there are almost five times more cars on the road than SUVs, many more people are killed in cars than in SUVs. Also, significantly, CBS suggested that older SUVs had a much higher rate of fatalities than newer SUVs, which have advanced safety technology.
Two minutes later, I saw the same story covered on ABC. ABC completely contradicted CBS's version of the story. ABC said that SUVs were far more dangerous than cars because they have a higher rollover rate, and that SUV drivers who claim they feel safer in the bigger vehicles have a false sense of security. ABC also explicitly said there was no statistical difference in crash ratings between older and newer SUVs!!
Who do you believe?
One of my favorite things to do if I have the time is to watch the national evening news. I especially love flipping between channels to see each network's interpretation of current events.
Tonight, there was a major story about Sport Utility Vehicle safety and a new report issued by the government. I am not kidding when I tell you that ABC and CBS had exactly opposite viewpoints on the same story.
CBS News reported that new crash statistics indicate that SUV deaths were slightly higher than those of ordinary cars, but that since there are almost five times more cars on the road than SUVs, many more people are killed in cars than in SUVs. Also, significantly, CBS suggested that older SUVs had a much higher rate of fatalities than newer SUVs, which have advanced safety technology.
Two minutes later, I saw the same story covered on ABC. ABC completely contradicted CBS's version of the story. ABC said that SUVs were far more dangerous than cars because they have a higher rollover rate, and that SUV drivers who claim they feel safer in the bigger vehicles have a false sense of security. ABC also explicitly said there was no statistical difference in crash ratings between older and newer SUVs!!
Who do you believe?
Sunday, August 15, 2004
L.A.P.D.
Had a scary experience as I was heading out yesterday. It was about mid-day so I figured I'd take Melrose east to Highland for a change. I don't usually take Melrose since the traffic can be bad, but since it was early in the day on a Friday I figured I'd give it a shot. Traffic wasn't so bad, but I only got a few blocks before I could see the flashing lights of a black and white approaching from the opposite direction.
Cars were starting to pull to the right side of the road and I followed suit. But as the cop car got closer it did a surprising thing. Instead of flying past me and the other stopped cars, it suddenly pulled right in front of us and blocked traffic. Two officers quickly jumped out of the car, guns drawn, and moved to the sidewalk in front of a closed store front. I could see that the security gate in front of the store was pulled open slightly and the cops leaned against the building's wall peering around into the store. One officer had a shot gun and the other was holding a .45.
Well, you can imagine the sudden terror this created for those of us sitting in our cars as well as some unlucky pedestrians who happened to be passing by just as the cops arrived. Everyone started to scatter and luckily with traffic stopped, those of us parked in front of the store could quickly make a U-turn in the middle of the block before the opposing traffic began to proceed. As I turned off on a side street to continue my journey north, I heard and then saw a police helicopter flying overhead.
I don't know if anything came of that episode. I'm assuming it was the store alarm which alerted the police. One thing I do know: if bullets had started flying, yours truly and about a dozen other people would have been in the direct line of fire.
I love L.A.
Had a scary experience as I was heading out yesterday. It was about mid-day so I figured I'd take Melrose east to Highland for a change. I don't usually take Melrose since the traffic can be bad, but since it was early in the day on a Friday I figured I'd give it a shot. Traffic wasn't so bad, but I only got a few blocks before I could see the flashing lights of a black and white approaching from the opposite direction.
Cars were starting to pull to the right side of the road and I followed suit. But as the cop car got closer it did a surprising thing. Instead of flying past me and the other stopped cars, it suddenly pulled right in front of us and blocked traffic. Two officers quickly jumped out of the car, guns drawn, and moved to the sidewalk in front of a closed store front. I could see that the security gate in front of the store was pulled open slightly and the cops leaned against the building's wall peering around into the store. One officer had a shot gun and the other was holding a .45.
Well, you can imagine the sudden terror this created for those of us sitting in our cars as well as some unlucky pedestrians who happened to be passing by just as the cops arrived. Everyone started to scatter and luckily with traffic stopped, those of us parked in front of the store could quickly make a U-turn in the middle of the block before the opposing traffic began to proceed. As I turned off on a side street to continue my journey north, I heard and then saw a police helicopter flying overhead.
I don't know if anything came of that episode. I'm assuming it was the store alarm which alerted the police. One thing I do know: if bullets had started flying, yours truly and about a dozen other people would have been in the direct line of fire.
I love L.A.
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Class Blog
This was a good idea. I think the students liked it. I made a blog for my class and made students all members. They first posted on their own about any topic they chose; then I asked them to read some other posts and make comments.
Then we looked at some other blogs on the net and saw the variety of blogs out there.
Finally, I put them in groups and had them find a cool item for sale online and post a link on the blog.
Lots of language interaction and fun as well.
This was a good idea. I think the students liked it. I made a blog for my class and made students all members. They first posted on their own about any topic they chose; then I asked them to read some other posts and make comments.
Then we looked at some other blogs on the net and saw the variety of blogs out there.
Finally, I put them in groups and had them find a cool item for sale online and post a link on the blog.
Lots of language interaction and fun as well.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
"Lost Horizon" ~ The Musical!
That's right; there's a musical version of the James Hilton novel Lost Horizon. Most people remember Frank Capra's classic version from 1937. But did you ever see the 1973 musical version featuring music and lyrics by none other than Burt Bacharach and Hal David?! It sounds too ridiculous to be true, doesn't it?
This is an example of how lots of money, a great cast of actors, and an excellent production team, can occasionally misfire. The film isn't terrible; in fact, it's quite entertaining. But it shifts between serious drama and campy musical numbers, and the inconsistency is unsettling.
The story begins in an eastern Asian country in the middle of a civil war. Peter Finch stars as a famous U.N. diplomat trying to mediate between warring factions. He and his journalist brother, played by Michael York, are kidnapped on a hijacked airplane along with an eclectic group of others, including George Kennedy, Sally Kellerman, and song-and-dance man Bobby Van. The plane crash-lands high in the snowy Himalayas and the group is rescued by some nomadic lamas who take the strangers to the mystical land of Shangri-La.
That describes the first 45 minutes of the film and it is quite gripping drama. Then we get to Shangri-La and the silliness begins, starting with Sir John Gielgud dressed in Asian makeup and attire as the town elder "Chang." Oh boy. Gielgud is accompanied by residents Liv Ullman, Olivia Hussey, and (believe it or not) Charles Boyer as the elderly High Lama.
Our visitors are enchanted by the peaceful utopian society of Shangri-La, but they are also torn between their desires to return to the 'real' world. Add a few bright costumes by Jean Louis, extremely fey choreography by Hermes Pan, and juvenile bubble gum pop songs by Bacharach and David and you've got a doomed classic on your hands!
There was certainly no lack of talent involved. The beautiful photography was handled by legend Robert Surtees and the entire show was produced by Ross Hunter. This was a scenario in which an older generation of Hollywood royalty was passing the torch to the younger generation. Somebody dropped the torch.
BUT, the charming Michael York did make a personal appearance last night at the Egyptian Theatre and he kindly sat for a Q & A session.
This film has not been released on video (yet) but if you ever get a chance to see it, don't miss it! You will enjoy the drama, you will laugh at the film and with the film, and you will cringe to hear Peter Finch singing a love duet with Liv Ullman!
In the meantime, some kind soul has posted screen shots of the whole film here so you can get a feeling for the odd look of the film if you like.
Peter Finch and John Gielgud (in his 'tea cozy' hat)
That's right; there's a musical version of the James Hilton novel Lost Horizon. Most people remember Frank Capra's classic version from 1937. But did you ever see the 1973 musical version featuring music and lyrics by none other than Burt Bacharach and Hal David?! It sounds too ridiculous to be true, doesn't it?
This is an example of how lots of money, a great cast of actors, and an excellent production team, can occasionally misfire. The film isn't terrible; in fact, it's quite entertaining. But it shifts between serious drama and campy musical numbers, and the inconsistency is unsettling.
The story begins in an eastern Asian country in the middle of a civil war. Peter Finch stars as a famous U.N. diplomat trying to mediate between warring factions. He and his journalist brother, played by Michael York, are kidnapped on a hijacked airplane along with an eclectic group of others, including George Kennedy, Sally Kellerman, and song-and-dance man Bobby Van. The plane crash-lands high in the snowy Himalayas and the group is rescued by some nomadic lamas who take the strangers to the mystical land of Shangri-La.
That describes the first 45 minutes of the film and it is quite gripping drama. Then we get to Shangri-La and the silliness begins, starting with Sir John Gielgud dressed in Asian makeup and attire as the town elder "Chang." Oh boy. Gielgud is accompanied by residents Liv Ullman, Olivia Hussey, and (believe it or not) Charles Boyer as the elderly High Lama.
Our visitors are enchanted by the peaceful utopian society of Shangri-La, but they are also torn between their desires to return to the 'real' world. Add a few bright costumes by Jean Louis, extremely fey choreography by Hermes Pan, and juvenile bubble gum pop songs by Bacharach and David and you've got a doomed classic on your hands!
There was certainly no lack of talent involved. The beautiful photography was handled by legend Robert Surtees and the entire show was produced by Ross Hunter. This was a scenario in which an older generation of Hollywood royalty was passing the torch to the younger generation. Somebody dropped the torch.
BUT, the charming Michael York did make a personal appearance last night at the Egyptian Theatre and he kindly sat for a Q & A session.
This film has not been released on video (yet) but if you ever get a chance to see it, don't miss it! You will enjoy the drama, you will laugh at the film and with the film, and you will cringe to hear Peter Finch singing a love duet with Liv Ullman!
In the meantime, some kind soul has posted screen shots of the whole film here so you can get a feeling for the odd look of the film if you like.
Peter Finch and John Gielgud (in his 'tea cozy' hat)
Monday, August 02, 2004
"Fahrenheit 9/11"
See this movie! It's entertaining, it's informative, it's provocative, and it's funny. Michael Moore does it again after his huge success with Bowling For Columbine. I actually think Columbine had more big laughs, although there were plenty of serious moments as well. 9/11 had its humorous moments too, but they were more nervous laughter, or laughter of disbelief, like: "I can't believe these guys are such crooks and they're not even trying to hide it or deny it and nobody's doing anything about it. Ha ha."
Chances are Bush will not be re-elected (hope, hope), but if everyone could see this movie, not only would Bush lose the election, he'd probably lose his freedom, if not his very life. He should be dropped in a deep dark pit with all the rest of his fuck-buddies, and a big pile of cement poured on top of them. Public execution is too good for these villains. These are despicable, ruthless, selfish animals. They don't even deserve to be called 'human beings.'
See this movie! It's entertaining, it's informative, it's provocative, and it's funny. Michael Moore does it again after his huge success with Bowling For Columbine. I actually think Columbine had more big laughs, although there were plenty of serious moments as well. 9/11 had its humorous moments too, but they were more nervous laughter, or laughter of disbelief, like: "I can't believe these guys are such crooks and they're not even trying to hide it or deny it and nobody's doing anything about it. Ha ha."
Chances are Bush will not be re-elected (hope, hope), but if everyone could see this movie, not only would Bush lose the election, he'd probably lose his freedom, if not his very life. He should be dropped in a deep dark pit with all the rest of his fuck-buddies, and a big pile of cement poured on top of them. Public execution is too good for these villains. These are despicable, ruthless, selfish animals. They don't even deserve to be called 'human beings.'
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