WEIRD CHRISTMAS CONCERT
ST PAUL — Several of us from a nearby condo high rise crowded into Central Methodist Sunday night for their annual tuba concert. It was crowded and hot. A dotty matron led the 151 tuba players in what was assumed to be renditions of popular Christmas carols. This is a Minnesota tradition, like tater tot casserole.
SPIDER BABY
The campy 60s horror film “Spider Baby” has received recognition far beyond it’s worth. It should be a dollar store item but instead is on Blu ray with a “panel discussion.” The later is better than the movie with one of the actors, Quentin Redeker either drunk or high on drugs. He’s got a great story about Lon Chaney Jr. or Mantan Moreland, but he just can’t remember it. Producer, director and writer Jack Hill seemed sane, but he claims that actress Carol Omar thought the movie was Oscar worthy. Yah, right! https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spider_baby/
GENE-LINDA ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY
Getting there was half the fun in the dark, but the company was great in Wilder Community, St. Paul, for Gene Johnson and LInda’s annual party. The food was great and I reconnected with Debbie Ringham and Brian and more. Thanks so much for the gift, a 1955 magazine advert for the Chrysler Imperial in color!
MEET THE FEMMS
Eventually the library will have “The Old Dark House” but I couldn’t wait so I got the Bluray from HPB.com with my initial screening last night.
It’s the movie that gave old houses a bad name with Karloff as the grotesque host.
Eva Moore is fantastic as the nasty hag Miss Femm and there’s a nod to religion and the class struggle. The movie is directed by James Whale (Bride of Frankenstein) and features several British actors including Charles Laughton.
Previously only poor video renditions from Kino and TCM have been available but heroic efforts to find the negative and lavendar print at Universal Pictures resulted in the Bluray from the Cohen Collection. Classic Images magazine of November 2017 issue covers the release of the 4K Bluray restoration. www.cohenfilmcollection.net/films/old-dark-house
HOLOCAUST DOCUMENTARY
The journey of the Ackos family in Greece during the Holocaust is remembered in the short documentary “In the Shadow of the Acropolis” which was developed by an Ackos descendant Laura Zelle, director of Tolerance Minnesota.
She spoke Sunday morning at a meeting or Or Emet Humanist Jewish Congregation at the Jewish Community Center. www.acropolismovie.org/
FIGHTING INTOLERANCE
Tolerance Minnesota is partnering with the Smithsonian Institute Southern Poverty Law Center and more to educate people about bias, hate and prejudice through faith communities nationally. Laura Zelle, Minneapolis, is the director of Tolerance Minnesota of the Jeiwsh Community Relations Council. www.toleranceminnesota.org/
DAY OF LOCUSTS, GOOD READ
Quite relevant to today’s headlines about middle class disenfranchment is the 1937 novel by Nathanael West, “The Day of the Locust,” which was made into a movie in 1975. The movie is equally disturbing. The story focuses on Los Angeles in the 1930s where a prostitute, movie studio artist, dwarf, dying vaudeville performer and a horrific child come together in desperation and loneliness. It also includes a closeted gay character called “Homer Simpson” played by Donald Sutherland in the movie.
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