The Drink Tank Issue 113 Letter-Graded Mail from the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel - Sent to [email protected] but I never went to that hotel. To me, by my gentle readers Hollywood was just a place where I managed a business - this whole movie Let’s Start off with Marty Cantor on and television business is something in issue 111! which I have about zero interest. I just glanced at #111 and I I spent a lot of time in that neck have a few things to say, starting with of the woods. I used to buy my it was good to (briefly) speak to you cigars (or my pipe tobacco, I had again. And I hope that you worked out one store for each) from a shop over something with Marc Schirmeister and in that area, and then I’d head he sends some artwork your way. across the street to check out what I made the connection and I hope movie scripts were on sale in that he’ll provide some art. I’ll be old shop where they had posters, debuting a couple of new to The pictures and scripts. I found a Drink Tank artists over the next huge treasure trove of wrestling few weeks. memorabilia there once. Growing up What you saw in the display steeped in pop culture like I was, case which contained (amongst other I’m required to have a certain thing things) Bill Rotsler memorabilia for celebrities. (including Hugos) was the urn which Marty Cantor *used* to contain Bill’s ashes. The Thanks much, Marty! and now, Eric ashes were scattered - someplace, I Mayer on 111 remember not where - and the urn is Chris, now at LASFS. Ah, that’s far less creepy. What is this if Mazeroski can As for running into Iggy Pop, make the Baseball Hall of Fame there’s well, those kinds of things happen a hope for the NY Dolls and Devo. Hell, lot around this town. Having run retail if Mazeroski can make the Baseball shops in both Hollywood and Studio Hall of Fame there’s hope for the Dead City, I have had “celebrities” come into Boys. Or how about Toni Basil? my shops at one or another time. In when I’m down there. You don’t Like Maz she was a one hit wonder. fact, a few times a year the Mexican happen to live by Los Burritos off of Well, OK, Maz was known for his restaurant at the end of my block is Hollywood, do ya? leather. But I’m sure there are too the scene of some sort of movie or The shop I managed in many rock bands with a fondness for television shoot. Hollywood was right next to the Wax leather who don’t deserve to get into I always seem to run into celebs Museum on Hollywood Blvd., right the hall of fame to even think about. off of Highland Ave. Not all that far Maz had his seasons, but he was pretty decent band. Over-shadowed? a glove expert and that’s what Yes, but still pretty good. brought him to the dance. But And I have to add, I love really, he’s in the Hall for the Home Groundhog Day. It is one of the best sf Run. There are a lot of people who films ever, in my estimation, because it argue that Don Larsen, whose over- does what the sf I loved did -- takes a all career was somehere around the weird idea and wrings every possibility level of Mike Kurkow’s, should be in out of it. The trouble with media sf, the Hall. And Toni Basil’s awesome! *know* the world is a really screwed up as fun as it often can be, is that it Wow. Imagine opening the paper place for which I am ill suited. focuses on the settings and trappings, and reading about Chris Garcia run It’s weird in that everyone who like monsters and outer space, but the down by Iggy Pop. That would’ve been remembered me from High School, real core of classic sf was the off center awesome! In a really horrible way of and it was just about everyone ideas. course. Mason Reese almost walked for some reason) figured that I’d I see what you mean, my only into me once on a Manhattan Street. have changed the most. I rolled question is in comparison to other He was a homely little kid who did a lot into my reunion, started talking to films that aren’t in, like a lot of the of commercials, mostly for Underwood people and everyone was amazed at comedies of the 1960s and 70s. I Devilled Ham, a long time ago. He was exactly how similar (if more doughy) must say that Bill Murray was great a little bigger when he almost walked I was to my high school self. as Phil Conners in Groundhog Day, into me, but looked just as homely. I enjoyed your tour of Universal but what about Uncle Buck? It was Sheesh...that’s nothing like almost Studios. Stupid me, I didn’t know they just as funny and Candy’s turn as being killed by Iggy Pop. I would’ve had rides. the title character was awesome. guessed Iggy Pop would’ve killed I hadn’t been back since they added Eric himself with rock n roll excess long them. It’s more amusement park before he killed you. You just never than studio now. Twisted and evil... Thanks, Eric! know. Patti Smith has done some great That’s a good point. If he’d bumped stuff, although she took herself out What about John Purcell on Issue into me on the street, I’m betting of the business for a long time. A few 111? he’d crumble into dust. He looked years ago I realized, in retrospect, that Boy, you really are addicted to really fragile. The Dave Clark Five were better than lists, aren’t you? I have my personal John Purcell reckons I must I’d given them credit for back in the lists - we all do - and when it comes to have changed some since my miserable sixties. The Beatles blew away other films, two Mel Brooks films are on my high school days. Well, I don’t know. pop groups, making them seem lesser Top 5: Young Frankenstein and Blazing When I was in high school I suspected in comparison. Saddles. As a matter of fact, the latter the world was a really screwed up I couldn’t pull a lot of Dave Clark was one of my Christmas gifts this place for which I was ill suited. So, Five up in my mind, but I eventually season. The DVD 30th Anniversary now, with 40 more years experience, I found a few MP3s and they were a Edition has some totally wonderful extras, such as Brooks’ running I completely agree with Eric commentary on the film - fascinating Mayer’s assessment that Devo should listening to him describing the genesis be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall and making of this modern classic - of Fame. Great choice! The New York and the pilot episode of the television Dolls would be cool, but I doubt it. series it generated, Black Bart. Alas, Who else but hard-core punk rockers the series never materialized for real, would understand their influence? but the pilot is uproarious fun. A great Besides, you gotta love a group that gift, slightly surpassing the DVD of produces people like Buster Poindexter Asterix and Cleopatra. Funny, funny (a.k.a., David Johannsen). stuff there. I totally wanna find someone who I’ve gotta get that DVD set. could do a mash-up Devo and Il Genevieve has it but she’s always Divo. That’d be neat. watching it so me stealing it would go noticed. Don’t you just love the way that your Drink Tank loccing crew can flesh I read on your LiveJournal of out your zines with rapid-fire locs to your *ahem* “run-in” with Iggy Pop. sort of keep up with your rapid-fire What strikes me as so funny about pubbing schedule? We’re the best. this story is that he was driving a PT Cruiser. Something rather surreal I do. Y’all keep me honest! about all this, I gotta say. I’m very LA, so I get along well down And aren’t you glad Lloyd’s back to there. My favourite part of the LA- loccing? I am. With any kind of luck, They say the mighty fall the area is Hollywood, where I always hardest. starting in March he’s agreed to do the feel welcome for some reason. fanzine review column in my zine. He As far as Los Angeles goes, The LASFS folks I know, of is a good choice for the job. it’s an okay place to visit - there are course, are nothing like the general If there’s one guy who could review lots of cool people living there that I population. Some day I would like to a bunch of zine, it’s Lloyd! would love to see again some day - get back there and visit, but I really but after living in the San Fernando don’t see this happening any time Yummy smells coming from the grill; Valley for one year (1986), I will never soon. Now, the restaurants in La-La it’s 70 degrees outside, and I just put do that again. Couldn’t stand the Land are good, it is true. Ah, well. some chicken on the grill. Chat at you traffic, could barely breath the air. later, bud. See you in Austin. Very unfriendly people, too, at least A friend of mine sent me a list of from my perspective: shallow, self- about 35 top-rated LA eateries and All the best, centered, pretentious. And those are then put a thing at the end saying Los Angelenos good points! “You chose Bob’s Big Boy?” John On Issue 112...Eric Mayer! Mad Max -- Heavyweight champ Max Chris, Baer Sr. was unable to defend himself Grim business about your friend against ‘Cinderella Man.’ The job fell to Jon. A lot of talented people die young. Max Jr., who’s going down swinging. Often it’s what makes them talented that kills them. Being adventurous, http://www.latimes.com/features/ different, creative, reckless, whatever. magazine/west/la-tm-baer01jan07,0,4 Reminds me, because of the name, 406121.story?coll=la-home-magazine of my dad’s prize art student Jon I love Max Baer Jr. mostly for the Carsman. Became a big time painter in fact that he made some of the most New York. $30,000 a canvas. Married important Independent films of all- a model. Drove a car that was probably time in Ode to Billy Joe and Macon worth more than any house I’ve ever County Line. He’s also a Santa lived in. Jumped out his studio window Clara University Grad, which is when he was diagnosed with aids. I something that a lot of folks can’t guess he was a little over forty. Hell, he say! probably had more living than I ever Love the cover, by the way. I will though. I guess, in the end, it’s had a living room set just like that quality that counts most. once, bought at a used furniture store So true. It’s those of us talent-less naturally. safesters that live to tell their tales! I found it, got perms and set it up That said, I’ve lived a lot in my as the cover. It’s just the perfect time. I’ve not been too reckless, but suburban livingroom situation. I’ve also not played it too safe. I Best, quake! walk the line... I love earthquakes as long as Your photo essay of Howeird’s Eric they’re nowhere near where I live. trip to Parkfield was fascinating. Never I also want to give a general I love riding ‘em out, but I’d hate heard of the place. Too bad you missed thanks to everyone for their notes to have one where I had to worry the quake. I experienced a mini-quake on the passing of Mr. Chapman. about them knocking my face down. in Rochester, NY. Around dawn the Marin Carpenter, Kate Kelton, Parkfield would be a great place to house kind of shook and stuff rattled Rissy Smith, SaBean, Judith, Steve feel one. on the shelves. Half asleep I thought it Sprinkles, Frank Wu and a few You might’ve seen this in the LA was one of the big auto supplies trucks others dropped lines and I think Times but if not it might interest you. that always went by on their way to the them all for their kind words. And it even has a mention of the car dealership next door. They made Roosevelt Hotel. (Thanks to you the the whole house vibrate too. Turned on name meant something to me) the news and found out it had been a You may have noticed that things around here are slightly less fannish than you’d normally expect. Where are the con reports? What about real fan art? Where’s the Fudgicals? That’s no illusion, there’s a distinct lack of fan- nish presence in my life at the moment. I don’t know if other fans have fannish seasons as well, but I certainly do. The start of my personal fannish season is Memorial Day Weekend. That’s BayCon for me and that means a lot to my personal view of fandom. It’s my home con, it’s the con that brought me back and if BayCon’s no good, the rest of the year is gonna have troubles. Luck- ily, that’s only happened once. After BayCon, there’s Westercon, WorldCon, Silicon and others all the way up through LosCon. Lo- sCon ends the heavy fannish season for me on Thanksgiving weekend. There’s a sort of lull until after the Christmas season. I’d almost call it fannish time-out. Come January, there’s a little action. We’ve got FurCon here in the BArea and a few other little conventions. There’s always BASFA and BayCon meetings, fanzines to be read, but May or June. True, there’ll still be things like few that turned out OK (and a couple that re- really, it’s a sort of slack period. I’m thinking the 48 Hour Film Project (we’re goin’ again this ally sucked). I’m hoping that the coming year about March and April, the movie months. year and we’re gonna win!). will see me make the hardest film project I’ve You see, there’s the Cinequest film In fact, I’ve been thinking a lot about ever attempted, the easiest one, and maybe one festival and the Sonoma Valley Film Festival filmmaking lately. Not only because of Jon’s more. You never know though. and they both are important parts of the year. I death, but because I’m getting to the point By the way, you may be wondering really get involved with both and that sort sends where I miss it. Steve moved to LA and so did about the art up there. It’s from a guy by the all fannish thoughts away for a bit. True, I still Sean Becker, so I’ve really got limited folks to name of Mike Jittlov who made movies, includ- do The Drink Tank through it all, but it’s hardly work with. I’ve been writing scripts and talking ing The Wizard of Speed and Time, which I’ve fannish at that point. to folks, but really, I’m itchin’ to get into it all only seen about twenty times at various cons. Now, with QuireFlu comin’ up, I’m apt over again. It’s Star Wars art, done as concept pieces, from to start adding in more and more touches, but Which isn’t surprising at all. I’m a guy 1974. It’s a nice touch and I love it! He was one it’s hardly going to be massively fannish until who loves movies and has managed to make a of the first BayCon GoHs! John Neilsen Hall, one of woman on the Law & Order series of shows. my TAFF nominators and a helluva The kids survived. She was one of the most FanEd, put a picture in his latest is- beloved of the Hollywood set at that point, even sue (which is highly awesome by the if there were many who questioned her tactics. way) that I mistakenly thought was There was a significant death this week Jayne Mansfield. It was of Diana Dors. too. Yvonne deCarlo passed away at the age It was a fair mistake for a guy who of 84. She was a sex symbol starting about wasn’t born when they were in their 10 years before Mansfield hit the scene. She prime (and Mansfield was dead by the starred in tons of movies but is probably best time I was alive). As always, I have remembered for the part she played when she to apologize to John and any others I was well-past 40. She was Lily Munster on may have wronged with my statement. the show The Munsters. She wasn’t the blonde Jayne Mansfield was the bombshell, but the Raven Haired vixen of so bombshell as far as I’m concerned. many dreams. She played Salome in a memo- She completely understood her sexual rable role and was in about 100 different films appeal and wasn’t afraid to use it from the 1940s through the 70s. She kept acting to her advantage in any occasion. until the early 1990s, though she slowed down. Whether it was dipping forward in She was the Grandmother in Oscar, one of my a low cut dress or simply popping a favourite films of 1991. boob out in public, she was willing ot The saddest day will be when Julie use her assets to get headlines in every Newmar passes. The loss of Catwoman will forum she could. She was that hot. crush me, I’m sure. It’s odd that I’ve always thought of Mansfield before Monroe, or even before Mamie Van Doren and Carol Doda. The only actress that I’d say was on par with Jayne was Mae West, which made the revelation on several sites that she might actually have been a very convincing Drag Queen particularly devastating. When Jayne died in a car ac- cident, her kids were in the car with her. One of them, then-three year old Mariska, would go on to be the hottest Did you know that Jayne Mansfield was the fourth Playboy Playmate of the Month to die? The first was Marilyn Monroe in 1962 (which is -ap propriate since she was the first Playmate). The second, Tonya Crews, also died in a car crash, just like Mansfield. playing it with cards for decades, and warehouse manager my new immediate on a computer for around ten years. boss. He didn’t like me, because I I started playing it on computer knew his job better than he did, and when I worked for Logotel. I was I got along better with the warehouse actually encouraged to do so by my guys (one of whom was Steve Stiles). boss, when we upgraded from DOS He *hated* to see me playing Solitaire. to Windows 3.1. “It’ll teach you how He’d scream at me about it. I’d tell him to use a mouse, give you good hand- to fuck off. screen coordination. Click-and-drag, I probably have a lot of Logotel all that good stuff.” (My boss was an shirts. I’ve always been a big shirt old and good friend, who had hired me collector (I’ve more than 600 now). at Logotel. He lives in San Diego now.) There’s a woman at the office who I liked the game because it was fast plays a lot of solitaire and people and simple, but did require strategy. I accept that it’s what you do while could play a complete game in two or you’re poring over huge numbers More Letter-Graded Mail three minutes. of database records. It’s the pause I got hooked on solitaire while that allows you to be sane after 10k Just got this from our pal...Ted camping (we’d only bring a deck records. White!!! of cards and I was never too much Here at Beta Reporting, when I for hiking) and when I discovered it find myself bogging down in a tedious Dear Chris, on computers, I almost completely transcript (which I am proofing and A slow day at work has allowed forgot the card version. I used to editing, while listening to an audio file me to catch up with DTs from 109 on, play all the time by hand. of the proceedings) I will take a brief and now allows me the opportunity It was a nice break from break with a quick game of Solitaire. I to write you a LoC. Work around inputting invoices (I was Accounts allow myself to do this no more often here seems to be feast or famine – in Payable). A chance to briefly unwind. than once every half hour or hour. November and December I was putting I got into the habit of using a game It’s now twenty minutes later. in overtime (at the boss’s request). to reward myself after a particularly And Yes...I did play five games of Now I’m playing a lot of Solitaire exhausting stint of work. solitaire. and catching up on my reading at Time passed. I moved from But when there’s *nothing* to do, eFanzines. Accounts Payable to Inventory Control I can play one game after another for I do a lot of that at work too. I Manager. (Logotel made upscale hours at a time. It becomes mindless, tend to be far more famine than printed t-shirts, like all the South almost rote, as I try to see how far I feast...and that’s just the way I like Park shirts, and, before that, the can stretch a winning run of games -- it! Far Side shirts.) I ended up with my five or six in a row is my record -- and It’s easy to sink into the mental computer in an “office” in the middle then, when inevitably I lose again, I black hole that is Solitaire. I’ve been of the warehouse, with the newly-hired have to win one before I can stop. It’s horrible when I have a losing streak, mostly lost touch over the years, so it’s ended up university presidents and though. good to catch up with them at ten-year the like – and seeing how attractive I usually play Vegas style where intervals. I always enjoy seeing them the plain janes of grade school have they keep track of how much and we have a good time telling each become as women. My favorites are the money you’ve won and lost. There’s other stories about back in the day. Cooper twins, Joanne and Georgina, nothing worse than finishing I’ve managed to stay in touch with whom I’ve known since the third grade. a game and still being several a fair number of folks from High Great personalities and fun to sit down hundred imaginary bucks down. School (and before that even) due with. I just wish I’d been prescient In DT #109 Eric Mayer discusses to things like MySpace. It’s about enough to have struck up a dating high school reunions. I went to my three times a month when I get an relationship with one of them back 50th last fall. Yup, I graduated high email from folks I haven’t seen in when. school in 1956. At that time I was a ages. There are a lot of successful Santa hyperactive young fan. I’ve been to my It’s been most interesting Clara grads that I knew. The rapper 10th, 20th, 40th and 50th reunions. tracking the women – several of whom Scholar, my buddy Scott Morse who I enjoyed them. I missed my 30th went on to win an Eisner (I think) because I was in jail. and even a few who went into this That’s funny. I’m coming up on thing called the Internet and are my ten year from College and I’m billionaire-types. debating making the trip. It’s a In DT #110 I notice you again long trip, and I’m trying to figure spelling “fanac” in all-caps, as out who I’d want to see out there. “FANAC.” Why? “Fanac” is not an That’s not because high school acronym. It is the shortening and was such a joy for me at the time (it combining of two words, “fan” and wasn’t – but it wasn’t hellish either), “activity.” “Fanac” is what you *do* but because I went through the Falls as a fan -- anything you do as a fan, Church school system from first grade actually. to high school graduation, and over You might have noticed throughout the course of those twelve years I my writing that the way I made a lot of friends. There were some capitalize/spell things may or may kids whom I’d known from before not have anything to do with the school, and others whom I met for the way in which is it actually spelt/ first time in various grades, but they capitalized. accumulated. I was never a “popular” DT #111 includes your mention kid (unlike my son, who was elected of THE T.A.M.I. SHOW. Is this available Homecoming King one year), but I had on DVD? If it is, I want to get a copy, a solid group of friends in high school, because I remember that show quite and they are people with whom I’ve fondly. I saw it in a Times Square movie theater when it was originally Here’s an released, and it blew me away. It was, email I got I think, my first exposure to James from M the Brown’s incredible stage act (previously other day. I knew him only from records), but It made me what actually distinguished the movie laugh. at the time was the fact that it wasn’t filmed. It was shot on videotape, one Chris: of the first movies in general release I’m attach- to make use of this new medium. It ing the photo added to the sense of immediacy for us of the next watching the movie. girl you’re Supposedly it’s coming to my home going ot fall via eBay in the next couple of days. in love with. I’ll bring it with me to QuireFlu Her name’s and let you have it. I’ll have ripped Zoe and she’s it by that point. James Brown did probably the have an amazing stage show and nicest girl I’ve only gotten to see a portion of it I’ve ever met. at SuperBrawl in 2001. It was still Also, as you tasty. can see, you’d Not much I can say about #112 be willing to – very few comment hooks – but it was strangle my probably the most solid and interesting Mother for the issue you’ve done for a while. right to fuck And that needed to be said, even if I her. say nothing else. Which I won’t. My re- All best, sponse to M Ted was this- I didn’t think folks would have M- No much to say about issue 112. Bad matter how news seldow draws comments. many times I’m lookin’ forward to seein’ you ask me ya around CorFlu, Ted! to, I am not going to strangle your Mom.