San Francisco Herald They’re called “snowflakes” – but a Niles has the Essanay Silent Film listener to the Armstrong and Getty Museum and on Saturday nights you can February 2019 Show on KGO radio came up with a watch old movies there. more accurate term, which captures their SanFranciscoHerald.Net passive-aggressive nature: “Cry-bullies.” The Niles Canyon Railway has their popular holiday “Train of Lights” every XXXXXXXXXX year around Christmas. Every summer there’s the “Hot August Niles” car show. The Society Page If you walk into some of the antique shops on the main drag you’ll see lots of By Gene Mahoney Charlie Chaplin merchandise. It’s kind of like a Disneyland for the famous Russian Hill Upholstery & Décor is still comedian. The Niles Chamber of located in Nob Hill, not Russian Hill. Commerce is located in an old railroad XXXXXXXXXX train car. There’s a biker bar, a pizzeria or two, a few hair salons, a modern Ever wonder what happened to Daffy coffee house, and another coffee house Dave? Dave Mampel was arguably the that looks like it hasn’t been remodeled most successful professional clown in since the seventies. Needle to the the Bay Area birthday party circuit. Groove, a used record shop with a sister Some of you reading this may have hired location in San Jose is another highlight him for some of your events. of Niles.

About a year ago he relocated to his I’ve always wondered why this place hometown of Seattle to take care of his XXXXXXXXXX isn’t more of a tourist destination, or a parents. And he’s focused more of his trendy area to live in since it borders attention on his artwork (he got his start Dave’s old roommate, Steve Kohler, is a Silicon Valley. taking classes at the Pacific Art League professional magician and juggler. (For a in Palo Alto). good time call 650-326-3824.) Getting back to the movies and how Niles was almost the new Hollywood… If you want to read about his life story, Steve used to live in a district of Hollywood was almost the new Niles. In go online and buy his autobiography, Fremont, California, called Niles. Niles the 1930s Upton Sinclair ran as a “Coyote Spirit: the improbable was actually a town until Fremont candidate for governor of California, and transformation from minister to clown.” annexed it, along with several other he campaigned for having the state towns, in 1956. government take over the movie studios. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that Dave (I guess he never realized they could just Niles was where Charlie Chaplin filmed started out as a preacher. leave.) Florida lobbied the movie studios “The Tramp” in 1915. Broncho Billy with offers of generous tax breaks if they The book comes from a 12 steps angle, westerns were also shot there. Essanay moved to the Sunshine State. Luckily, as Dave is very open about his past studios was a movie company based out Sinclair lost and the studios stayed in La- substance abuse issues. More recently, of Chicago, but often used Niles as the La Land. Dave writes that “in today’s overly California winters were more filming- sensitive ‘politically correct’ society, friendly than in Illinois. Before Niles XXXXXXXXXX which is fear – and shame – based in my they filmed in San Rafael, Santa opinion, I’ve even lost a little business Barbara, and afterwards they headed I got to see Mr. Louis Honore, the co- because some folks are too with everyone else to Los Angeles. publisher (along with Jean-Christian uncomfortable with my ‘edgy’ Didier) of Free magazine, that trendy underwear jokes and pant drops.” publication found around San Francisco twenty years ago. He was at an opening reception at Luna Rienne gallery (3318 Nez: Yes, City Lights Books and so Nez: They took some time to give us 22nd Street). We enjoyed the Norm forth. The pop LA scene, I’ve never seen some very basic improvisation lessons. Maxwell show, and wondered whatever it described any way I would sign off on The director, Jim Frawley might have happened to Harris Rosenbloom, who it. I thought about doing it in my book, come out of Second City - I can’t sold ads for Free and wrote a column for “Infinite Tuesday,” but decided there’s remember. He was Bill Frawley’s son, so the old San Francisco Herald newspaper. too much there. You can’t do it all. But, sort of Hollywood royalty. But he was Oh, and thanks to Andra Norris for her oddly enough a lot of the same very talented. I liked him quite a bit. recent reception at her gallery in characters are still there even though None of us socialized to speak of. But, I Burlingame (which used to be in San everybody’s ancient. looked to him to get me out of a jam if I Francisco). was there doing improvisation. JG: Nice! You were the Hootmaster at XXXXXXXXXX the legendary Troubadour on JG: I just wanted to say the scene with Hootenanny nights. Linda Ronstadt saw you and Frank Zappa where you traded This guy named John Giaccone I knew you perform “Different Drum” and identities was comedy gold and up there from Long Island lives in Seattle now. ended up having her first hit with it. That on the cool scale. Were you listening to He’s in a band called Signal Flags and was a pop music breeding ground. Neil Frank at the time? has directed and starred in some shorts Young was there and many others. Do you can find on YouTube (he plays you have any stories about Neil? Nez: I was not. I was aware of him Charlie the nerd in “Beaver Fever” and because his presence in LA was big - the space cowboy in “Talking Dogs”).He Nez: Well, I do. I’m not sure that Neil popping up regularly on the late night recently interviewed Michael Nesmith would be happy with it, lol…. I shows. Steve Allen and Johnny Carson, from the Monkees. Here are some remember sitting on a curb behind the and a couple other lesser knowns. He excerpts. (Full interview at Troub and I was playing a harmonica was always on those shows. So, when signalflagsband.com, and for all things hung from a hanger on my neck ala the producers of the Monkees said we Nesmith visit videoranch3d.com.) Dylan and Lennon. It was working out were going to devote a show to people pretty well for me. He said, “Can you that you like and wanna have on I asked show me how to do this?” I said, “It’s Frank. And he said, “Well, no. I don’t dead simple - blow is one, suck is four”. wanna come be a member of a Monkees It’s an ancient blues trick. Those guys show but I’ll come on if I can play you.” who played all those incredible blues songs back in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s - JG: That’s great! So I also gotta mention they all had some sort of harp player in The Beatles and how they were big fans the wings. I loved the way it sounded but of the show. John Lennon described it as never got to play it well enough. I The Marx Brothers meets rocknroll. Did remember my mother went to see Bob they like the Monkees music as well? Dylan - I said, “You did?!” Nez: Well, they never said. But guys

JG: Down in Texas? who write songs like that seem to be JG: You got into folk music at an early pretty picky and they never said we age and started writing songs in Texas. Nez: Down in Texas. He was playing the needed to get some good songwriters in Then packed up with your songs and… coliseum. I said, “How was the crowd, there. It was always very familial and how were you in that crowd?” She said, friendly. Nez: My pregnant wife! “Well, he was kind of hard to understand The San Francisco Herald is published and I think he thinks he can play the JG: Right! You arrived in LA in ’62 and monthly by Gene Mahoney. All contents harmonica.” I said, “Is that your way of got into the folk circuit playing solo and ©2019 by Gene Mahoney (except work not saying he can’t play the harmonica?” done by Mr. Mahoney as artists retain the in a band. What was the LA music scene She said, “Well, I didn’t like it.” Haha - I copyright to their own work). The characters like before the Sunset Strip/Whiskey and situations in Good Clean Fun comics are said, “Well, you’re not alone with that.” days? Was it more folkies and beatniks fictitious; any similarity to persons living, His harmonica playing gets a lot of and less rocknroll? dead, or in hiding is purely coincidental. criticism but not from me, I loved it. It Though well-known people and places appear Nez: Well, one could say folk and was soulful and cool and sounded like it’s a work of fiction and the usual rules apply. None of these events ever took place. Slim Harpo to me. beatnik but it wasn’t really true. That The Mr. Fabulous stories are complete was more the province of San Francisco. fiction. Herald logo by James Dylan. Ads do XXX not appear in online version. JG: Sure, Ginsberg - Kerouac. JG: Regarding the comedy and acting, Contact: Gene Mahoney, P.O. Box 843, did they give you leeway to improvise? Redwood City, California 94064 Sorry, folks! No new comics this issue. I was too busy, and lazy, to draw a new one. In the meantime, you can go to SanFranciscoHerald.Net, click on the Winter 2011 issue, and check out a Good Clean Fun cartoon called “Montecito Waltz.” It’s in color, too! Here’s the first page from it… Herald Archives sexually, politically, or morally; true. If you drive around the city or lacking the ability to hack the long enough, especially at night, straight, corporate, 9 to 5. Many you’re going to be exposed to, The Ear drivers have impressive criminal and involved in, some unusual records, and couldn’t get a job activities, initiated by people wearing a paper hat, but cab who live in the shadows. You (and Those driving was waiting for them. can’t see them, until it’s too And it’s always a temporary late, and then you’ll have a story Eyes) job, until our other "things" take to tell that will stop a card game off, which rarely happens. in the SFO taxi lot. By Lee Vilensky We’re stuck in the taxi trap; quick easy cash, flexible Here’s one of mine: schedule, no boss, unlimited coffee breaks, zero upward Cab drivers are liars. Having mobility. It’s a subordinate I picked up a young man at been one for over 13 years, I "service" role, especially in a 12th & Folsom, and took him feel I can make this statement cosmopolitan city like the straight up Folsom, to Bernal without malice, toward my "Willie Brown" version of S.F. Heights. I dropped him midway associates, and with a certain A 22 year old Stanford grad, up the hill, near Precita Park. It degree of self-deprecation. I’m will move to the city and was about 10pm. On the way not judging, simply reporting, immediately make 2.5 times down the hill, I saw a large man and as a social scientist, I have what the average cabbie makes, lying in the street near the curb. to explore two hypotheses: plus Med., Dent., 401K, pats on I passed him and said to myself, the back, bonuses, paid A.) The taxi industry attracts "Not my problem." vacations, and little or no fear of inveterate fibbers. high school reunions. So we I went another block, towards B.) Driving a cab will make an make shit up to pad the Army, and stopped, thinking honest person into a habitual numbers, and alleviate the how still the man was. I backed bullshitter. embarrassment. up, stopped in the middle of the street directly parallel with the My only conclusion is that this Most of the lying takes place man, and hopped out of the cab "liar phenomenon" is a amongst ourselves. Pathetic to see if he was breathing. As I combination of the two. If one one-upmanship. A ten dollar tip approached the body, a dark don’t get you, the other one magically turns into a $70 tip. A green Olds sedan, say about ‘72, will. You have to understand ride to Novato becomes a came around the corner, ran that to choose cab driving as a round-trip to Yosemite. A smile right on top of him, and career, some very basic things from a female customer upon stopped. I yelled at the driver, "I have to have gone wrong in exiting the cab escalates into a think there’s someone under your life, like being forced out night of passionate love making your car." of your country into the U.S., in her suite at the Ritz. And yet, and taking the only work every cabbie has their one story I’d assumed he hadn’t seen the available; being disabled that’s amazing, ridiculous, man lying there. The driver, a mentally, physically, ludicrous, impossible, Latino man with dark eyes, gave emotionally, psychically, unbelievable, and completely me a blank look and didn’t seem to comprehend what I was telling him. Again I said, "You and busy dying, so they took my The next day the SFPD called just ran over a man in the street, statement instead. I told them me asking for more info on the and he’s under your car." what I saw, and gave a pretty car and driver. I repeated what I good description of the car, had told the police the night This time the driver gave me a although I didn’t get the plate before, and asked if the victim look of pure evil, put the car in number. Then one of the cops was alive. The cop told me he gear, and slowly drove off down asked me to show him the exact was doing fairly well despite the hill, dragging the man with spot where I first saw the man, having most of his ribs broken him. The body dislodged from before the car dragged him and an ear missing. Apparently underneath the car, about 40 down to his present location. As he’d been badly beaten and left yards down and I ran towards we walked towards the spot, he in the street, over some kind of him to see what was left, explained that one of the man’s gang-related drug deal gone wishing I’d never stopped, ears had been ripped off his sour. What I had witnessed was never gotten out of my cab, head. We reached, what I the finishing touches of that never gotten involved. I opened determined to be, the area where ordeal. The victim gave the cops his jacket and saw that he was I first noticed the man, looked this information but refused to breathing very hard. His head down, and saw a greyish lump reveal his attackers. I guess he was a featureless mass of blood, lying there. The cop knelt down, was afraid of retaliation. which was trickling down the looked at it closely, pulled out a Probably thought they’d come hill in a small, but steady large piece of white chalk (the after his other ear. It’s amazing stream. A Blood River. I ran same chalk my daughter uses to how firmly people will cling to back to the cab, radioed the draw a hopscotch board in the a criminal code of conduct, dispatcher for an ambulance, street) circled the lump, and said although thinking back to the then started yelling in the to me, "Watch that ear." driver’s eyes, I had no doubt his middle of the street for help. vengeance knew no limits. The Within minutes there was a Well, I didn’t exactly watch it, cop also mentioned, in parting, crowd of maybe 20 people but I did stand guard over it, that I was lucky the driver hovering around the man, until the cop came back with a didn’t kill me for being a including an RN and a woman I little plastic baggie (the same witness. This little tidbit had slept with, once, 4 years kind my daughter brings her bothered me for a long time, and prior. peanut butter and jelly for months afterward, I carefully sandwiches to school in.) He looked at any car driving by me, Nothing like a river of blood to picked up the ear, which now liven up the evening. searching for those two black looked like form-free gristle, put holes for eyes. I don’t think that 15 minutes later the paramedics it in the bag with forceps, and guy ever got his ear back on his arrived. They started taking off ziplocked in freshness. At this head, at least not the one he was the man’s shirt, and he became point, I was given a case born with. Maybe they grafted conscious, howling like some number, a telephone number, one on him from some meat kind of blown-up guy in a bad and was free to go. I turned in borrowed from his ass, or inner Hollywood movie about my cab and went home to drink, thigh. I’ll probably never know. Vietnam (maybe Oliver Stone and take a 10 milligram Valium The whole thing’s a little hazy isn’t full of shit after all.) The I’d been saving for a special at this point, except for those cops arrived and tried to talk to occasion. eyes, devoid of windows, not a the guy, but he was incoherent, soul in sight.### Advertise in the Herald. It’s so HBO series Girls, of which I am a The evening began with a near- cheap it’s pathetic. (650) 430-5534. huge fan. I actually had no clue she emergency situation when I couldn’t was Simon’s daughter until I looked get out of the one bathroom right after Editor’s Note: I walked by Fouladi her up online – it was a total I arrived – it locked shut and I Projects, the trendy Upper Market art coincidence! And like the character couldn’t open the door! Has this ever gallery, and apparently it’s closed. So she portrays, Ms. Kirke is a Brit, now happened to anyone else? Somehow I to honor it, and the six year New Yorker! managed to free myself – the owners anniversaries of the deaths of Whitney might want to look into that! Houston and Davy Jones, here are But it wasn’t until I received an some excerpts from Kimberlye’s invitation from the acclaimed San Otherwise, it was a lovely event, with columns of yesteryear. Francisco art gallery Fouladi Projects the strikingly beautiful Jemima to attend the reception for Jemima making herself available to chat with Regarding Fouladi Projects, I attended Kirke’s “Platforms” that I became whomever approached her, the opening reception for “Proud to be aware of her other striking talent: the surrounded by her arresting paintings. a Hero,” which consisted of new work ability to capture the raw angst and There was a charming retro music duo by Italian artist Laurina Paperina complicated inner life of young playing called The Ramshackle (which translates to English as “Little women through stark portraits devoid Romeos – great name and thoroughly Laura Little Duck”). As the press of glamour. enjoyable. I followed her outside the release noted, “The subjects of her gallery onto the street, where she and drawings, animations, and installations some friends were taking a smoke are most often merrily maimed and break, and patiently waited until I killed in a myriad of ridiculous could get her attention. Finally, I ways...”. managed to steal her away and learn that this was only her second solo art If you go to SanFranciscoHerald.Net show, the first being two years ago in and click on The Society Page column NYC. “It’s my first time in San for the Fall 2014 issue, you can see Francisco, it’s so beautiful!” she some of her work, as well as a video gushed about our city. “There is of vivacious personality “Amanda.” excitement and discoveries here – I Herald Archives needed to have a little adventure!” When I mentioned I knew her dad, Almost Famous Simon Kirke, she said, “Well, tell him hello if you speak to him, you By Kimberlye Gold probably have more recently than I have.” That kind of changed the mood Jemima Kirke Art Exhibit a bit – and I just hoped she didn’t “Platforms” – Fouladi Projects, SF think somehow my friendship with her – 3/21/14 dad was anything more than that, (Photo of Jemima Kirke by which it is NOT. I told Jessa I hadn’t One great artist begets another…in heard from her dad in quite a while Nikola Lovisato Serpico.) keeping with the theme of this either, since the B R. Cohn Wine column, this month and forever – Fouladi Projects is a contemporary art Festival Concert where I met her allow me to introduce the next gallery located at 1803 Market mother backstage. It was time to bid generation of fine art and rock ‘n roll Street@ Guerrero “offering relevant my farewell to this lovely and multi- history: Jemima Kirke! My first and inspiring contemporary fine art talented artist. I look forward to experience with Ms. Kirke was NOT complimented by carefully curated what’s next for Jemima Kirke – and as a fine artist, OR as the daughter of functional works in an inviting gallery the next season of Girls! another rock icon I have written about setting.” Their goal is to unite their many times in this column, my friend XXXXXXXXXX program with art enthusiasts, whether drummer Simon Kirke of Bad they are seasoned collectors or first Company! Nope, I became enamored Sometimes things happen in real time time buyers. And that’s exactly the of Ms. Kirke for her seethingly that force us to re-think our best-laid crowd of trendy-looking 30-50 hilarious portrayal of the beautiful, plans. Hence, the new beginning of something art enthusiasts they drew at self-obsessed and self-destructive my “Almost Famous” column – this event honoring Jemima Kirke. “Jessa” on the controversial, smash already turned in days ago and pronounced well done with a cherry Jennifer Hudson. Ask ANYbody part of me. Of so many of us. My on top. It is with the heaviest of hearts who’s come down since. Whitney got heart goes out to her family, her that I’ve been handed it back at the it from the church and the greats beloved daughter Bobbi Christina, 11th hour to try and memorialize yet before her like her Aunt Dionne and always by her side, fans, and all of us another iconic, powerhouse vocal mom Cissy. fighting the good fight every day to legend who couldn’t be more famous stay vital. – and couldn’t be nearer and dearer to Where do broken hearts go now? my own “Almost Famous” heart. I just learned “The Greatest Love Of It’s not fair to blame addiction on All” on guitar last night to sing at my In the mid-‘80s, I was in my mid-20s, another person, we all have free will Valentine’s Day gigs on Tuesday. living in LA and pursuing my music and choices, I know. But man, if this Learning to love yourself – and stay and acting career. With the advent of isn’t at least in part a giant flashing there no matter what the world looks MTV came a much closer, immediate neon sign screaming “MR. WRONG,” like – IS the greatest love of all. RIP connection to and appreciation of the I don’t know what is. Yeah, most of Whitney. I will always love you too. artists who would either become one- us have hooked up with a bad boy or hit wonders or the legends who girl in our life time and many of us XXXXXXXXXX defined an era, the stuff dreams were have married one – just ask Tina R.I.P. Davy Jones made of, the ones we strove to Turner or watch Dateline NBC (not me, folks, haven’t made that trip down emulate. Whitney Houston was most When I was a wee lass I loved me any aisle besides the grocery store assuredly the latter. She had THAT some Monkees. I owned all their yet). Once you’ve gone down that VOICE. Back then, we didn’t want to records and knew every syllable and hard for that long, it ain’t easy fighting sing 50 notes where one would do. We note of every song. I watched their your way back up into the light. And took voice lessons and practiced our wacky TV show every week. Each most of us don’t know what it’s like to asses off to be able to hold out one night before I went to bed, I would share the destruction of our life and great note, or hit all the right ones kiss their pictures on their album the demise of our glory in real time where they belonged, the way the cover good night in the order I loved with the rest of the world, who judge songwriters wrote them. Nobody did it them the most: of course, Davy was at so harshly our every misstep and looking or sounding better than the top, then Mickey, Mike and poor downward spiral. It just reminds me Whitney Houston. Whether it was an Peter was last. I just learned how precious the gifts we have been infectious, up-tempo pop gem like “Daydream Believer” to play at gigs given are. Especially when the gift is “How Will I Know” or a gorgeous and even the retirement home peeps your voice. As one who makes their power ballad like “The Greatest Love love it!### Of All,” you couldn’t get out of bed living with it, I know too well how without her tugging at your heart on scary it is when it's not there due to My Interview with your TV screen, your car radio, in stress, illness, overuse, etc. Imagine every department store or market or the world watching and listening as Charles Schulz nightclub. And for up ‘n coming you realize you've just done too much singers like us, Whitney was the gold damage and it's never going to be what By Ace Backwords standard. I learned every one of her it once was and everyone knows and is songs and tried to capture each judging and making fun of you, glorious nuance of that perfect voice, waiting for you to fall farther down from “Saving All My Love For You” every time. Imagine becoming a joke to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” on every late-night talk show and in If you played a wedding or sang in a every tabloid as you struggle to fight Top 40 band, you had better know your demons, trying to make public some Whitney and you better be able comeback after public comeback, and to actually hit those notes and not falling short in front of the whole suck. Whitney made it all look and world. Letting your friends, family sound effortless. She didn’t need and fans down after repeated attempts I’ve met some big-time cartoonists in autotune, she didn’t need 1000 half- to intervene and get clean. On the my day. I’m talking big, big-time naked male dancers, she didn’t need to heels of a new movie coming out and cartoonists. But some of the biggest bring in a rapper to give her cred. She the eve of the Grammys where you stars can turn out to be some of the just had to open her mouth and do her once were queen. The pain she must biggest assholes. I’ll give you just one thang. Ask Mariah. Ask Beyonce. Ask have been in was just too much to such example. Charles Schulz. He was bear. Oh Whitney – you are such a a total prick. Yes, that’s right, Charles he grabbed me by the collar – this is wondering why he would invite a nut M. Schulz himself. Good ole’ Sparky. Charles “Mr. Nice Guy” Schulz. “The like me up to his scene. I was 28 years He was a right bloody bastard. I Gospel According to Peanuts” Schulz. old at the time. And sort of a hippie actually met the dude back in 1983. I Good ole’ Sparky – he grabbed me by punk countercultural underground got his personal home address from a the collar and slapped me hard in the artist weirdo. And Schulz was Mr. friend of a friend. So I figured I’d drop face, twice. When I looked up from Mainstream All-America. Hostess in uninvited and interview him for a the floor, Schulz was standing directly Twinkies and Hallmark Greeting cards fan- zine I was thinking of putting out. over me with a big two-by-four, ready and “Good grief Charlie Brown” and Ya know? Two fellow cartoonists; a to finish me off. “NO, SPARKY, “Happiness is a warm puppy.” meeting-of-the-minds kind of thing. NO!” I cried. I deftly side-stepped his Well, Schulz answered the door attack and responded with a maneuver So it was an odd meeting of the minds. himself. But he didn’t seem pleased to that I call the Ace Backwords Karate I guess he was just bored. And maybe see me. “CHUCK! CHUCK!” I said. Chop of Doom - a good solid chop to he thought it was a worthwhile way to “I’m one of your BIGGEST fans!” I the back of Schulz’s neck. He went waste a couple of hours with this nut wrapped my arm around his shoulder down like a sack of shit. I maced him Ace Backwords. and gave him a big, manly hug. “I in the face for good measure. That used to read your comic strip every temporarily subdued him. I interviewed him in his studio where day when I was a kid. Charlie Brown he drew his Peanuts comic strip. There But as I was making my exit amidst a and Snoopy and all that!” was a half–finished Peanuts comic cloud of mace, Charles Schulz strip on his drawing board. Which was This seemed to temporarily placate tearfully spat out those words that mind-boggling to me. I had grown up him. But then I said, “So what are you would cut me like an X-acto knife. as a little kid reading Peanuts. And doing nowadays, Chuck? Are you still “YOU BASTARD!” he hissed. now I was at the epicenter — the eye working on that comic strip of yours? “YOUR COMIC STRIP WILL of the hurricane — where they were That Peanuts thing?” NEVER BE NATIONALLY actually created. SYNDICATED! YOUR CARTOONS His whole demeanor towards me WILL NEVER APPEAR ON We talked back and forth for two or changed after that. In fact, he acted HALLMARK GREETING CARDS three hours. I was so nervous when I like he wanted to kill me. He said AND HOSTESS TWINKEES! YOU got to the end of my cassette tape that something about how he had to get ARE NOTHING! I AM CHARLES I was interviewing him with — my back to work; some bullshit about a M. SCHULZ!” $30 Sony cassette recorder — I pressing deadline or something like accidentally flipped the cassette over a that. Ya know? Like he’s such a big I punched him in the head and third time and recorded over 30 hot-shot he doesn’t have any time to knocked him unconscious. For an old minutes of the tape. spend with his fans – the ones who guy, he really wasn’t all that tough. made him who he is! But the worst thing of all was, in the Completely erased 30 minutes of our ensuing melee I ended up losing that immortal conversation (always regret I asked him if he would autograph this stupid doodle he drew for me. I bet that). cocktail napkin I brought with me. that thing would be worth a lot of “Make it out to my girlfriend,” I said, money today if I sold it on eBay. I remember at one point Schulz said “and draw a cartoon of Charlie Brown he was disappointed with most kicking Lucy in the butt, with Snoopy So don’t let nobody tell you different. interviewers. They mostly asked dull and the Red Baron flying around in Charles Schulz was a total asshole.### questions. I could tell it was a the background.” He complied. backhanded compliment. I could tell Grudgingly. Charles M. Schulz he was enjoying talking with me.

But the cheap fountain pen he was By Ace Backwords I guess that’s why he talked for 2 or 3 using bled the ink all over the napkin. hours. I was giving Schulz some good tips I don’t know why. But for some for how he could improve his drawing reason I was just thinking about the For me it was like talking to ability when he went completely interview I did with Charles Schulz in somebody who was my father. Even berserk. With no provocation on my 1983. The Peanuts guy. though we weren’t related. It was like part, he suddenly lunged at me and talking to somebody who was my kneed me hard in the groin area. He invited me up to his studio in Santa father.### Twice. I crumpled to the floor. Then Rosa to interview him. I guess I’m just