R. Kelly’s Old Lady

CHICAGO’S FREE WEEKLY | THIS ISSUE IN FOUR SECTIONS How FRIDAY, FEB 17, 2006 | VOLUME 35, NUMBER 21 local Chris Ware radio p 16 legend La Donna Tittle got The Works “Trapped The rest of the Red Line? in the p 8 Closet”

Restaurants Vegetarian, vegan, and raw Section 2

A movie about Iraq, a play about Guantanamo, our favorite PLUS moral relativist Jack Bauer, best belt buckle ever, and more Section One Letters 3 Our Town 19 Now that’s a rock ’n’ roll high school Columns Hot Type 4 Reviews Jack Bauer’s real appeal Movies 27 The Straight Dope 5 Eugene Jarecki’s Why We Fight Superhuman strength, continued Art 29 Yutaka Sone at the Renaissance Society The Works 8 Can federal funding get the Theater 30 Red Line past 95th? TimeLine Theatre Company’s Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom Chicago Antisocial 10 New York Fashion Week Plus What Are You Wearing? 20 Victoriana, taxidermy, and high-rise jeans February 17, 2006 Comic Chris Ware 16 Ink Well 31 This week’s crossword: Discounts

ON THE COVER: NORMAN L. HUNTER FOR JET, 1979 R. Kelly’s Old Lady She’s best known as the DJ who ruled black radio in the 70s and 80s, but La Donna Tittle has always thought of herself as an actress. Now thanks to a cameo in R.Kelly’s epic “Trapped in the Closet” video, she’s ready for her close-up. OM RIGHT) TT PEREZ (LEFT AND BO TY MAR Tittle on the air at WKKC, on the set with R. Kelly as Rosie the nosy neighbor, cosmetics on the console

By Jake Austen or much of the 70s and 80s La Donna Tittle was the her the acting career she’s always dreamed of. queen of local black radio. She was number one in her In one of the videos for “Trapped in the Closet,” R. Kelly’s F time slot, showered with awards, and tens of thou- multipart R & B song cycle, Tittle plays Rosie, the elderly, sands of fans roared when she took the stage at funk and R spatula-wielding “nosy neighbor.” Her brief appearance, & B concerts. A longtime midday fixture on local radio, she mugging like a silent-film actor, is a highlight of the was, as her nickname put it, your Tittle in the Middle. Grammy-nominated series of videos. But even at the height of her radio career she considered herself an actress, doing side work in commercials, industri- ittle grew up in Bronzeville, in the shadow of the Regal al films, and local plays. Those jobs included a turn as a T Theater. As a girl she helped run the cash register at the teacher in a 1997 horror film, The Relic, and a guest role pool hall on 47th Street owned by her father, James O. on an episode of a cop show, Turks, in ’99. Nowadays Tittle Tittle, who’d also worked as a bartender, musician, and appears mostly on humble media outlets like WKKC, longshoreman. He demanded excellence from his five chil- Kennedy-King College’s 185-watt radio station, and dren, doling out “whuppings” for any failings, be they in CAN TV, where she hosts a soul-food cooking show. schoolwork or in his favorite game, chess. “My father didn’t But a nonspeaking cameo may be the role that brings continued on page 21 2CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE 3

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Publisher Michael Crystal Editor Alison True was coming home from, well, walked off of the show, instead Managing Editor Kiki Yablon work. It was only when Glass of looking so morose—and tak- Senior Editors Michael Miner |Laura Molzahn | Kitry Krause What Actors and cohost Gary Covino parted ing her crap. And of course it Associate Editors Martha Bayne | Anaheed Alani ways and the show was can- was all about her—the reason Philip Montoro | Kate Schmidt Won’t Do celed that we learned just who she was so ticked off was Assistant Editors Jim Shapiro | Mark Athitakis | David Wilcox Staff Writers Liz Armstrong | Martha Bayne | Steve Bogira had been contributing the gen- because she was getting ques- John Conroy | Jeffrey Felshman | Harold Henderson I am surprised at your quickness uinely “wild,” seditious content tioned by the media—it had Deanna Isaacs | J.R. Jones | Ben Joravsky | Monica Kendrick to irresponsibly state that all and who had been flattering “Most actors nothing to do with any of his Peter Margasak | Tori Marlan | Bob Mehr | Jonathan Rosenbaum Mike Sula | Albert Williams “actors don’t have the luxury of the suits at NPR and its corpo- don’t have the lies. It’s always about her. Copy Chief Brian Nemtusak being finicky about scripts”—as if rate benefactors while angling luxury of being A Chicago publicist Editorial Assistants Pat Graham | Renaldo Migaldi | Joel Score all actors will grab whatever they for bigger things. TAL ’s audi- finicky about Mario Kladis | Michael Marsh | Tom Porter | Jerome Ludwig Tamara Faulkner | Patrick Daily | Stephanie Manis | Robert Cass can, without thought or question ence might think it a mere scripts; if they Kerry Reid | Todd Dills | Katherine Young | Ryan Hubbard [The Business, February 10]. coincidence that the program don't have to Miles Raymer | Tasneem Paghdiwala Having worked as an actor in has followed Marketplace, eat live rats or In the Typesetters Vera Videnovich | Kabir Hamid Chicago for many years, I know American Public Media’s daily set their hair Archivist Eben English that actors have more respect for forum for edgy, hipster capital- on fire, they’re Beginnings the craft than that, and more ism, for several years now. likely to grab Advertising Director Don Humbertson integrity in themselves and their More likely, they smirk at what any chance to Dear Reader, Sales Director Ginger Wade professionalism. they take to be the “ironic jux- show what I want to write to correct a Display Advertising Manager Sandra Goplin taposition.” We’ll probably they can do misquote that appeared in the Assistant Display Advertising Manager Katie Falbo A Chicago actor never fully comprehend how onstage.” article “Bounty Hunter” by Online Advertising Coordinator Renate Durnbaugh Pilsen Display Representatives Jeff Martin | Christine Thiel social class operates in the —Deanna Nicholas Day in your January Brad Winckler Deanna Isaacs replies: United States until we can rec- Isaacs, 20 edition. The nonprofit Sales Development Manager Susan Zuckert I didn’t say “all,” I said “most.” ognize that there is no irony February 10 referred to in the article as Senior Account Executives Denice Barndt | Angie Boehler Evangeline Miller | Geary Yonker here, certainly not in the minds Farm Beginnings is really a Account Executives Nichole Flores | Greg Saint-Victor of those who program the program run by the nonprofit Tim Sullivan | Laura Swisher | Dan VanKirk polite marginalism of “public” CSA Learning Center at Advertising Project Coordinator Allison Hendrickson It’s So Easy broadcasting. Angelic Organics. Our farmer Advertising Assistants T.J. Annerino | Kieran Kelley training programs are taught Sarah Nishiura Ed Tverdek Being Green by farmers through winter Albany Park sessions and on their farms Art Director Sheila Sachs In “Follow That Draft” (February during the growing season. Associate Art Director Godfrey Carmona Art Coordinator Elizabeth Tamny 3) I wrote that the city’s “green- I was delighted to see your Production Director David Jones permit” program requires appli- The Triumph article on Mari Coyne and on Production Manager Bob Cooper cants to go through a complex our farmer, Farmer John, of Associate Production Manager Nickie Sage process whose flowchart takes up of Pope-rah Angelic Organics. Please keep Production Artists Jeff Marlin | Jennifer McLaughlin | Mark Blade an 11-by-17 sheet of paper. In up the good work of highlight- Benjamin Utley | John Cross | Andrea Bauer | Dustin Kimmel Josh Honn | Mike Browarski |Nadine Nakanishi fact, the chart is only for large Re: Oprah/James Frey [Hot ing the farming scene in the Editorial Design Jardí + Utensil projects; routine projects involv- Type, January 20]. Chicagoland area. ing three or fewer units can typi- First of all, one of the other Parker Forsell cally be approved on a fast track people on the couch or by Operations & Classifieds Director Mary Jo Madden Farmer development coordinator within ten days, following a remote said, on the show, that Controller Karl David Wilt CSA Learning Center at Angelic Organics Classifieds Manager Brett Murphy process that can be diagrammed they commended Frey for com- Classified Representatives Sara Bassick | Danette Chavez on a Post-it. ing on the show, that a “PR per- Nicholas Day replies: Bill Daniel | Kris Dodd | Chip Dudley | Janet Lukasiewicz son” would have told him to do Farm Beginnings was found- Jeff McMurray | Amy O’Connor | Scott Shehan | Kristal Snow Harold Henderson Bob Tilendis | Stephen Walker nothing and wait for it to blow ed in 1998 in Minnesota bythe Matches Coordinator Jane Hanna over. I would have told him to nonprofit Land Stewardship Back Page Representative Chris Auman write the truth and then release Project. Inthe fall of 2005 Operations Assistants Patrick O’Neil | Alicia Daniel This All-Too- it via e-mail to the media—but organizations in three other Receptionists Monica Brown-Fielding | Dorie T. Greer not to go on Oprah, since it was states began offering classes Robert Jacobs |Dave Thomas | Stephen Walker Bookkeeper Marqueal Jordan American Life going to be a kangaroo court, based on that curriculum, Circulation Manager Perry A. Kim which it was. He owes her noth- according to Brian DeVore, Circulation Fred Adams | Sadar Bahar | Neil Bagwell Reader editors, ing, she picked the book, it was media coordinator for the LSP. John Barrille | Kriss Bataille | Mark Blade | Michael Boltz I enjoyed Michael Miner’s her responsibility to check the The Illinois Farm Beginnings Jeff Boyd | Michael Bulington | Bill Daniel | Tom Frederick Kennedy Greenrod | Nathan Greer | Scott Harris | John Holland 2/3/2006 account of the ele- integrity/veracity of it, since she program has two locations: Sasha Kadukov | Thomas Kolinski | Dave Leoschke gies for This American Life’s was recommending it to her central Illinois, which is James McArdle | Shane McDougall | John Merton Dave Miedzianski | Terry Nelson | Walter Pazera putative Chicago “feel,” though feeding-frenzy audience. I call affiliated with the University Gerald Perdue | Doug Scharin | Phil Schuster I might be able to muster a few her “Pope-rah”—who does she of Illinois and the Land Dorian Tajbakhsh | David Thomas | Stephen Walker more tears for Ira Glass’s think she is? And when a friend, Connection, and northern Craig White | Dan Worland departure to NYC if I thought who is a fan, said that she has a Illinois, which is at the CSA it surprising that fellow lot of power, I said, “Yes, because Learning Center. Interested Information Systems Director Jerry Davis mourners spend their Friday people like you give it to her.” would-be farmers can check out Information Systems Project Manager Conrad Hunter Information Systems James Crandall | John Dunlevy afternoons shopping at James Frey and Nan Talese www.farmbeginnings.uiuc.edu. Doug Fawley | Sean Phelan Marshall Field’s, nibbling should have gotten up and continued on page 26 Special Projects Coordinator Lisa Martain Hoffer sandwiches at the Berghoff, and sipping mai tais at Trader National Advertising Vic’s. Fifteen years ago I used The Ruxton Group, 1-888-2-RUXTON to rush home myself on Friday New York |Chicago|Phoenix |San Francisco afternoons in time to hear The Wild Room, Glass’s previous CHICAGO READER radio project. The principal 11 E. Illinois, Chicago, IL 60611 difference is that, like most of 312-828-0350 www.chicagoreader.com The Wild Room ’s audience, I

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They Don’t Know Jack The pundits are missing what really makes 24 tick.

By Michael Miner wenty-four is the Fox Terrorist Unit “find themselves drama where one day a year perpetually at the crossroads of T Jack Bauer takes the law urgency and ethics.” into his own hands and saves the In the New York Times on republic. It’s always a day when February 5, Sarah Vowell hailed the president happens to be visit- 24 as a liberal’s guilty pleasure. ing Los Angeles, and maybe the Describing a recent scene in show’s real message is that the which Bauer, interrogating a president should stay back east. treacherous aide to the president But anyway, this season, 24’s about missing canisters of nerve fifth, the pundits are descending gas while time was, as time on the show to assign it its place always is on 24, fast running out, in the American gestalt. The rea- points a knife at his face and son why is clear: the premiere last tells him that if he doesn’t talk, month coincided with a moment “the first thing I’m going to do is, when George W. Bush was telling I’m going to take out your right every friendly audience he could eye. I’ll move over and take out find that a president’s gotta do your left.” Vowell admits, “Sitting what he’s gotta do and besides, if on my couch, under the watchful he does it it’s legal. And here’s stare of no fewer than six busts Jack Bauer on TV once a week of Lincoln, while wearing a grimly doing the doing. Whose sweatshirt given to volunteers at side is 24 on? Liberals watch the a children’s tutoring center, as show by the millions—should Bauer’s knife was poised to they denounce it? Is 24 happy break the man’s skin, what I was hour for crypto-fascists? thinking was: Do it.” OX

The New Yorker’s Nancy She went on to conclude, DLER/F Franklin had never seen 24 at all “Unconstitutional fantasies are until recently, when she buckled normal (I hope), and on TV dra- down and watched every one of mas they can be entertaining Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer in 24 ANTHONY MAN the 102 episodes that’ve aired and cathartic. Let’s just keep since 2001. This kind of them off the TV news.” tortures and then gives himself which separates him by leaps er. In a crisis Bauer is pretty marathon does most shows no Vowell should scratch a little up. Let me finish this one mis- and bounds from the theologians quick to identify the lesser evil, favor. You spot its tics. “I tended deeper: 24 is not your garden- sion, he’s always dolefully telling running the country. but I don’t think he’s ever 100 to notice annoying repetitions,” variety unconstitutional fantasy. the CTU brass, and then you can Wussy secular humanists love percent sure, and as the lesser Franklin wrote this month. “It Jack Bauer is one of the greatest take me in. We don’t see Bauer Bauer because he’s a moral rela- evil is still evil, it’s pretty clear to seemed to me that Jack whis- TV characters because he does praying, but then we don’t see tivist. Cowboys like him because him he’s going to hell. pered ‘We’ll get through this’ to what needs to be done with deep him taking a leak either. Those he’s an absolutist. He gets that What’s not to like about Jack his daughter, Kim ...atleast five regard for what the constitu- are things that must happen some things are black-and-white Bauer? He’s a great example to times in every episode she was tion—not to mention his con- during commercials, and if his and some things are gray. He us all because he doesn’t lie in.” But Franklin was impressed. science—has to say about his prostate’s in no better shape knows the only way to distin- about the impossible nature of She was affected—as are we all— behavior. Unlike, just perhaps, than his soul the peeing is agony. guish the greater evil from the his choices. Fools and dema- by the “cloud of existential some present leaders of our gov- Bauer knows he’s in bad with lesser is to measure them both gogues do. Let’s consider briefly doom” that hangs over Jack ernment, Bauer knows what God. He knows that doing the against the yardstick of categori- one of the few personal crises I Bauer and by the way Bauer and needs to be done for what it is— wrong thing for the right reason cal evil, the yardstick the great don’t believe Bauer has faced in his comrades at the LA Counter evil. He spies and abducts and doesn’t make it the right thing— religions keep in their top draw- his five seasons on the air: what

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® The Straight Dope by Cecil Adams

In 1989, when I was a freshman at Baylor University in Texas, I was driving one evening to meet friends for dinner. I came over a hill and noticed a car on its last of several flips in a ditch on the side of the road. I quickly pulled over. The driver jumped out screaming—his buddy in the passenger seat had been thrown from the car. Another person stopped and noticed a body pinned under the front bumper in the if Kim had gotten knocked up? lapsed. He’s since been indicted ditch. I grabbed the driver’s side of the car and lifted it up four-or-so feet, long enough The abortion debate has torn the here in Chicago on charges of to realize the guy was unfortunately dead. —howardcrut, via the Straight Dope Message Board country apart because neither fraud, racketeering, money laun- side is honest about the choices. dering, and obstruction of justice About 15 years ago I had a friend named Jerry who was about six-six and one of the The debate is actually between and he faces trial next year in our strongest people I ever knew. He picked up cars regularly. I don’t mean completely the half of the country that federal court. His longtime busi- off the ground, but I do mean two wheels. He lifted the right half of my 1988 Toyota thinks abortion is evil and the ness partner, David Radler, who Corolla GT-S about 12 inches off the ground. —Cheeop, via the Straight Dope Message Board half that thinks it’s a necessary ran the Sun-Times and the rest evil. That’s a divide that could be of Hollinger International’s I am Anthony Vincent Cavallo II. I am writing you because I can. My mom did save straddled. Jack Bauer could Chicago Group, has pleaded my life! The story [ in the January 20 column] was a little off. The wheel was never straddle it. Again, abortion must guilty to fraud and agreed to tes- be one of those things that he tify against him. removed from the car, the rear suspension spring was (that’s what holds up the rear talks about, if at all, only during Citizen Black offers us Black— of the car). I was clamped between the top of the rear wheel and the top of the the commercials. But in the early aka Lord Black of Crossharbour— fender. My mom may not have lifted it a full four inches, but she held it up so friends seasons, when Kim was a teenag- during somewhat happier times in could get a jack under it and pull me out. Ironically I have continued my automotive er, if his cell phone had rung and other places. Filmmaker Debbie education and now run five Goodyear tire stores. —Anthony V. Cavallo II, via e-mail she’d told him in a quavering Melnyk chases him around trying voice, “Daddy, I’m pregnant and to get him to agree to a formal I don’t know what to do,” I have interview, and we see enough of hat was part of your automotive fered numerous broken bones and was no doubt what he’d have said. the banter between them to education? Man, kids think their hospitalized for 15 weeks but recovered homework now is a bitch. fully. Pew describes himself as He’d have whispered, “The ter- understand that Black can be a T five-eleven, 180-190 pounds Thanks to testimonials like rorists are about to spot me hiding pretty witty and charming guy. yours plus a little additional investigation, at the time, and athletic, and here and then I’m going to have to Melnyk and cowriter Rick Caine I’m now ready to deliver my solemn judg- says the car, a 1953 kill some people so this is a bad focus on Black’s Canadian and ment on superhuman strength. First, a Studebaker Champion, time to talk. But I want you to British operations. He’s a native last few facts: was light. Could he a I found out more about Sinjin Eberle, have lifted it under know I love you. We’ll get through Canadian, and London—where he the guy who pushed the 500-pound rock normal conditions? this.” Whatever he thought, what- owned the Telegraph—was the city off himself, having obtained the original No idea. ever she decided, she’d need his he longed to matter in. It seems report in Accidents in North American Conclusions: (1) strength and not his sanctimony, that Chicago, despite the Chicago Mountaineering from editor Jed Some people can and he’d be there for her. And it Group, was barely on his radar. Williamson. On May 9, 1999, Eberle and lift up cars, etc, in would occur to Jack Bauer that “The truth be told,” Caine says, Marc Beverly were climbing Hail Peak in moments of extremi- New Mexico’s Sandia Mountain Wilderness ty. (2) Some people whichever way things played out, “we had an internal conflict when Eberle inadvertently pulled loose a can lift up cars any old at some point down the road he’d about it. I’m American. Debbie’s large boulder, which fell on top of him as time. (3) Many sup- be as sad as could be. Canadian.” He wanted Chicago Beverly watched helplessly from above. “All posedly superhuman in the movie; she didn’t see the I could see of Sinjin was from the middle of feats of strength are UG SIGNORINO point. “There’s a Chicago section his shins down and the top of his head,” SL less impressive on close Beverly wrote. “The rock covered the rest inquiry. (4) Just the same, Sinjin that runs about 12 minutes long of his body and was dragging him down the account from Wendell Pew, a retired min- Eberle, Angela Cavallo, and Wendell Pew The Movie that’ll end up on DVD,” he says, slope I had just crossed. . . . Somehow, with ister. On July 27, 1957, Pew, then 29, was aren’t folks I’d care to cross during a “but that’s not the version on the the inertia of the rock . . . and all of his driving through eastern Nebraska with his crisis. (5) Science confirms that stimuli Wraps Before Sundance Channel.” strength, Sinjin was able to get the rock off wife, Lois, and their two small children. He such as adrenaline can modestly boost The absence of the Chicago sec- himself” but sustained serious injuries and pulled into a crossroads without noticing performance. (6) No one seriously contends the Story Ends tion doesn’t mean there’s nothing was eventually flown to a hospital by heli- an approaching vehicle, which smashed that humans can do things beyond the copter. Eberle himself minimizes his contri- into his right front side. Lois was thrown physiological limits of bone, muscle, and in the film to interest a viewer bution: “The rock fell onto me, but I was on from the car, which then rolled over her, sinew, so none of the above is a real The curious thing about Citizen here, but you need to pay close about a 45 degree slope,” he tells me via e- coming to rest with the right rear tire on shockeroo. (7) No matter how superhumanly Black, a documentary on Conrad attention. There’s a key scene late mail. “The rock slid over me to the nearby her shoulder as she lay face down. Pew hard you try, you’re still going to get Black that makes its U.S. pre- in the film at the 2003 Hollinger cliff, where it went over and I did not.” grabbed the fender and pulled up, taking some detail of a story told over the phone miere on cable’s Sundance International shareholders meet- a Little Ed, proving he’s not a total waste enough weight off the still-conscious Lois goofed up. Sorry about the accident that she was able to free herself. She suf- Channel at 8 PM this Monday, is ing in New York. (Melnyk of hydrocarbons, obtained the following specifics, Tony. And say hi to your mom. that it totally ignores Chicago. sneaked in with a camera.) By this The movie was finished two point Black, still in control of Comments, questions? Take it up with Cecil on the Straight Dope Message Board, www.straightdope.com, years ago, when Black’s media Hollinger, is under siege, and he’s or write him at the Chicago Reader, 11 E. Illinois, Chicago 60611. Cecil’s most recent compendium of knowledge, empire was beginning to splinter being grilled about deals in which Triumph of the Straight Dope, is available at bookstores everywhere. around him but before it col- continued on page 6 6CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE

Hot Type

continued from page 5 House of Lords (we see him in all weird way, Conrad Black was had been an expletive-filled tor- them. Try michellemalkin.com/ he and Radler seemed to make his lordly plumage) and the biog- much nicer to us.” rent diatribe against Islam and archives/004413.htm if you out a lot better than the company. raphy of FDR he was writing a I wouldn’t blame newspapers Muhammad, we wouldn’t be hav- haven’t seen the cartoons yet and Black replies haughtily, “The (Melnyk keeps cornering him at with reporters in the Middle East ing this discussion.” want to, and then I recommend chairman of the audit commit- the book shows where he flogs for not wanting to add to the dan- But it wasn’t. The charge was www.cagle.com, a showcase for tee, Governor Thompson, has the tome). He could submit ger they’re in, but the explana- blasphemy, which is very different editorial cartoonists. Poke around said every one of these transac- Citizen Black as evidence that he tions they’ve given for withhold- from profanity, and as the protest there and you’ll find a wide selec- tions was demonstrably in the never gave Chicago a thought. ing the Danish cartoons of became vast and violent it seemed tion of American cartoons com- company’s interest and was the Muhammad have a tinny ring to peculiar of the papers to hide the menting on the Danish cartoons best arrangement available. We them. American papers dismissed drawings that had incited it. plus a vigorous debate by believe all this can be document- the cartoons they wouldn’t pub- “You can see them around the American cartoonists (look in par- ed to the satisfaction of the most News Bites lish as witless and juvenile. The world on the Internet,” host ticular at host Daryl Cagle’s own exacting examination.” Tribune’s outgoing public editor, Howard Kurtz observed during blog) on the way the nation’s This response foreshadows a There will be no update of Don Wycliff, called them “crude” the Reliable Sources discussion. papers handled the story. Black’s probable defense at trial: Citizen Black. Rick Caine and and then the editorial page called Papers that don’t mind ceding a One of last year’s best-reviewed Radler and Jim Thompson were Debbie Melnyk have moved on them “crude.” Wycliff drew an more and more of their purpose to books, Courtroom 302 by Reader minding the store while Black, to their next subject: Michael analogy to an “expletive-laced dia- the Internet can console them- staff writer Steve Bogira, has just putting his trust in their judg- Moore, who they started follow- tribe against Islam,” and then selves with that thought. But few been published in paperback. ment, paid no attention. His ing around before Fahrenheit deputy managing editor James papers seized the obvious middle HBO has bought rights to Bogira’s mind was on other matters, such 9/11 came out. “Michael’s fun- Warren went on CNN’s Reliable ground—telling their readers book and plans to develop a minis- as the seat he coveted in Britain’s ner,” says Caine. “But in some Sources and said, “If, in fact, this where to look online or linking to eries based on it. v CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE 7 8CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE

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The Train That Never Comes The CTA got $593 million to extend the Red Line south of 95th Street. Now what’s the holdup?

By Ben Joravsky ast August President Bush line,” says Michael Evans, came to Aurora to sign associate director of the DCP. L into law a transportation “Down here it’s one of those bill laying out more than $590 urban legends. You still find million for the much-anticipat- people out there who’ll say, ed, long-delayed Red Line ‘They’ll never extend it to extension project. So any day the city limits. They’ll never now construction crews will be spend all that money on the working to extend the line south side—95th is just as far from 95th to 130th Street, as it’s going to go.’” right? “Very funny,” says Lou Over the last four decades Turner, research and public the extension project has sim- policy coordinator for the mered on the CTA’s back burn- Developing Communities er as other projects—the Project, a south-side communi- Orange Line to Midway, the ty group advocating for the Blue Line to O’Hare, the Green extension. “That’s a good one.” Line reconstruction, to name a As Turner and other south- few—were completed. siders have come to realize, “There are two basic ways having money authorized is projects get off the ground,” one thing; actually moving on Turner says. “They’re either a project is another. Funding pushed by the transit plan- is only the first step in a politi- ners or, more likely, by politi- cized and exceedingly slow cians. For years everyone just bureaucratic process. There’s sort of forgot about the exten- still no guarantee that the sion plan.” Red Line extension will ever be In 2002 the DCP seized the built. “I always tell people that issue. Over the last four years transportation planning is they’ve held rallies, written rocket science,” says Turner. letters, attended meetings, “Believe me, it’s byzantine.” and circulated petitions hop- The Red Line is a combina- ing to cajole, embarrass, or tion of the north-side Howard pressure politicians and trans- Line and the old Dan Ryan portation planners at the local, line, which ran from the Loop state, and federal level into to 95th. Folks at the CTA old advancing the project. At their enough to remember these urging Congressman Jesse things tell me that years ago Jackson Jr. endorsed the the first Mayor Daley wanted project three years ago. And to extend the Dan Ryan line last year Jackson teamed up farther south but ran out of with Senator Barack Obama, money. Cynics say Daley who worked as an organizer intentionally stopped the for the DCP in the 80s, to get line at 95th because he didn’t it included in the massive $286 want to spend so much on a billion transportation funding line that would primarily bill adopted by Congress. serve black people. “That was a huge victory,” “I can remember when I says Turner. “But it was really was a kid hearing people talk only the start of a whole new about extending the Dan Ryan process.” CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE 9

The federal authorization of usually the nastiest aspect of referendum held in the 9th or another on the Red Line doesn’t want to have hearings $593 million covers only about any major transportation and 34th wards back in 2004. extension, something that could on new projects right now 80 percent of the extension’s project. At 111th Street the “The extension would connect rebound against him in the because they don’t want the estimated $741 million cost. line would swing east to people down here to jobs in 2007 mayoral election, when public to think that their The city and state have to Michigan Avenue, stopping the Loop or in the suburbs,” Jesse Jackson Jr. may well be budget crisis isn’t really seri- come up with the remainder, at 115th Street, then head far- says Turner. “There’s a legiti- one of his opponents. ous,” says Turner. “They think roughly $148 million. And ther east to 130th near Stony mate transportation need for In the meantime the Red that if they start holding hear- that’s where things get tricky. Island. In all it would include the extension.” Line plan is slowly working its ings on new projects people The Red Line extension is only way through the system. At will want to know how you one of several local projects the moment the CTA is work- can add new service if you’re competing for state funds. “We were told that the CTA doesn’t ing on putting together an broke. I think they’re waiting There’s also the Orange Line “alternatives analysis” of the for the right moment to release extension to Ford City, the want to have hearings on new proj- extension. The analysis, their analysis.” Yellow Line extension to Old required by federal law, lays Of course, once the CTA Orchard, the Ogden Corridor ects right now because they don’t out various routes the line completes the alternatives trolley line, and the Circle Line, could follow. CTA spokes- analysis they will have other a new train service that would want the public to think that their woman Noelle Gaffney says bureaucratic hurdles to clear. run in and around the Loop budget crisis isn’t really serious.” the authority hasn’t even put In addition to holding public from Bridgeport to the near the analysis out for bids from hearings to solicit community north side. The state can’t planners yet. “Actually, the reaction, the authority will fund them all. In fact, CTA four new stops and run for But plans aren’t made based bid is in our purchasing de- have to commission an envi- insiders tell me it’s unlikely some 6.1 miles through on need alone, as transportation partment,” says Gaffney. ronmental impact study, and that the state can afford to Roseland, Pullman, and planners well know. If Mayor “We’re doing final tweaks Springfield will still have to fund more than one major Riverdale, servicing roughly Daley has a vision for public before we put something out be persuaded to come up with project in the next decade. 130,000 people. transportation, it’s that he on the street.” the money. Each step in the If you ask Turner and Evans, These are some of the city’s wants it to seed tourism and Turner, however, says that process is a potential killer for the Red Line deserves to be poorest and most underserved development in and around his inside sources tell him the a project that’s nearly 40 funded first. Under the cur- neighborhoods, with the the central business district. delay has a different source: years behind schedule. rent proposal the new line greatest need and most to He strongly favors the Circle the negative atmosphere “Personally, I think they’ll do would drop south from 95th, gain from a new transit line. Line and the Block 37 megasta- brought about by recent fare the Red Line extension,” says just east of Halsted, along They’ve certainly been waiting tion, eventually intended as the hikes and budget tussles Turner. “But we’ll have to ride existing rail lines—so there the longest for a line. The hub for express service to both between the CTA and the state them every step of the way. would be no need to buy and plan was embraced by roughly airports. He hasn’t taken a legislature over the past year. And even then they’ll do it on demolish homes or businesses, 98 percent of the voters in a strong public stand one way “We were told that the CTA their time.” v 10 CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE

Chicago Antisocial [email protected]

and boots? Rubber wellies? Hoodies? I assured myself that it was only because it was 4 PM— far too early for anyone to care what they looked like. The show started with a glitchy lo-fi techno remix of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and girls with I-just-woke-up hair emerged wearing supersoft empire-waist- ed jersey dresses and tunics with ballooning backs and hems that gathered around the thighs. One pair of men’s pants had slim zip- pers like tiny pleats at the waist. Afterward I had time for a quick romp through Saks Fifth Avenue, where I was addressed as “madam,” and a slice of pizza at a deli, which I ate off a plastic tray in a cavernous white room full of mirrored columns and fold-out tables. A dozen groups of Latino workers laughed it up over six-packs of Corona. The first thing I noticed at the Gen Art Fresh Faces show, which highlights up-and-coming talent, was how the ass of a plastic-sur- gery victim in tight leather pants looked exactly like her lips, all shiny and stretched out. My mood lifted when I saw a dude in a polo shirt carrying a tray of Johnnie Walkers on ice, then darkened again when I realized he was serving only rows one through three. I was in row four. The Chicago Tribune was in two. The models finally came out, and I had a hard time staying interested. Last year every design- er seemed newly obsessed with volume: loose, air-filled shapes that let the body do its thing sepa- rate from the clothing. Now every- one’s still doing it, and they’re all

TRONG doing the same shapes—the bell, the tulip, the trapeze, the tent. At New York Fashion Week: Alice Roi models backstage, a collage inside the main tent in Bryant Park, models at a Vena Cava event on February 4, the well-dressed Mr. Toast LIZ ARMS I went to Chelsea for the Myself by Kai Kuhne show, from a one- time member of the polyamorous design team As Four. A woman in a Mickey Mouse sweatshirt, Speedo stretch pants, one huge mirrored earring in the shape of a handgun shooting a heart, braces, and a French braid was Fashion Weak chatting it up with the people in the front row. There were lots of good-looking, stylish people The retarded Chihuahua may have been the highlight of my trip. here—I was kind of intimidated, which was satisfying. By Liz Armstrong As soon as the first beat of twas last Thursday night, scoured the runway-show photos ple more important than me to Footwear News or the Tote Front 242’s “Quite Unusual” quarter to ten, when I had and backstage reports on arrive. The upside of being a Report got. I started to grasp started blasting, the lights blared I finally had it. I’d been waiting Hintmag.com and Style.com just nobody was that I was able to form something of the byzantine rules and a striking model appeared half an hour on a New York City in case I found myself in a con- opinions unbiased by a single per- determining Fashion Week seat- from the wings in a short knit sidewalk in the bitter cold for a versation with a member of the son showing me any kindness. ing: buyers, celebrities, editors in bathrobe-cum-trenchcoat-cum- fashion show that had been “fashion elite.” While packing I But standing there freezing my chief of big glossies, and hyper- dress. Fuck yeah! This was what scheduled to start at nine o’clock. cataloged all the dresses, skirts, ass off, I had a moment of clarity. wealthy clients in the front row, I came for: drama and goose I overheard a twink whose tight blouses, tunics, sweaters, jackets, I realized that there are actually then the general press, ranked in bumps, a packed room, clothing jeans were tucked neatly into his pants, leggings, boots, pumps, some things I won’t do, not even order of perceived importance, a I’d probably never have the guts boots tell his companions, two and platforms I was bringing for an event as momentous as calculus that changes according to wear, models who make me floppy-Mohawked guys also in and made elaborate lists of the fall 2006 collections. I took to the designer and the day—as feel like an inferior species. tight jeans and boots, “Say the which items went together. off and met a friend for dinner. the week draws to a close the Saturday, February 4: I’d editor in chief of Vogue is at a While unpacking at my friend’s That was my breaking point, shows get bigger and more walked not 50 steps out the door show. They want her to get here place in Brooklyn, I realized I’d but there were about 17 bazillion expensive, and good seats (or any of my friend’s apartment when a and they’ll hold this show for her. forgotten all my tights. I had my other disappointments in the seats) are harder to come by. white limo pulled up next to me. They don’t care about you or me. roommate overnight them to me. course of the week. For example: I noticed tons of Marc Jacobs A young guy with spiky hair got We wait outside until she comes.” Thursday’s show, by Zaldy— Friday, February 3: Today and Mulberry bags, purses so out. “So my friends and I are Well, I thought, maybe you do. who’s most famous for working started off with a United ubiquitous on the streets and in kind of feeling you,” he said. “And A week ago I thought I’d do with Gwen Stefani on her Bamboo show at the gallery Exit the pages of Us Weekly I thought we’re wondering if you’d like to anything for fashion. I am only L.A.M.B. clothing line—would Art. I had a fourth-row seat— no self-respecting style geek go to Atlantic City with us.” I slightly embarrassed to admit have been my 12th in seven days, between Harper’s Bazaar and would dare carry one. The dress realized that the outfit I thought that before leaving Chicago to and by then I was accustomed to Fashion Calendar. Not bad—cer- code was likewise confounding: looked chic and interesting—a cover New York Fashion Week I being forced to wait ages for peo- tainly better than either Why was everyone in tight jeans tight dress and holy-shit-heeled CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE 11

boots—actually made me look like a hooker. Still, any other day I probably would’ve joined them. Outside Jasmin Shokrian’s show, a photographer for Jane magazine asked if she could take my photo for their street-style sec- tion, and I felt vindicated (though I tried to act like I didn’t care). Inside an airy, eighth-floor hair salon in the Meatpacking District, Chicago expat Shokrian presented a collection called “Phases Alighting,” which, to be honest, struck me as a little pretentious. But one jacket with material gath- ered and stitched down in the back, suggesting wings, made me excuse the highfalutin premise. Next was Alice Roi, my first stop at the tents in Bryant Park, site of the official Olympus Fashion Week shows, which is to say the ones by designers your mother has heard of. Last time I was in Bryant Park, two summers ago, a pack of cops were shoving their bicycles into about a hun- dred people who were protesting the Republican National Convention. I was arrested and spent 50 hours in jail. Now, just a year and a half later, I was stand- ing in line wearing six-hundred- dollar shoes. What had I become? But then British Elle took my pic- ture and I was happy again. I’ve known Alice Roi’s creative director, Liv Wildz, for several years—I even modeled and sang in her first solo show when she moved to New York from New Orleans four years ago—so I got to hang out backstage, sipping champagne and watching silent, diligent, black-shirted stylists tease teenage models’ hair under insanely hot lights. I met one of Liv’s other friends, Poppy King, a cosmetics entre- preneur who was named Young Australian of the Year in 1995. We were both given spots in the continued on page 12 12 CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE

Chicago Antisocial

continued from page 11 steins, yards of polished wood, I guess compared with the stuffi- brook duo called Cosmic LeSportsacs; everyone looked standing-room-only area behind and sepia-toned portraits of mus- ness of the tents the disorganiza- Western Mystery Tradition. ready to shovel some snow then all the seats. I couldn’t figure out tachioed men. Stemp’s claim to tion must’ve seemed fresh, but Wednesday, February 8: Oops, take a nap. Can people not even why we didn’t get seats, and then fame is her friendship with Kate I’ve seen too many confused little I missed Peter Som. But I made dress up for freaking Fashion I noticed another of Liv’s friends Moss, so I was expecting some indie shows in Chicago to be it to Brian Reyes at the Sony Week? I’m used to seeing people also standing and I figured out serious glamour here. At first I charmed by sloppiness anymore. Recording Studio in Midtown. dress for comfort—I live in that standing room is even cooler thought I’d found it: everyone I could not motivate myself to More puff sleeves, more high Chicago, for chrissakes—but at than the front row because it’s was older, was wearing all black, get out to today’s shows. Instead waists, more tulip skirts. Yawn. least here people appreciate it filled with die-hard fans and and had British accents. But then I slept all afternoon, ate Fritos I decided to cheer myself up by when someone makes an effort. people who actually know the their coats came off and they all with hummus for a late lunch, going shopping and came back I’d figured New York, the fashion designer. But when Poppy and I looked a little too comfortable, in and petted Mr. Toast, the men- with a pair of tight jeans, which I capital of the country, would also found some vacant third-row soft cashmere sweaters and easy tally retarded teacup Chihuahua promptly tucked into boots. This be the style capital. But everyone seats we snapped them up. pants, like they were dressed for the friend I was staying with was would be my uniform for the rest at the shows looked the same, Roi pulls off a pretty subtle mix- an overseas flight. pet-sitting, then ended the night of my trip. What’s the point of like cookie-cutter versions of ture of tough and sweet that when A few hundred people waited snorting morphine with friends trying to stand out? All it gets Kate Moss circa 2003, like being done right makes a woman look around the place—and waited, in New Jersey. And I was still you is a tiny little picture in Jane different meant being uncool, like Edie Sedgwick and when and waited—for the show to three days from hitting bottom. that will end up embarrassing like we were all back in junior done wrong makes her look like a begin. And once it did most of us Tuesday, February 7: I really you. If you’re lucky. high again and anyone not in an mallrat. My favorites included a didn’t even know it had: the did mean to make it to the Thursday, February 9: Went to oversize I.O.U. sweatshirt and distressed ivory jersey tent dress models walked languidly down a Heatherette show tonight in see Araks, who showed supersoft, Cavariccis couldn’t sit with the and ribbed knit leggings worn flight of carpeted stairs into the hopes that club-kid moguls understated lingerie, muted popular girls at lunch. with patent leather fingerless main foyer wearing short flouncy Richie Rich and Traver Rains knitwear, and classically sweet tai- Then there was that last gloves like hand spats; a charcoal dresses, cozy hooded sweaters would come up with something loring. Then I checked out Joanna straw at Zaldy. crushed-velvet dress delicately paired with lacy tap pants, and so gloriously frivolous that it Mastroianni’s show in Bryant Park. Friday, February 10: I’d already held up with black patent leather abstract animal-print tunics with would pull me out of my funk. Mastroianni’s collection was made up my mind that I was ties that looked like garbage bag leggings. There was no runway: But I was having drinks at full of magisterial silhouettes going home tonight, despite my fasteners; and a sort of off-kilter the models sort of gathered in Beauty Bar and got to the sub- and ornate fabrics, which makes invitations to the Jeremy Scott and deconstructed baby-doll dress the middle of the ballroom and way too late. So I met a friend at sense because her program said Karl Lagerfeld shows—I couldn’t with sleeves that were carved shrugged, looking lost. Then they a Brooklyn gallery and perform- she was influenced by Fabergé take one more disappointment, open to expose the armpits. stood and talked to each other ance space called the Glass eggs. Here I also saw my first especially from designers whose I capped off the night with Sue like they were hanging out next House, where a few dozen hip- celebrity, if Fairuza Balk counts, work I covet insanely. Instead I Stemp’s show in the Players Club to a water cooler. sters in tight jeans and boots sat which she probably doesn’t. looked at their collections online, on Gramercy Park South, a stuffy Monday, February 6: Cathy on scraps of shredded Oriental The standing-room area at where distance restored some of members-only establishment Horyn called Stemp’s show “bril- rugs, watching a lethargic, darkly this show didn’t feel so cool. the illusion of glamour. It almost filled with beat-up old silver liant” in today’s New York Times. folksy Greek-goddess-by-the- Women in Uggs carried nylon made me want to be there. v CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE 13 14 CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE

TRUE Absolutely the and UNSOLICITEDfor Testimonials

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chicagoreader.com The NewReader Classifieds Howwill theyimprove your life? In the print edition of the Reader this page is occupied by a Chris Ware comic. At his request, we do not make his work available online. In the print edition of the Reader this page is occupied by a Chris Ware comic. At his request, we do not make his work available online. In the print edition of the Reader this page is occupied by a Chris Ware comic. At his request, we do not make his work available online. CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE 19

[snip] Solar eclipse. “From a promising start in the “Heliographs.” “Funding designated for supporting early part of the decade, policies and incentives [in renewable energy, especially small-scale systems, has Illinois] supporting solar energy growth have ground to been diverted to close the general revenue budget gap, a halt,” writes Mark Burger, president of the Illinois leaving the Renewable Energy Trust Fund empty.” — Our Town Solar Energy Association, in its newsletter Harold Henderson | [email protected]

Music San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Oswego An up-and-coming British postpunk trio wows the preteens at a suburban high school gym. By Jessica Hopper ast Friday evening two dozen kids between the ages of 7 and L 15 milled around nervously in front of the stage in the auditorium at Oswego East High School. They were VIPs, hanging out in a reserved section that had been roped off with actual rope, while 350 other kids filled up the stadium seating. They’d all come to see Black Wire, an up- and-coming postpunk trio from Leeds, England, and for most of them this was their first show. When front man Dan Wilson asked at the beginning of the band’s set, “Who here has ever been to a concert before?” six little hands went up. One of the hands belonged to Gia Muzzalupo, a ten-year-old VIP who came with her three best friends. “I saw Rascal Flatts this summer,” she said later. “I’m here because my friend’s mom runs the label that put out Black Wire. I’ve never heard them before, but I know it’ll be good ’cause it’s rock ’n’ roll. I’m really excited—I love rock ’n’ roll. I’m in a band too. We’re called Hot Goth Chicks. We’re a mix of rap, hip-hop, and rock ’n’ roll. I’m the lead singer.” This was Black Wire’s first U.S. tour, a short jaunt with stops in San ER

Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and AU Oswego, the home base of the band’s

U.S. manager, Bjorn Forsell. Along ANDREA B with an old friend, Meredith Wittich, Black Wire bassist Tom Greatorex; Lauren Nieves, Vanessa Wittich, and Gia Muzzalupo in the VIP section; future sound engineer Charise Walters Forsell started Giant Pecker Records, which released the band’s self-titled previously worked as a studio engineer label full-time. their first full-length, opening for debut CD stateside on Tuesday. “I just and as a guitar tech for the Cardigans Black Wire formed in 2003 and bands like the Kaiser Chiefs and the thought it would be cool to expose the and the Hives, discovered Black Wire their first single, “Attack Attack Arctic Monkeys. Playing a high kids to a band that’s well on its way to through their debut seven-inch, and Attack,” was named an NME single school was a first for them. “We’ve breaking,” Forsell said. “Most of them signed on to work with the band after of the week in April 2004. Their sec- never played an all-ages show had never seen a concert, and those seeing them a few times in England. ond, “Hard to Love, Easy to Lay,” before,” said Wilson, 23. “Generally, who had, it was at Rosemont Horizon. Wittich, 34, who has no previous expe- cracked the UK Top 75 singles chart we just play to drunk old people. It Meredith and I both have kids, and it’s rience in the music business, left her the first week of its release the fol- was cool to play to people who not like we can take them to shows at job as a science teacher at Oswego lowing December, and they’ve spent weren’t jaded, people who were just the Empty Bottle.” Forsell, 36, who has High six months ago to work on the the last year touring in support of continued on page 20 20 CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE

What Are You Wearing? Our Town

continued from page 19 letter jacket. There were fur coats happy to be out of the house with and Zeppelin T-shirts and sunglasses something to do.” worn indoors. Gia Muzzalupo and Oswego East’s auditorium, which her friends had spent all week plan- features an elaborate professional ning their outfits over the phone. lighting rig and an unbelievably loud “We have to dress attractive,” she sound system, is frequently rented for said. “What if we want to marry public events, according to the someone in the band?” school’s theater manager, Todd Once the house music—live Mielcarz. “We mostly just get recitals Warren Zevon—was cut and the in here,” he said. “This kind of show, a lights went down, the VIP rope was punk band, that’s a pretty big deal for moot. Black Wire entered to high- us in a presenting season. Our main pitched screaming, the kids rushed concern is safety. We’re keeping the the stage, and the screaming contin- VIP roped off so people don’t rush the ued throughout a well-honed, Clash- stage. I don’t think they will.” But inspired half-hour set. The kids physical safety wasn’t the only con- screamed when the band danced. cern. Though Forsell had submitted They screamed for guitar solos. A copies of Black Wire’s album, along group of girls from Waubonsie Valley with T-shirts and posters, to the High School screamed “I love you!” UGLIA school’s administrators for approval every time Wilson neared the lip of several months earlier, it wasn’t until the stage. They screamed when he VERIO TR SA the day before the concert that objec- kicked a water bottle and when he Martha Mulholland tions were raised. Several parents took chewed the banana-flavored gum issue with the title “Hard to Love, that had been thrown onstage. They Easy to Lay” and also with the explic- screamed when he announced before Something Old, itness of Forsell’s label name. In order the band’s second song, “This one’s for the concert to go off as planned, about London.” They imitated his “Giant Pecker” had to be blacked out moves: pogoing, rock-steady ska from all posters and promotional dancing, throwing arms to the beat. Something Eew materials, no merchandise could be Wilson, clearly amused, had to catch sold, and the band had not only to himself in the middle of his standard artha Mulholland, 22, grew Just for yourself? and hound belt buckles and stuff. This agree not to play “Hard to Love,” but in-between-song banter, stopping M up in Lexington, Kentucky, Yeah. It’s interesting to see yourself is a greyhound. I remember it was sit- to not say the word lay at all. after he began to thank the kids for and works as a cataloguer for taken out of context, to suddenly look at ting in my mother’s dresser for years The audience, a total of 420 people “coming out tonight.” M. Klein Auctions. yourself and you’re somebody else. It’s and I was always petrified of it. why I collect mirrors too. I like to think including guests and chaperones, ran As their their set progressed the You seem drawn to things What is that around your shoulders? about who used to wear this, how many that are creepy. the gamut from JV basketball cheer- band never once said the word lay, A Victorian silk collar. faces have looked in this throughout I don’t know where that comes from. I leaders (still in uniform) who had although fuck was uttered twice: once Where’d you get it? history and who’s been reflected back. never heard the band to serious fans accidentally by Wilson, and once quite like juxtaposing pretty with macabre, There used to be an old store in How do tight jeans fit into this picture? but I don’t think I like “creepy.” like 15-year-old Charise Walters, who intentionally by an eager young man Kentucky called Just Fabu run by two I thrifted these in Los Angeles. They What about the taxidermy? normally does sound for the theater who grabbed the mike and cussed a gay guys. Every time I went home have the 14-inch rise that makes it vir- I grew up in the country around ani- but tonight was working as a runner female teacher. Then for their final they would let me root through the tually impossible to move. I feel like all mals and now in the city I’m not real- for the band’s soundman. “I got into song, in spite of their promise, they back room. I also have little jackets my organs are being rearranged. and hoop skirts from this little shop. ly around wildlife. So I’m bringing it the band about a year ago,” she said. launched into “Hard to Love.” Wilson That’s very Victorian, actually. What’s into my home. People ask how I can “I heard about them from family in began pulling audience members up What’s with the Victoriana? your belt buckle? have stuffed animals in my house England, actually. It’s really cool that onto the stage, who in turn pulled up I’m a hoarder and I collect things. I This is from when my dad went out of around living animals, my cats. I say they are actually playing my high their friends, and by the song’s second collect antique clothing and antique the horse business. He bred horses, it’s OK because they would’ve been furniture and taxidermy animals—I and business in general was bad for a well dead anyway. I named them all— school.” Other kids took fashion cues chorus, almost the entire audience want to keep them for posterity. while, but he was so attached to this the pheasant is Ferdinand, the squir- from pictures they’d seen of people at was bouncing around up there, I’ll get really dressed up in period equestrian ideal that he opened a rel is Fievel. They keep me and the concerts. One boy wore a dark green jostling for spots next to band mem- costumes sometimes. hoity-toity riding shop. It was full of fox cats company. —Liz Armstrong wool suit he’d borrowed from his bers and screaming into the micro- dad, which was five or six sizes too phones. Eventually Wilson was big for him. Another had on a shirt squeezed off, and as his band finished that simply read REGGAE under his the song, he watched the kids. v CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE 21

Tittle

continued from page 1 take no shit,” Tittle says. “You worked your ass off, you kept things clean.” Her mother, Juanita, among other jobs, managed the pool hall and also a record store, McKee’s Bop Shop, at 47th and South Park Way (now Martin Luther King Jr. Drive). Tittle recalls being a young girl watching DJs Al Benson and McKee Fitzhugh do remote broadcasts in the store window; if they were running late, her mother would jump on the air herself to spin records. Tittle tended to her four younger siblings, and she picked up odd jobs as well. Working behind the candy counter at the Regal, she fell in love with R & B music. “Seeing those shows was like watching Christmas,” she says. “The lights and the music just surrounded you. I would see artists like Jackie Wilson, Big Maybelle, the Blue Notes before they were Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes— Cookin’ they were so Wit’ Tittle handsome. We TV: would try to WHEN Thursdays 7 get their atten- PM, Fridays 2 PM tion, but they (rerun), CAN TV knew we were just little girls. RADIO: I always had WHEN Fridays 10 music around AM-2 PM, WKKC me because my 89.3 FM father played horn. When he was a bartender at the Brass Rail under the 47th Street el tracks, I would be in the office while my mother was doing the books, and I would see guys like Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons come in and play with my father. It was a wonderful time.” Her parents separated in the early 60s, and with her mother

and siblings Tittle became one of OOKING) the first tenants of the Robert

Taylor Homes. As a teenager she PEREZ (C TY witnessed the slow decline of the MAR projects—vandalized elevators, Cookin’ Wit’ Tittle on CAN TV, a Victor Skrebneski shot from 1970, with Oprah in 1980, at WBMX in 1977 dangerous incinerator chutes, gang activity—taking refuge in reading of Dial M for Murder, dancer Donald Griffith. the term they used, but you had one for Purex. This business the projects’ rec centers, where and soon she began studying With Griffith’s encouragement, to be multitalented to keep compels you to expand. But I some of the key players in with Johnson and ETA’s other Tittle registered with a talent working. I was doing voice-overs never knew I was destined to do Chicago’s black arts movement founder, Abena Joan Brown, at agency as a model after she grad- for McDonald’s, runway model- radio. I had no idea, even when I were teaching. Drama instructor Stateway Gardens. Through uated from Dunbar Vocational ing at Marshall Field’s, photo used to see my mother doing it.” Okoro Harold Johnson, later the them Tittle met other luminar- High School, and she soon found bookings. I was in the New York After high school she attended cofounder of the ETA Creative ies, including AACM cofounder modeling and acting work. “Back Times after modeling at ‘market Loop Junior College, and in 1966 Arts Foundation, gave Tittle her Phil Cohran, jack-of-all-trades then being a model was not just week’ in New York. My first tele- she married Ronald Horton. “My first acting role as the wife in a Oscar Brown Jr., and ballet modeling,” she says. “That was vision commercial was a national continued on page 22 22 CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE

Tittle

continued from page 21 husband and I loved dancing, and we’d go to a social club on 48th and Wabash called the Times Square,” she says. “Ronald introduced me to the DJ at the dances, Herb Kent, and he was the one who told me I had a good voice for radio.” “I was her first teacher,” says Herb “the Kool Gent” Kent, who in the 60s was a key member of the “Good Guys,” an influential group of black DJs on WVON. “She would come over to my office and I would teach her. She wanted to get into the right pro- fession—she was born with the voice and was very personable, and she was just a gorgeous woman. I often wondered how someone who looked like that could live in the projects.” Horton was eager to have chil- dren but she wasn’t. She recalls telling him, “Twelve babies are not coming out of me!” Horton volunteered for army service; in 1969, shortly after returning from Vietnam, he was killed in a car wreck at Fort Hood, Texas. Tittle continued as a student, graduating from Chicago State University in 1971 with a degree in art, theater, and secondary education. She had also earned a certificate from a broadcasting trade school, and she parlayed a gig reading PSAs on an AM jazz station, WBEE, into a full-time on-air job after she graduated. In CHING) 1973 she jumped to WBMX, an

FM R & B station that was PEREZ (TEA TY

becoming the predominant black MAR station in Chicago. At first she Tittle teaching video at Cook Elementary and radio at Kennedy-King College, with Isaac Hayes in 1979 read news and worked overnight slots, but after a year she moved Leonard Chess, died in 1969 the hat made Tittle such a and there was something casting and theater department. to weekday afternoons; her pres- station’s fortunes had declined, W success was that voice: her comforting and wise in her low, “She simply had the perfect ence on the mike, combined with but until Tittle arrived Kent had deep, husky timbre was seductive, melodic voice. Still, her girlish female announcer’s voice.” WBMX’s rising stature, made still ruled the roost. “I got clob- but her style was casual and personality came through. “She In 1978 WJPC, owned by her the number-one midday bered, and I wasn’t too happy,” he playful. At WBMX she maintained has a smile when she talks, and Johnson Publishing’s John H. radio DJ in Chicago. says. “Having someone I trained a dignified, mellow manner to you can hear it,” says Virgil Johnson, lured Tittle away from She’d wrested the title from beat me like that was like being complement the smooth adult R Hemphill, an instructor in WBMX, doubling her salary. Herb Kent. After WVON’s owner, shot with my own gun.” & B the station specialized in, Kennedy-King College’s broad- Popular DJ Tom Joyner had the CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE 23

morning slot; in between Joyner was a lousy fit for Tittle’s person- and early-evening DJ Bebe D. Tittle got laid off from WGCI the same year her ality. Eventually she was buried Banana, Tittle became Tittle in in the 2-to-6 AM slot. In 2000 the Middle. WJPC quickly mother died. “I went through this really terrific funk the station shifted to automated became a powerhouse, sponsor- overnight broadcasts, doing away ing major concerts like a for about a year and a half,” she says. “I was drinking with the need for a late-night DJ, Parliament-Funkadelic show at and Tittle was laid off. Soldier Field in 1978. Joyner cognac, I was cussing out a lot of people, and I was Her dismissal happened the was also WJPC’s program direc- same year her mother died. “I tor, and under his leadership engaged for six months to a person I hated.” went through this really terrific DJs were free to break away funk for about a year and a from the smoothness that typi- Johnson treated her like a queen, family. He supported her as she In December 1989 John H. half,” she says. “I was drinking fied black radio; they appeared she never acted stuck-up.” finished college, and guided her Johnson sold WJPC, ending cognac, I was cussing out a lot together on a novelty Christmas Unlike the DJ with the prover- through her early radio career; Tittle’s run at the station. After of people, and I was engaged hip-hop single, “Christmas bial face for radio, Tittle had the he also pushed her to do volun- brief stops at a Joliet blues sta- for six months to a person I Delight,” on which Tittle rapped looks to match her voice, which teer work and connect with the tion and smooth-jazz radio at hated.” Eager to do “anything to and crooned intentionally off- Johnson Publishing capitalized community. (Tittle’s worked with WNUA, she began working full- get away from corporate radio,” key. On the air, Tittle was silly, on by regularly publishing pho- the Midwest Association for time at WGCI in 1992, beginning she began doing some interior raucous, and loud: she joked tos of her in some of its national Sickle Cell Anemia, Operation nine difficult years there. “This decorating, and she continued with callers, gossiped about magazines, including Ebony, PUSH, and Omega Baptist was the beginning of corporate to take acting jobs, landing one recording artists, and had her Black Stars, and Jet . In 1979 she Church, among others.) She radio,” she says. “It pays good, in Five Rooms of Furniture at mother, “Mama T,” call in to was featured as a Jet “Beauty of spent years turning down his good benefits, but it is so format- the Organic Theater. During offer advice and comments on the Week” wearing a bikini made marriage proposals. “That was ted, and it is not fun. You have one such gig a WHPK DJ and current events. of WJPC bumper stickers. “It my biggest mistake,” she says. “I no control over the music you fellow actor, Sterling “the Jazz “She used to come to work in was a real honor to be a Jet cen- was thinking about my career play. You had a list of songs Doctor” Watson, told her about the most far-fetched outfits,” says terfold,” Tittle says, scoffing at and didn’t want to rush into any- [and] you just play exactly what his experience at CAN TV cre- Denise Jordan Walker, who the notion that the photo was thing after Ronald.” comes up and in that order. At ating public-access TV shows. worked with Tittle at WJPC in exploitative. “It was a sexy look Johnson died of a brain ’JPC they trusted your knowl- The prospect of doing her own the 80s and later at WNUA. “She for a sexy time. And those were tumor in 1981. “I began to think edge of the music.” show appealed: “After all I’d might wear a red boa or a fur real bumper stickers on real skin. I was jinxed,” Tittle says. “Both Tittle drew strong ratings, but been through I knew I should coat in an exotic color—one time And yes, it hurt coming off.” times I coped by throwing she was bounced between be doing my own television I think she came to work in a After her husband died Tittle myself heavily into my work. WGCI’s AM and FM stations show,” she says. “I wanted to be ballet tutu. When she came in began dating John E. Johnson More and more my career was and asked to work different the one responsible for show- the whole room lit up. She was a (no relation to John H. Johnson) therapy to deal with the loss of shifts. The AM station moved to casing my talent.” real diva, but though Mr. of the Johnson hair-care product two great people in my life.” a gospel format in 1998, which continued on page 24 24 CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE

Tittle

continued from page 23 TV. As if to prove just how a ball,” says WKKC station man- Each part ends with a cliff- Inn downtown, where the rawing on her showbiz con- sweaty her work in the kitchen ager Dorian Jones. hanger plot twist, and as the sev- auditions were being held. D nections, Tittle started out in can get, Tittle tends to show a lot Just before the Fourth of July enth draws to a close Sylvester “[The casting director] had a 2001 with an interview show, of skin on the show, often wear- weekend, around the same time (Kelly’s gun-happy character) little dog that she had to take The La Donna Tittle TV/Radio ing something low-cut and she started at WKKC, Tittle got a and Twan (Sylvester’s hotheaded outside,” Tittle says. “As I was Show, where she chatted up sleeveless under her apron. call from her agent, tipping her ex-con brother-in-law) have their going in her dog noticed me. entertainers like the Temptations Tittle’s now back behind a to an audition for the R. Kelly cocked firearms aimed at the front [The casting director] later and actor Chester Gregory. But radio mike as well. Last summer video. In early 2005 Kelly door, ready to terminate the inter- told me that she almost stopped after catching an exhibit dedicat- she took a position at Kennedy- released “Trapped in the Closet,” loper on the other side. The door me to ask me right there to ed to soul food at the Bethel King College as part of a pro- a five-part melodrama that fea- opens to reveal the first overtly come up to the audition.” Cultural Arts Center, she decided gram in which radio veterans tured him singing a convoluted comedic moment of the epic: an “It wasn’t hard to bring Rosie to recast her program as a cook- mentor college DJs; with her narrative over a spare track addled old lady wielding a spatu- to life,” she says. “I always come ing show. Cookin’ Wit’ Tittle students observing, she broad- punctuated by heartbeatlike la. “It’s Rosie the nosy neighbor / to a shoot with my hair in rollers debuted in 2003, taking a sensu- casts Fridays from 10 AM to 2 surges. The songs, and the soap- Oh, with a spatula in her hand / to give the stylist a fresh set to al approach to soul food—the PM on WKKC, 89.3 FM. (You opera-like videos that accompa- Like that’s gon’ do something work with. When the director camera zooms in often for inti- need to be on the south side to nied them, quickly became a against them guns,” Kelly sings. saw me in my rollers, he said, mate shots of the ingredients, pick it up: Northwestern’s sta- national phenomenon. Kelly has Under the cap, robe, and ‘That’s it!’ I brought my spatula and Tittle boasts that she’s the tion, WNUR, has that frequency eagerly responded—he’s released curlers is Tittle, who practically from home, my nightcap. All they first person ever to clean notori- on the north side.) “She can play 12 parts thus far and has prom- had the role even before she put me in was the robe. When R. ously malodorous chitterlings on anything she wants, and she has ised there are more on the way. stepped into the Hilton Garden Kelly saw me in costume getting

The book that “shines a blazing new light on America’s criminal justice system,” says ROBERT A. CARO. “An important and illuminating work…In his stories about the people—from the judge and the lawyers to the defen- dants—whose lives come together in a single American courtroom, in a single year, Bogira shows that he is a masterful reporter.” SCOTT TUROW hails “A wonderfully vivid portrait of a criminal courtroom in the nation’s busiest courthouse.” “Gripping,” says THE WASHINGTON POST.

“For fans of Law & Order, CSI and other crime dramas dominating prime time, Bogira offers the real thing” —BALTIMORE SUN

Published by KNOPF STEVE BOGIRA www.aaknopf.com CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE 25

into character he said, ‘Rosie, you “We actually got something requests for this story.) “I don’t Kennedy-King College, she me and hugged me. He had this are something else. I love you.’” coming up for Rosie,” R. Kelly think he’s made the connection,” teaches video and photography to little area on one side, and I had The arrival of Rosie the nosy said in October when he appeared Tittle says. “And that is excellent, students at Barton and Cook ele- my little fan area on the other side neighbor, not to mention a defe- on Jimmy Kimmel Live, which because I want to believe that he mentary schools, and she occa- of the VIP section. So I had my cating, asthmatic midget stripper showed Tittle’s scene multiple just thinks I’m a good actress. sionally substitutes at high fan, and I was staring at him, and a shotgun-toting white-trash times. Kelly said he was consider- This is what I want to do—to schools—including her alma getting all up into the character. adulteress (sung by Kelly in a hill- ing adapting the song cycle for the bring a character to life.” mater, Dunbar Vocational. Later he was coming down the billy accent), ignited parodies on stage; later that week he told USA These days Tittle’s datebook is Last fall she and a friend couldn’t steps, singing while he walked, Saturday Night Live, MADtv, and Today that a sitcom version was packed: she’s been working in resist the opportunity to track and he looked at me and said, ‘You South Park. Late last year the LA also a possibility. commercials and industrial films down Kelly when they were at the know, I got a lot of work for you.’ chapter of the Upright Citizens Though Kelly almost certainly for clients like Walt Disney World same club. “There was a VIP room “That’s good, I thought, Brigade, a comedy troupe started listened to Tittle growing up, he and U.S. Cellular, and she’s also upstairs, and I told security I was because I want to be Rosie in Chicago, hosted a pseudo sym- hasn’t publicly equated Rosie with begun work on her memoirs and Rosie the nosy neighbor, and I forever,” she says. “I want to posium on the series (with the Tittle in the Middle. (His publicist a cookbook based on her TV bogarted my way up there,” she make enough money to really pooping midget as guest speaker). did not respond to interview show. In addition to her work at says. “When Kelly came in he saw live next door to R. Kelly.” v

Q 26 CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE

Letters

continued from page 3 No More Find it! Where That Came From

Dear sirs: Z Michael Miner’s excellent overview of the issues involving Great Lakes water resources [“They Need It. We Waste It,” January 13] left out one pertinent fact: The New Reader Classifieds 90 percent of all the water chicagoreader.com | section 4 in the five lakes is the result of runoff from receding glaciers during the time when the Ice Age ended. Thus in the intervening 10,000 years only 10 percent of the water volume of the Great Lakes is due to rainfall and inflow from rivers and streams. The inadvisability of any large-scale diversion of Great Lakes water to both future freshwater supplies and to commercial navigation is obvious. All of us who are residents of the Great Lakes basin, whether Canadian or American, should take an active role in advocating for the passage of the Great Lakes- Saint Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact by contacting our respective elected representatives. Chet Alexander Alsip PS: This is not a new issue. While vacationing in a number of western states in 1982 and 1984 (both election years) I read and heard of a number of candidates for public office who advocated diverting Great Lakes water to the west. One proposal envisioned the construction of a pipeline from the western tip of Lake Superior at Duluth, Minnesota, that would supply water to the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming.

Weekly Wackadoo

Hola, I must tell you of my intense pleasure, which is your weekly columnist gone wackadoo ... a certain Lizzy A [Chicago Antisocial]. Is it just moi? Or is she amazing and exquisite? The latter suffices, methinks. Either way, please be assured of something: I pick up the Reader every Thursday for one reason—Liz Armstrong and her stimulating and colorful take on pop/art culture. I love that Bitch and her attitude! Peace, Thom Printers Row CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE 27 Reviews Movies Art Theater

Eugene Jarecki’s Yutaka Sone TimeLine Theatre Company’s at the Guantanamo: Why Renaissance Honor Bound to We Fight Society Defend Freedom

REVIEW BY J . R . JONES REVIEW BY BERTSTABLER REVIEW BY JUSTIN HAYFORD a 27 a 29 a 30

Movies

WHY WE FIGHT sss WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY EUGENE JARECKI RATINGS ssss MASTERPIECE sss A MUST SEE ss WORTH SEEING s HAS REDEEMING FACET • WORTHLESS Bringing the War Home Eugene Jarecki, the director who stuck it to Henry Kissinger, puts it to the people in Why We Fight.

By J.R. Jones ugene Jarecki made a name replacing the villain at the movie’s for himself on the art-house core are a half-dozen private indi- E circuit a few years back with viduals Jarecki picked up along The Trials of Henry Kissinger, a the way, and their very human stinging indictment of the former relationships with America’s mili- secretary of state as an architect tary machine demonstrate the and instrument of President depth of the problem. Nixon’s rapacious foreign policy. Jarecki borrowed his title from But in talking with audiences at the series of short indoctrination screenings, Jarecki began to feel films Frank Capra directed for the his 2002 film had missed the U.S. military during World War II. mark. “I was surprised how much For Capra the title was a state- people wanted to talk about ment, and a decidedly uncritical Henry Kissinger the man rather one. (“This isn’t just a war,” a nar- than the system he represents,” he rator announces in one short. says in press notes for his new “This is a common man’s struggle film, Why We Fight. “This time, I against those who would put him wanted to make a film that would back into slavery.”) Jarecki turns not offer a simple villain, but the title into a question, posing it instead invite viewers to look to nearly everyone he interviews Why We Fight more broadly at the system itself.” and providing a much-needed Why We Fight makes good on through line for his bulging narra- screech of the wheels the moment support himself and go to col- though the second was later dis- this ambition, opening with tive. “We fight for the principle of when the train turned a corner lege—there’s a poignant sequence proved, were the basis for the President Eisenhower’s prophetic self-determination,” President and Sekzer first glimpsed the in which he packs up his cheap escalation of U.S. involvement in 1961 farewell speech, in which he Johnson declares in a speech about World Trade Center belching black knickknacks, with their child- Vietnam—introduces Sekzer’s identified the military-industrial Vietnam. “We fight because it’s smoke. “I’m just thinking to hood memories, and takes them memories of serving as a helicop- complex as a threat to democratic necessary, and because it’s right,” myself, How did my son get out of to a storage center before ship- ter door gunner in that war. governance, and following this says smiley Bill Kristol. But those there?Well, I don’t know how, but ping out. On-screen the recruiter “From the perspective of a heli- premise through 9/11 and the are the short answers. The long he got out of there. There’s no two who signed Solomon up confides copter,” he says, “you’re up x-num- Iraq war. Jarecki looks at the one, articulated mostly by author ways about that. He can’t be in that it’s hard to win the recruits’ ber hundreds of feet, and you’re arms industry’s cozy relationship and CIA vet Chalmers Johnson there. Because anybody who’s in trust. But as Jarecki revealed dur- shooting at little dots that are with Congress and visits one of ( Blowback: The Costs and Con- there is gonna die.” After a clip of ing a recent local appearance, running around. You’re not shoot- the neocon think tanks where the sequences of American Empire ), is President Bush’s bullhorn moment cadets at a West Point screening ing at somebody face-to-face. It’s Bush Doctrine was hatched. He that we fight because our domestic at Ground Zero, Sekzer tells of Why We Fight laughed aloud almost like they’re not real human revisits Dick Cheney’s career with economy has been structured Jarecki, “Somebody had to pay for at some of Solomon’s mistaken beings. They’re objects.” From Halliburton and the administra- around war since World War II. this. Somebody had to pay for 9/11. impressions about what he’d be here Jarecki introduces Ahn tion’s massaging of the facts in the But for some of the people draft- I want the enemy dead. I want to doing in the army. Duong, who came to the U.S. at case against Saddam Hussein. He ed into the film, the answer to see their bodies stacked up for Fluidly edited by Nancy age 15 after her family was evacu- listens respectfully to political Jarecki’s question lies closer to what they did, for taking my son.” Kennedy, Why We Fight inter- ated from Saigon in April 1975. commentators both right home. Wilton Sekzer, a retired If Sekzer’s motivated by mis- weaves these personal stories not Her story might seem like a facile (Richard Perle, William Kristol, New York City cop, recalls riding placed vengeance, 23-year-old only with history but with one rebuke to Sekzer if not for the fact John McCain) and left (Gore the elevated train into the city from William Solomon is simply mis- another, yielding some choice that she’s now a navy explosives Vidal, Charles Lewis, Dan Rather) Queens the morning of 9/11. placed. His mother’s recent death ironies. A clip of President expert, part of the team that as they review 60 years of Jarecki combines his voice-over has left him without any family, Johnson announcing attacks developed the “bunker-buster” American realpolitik and weigh in with footage of Sekzer on the train and he’s enlisted in the army against two American ships in the bombs heralded at the beginning on the current conflict. But itself, re-creating down to the because it’s the only way he can Gulf of Tonkin—attacks that, continued on page 28 28 CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE

Movies

continued from page 27 Iraq indicating that scores of civil- of patriotism, of a deep desire for perspective. But the war in Iraq ment and remind us that in a of Operation Iraqi Freedom. ians were killed by U.S. precision revenge for what happened to my had nothing to do with the war on democracy no one can shrug off Not every character pays off weapons in the early days of the son,”he says. “But I was so insane terrorism.” Of the private individu- responsibility for the war. When emotionally: war. The point may be valid, but it with wanting to get even, I was als Jarecki brought into the film, Jarecki heads into flyover country Why We Fight Jarecki’s treat- feels rhetorical. willing to believe anything.” Asked Kwiatkowski has been the most for some quick man-on-the-street WHERE ment of two More effective are those charac- if he regrets his request, Sekzer is public; since stepping down as an interviews, the answers he gets Landmark’s U.S. fighter ters with an actual story arc—like forced into the excruciating posi- officer on the Iraq Desk in April are obscenely disengaged. “I think Century Centre pilots who ran Sekzer, who responded to Bush’s tion of parroting the administra- 2003 she’s made the rounds of we fight for ideals and for what & Century 12 the first bomb- assertion of an Iraq-Al Qaeda link tion’s line: “No, because I acted national media alleging that the we believe in,” says one man, and CineArts 6 ing mission of by asking the military to inscribe under the conditions at that time. Pentagon’s Iraq intelligence was glancing nervously at the camera. WHEN Daily Operation Iraqi his son’s name on a weapon head- Was it wrong? It was wrong, but I manipulated by a group of neo- “I hope that’s what it is.” Another Freedom is ed for Iraq. In no short time he got didn’t know that.” conservative Cheney appointees replies, “I’m not sure if we’re fight- notably stilted. Identified only as a message reporting that a 2,000- The last of Jarecki’s key subjects, calling themselves the Office of ing for the oil or not. We could be, Fuji and Tooms, they recount their pound guided bomb had been Karen Kwiatkowski, recounts sim- Special Plans (her charges were we could not be. The government secret mission but shrug off the dropped in loving memory of his ilar disillusionment. Now retired, dismissed by the Senate Select has more knowledge than I question of why they fight. “It’s not son and “met with 100 percent she was a lieutenant colonel in the Committee on Intelligence). know.” Perhaps if more people ours to decide,” says one. “We do success.” When the president later air force working for the Pentagon Despite Jarecki’s varied success had to sacrifice life and limb—or what we’re told.” Jarecki ultimately denied any link between Iraq and when it was hit on 9/11. “It was a in bringing these six people’s sto- sacrifice anything at all—the rea- yanks the rug out from under them 9/11, Sekzer was stunned. “The very dramatic and terrible thing,” ries to life, their stories personalize sons to fight, or not, would regis- with statistics and footage from government exploited my feelings she says. “And it does change your our current geopolitical predica- ter more clearly. v CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE 29 Art

YUTAKA SONE RENAISSANCE SOCIETY Snow Job Arty partier Yutaka Sone delivers a winter meditation fit for the mall.

By Bert Stabler ntroducing Yutaka Sone before a talk at the art star’s I Renaissance Society opening, curator Hamza Walker pleaded eloquently for the cultural reha- bilitation of “bankrupt” and “exhausted” natural icons. But Sone’s installation, “Forecast: Snow,” comes closer to perform- ing last rites for its subject than redeeming it. This Japanese native now living in LA interprets snow through cliched, nonde- script paintings and drawings of snowflakes, skiing-related diora- mas, a snowman on skis, fake snowballs, a pine forest “planted” in snowbanks, and several snowflake sculptures that evoke nothing so much as giant design- er paperweights realized in crys- tal, marble, and, to keep it real, papier-mache. The show is like a combination craft store, gift bou- tique, and sporting goods store. It puts us at the mall, the place where snow has diplomatically Y replaced faith-based imagery as a

symbol of “the holidays.” SANCE SOCIET In fairness Sone said during his talk that his aim is only to enter- tain and perhaps enchant the Y OF THE RENAIS

viewer. At that he’s fairly success- TES ful: in an essay Walker calls Sone’s UR CO work “straight-up fun ...no Snowman, ski-lift sculpture (detail), untitled acrylic painting, and giant crystal snowflake from “Forecast: Snow” strings attached.” And after all, as we’re told, Japanese art isn’t ham-handed drawings and learning institution he attended stacked furniture inspired by a just plain bad painting Ski policed for distinctions between maquettes, the carved pieces had plus his childhood home—a scene in the Spielberg movie, by Madonna is being used this fine and commercial art the way to have been entirely outsourced tongue-in-cheek expression of his having it fabricated mechanically season on Aspen lift tickets. Western art is. But much Japanese even though he also said he partic- psychology in which blank spaces from digital code. In a thoughtful It’s obnoxious for Sone to come art, from ukiyo-e woodcuts to ipated in the final detail work. Like represent repressed memories. But comment on sweatshops, he later off as Jeff Koons without the irony. manga to film, has used snow and Sone’s artisan-made marble carv- Sone’s clean, had the piece re-created in wax by But you can’t be too hard on an other natural phenomena in stun- ings of Los Angeles freeway inter- WHEN Through simplified, Thai craftsmen, in grass by a New international celebrity who makes ning and moving ways regardless changes, shown at the LA Museum Sun 4/9:Tue-Fri styleless York artist, and in toilet paper by a snow cactuses with kids. He’s obvi- of its intended audience. If Sone’s of Contemporary Art in 2003, his 10 AM-5 PM, Sat- models don’t New Mexico prison inmate. ously just a party dude—or at least installation isn’t beautiful or ugly, ski dioramas evoke nothing so Sun noon-5 PM approach Sone may not view his mission that’s the persona he presents. He tragic or funny, what is it? much as the intricately carved ele- WHERE Renaissance Kelley’s for the way Kelley and Pfeiffer do once videotaped himself and his It’s about knickknacks—and the phant tusks prized by 19th-century Society, Univ. of elegance, theirs. If skiing recurs in the friends throwing a series of birth- best knickknack is a fancy knick- European and American collectors Chicago, 5811 insight, or Renaissance Society exhibit, it’s day parties—and perhaps because knack. The most striking objects in of chinoiserie. There’s a lot to look S. Ellis, 4th flr. even cyni- central to his next one, “X-Art of the work’s “exuberance” or “Forecast: Snow” are two delicate at, but not much to see. PRICE Free cism. Instead Show,” which opens February 16 at Fluxus-like “economy of gesture,” marble carvings, one of a ski lift The diorama format does pre- INFO 773-702-8670 they’re the Aspen Art Museum in this self-indulgent, banal claptrap and one of the San Moritz ski sent challenges for the artist. A MORE U. of C. physics generic win- Colorado. There families will be was acclaimed worldwide. Like resort. Like the carved marble and model suggests lowbrow handi- professor Heinrich ter-themed invited to build “snow cactuses” many other inbred worlds, the art crystal snowflakes, these were fab- craft and/or an alienating institu- Jaeger gives a free marketing with Sone on the museum’s world is often more likely to reward ricated by workers in China. But tional or corporate purpose. Still, lecture on the sym- awaiting a grounds, and on Sunday, after charisma (especially in nonthreat- unlike traditional master artists in many artists have used these metry of crystals product to Sone’s Aspen Powder Cactus ening males) than ability, subtlety, the West or Japan, who closely aspects of the form to great and Sun 2/26, 2 PM. shill. Nor Band performs, two giant dice intelligence, or even hipness. Sone supervise or supervised their fabri- often amusing effect. Mike Kelley is Sone’s will be transported to Buttermilk likes snow, he likes skiing, he likes cators, Sone visited the factory in his (also all-white) architectural approach to subcontracting of any Mountain by helicopter and art, what the hell. At least the “four times a year,” he said during model Educational Complex incor- real interest. Paul Pfeiffer created rolled down a snowboarding Chicago show lacks an inflatable his talk. And judging from his own porated structures from every Poltergeist, an off-white diorama of half-pipe. To top it all off, Sone’s motorized snow globe. v

Give it away!

The New Reader Classifieds chicagoreader.com | section 4 30 CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE Theater

GUANTANAMO: HONOR BOUND TO DEFEND FREEDOM TIMELINE THEATRE COMPANY A Soap Box for a Stage Despite a compelling topic, Guantanamo is more lecture than drama.

By Justin Hayford ondon’s Tricycle Theatre, that.” Once he completed ramble across the surface of known for creating docu- school, the devout Muslim went their stories rather than steer- L mentary plays from tran- to Afghanistan to build schools ing them toward vivid, detailed scripts, commissioned a script and wells because he believed accounts. British school admin- about the U.S. detention center “the Afghan people are the istrator Jamal al-Harith—who at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in people in the world who are went on a religious retreat to 2004. In just two months novel- most deprived.” But after Pakistan, where first the ist Gillian Slovo and journalist American forces invaded, he Taliban, then the United States Victoria Brittain interviewed was taken for Taliban and accused him of spying—spent two former detainees, a few detained first at Bagram and two years at Guantanamo family members of Britons still then at Guantanamo, where he before being released. But his held captive, a handful of mili- suffered many abuses. account is merely a blurry, tary and human rights attor- It’s a horrifying story. But Mr. episodic tale of personal neys, and a journalist whose sis- Begg’s description of Moazzam fortitude in stark conditions ter died in the World Trade makes him amid intolerant guards. It Center attack. The play opened WHEN Through seem more doesn’t help that actor Sean a month after the interviews 3/26: Thu-Fri 8 PM, poster child Nix, like many cast members, were completed. Sat 4 and 8 PM, than human simply announces the story, Two years later the hasty cre- Sun 2 PM being. Like rarely providing the nuanced ation of Guantanamo: Honor WHERE TimeLine most of the delivery of someone speaking Bound to Defend Freedom com- Theatre Company, narratives in from experience. promises its value as theater, Wellington Avenue the play, Although the play moves from even in this handsome produc- United Church of this one is the personal to the political, it tion by TimeLine. Lacking Christ,Baird Hall long on has no genuine dramatic arc. compelling human sagas or Theatre, 615 W. outrage but Increasingly focused on attor- a provocative political point, Wellington short on neys working on behalf of the it’s painted mostly in black PRICE $15-$25 the details detainees, it provides little and white, empathizing with INFO 773-281-8463 that might insight into the convoluted, the innocent and wagging have brought quasi-legal system that perpe- fingers at the unjust. Moazzam to life. Perhaps to trates human rights abuses Brittain and Slovo intercut compensate, director Nick despite sustained scrutiny. interviews with more than a Bowling puts Moazzam and Instead the attorneys deliver dozen people, devoting most of two other detainees in a pit broad condemnations of the the first act to the detainees center stage where they Bush and Blair administrations and their families. Most of the remain all night—even through and their bias against Muslims. first 20 minutes goes to Mr. intermission—occasionally If we heard more of the evi-

Begg, a Pakistani banker whose reading their letters home dence behind their points, SCH son Moazzam was held at in escalating bouts of maudlin they might carry some weight. Guantanamo (he was released anguish. This cliched effort We get only bald conclusions, LARA GOET in January 2005 without ever to make the prisoners more however, that neatly divide the Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom being charged). As a young boy, real backfires, making no issue into good and bad—and Mr. Begg says, Moazzam allowance for the power of the bad exists in what seems placed at either end of a long exhibit in a living museum: Mr. announced that he wanted to an audience’s imagination. a distant world. playing area. In Brian Sidney Begg sits in a tiny middle-class “make a society...to help older Brittain’s and Slovo’s inter- TimeLine’s thoughtful, Bembridge’s set design, each English living room. All of people, feeble people, and peo- viewing skills may be the prob- unhurried staging divides the actor is ensconced atop a small, them look down into the hold- ple with disabilities and all lem. They let their subjects interviewees into two groups well-appointed platform like an ing cell where the prisoners CHICAGO READER | FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | SECTION ONE 31

Ink Well by Ben Tausig

47.Toward the rudder Discounts 48.Pot ingredient? 50.Cooked enough ACROSS 51. Payment discount (or a manipulative 1. Sounds from an ashram chat to help fund the union?) 4. Eden evictee 56.Standard keyboard type 8. Security deposit spot, perhaps 59.Pad ______14.Sunday seat 60.Palindromic diarist Anais languish. Mike Tutaj’s slick 15.Julius Caesar’s birth month 61. Knockout video interjections flash pic- 16.Type of root or meal 62.Work for tures of the interviewees and 17.Citrus beverage 63. Pesticide-regulating org. brief stats about them, swiftly 18.Tie up the guard, say 64.Part of a Balkan commonwealth 19.Boot materials reminding us of the real people 65.Cereal for kids 20.Homophobic discount (or a Boys 66.Feed letters behind the words. Director Town bistro’s bagel topping?) Bowling encourages his actors 23. Letters on letters DOWN 24.No. after a no. to deliver their lines slowly 1. Cloudy 25.Bedwear, briefly and carefully, which creates 2. Her looks could kill 28.Software surprise a few telling moments but 3. Key ratings period 33. Anthem opening 4. A little cracked more often drains the evening 34.Clear the board 5. Lee “Scratch” Perry productions of momentum. 35.Beach hazard 6. Sir Guinness This feels like a play with 37.Dance discount (or a tacky 7. Where 2-Down appears imitation of Strauss?) an ax to grind rather than a 8. English county 40.Grand ______Dam truth to unveil. It’s a terrible 9. Crouch 41. Qantas spokesbear thing to beat, chain, humiliate, 42.Corn cake 10.Off-camera card holder and torture innocent people. 43.A committee may reach it 11. “Sweet!” But a script in which the 12.Pay dirt detainees were in fact the 13. The Life Aquatic director Anderson LAST WEEK: KEY PHRASES 21. Golden Girl Getty cold-blooded killers Donald 22.Subunit of a gig Rumsfeld describes would 25.Jr.’s exam 37.“Speak!” response 49.Ubiquitous 2003 single have had greater moral 26.Semiretired Brooklyn rapper 38.Her sister has kids 51. Beat bad complexity. Also, Slovo and 27.The “s” in CBS: Abbr. 39.Sweetie 52.Leave, in publishing 29.Art deco designer Brittain finger the politicians 40.Tax pro 53. Arctic fish 30.Level with a dozer and military commanders 43.IV units 54.Mata ______31. Graceful curve who’ve created this internation- 32.Insurance spokeslizard 44.Oklahoma athlete 55.Coquette al disgrace but never allude 33. Florida tourist destination 45.Opens, as a fly 56.BMOCs, often to the voting populace who 35.Thurman and namesakes 46.Considered to be 57.Tiny let it continue. And now 36.Low-lying area 48.Half an ice cream flavor 58.Mr. Potato Head piece that Congress has appropriated funds to build a permanent prison at Guantanamo, we’ll have many more years to face the complicity these playwrights ignore. v