More Eagles, more Hawks, the Deer are roving the neighborhood irrespective of day or night. The Canadian Geese paid us a short visit, but they flew off by the hundreds towards Big Foy's Lake -- must be an issue of room.

Footbarn's Celebration of Theatre: Theater X-Net

Starring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Ida's Places in Paris, from my jet-lagged first day by the Seine.
Read more about Ida in Sisters of Salome by Toni Bentley

Visit: Michael's Montana Web Archive
Theater, Art, Flash Gordon, Funky Music and MORE!
NEW! Spitfires of the Spaceways
Watch Dale Arden rescue Flash Gordon for a change!

Charity Alert: Keep that resolution as Autumn settles in! Click on The Hunger Site every day.

In The Community: Setting up a P.A. for the Scholarship Luncheon at Flathead Valley Community College!

Media Watch: Trash-O-Rama -- Jerry Springer's real fans showed up and booted him off Dancing with the Stars. GAWD! What a travesty. I wonder if the Australian and English shows have the same problem with fan votes skewing competition results 'way beyond the point of pathetic? That show lost two pretty good dancers because a country singer and a talk-show host had lots of active fans.

I've seen the original version of The Producers many times, but there's one aspect of it that I've never really commented about, until now -- Dick Shawn's portrayal of LSD/Hitler really made the movie for me. That guy was just so balls-out funny! I've always suspected that Mel Brooks let Shawn create his own lines and business for the most part. Springtime for Hitler, the Busby Berkeley-ish production number was likely the genesis of the whole show, and resembles much of Brooks' overall work.

I got a flattering email from a reader: ...Since you mentioned Dario Argento , I thought that you might be interested in posting about Masters of Horror on your blog? You seem like a reputable influencer, so I think you'd be a big help to us.
Well, I visited their website (link below) and took a look at what they offer. There's a whole bunch of "buddy icons" to paste into cooperating blogs, which I do not choose to do, and plot descriptions of their shows. All I can say is that I'll keep an eye on the series, and say something if it tickles my fancy.
From the Masters of Horror Website (With MY comments in parentheses!): Dario Argento is Italy 's leading director of innovative surreal thriller and horror movies. The son of Salvatore Argento, one of the big movie producers of the 60's and 70's, and Elda Luxardo, the well-known photographer, he began his career as a film critic. Together with Bernardo Bertolucci he then worked as assistant scriptwriter to his great maestro, Sergio Leone, for whom he wrote the story for ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1968). In 1970, Argento made his directing debut with THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE. This was followed by CAT O' NINE TAILS (1971), and FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET (1972). This trilogy contributed to establishing Dario Argento as a recognized master of the thriller genre. In 1975, after a brief departure from his usual fare, during which he made LE CINQUE GIORNATE (THE 5 DAYS WAR) (1973), he returned to his own unique vision of horror, generating terror amongst movie audiences with DEEP RED, considered by many critics his masterpiece. (Good flick!) The year 1977 marked the release of SUSPIRIA, one of his best-loved films abroad. (Jessica Harper's movie? I like it -- whatever THAT means.) He then undertook work on the screenplay and post-production of George Romero's classic DAWN OF THE DEAD (1979). (One of the true classics of the Horror Genre, for sure!) During the 80's Argento went on to tackle his supernatural thriller INFERNO (1980)(Unfortunate, uninspired follow-up to SUSPIRIA!), followed by the sophisticated, disturbing TENEBRE (1983), and PHENOMENA, A Tale of Horror (1985). In 1987 Argento directed one of his most shocking movies, OPERA, set in Parma 's Teatro Regio. In 1990, he moved to the U.S. where he worked with George Romero on TWO EVIL EYES, for which he wrote and directed the episode THE BLACK CAT. Argento directed TRAUMA in 1992, casting his young daughter Asia , for the first time, as leading actress. (And not for the LAST time!) THE STENDHAL SYNDROME (1996) announced his return to working as director in Italy , followed by THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1998), SLEEPLESS (2001) and THE CARD PLAYER (2004). Dario Argento also wrote the screenplay for Patroni Griffi's LOVE CIRCLE (1968). He produced two films directed by Lamberto Bava: DEMONS (1985) and DEMONS II (1986), (Those last two films are real gory carnival-rides, but they are original!) as well as Michele Soavi's THE CHURCH (1989) and THE SECT (1991), and Sergio Stivaletti's M.D.C (THE WAX MASK) (1996). Argento has also worked for television and he directed four short films for the 1972 series LA PORTA SUL BUIO.

COMPLETELY Unrelated -- I caught Wes Craven Presents Wishmaster over the satellite, and let it go right away. He was the executive producer, or some damn thing, but the movie was cheesy, predictable and lame, despite Tammy Lauren's solid performance as lead actress, and Robert Englund in a supporting role.

This is MY kind of Monster Movie!


Puca, Rachelle, and Christophe re-enact St. George, the Princess, and the Dragon LIVE at the opening of Footsbarn 35 -- A Celebration of Theatre, August 9, 2006.