Fabulous Full Moon last night and a cloudless sky glistening with stars -- Woo-wee, that means it got COLD this morning, about minus 8 Celsius (22 F) in some places around the Flathead Valley.

Sitemeter Sez: Visitors from Yuba City, California; Bethpage, New York (Grumman Aircraft, searching for a Dick Powell movie); Emeryville, California; and Madrid, Spain.

REAL SLC Punk, not the movie, at: Theater X-Net

Starring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Ida's Places in Paris -- from my first jet-lagged 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!
Spitfires of the Spaceways
Wilma Deering & Dale Arden to the rescue; Bodacious Princess Aura I; Hapless Aura II; The fiery Emperor Ming; The Orson Welles Rumor Debunked; and BOTH incarnations of Jean Rogers!





Thanks to Jim Keefe (Visit his Website) -- the LAST Flash Gordon illustrator of the 20th Century, and Flash's first illustrator of the 21st, for his recommendations -- HERE!

Charity Alert: Keep that Resolution to click on The Hunger Site every day. Also check into Terra Sigilata blog -- donate $$$ to cancer patients just by clicking onto the site.

In The Community: The reception for Donna Gans and the Autumn Salon at the Hockaday Museum of Art attracted about 200 people last night.


Latest exhibits at the Hockaday Museum.
I'll add the Wreath Auction next.

Media Watch: A two hour special about the history of the Byrds on Montana PBS. They were influential beyond anyone's comprehension in the mid-60's -- especially the comprehension of the various band members. The singing trio of Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, and David Crosby are still able to deliver the goods when they so desire, but it hasn't happened much. I always enjoyed Gene Clarke's vocals and songs, as well as the incredible Clarence White, who took over lead guitar duties from one of America's top five guitarists. (Saw a later incarnation of the Byrds live -- White was stellar -- it was a serious tragedy when he died in an accident while loading out equipment after a gig.) I also had the good fortune of seeing the now-legendary drugged-out genius Gram Parsons perform with them. He was in the band for less than a year, but he created Country-Rock while he was around, and introduced the world to Emmylou Harris! Roger McGuinn's beautiful guitar playing on Turn, Turn, Turn! was a major highlight of both concerts. Yes, I enjoyed David Crosby's best work with other musicians, and will say the same for Chris Hillman, but those details would make a labrythine essay that I choose NOT to write, except to say I saw drummer Mike Clarke playing behind Hillman in a Parson-less version of the Flying Burrito Brothers. FAQ page by McGuinn.


One of my very favorite songs by the Byrds was Renaissance Fair
by Crosby and McGuinn
(The "B" side of My Back Pages):

I smell cinnamon and spices
I hear music everywhere
All around kaleidoscope of color

I think that maybe I´m dreaming...

Maids pass gracefully in laughter
Wine coloured flowers in their hair
Last call from lands I´ve never been to

I think that maybe I´m dreaming...

Some flash on a soda of prism
Bright jewels on the ladies flashing
Eyes catch on a shiny prism

Hear ye the crying of the vendors
Fruit for sale wax candles for to burn
Fires flare soon it will be night fall

I think that maybe I´m dreaming...

This refrain was quoted in the Animals song Monterrey -- about the famous concert in 1967 where David Crosby acted as MC and sat in with Stephen Stills/Buffalo Springfield. Crosby was fired from the Byrds as the Summer of Love faded, but roared back a few years later more popular than all his former bandmates combined.