Cloak and Dagger

We watched Cloak and Dagger last night. It's been a couple of decades since I last saw it and had forgotten how it had been shot here in San Antonio. It's a good popcorn movie. Dabney Coleman must've had fun playing duel roles as secret agent Jack Flack and military air traffic controller Hal Osborne. He was a pretty busy actor back then. Whatever happened to him?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloak_%26_Dagger_(1984_film)

From Way Back When: Taco Flavor Doritos Commmercial (1977)

Friday Roundup

This week saw the debut of Karston, the Salamander puppet for Preschool Doc Ed shows. The show was for an audience of daycare age kids so there were children that were as old as four and some that looked to be maybe a year and half. I was a little uneasy to say the least and my plan was to keep the show as simple and short as possible. There were also many points throughout the show where I got the kids on their feet to be rain or to pretend to be a washing machine. At their age sitting and watching is not an option.

It was going relatively well considering but when I finally brought out the puppet for the last portion of the show it was amazing to see the positive response of all the kids right down to the toddlers. The energy level suddenly shot up in the room and I had their undivided attention. I still have to find the proper voice for Karston because what I did that day was too close to my own. At this point I make a pretty awful ventriloquist but the kids seemed so focused on the puppet it didn't matter how much my lips moved. Karston was real to them.

It reminded me of the Muppets and how they would often talk to kids with their puppets but the children were not bothered by the presence of the puppeteer. As far as the kids were concerned they were speaking to the character and that was it.

I'm working to tighten up the show by reviewing the footage that was taken. It will be a little different the next time I perform it and hopefully a little better. You know, twenty four years ago I never imagined I'd be learning ventriloquism or simply performing for that matter. When I graduated from college with an art degree all I could imagine myself doing was painting or drawing in some way to make a living. It makes me chuckle. Life is so full of surprises.

Sights and Sounds

I like days like these.

Twinkie Swan Song?

Just in case you haven't heard yet Hostess, the maker of many junk food delights like Twinkies, is filing for bankruptcy. I have to confess I haven't had a Hostess anything in years but back in the day I couldn't get enough. Memories...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkie

http://blog.fooducate.com/2010/06/11/a-visual-of-twinkies-37-ingredients/

http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/twinkies.asp

Technical Difficulties

Hi to all. I've been having some computer issues of late so I've had to hold off on posting but I'm back. I hope your week is going well.

Here's some commentary that's better than a good cup of "joe". Thanks for the link, Rick.

Slapstick Theater- Teri Garr

Teri Garr- Need I say more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teri_Garr

Holiday Season Curtain Call

This weekend marks the end of the Christmas season here at Rancho Ramirez with the Dia de los Reyes Magos or Day of the Three Kings,( Balthasar, Melchior and Gaspar), who came to see the baby Jesus and brought him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. It's celebrated all over the world. Our kids set a shoebox they've decorated by their beds with treats for the king and their camels. In the morning the treats are gone and replaced with a gift. The official day is the 6th of January with festivities happening throughout the weekend. Bakeries around town make a special sweet bread called Rosca de Reyes that has a toy hidden inside.

Tomorrow we'll pack up the decorations and begin the countdown to the 2012 holiday season. Tick,tock,tick,tock.

Sunday Morning Matinee: Jim Henson Short Films

Ripples




Timepiece (1966)




Idea man