I've got this project Vintage Quixotic: Songs for Old Hollywood - the Scandals, the Myths, the Legends.
Previously, I posted my Helen Chandler tribute song & vid, now I'd like to share this one based on the book by Kenneth Anger.
I literally just uploaded it, so your feedback is appreciated!
"Hollywood Babylon" by VINTAGE QUIXOTIC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChQNItKJY9Q#)
Awesome video, awesome music!! Just wish you hadn't dedicated it to a loathsome POS like Kenneth Anger. Please don't confuse his books with anything even remotely resembling fact.
Is that you singing?? Man, that song is off the chain!!
Quote from: Scatter on April 10, 2011, 05:53:23 PM
Awesome video, awesome music!! Just wish you hadn't dedicated it to a loathsome POS like Kenneth Anger. Please don't confuse his books with anything even remotely resembling fact.
Is that you singing?? Man, that song is off the chain!!
Thanks, Scatter! I know, it sucks 'cause this project is in it's infancy and I'd like to eventually have the endorsement of guys like Kevin Brownlow - who also despises Anger. Thing is, there wouldn't be a Vintage Quixotic w/out those books, they were responsible for my mad interest in Old Hollywood. And overall, they are generally accurate, really. I mean, maybe Clara Bow didn't bang the entire USC football team, and maybe in wasn't Christian Science that killed Jean Harlow (but it was her mom's negligence). I believe there was some professional jealousy re: the success of those books.
No, that's not me singing, that's Lorenz, but I wrote it and played all the instruments.
Quote from: I Stalk Mina on April 10, 2011, 06:38:12 PM
Thanks, Scatter! I know, it sucks 'cause this project is in it's infancy and I'd like to eventually have the endorsement of guys like Kevin Brownlow - who also despises Anger. Thing is, there wouldn't be a Vintage Quixotic w/out those books, they were responsible for my mad interest in Old Hollywood. And overall, they are generally accurate, really. I mean, maybe Clara Bow didn't bang the entire USC football team, and maybe in wasn't Christian Science that killed Jean Harlow (but it was her mom's negligence). I believe there was some professional jealousy re: the success of those books.
No, that's not me singing, that's Lorenz, but I wrote it and played all the instruments.
Hey, I read those books too, and they helped spark that interest in me as well . I can relate!! But the books are not accurate I'm afraid. 5 minutes on Google will illuminate that fact profoundly, so I'll leave the subject there.
Your terrific work and commendable interest in Old Hollywood (which I share passionately) having sprung from reading "Hollywood Babylon" doesn't diminish your work any more than having a rose spring to life next to a sewer diminishes the rose. But I think we both agree that a rose would flourish far more under more enlightened care.
Again, the song is cool beyond words and the video is simply perfect. You are an extremely talented individual. What is your vision for the project as a whole?? And BTW, Brownlow is a genius, so we are of like mind there too. I'm reading "The Parade's Gone By" right now in fact!!
Another great song. It was not only catchy, but haunting as well. Keep on truckin'.
Rob
Quote from: Scatter on April 10, 2011, 07:52:04 PM
Hey, I read those books too, and they helped spark that interest in me as well . I can relate!! But the books are not accurate I'm afraid. 5 minutes on Google will illuminate that fact profoundly, so I'll leave the subject there.
Your terrific work and commendable interest in Old Hollywood (which I share passionately) having sprung from reading "Hollywood Babylon" doesn't diminish your work any more than having a rose spring to life next to a sewer diminishes the rose. But I think we both agree that a rose would flourish far more under more enlightened care.
Again, the song is cool beyond words and the video is simply perfect. You are an extremely talented individual. What is your vision for the project as a whole?? And BTW, Brownlow is a genius, so we are of like mind there too. I'm reading "The Parade's Gone By" right now in fact!!
As a whole, I want to complete a minimum 10 song album. I have someone working on vintagequixotic.com that'll feature a Old Hollywood forum. I'd like to look into licensing - say, if someone was producing a documentary about an Old Hollywood theme, I'd like to establish myself as the go-to guy for music. Also, I'd like to perform multi-media concerts with a huge projection screen, etc... at Hollywood conventions.
Scatter, have you seen the Thames "Hollywood" miniseries from 1980, hosted by James Mason? I am so obsessed with that right now!
Quote from: monsterphile on April 10, 2011, 08:17:20 PM
Another great song. It was not only catchy, but haunting as well. Keep on truckin'.
Rob
Thanks, Rob, man. Keep truckin' I shall!
The "Hollywood" series is the template for such; it made the new series covering some of the same subject by TCM last year look like dishwater!
And Brownlow's work beyond that is foundational, too. I had the honor to say hi to him, & have him sign my "Parade" (isn't it great, Scat?), in the lobby at RCMH just after the "Napoleon" re-premeire.
-Craig
Quote from: Wich2 on April 11, 2011, 10:46:46 AM
The "Hollywood" series is the template for such; it made the new series covering some of the same subject by TCM last year look like dishwater!
And Brownlow's work beyond that is foundational, too. I had the honor to say hi to him, & have him sign my "Parade" (isn't it great, Scat?), in the lobby at RCMH just after the "Napoleon" re-premeire.
-Craig
You are so right, Craig. I was greatly looking forward to that TCM series. It was a disappointment. Everything, the overall presentation... considering the material TCM has at it's disposal! They didn't need to rely on interviews with children and grandchildren - dig up actual interview footage with the figures in question!
Thames' "Hollywood", is perfect. Awesome James Mason narration, extended footage (not just clips) plus interviews with the people who were actually THERE! I picked up a dvd bootleg set on iOffer, and I can pop in any disk at any time and know I'll enjoy it!
Quote from: I Stalk Mina on April 10, 2011, 10:57:48 PM
As a whole, I want to complete a minimum 10 song album. I have someone working on vintagequixotic.com that'll feature a Old Hollywood forum. I'd like to look into licensing - say, if someone was producing a documentary about an Old Hollywood theme, I'd like to establish myself as the go-to guy for music. Also, I'd like to perform multi-media concerts with a huge projection screen, etc... at Hollywood conventions.
Scatter, have you seen the Thames "Hollywood" miniseries from 1980, hosted by James Mason? I am so obsessed with that right now!
Stalker, that all sounds fantastic!! I want in!! :D
As for Brownlow's "Hollywood", I've got it as well and I just keep running it (we got it from the same source as well!). Never gets old. We are 2 of a kind my friend!!
Quote from: Wich2 on April 11, 2011, 10:46:46 AM
The "Hollywood" series is the template for such; it made the new series covering some of the same subject by TCM last year look like dishwater!
And Brownlow's work beyond that is foundational, too. I had the honor to say hi to him, & have him sign my "Parade" (isn't it great, Scat?), in the lobby at RCMH just after the "Napoleon" re-premeire.
-Craig
You met Brownlow AND saw Gantz's "Napoleon" with him in attendance?? Have I mentioned that I hate you lately?? ;)
Did Kevin discuss the film afterwards?? Tell me you or someone else recorded it Craig!! Brownlow is my hero!!
Quote from: Scatter on April 11, 2011, 09:36:01 PM
Stalker, that all sounds fantastic!! I want in!! :D
As for Brownlow's "Hollywood", I've got it as well and I just keep running it (we got it from the same source as well!). Never gets old. We are 2 of a kind my friend!!
You're "in", man!
I need help, too, 'cause now I'm faced with, "OK, how do I get this out there?"
Quote from: I Stalk Mina on April 11, 2011, 09:48:31 PM
You're "in", man!
I need help, too, 'cause now I'm faced with, "OK, how do I get this out there?"
You live in Hollywood Stalker?? (if so I hate you too ;) ). I'm stuck here in Hell's Waiting Room with all the blue hairs in South Florida. HATE IT!!
My wife and I get out to LA every chance we get (which hasn't been for 2 years now, sadly).
Quote from: Scatter on April 11, 2011, 09:57:06 PM
You live in Hollywood Stalker?? (if so I hate you too ;) ). I'm stuck here in Hell's Waiting Room with all the blue hairs in South Florida. HATE IT!!
My wife and I get out to LA every chance we get (which hasn't been for 2 years now, sadly).
No, Scatman, I'm actually 20 miles east of LA.
You're not missing much, really!
Dude, we have a ball in LA. Always something to do. Ideally, I'll hit the Lottery, buy a condo above Sunset, and jet in and out on the slightest of whims from my home in Colorado.
Quote from: Scatter on April 12, 2011, 10:31:57 PM
Dude, we have a ball in LA. Always something to do. Ideally, I'll hit the Lottery, buy a condo above Sunset, and jet in and out on the slightest of whims from my home in Colorado.
Nice. I'd do the same, only between my old home of New Jersey.
Plus, it wouldn't be a condo, it would be an old house w/ Hollywood history!
Quote from: I Stalk Mina on April 12, 2011, 11:59:15 PM
Nice. I'd do the same, only between my old home of New Jersey.
Plus, it wouldn't be a condo, it would be an old house w/ Hollywood history!
Of course!! See how poverty has me thinking small?? Bela Lugosi's old house is right above Sunset...........Johnny Depp lives there now. I'd kick his arse out and move in there!!
Quote from: Scatter on April 12, 2011, 10:31:57 PM
Dude, we have a ball in LA. Always something to do. Ideally, I'll hit the Lottery, buy a condo above Sunset, and jet in and out on the slightest of whims from my home in Colorado.
I'd buy my dream house, an old Victorian Addams Family style mansion. I'd HAVE to turn it into one giant monster room, all the way up to the attic.
Scat-
>You met Brownlow AND saw Gantz's "Napoleon" with him in attendance??<
It was just for a few minutes in the lobby. I said hi, congratulated him, and let him sign my PARADE. (I did mention to him that the differing color tempertures of the projectors were messing up the final Widescreen triptychs, and he thanked me for the note & said they'd try to fix that.)
>Have I mentioned that I hate you lately??<
Did I mention that Lillian Gish was there, too?
>Did Kevin discuss the film afterwards??<
Nope.
>Brownlow is my hero!!<
Surely one of THE pioneers in Silent appreciation/restoration.
-Craig
Quote from: Wich2 on April 13, 2011, 10:31:09 AM
Scat-
>You met Brownlow AND saw Gantz's "Napoleon" with him in attendance??<
It was just for a few minutes in the lobby. I said hi, congratulated him, and let him sign my PARADE. (I did mention to him that the differing color tempertures of the projectors were messing up the final Widescreen triptychs, and he thanked me for the note & said they'd try to fix that.)
>Have I mentioned that I hate you lately??<
Did I mention that Lillian Gish was there, too?
>Did Kevin discuss the film afterwards??<
Nope.
>Brownlow is my hero!!<
Surely one of THE pioneers in Silent appreciation/restoration.
-Craig
You just HAD to throw in Gish, didn't ya?? :o
(Should I not mention the little letter I got from her...?)
Quote from: Wich2 on April 13, 2011, 10:53:12 PM
(Should I not mention the little letter I got from her...?)
Mention it! That's amazing.
She was always so reverent of Mr. Griffith...
She was indeed... (in fact, some have wondered if they had a deeper relationship.)
She was NYC's unofficial Patron Saint of Silents, and - as with NAPOLEON - she'd been scheduled to attend a screening of INTOLERANCE (with live orchestra & chorus) at Lincoln Center.
She didn't make it, and they announced she wasn't feeling well. As a member of SAG, I got contact info for her by way of her agent, and sent her a card saying we'd missed her, I hoped she was feeling better, and that I'd always admired her acting.
Didn't expect a response, but later got a nice little typewritten note, handsigned. She basically graciously thanked me, and said she hoped I'd "enjoyed Mr. Griffith's masterpiece."
Best,
-Craig
P.S. - the screening was amazing; as for INTOLERANCE itself, I think it's a failure - but a grand one!
Quote from: Wich2 on April 14, 2011, 10:34:54 AM
She was indeed... (in fact, some have wondered if they had a deeper relationship.)
She was NYC's unofficial Patron Saint of Silents, and - as with NAPOLEON - she'd been scheduled to attend a screening of INTOLERANCE (with live orchestra & chorus) at Lincoln Center.
She didn't make it, and they announced she wasn't feeling well. As a member of SAG, I got contact info for her by way of her agent, and sent her a card saying we'd missed her, I hoped she was feeling better, and that I'd always admired her acting.
Didn't expect a response, but later got a nice little typewritten note, handsigned. She basically graciously thanked me, and said she hoped I'd "enjoyed Mr. Griffith's masterpiece."
Best,
-Craig
P.S. - the screening was amazing; as for INTOLERANCE itself, I think it's a failure - but a grand one!
That's just wonderful. What year was that? You should upload a jpg of the letter - if Scatter can handle it!
I think it's a no-brainer that she & Griffith were involved, and it prob started when she was 15.
RE: Intolerence - it's been said that it's rep as a failure is due to it's timing, a pacifist message just as the US is entering WW1. I love it. I love the subplot elements; the aging woman clinging to her youth, the race to save the wrongly accused man, and of course there's the visually iconic, stunning, and surprisingly violent Babylon storyline. Good, good stuff!
Quote from: Wich2 on April 14, 2011, 10:34:54 AM
She was indeed... (in fact, some have wondered if they had a deeper relationship.)
She was NYC's unofficial Patron Saint of Silents, and - as with NAPOLEON - she'd been scheduled to attend a screening of INTOLERANCE (with live orchestra & chorus) at Lincoln Center.
She didn't make it, and they announced she wasn't feeling well. As a member of SAG, I got contact info for her by way of her agent, and sent her a card saying we'd missed her, I hoped she was feeling better, and that I'd always admired her acting.
Didn't expect a response, but later got a nice little typewritten note, handsigned. She basically graciously thanked me, and said she hoped I'd "enjoyed Mr. Griffith's masterpiece."
Best,
-Craig
P.S. - the screening was amazing; as for INTOLERANCE itself, I think it's a failure - but a grand one!
Terrific story Craig!! And yes, I now hate you more. But with a great amount of affection.
Intolerance would be a BLAST to see on the big screen with full orchestra. I might pass out if they showed "Birth" too.
But alas, I live in the cultural armpit of America. Happily, an arthouse theater opened up about 30 minutes from my house, and I see they're showing the restored Chaplin films at intervals ("The Kid", "The Dictator" and I believe "City Lights" so far). Sadly, they only show them on Friday and Sunday nights.........and I work both nights.
So close yet so far.
Quote from: I Stalk Mina on April 14, 2011, 01:13:49 PM
That's just wonderful. What year was that? You should upload a jpg of the letter - if Scatter can handle it!
I think it's a no-brainer that she & Griffith were involved, and it prob started when she was 15.
RE: Intolerence - it's been said that it's rep as a failure is due to it's timing, a pacifist message just as the US is entering WW1. I love it. I love the subplot elements; the aging woman clinging to her youth, the race to save the wrongly accused man, and of course there's the visually iconic, stunning, and surprisingly violent Babylon storyline. Good, good stuff!
Don't fall over, but I still haven't seen "Intolerance". I wanted to see it in as perfect quality as possible on a big screen. Hoping they show it at the new theater.
As for Gish and Griffith, it's been kind of an open secret, but if so they were extremely discreet. These days there would be a sex tap and a visit to Oprah.